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ambarbaq's reviews
54 reviews
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge
3.0
This was alright. Good Halloween romp, easy breezy read. I do love small town Halloween vibes, particularly in like the 50s, which is exactly what this book is lmao. Chalk it up to a childhood in a country with minimal Halloween exposure and romanticizing that era of the holiday after seeing it in movies and TV. I do absolutely love ANYTHING relating to Jack o lanterns. Insane take but Jack o Lanterns are underutilized, they’re perfect imagery truly. So the monster in this being a killer Jack o lantern with vines for legs and arms *chef’s kiss*.
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
4.0
The conclusion to the first trilogy in The First Law world. It was a very good capstone to this part of the story. It may be my favorite out of these three. The scale is grander when it comes to the battles, the pay offs really PAY OFF. The action is top notch, and the characters are delightfully vile. The ending may be divisive, but I personally loved it. In a paradoxical way, everything is explained yet there are so many questions left unanswered (that I hope the rest of the books answer). It also feels as grand as anything could, yet insignificant at the same time which is why I believe some people might not vibe with the ending.
EDIT: This does have a scene that made me extremely uncomfortable and that has not aged well at all regarding implied marital rape and lesbian relationships. I understand that Abercrombie has walked that back, but it still felt incredibly sleazy, even for a book as grim as this. I borderline skipped over it.
EDIT: This does have a scene that made me extremely uncomfortable and that has not aged well at all regarding implied marital rape and lesbian relationships. I understand that Abercrombie has walked that back, but it still felt incredibly sleazy, even for a book as grim as this. I borderline skipped over it.
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
3.0
This was my first real dive into a Sanderson book, after like three failed attempts at reading Mistborn. I really enjoyed it. It does feel like a prototype, being his first published book and having now read a lot more by him you can really see concepts that would evolve in his later novels. The book itself is alright, very Sanderson, witty characters that are never actually witty we’re just told they’re supposed to be, a very intriguing (if over explained) magic system, great climactic action… I’d write more but I am like 2 years removed from when I read it
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 by Ryoko Kui
5.0
This is a review for the entire manga, not just volume 1.
This is has become not just my favorite manga, but really one of my favorite pieces of media. If I could wipe my brain and read it again I would do it immediately.
The world is so meticulously crafted, in only a way someone DEEPLY steeped in the genre could do it. Ryoko Kui is a master of her craft, she is so comfortable in the fantasy genre in a way you’d only expect from a veteran author. Her love for DnD, Wizardry and other fantasy RPGs permeated through every single panel of this story. Everything in this story has a purpose, and ties to the overarching themes. Life and death (certain magical races live longer), disruptions to ecosystems, class/race disparities, the world is built on these foundations and they are deeply interwoven into every part of it.
The art is wonderful, the first season of the anime was obviously beautiful as expected from Studio Trigger, but Kui’s art is next level. It’s rare that I prefer a manga to an anime in art direction, but Kui’s contemplative art style is perfectly suited for this dungeon delving adventure.
Surprisingly, in my opinion, Kui’s strength isn’t her art or world building (although the latter is very high up), but her character work. These have to be some of the best realized set of fantasy adventurers I’ve ever read. They all get a meaningful arc, and it will move you to tears. Marcille’s story in particular got me sobbing. She will forever be one of my favorite characters in media, certainly my favorite mage lmao.
I could go on and on about this story forever, I am in love with this manga. I want to get panels of it tattooed on my body, this isn’t even a figure of speech, my first tattoo is probably gonna be Thistle’s magic tome or Marcille’s staff (called Ambrosia), or maybe a cute walking mushroom.
6/5 stars lmao
This is has become not just my favorite manga, but really one of my favorite pieces of media. If I could wipe my brain and read it again I would do it immediately.
The world is so meticulously crafted, in only a way someone DEEPLY steeped in the genre could do it. Ryoko Kui is a master of her craft, she is so comfortable in the fantasy genre in a way you’d only expect from a veteran author. Her love for DnD, Wizardry and other fantasy RPGs permeated through every single panel of this story. Everything in this story has a purpose, and ties to the overarching themes. Life and death (certain magical races live longer), disruptions to ecosystems, class/race disparities, the world is built on these foundations and they are deeply interwoven into every part of it.
The art is wonderful, the first season of the anime was obviously beautiful as expected from Studio Trigger, but Kui’s art is next level. It’s rare that I prefer a manga to an anime in art direction, but Kui’s contemplative art style is perfectly suited for this dungeon delving adventure.
Surprisingly, in my opinion, Kui’s strength isn’t her art or world building (although the latter is very high up), but her character work. These have to be some of the best realized set of fantasy adventurers I’ve ever read. They all get a meaningful arc, and it will move you to tears. Marcille’s story in particular got me sobbing. She will forever be one of my favorite characters in media, certainly my favorite mage lmao.
I could go on and on about this story forever, I am in love with this manga. I want to get panels of it tattooed on my body, this isn’t even a figure of speech, my first tattoo is probably gonna be Thistle’s magic tome or Marcille’s staff (called Ambrosia), or maybe a cute walking mushroom.
6/5 stars lmao
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 1 by Misaki Takamatsu
4.0
Forgot I read this. It came up in my recommendations so I thought I’d add it.
3.5/5 A very fun and lighthearted slice of life romance. Warmed my heart during some rough days. I should actually finish reading it/catch up to whatever the current chapter is, as well as finish the anime. Cute character designs, no creepy stuff, very earnest and well meaning.
3.5/5 A very fun and lighthearted slice of life romance. Warmed my heart during some rough days. I should actually finish reading it/catch up to whatever the current chapter is, as well as finish the anime. Cute character designs, no creepy stuff, very earnest and well meaning.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
4.0
Yeah I stayed up to finish this and now I am a little spooked. I really liked this book. It reminded me so much of Poltergeist, and baby I love Poltergeist. The monster was described just enough that the picture I had in my head is bone chilling. Heartbreaking read but wow I would recommend it to anyone. Very good horror, no gore or anything of the sort. A very fast read too. All being told through an 8 year old’s perspective makes it very breezy and kinetic. I found that refreshing compared to other horror books, don’t think I’ve ever read this POV.
I wanna write more, but it is late and I can see shapes from the corners of my eyes that are giving me goosebump, VERY FUN. Maybe I’m overhyping it, but I rarely get chills from horror books or movies anymore, so this took me by surprise in the best way. Picked it up on a whim, too. I will definitely check out Malerman’s other stuff.
It does get a little monologue heavy at the end, like you’re reading the script for a Mike Flanagan Netflix series but guess what? I fucking love Midnight Mass babyyyyyyy! I was eating good.
I wanna write more, but it is late and I can see shapes from the corners of my eyes that are giving me goosebump, VERY FUN. Maybe I’m overhyping it, but I rarely get chills from horror books or movies anymore, so this took me by surprise in the best way. Picked it up on a whim, too. I will definitely check out Malerman’s other stuff.
It does get a little monologue heavy at the end, like you’re reading the script for a Mike Flanagan Netflix series but guess what? I fucking love Midnight Mass babyyyyyyy! I was eating good.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
3.0
What to say about this book... I read it incredibly fast, although if we're being fair it is a very short book. This wasn't in my radar at all, I was actively searching for books that dealt with... well the topic of this book, and this seemed exactly like the sort of book I was looking for.
I rated it 3.5/5, I don't know, maybe it should be higher? It definitely moved me and has shifted my perspective on my situation, but it was a tad bit boring and self help-y? To be fair, I needed the latter lmao. It had some of the most accurate descriptions of depression and suicidal ideation I've seen, at least in my lived experience, even the medications are right. I didn't know if I was going to be able to finish it because Nora's earlier attitudes mimic so closely what I've felt, particularly her relationship with her friend Izzy. Close friendships fading to time and distance, exchanging only emoji filled birthday wishes once a year, wondering if they remember you as fondly as you remember them... God, just thinking about that and the many friends I've grown distant over the past decade... anyway no one likes a whiner and I don't wanna spook my audience of three people who barely know me yet and I'm trying to befriend.
Loved the concept of the book, in many ways it felt like Everything Everywhere All At Once , doubt I am the first person to bring up that comparison, but in the end both pieces of media left me with a hole in my chest but also an odd sense of hope. Blergh.
I had a much bigger review planned in my mind. I highlighted a lot of passages, but that's a topic for another time perhaps.
I rated it 3.5/5, I don't know, maybe it should be higher? It definitely moved me and has shifted my perspective on my situation, but it was a tad bit boring and self help-y? To be fair, I needed the latter lmao. It had some of the most accurate descriptions of depression and suicidal ideation I've seen, at least in my lived experience, even the medications are right. I didn't know if I was going to be able to finish it because Nora's earlier attitudes mimic so closely what I've felt, particularly her relationship with her friend Izzy. Close friendships fading to time and distance, exchanging only emoji filled birthday wishes once a year, wondering if they remember you as fondly as you remember them... God, just thinking about that and the many friends I've grown distant over the past decade... anyway no one likes a whiner and I don't wanna spook my audience of three people who barely know me yet and I'm trying to befriend.
Loved the concept of the book, in many ways it felt like Everything Everywhere All At Once , doubt I am the first person to bring up that comparison, but in the end both pieces of media left me with a hole in my chest but also an odd sense of hope. Blergh.
I had a much bigger review planned in my mind. I highlighted a lot of passages, but that's a topic for another time perhaps.
Sidetracked by S.T. Abby
4.0
I think I’ll refrain from writing full reviews of these books and I’ll just do a big one when I’m done with the 5th one as they basically feel like episodes of one big series. Suffice it to say, this was great. The goofy FBI dialogue was either toned down or I got used to it, the spicy moments were spicy enough and don’t feel repetitive, and the thrills were THRILLING. Again a cliffhanger ending that immediately pushes you to the next book. I did appreciate the side-quest quality of this book, even though it still builds up Lana’s character and motivations. Fun!
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 1 by Kamome Shirahama
4.0
Starting this manga because the trailer for the anime was stunning, and lo and behold, the art in this is amazing. Full of magic and whimsy. The story is very much all set up right now in this first volume but I am totally on board. The magic system is very interesting. Drawing seals to cast spells, using ink and pen and paper and other stationary materials rather than typical wands and staffs to cast magic… very cool. I will definitely keep reading this series.
Scarlet Angel by S.T. Abby
3.0
3.5/5
This one didn’t captivate me as much as the others BUT I still really liked it! Love that the mind games Jake and Lana are playing on the town with the messages. The sheriff is already despicable, and the FBI agent that helped frame her dad is a fucking bum. I did morbidly enjoy Lana torturing the dude that r*ped her, and I’m glad that scene was there, feel like for the most part the torture scenes have been a bit glossed over, for good reason. With 5 books you don’t want them to all turn into literal torture porn, but it was cathartic in this one.
This one didn’t captivate me as much as the others BUT I still really liked it! Love that the mind games Jake and Lana are playing on the town with the messages. The sheriff is already despicable, and the FBI agent that helped frame her dad is a fucking bum. I did morbidly enjoy Lana torturing the dude that r*ped her, and I’m glad that scene was there, feel like for the most part the torture scenes have been a bit glossed over, for good reason. With 5 books you don’t want them to all turn into literal torture porn, but it was cathartic in this one.