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amylovesbooksandyarn's reviews
132 reviews
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is a marathon not a sprint. I read a lot of chunky books however the use of language in this story really slowed down my pace of reading.
It did feel slow paced In the middle and then at a certain point the pace starts to fly and so much is happening.
I really enjoyed the story and all the conversations about race, sexism and colonialism that this book contains. The setting and time period and descriptions were also fabulous
I would have liked to have had more points of view throughout, I feel I would have felt more connected to the 4 members of the cohort and therefore felt more of an impact as their journey unfolds through the story with more of their voice.
It did feel slow paced In the middle and then at a certain point the pace starts to fly and so much is happening.
I really enjoyed the story and all the conversations about race, sexism and colonialism that this book contains. The setting and time period and descriptions were also fabulous
I would have liked to have had more points of view throughout, I feel I would have felt more connected to the 4 members of the cohort and therefore felt more of an impact as their journey unfolds through the story with more of their voice.
After the Forest by Kell Woods
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this.
Lots of fairy tale references and magic.
Easy to read..
Lots of fairy tale references and magic.
Easy to read..
The Princess and the Conductor by Rachel Ann Hubert
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wanted to enjoy this however it was a novella and the length for me really impacted on story development.
There were some potential good story points that didn't feel fully developed.
There were some potential good story points that didn't feel fully developed.
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first tried to the Simarillion when I was 15 after loving the Lords of the Rings Trilogy.
I was not ready for it. I was confused, over whelmed by names and places and put it aside for 20 years.
I have in the last 18 months got very much back into my love of high fantasy (thanks mostly to Falmouth Bookseller for hosting Alan Lee Tolkein and Samantha Shannon events)
I finally felt ready to retackle this book.
At the start it did still take time and many trips to the family tree at the back to remember who was who but after the initial section it began to flow much better and I really got into it.
With so many characters in quite a limited page run per character, it is hard to get the level of connection you do to the characters of the hobbit and the lord of the rings. However it is fascinating to learn about what came before and how Sauron ended up as the shadow like figure who was re-emerging in these tales.
I do accept that Tolkein was a linguist however one name per character and place name would have made this more accessible.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was not ready for it. I was confused, over whelmed by names and places and put it aside for 20 years.
I have in the last 18 months got very much back into my love of high fantasy (thanks mostly to Falmouth Bookseller for hosting Alan Lee Tolkein and Samantha Shannon events)
I finally felt ready to retackle this book.
At the start it did still take time and many trips to the family tree at the back to remember who was who but after the initial section it began to flow much better and I really got into it.
With so many characters in quite a limited page run per character, it is hard to get the level of connection you do to the characters of the hobbit and the lord of the rings. However it is fascinating to learn about what came before and how Sauron ended up as the shadow like figure who was re-emerging in these tales.
I do accept that Tolkein was a linguist however one name per character and place name would have made this more accessible.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
I got this from my local library as I have seen it hyped all over bookstagram.
I wanted to love it and I have to say the only thing I liked about this book was Kingsley. He is completely awesome but he isn't enough to get me past the writing, the weird mixed context of modern day office with old worldy village and mansions. She's walking 2 hours to get to world through a forest but then is in stilleto boots. I feel that this had potential but it just didn't come through for me.
I wanted to love it and I have to say the only thing I liked about this book was Kingsley. He is completely awesome but he isn't enough to get me past the writing, the weird mixed context of modern day office with old worldy village and mansions. She's walking 2 hours to get to world through a forest but then is in stilleto boots. I feel that this had potential but it just didn't come through for me.
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland
Thank you so much netgalley and Pan Macmillan for letting me read the advance reader copy of this book.
I loved this book so much! The world building and character development was so good it immediately made you want to root for the main characters.
At first I was worried all the unusual place names and character names would make this a bit tricky and not flow however I was very wrong, and after looking up some pronunciation guides for æ I was away.
This is a book from 3 points of view and I was equally happy to read each character which isn't always the case.
I was lucky enough to meet the author when she interviewed Samantha Shannon in Falmouth and I have been wanting to read her work ever since. It did not disappoint at all with strong female leads, magic and myth and a hint of romance.
I was very excited when I also this week received sister song as my Secret Santa present and am so excited to read more by this author.
I am Cornish and have been to Tintagel (Dintagel) and it's always nice when you read about places you have been as you can try and form more of an image in your mind. Reading this has made me want to go back learn about the history and I was Google searching names and places as I read and to me wanting to learn Moreno's the epitome of a good book.
I loved this book so much! The world building and character development was so good it immediately made you want to root for the main characters.
At first I was worried all the unusual place names and character names would make this a bit tricky and not flow however I was very wrong, and after looking up some pronunciation guides for æ I was away.
This is a book from 3 points of view and I was equally happy to read each character which isn't always the case.
I was lucky enough to meet the author when she interviewed Samantha Shannon in Falmouth and I have been wanting to read her work ever since. It did not disappoint at all with strong female leads, magic and myth and a hint of romance.
I was very excited when I also this week received sister song as my Secret Santa present and am so excited to read more by this author.
I am Cornish and have been to Tintagel (Dintagel) and it's always nice when you read about places you have been as you can try and form more of an image in your mind. Reading this has made me want to go back learn about the history and I was Google searching names and places as I read and to me wanting to learn Moreno's the epitome of a good book.
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Today I'm a little sad to say I have completed @freyamarske #thelastbindingtrilogy as I am going to miss these characters so much!
In #apowerunbound we are following Jack Hawthorne who was introduced in a marvellous light and completely won me over in a restless truth. He is now fully pulled into the madness that is Violet, Maud, Robin and Edwin's efforts to protect the magical world from their horrible relatives and an evil old bat of a lady. Of course this isn't plain sailing and magical chaos ensues.
I love all the magic house and land elements in this book. That the house/lands is offering protection and it does this in some very creative ways. I wish we could have spent more time at Spinnet but then we went to the county and bees so that more than made up for it. I hope there's some fanfic somewhere of the hidden rooms of Spinnet house.
It was really nice that behind the big epic what's going to happen magical drama it was overall a book about finding your people. I am very lucky that over the years I have found my people in a great group of friends through our love of books about magic.
Now I don't mind some spice in books but I have to admit getting to a certain section whilst reading in public I was hoping I wasn't blushing as much as it felt because this book is explicit and the scenes can hit when you're not expecting it, and when you think it's building up to it it doesn't happen. Which was quite nice to be honest as in many romantasy books once the line is broken the characters really need to simmer down and let the story in and this did let the story flow and dominate the book around the scattered spicy scenes.
This was already waiting for me to pick up from the library when #buddyreadbooknook announced the winter book binged had an Achillean romance prompt so also yay for completing number 2 on my bingo board.
I am wondering what will be next from this author and hope for more magical reads.
I am going to give it 4.5⭐
In #apowerunbound we are following Jack Hawthorne who was introduced in a marvellous light and completely won me over in a restless truth. He is now fully pulled into the madness that is Violet, Maud, Robin and Edwin's efforts to protect the magical world from their horrible relatives and an evil old bat of a lady. Of course this isn't plain sailing and magical chaos ensues.
I love all the magic house and land elements in this book. That the house/lands is offering protection and it does this in some very creative ways. I wish we could have spent more time at Spinnet but then we went to the county and bees so that more than made up for it. I hope there's some fanfic somewhere of the hidden rooms of Spinnet house.
It was really nice that behind the big epic what's going to happen magical drama it was overall a book about finding your people. I am very lucky that over the years I have found my people in a great group of friends through our love of books about magic.
Now I don't mind some spice in books but I have to admit getting to a certain section whilst reading in public I was hoping I wasn't blushing as much as it felt because this book is explicit and the scenes can hit when you're not expecting it, and when you think it's building up to it it doesn't happen. Which was quite nice to be honest as in many romantasy books once the line is broken the characters really need to simmer down and let the story in and this did let the story flow and dominate the book around the scattered spicy scenes.
This was already waiting for me to pick up from the library when #buddyreadbooknook announced the winter book binged had an Achillean romance prompt so also yay for completing number 2 on my bingo board.
I am wondering what will be next from this author and hope for more magical reads.
I am going to give it 4.5⭐
The Future by Naomi Alderman
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If I didn't need to finish it this month (with only 1 more day to go) to get bingo I honestly don't think I would have pushed through the beginning.
Naomi is a great author, however unlike them I do not love tech and this book had a lot of it.
It is a very current book and the issues in it are very much on topic and the overall message of the book I am on board with.
It was a bit bonkers in bits and that helped me out as otherwise it would have been a bit dry for me as I didn't like all the coding and computer algoritm talk, I do however appreciate that there are many people who would have found this fascinating.
I love the power which is obviously about women overcoming misogyny and the gender inequalities that are faced. A much easily topic for me to relate to than this book which is about the influence of huge corporation on the world and how as a society we should want to live and the world to become.
The style and flow etc are all very good. This book has lGBQT+ representation and some reflective thinking about the environment and the role of companies in our daily live's and our future. I will give it a 3.5 ⭐
Naomi is a great author, however unlike them I do not love tech and this book had a lot of it.
It is a very current book and the issues in it are very much on topic and the overall message of the book I am on board with.
It was a bit bonkers in bits and that helped me out as otherwise it would have been a bit dry for me as I didn't like all the coding and computer algoritm talk, I do however appreciate that there are many people who would have found this fascinating.
I love the power which is obviously about women overcoming misogyny and the gender inequalities that are faced. A much easily topic for me to relate to than this book which is about the influence of huge corporation on the world and how as a society we should want to live and the world to become.
The style and flow etc are all very good. This book has lGBQT+ representation and some reflective thinking about the environment and the role of companies in our daily live's and our future. I will give it a 3.5 ⭐