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bnsfly's reviews
505 reviews
Russian Sleeper Cell by Nathan Monk
3.75
I really enjoyed a lot of this book. The style is fun and smart; the way it kind of meandered into the main plot was interesting rather than insufferable, and somehow the very unavoidable presence of the author's voice (which often takes me out of a book) engaged me and kept me reading. But the actual plot of the book was actually kind of weak/straightforward and strangely concluded (what even was the "sleeper cell" the book is so bluntly named after?). Interesting and enjoyable read that was … I don't know, a little bit of a mess in the end.
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
2.5
There was a lot I really liked about this book but much more than any other Weeks book I've read, it spent way, way too much of its time musing on the breasts and bodies of its female characters. Weeks has definitely done some of this in other books and there's some level to which you can write this off as "we're seeing the world through the eyes of a young male character" or whatever, but it was just too much in this book. It dragged the book down a lot, to an extent that I almost DNF'ed.
End of Story by A.J. Finn
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Honestly the mystery wrapped up really nicely with nothing coming out of thin air and yet I didn't figure basically any of it out. A very satisfying mystery with what I think is a well-handled "trans!" twist that doesn't belittle the character, reduce her to the twist, or treat her as abnormal. But I'm an outsider there as a cis dude so maybe I'm off base.
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the first two books but this one took it to a whole new level and I loved it. A great end to the trilogy.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finished the book still wondering if the author intended me to empathize with the narrator because for large portions of the book, I did. It has a kind of spiral into darkness to it, certainly, and even from the start there were things the narrator did that I didn't support, but it's presented in such a way that I found myself, at times, buying into the narrators self justifications. It's a very interesting book, and it compelled me to search my own motivations and biases as I read it. Kuang has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Picked up this book at a friend's recommendation years ago but put it down because it seemed grimdark. It isn't! It's not always totally light but it's a lot more intrigue and adventure and heist kind of stuff once you get past the intro. Great fun overall. Did not know where the book was taking me until it was over, but in this case that wasn't a bad thing. It wrapped up (mostly) well.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I _really_ enjoyed this book and then it … ended before it was over. I know there are sequels but it felt like all the POV stories that were told, each of which I really enjoyed and I loved how they were told so differently, were leading to something at the end that the book just doesn't provide. That's disappointing. I'll probably read at least one of the sequels in a while, but like … it seems like at least the first sequel would just have to be a part of this book.
Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia by David Graeber
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I haven't read a lot of books in this vein so I feel like my take here isn't very useful but it seemed a lot more like a semi-genealogy of what might have happened in Madagascar, maybe, than a book about an enlightenment experiment there. Lots and lots of "maybe"s because of a lack of strong sources, which ok, but those maybes also didn't seem to talk a ton about social structures and principles. Even the conclusion, which I hoped would wrap it up nicely, was like … very wishy-washy. The concept of the book is great I just didn't get a ton of info from it.