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bookgirlie_unbound's reviews
704 reviews
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I struggled with this book. I will first and foremost admit that I have not read The Empire of The Wolf. In my defense, NOTHING ABOUT THE preview made me think I needed to for comprehending the insanity that is Grave Empire. If I had read the book the geopolitical landscape and mixed-human species interactions would have eased the burden of the first half. Regardless, this book is utter madness.
We’re jumping between three POVs who are all embroiled in a darkness haunting the content. They are far apart geographically and in ideology. This made it difficult for me to feel that their experiences were intertwined. I also was so deeply embroiled in the lore and world building (which felt heavy handed) that I couldn’t actually focus on the plot or characters.
Then we have the horror. Once again, I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A HORROR BOOK. And for the first half, I was glad I didn’t know about it because I was enjoying those elements the most as we read along an incompetent and naive lieutenant on the frontier- the New East. I was genuinely creeped out and had goosebumps reading about the haunting of the New East.
However, the last half was ridiculous. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to believe this was a cohesive world and not some fever dream. Fever dream ethos work, but not in a “I’m a serious, high-fantasy-horror, read me and be impressed” book.
I honestly cannot believe I finished this book. The only way I did it was by only reading the dialogue- and guess what?! I followed the story completely fine and finished 80% of the book in 2 days. I don’t care what genre you write, that is a bad sign.
Richard Swan’s other books now have a precarious place on my TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest to god opinion. If I had spent money on this book I’d be enraged beyond measure.
We’re jumping between three POVs who are all embroiled in a darkness haunting the content. They are far apart geographically and in ideology. This made it difficult for me to feel that their experiences were intertwined. I also was so deeply embroiled in the lore and world building (which felt heavy handed) that I couldn’t actually focus on the plot or characters.
Then we have the horror. Once again, I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A HORROR BOOK. And for the first half, I was glad I didn’t know about it because I was enjoying those elements the most as we read along an incompetent and naive lieutenant on the frontier- the New East. I was genuinely creeped out and had goosebumps reading about the haunting of the New East.
However, the last half was ridiculous. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to believe this was a cohesive world and not some fever dream. Fever dream ethos work, but not in a “I’m a serious, high-fantasy-horror, read me and be impressed” book.
I honestly cannot believe I finished this book. The only way I did it was by only reading the dialogue- and guess what?! I followed the story completely fine and finished 80% of the book in 2 days. I don’t care what genre you write, that is a bad sign.
Richard Swan’s other books now have a precarious place on my TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest to god opinion. If I had spent money on this book I’d be enraged beyond measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia and Colonisation
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
I didn’t feel connected to this story or any of the characters. The plot was not complex or interwoven enough to need multiple points of view, so instead of making for a richer story, it made the narrative convoluted. It has a good premise but the world building was extremely weak and i think the author tried to use the multiple povs to cover that.
Kouguu no Omega by Fumi Tsuyuhisa
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Palace of the Omega was a fun read and set up future volumes for exciting adventures.
Vol. 1 caught my attention even though not much happens with the plot as the foundation was being built. The story between the Omega and the king was well handled, as when they first meet the King is clearly a minor.
The evolution of the omega as a protector of the weak in the battle against the evil brother.
Vol. 1 caught my attention even though not much happens with the plot as the foundation was being built. The story between the Omega and the king was well handled, as when they first meet the King is clearly a minor.
The evolution of the omega as a protector of the weak in the battle against the evil brother.
Metal from Heaven by August Clarke
4.0
Hidden away in the socialist utopia of The Fingerbluffs, Marnie dreams of exacting her revenge on the industry leader who ordered her family’s death. The best part of this book is how the reader is forced to participate actively through Marnie’s first-person narration, breaking the fourth wall. We the reader, are “you,” her first love lost in the same brutal killing that took away her parents. This literary trick heightened my enjoyment and investment in the book and was one of the best literary surprises I’ve encountered.
Overall, this book is solid. The plot is moderately paced, like Marnie’s assured confidence that she WILL kill Yann Industry Chauncy and does not need to rush. This has its pros and cons, as several parts of the book that I felt were excruciatingly drawn out as a way to belabor the moral and philosophical superiority of the Highwayman’s Choir and the “Hereafter”- a glorious period in which the universe is freed from the yoke of capitalism.
Readers should be aware that sex is used as an allegory for greed and overconsumption, and is omnipresent in the last third of the book. I understand its use as a literary device, and I still think the book had strong enough characters, sub-stories, and mysticism to carry on to the finish without so much gratuitous, abusive, and graphic sex. I would gladly trade several of the sex scenes for more information about the magic Marnie wields or the complex religious codes observed by the many nations and communities within this sprawling world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail