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bubblewombat's reviews
2393 reviews
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
Hmm, I don't know how to rate this? On one hand, I liked the setting, the cozy vibes and the ghosts (duh), but on the other, I wasn't completely sold on the romance. The only thing wrong with it, is the lack of chemistry, but pretty much everything else was good (actually, could've used a teensy bit more plot), and I enjoyed the narration. I think I'll settle with a 4, but it's more like a 3.75.
Hill Women: Finding Family and a Way Forward in the Appalachian Mountains by Cassie Chambers
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.5
This book has been on my radar since it came out, and the first part of it, covering Cassie's childhood and family history, lived up to what I was expecting. The second and third parts weren't my favourite, however.
The author's mother, aunt and grandmother are such strong and interesting women, they're exactly why I read this book. I wish Hill Women had focused more on them and their stories instead of Cassie's college years, for example.
And listen, I know this is her memoir and she can write it however she wants, I just wasn't all that interested in Wellesley, Yale or Harvard. I wanted to know more about United World College, but that was barely a passing mention.
Another reason why I disliked the college chapters, was her desperately trying to fit in, and using her family's money (not always, but) to buy designer stuff. I completely understand her mentality at the time, I just didn't feel like listening to it.
And then there's the third part, which is about her moving back to Kentucky, and working as a lawyer which started off interesting, but then deviated into politics...which makes sense, I Googled her to see how she was doing after I finished the book, and saw she's a Senator, (good for her), but that section wasn't particularly engaging to me.
Her strongest writing is in that first part, you can feel how much she loves her family and her roots, even if she was ashamed of them at some point, which I can relate to.
If Cassie ever decided to expand more on her ancestors, I'd love to read it, as for this, it's a 3.5ish.
The author's mother, aunt and grandmother are such strong and interesting women, they're exactly why I read this book. I wish Hill Women had focused more on them and their stories instead of Cassie's college years, for example.
And listen, I know this is her memoir and she can write it however she wants, I just wasn't all that interested in Wellesley, Yale or Harvard. I wanted to know more about United World College, but that was barely a passing mention.
Another reason why I disliked the college chapters, was her desperately trying to fit in, and using her family's money (not always, but) to buy designer stuff. I completely understand her mentality at the time, I just didn't feel like listening to it.
And then there's the third part, which is about her moving back to Kentucky, and working as a lawyer which started off interesting, but then deviated into politics...which makes sense, I Googled her to see how she was doing after I finished the book, and saw she's a Senator, (good for her), but that section wasn't particularly engaging to me.
Her strongest writing is in that first part, you can feel how much she loves her family and her roots, even if she was ashamed of them at some point, which I can relate to.
If Cassie ever decided to expand more on her ancestors, I'd love to read it, as for this, it's a 3.5ish.
Detour to Agape by R.F. Whong
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I didn't mean to wait so long to read this sequel, but it only took me a few minutes to get back into the swing of things and remember who's who.
This time, some of the family members take a trip to three different destinations, finding love along the way.
While I had a good time with this book, it didn't quite hit the same as Blazing China. I wish it was a bit longer so we could've gotten more time at each vacation spot, but I did enjoy the descriptions we got of them and Yao and Ann-Ann's love story. I also fell in love with Josh, and I'm looking forward to reading his book.
This time, some of the family members take a trip to three different destinations, finding love along the way.
While I had a good time with this book, it didn't quite hit the same as Blazing China. I wish it was a bit longer so we could've gotten more time at each vacation spot, but I did enjoy the descriptions we got of them and Yao and Ann-Ann's love story. I also fell in love with Josh, and I'm looking forward to reading his book.
Collateral Damage by Shassii
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE!
"You were my beginning. And you will be my end."
If you want to have a proper cry this Valentine's Day, then you should read Collateral Damage. Yes, it will break you, but it will also put you back together again, so I'd say that's a win-win.
It's a slow burn romance with lots of tension, but the book itself isn't slow at all, you could easily finish it in one day, because Alo and Hays won't let you go until you've read all they have to say.
If you've ever experienced any kind of trauma, you might see yourself in this book, as I did. These two go through A LOT together, and it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but it was so worth it, reading their story.
I related to Hayden more than I did to Alora, but there are parts of me in both of them which is what made me love this book so much.
We follow both of their PoVs, and they're equally engaging. I enjoyed watching them grow to love one another & heal each other. The way Hayden brought Alora out of her shell, and Alo brought back a part of Hays she thought was gone, MY HEART.
I wish I could talk about the plot, but I don't wanna spoil anything, just know that it's a whole experience, and you should be ready to cry during the last 100 pages, mkay?
Because I absolutely did cry, the epilogue really got me, and got me BAD, I was a mess, about to question my whole existence. Then the picture at the end of the epilogue got me again...I've been HURT by this book, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Also fun fact, sunflowers are my favourite, which is going to be interesting going forward, because I KNOW I'll remember this book every time I look at one. Haha. *wails in the distance*
This was a beautiful, beautiful book, and I need everyone who has ever asked for a good sapphic romance to please read it!!! It has excellent and lovable characters, stellar writing (and pacing), an interesting and heartbreaking plot, and of course wonderful steam, what more could you want?
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
"You were my beginning. And you will be my end."
If you want to have a proper cry this Valentine's Day, then you should read Collateral Damage. Yes, it will break you, but it will also put you back together again, so I'd say that's a win-win.
It's a slow burn romance with lots of tension, but the book itself isn't slow at all, you could easily finish it in one day, because Alo and Hays won't let you go until you've read all they have to say.
If you've ever experienced any kind of trauma, you might see yourself in this book, as I did. These two go through A LOT together, and it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but it was so worth it, reading their story.
I related to Hayden more than I did to Alora, but there are parts of me in both of them which is what made me love this book so much.
We follow both of their PoVs, and they're equally engaging. I enjoyed watching them grow to love one another & heal each other. The way Hayden brought Alora out of her shell, and Alo brought back a part of Hays she thought was gone, MY HEART.
I wish I could talk about the plot, but I don't wanna spoil anything, just know that it's a whole experience, and you should be ready to cry during the last 100 pages, mkay?
Because I absolutely did cry, the epilogue really got me, and got me BAD, I was a mess, about to question my whole existence. Then the picture at the end of the epilogue got me again...I've been HURT by this book, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Also fun fact, sunflowers are my favourite, which is going to be interesting going forward, because I KNOW I'll remember this book every time I look at one. Haha. *wails in the distance*
This was a beautiful, beautiful book, and I need everyone who has ever asked for a good sapphic romance to please read it!!! It has excellent and lovable characters, stellar writing (and pacing), an interesting and heartbreaking plot, and of course wonderful steam, what more could you want?
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator's Search for the Unexplained by Stanley Milford Jr.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
5.0
You know it's a good book when there's a goat rescue included!!
This read was very much up my alley, I'm always seated for paranormal experience stories, especially ones from an indigenous perspective. Aside from that, we got some Navajo myths included, as well as some information on Navajo Rangers, what it is they do, and what it takes to become one.
Some of the paranormal experiences were quite spooky, and I felt as if I was experiencing them myself as I listened to the audiobook. There's no doubt in my mind that Milford saw what he says he saw, no sir.
If you're a believer, you'll probably go "aha, I knew it!", and if you're a skeptic, this might just make you reconsider, and go "well, what if?".
The care Mr Milford put into his cases didn't go unnoticed. All most people want is to be believed, and this book showed me there are people out there who are willing to listen, and who give everyone an equal amount of respect, no matter how outlandish the story may seem. He went out of his way to investigate everything, and for that, I hold him in high regard and would listen to his stories any day of the week.
This read was very much up my alley, I'm always seated for paranormal experience stories, especially ones from an indigenous perspective. Aside from that, we got some Navajo myths included, as well as some information on Navajo Rangers, what it is they do, and what it takes to become one.
Some of the paranormal experiences were quite spooky, and I felt as if I was experiencing them myself as I listened to the audiobook. There's no doubt in my mind that Milford saw what he says he saw, no sir.
If you're a believer, you'll probably go "aha, I knew it!", and if you're a skeptic, this might just make you reconsider, and go "well, what if?".
The care Mr Milford put into his cases didn't go unnoticed. All most people want is to be believed, and this book showed me there are people out there who are willing to listen, and who give everyone an equal amount of respect, no matter how outlandish the story may seem. He went out of his way to investigate everything, and for that, I hold him in high regard and would listen to his stories any day of the week.
The Unkillable Princess by Taran Hunt
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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
“Oh, I don’t like to plan ahead,” I said. “It ages you. I want to stay young and beautiful forever, like Indigo.”
Most anticipated release of my whole entire life? Methinks yes.
I have literally been recommending The Immortality Thief to anyone who would listen for YEARS, and now I get to add The Unkillable Princess to that list.
I had no doubt that this book would not only live up to my expectations, but exceed them as well, which is exactly what happened.
The Unkillable Princess is a masterpiece, second book syndrome who? Not my girl, that's for sure.
This book isn't spooky like the first one was, but the stakes are upped to the max. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, unable to breathe as Sean, Tamara and Indigo got themselves into trouble for the billionth time, and I wondered how they'd get themselves out of it.
I love my silly little space family SO MUCH you guys, I can't even describe it. I swear, I experienced an emotional roller-coaster right along with them and that ending just about broke me. I'm in tears just thinking about it. If you looked at my highlights, yes, you'd see a bunch of funny lines, but then there's chapter 80 where I have entire pages highlighted, I'm telling you, I was internally screaming.
Then there was the ending of chapter 73, where my mouth actually dropped open. I was 100% not expecting it to happen that way, and by that person. It made a lot of sense later, but at that moment I was shook. I also grew to like that character, and was hoping they'd make it to the next book, but alas.
And the ending-ending was obviously a cliffhanger, but it was a pretty optimistic one, so I have HOPE that everything will work out and everyone will be well.
Now, can we please talk about Taran Hunt's incredible writing skills? She's one of those writers who could write a sentence, and it would be the best (and funniest) thing I've ever read.
I will never get tired of Sean's internal monologue, the clever chapter titles, or the flashback sequences that let us know exactly when they occurred with a healthy dose of humour.
Speaking of flashbacks, I had a grand ol' time seeing kid-Sean's antics, and his relationship with Brigid. I wasn't sure how I felt about her, until we heard what she did for Clover, that won me over (just a bit, the second part of my trust came at the end).
We got a world expansion, and with it, new problems for our heroes. This is all done in a way where it's not overwhelming, you gradually get to discover more and more, and, as I'd love to explore every nook and cranny of this universe, I had a blast with even the tiniest things (hello place that only serves blue and not green drinks).
But the best part of this series, is, of course, the characters. They're incredible and leap off the page. Each of them would sooner face death than see their friends get hurt, but more importantly, they don't leave anyone behind. They fight together, and stay together, as a real family does.
Even when Brigid joins the fray, and complicates things, it doesn't stop our favourite trio from growing closer. The depth of feelings shown in this book...you can tell Sean, Indigo and Tamara have an indescribable bond that will only grow stronger as time passes.
I also enjoyed the teeny tiny potential romance crumbs we got, I ship all of them with everyone so however they end up I'll be happy, but I just wanna say that I'm glad it's such a slow burn, because we get to see their friendship properly develop before we jump into anything else. That's how you know their foundation will be strong.
The Unkillable Princess is a fast paced read, but nothing felt underdeveloped, not the world, not the plot, and certainly not the characters. The chapters are short, so the book is easily bingeable, but I found myself trying to drag it out as long as possible because I simply didn't want it to end. I would live in this world if I could.
If you're a fan of shows like Firefly or Vagrant Queen, you'll love this book. If you trust any of my recs, please trust this one. Taran Hunt is an amazing author, and I need this series to take over the universe, so PLEASE READ IT!!! And also buy it so the rest of the books can come out too, thank you!!
P.S. I'm in hibernation until book three.
*Huge thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Most anticipated release of my whole entire life? Methinks yes.
I have literally been recommending The Immortality Thief to anyone who would listen for YEARS, and now I get to add The Unkillable Princess to that list.
I had no doubt that this book would not only live up to my expectations, but exceed them as well, which is exactly what happened.
The Unkillable Princess is a masterpiece, second book syndrome who? Not my girl, that's for sure.
This book isn't spooky like the first one was, but the stakes are upped to the max. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, unable to breathe as Sean, Tamara and Indigo got themselves into trouble for the billionth time, and I wondered how they'd get themselves out of it.
I love my silly little space family SO MUCH you guys, I can't even describe it. I swear, I experienced an emotional roller-coaster right along with them and that ending just about broke me. I'm in tears just thinking about it. If you looked at my highlights, yes, you'd see a bunch of funny lines, but then there's chapter 80 where I have entire pages highlighted, I'm telling you, I was internally screaming.
Then there was the ending of chapter 73, where my mouth actually dropped open. I was 100% not expecting it to happen that way, and by that person. It made a lot of sense later, but at that moment I was shook. I also grew to like that character, and was hoping they'd make it to the next book, but alas.
And the ending-ending was obviously a cliffhanger, but it was a pretty optimistic one, so I have HOPE that everything will work out and everyone will be well.
Now, can we please talk about Taran Hunt's incredible writing skills? She's one of those writers who could write a sentence, and it would be the best (and funniest) thing I've ever read.
I will never get tired of Sean's internal monologue, the clever chapter titles, or the flashback sequences that let us know exactly when they occurred with a healthy dose of humour.
Speaking of flashbacks, I had a grand ol' time seeing kid-Sean's antics, and his relationship with Brigid. I wasn't sure how I felt about her, until we heard what she did for Clover, that won me over (just a bit, the second part of my trust came at the end).
We got a world expansion, and with it, new problems for our heroes. This is all done in a way where it's not overwhelming, you gradually get to discover more and more, and, as I'd love to explore every nook and cranny of this universe, I had a blast with even the tiniest things (hello place that only serves blue and not green drinks).
But the best part of this series, is, of course, the characters. They're incredible and leap off the page. Each of them would sooner face death than see their friends get hurt, but more importantly, they don't leave anyone behind. They fight together, and stay together, as a real family does.
Even when Brigid joins the fray, and complicates things, it doesn't stop our favourite trio from growing closer. The depth of feelings shown in this book...you can tell Sean, Indigo and Tamara have an indescribable bond that will only grow stronger as time passes.
I also enjoyed the teeny tiny potential romance crumbs we got, I ship all of them with everyone so however they end up I'll be happy, but I just wanna say that I'm glad it's such a slow burn, because we get to see their friendship properly develop before we jump into anything else. That's how you know their foundation will be strong.
The Unkillable Princess is a fast paced read, but nothing felt underdeveloped, not the world, not the plot, and certainly not the characters. The chapters are short, so the book is easily bingeable, but I found myself trying to drag it out as long as possible because I simply didn't want it to end. I would live in this world if I could.
If you're a fan of shows like Firefly or Vagrant Queen, you'll love this book. If you trust any of my recs, please trust this one. Taran Hunt is an amazing author, and I need this series to take over the universe, so PLEASE READ IT!!! And also buy it so the rest of the books can come out too, thank you!!
P.S. I'm in hibernation until book three.
*Huge thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
So, I have never seen the movies or read the books, and thought it would be a good idea to at least read the first book, since there's a new movie coming out. Not the best decision on my part, I need to learn that reading the book before every single movie isn't always necessary (tell that to my brain though).
I know that this came out in the 90s, and I'm aware it was a very thin-is-in kind of time, but that still doesn't make the casual fatphobia okay to me, nor is it something I want to read about in such great detail.
Perhaps I'm a bit too sensitive, because I struggled with an eating disorder for half of my life, but I couldn't stand to read the way Bridget wrote about herself, thought about herself, how others treated her etc.
On top, Daniel was insufferable, and I felt as if I'd spent eons waiting for Mark Darcy to become a love interest.
And then there was literally zero development, ZERO, they went from meeting to nothing to meeting again to nothing and then suddenly by the end of the book all is grand and he's in love with her??? Where did that come from? I also didn't feel even the tiniest spark between them, they were just so...dull?
There were some parts of the book that were okay, even somewhat funny (like Darcy staring at the bunny tail, I did smile at that) and slightly relatable, and I could see why so many people fell in love with the story, but it was just too much for me.
Hopefully the movie tackles the whole thing better, because I want to give it a chance. But the rest of the books, I'm going to have to pass on.
I know that this came out in the 90s, and I'm aware it was a very thin-is-in kind of time, but that still doesn't make the casual fatphobia okay to me, nor is it something I want to read about in such great detail.
Perhaps I'm a bit too sensitive, because I struggled with an eating disorder for half of my life, but I couldn't stand to read the way Bridget wrote about herself, thought about herself, how others treated her etc.
On top, Daniel was insufferable, and I felt as if I'd spent eons waiting for Mark Darcy to become a love interest.
And then there was literally zero development, ZERO, they went from meeting to nothing to meeting again to nothing and then suddenly by the end of the book all is grand and he's in love with her??? Where did that come from? I also didn't feel even the tiniest spark between them, they were just so...dull?
There were some parts of the book that were okay, even somewhat funny (like Darcy staring at the bunny tail, I did smile at that) and slightly relatable, and I could see why so many people fell in love with the story, but it was just too much for me.
Hopefully the movie tackles the whole thing better, because I want to give it a chance. But the rest of the books, I'm going to have to pass on.
A Cry in the Dark by Denise Grover Swank
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I wasn't completely sold on this book until about the halfway point, and now I can't wait to continue the series.
It's funny, because at the start I didn't think I'd grow to love the characters, but they somehow snuck up on me when I least expected it. And apparently, this isn't the first time Carly's showed up in a book? Guess I'll have to check out whatever series she appeared in previously as well.
The storyline took a while to get going, so it was definitely a slow burn, and it kept me guessing until the very end. I didn't figure out who the bad guy was until he was right in front of Carly.
While I loved Wyatt, my favourite relationship in the book was actually Hank and Carly's. Hank's been through so much, by the looks of things so has Carly, and the way she stepped up to take care of him (view spoiler) was so precious.
I also loved the found family aspect, the romance, and the setting. The narration was pretty good too, so I guess I'll continue with the audiobooks. This one is/was available on Hoopla as a bonus borrow, but the rest of the series isn't, so I'll have to jump into Everand again which is future Milica's problem ahem ahem.
Anyway, I'll try not to pause this series for too long, because I'm working on finishing series I started previously, so it would be nice to finish this one as well.
It's funny, because at the start I didn't think I'd grow to love the characters, but they somehow snuck up on me when I least expected it. And apparently, this isn't the first time Carly's showed up in a book? Guess I'll have to check out whatever series she appeared in previously as well.
The storyline took a while to get going, so it was definitely a slow burn, and it kept me guessing until the very end. I didn't figure out who the bad guy was until he was right in front of Carly.
While I loved Wyatt, my favourite relationship in the book was actually Hank and Carly's. Hank's been through so much, by the looks of things so has Carly, and the way she stepped up to take care of him (view spoiler) was so precious.
I also loved the found family aspect, the romance, and the setting. The narration was pretty good too, so I guess I'll continue with the audiobooks. This one is/was available on Hoopla as a bonus borrow, but the rest of the series isn't, so I'll have to jump into Everand again which is future Milica's problem ahem ahem.
Anyway, I'll try not to pause this series for too long, because I'm working on finishing series I started previously, so it would be nice to finish this one as well.
Irresistible Love by Samantha Chase
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
First read by this author, it was perfectly okay, nothing particularly wrong with it, I just didn't care for the characters as much as I was hoping to, and I won't lose sleep if I decide not to continue with the series.
It was a really fast read, I zoomed through most of it yesterday because the storyline was engaging and I didn't want to stop listening. It's also not a very high stakes read, which is something I needed while finishing up a high fantasy book.
I found some parts of it to be funny, like the two of them stalking her grandpa and the mystery woman, and the romance itself was fine. I can't say I was Lily's biggest fan, though. She could be really annoying at times, while Noah was really sweet.
The book is told in dual PoV, but we only had one narrator, which wasn't the best decision, because there were constant PoV switches and more than once I was like "wait, who are we following now".
From what I'm seeing, the other two books are the same on audio, and while I enjoyed meeting Noah's brothers, based on this book, I'm not entirely convinced that I'd love their stories. Normally a rockstar romance and an NFL one would work better for me, but I'm just not sure if I should give them a try or not.
3.5
It was a really fast read, I zoomed through most of it yesterday because the storyline was engaging and I didn't want to stop listening. It's also not a very high stakes read, which is something I needed while finishing up a high fantasy book.
I found some parts of it to be funny, like the two of them stalking her grandpa and the mystery woman, and the romance itself was fine. I can't say I was Lily's biggest fan, though. She could be really annoying at times, while Noah was really sweet.
The book is told in dual PoV, but we only had one narrator, which wasn't the best decision, because there were constant PoV switches and more than once I was like "wait, who are we following now".
From what I'm seeing, the other two books are the same on audio, and while I enjoyed meeting Noah's brothers, based on this book, I'm not entirely convinced that I'd love their stories. Normally a rockstar romance and an NFL one would work better for me, but I'm just not sure if I should give them a try or not.
3.5
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“Our plans, Majesty?”
“Your plans, Ambassador, to save the world.”
I'm a huge fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so of course I had to read Grave Empire, which is set in the same world, but a few centuries later.
I'm happy to report that this book is just as good as that series, and that I loved every single chaotic moment of it.
We went so much deeper into the world and its inhabitants, it's no wonder my favourite parts had to do with mer and cat people, they were just so fascinating.
It started off a bit slow, but in no time the pacing picked up and I had a hard time putting the book down.
Out of three PoVs we got, Peter's was my favourite, because the poor guy couldn't catch a break. It seemed like EVERYTHING was out to get him, and I loved following him from the get go. His PoV also had the most horror elements.
Then there's Renata, my second favourite, who got the chance to shine when she finally met the mer people. I loooooved exploring the underwater world so much, and the sharks??? STOP THAT'S SO CUTE!! Where can one learn Selachomancy? Asking for me.
Despite not being as skilled as Maruska (cue Maruška by Šaban Bajramović), she stepped up to the task and did an amazing job, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her character will go in the next books.
And von Oldenburg...I didn't like him, for reasons that will become obvious when you read the book, but I did enjoy following his PoV all the same (good part of the reason is Yelena), just not as much as the other two.
Mr Swan's writing has been perfect from his very first book, and yet he still finds ways to improve. Grave Empire reflects this, being the smoothest story yet. I have a feeling that readers who are new to this world will have no trouble following anything, because it's crystal clear from the start.
With that said, you should read the first trilogy so you can enjoy the little Easter eggs we got, and because it's one of my favourites (seriously, read it).
I'm in awe at how "new" Richard Swan made the world seem, it's not just "oh it's been 200 years", you can actually SEE the changes, not just world wise, but character wise as well, the way they behave etc.
Speaking of, I'm glad to see even more Slavic names and places popping up, keep it up Mr Swan, you have my seal of approval.
I have to mention the uniqueness of the plot, it perfectly ties into what happened before, while still being something new and creative (afterlife going silent, what could be causing it? Dun dun dun).
The ending made me a bit mad, but in a good way, like what do you mean there are no more pages to flip and I have to wait till the next book is released?? It was an interesting place to end the story, that's for sure.
Reading this book was such an amazing experience, I can't wait to return to this world again and again.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
“Your plans, Ambassador, to save the world.”
I'm a huge fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so of course I had to read Grave Empire, which is set in the same world, but a few centuries later.
I'm happy to report that this book is just as good as that series, and that I loved every single chaotic moment of it.
We went so much deeper into the world and its inhabitants, it's no wonder my favourite parts had to do with mer and cat people, they were just so fascinating.
It started off a bit slow, but in no time the pacing picked up and I had a hard time putting the book down.
Out of three PoVs we got, Peter's was my favourite, because the poor guy couldn't catch a break. It seemed like EVERYTHING was out to get him, and I loved following him from the get go. His PoV also had the most horror elements.
Then there's Renata, my second favourite, who got the chance to shine when she finally met the mer people. I loooooved exploring the underwater world so much, and the sharks??? STOP THAT'S SO CUTE!! Where can one learn Selachomancy? Asking for me.
Despite not being as skilled as Maruska (cue Maruška by Šaban Bajramović), she stepped up to the task and did an amazing job, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her character will go in the next books.
And von Oldenburg...I didn't like him, for reasons that will become obvious when you read the book, but I did enjoy following his PoV all the same (good part of the reason is Yelena), just not as much as the other two.
Mr Swan's writing has been perfect from his very first book, and yet he still finds ways to improve. Grave Empire reflects this, being the smoothest story yet. I have a feeling that readers who are new to this world will have no trouble following anything, because it's crystal clear from the start.
With that said, you should read the first trilogy so you can enjoy the little Easter eggs we got, and because it's one of my favourites (seriously, read it).
I'm in awe at how "new" Richard Swan made the world seem, it's not just "oh it's been 200 years", you can actually SEE the changes, not just world wise, but character wise as well, the way they behave etc.
Speaking of, I'm glad to see even more Slavic names and places popping up, keep it up Mr Swan, you have my seal of approval.
I have to mention the uniqueness of the plot, it perfectly ties into what happened before, while still being something new and creative (afterlife going silent, what could be causing it? Dun dun dun).
The ending made me a bit mad, but in a good way, like what do you mean there are no more pages to flip and I have to wait till the next book is released?? It was an interesting place to end the story, that's for sure.
Reading this book was such an amazing experience, I can't wait to return to this world again and again.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*