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caseyundercovers's reviews
166 reviews
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
It's a classic Christmas story, and I'm glad I read it. Why that ending, though?
And the 7 year old got engaged. The end.
And the 7 year old got engaged. The end.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
I seriously considered DNFing this book and I probably should have.
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.
I thought the book's paranormal aspects and ghost character were really interesting, but that didn't save it for me. Nothing was appealing about the hunting or basketball for me, if those are things you are interested in then perhaps you'd enjoy this book more than I did. The animal death was more brutal than I could handle. The final chase scene went on for some time, killing the momentum of the ending for me.
I'd give this author another try, the idea of this book was interesting, but the surrounding topics weren't for me personally.
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.
I thought the book's paranormal aspects and ghost character were really interesting, but that didn't save it for me. Nothing was appealing about the hunting or basketball for me, if those are things you are interested in then perhaps you'd enjoy this book more than I did. The animal death was more brutal than I could handle. The final chase scene went on for some time, killing the momentum of the ending for me.
I'd give this author another try, the idea of this book was interesting, but the surrounding topics weren't for me personally.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I liked this book more than I thought I would going into it.
The government in this world has been eliminated and nearly all power has been surrendered to The Thunderhead (a supercomputer of some kind) that manages the needs of humankind. The Thunderhead reminded me of Brainiac from Superman, which I'll keep in mind when I continue the series. The only area where The Thunderhead does not reign is where death is concerned, that is where the Sythedom comes in. Scythes are tasked with "gleaning" people, that is killing them for good. In a world where diseases have been eradicated, injuries even of the most severe nature can be healed in a matter of days, and aging can be reversed, it has been left to the Scythes to decide who should be gleaned as well as how, when, and why they should be gleaned. They have a code of commandments, but each has their methods for choosing victims.
Our main characters are Citra and Rowan, two teenagers who have been chosen by Scythe Faraday as his new apprentices. As they begin their training under Scythe Faraday they learn various weaponry, combat, poisons, histories, etc. After several months as apprentices, the trio attends the seasonal conclave of Scythes where the obvious villain of the story, Scythe Goddard calls outrage that Scythe Faraday has taken on two apprentices and it is decided that only one apprentice may advance to sythehood in the end and their first act as a Scythe will be to glean the other.
Let's backtrack to Sythe Goddard, this man might as well be Emperor Palpatine walking around he is so obviously evil. We meet him as he and his disciples mass glean a passenger plane and then later a mall food court. He believes that the rules of the Scythedom are outdated, quotas are no fun, and his preferred method for selecting gleaning victims is to recreate mass death events. Fun guy.
To prevent his apprentices from having to glean one another, Scythe Faraday gleans himself believing that Citra and Rowan will be released from the apprenticeships and be able to return from their families. However, Emperor Goddard Palpatine attempts to claim both apprentices as his own but is stopped by Scythe Marie Curie, a legendary Scythe who takes Citra on as her apprentice. The apprentices will not be spared their final conflict, but now they will be prepared in wildly different ways.
My favorite part of this book was the world-building in this book. The technology that has eliminated the ailments of mankind is really interesting. What I wouldn't give for the painkilling nanites! Imagine a world without headaches or cramps!
My least favorite part of this book was the romance between the two main characters, it was a forced proximity situation, a build-up for future installments of the series I'm sure, but I just didn't need it in this story. Friends to rivals if that's your sort of thing, it's in here.
I do look forward to continuing the series. I think the future of Rowan and Citra's rivalry and/or romance will be interesting in this world. I also know that The Thunderhead has to come into play in a big way in future installments and that I am most excited to see.
The government in this world has been eliminated and nearly all power has been surrendered to The Thunderhead (a supercomputer of some kind) that manages the needs of humankind. The Thunderhead reminded me of Brainiac from Superman, which I'll keep in mind when I continue the series. The only area where The Thunderhead does not reign is where death is concerned, that is where the Sythedom comes in. Scythes are tasked with "gleaning" people, that is killing them for good. In a world where diseases have been eradicated, injuries even of the most severe nature can be healed in a matter of days, and aging can be reversed, it has been left to the Scythes to decide who should be gleaned as well as how, when, and why they should be gleaned. They have a code of commandments, but each has their methods for choosing victims.
Our main characters are Citra and Rowan, two teenagers who have been chosen by Scythe Faraday as his new apprentices. As they begin their training under Scythe Faraday they learn various weaponry, combat, poisons, histories, etc. After several months as apprentices, the trio attends the seasonal conclave of Scythes where the obvious villain of the story, Scythe Goddard calls outrage that Scythe Faraday has taken on two apprentices and it is decided that only one apprentice may advance to sythehood in the end and their first act as a Scythe will be to glean the other.
Let's backtrack to Sythe Goddard, this man might as well be Emperor Palpatine walking around he is so obviously evil. We meet him as he and his disciples mass glean a passenger plane and then later a mall food court. He believes that the rules of the Scythedom are outdated, quotas are no fun, and his preferred method for selecting gleaning victims is to recreate mass death events. Fun guy.
To prevent his apprentices from having to glean one another, Scythe Faraday gleans himself believing that Citra and Rowan will be released from the apprenticeships and be able to return from their families. However, Emperor Goddard Palpatine attempts to claim both apprentices as his own but is stopped by Scythe Marie Curie, a legendary Scythe who takes Citra on as her apprentice. The apprentices will not be spared their final conflict, but now they will be prepared in wildly different ways.
My favorite part of this book was the world-building in this book. The technology that has eliminated the ailments of mankind is really interesting. What I wouldn't give for the painkilling nanites! Imagine a world without headaches or cramps!
My least favorite part of this book was the romance between the two main characters, it was a forced proximity situation, a build-up for future installments of the series I'm sure, but I just didn't need it in this story. Friends to rivals if that's your sort of thing, it's in here.
I do look forward to continuing the series. I think the future of Rowan and Citra's rivalry and/or romance will be interesting in this world. I also know that The Thunderhead has to come into play in a big way in future installments and that I am most excited to see.
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The nostalgia boost I didn't know I needed.
This book was a warm hug to my heart.
The writing and plot were not the strongest. Maybe the plot gets stronger as the trilogy progresses. But none of that matters because this book was nostalgic fun, and that's all it needed to be.
This book was a warm hug to my heart.
The writing and plot were not the strongest. Maybe the plot gets stronger as the trilogy progresses. But none of that matters because this book was nostalgic fun, and that's all it needed to be.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book is an abstract experience unlike anything else I've ever read wrapped in a dream.
In reading this book, you will wonder who, what, when, where, and why while coming to understand before, during, and after.
In reading this book, you will wonder who, what, when, where, and why while coming to understand before, during, and after.
The Night House: A novel by Jo Nesbø
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If subverting expectations needed a new poster child, I found it.
My thoughts going into this book was that it was a Goosebumps-esque, Stephen King on a weird day type book. That is what I got...at first.
In the very first chapter, a kid gets eaten by a payphone, and I was committed to the weird immediately. And the weird was delivered until it was yanked out from under my feet at the beginning of part two, and I had to rethink everything I'd read so far. Which fine, I did. And then the weird came again, and I was confused. And then it was yanked out again in the beginning of part three, and by then, I was over it.
I could have loved a fully fleshed out version of part one. I do not like parts two and three.
It was an entertaining read, but not one I could recommend.
My thoughts going into this book was that it was a Goosebumps-esque, Stephen King on a weird day type book. That is what I got...at first.
In the very first chapter, a kid gets eaten by a payphone, and I was committed to the weird immediately. And the weird was delivered until it was yanked out from under my feet at the beginning of part two, and I had to rethink everything I'd read so far. Which fine, I did. And then the weird came again, and I was confused. And then it was yanked out again in the beginning of part three, and by then, I was over it.
I could have loved a fully fleshed out version of part one. I do not like parts two and three.
It was an entertaining read, but not one I could recommend.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It took me a minute to get used to the language in this book, but once I did, it wasn't as challenging as I thought it would be. This book is one that will make you think about the true nature of good vs. evil and the role of reformation that the government plays in our society. I think the "charm" for lack of a better word, of our Humble Narrator is one of the reasons this book is so readable. He's a horrid bastard who has done terrible things, but his "charm" does make his story easier to digest. I suppose that makes me as gullible as one of his victims, but then I surmise that was precisely the author's aim.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A spicy, vampire, historical fiction with touches of horror. This Dracula retelling focuses on Dracula's wives/husband and the relationships between these four characters. It was fine for what it was. It had lovely writing, but the story wasn't as fleshed out as I had hoped, nor did it have much of the original story in it. But for a quick popcorn read for spooky season, yes, I'd recommend it.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror by Robert Louis Stevenson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
This was a re-read after having read it in my senior year of high school 15 years ago, I loved it then, I love it now. My first cultural exposure to this story was watching The Pagemaster when I was little, so I've almost always known the story, but how I wish I didn't! I can only imagine the impact of reading this book unspoiled for the first time. Still, I really enjoy the mystery and the atmosphere of this book and recommend it to any horror enthusiasts.