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clemslibrary's reviews
270 reviews
Queen of None by Natania Barron
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in return for an honest review
Queen of None is a retelling of King Arthur from the point of view of his sister, Anna, following her return to court after her husband's death.
This is a story of subtle rage and scheming, Anna was shipped off at 13 to marry a man in order to benefit her brother, and her return 20 years later is filled with pain and suffering. Used as a pawn, Anna desires to have more and enact revenge in ways she does not even realise. Once more she is married off by her brother, but this time she uses her power to create changes alongside her sisters.
Anna is more than just a sister, a wife, a mother - she is schemer and has the power to wield shadows to not be seen, allowing her to move pieces on the playing court to create change. The nature of the story itself is refreshing, Anna is willing to go to extreme lengths to not fall into a pit of desperation and allow men to keep using her.
The narrative is told in an interesting way, it seems as though Anna is recalling her past, and we see nudges and hints to the events to follow from the way she remembers certain events.
I did feel that the last third of the story was very different to the rest, and struggled to fully understand why everything was being done and the purpose of such a change.
This isn't a fantasy romance in my opinion, whilst there is romance the story is much more focused on Anna's growth as a character and her identity within the narrative. And the little romance that is in this is mostly about arranged marriages, something that Anna explicitly does not like.
This was an enthralling fantasy story on female identity, and I really enjoyed all the different character interactions!
Queen of None is a retelling of King Arthur from the point of view of his sister, Anna, following her return to court after her husband's death.
This is a story of subtle rage and scheming, Anna was shipped off at 13 to marry a man in order to benefit her brother, and her return 20 years later is filled with pain and suffering. Used as a pawn, Anna desires to have more and enact revenge in ways she does not even realise. Once more she is married off by her brother, but this time she uses her power to create changes alongside her sisters.
Anna is more than just a sister, a wife, a mother - she is schemer and has the power to wield shadows to not be seen, allowing her to move pieces on the playing court to create change. The nature of the story itself is refreshing, Anna is willing to go to extreme lengths to not fall into a pit of desperation and allow men to keep using her.
The narrative is told in an interesting way, it seems as though Anna is recalling her past, and we see nudges and hints to the events to follow from the way she remembers certain events.
I did feel that the last third of the story was very different to the rest, and struggled to fully understand why everything was being done and the purpose of such a change.
This isn't a fantasy romance in my opinion, whilst there is romance the story is much more focused on Anna's growth as a character and her identity within the narrative. And the little romance that is in this is mostly about arranged marriages, something that Anna explicitly does not like.
This was an enthralling fantasy story on female identity, and I really enjoyed all the different character interactions!
Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Whilst i like the concept and atmosphere of the story, the writing and overall feel of the story is leaning heavily on the young end of YA which is something that i’m not really enjoying
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
4.75
the last 5 chapters were crazy
okay what a book. i loved this and i loved fitz but my god is he going through it. this world and series is already so good and i can’t wait to keep going
okay what a book. i loved this and i loved fitz but my god is he going through it. this world and series is already so good and i can’t wait to keep going
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
writing style isn’t for me and i’m not as engaged as i should be for such an interesting concept
Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
4.0
a super fun and exciting start to a trilogy - dragons, a society where gender is fluid and not assumed and a heist!
this is an interesting start and i’m excited to see where the series goes, i’d love to have a deeper understanding of the magic system itself in the following books. i do wish there had been more dragons but it was a cool twist at the end with the betrayal we were expecting from the beginning
this is an interesting start and i’m excited to see where the series goes, i’d love to have a deeper understanding of the magic system itself in the following books. i do wish there had been more dragons but it was a cool twist at the end with the betrayal we were expecting from the beginning
Only the Brave by Solmussa
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The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
4.0
this was a beautifully captivating ya story with a queer normative world, trans main character and a trial!
aiden thomas makes such compelling worlds and characters, i never felt bored and was constantly wondering where the plot was going to go. the trial itself was so interesting to read about, and the already set relationships between most of the competitors helped to add intrigue and set up for great character growth
the causal queerness and acceptance will always be something i love, in addition to having a deaf character meant that the world was so lovely to read about
i cannot wait to read the sequel, especially to see where aurelio and teo’s complicated relationship with each other goes and develops
i predicted one part of the ending but the other element shocked me, and the world we’re left with has so much potential!
aiden thomas makes such compelling worlds and characters, i never felt bored and was constantly wondering where the plot was going to go. the trial itself was so interesting to read about, and the already set relationships between most of the competitors helped to add intrigue and set up for great character growth
the causal queerness and acceptance will always be something i love, in addition to having a deaf character meant that the world was so lovely to read about
i cannot wait to read the sequel, especially to see where aurelio and teo’s complicated relationship with each other goes and develops
i predicted one part of the ending but the other element shocked me, and the world we’re left with has so much potential!
Fallen Thorns by Harvey Oliver Baxter
4.75
what the fuck
WHAT DO YOU MEAN AT THAT CERTAIN THING!!!!!ben dying actually killed me. first time ive cried over a book this year. in a coffee shop of all places
i love them all. arlo is actually the sweetest person alive and him acknowledging his sexuality (aromantic & asexual) in the moment was so sweet. the vibes everyone has here are impeccable and their character dynamics are definitely the strong point of the book!
a queer normative world with vampires is all i can really ask for. also the different presentation/view of vampires was so cool to read
i need the sequel right now or i might actually combust!!!!!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN AT THAT CERTAIN THING!!!!!
i love them all. arlo is actually the sweetest person alive and him acknowledging his sexuality (aromantic & asexual) in the moment was so sweet. the vibes everyone has here are impeccable and their character dynamics are definitely the strong point of the book!
a queer normative world with vampires is all i can really ask for. also the different presentation/view of vampires was so cool to read
i need the sequel right now or i might actually combust!!!!!
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
4.25
this truly is as good as everyone says, if the start is as amazing as this i cannot wait to see where the series goes
following fitz through his childhood made me care about him and his ideas, and whilst there was some dense moments i can understand that for such an expansive series it can be necessary and i didn’t mind them either
loved the world and the politics we have been introduced to and the potential everything holds!!
following fitz through his childhood made me care about him and his ideas, and whilst there was some dense moments i can understand that for such an expansive series it can be necessary and i didn’t mind them either
loved the world and the politics we have been introduced to and the potential everything holds!!