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el393way's reviews
224 reviews
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I would like to start by saying this audiobook is one of the best I’ve every encountered. The style in which the narrator approaches the character to give Amina snark and sass and grit is engaging. And the production decision on how the breaks from Amina recounting to story in first person to speaking to Jamal in second person was so fun. I don’t know if this would be a near 5-star read for me without the narration. Also enjoyed the Easter eggs where the audio was changed a bit to account for someone listening over reading.
This adventure story was just an overall fun, get the team back together rescue mission. It had some really endearing characters and handled topics women have to deal with so well. It thoroughly captured the things women go through and the feelings they have in a sarcastic, no punches pulled way. There was no strong feminist words with a plot to undermine what was said. The book followed through with strong female characters who did not sacrifice their beliefs for the sake of an attractive narrative.
My only critique of this book is that is jumps from so many places all over and the characters do so much, but it somehow takes almost half the book to really feel like things get going. The assembling of the team was fun but also kept starting and stopping the pace of the book.
The magic and fantasy of this book was just what you could expect from something that is supposed to be rooted in real history. I would have liked to see more magic throughout than just here and there and then concentrated at the end but that’s more personal preference than any real fault to the book.
This adventure story was just an overall fun, get the team back together rescue mission. It had some really endearing characters and handled topics women have to deal with so well. It thoroughly captured the things women go through and the feelings they have in a sarcastic, no punches pulled way. There was no strong feminist words with a plot to undermine what was said. The book followed through with strong female characters who did not sacrifice their beliefs for the sake of an attractive narrative.
My only critique of this book is that is jumps from so many places all over and the characters do so much, but it somehow takes almost half the book to really feel like things get going. The assembling of the team was fun but also kept starting and stopping the pace of the book.
The magic and fantasy of this book was just what you could expect from something that is supposed to be rooted in real history. I would have liked to see more magic throughout than just here and there and then concentrated at the end but that’s more personal preference than any real fault to the book.
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
There are a lot of similarities between the writing and world building of Hell Bent and Ninth House. One thing that Ninth House had going for it was that it was new and fresh as the first book in the series. Ninth House doesn't have that advantage, so some of the things that worked well in the first book didn't feel as novel as in Hell Bent.
I simultaneously enjoy these characters and also don't care that much about them. It's a strange in-between to feel. The beginning was slow, as was Ninth House, but it picked up quicker because the world building did not need to be as extensive as when things were first introduced. That being said, there was very little world building in this book except maybe more towards the end to set up for the third book.
The pacing of this book was much more even keeled and overall slower. It felt mostly like Alex and Dawes discussing things and then running off to do a task and then regrouping with whoever and then running off again. Repeat that throughout the whole book.
Perhaps this is just a preference, but we went from getting a cool secret society, dark academia murder mystery with supernatural tie-ins to a very confusing rescue plot that everyone seems to just crazily know how to handle. The supernatural elements in the first book were interesting and at least somewhat unique enough to make the book feel unique. The elements in Hell Bent that are introduced left me rolling my eyes because it felt like "oh god, not another one of THESE books." Of all the directions the supernatural elements could have gone, these made no sense to me.
Will I read the third book? Probably. But it won't be top of my TBR when it comes out.
I simultaneously enjoy these characters and also don't care that much about them. It's a strange in-between to feel. The beginning was slow, as was Ninth House, but it picked up quicker because the world building did not need to be as extensive as when things were first introduced. That being said, there was very little world building in this book except maybe more towards the end to set up for the third book.
The pacing of this book was much more even keeled and overall slower. It felt mostly like Alex and Dawes discussing things and then running off to do a task and then regrouping with whoever and then running off again. Repeat that throughout the whole book.
Perhaps this is just a preference, but we went from getting a cool secret society, dark academia murder mystery with supernatural tie-ins to a very confusing rescue plot that everyone seems to just crazily know how to handle. The supernatural elements in the first book were interesting and at least somewhat unique enough to make the book feel unique. The elements in Hell Bent that are introduced left me rolling my eyes because it felt like "oh god, not another one of THESE books." Of all the directions the supernatural elements could have gone, these made no sense to me.
Will I read the third book? Probably. But it won't be top of my TBR when it comes out.
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
5.0
This book was on my radar for a while and the mood hit right to start. The mix of Irish history, legends, magic, and the strong female characters really made this book to be even more than I expected. I truly enjoyed this to where I don’t have any critiques. If there are any to be had, my enjoyment in the moment overshadows it all to where I didn’t even notice them.
My biggest praise for Shauna Lawless in this book is how amazingly well she wrote strong female characters. The way in which female characters are so often poorly written as flat and cliché is really highlighted by how well the two perspectives of these books are done. And not other is there a solid female character, there are TWO. Two distinct and complex women with different motivations and backgrounds and personalities. One of them is a character I do not care for for their role in the plot but I still ate their chapters up. The refreshing feeling of getting to soak up good female characters is indescribable.
To also piggy back off discussion of the perspectives for the chapters, first person point of view is done so well. Normally, I find first person to be a bit simple in mid to high fantasy because it allows for neither a real grasp on a wide scope of the events nor a natural world building. It was over halfway through the book before I even consciously noted it was in first person.
For the world building to be so seamlessly natural in a first person pov is impressive. So often first person world building relies on extreme levels of exposition and infodumping. If there was any, I did not notice. There were just enough parts left for you to fill in on your own that I never felt talked at. But also, I never felt too confused.
I did a mixture of audio and reading and was so pleased at how amazing the narrator brought the writing to life. The writing and the audio paired so well together.
I finished this book in about two days which is not usual for me. The pacing was so spot on for consistent progression instead of starts and stops with whiplash between action and drags. I can see how some people expecting more fantasy would not enjoy the heavier political aspect over action and magic. The fantasy elements are definitely present, but they are not the forerunners for most parts. Normally I am not a fan of fantasies that lean more into the politics but wow. Definitely a favorite of the year so far.
My biggest praise for Shauna Lawless in this book is how amazingly well she wrote strong female characters. The way in which female characters are so often poorly written as flat and cliché is really highlighted by how well the two perspectives of these books are done. And not other is there a solid female character, there are TWO. Two distinct and complex women with different motivations and backgrounds and personalities. One of them is a character I do not care for for their role in the plot but I still ate their chapters up. The refreshing feeling of getting to soak up good female characters is indescribable.
To also piggy back off discussion of the perspectives for the chapters, first person point of view is done so well. Normally, I find first person to be a bit simple in mid to high fantasy because it allows for neither a real grasp on a wide scope of the events nor a natural world building. It was over halfway through the book before I even consciously noted it was in first person.
For the world building to be so seamlessly natural in a first person pov is impressive. So often first person world building relies on extreme levels of exposition and infodumping. If there was any, I did not notice. There were just enough parts left for you to fill in on your own that I never felt talked at. But also, I never felt too confused.
I did a mixture of audio and reading and was so pleased at how amazing the narrator brought the writing to life. The writing and the audio paired so well together.
I finished this book in about two days which is not usual for me. The pacing was so spot on for consistent progression instead of starts and stops with whiplash between action and drags. I can see how some people expecting more fantasy would not enjoy the heavier political aspect over action and magic. The fantasy elements are definitely present, but they are not the forerunners for most parts. Normally I am not a fan of fantasies that lean more into the politics but wow. Definitely a favorite of the year so far.
The Autobiography of a Traitor and a Half-Savage by Alix E. Harrow
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This review will be very quick.
Likes: I was very pleasantly surprised by the magic system and the characters I really liked. It was mostly easy to follow and was unique compared to a lot of stories that could be considered similar. The romance wasn’t cringey or over the top.
Less than likes: the romance was borderline romantasy but not quite there so it felt a bit stuck in between committing to one or the other. The character dynamic between Ravyn and Elsbeth was a bit on the cliched side for most of the book. It did remedy a bit towards the end. As part of a series it fell into the category I’m not fond of that leave such huge open endings that it feels like you won’t get a complete story until the end of the series. The end felt more like a chapter finishing than a book.
Likes: I was very pleasantly surprised by the magic system and the characters I really liked. It was mostly easy to follow and was unique compared to a lot of stories that could be considered similar. The romance wasn’t cringey or over the top.
Less than likes: the romance was borderline romantasy but not quite there so it felt a bit stuck in between committing to one or the other. The character dynamic between Ravyn and Elsbeth was a bit on the cliched side for most of the book. It did remedy a bit towards the end. As part of a series it fell into the category I’m not fond of that leave such huge open endings that it feels like you won’t get a complete story until the end of the series. The end felt more like a chapter finishing than a book.
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I don’t have anything negative to say. I compare this to a really fun episode of OG Supernatural pre season 6. But make it sapphic and 1940s. So great.
Sometimes you read a book as a mood and have zero expectations which lets a book really be a nice surprise. Those are the ones I enjoy the most and that what this was.
Sometimes you read a book as a mood and have zero expectations which lets a book really be a nice surprise. Those are the ones I enjoy the most and that what this was.
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book concludes the Drowning Empire Trilogy. Thank you to Net Galley and Orbit for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
This is one of the only series in recent times that I have vibed with enough to continue and finish. If you are a fan of the first two books, there is absolutely no reason I could see you would regret reading this third one. The audiobook in particular is amazing. The cast of narrators does an excellent job at reading the writing. There was never a lull that made me contemplate putting the book down.
The strengths of this book were numerous. The pacing was great. It felt less dense or rooted in the world building and history as the second and first book. It was an easier listen/read. It still had some additional world building but it was easily consumed. Parts of the world building, the most major addition this book provides, is a bit confusing and I am at a loss as to how it was brought to light in the way it was. Basically, in a world full of crazy fantastical magic and creatures, this one piece felt less than believable. Other than that one revelation, I enjoyed the other new additions to what we know of the Alonga.
The character arcs were mostly believable and satisfying. The characters felt very complete and not a lot was just left up to imagination. That can sometimes feel too finite, but it was just complete enough to feel whole. My dislikes or unsureness come from the balance of characters. Jovis and Lin are the two front runners of the first two books. They are heavily featured here, especially Jovis, but still somehow feel less important or focal to the actions of this series. It's difficult to describe because they are present and active in the plot, but a lot of what we see of them is in their head or reactionary instead of the force they showed previously. Mephi and Jovis scenes are much more sparse and less compelling than I grew to love previously. We didn't get nearly as much Mephi, which was sad. The other Ossalin (forgive me, I did audio and have no clue how this is spelled in text) are unique and cool but Mephi is the first and supreme.
The villains this books were refreshingly different than how I thought they would be. I was ready to hate the same characters in the same ways, but was surprised with how they were treated. In the best way.
I am torn on the ending, but I don't want to turn this into a review with spoilers. So, I will just say this as vaguely as possible. The ending is overall one that I am happy with, but there is an awful lot thrown into the last handful of chapters that feel almost like they were entirely new plot points. They felt almost unnecessary because they don't create any cliffhangers and also don't interfere with the way the ending initially felt like it was going.
This is one of the only series in recent times that I have vibed with enough to continue and finish. If you are a fan of the first two books, there is absolutely no reason I could see you would regret reading this third one. The audiobook in particular is amazing. The cast of narrators does an excellent job at reading the writing. There was never a lull that made me contemplate putting the book down.
The strengths of this book were numerous. The pacing was great. It felt less dense or rooted in the world building and history as the second and first book. It was an easier listen/read. It still had some additional world building but it was easily consumed. Parts of the world building, the most major addition this book provides, is a bit confusing and I am at a loss as to how it was brought to light in the way it was. Basically, in a world full of crazy fantastical magic and creatures, this one piece felt less than believable. Other than that one revelation, I enjoyed the other new additions to what we know of the Alonga.
The character arcs were mostly believable and satisfying. The characters felt very complete and not a lot was just left up to imagination. That can sometimes feel too finite, but it was just complete enough to feel whole. My dislikes or unsureness come from the balance of characters. Jovis and Lin are the two front runners of the first two books. They are heavily featured here, especially Jovis, but still somehow feel less important or focal to the actions of this series. It's difficult to describe because they are present and active in the plot, but a lot of what we see of them is in their head or reactionary instead of the force they showed previously. Mephi and Jovis scenes are much more sparse and less compelling than I grew to love previously. We didn't get nearly as much Mephi, which was sad. The other Ossalin (forgive me, I did audio and have no clue how this is spelled in text) are unique and cool but Mephi is the first and supreme.
The villains this books were refreshingly different than how I thought they would be. I was ready to hate the same characters in the same ways, but was surprised with how they were treated. In the best way.
I am torn on the ending, but I don't want to turn this into a review with spoilers. So, I will just say this as vaguely as possible. The ending is overall one that I am happy with, but there is an awful lot thrown into the last handful of chapters that feel almost like they were entirely new plot points. They felt almost unnecessary because they don't create any cliffhangers and also don't interfere with the way the ending initially felt like it was going.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Some Desperate Glory is a new-adult space opera that follows a young woman as she realizes the world she knew may not be the correct way to exist.
Some Desperate Glory has a very strong opening and overall concept. Earth was annihilated and you get to follow someone who was raised to believe the remaining humans needed to fight to preserve humanity. It attempts to entwine the plot with social issues such as racism, trans/homophobia, forced pregnancy, brainwashing, etc. The writing and world building is very strong at times. It’s very inconsistent though. Never has a book given me such whiplash how into it I am.
For the first 20% of the book, I was hyped and enthralled. The main character quickly got a bit boring and cringey. It’s to be expected when you are seeing her perspective as someone essentially brainwashed. She stays on the unbearable side of unlikable for more than half the book. I was very excited to see an unlikable character get a satisfying wake up call and character arc but her changes started super late. Most of the side characters were more interesting than she was.
Without spoiling the plot device used in the back half of the book, I will just say it lends very easily to repetition and slumps. The pacing would ramp up for a brief whirlwind then swing down again and repeat.
I don’t think I’ve ever read something that I was simultaneously so into at times and also very detached at others. Had the whole book been on par with its good parts, I would have absolutely loved it.
As it is, I enjoyed it just fine. I can see why others like it. It being marketed as adult and lgbt perhaps set it up to be a bit of a disappointment as that’s partly what got me excited about it. However, I wouldn’t really label it as either. Borderline YA to new adult. It has queer representation but I didn’t get any lgbt focus except in a couple tiny scenes. It was there but the author tackled so many social issues that it felt more like it was in line with general social commentary, not that it was crucial to the plot.
Some Desperate Glory has a very strong opening and overall concept. Earth was annihilated and you get to follow someone who was raised to believe the remaining humans needed to fight to preserve humanity. It attempts to entwine the plot with social issues such as racism, trans/homophobia, forced pregnancy, brainwashing, etc. The writing and world building is very strong at times. It’s very inconsistent though. Never has a book given me such whiplash how into it I am.
For the first 20% of the book, I was hyped and enthralled. The main character quickly got a bit boring and cringey. It’s to be expected when you are seeing her perspective as someone essentially brainwashed. She stays on the unbearable side of unlikable for more than half the book. I was very excited to see an unlikable character get a satisfying wake up call and character arc but her changes started super late. Most of the side characters were more interesting than she was.
Without spoiling the plot device used in the back half of the book, I will just say it lends very easily to repetition and slumps. The pacing would ramp up for a brief whirlwind then swing down again and repeat.
I don’t think I’ve ever read something that I was simultaneously so into at times and also very detached at others. Had the whole book been on par with its good parts, I would have absolutely loved it.
As it is, I enjoyed it just fine. I can see why others like it. It being marketed as adult and lgbt perhaps set it up to be a bit of a disappointment as that’s partly what got me excited about it. However, I wouldn’t really label it as either. Borderline YA to new adult. It has queer representation but I didn’t get any lgbt focus except in a couple tiny scenes. It was there but the author tackled so many social issues that it felt more like it was in line with general social commentary, not that it was crucial to the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Transphobia, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Homophobia