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488 reviews
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
3.0
This Review does not contain spoilers for this book. However, it does contain spoilers for the rest of the series.
TW: mentions of attempted rape, homophobia
The Mortal Instruments Series is a Series I DNFd right before my big reading slump. So I decided to try again. I will say: The books are very entertaining. We have fun and we are immersed in an exciting world just slightly different from our own.
However, this series (and this book) have some major issues. The first and most obvious are the multitude of incestuous and almost (?) incestuous relationships. Like the Clary-Jace thing was already really weird but then Sebastians Obsession with Clary and the attempted rape where just.. Too much. I think one of these things on its own could've been a plot device, something stupid that happens or something that illustrates just how little Sebastan understands of love. But both? Together with Alecs crush on Jace? It just makes it feel like the author might have a thing for her brother.
On the Topic of Alec, the next issue I have with this series pops up. His relationship with Magnus is complicated, as things are when the family isnt happy with their son being gay, but are the biphobic comments really necessary? Why is Alec so obsessed with who Magnus had sex with? It's just a little iffy. And as a bisexual woman, the continuous questioning about Magnus sexual past and hypersexualisation of his character just hits a little too close to home, especially since it is barely criticized.
Also the Maia-Jordan thing felt rushed, weird and overall uncomfy.
I was happy when Helen and Aline were introduced, but it really is the bare minimum of representation. I just wish we would've seen more of them. This did somewhat improve towards the end though. (But we see more of Emma and Julian in a spin off series so maybe there's more?)
In general, while Homophobia among the elder generation of shadowhunters was discussed, it was never really described as a problem? Like yea Alec doesn't want to come out at first because of it and there was that scene with his dad at the end but other than that it's just kind of like: yes our parents all disprove but who cares. Which is just. Not representative of most queer youths feelings toward the subject. One character like that is one thing but all of them? It feels somewhat unrealistic.
There's more, but these are the issues that were the most obvious to me.
That being said, I did like this book and this series. It was relatively fast paced (with the exception of book 4), the premise felt new (although I have heard rumors of plagiarism, I'm just not well informed on that front), the characters were consistently written and multidimensional.
I also have a high opinion of the way consent was written into the steamer scenes of this book. It was very well done and highlighted exactly what a clear situation looks like and how much more comfortable it is.
I had fun reading this series and I don't necessarily think that is bad, as long as I still critique the obvious issues.
TW: mentions of attempted rape, homophobia
The Mortal Instruments Series is a Series I DNFd right before my big reading slump. So I decided to try again. I will say: The books are very entertaining. We have fun and we are immersed in an exciting world just slightly different from our own.
However, this series (and this book) have some major issues. The first and most obvious are the multitude of incestuous and almost (?) incestuous relationships. Like the Clary-Jace thing was already really weird but then Sebastians Obsession with Clary and the attempted rape where just.. Too much. I think one of these things on its own could've been a plot device, something stupid that happens or something that illustrates just how little Sebastan understands of love. But both? Together with Alecs crush on Jace? It just makes it feel like the author might have a thing for her brother.
On the Topic of Alec, the next issue I have with this series pops up. His relationship with Magnus is complicated, as things are when the family isnt happy with their son being gay, but are the biphobic comments really necessary? Why is Alec so obsessed with who Magnus had sex with? It's just a little iffy. And as a bisexual woman, the continuous questioning about Magnus sexual past and hypersexualisation of his character just hits a little too close to home, especially since it is barely criticized.
Also the Maia-Jordan thing felt rushed, weird and overall uncomfy.
I was happy when Helen and Aline were introduced, but it really is the bare minimum of representation. I just wish we would've seen more of them. This did somewhat improve towards the end though. (But we see more of Emma and Julian in a spin off series so maybe there's more?)
In general, while Homophobia among the elder generation of shadowhunters was discussed, it was never really described as a problem? Like yea Alec doesn't want to come out at first because of it and there was that scene with his dad at the end but other than that it's just kind of like: yes our parents all disprove but who cares. Which is just. Not representative of most queer youths feelings toward the subject. One character like that is one thing but all of them? It feels somewhat unrealistic.
There's more, but these are the issues that were the most obvious to me.
That being said, I did like this book and this series. It was relatively fast paced (with the exception of book 4), the premise felt new (although I have heard rumors of plagiarism, I'm just not well informed on that front), the characters were consistently written and multidimensional.
I also have a high opinion of the way consent was written into the steamer scenes of this book. It was very well done and highlighted exactly what a clear situation looks like and how much more comfortable it is.
I had fun reading this series and I don't necessarily think that is bad, as long as I still critique the obvious issues.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5.0
I loved this book. It was a great sequel. Thrilling from start to finish, sexy, immersive.
I have only one point to critique: representation of LGBTQ people. Namely: there's barely any. While Poppy does make a small "live and let live" kinda speech, there are no LGBTQ characters to speak of.
I have no critique in regards to representation of POC, there seemed to be characters of every color in most any standing. My personal feeling is that it is better than most high fantasy settings in this regard. I am however, not a person of color, so read reviews from people of color on that point in particular.
On to praise: I found consent and healthy relationship dynamics incredibly well done in this book, especially since it follows the enemies to lovers trope which often seems to disregard those aspects or have trouble bringing both under the same hat.
The last plottwist was incredibly well foreshadowed. It was not obvious but it didn't come out of nowhere either, something I truly appreciate. It still left me wanting more and increasingly excited for the release of the crown of gilded bones!
I found the pacing engaging, slow enough to avoid confusion and display poppys thoughts, feelings and development without seeming rushed or inunderstandable but fast enough to keep things happening and reflect the short span of time the story takes place in.
Many are bothered by JLAs use of ellipses, I don't really mind but am happy that it was not as excessive as in FBAA.
The descriptive writing transported me into the places in the book and made me feel like I really was getting to know the characters more. I enjoyed the multifaceted description of Poppys gift and was gripped by the realistic conflict it caused.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. That being most important and praise being much larger than criticism, I gave this book a 5 Star rating. Simply stunning.
I have only one point to critique: representation of LGBTQ people. Namely: there's barely any. While Poppy does make a small "live and let live" kinda speech, there are no LGBTQ characters to speak of.
I have no critique in regards to representation of POC, there seemed to be characters of every color in most any standing. My personal feeling is that it is better than most high fantasy settings in this regard. I am however, not a person of color, so read reviews from people of color on that point in particular.
On to praise: I found consent and healthy relationship dynamics incredibly well done in this book, especially since it follows the enemies to lovers trope which often seems to disregard those aspects or have trouble bringing both under the same hat.
The last plottwist was incredibly well foreshadowed. It was not obvious but it didn't come out of nowhere either, something I truly appreciate. It still left me wanting more and increasingly excited for the release of the crown of gilded bones!
I found the pacing engaging, slow enough to avoid confusion and display poppys thoughts, feelings and development without seeming rushed or inunderstandable but fast enough to keep things happening and reflect the short span of time the story takes place in.
Many are bothered by JLAs use of ellipses, I don't really mind but am happy that it was not as excessive as in FBAA.
The descriptive writing transported me into the places in the book and made me feel like I really was getting to know the characters more. I enjoyed the multifaceted description of Poppys gift and was gripped by the realistic conflict it caused.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. That being most important and praise being much larger than criticism, I gave this book a 5 Star rating. Simply stunning.
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
2.0
This could have easily been a four or five star read. The premise was well set up. The characters had chemistry. It made me care about fictional high society drama in a record breakingly short amount of time. I was invested. It was a feel good historical romance, a quick weekend read. But no.
Rape is still rape when it's a man. Rape is still rape when there was consent but the other person changed their mind.
Also it was painfully ironic that Daphne told Simon she knew he would never force her to let him into her bed and then like 50 pages later...
And the worst part: it isn't even really criticized! Simon's more mad at the fact that he started to stutter! Wtf! Especially since she got what she wanted in the end and I just think that's a horrible message to send.
The only reason this isn't a one star review is because of how much I loved the book up until that point. Which is also the only reason I'm giving this series another chance with the Second book, in the hopes that the author didn't make such a choice in poor taste repeatedly.
Rape is still rape when it's a man. Rape is still rape when there was consent but the other person changed their mind.
Also it was painfully ironic that Daphne told Simon she knew he would never force her to let him into her bed and then like 50 pages later...
And the worst part: it isn't even really criticized! Simon's more mad at the fact that he started to stutter! Wtf! Especially since she got what she wanted in the end and I just think that's a horrible message to send.
The only reason this isn't a one star review is because of how much I loved the book up until that point. Which is also the only reason I'm giving this series another chance with the Second book, in the hopes that the author didn't make such a choice in poor taste repeatedly.
The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
5.0
This book was amazing!
We got to see some of our favorite heroes again, all while getting to know characters that felt new and fresh. Apollo is the best kind of unreliable narrator: the one who knows he is, and tells you so too.
I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this. I was also happy with representation.
The writing is exactly what one expects from Riordan: fast-paced, witty, easy to understand and with depth. I was also greeted with a heavy dose of nostalgia, seeing the heroes from my childhood brought back to life.
All in all a great reading experience.
We got to see some of our favorite heroes again, all while getting to know characters that felt new and fresh. Apollo is the best kind of unreliable narrator: the one who knows he is, and tells you so too.
I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this. I was also happy with representation.
The writing is exactly what one expects from Riordan: fast-paced, witty, easy to understand and with depth. I was also greeted with a heavy dose of nostalgia, seeing the heroes from my childhood brought back to life.
All in all a great reading experience.
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
4.0
Unlike the first book, I LOVED this one. It was witty, fun and still managed to feel very real. I liked Anthony and Kate and I especially liked Kate's Corgi.
I laughed, I gasped, I cringed in embarrassment.
I laughed, I gasped, I cringed in embarrassment.