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geekyjack's Reviews (283)
"In The Job you don't get to be human - not when you're on the clock" ~ PC Peter Grant, 'Broken Homes' by Ben Aaronovitch.
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I've just finished book four in the 'Rivers of London' series, and it was bloody brilliant. This series keeps on getting better. And twistier. Just when you think you know what's coming, twist. The ending of this one makes me want more very soon.
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One thing I've been enjoying about this series is the educational aspect of Ben's writing. So far each book has taught me things, and are usually quite interesting. The first taught me all about London's River's. The second about Jazz, especially in Britain. The third was full of information about the London Underground. And this one taught me about Architecture. And it's told in a way that makes it quite amusing and fun.
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Another great aspect is the characters. All of them are fantastic, from Peter Grant and Nightingale, to the minor ones like Dr Walid. I absolutely adore Molly though, the weird housekeeper of The Folly. She's strange and creepy and her experiments with food regularly make me laugh.
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Everything from the plots of the previous books is brought into this one and developed upon making it a more detailed and believable world. I love the mechanics behind the magic and the history of this fictional world.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again... If you haven't read these books yet, fucking but them now
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I've just finished book four in the 'Rivers of London' series, and it was bloody brilliant. This series keeps on getting better. And twistier. Just when you think you know what's coming, twist. The ending of this one makes me want more very soon.
.
One thing I've been enjoying about this series is the educational aspect of Ben's writing. So far each book has taught me things, and are usually quite interesting. The first taught me all about London's River's. The second about Jazz, especially in Britain. The third was full of information about the London Underground. And this one taught me about Architecture. And it's told in a way that makes it quite amusing and fun.
.
Another great aspect is the characters. All of them are fantastic, from Peter Grant and Nightingale, to the minor ones like Dr Walid. I absolutely adore Molly though, the weird housekeeper of The Folly. She's strange and creepy and her experiments with food regularly make me laugh.
.
Everything from the plots of the previous books is brought into this one and developed upon making it a more detailed and believable world. I love the mechanics behind the magic and the history of this fictional world.
.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... If you haven't read these books yet, fucking but them now
"Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear's path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain," ~ Dune by Frank Herbert.
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I have finished reading 'Dune' as part of #JuneWithDune Readalong. It's also the first book that I've ticked off my #2020Classics list. And I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this book. I hated the first 40 or 50 pages and was incredibly confused. I loved the rest of Book 1. I hated almost all of Book 2 which was the whole middle section. I loved Book 3.
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Considering this book was originally released over 50 years ago, it feels a lot more modern than it is in both its content and it's writing style. Frank Herbert has created an incredibley immersive world with language, religion, prophecy, races and characters, all culminating in a story of epic proportions. While this is a good thing, it does mean it takes time to understand what the fuck is actually happening, especially at the start.
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I loved the elements of conniving and scheming between Houses throughout the story and Herbert's action is brilliantly written, although I feel there wasn't quite enough of it, with some battle scenes entirely overlooked. The parts I didn't like were the many lengthy dialogue scenes which didn't always seem to progress the story, ie, most of Book 2.
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As for the characters, they are all well developed and well written. Paul-Muad'Dib is a brilliant central character from start to finish that's kept me engaged, but this in part was thanks to the Freman people who were just a fantastic race. As for the Baron, he was the perfect detestable villain.
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Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were slow moments which I was bored with, but it's a largely enjoyable read. Good enough for me to pick up Dune Messiah? I'm not sure yet.
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I have finished reading 'Dune' as part of #JuneWithDune Readalong. It's also the first book that I've ticked off my #2020Classics list. And I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this book. I hated the first 40 or 50 pages and was incredibly confused. I loved the rest of Book 1. I hated almost all of Book 2 which was the whole middle section. I loved Book 3.
.
Considering this book was originally released over 50 years ago, it feels a lot more modern than it is in both its content and it's writing style. Frank Herbert has created an incredibley immersive world with language, religion, prophecy, races and characters, all culminating in a story of epic proportions. While this is a good thing, it does mean it takes time to understand what the fuck is actually happening, especially at the start.
.
I loved the elements of conniving and scheming between Houses throughout the story and Herbert's action is brilliantly written, although I feel there wasn't quite enough of it, with some battle scenes entirely overlooked. The parts I didn't like were the many lengthy dialogue scenes which didn't always seem to progress the story, ie, most of Book 2.
.
As for the characters, they are all well developed and well written. Paul-Muad'Dib is a brilliant central character from start to finish that's kept me engaged, but this in part was thanks to the Freman people who were just a fantastic race. As for the Baron, he was the perfect detestable villain.
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Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were slow moments which I was bored with, but it's a largely enjoyable read. Good enough for me to pick up Dune Messiah? I'm not sure yet.
"Humanity had come as far as it had in a haze of war, sickness, violence and genocide. History was drenched in blood. But it also has cooperation, kindness and generosity. The one didn't come without the other. However terrible humanity's failings were, there was still a little more in them worth admiring," ~ Babylon's Ashes by James S.A. Corey
Six books into 'The Expanse' and it's safe to say this series is still enjoyable. While this book certainly wasn't the best in the series so far, it was a good read that kept me entertained and rounded off the end of the second trilogy nicely.
I did enjoy this book, but it is definitely one of the weaker ones in the series to date. I felt at times that there were too many different characters doing too many different things that at times I totally lost track of what was happening. There was also the return of a lot of different characters that haven't been mentioned for a few books so I was struggling to remember who the fuck they were... Maybe that's partly because I've left such big gaps between reading the next book?
The story certainly had some gripping moments, but not quite to the scale I have been used to from these books. I feel that it could maybe have been a hundred or so pages shorter or maybe have added in a few more skirmishes considering how it was constantly mentioned how it was 'the biggest space battle in human history'. Some of the battles were certainly glossed over.
As usual, I love a few of the characters in this series. I'm always happy to see a chapter about Amos, Avasarala and Bobbie, and thankfully this book contained all three. They are such memorable and loveable characters. This time around I was annoyed every time Filip appeared. He's just a whiney little bitch that annoyed me, even in his mini-redemption chapter.
Overall, another good book, but possibly my least favourite of the series to date. It tied up lose ends and brought a close to the second trilogy. Thankfully I've heard superb things about the next two books.
🚀🚀🚀/5
Six books into 'The Expanse' and it's safe to say this series is still enjoyable. While this book certainly wasn't the best in the series so far, it was a good read that kept me entertained and rounded off the end of the second trilogy nicely.
I did enjoy this book, but it is definitely one of the weaker ones in the series to date. I felt at times that there were too many different characters doing too many different things that at times I totally lost track of what was happening. There was also the return of a lot of different characters that haven't been mentioned for a few books so I was struggling to remember who the fuck they were... Maybe that's partly because I've left such big gaps between reading the next book?
The story certainly had some gripping moments, but not quite to the scale I have been used to from these books. I feel that it could maybe have been a hundred or so pages shorter or maybe have added in a few more skirmishes considering how it was constantly mentioned how it was 'the biggest space battle in human history'. Some of the battles were certainly glossed over.
As usual, I love a few of the characters in this series. I'm always happy to see a chapter about Amos, Avasarala and Bobbie, and thankfully this book contained all three. They are such memorable and loveable characters. This time around I was annoyed every time Filip appeared. He's just a whiney little bitch that annoyed me, even in his mini-redemption chapter.
Overall, another good book, but possibly my least favourite of the series to date. It tied up lose ends and brought a close to the second trilogy. Thankfully I've heard superb things about the next two books.
🚀🚀🚀/5