grogu_djarin's reviews
125 reviews

The Talismans of Shannara by Terry Brooks

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
This was a great conclusion to the Heritage of Shannara tetralogy. It felt faster me with a lot of the book moving from scene to scene, many of them action oriented. This was impressive to me given how many story arcs the book juggles. Most of the scions don't even meet in this book, but the book still moves their stories along in parallel arcs to reach the conclusion. I think some people might find this overwhelming though, but it worked well for me. It's also more character oriented than the first three books and explores the main characters' thoughts and emotions and I felt that served the story well, especially when the stakes were high.

Likes:

• Wren finally shines and had the strongest storyline in the book, in my opinion, which is a significant improvement as I considered her the weakest and most undeveloped of the scions. She rises to the occasion of the throne and utilizes her Rover experience much more than in the other books. 
• The battle scenes between the elves and the Federation were well done and used clever tactics to even the odds between the two forces, given that the elves were overwhelmingly outnumbered.
• I liked the use of the Sword of Shannara. It had far better utilization and narrative integration than in the titular The Sword of Shannara.
• Coll really proves himself just as worthy of being one of the scions after doubting himself in the earlier books.
• The book revisits some locations from The Elfstones of Shannara and I liked the creative use of those locations.
• Since this is the conclusion to the tetralogy, there is some additional exploration of the Shadowen and the Federation. It's not a significant amount, but it still fleshes them out a bit more.

Dislikes:

• Padishar Creel is very underutilized for as significant of a character as he was in the earlier books.
• Morgan gets a new love interest and it feels a bit rushed/forced given how strongly he felt for Quickening.
• I have mixed feelings about the Four Horsemen. Narratively, they serve a shallow purpose of simply keeping Walker from joining the others too soon. Also, while I accept the explanation that they're simply named after the Biblical figures from legend (since the world of Shannara is post-apocalyptic Earth), they feel a bit out of place to have Biblical characters fitted into the story.
• The source of the Shadowen's power was a bit underwhelming and too abstract, but it's forgivable given the showdown around it was rather exciting.
• Some conflicts (captured characters), happen way too frequently. 

Other Notes:

• For as liberally as the early books in the tetralogy killed off supporting characters, there's very little of that here though the deaths that happen are still impactful. There's one that's an absolute tearjerker. 

Would Recommend To:

• If you enjoyed the previous books, The Scions of Shannara, The Druid of Shannara, and The Elf Queen of Shannara, this book ties together and concludes everyone's storylines.

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who hasn't read the previous books, The Scions of Shannara, The Druid of Shannara, and The Elf Queen of Shannara, as this is the final book in that tetralogy and concludes all the story threads.

The Elf Queen of Shannara by Terry Brooks

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Overall Thoughts:
For as fascinating as the premise of this book was, I found it really fell flat and had a lot of slow parts. Wren was not a good protagonist, despite learning quite a lot about her she feels one-dimensional and passive in her own story. It's a bad sign that the few chapters centered on the other scions (Par, Coll, Walker) were more engaging. The setting was both a high point and low point. Morrowindl was an excellent location and felt threatening with many dark horror moments and scenes of brutality. The scenes in Arborlon, however, tended to drag besides Wren's initial arrival. The book spends too much time distracted by elven society when they really have bigger things to worry about. This is probably the darkest and heaviest Shannara book I've read by far, but instead of balancing that with lighthearted moments, it has lore dumps.

Likes:

• Faun is a breakout character and quickly became my favorite character in the Shannara series.
• Morrowindl, despite being an island, is written almost like a character itself and the book has great examples throughout of man vs. environment conflict (woman vs. environment?). A lot of the worldbuilding on Morrowindl and the creatures that inhabit it was great.
• Garth is given one of the best scenes in the book and it's a strong character moment in a book that lacks many good ones. 
• We finally getting some backstory on the Shadowen which helps give them an identity as an antagonist. I hadn't found them engaging in The Scions of Shannara as they seemed to be another generic evil like the Skull Bearers or Mord Wraiths, and they largely sat out The Druid of Shannara, so it was refreshing to learn more about them and that they're deeper than they initially appear.
• There is a good exploration on the costs of magic and the corruption it can instill in the user.
• It's nice to learn more about the elven Wing Riders after The Elfstones of Shannara, along with a handful of other references to that book like some scenes with the Ellcrys.

Dislikes:

• For being the book that was supposed to focus on Wren, I didn't find her engaging at all and she was mostly one-dimensional. At one point in the book, she even says to herself that her life has been a "blank slate". She's supposed to be one of the most capable of the Rover fighters and it's just not shown. While she's not helpless in this story, she's often paralyzed by indecision, fears, and doubts and the other characters frequently have to save her.
• Similarly, Garth is largely one-dimensional and isn't featured much. While I admire the book for featuring a deaf/mute character, I feel it missed a lot of opportunities for this to be used and to show how Wren and Garth can communicate and understand each other without words. Unfortunately, Garth also feels largely voiceless throughout the book because of this, excluding one standout scene.
• The reveal concerning why the elves left the mainland leads to Wren spending a lot of time feeling disgusted towards them and I really hated her whole thought process about this. As a Rover she already lived on the fringes of society, so I just didn't buy her judging an entire race and civilization as harshly as she did over things that happened centuries earlier. 
• There is an awkward romance between Wren and another character.
• This book reads like an elven lore dump and there is a lot of down time in Arborlon where characters just discuss Elven history and politics.

Other Notes:

• There is an unfortunately named character Eton Shart. There also is a species of cat/porcupine hybrids called splinterscat, which is often abbreviated as "scat", though I think in this instance it's intentionally used as a slur. 
• Morrowindl is fascinating to read about if you're an Elder Scrolls fan. Like Morrowind (from The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind), Morrowindl is an island with a central volcano, multiple biomes including swamps and lava fields, Elven cities, bizarre and dangerous creatures, a magical wall to keep creatures out, and conspiracies no one wants to talk about. Of note, The Elf Queen of Shannara released a full 8 years before The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. This book is a fascinating read simply to see how it helped inspire that game world.

Would Recommend To:

• If you enjoyed the previous books, The Scions of Shannara and The Druid of Shannara, this book continues the story. 

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who hasn't read the previous books, The Scions of Shannara and The Druid of Shannara, as this is the third book in that tetralogy and continues that story.

The Druid Of Shannara by Terry Brooks

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
I found this to be far better than The Scions of Shannara and it probably is my favorite Shannara book so far. Where I felt The Scions of Shannara largely retreaded old ground, this book turns a new page and expands the world and its history in interesting ways. It does more character work than the other books combined and puts a lot of focus on characters' thoughts, motivations, and internal conflicts. The book is also a lot more focused narratively than The Scions of Shannara, with the bulk of the story focusing on Walker Boh and Morgan Leah, and only minimal shifts in perspective. While I do enjoy stories with multiple perspectives, the story is ultimately stronger for keeping it to a minimum, since it allows more time for the characters to shine and for their stories to be more engaging.

Likes:

• I loved the ending and found it very satisfying. While the twist is a bit predictable, even hinted at, it still felt earned.
• Walker Boh and Morgan Leah were my two favorite characters in The Scions of Shannara and I really enjoyed following both storylines in this book. They get a lot more character depth and development in this story. Both characters also complement aspects of the Hero's Journey, with Walker refusing the call and Morgan doubting himself but still accepting the call to action.
• Pe Ell is a surprisingly complex anti-hero and he's well written. You know his motivations right from the beginning, but his internal conflict is so well handled I kept finding myself cheering for him. 
• There are some good supporting characters such as Horner Dees and Carisman. These characters actually get some backstory and development unlike supporting characters in prior Shannara books. Cogline also returns. 
• Quickening might be Brooks' best female character so far and she's vividly written. Her magic entrances others to follow her, and it's written in a way that makes you believe it. Even without her magic, she is a capable character showing great fortitude and intelligence, despite moments of innocence and vulnerability.
• Unlike The Scions of Shannara, which mostly revisited locations from the first Shannara trilogy, most of the locations in this book are brand new which makes the adventure feel fresh.
• This book starts to explore some of the pre-history of the Shannara world. There isn't much, but what is there does contribute to the unique worldbuilding of Shannara being a post-apocalyptic series.

Dislikes:

• Roughly half the book takes place in Eldwist. It's an interesting location at first, with many dangers of its own, but continually reading about stone streets begins to feel a bit drab.
• While this book is about Walker restoring the Druids and Paranor, it does feel like a bit of a diversion from the broader Shadowen arc as they largely sit out this story.

Other Notes:

• Even though the description describes this as Walker's book, I'd say it's just as much Morgan Leah's. Both characters get plenty of focus and strong character arcs.
• The other scions (Par, Wren, etc) both make brief appearances via perspective shifts to see what they're doing during this story, but don't expect any resolutions to their arcs.

Would Recommend To:

• If you enjoyed the previous book, The Scions of Shannara, this book is even better. It's also a good read if you didn't fully enjoy The Scions of Shannara but liked the premise since this book is a much stronger entry.

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who hasn't read the previous book, The Scions of Shannara, as this is a direct sequel and continues that story.

The Scions of Shannara by Terry Brooks

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Overall Thoughts:
I had mixed feelings about this book. The first half felt overly formulaic and like it was retreading much of the same ground from the Sword of Shannara trilogy. Most of the main characters are descendants of the heroes of the first books, they have similar character arcs, and they visit most of the same locations. The latter half started to do some interesting things though and the characters are more fleshed out than the earlier entries into the series. While this is supposed to be about the descendants of Brin and Jair Ohmsford, the titular scions of Shannara, this really is Par's book with Wren and Walker only having a few chapters each. Not a bad thing, per se, but it's helpful to know when setting expectations of the book.

Likes:

• Walker Boh is probably the most interesting and complex Shannara character for me so far. I liked how his stronger magical abilities and cynical nature contrast with the more youthful and exuberant Par and Coll. 
• Similarly, Morgan Leah ended up my favorite character from the Leah family line. I especially liked how Brooks explored the weight of Morgan trying to live up to the legacy his ancestors set. 
• It was nice to see Cogline return after The Wishsong of Shannara. He serves a similar role as Allanon in the earlier books but is a lot less one-dimensional. 
• The Federation was an interesting development for the politics of the Southland and, while not thoroughly explored, does make some previously safe locations in the series feel oppressive and unsafe.

Dislikes:

• The book felt too formulaic, especially in the first half. The characters were mostly all equivalent (and often direct descendants) of the protagonists from the Sword of Shannara trilogy, and they have many of the same motivations, thoughts, and struggles.
• The book mostly visits locations already explored in the first trilogy. It makes the world of Shannara feel very small.
• Brooks continues his trend of struggling to write good female characters. There are only 3 in the entire book and two of them (Wren and Teel) sit out a majority of the story. Damson is uncomfortable as a character as well. The book sets her up as a love interest for Par but then repeatedly establishes she's just a girl.
• Similar to earlier Shannara books, the characters get out of bad situations through sheer good fortune and go along with the plot out of a sense of destiny. It makes the characters feel like they have little agency.
• The Shadowen feel like a generic evil enemy and don't feel much different from the Skull Bearers, Demons, Mord Wraiths, etc from the earlier trilogy. 
• While Shannara is supposed to be a mix of fantasy and post-apocalyptic story, this book leans more heavily into the fantasy side. While science is mentioned a few times in the story, it basically functions like another flavor of magic and it would have been nice to see this difference explored more deeply. 

Other Notes:

• This is the start of a new narrative arc in the Shannara series and it's not necessary to read any of the Sword of Shannara trilogy first. There is a large time skip between the two and this book summarizes the essentials of those stories. 

Would Recommend To:

• This would be a good book for a kid or teen to read as entry into fantasy. It's not necessary to have read the earlier Sword of Shannara trilogy either.

Do Not Recommend To:

• Someone who doesn't like fantasy or any fantasy fans that didn't like the Sword of Shannara trilogy.

False Value by Ben Aaronovitch

adventurous lighthearted mysterious 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

3.0

Overall Thoughts:
This was an interesting book to read for the times we live in. It has tech billionaires wanting to influence the world, references to AI, social media algorithms, Russian psyops, and more, all with a coating of a typical Peter Grant adventure. Overall, I'd say this is one of the weaker entries in the Rivers of London series, but it introduces a lot of new and interesting things that are hopefully hinting at things to be explored in later books and starts a new arc after the Faceless Man case had finally been resolved. While it's weak overall and has messy pacing, it had some of the best character moments in the series so far, especially between Peter and Beverly, so it's still a worthwhile read overall, it just feels a little underbaked. 

Likes:

• I liked all of Peter's interactions with Beverly and the ways in which her pregnancy changed the dynamic of the relationship. They also strike up a friendship with some colleagues from Peter's new job and there are a lot of great human moments throughout the book.
• We learn more about American practitioners and continues the trend from recent books exploring other magical schools of thought, and their differences, from the British one the series is centered on.
• This book finally dives into topics introduced in the first book, mainly that computer chips are alive in a magical sense. While there's a lot still left to explore, it does start asking questions about what the implication of this is for magic in general. The inclusion of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage into the series lore was interesting as well.

Dislikes:

• The plot structure and pacing are a bit of a mess, jumping forwards and backwards in chronology in the beginning of the book, then moving linearly for the rest of it. There are a lot of chapters that introduce a new plot detail out of nowhere as if we should know about it, only for the following chapter to explain what it is. 
• There are way too many nerd cultures sprinkled throughout the book and I say that as a proud nerd myself. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and more, are all mentioned quite often and it doesn't do anything for the story.
• The magic itself felt really underutilized in this book. Peter is a lot more experienced now, so most spells only get passing mention when he uses them, and he doesn't really experiment with doing something new with it like in other books. While magic is still central to the plot, you don't see it actually used as much as other books in the series.
• Many events in the book are explained in exposition rather than actually shown. This is especially apparent with Abigail who is mentioned multiple times, is even around for some of the events, but never even appears as a character herself, rather everyone else just says she was there or she did something. 
• The Serious Cybernetics Corporation (SCC) is a weird setting that feels a bit out of place for the series and a majority of the characters introduced here are one-dimensional caricatures more or less. 

Other Notes:

• This book starts a new narrative arc after the longstanding case involving the Faceless Man was resolved. I think it would probably be possible to start the series with this book (skipping the earlier ones) as many concepts are re-explained in this book.

Would Recommend To:

• Anyone who likes police procedurals and stories with magic. I don't think it's necessary to have read the earlier Rivers of London books since this essentially starts a new case, but they do add to the experience. For those that have read the series so far, this is one of the weaker entries, but it still was enjoyable and starts laying new plot threads.

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who doesn't like police procedurals or stories with magic. 

Come Join Our Disease by Sam Byers

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

Overall Thoughts:
I'm someone who always believes I should finish a book to be able to judge it, but never has a book come so close to making me question that belief. Apparently, I'm also a bit of a masochist because nearly every page I was begging myself to let this be the first book I DNF. The book starts with a semi-engaging promise that it will explore everything wrong with corporate culture, a deconstruction of capitalism, the humanization of homeless people, and counter-cultural forms of protests. From the book synopsis on the back, you'd almost think this as well. That is, until you get to a certain point where this premise is quickly abandoned and the book rapidly devolves into the main character forming what is essentially a shit cult of homeless women dedicated to shitting on each other, living in shit, eating shit, and having shit orgies. Expect half of the book going on in excruciating detail, for pages at a time, on what is essentially shit worship. If your stomach feels queasy at just that sentence, imagine hundreds of pages of it, in vivid detail! I saw another review on here that starts with, "Local man discovers women can poop and won’t shut up about it." What a perfect summation of this book! 

Likes:

• Nothing. There is nothing redeemable in this book. 

Dislikes:

• All of it. Especially the extremely graphic, pages long descriptions of the characters living in, and eating, literal human shit.

Other Notes:

• If you read this, you will probably need therapy afterwards. 

Would Recommend To:

• I would only recommend this to a scat fetishist, and even then I'd recommend professional help first. Alternatively, if you're an aspiring author filled with self-doubt, this might be a good book to give you encouragement because if this literal shit can be published you'll never have any doubt about your own writing again. This book might also be good if you're in the wilderness and need to start a fire. 

Do Not Recommend To:

• Literally the entire human race. Do not read this if you want to maintain your mental health.

 

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
While I found this equally as enjoyable as the first two books in the trilogy, I ultimately felt that the answers to all the questions were less satisfying than the questions themselves. The worldbuilding surrounding these answers, centered on the extinct civilization that built the obelisks, Syl Anagist, is deep and imaginative, but it resolved all the sense of mystery and wonder present in the earlier books. The new setting, which feels more like science fiction, is also so different it almost feels like a different book. 

That said, the quality of the writing is superb and there is excellent character exploration throughout. I especially liked how thematic parallels were woven through the book, both in the past and present but also in Essun and Nassun's respective character arcs. The trilogy’s central themes of power, oppression, and intergenerational trauma are not only revisited but amplified, and Jemisin skillfully explores how these dynamics existed in the seeming utopia of Syl Anagist, just as they had been explored earlier in the Fulcrum and the Stillness. Essun and Nassun felt like two sides of the same coin, each pursuing similar yet diametrically opposed goals, leading to an inevitable confrontation as the story progresses. Themes of personal choice, and the difficulties in making them, also run parallel for all three characters (Essun, Nassun, and Hoa) and were quite strong. 

Likes:

• I loved the strong themes and how they were threaded through the story in parallel. This is definitely the most reflective book in the trilogy and made me pause to not just reflect on the world in the story, but also the ways in which our own world can be similar.
• Going back to three perspectives and exploring multiple new locations, after only two perspectives and two locations in The Obelisk Gate, really helped the pacing of the story.
• Syl Anagist was a fascinating society and Jemisin performed some top tier worldbuilding. I was often in awe at some of the things she described.
• While I found Nassun really unlikable in The Obelisk Gate, it feels more fitting here where she serves the story as an almost pseudo-antagonist. I found myself rooting for her as much as I was frustrated by her, but again it was due to Jemisin's skill in depicting a traumatized child trying to navigate a broken world.
• Hoa was always one of my favorite characters, and his character arc remained one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved his childlike innocence at approaching the world and how it contrasted with Nassun's more impulsive, destructive tendencies.
• I can't say more, but I loved the ending. 

Dislikes:

• I almost feel like the book explained too much and that I'd have enjoyed it a bit more if a few mysteries had been left dangling. 
• While the worldbuilding in Syl Anagist is superb, it's a drastically different setting than what had come before and felt a bit jarring at times since it reads more like a science fiction in a trilogy that had been pretty reliably fantasy. 

Other Notes:

• The second person perspective is certainly one of the unique characteristics of this trilogy and you eventually find out why that is in the story and it was a bit neat seeing how it was woven into the narrative.

Would Recommend To:

• If you enjoyed the firsts two book in the trilogy you should read this to see the culmination of the trilogy and to have all the mysteries from the earlier books revealed. 

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who hasn't read the first two books in the trilogy: The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate. This is the third book in the trilogy, and you'll need to read those two books to understand this. 

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
While I enjoyed the book as much as the first one, it really suffers from middle book syndrome in a lot of ways. A majority of the book takes place in only two locations (Castrima and Found Moon) and not much happens throughout. Essentially, the bulk of the book is Alabaster training Essun and Schaffa training Nassun. That said, it still manages to have a lot of good character moments throughout, but it still feels slower than the first and that many things overstay their welcome. It expands on much of the mystery of the first book, answering some but introducing new ones to replace them. You learn more about the obelisks and Jemisin does a great job portraying their power, you can feel it yourself in the words she writes. 

Likes:

• Castrima was a fascinating society, especially with the fragile alliance between orogenes and stills and all the mysteries that were found within the city. The sense of community mixed with political tensions were a highlight of the book. 
• It was nice seeing the comparison between Essun's Fulcrum-trained orogeny and Ykka's more feral, yet similarly controlled, approach. The contrast between these two characters was fantastic and added a lot not just to Castrima but also to the broader exploration of how orogenes navigate their identities in a society structured to oppress them.
• I really enjoyed Schaffa in this book, he probably was my favorite character this time around despite not liking him as much in the first book. The story brings him in a new direction I would have never anticipated, and his character has a lot of depth and complexity.
• Hoa was wonderful in most of his scenes, I just wish there were more since there are many periods of the story in which he is absent.
• Orogeny continues to be portrayed so well that, like the first book, it's easy to believe it's a fundamental part of this world. You also learn new aspects of it that enhance the worldbuilding and mystery.
• This carries forward many of the themes from the first book such as parental love, oppression, exploitation, fear of the unknown, the costs of survival, etc but also adds new ones like community, belonging, how knowledge and ability can be isolating, and the temptations of power. 

Dislikes:

• Most of the time I found Nassun really unlikable. I'm sure part of this is intentional and a credit to Jemisin's writing in portraying a child struggling to process significant trauma, but when she is half the book it's hard to find her as a good protagonist you want to root for. 
• The settings of Castrima and Found Moon, while interesting in the early stages, start to eventually overstay their welcome. As mentioned earlier, the majority of the book takes place in these two places and there comes a point where you begin to wish for a change of scenery.
• Alabaster was very underwhelming. This is somewhat understandable given his condition after the first book, but it still was a bit disappointing to see after how good his story was in the first book. 

Other Notes:

• This book continues the second person perspective of the first, and at this point reading it felt surprisingly normal. 

Would Recommend To:

• If you enjoyed the first book and want to know more about the obelisks and what happens next, this is the book for you!

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone who hasn't read the first book, The Fifth Season. This is a direct sequel, and you'll need to read that first to understand this. 

 

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
I'd been wanting to read this for some while with high expectations and I can see why it's so well-regarded! The worldbuilding is top notch and each of the three storylines (Essun, Damaya, Syenite) bring unique perspectives and explore different aspects of the world such as orogeny (earth magic), the Fulcrum, comms, and the Fifth Season. I also liked how the these storylines gradually threaded together. The orogeny and sessapinae (organs in the brain that detect vibrations in the earth) were such an inventive and integral part of the story, it's written so well it's easy to believe there actually could be a world like this and I loved how orogeny obeyed thermodynamics (with orogenes needing to absorb heat from the environment to use it). 

Of the three stories, I probably liked Syenite's the best though initially I thought it was the weakest. It rapidly picked up momentum after a certain point. The others were great as well though and I enjoyed the contrast of the extravagance of the Fulcrum in Damaya's story to the severity of a Fifth Season in Essun's. Overall, it had just a bit of everything you'd want in a fantasy novel. There was mystery, adventure, triumphs, losses, childhood wonder, and even some creepy moments. 

Likes:

• NK Jemisin is known for her worldbuilding and she's at her best here. Everything feels so original, it's like discovering something new for the first time!
• Orogeny is such a creative form of magic and it was incredibly well developed. I love how thermodynamics was tied into it seeing how it was not just used to move the earth but also to ice things. It was also fascinating to see how it fits in society. It's simultaneously needed and feared. 
• I really liked Essun's maternal aspects, both in grieving for Uche, searching for Nassun, and adopting Hoa. 
• There are a lot of themes in the book that came across very naturally throughout the story such as parental love, oppression, exploitation, fear of the unknown, freedom, legacy, and the costs of survival. 
• The ending (or ending line) was completely unexpected to me but upon reflection was hinted at throughout and made me really excited for the next book. It was something I'd never think to consider since I take it for granted living in a stable world.

Dislikes:

• The forced sex scenes between Syenite and Alabaster are really uncomfortable and there are many of them. I understand it's to illustrate that the orogenes are essentially slaves for the Fulcrum, forced to reproduce just like real world slaves were, but there could have been less and it's a bit of a chore to read just as it's a chore for the characters.

Other Notes:

• I know this book is notable for having a second person perspective, but I found it much easier to adjust to than I expected. I suppose I've read many first person books and have no problem following "I", and it's about the same for the second person "you", but it left me with an eerie feeling like being watched which added to the mystery of the book.

Would Recommend To:

• Anyone interested in fantasy with strong worldbuilding, especially if you're interested in post-apocalyptic fantasy with magic rooted in science. 

Do Not Recommend To:

• Anyone not interested in fantasy. And this may not be for every fantasy fan either, there are a lot of adult themes and the story can be incredibly dark at times dealing with having to live in a world like the Stillness or how orogenes are persecuted.

Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Overall Thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and so I'm still unsure if it met my expectations or not. It's a great reflection on death, near-death, dying, grief, and life and explores them from the perspective of an individual and society, ranging from death of a family member, a stranger, mass death, and celebrity death. There's even an odd moment where a tree reflects on its death and transformation into a desk. It's a good reminder that everything ends and explores the thought process around that.

That said, I'm not sure I liked the format. It's very experimental I'd say. It centers around Wolf meeting Mrs. Death and writing about some of the deaths she's observed and she tells the story of a number of deaths from Wolf's ancestors. It's a mix of interview-like conversations, poems, stories, observations, and reflections and the tone could best be stated as something like reading a stream-of-conscience, both from Wolf and Mrs. Death. There's also a substantial amount of repetition. Repetition in which words or phrases are repeated either directly or in variation. Repetition to drive home a point or to add a poetical lyricism. Repetition for the sake of repetition. Repetition, repetition. While the book has some great reflections on death, I think the format detracts a lot from it since the book seems to ramble throughout it.

Likes:

• The book will make you reflect on a wide range of things related to death and there were a lot of great examples that made me stop to think about. 
• As weird as it was, I liked the part about the tree reflecting on its death to become a desk and it served as a great example of how death is both a transformation and an essential part of existence.

Dislikes:

• The style of the book took me away from it. It felt like a rambling stream-of-conscience and the repeated format change (poem, story, interview, etc) made it feel even more inconsistent. 

Other Notes:

• This is a fairly quick read. In the introduction it says it's intended to be readable on the train from London to Liverpool and I'd say it succeeds at that since it took me 3.5 hours to read. 

Would Recommend To:

• Someone interested in reading and reflecting on death, dying, grief, and how society connects to that. You should also be interested in reading about it in an experimental format since the book is a mix of loosely connected poems, stories, observations, and interviews with Mrs. Death and reads like a stream-of-conscience. If you like poetry there are quite a few sprinkled throughout as well.

Do Not Recommend To:

• Since this book deals with heavy topics including death, murder, rape, abuse, and suicide, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who would be bothered by any of those. Also it has an unusual format as a bunch of loosely connected poems and stories so if you're looking for a strong overarching narrative this isn't it.