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iam's reviews
1678 reviews
New Horizons by Hailey Turner
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
While I enjoy Trevor getting a novella for himself, and Brendan as the first non-metahuman POV characters, the continued abuse of power that goes entirely unreflected and uncriticized really grates in this one.
I did not mind the fast romance, it's a novella after all, and I enjoyed the bedroom telekinetics.
I did not mind the fast romance, it's a novella after all, and I enjoyed the bedroom telekinetics.
In the Requiem by Hailey Turner
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I do enjoy this as finale for the series, and I continue to be impressed by the author's ability to keep the tension consistently high. However, it doesn't really add anything new to the table, even when the stakes keep getting raised.
The ending was a bit overly convenient, but certainly did not lack emotion.
The ending was a bit overly convenient, but certainly did not lack emotion.
In the Blood by Hailey Turner
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Super high stakes, as usual.
Less undercover missions, and more focus on Jamie's torn loyalties between with family and his job, which also puts strain on his relationships with Kyle (though there is no drama).
Alexei and Sean meanwhile... ouch. They face their own (professional) issues. I like how the aftermath isn't glossed over, though I wish there was more of a focus on the therapy and trauma recovery, though I guess most of that is meant to be covered by Out of the Ashes.
Less undercover missions, and more focus on Jamie's torn loyalties between with family and his job, which also puts strain on his relationships with Kyle (though there is no drama).
Alexei and Sean meanwhile... ouch. They face their own (professional) issues. I like how the aftermath isn't glossed over, though I wish there was more of a focus on the therapy and trauma recovery, though I guess most of that is meant to be covered by Out of the Ashes.
Out of the Ashes by Hailey Turner
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I do appreciate that recovery and trauma is the focus of this book, and not brushed over. That said... it's not really handled in the depth it deserves, considering the horrific things Sean and Alexei went through. 3 months seems like way too little time between the trauma and going back in the field.
That said, this is still a super fun novella that covers a fun and exciting mission, their realtionship dynamic shifting, and some hurt & comfort in the context of trauma recovery following the aftermath of In the Blood.
That said, this is still a super fun novella that covers a fun and exciting mission, their realtionship dynamic shifting, and some hurt & comfort in the context of trauma recovery following the aftermath of In the Blood.
In the Shadows by Hailey Turner
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
Alexei and Sean's book, and as such I love it because they are my favourite characters. The missions/plot had plenty of undercover spy work as well as lots of heavy action, and it was all executed well.
The flaws about lack of criticism against the military etc still remains, but I still adore the series and the characters.
The flaws about lack of criticism against the military etc still remains, but I still adore the series and the characters.
In the Ruins by Hailey Turner
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
Great mission in this second book of the series. Jamie and Kyle get some much needed depth to their relationship, and new character's are introduced: Alexei gets to be a POV character, and Sean is introduced for the first time and gets a couple POV chapters as well, and he is already my favourite.
I really enjoyed the undercover mission, though the means they use that get justified by the end... eesh.
I really enjoyed the undercover mission, though the means they use that get justified by the end... eesh.
A Distant Devotion by Hailey Turner
3.0
Erotic short story about Jamie and Kyle having some fun even when Jamie is called away to a dinner party by his family - and how he makes it up to Kyle once he gets home.
In the Wreckage by Hailey Turner
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Re-reading this in audio was a fun experience, though I would have appreciated more variety in the voice actor's performance of the different characters.
Regardless of what format I read this in, I greatly enjoy Alpha Team's dynamics and their action-packed missions. It is a super fun series to read, and I like all the characters.
That said book 1 in particular suffers from a lack of emotional connection between the two main protagonist's and POV characters, Kyle and Jamie. They have undeniable sexual chemistry (and their sex scenes are SUPER long, though that is very in-character given their superhuman abilities of super strength/endurance and super healing, combined with their slightly kinky dynamic of mild D/s, orgasm control and rough sex) and I can totally see how they are drawn to each other - but their claims of fitting perfectly into each other's lives when they have only had sex and gone to work together, and wanting to move in together after knowing each other for 3 days, stretches my suspension of disbelief.
That said, they do not claim to love each other even at the end of the book (in fact they only use the term "I think I can grow to love you" in a very sweet moment at the end) so I guess it is not really insta-love, either.
While the action-scenes and military strategising are very fun to read and keep me engaged and tensions high and are never boring, I do find myself bothered by how unreflective any of the intense violence an highly unethical means the characters use. The military is always right and justified in their use of weapons and mass destructions, never questioned or criticised at any point. Instead, having to wait on judges to sign off on dangerous use of weapons or abilities that go again human rights or something are brushed off or mentioned as being an annoying hindrance.
Of course I am aware that this is a power fantasy, a fictional version of our world set over 250 years in the future, and there is a very clear division between the good guys and the bad guys with no moral greyness whatsoever.... but that lack of any sort of relection does make me uncomfortable.
Still, for the most part I could look past that while reading, and it's a fun and very entertaining read when I just want to get out of my mind - as evidence by this being my third time reading the series.
Regardless of what format I read this in, I greatly enjoy Alpha Team's dynamics and their action-packed missions. It is a super fun series to read, and I like all the characters.
That said book 1 in particular suffers from a lack of emotional connection between the two main protagonist's and POV characters, Kyle and Jamie. They have undeniable sexual chemistry (and their sex scenes are SUPER long, though that is very in-character given their superhuman abilities of super strength/endurance and super healing, combined with their slightly kinky dynamic of mild D/s, orgasm control and rough sex) and I can totally see how they are drawn to each other - but their claims of fitting perfectly into each other's lives when they have only had sex and gone to work together, and wanting to move in together after knowing each other for 3 days, stretches my suspension of disbelief.
That said, they do not claim to love each other even at the end of the book (in fact they only use the term "I think I can grow to love you" in a very sweet moment at the end) so I guess it is not really insta-love, either.
While the action-scenes and military strategising are very fun to read and keep me engaged and tensions high and are never boring, I do find myself bothered by how unreflective any of the intense violence an highly unethical means the characters use. The military is always right and justified in their use of weapons and mass destructions, never questioned or criticised at any point. Instead, having to wait on judges to sign off on dangerous use of weapons or abilities that go again human rights or something are brushed off or mentioned as being an annoying hindrance.
Of course I am aware that this is a power fantasy, a fictional version of our world set over 250 years in the future, and there is a very clear division between the good guys and the bad guys with no moral greyness whatsoever.... but that lack of any sort of relection does make me uncomfortable.
Still, for the most part I could look past that while reading, and it's a fun and very entertaining read when I just want to get out of my mind - as evidence by this being my third time reading the series.
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was utterly captivated by The Starving Saints from the very first time I heard about it, and as soon as I read the first page I was entirely entranced.
Content warnings include: starvation, death, amputation, cannibalism, assault, mutilation. Mentions of: treason, beheading.
I have read all of Caitlin Starling's other books, and they all excell in atmosphere, and The Starving Saints is no different. It's oppressive from the entire beginning, both in setting and feel. It takes place in the besieged castle Aymar, food stores empty, and no sign of help arriving. Starvation is imminent, and things have gotten dire. Additionally, it's the height of summer with a sweltering heat plaguing the already starving inhabitants of the castle.
It's a stifling atmosphere, and the book makes you feel it.
The book centers around three of the women in the castle. Scattered Phosyne, the castle keeper's madwoman, tasked with creating another miracle to save everyone from starvation. Bold Ser Voyne, a battle hero frustrated by the tight leash her king keeps her on. And cunning Treila, a maid with a dark past who keeps to the shadows and who would do anything to escape the castle walls.
The three women become entangled, both by their pasts and presents.
Despite the starving, it's a delicious read. It's both a horrifying crawl and a sensual dance, of the three protagonist as well as their interactions with the Saints that miraculously arrive and offer food and pleasure, despite arriving with empty hands. Something is very wrong, and no-one seems to notice.
I loved following all three protagonists, and the tangled complexities of the respective relationships with each other, and then later how they each deal with the Saints, all dynamics that are constantly in flux. The book is not a romance, but there are some definite sensual elements, though I found them to be more driven by dangerous obsession and a need to consume, than by romantic feelings.
I also particular enjoyed how all protagonists have respective moments of absolute power and realized agency, but also deep lows and vulnerability, which are often brutally exploited - but things are never as they seem.
Consumption, bargains and careful wording are definitely big themes in general. As with almost all of the author's books, the big questions of how and why are answered, but very convoluted and not really straightfoward, and I always find it hard to put my fingers on the answers and put them into words. Rather than frustrating, in The Starving Saints I found this fit the atmosphere very well, and I got just enough answers to be satisfying.
Overall an absolutely stunning novel, though not for the faint of heart. It's brutal and raw, and does not pull any punched with its themes, it's gory, but not overly graphic, though I does not shy away from evil.
I received an ARC an reviewed honestly & voluntarily.
Content warnings include: starvation, death, amputation, cannibalism, assault, mutilation. Mentions of: treason, beheading.
I have read all of Caitlin Starling's other books, and they all excell in atmosphere, and The Starving Saints is no different. It's oppressive from the entire beginning, both in setting and feel. It takes place in the besieged castle Aymar, food stores empty, and no sign of help arriving. Starvation is imminent, and things have gotten dire. Additionally, it's the height of summer with a sweltering heat plaguing the already starving inhabitants of the castle.
It's a stifling atmosphere, and the book makes you feel it.
The book centers around three of the women in the castle. Scattered Phosyne, the castle keeper's madwoman, tasked with creating another miracle to save everyone from starvation. Bold Ser Voyne, a battle hero frustrated by the tight leash her king keeps her on. And cunning Treila, a maid with a dark past who keeps to the shadows and who would do anything to escape the castle walls.
The three women become entangled, both by their pasts and presents.
Despite the starving, it's a delicious read. It's both a horrifying crawl and a sensual dance, of the three protagonist as well as their interactions with the Saints that miraculously arrive and offer food and pleasure, despite arriving with empty hands. Something is very wrong, and no-one seems to notice.
I loved following all three protagonists, and the tangled complexities of the respective relationships with each other, and then later how they each deal with the Saints, all dynamics that are constantly in flux. The book is not a romance, but there are some definite sensual elements, though I found them to be more driven by dangerous obsession and a need to consume, than by romantic feelings.
I also particular enjoyed how all protagonists have respective moments of absolute power and realized agency, but also deep lows and vulnerability, which are often brutally exploited - but things are never as they seem.
Consumption, bargains and careful wording are definitely big themes in general. As with almost all of the author's books, the big questions of how and why are answered, but very convoluted and not really straightfoward, and I always find it hard to put my fingers on the answers and put them into words. Rather than frustrating, in The Starving Saints I found this fit the atmosphere very well, and I got just enough answers to be satisfying.
Overall an absolutely stunning novel, though not for the faint of heart. It's brutal and raw, and does not pull any punched with its themes, it's gory, but not overly graphic, though I does not shy away from evil.
I received an ARC an reviewed honestly & voluntarily.
Even The Worm Will Turn by Hailey Piper
dark
3.0
When I finished The Worm and his Kings I was baffled how there could possibly be a sequel, given its ending.
Even the Worm Will Turn makes that pretty clear, obviously - it plays 4 years after the first book and follows Donna, who is finally no longer struggling after the consequences of Monique's actions.
That is, until someone starts following her at night. Someone who knows way too much about her past.
This series is great at its depiction of cosmic horror, but it is quite hard to follow in audiobook format. Part of that makes sense - a big part of eldritch horror is, after all, supposed to be about it being beyond human comprehension. Still, a bit more clarity would have been appreciated, but part of that is also down to me, not the book's fault.
Even though this plays way after The Worm and his Kings, this answered some of the questions I had about Monique and Donna's relationship - not conclusively, as I am still not 100% convinced somehow, but I am mostly mollified.
Even the Worm Will Turn makes that pretty clear, obviously - it plays 4 years after the first book and follows Donna, who is finally no longer struggling after the consequences of Monique's actions.
That is, until someone starts following her at night. Someone who knows way too much about her past.
This series is great at its depiction of cosmic horror, but it is quite hard to follow in audiobook format. Part of that makes sense - a big part of eldritch horror is, after all, supposed to be about it being beyond human comprehension. Still, a bit more clarity would have been appreciated, but part of that is also down to me, not the book's fault.
Even though this plays way after The Worm and his Kings, this answered some of the questions I had about Monique and Donna's relationship - not conclusively, as I am still not 100% convinced somehow, but I am mostly mollified.