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kelsyer's reviews
850 reviews
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.75
Well, here it is, my love, the end of the world.
Was it everything you were hoping for? No, of course not.
You sessed parts of it, possibly more than your comm anticipated that you would, but you were always observant. Why would the end change you?
*
Oh, rust. Oh, Earth.
In all seriousness, I had to take a few hours to think about the third installment.
I felt that there were additions in this book that were ultimately only added to increase the significance of the sacrifices for us (when so much of their life was about just that) and to show us that things are dire indeed. (If anybody had any doubt about that at this point, they were reading a very different story.)
I liked our time in the distant past, but I wish that after Zero, we got more information about the bloodline. It felt a bit misconnected for me, too quickly discarded (although yes, time passed, memories got lost, I get that).
In my review about the Fifth Season, I wrote that I don't really get how the magic system works, but possibly most of them don't, either. My biggest issue with this book is that this remained the case (I understood the reasoning behind this and I loved how it was woven in all through the trilogy), except when it comes to a certain Prodigy.
I marked down the previous books because of this as well. In the end, my rating for this book is 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars (in my living memory, this is the first book that I couldn't place at half or full stars).
There are many chacters that I wish I didn't have to say goodbye to. I hope that there is another story somewhere that documents their past (or from my current point of view, future).
And I would also like to take this time to remark, just for myself, how far I've come. In the past I would have been so pissed at the motivation of the Prodigy, I would have rated this book 2 stars max. That's on character growth.
Was it everything you were hoping for? No, of course not.
You sessed parts of it, possibly more than your comm anticipated that you would, but you were always observant. Why would the end change you?
*
Oh, rust. Oh, Earth.
In all seriousness, I had to take a few hours to think about the third installment.
I felt that there were additions in this book that were ultimately only added to increase the significance of the sacrifices for us (when so much of their life was about just that) and to show us that things are dire indeed. (If anybody had any doubt about that at this point, they were reading a very different story.)
I liked our time in the distant past, but I wish that after Zero, we got more information about the bloodline. It felt a bit misconnected for me, too quickly discarded (although yes, time passed, memories got lost, I get that).
In my review about the Fifth Season, I wrote that I don't really get how the magic system works, but possibly most of them don't, either. My biggest issue with this book is that this remained the case (I understood the reasoning behind this and I loved how it was woven in all through the trilogy), except when it comes to a certain Prodigy.
I marked down the previous books because of this as well. In the end, my rating for this book is 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars (in my living memory, this is the first book that I couldn't place at half or full stars).
There are many chacters that I wish I didn't have to say goodbye to. I hope that there is another story somewhere that documents their past (or from my current point of view, future).
And I would also like to take this time to remark, just for myself, how far I've come. In the past I would have been so pissed at the motivation of the Prodigy, I would have rated this book 2 stars max. That's on character growth.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am fully aware that I am in the minority with my review, but for me, it was lacking in emotional impact, because I couldn't connect to the main characters.
Miller is very good at romanticizing the small moments of everyday life. I wish we had spent more time with them when they were growing up, because this book gave me the same feelings that Romeo and Juliet did, as in 'sit down, that's not love'.
Part of my rating comes from the unfortunate fact that I hyped this book up for myself. As a lover of greek mythology and a member of LGBTQ+ community, I had high expectations for it, but sadly it seems that I am on the other side of viewing romantic relationships. (Even when I originally read Homer and I had a feeling that Achilles and Patroclus had a deeper relationship, I had no name for it yet.)
I know how messed up the gods were, some of them r*ping left and right (looking at you, Zeus) and of course this book is only a retelling, a way for us to fill in the blanks, a how-it-could-have-been; it can't step out of the original greek tragedy (it has all the great stuff: oatbreaking, hubris, vengence, war.
*sigh*
My biggest issue is that I don't understand why they loved each other.
We barely got to know Patroclus. We know all the bad things in regards to the exile and all the good things after they went to war. In between these, to me, he felt like an almost person: he almost said something, almost did something, almost forgot. Everything happened to him. The gods took the reins, others made the choice e.g. with princess Deidameia: "I could not bear to see her face broken open with more sorrow, more disappointment", so I had no choice but to sleep with her, but I too as indifferent towards her, so in the end "did not understand what she had wanted; I only knew I had not given it". If Achilles was made for war, Patroclus's only purpose was to admire and love Achilles.
And Achilles. What I liked about him the most, at the beginning at least, was that he always thought before he spoke. That's it. He was a prince, a demigod, everyone turned into sunflowers when he was around, following him with their eyes, like he is the greatest person ever (or the greatest hero, even when he wasn't proven himself yet).
What do we know about him? That he is beautiful, like marble, his hair is golden or fiery, his feet smell great(at the fist mention of this, I wrote down in my book: if I would not know his story, I would say Patroclus has a foot fetish). Even the trees know he is destined for greatness, so they adjust themselve to be his crown. What else though? What do we love about him? If he were to live to 50, would they tell about how clever and honorable he was?
What we do know is that he was indifferent to everyone except for Patroclus and his destiny; that he "has a tender heart", is stubborn, speedy and the best fighter (they are his demigod powers) and proud.
Are these enough for love?
Sadly, not for me.
Miller is very good at romanticizing the small moments of everyday life. I wish we had spent more time with them when they were growing up, because this book gave me the same feelings that Romeo and Juliet did, as in 'sit down, that's not love'.
Part of my rating comes from the unfortunate fact that I hyped this book up for myself. As a lover of greek mythology and a member of LGBTQ+ community, I had high expectations for it, but sadly it seems that I am on the other side of viewing romantic relationships. (Even when I originally read Homer and I had a feeling that Achilles and Patroclus had a deeper relationship, I had no name for it yet.)
I know how messed up the gods were, some of them r*ping left and right
*sigh*
My biggest issue is that I don't understand why they loved each other.
We barely got to know Patroclus. We know all the bad things in regards to the exile and all the good things after they went to war. In between these, to me, he felt like an almost person: he almost said something, almost did something, almost forgot. Everything happened to him. The gods took the reins, others made the choice e.g. with princess Deidameia: "I could not bear to see her face broken open with more sorrow, more disappointment", so I had no choice but to sleep with her, but I too as indifferent towards her, so in the end "did not understand what she had wanted; I only knew I had not given it". If Achilles was made for war, Patroclus's only purpose was to admire and love Achilles.
And Achilles. What I liked about him the most, at the beginning at least, was that he always thought before he spoke. That's it. He was a prince, a demigod, everyone turned into sunflowers when he was around, following him with their eyes, like he is the greatest person ever (or the greatest hero, even when he wasn't proven himself yet).
What do we know about him? That he is beautiful, like marble, his hair is golden or fiery, his feet smell great
What we do know is that he was indifferent to everyone except for Patroclus and his destiny; that he "has a tender heart", is stubborn, speedy and the best fighter (they are his demigod powers) and proud.
Are these enough for love?
Sadly, not for me.
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
emotional
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
Sweet flaking rust, the second book did not go into the direction I was thinking it will go to. The title made me think it will be "wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff", but the third book is still beckoning me, so. Fingers crossed?
There are a few things I wrote down in my notes, but mostly it went from "I WANT TO KNOW MORE" about this and that, writing down their swear words or picking up on the foreshadowing that happened later in the book.
One little romance mention got my attention - I too would swoon if somebody got me books and snacks.
One last, unrelated note - are you familiar with the saying *'the devil couldn't reach me, so he sent me a...'*? Well, somebody is sending me ideas to read stories about love and revenge and morally grey characters. That's it. That's the story I've been reading this year.
There are a few things I wrote down in my notes, but mostly it went from "I WANT TO KNOW MORE" about this and that, writing down their swear words or picking up on the foreshadowing that happened later in the book.
One little romance mention got my attention - I too would swoon if somebody got me books and snacks.
One last, unrelated note - are you familiar with the saying *'the devil couldn't reach me, so he sent me a...'*? Well, somebody is sending me ideas to read stories about love and revenge and morally grey characters. That's it. That's the story I've been reading this year.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
RUSTING EARTHFIRES, THIS BOOK!
It's a heavy story, but in a good way. I love it when a book makes you think and playes with your emptions as well.
Not gonna lie. Sometimes I had to stop while reading, just to stare in front of me, while trying to process and whispering fuck with increasing speed and volume.
I really enjoyed the way the multiple POV's were set up, each having access to different pieces of the puzzle.
I still don't really get how the magic system works, but I have a feeling that most of them don't, either, because of how the stonelore changes. History is written by the victors, and all that.
I am wondering why it's Father Earth and not Mother Earth, though.
I usually have no solid idea about what the book will be about when I pick it up, so I was pleaseantly surprised by all the LGBTQ+ rep in this book. Love is love, by all shapes and forms.
What tripped me up a bit, was the fact that I always have questions in the back of my head and sometimes I find answers even when I am not directly looking for them. (At the Fable app I already shared this quote, but rust it, it does reasonate hard, so here it is again:
"Home is people (...)
Home is what you take with you, not what you leave behind."
The last sentence? I was cackling so hard. I love Interludes as well
It's a heavy story, but in a good way. I love it when a book makes you think and playes with your emptions as well.
Not gonna lie. Sometimes I had to stop while reading, just to stare in front of me, while trying to process and whispering fuck with increasing speed and volume.
I really enjoyed the way the multiple POV's were set up, each having access to different pieces of the puzzle.
I still don't really get how the magic system works, but I have a feeling that most of them don't, either, because of how the stonelore changes. History is written by the victors, and all that.
I am wondering why it's Father Earth and not Mother Earth, though.
I usually have no solid idea about what the book will be about when I pick it up, so I was pleaseantly surprised by all the LGBTQ+ rep in this book. Love is love, by all shapes and forms.
What tripped me up a bit, was the fact that I always have questions in the back of my head and sometimes I find answers even when I am not directly looking for them. (At the Fable app I already shared this quote, but rust it, it does reasonate hard, so here it is again:
"Home is people (...)
Home is what you take with you, not what you leave behind."
The last sentence? I was cackling so hard. I love Interludes as well
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
I am here for the backstories and the character growth.
There were a lot of plot elements in this book that I didn't expect and I enjoyed the layout of this level.
There were a lot of plot elements in this book that I didn't expect and I enjoyed the layout of this level.
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a book that you can't wrap your head around. I am glad that I've experienced it, but I know I will never fully understand it.
It has multiple layers: the story that we read, what probably actually happened and all these metaphors and allegories.
Lewis Carol was conjured up multiple times, but so many other literary nods were there, that I didn't expect. Beowulf. Icaros. Ovid and tranformations. Lovecraft. I got Mary Shelley as well.
For me, this was an interesting mix of Alice in Wonderland x Charmed x Mean Girls. Just more erotic, unhinged, witchy and lesbian.
It has multiple layers: the story that we read, what probably actually happened and all these metaphors and allegories.
Lewis Carol was conjured up multiple times, but so many other literary nods were there, that I didn't expect. Beowulf. Icaros. Ovid and tranformations. Lovecraft. I got Mary Shelley as well.
For me, this was an interesting mix of Alice in Wonderland x Charmed x Mean Girls. Just more erotic, unhinged, witchy and lesbian.
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I started this shortly after I finished book 1, when I was still high on the experience.
I had my doubts if the series will worth my time and as I mentioned in the review of book 1, some of the jokes fell flat for me and that hasn't changed. At least I was aware of it this time.
What else can I say?
Goddamnit, Carl!
The issue is that book 1 made me care about the characters, so I will continue to see how they fare... as a quick read between other books.
I had my doubts if the series will worth my time and as I mentioned in the review of book 1, some of the jokes fell flat for me and that hasn't changed. At least I was aware of it this time.
What else can I say?
Goddamnit, Carl!
The issue is that book 1 made me care about the characters, so I will continue to see how they fare... as a quick read between other books.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
funny
fast-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? No
4.0
Some of the humour is not for me, but overall I really enjoyed the concept and was rooting for our characters (crawlers and NPCs alike. Especially my boy Mordecai).
I don't watch tv and I don't like reality shows, but somehow my brain registered this as a Dr Who x Saga x Hunger Games on steroids and it hooked me.
I am looking forward to continuing the story.
I don't watch tv and I don't like reality shows, but somehow my brain registered this as a Dr Who x Saga x Hunger Games on steroids and it hooked me.
I am looking forward to continuing the story.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
No notes, really.
I was gripping the edges of the book as Tracy Deonn was taking me along on this magical ride.
There were some twists I figured out, there were some that I didn't see coming and I enjoyed every single second of it.
I felt like I was 16 again, in all the ways I never could be when I actually was 16.
She made the main characters and a bunch of side characters loveable for me, which is a rare treat.
I felt that they were doing their best to actually communicate, resolve issues and heal themselves.
This book triggered my own mother wound and healed part of it as well.
So basically 10/10, will pick up book 2 (and 3) soon.
I was gripping the edges of the book as Tracy Deonn was taking me along on this magical ride.
There were some twists I figured out, there were some that I didn't see coming and I enjoyed every single second of it.
I felt like I was 16 again, in all the ways I never could be when I actually was 16.
She made the main characters and a bunch of side characters loveable for me, which is a rare treat.
I felt that they were doing their best to actually communicate, resolve issues and heal themselves.
This book triggered my own mother wound and healed part of it as well.
So basically 10/10, will pick up book 2 (and 3) soon.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
dark
tense
medium-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
3.5
Babel is a good book.
The first half was really good, I enjoyed the setting and learning about the magic system.
I really liked the dark academia vibes, the translations and the world that Kuang made with her alternative Oxford.
She touched upon topics that she does well, racism, sexism, unfairness, orphans etc.
However.
Either I read it too soon after her trilogy or I am just not in the right headspace to connect fully with her characters, because I did understood everything up until a point and could argue on their side of the coin, but when we got past that point, I had to push myself fo finish it.
I also found the major plots predictable. I would much rather read more about how our ending affected the world politics and what other members of Hermes were doing in the world while we were in Oxford.
The first half was really good, I enjoyed the setting and learning about the magic system.
I really liked the dark academia vibes, the translations and the world that Kuang made with her alternative Oxford.
She touched upon topics that she does well, racism, sexism, unfairness, orphans etc.
However.
Either I read it too soon after her trilogy or I am just not in the right headspace to connect fully with her characters, because I did understood everything up until a point and could argue on their side of the coin, but when we got past that point, I had to push myself fo finish it.
I also found the major plots predictable. I would much rather read more about how our ending affected the world politics and what other members of Hermes were doing in the world while we were in Oxford.