Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kp_hobbitreads's Reviews (686)
So Joe Abercrombie is a giant in the fantasy genre, but I’ve been putting off reading his books for ages. What if I didn’t like them? Would I even be able to call myself an SFF reader? But, I shouldn’t have worried. This was fantastic.
“Once you’ve got a task to do, it’s better to do it than live with the fear of it.”
So The Blade Itself is a grim-dark epic fantasy following of cast of characters that I would generously call….morally suspect.
“Every man has his excuses, and the more vile the man becomes, the more touching the story has to be. What is my story now, I wonder?”
Logen Ninefingers is a down on his luck barbarian; the Bloody Nine is infamous for his skill in battle but he’s low on friends, and he’s got a slew of enemies.
Captain Jezal dan Luthar is an obnoxious blowhard who thinks far too highly of himself and lacks any ambition beyond swindling his buddies at cards and earning glory fencing, as long as its not too much work.
Inquisitor Glokta is a torturer attempting to root out treason in the union while contending with his own scars and pain from his time in the Empire’s cells. He’s a vicious, cynical, sarcastic asshole – he’s also my favorite character.
“Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.”
This is definitely a character driven story, and it starts of slow. Abercrombie takes time to build out this massive world, and introduce us to the characters. You can tell he’s building to something. And the payoff that comes in the last 100-150ish pages is totally worth it. But, don’t mistake a slow start with a boring start.
Abercrombie’s writing is incredibly compelling, and he has a way of writing characters that you love even if you shouldn’t. They’re damaged, haunted by their past, and generally loathsome. But, he has this ability to humanize them as you learn about them and the world they live in, you can’t help but want them to succeed.
“Everything frightens me, and it’s well that it does. Fear is a good friend to the hunted, it’s kept me alive this long. The dead are fearless, and I don’t care to join them.”
The one negative thing I can say about this story is the treatment of the only two main female characters who are rather one-dimensional. Ardee and Ferro are both abuse victims, though of different varieties, and can easily be summed up as sex appeal and vengeance respectively. But, I am hopeful that we will get more development of them in the next book because they both have lots of potential.
Ultimately, I’m so glad I finally read this, and that I’ve got a whole bunch of First Law books to look forward to. And, if you like bloody, stabby, epic fantasy with complicated characters and stellar world building, you should read this too.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
“Once you’ve got a task to do, it’s better to do it than live with the fear of it.”
So The Blade Itself is a grim-dark epic fantasy following of cast of characters that I would generously call….morally suspect.
“Every man has his excuses, and the more vile the man becomes, the more touching the story has to be. What is my story now, I wonder?”
Logen Ninefingers is a down on his luck barbarian; the Bloody Nine is infamous for his skill in battle but he’s low on friends, and he’s got a slew of enemies.
Captain Jezal dan Luthar is an obnoxious blowhard who thinks far too highly of himself and lacks any ambition beyond swindling his buddies at cards and earning glory fencing, as long as its not too much work.
Inquisitor Glokta is a torturer attempting to root out treason in the union while contending with his own scars and pain from his time in the Empire’s cells. He’s a vicious, cynical, sarcastic asshole – he’s also my favorite character.
“Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.”
This is definitely a character driven story, and it starts of slow. Abercrombie takes time to build out this massive world, and introduce us to the characters. You can tell he’s building to something. And the payoff that comes in the last 100-150ish pages is totally worth it. But, don’t mistake a slow start with a boring start.
Abercrombie’s writing is incredibly compelling, and he has a way of writing characters that you love even if you shouldn’t. They’re damaged, haunted by their past, and generally loathsome. But, he has this ability to humanize them as you learn about them and the world they live in, you can’t help but want them to succeed.
“Everything frightens me, and it’s well that it does. Fear is a good friend to the hunted, it’s kept me alive this long. The dead are fearless, and I don’t care to join them.”
The one negative thing I can say about this story is the treatment of the only two main female characters who are rather one-dimensional. Ardee and Ferro are both abuse victims, though of different varieties, and can easily be summed up as sex appeal and vengeance respectively. But, I am hopeful that we will get more development of them in the next book because they both have lots of potential.
Ultimately, I’m so glad I finally read this, and that I’ve got a whole bunch of First Law books to look forward to. And, if you like bloody, stabby, epic fantasy with complicated characters and stellar world building, you should read this too.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Holy shit.
This was everything I wanted in a fantasy book.
The plot was intense. It kept me constantly on my toes, and there were some truly shocking twists. (One of which I shall never forgive Scott Lynch for.)
The world felt real and developed - but was explored slowly through the novel. No info-dumpy sections that were a chore to get through.
And the characters? I adored them; their banter, their brotherly affection, their conviction that they are the cleverest thieves in all of Camorr. They are the best kind of found family.
I absolutely cannot wait to start to the second book.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
This was everything I wanted in a fantasy book.
The plot was intense. It kept me constantly on my toes, and there were some truly shocking twists. (One of which I shall never forgive Scott Lynch for.)
The world felt real and developed - but was explored slowly through the novel. No info-dumpy sections that were a chore to get through.
And the characters? I adored them; their banter, their brotherly affection, their conviction that they are the cleverest thieves in all of Camorr. They are the best kind of found family.
I absolutely cannot wait to start to the second book.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
The best word I can use to describe this book is delightful.
This story is completely and utterly delightful.
I have never rated a middle grade novel 5 stars before, but this absolutely captivated me. Like stayed up until 1 am and read it in one sitting captivating. The characters are eccentric and endearing. The friendship between Morrigan and Hawthorne is goals. And, the storyline is so engaging.
Its smart and funny. And doesn't talk down to kids. It deals with heavy topics like loneliness and the desire for friendship, the nature of humanity, and the othering of people solely based on their place of origin. And it does it sooo well.
I can absolutely see this series being the current generation of middle grader's Harry Potter. And I can't wait for my own kiddo to read this. I think he's going to love it too.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
This story is completely and utterly delightful.
I have never rated a middle grade novel 5 stars before, but this absolutely captivated me. Like stayed up until 1 am and read it in one sitting captivating. The characters are eccentric and endearing. The friendship between Morrigan and Hawthorne is goals. And, the storyline is so engaging.
Its smart and funny. And doesn't talk down to kids. It deals with heavy topics like loneliness and the desire for friendship, the nature of humanity, and the othering of people solely based on their place of origin. And it does it sooo well.
I can absolutely see this series being the current generation of middle grader's Harry Potter. And I can't wait for my own kiddo to read this. I think he's going to love it too.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
I honestly have no words to properly express how much I loved this book.
Everything was important, there were no convenient plot points, but instead a carefully constructed narrative that makes connections and built upon everything we had learned in the first two books. I’m utterly amazed at Sanderson’s ability to create such an expansive and immersive world and characters that I care about so deeply.
I spent at least 15 minutes ugly crying after finishing this book because it is easily one of the best finales I’ve ever read.
All. The. Stars.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Everything was important, there were no convenient plot points, but instead a carefully constructed narrative that makes connections and built upon everything we had learned in the first two books. I’m utterly amazed at Sanderson’s ability to create such an expansive and immersive world and characters that I care about so deeply.
I spent at least 15 minutes ugly crying after finishing this book because it is easily one of the best finales I’ve ever read.
All. The. Stars.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
I didn't know much about this book going into it, but it was a Book of the Month selection, and I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a loose retelling of The Twleve Dancing Princesses, and though it's often tagged as a Fantasy book, I would put it more in the Horror category. But regardless, it is compulsively readable, and the ending had me all in my feelings.
"In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed."
Annaleigh lives a quiet life at her family's manor by the sea, Highmoor, with her sisters, father, and new stepmother. The surrounding town begins whispering about Annaleigh's family and the possibility that they are cursed as her sisters begin dying under increasingly suspicious circumstances. After her sister Eulalie's death, Annaleigh begins to suspect that her sister's deaths aren't the result of a curse nor were they just tragic accidents.
“The euphoria was tangible: I could taste it in the air, the sweetness coating my mouth and going straight to my head like champagne.”
Annaleigh's investigation takes a turn for the magical as she and her sisters begin attending balls via a secret portal and dancing their nights away in glittering gowns. As Annaleigh begins questioning events and motivations, the story gets increasingly dark and twisty. There are ghost hauntings, mysterious strangers, and nightmarish visions. But, these are balanced with sisters who love each other fiercely and an endearing romance.
“Nights like this were meant to be shared, remembers, and talked about for years. Skies like this were meant to be kissed under.”
This book kept me guessing from start to finish. And each new turn had me questioning what I thought I knew. I loved how dedicated Annaleigh was to protecting her sisters and finding out the truth even as she was continually made to question herself and her conclusions.
It's a story that's easy to loose yourself in, and I could almost feel the chill of the sea as I stayed up far to late to finished this book. It is a deeply atmospheric story about love, and revenge, and seeking the truth no matter the cost.
"Me? He looked down. "I'm the most terrifying nightmare of them all."
I raised by eyebrows, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Regret."
This story is definitely dark and creepy so if that is not your cup of tea, this book may not be for you; there are graphic depictions of gore and violence. House of Salt and Sorrows is full of twists and turns - it's part fairy tale, part murder mystery, and part Gothic horror novel. And, somehow Craig makes it all work. I will definitely be picking up anything else she writes.
Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one, stillbirth, gore, domestic violence, alcoholic rage, discussions of suicide, one questioning their sanity, death of an animal
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
I didn't know much about this book going into it, but it was a Book of the Month selection, and I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a loose retelling of The Twleve Dancing Princesses, and though it's often tagged as a Fantasy book, I would put it more in the Horror category. But regardless, it is compulsively readable, and the ending had me all in my feelings.
"In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed."
Annaleigh lives a quiet life at her family's manor by the sea, Highmoor, with her sisters, father, and new stepmother. The surrounding town begins whispering about Annaleigh's family and the possibility that they are cursed as her sisters begin dying under increasingly suspicious circumstances. After her sister Eulalie's death, Annaleigh begins to suspect that her sister's deaths aren't the result of a curse nor were they just tragic accidents.
“The euphoria was tangible: I could taste it in the air, the sweetness coating my mouth and going straight to my head like champagne.”
Annaleigh's investigation takes a turn for the magical as she and her sisters begin attending balls via a secret portal and dancing their nights away in glittering gowns. As Annaleigh begins questioning events and motivations, the story gets increasingly dark and twisty. There are ghost hauntings, mysterious strangers, and nightmarish visions. But, these are balanced with sisters who love each other fiercely and an endearing romance.
“Nights like this were meant to be shared, remembers, and talked about for years. Skies like this were meant to be kissed under.”
This book kept me guessing from start to finish. And each new turn had me questioning what I thought I knew. I loved how dedicated Annaleigh was to protecting her sisters and finding out the truth even as she was continually made to question herself and her conclusions.
It's a story that's easy to loose yourself in, and I could almost feel the chill of the sea as I stayed up far to late to finished this book. It is a deeply atmospheric story about love, and revenge, and seeking the truth no matter the cost.
"Me? He looked down. "I'm the most terrifying nightmare of them all."
I raised by eyebrows, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Regret."
This story is definitely dark and creepy so if that is not your cup of tea, this book may not be for you; there are graphic depictions of gore and violence. House of Salt and Sorrows is full of twists and turns - it's part fairy tale, part murder mystery, and part Gothic horror novel. And, somehow Craig makes it all work. I will definitely be picking up anything else she writes.
Trigger Warnings: death of a loved one, stillbirth, gore, domestic violence, alcoholic rage, discussions of suicide, one questioning their sanity, death of an animal
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
"I would love to have something like that to be on a team with someone and to be better together than you could be alone."
Bloom is a cute graphic novel about Ari who is spending the summer after high school working in his family's bakery while dreaming of moving to the city with his band mates to pursue a career in music. However, after interviewing potential replacements, Ari meets Hector, and they strike up a friendship which forces Ari to re-evaluate how he feels about his family, his friends, and the bakery.
While I enjoyed the story and the art is gorgeous, this graphic novel was not quite what I was expecting. Ari isn't a particularly likable character for the bulk of the story - he's impatient, immature, and self-centered, but his arc is really lovely. And I loved the focus on the importance of family and finding your place.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
"I would love to have something like that to be on a team with someone and to be better together than you could be alone."
Bloom is a cute graphic novel about Ari who is spending the summer after high school working in his family's bakery while dreaming of moving to the city with his band mates to pursue a career in music. However, after interviewing potential replacements, Ari meets Hector, and they strike up a friendship which forces Ari to re-evaluate how he feels about his family, his friends, and the bakery.
While I enjoyed the story and the art is gorgeous, this graphic novel was not quite what I was expecting. Ari isn't a particularly likable character for the bulk of the story - he's impatient, immature, and self-centered, but his arc is really lovely. And I loved the focus on the importance of family and finding your place.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
“Some people are haunted by their pasts, but not my family. I mean, how can you be haunted by something that never really dies?”
This is an excellent follow-up to first volume of Saga. Like the first volume, this story is full of complex characters, interesting storylines, beautiful art, and Hazel’s powerful narration.
Some of my favorite things: Alana’s interactions with Barr, Marko’s backstory, the story of how Alana and Marko met, and the continued character growth of The Will. This story just has so much heart, and I am completely emotionally invested in these characters. I need to know that everything is going to be okay! Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples please don’t hurt my babies.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
“Some people are haunted by their pasts, but not my family. I mean, how can you be haunted by something that never really dies?”
This is an excellent follow-up to first volume of Saga. Like the first volume, this story is full of complex characters, interesting storylines, beautiful art, and Hazel’s powerful narration.
Some of my favorite things: Alana’s interactions with Barr, Marko’s backstory, the story of how Alana and Marko met, and the continued character growth of The Will. This story just has so much heart, and I am completely emotionally invested in these characters. I need to know that everything is going to be okay! Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples please don’t hurt my babies.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
