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kp_hobbitreads's Reviews (686)
*eARC provided by Tor via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The Unspoken Name was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. An orc priestess turned traitor and assassin? Yes, please. And luckily, this did not disappoint!
“Nothing in this world has earned the power to frighten you Csorwe,” he said. “You have looked your foretold death in the face and turned from it in defiance. Nothing in this world or any other deserves your fear.”
Csorwe knows her destiny. She’s known it practically her whole life. As a Bride of the Unspoken, she will die on her 14th birthday. And, she seems to have made a kind of peace with that. But, on the day of her sacrifice, the wizard Belthandros Sethennai shows up and offers her a choice. Stay and die. Or, she can leave with him and live. Betraying her god, Csorwe chooses to flee with Sethennai, becoming his personal assassin and aiding him on his quest to find the legendary Reliquary of Pentravesse.
“The secret of greatness is to know when you should risk the wrath of god.”
There is so much about this book that I really enjoyed. Csorwe is a fantastic main character and her arc was so satisfying to follow. I really appreciated her “inner monologue” as she grapples with these big ideas of destiny and choice. And what we owe to other people….and more importantly, what we owe to ourselves.
And, did I mention this book is queer? Because it totally is. Several of the named characters are queer, and the main f/f relationship was so sweet and lovely. A perfect contrast to the gritty, violent world our characters inhabit. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the banter between Csorwe and Tal? I love me some frenemies. I could read about these two one upping each other forever. I mean, “no hard feelings,” right?
“Tal never took one bite of a bad idea without polishing off the whole chunk.”
Ultimately, I think this is a book about choices. Do you follow the the path you believe to be your destiny? Or do you make a choice to carve your own path? Who do you put first? Who do you trust? And, I think this works well because there is really no “big bad” in this story – none of our characters are inherently evil. But, we are the choices we make – and our characters have to live with the consequences of theirs. There are constantly changing alliances which keep the plot interesting and moving in new directions. The characters feel real, their motivations feel authentic and that kept me invested in the story the whole way through.
“Exalted Sages, Csorwe. If there ever comes a day when anyone faces justice, then you and I had better hope we’re both far, far away.”
The only real downside to this book for me was the pacing. The first and second halves almost feel like two different books, and I would have preferred to see more time spent with Csorwe while she is training. Like, what happened during that five year jump? I want to know!
Overall, I think this is a great start to a new fantasy series. And, I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. If you’re looking for a new queer fantasy to sink your teeth into, I highly recommend giving this one a go!
The Unspoken Name was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. An orc priestess turned traitor and assassin? Yes, please. And luckily, this did not disappoint!
“Nothing in this world has earned the power to frighten you Csorwe,” he said. “You have looked your foretold death in the face and turned from it in defiance. Nothing in this world or any other deserves your fear.”
Csorwe knows her destiny. She’s known it practically her whole life. As a Bride of the Unspoken, she will die on her 14th birthday. And, she seems to have made a kind of peace with that. But, on the day of her sacrifice, the wizard Belthandros Sethennai shows up and offers her a choice. Stay and die. Or, she can leave with him and live. Betraying her god, Csorwe chooses to flee with Sethennai, becoming his personal assassin and aiding him on his quest to find the legendary Reliquary of Pentravesse.
“The secret of greatness is to know when you should risk the wrath of god.”
There is so much about this book that I really enjoyed. Csorwe is a fantastic main character and her arc was so satisfying to follow. I really appreciated her “inner monologue” as she grapples with these big ideas of destiny and choice. And what we owe to other people….and more importantly, what we owe to ourselves.
And, did I mention this book is queer? Because it totally is. Several of the named characters are queer, and the main f/f relationship was so sweet and lovely. A perfect contrast to the gritty, violent world our characters inhabit. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the banter between Csorwe and Tal? I love me some frenemies. I could read about these two one upping each other forever. I mean, “no hard feelings,” right?
“Tal never took one bite of a bad idea without polishing off the whole chunk.”
Ultimately, I think this is a book about choices. Do you follow the the path you believe to be your destiny? Or do you make a choice to carve your own path? Who do you put first? Who do you trust? And, I think this works well because there is really no “big bad” in this story – none of our characters are inherently evil. But, we are the choices we make – and our characters have to live with the consequences of theirs. There are constantly changing alliances which keep the plot interesting and moving in new directions. The characters feel real, their motivations feel authentic and that kept me invested in the story the whole way through.
“Exalted Sages, Csorwe. If there ever comes a day when anyone faces justice, then you and I had better hope we’re both far, far away.”
The only real downside to this book for me was the pacing. The first and second halves almost feel like two different books, and I would have preferred to see more time spent with Csorwe while she is training. Like, what happened during that five year jump? I want to know!
Overall, I think this is a great start to a new fantasy series. And, I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. If you’re looking for a new queer fantasy to sink your teeth into, I highly recommend giving this one a go!
#1 Leviathan Wakes: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
Wow.....reading this made me wildly uncomfortable. This is a short little story that gives us some insight into what life was like in Baltimore for Amos Burton. And the short version: it wasn't good.
Three Things:
1. Timmy and Lydia's relationship is deeply messed up. The woman basically raised him after his mother's death, and they have a sexual relationship which is bad enough on its own. But, when you realize he's "barely halfway into his second decade of life" it makes it so much worse.
2. I do like that this series never shies away from the harsh realities of what life is like for regular people. And, it's especially bleak in this story.
3. I am interested in seeing how these side characters play into the larger series. I have a feeling we will be seeing a few of them again.
While I am glad to get more information on one of my favorite characters in the series, I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading this. Or, even necessarily that I recommend it. The content warnings are plentiful - please heed them.
content warnings: violence, gore, murder, child abuse, child sex trafficking, sex work, drug dealing, sex (fade to black, not graphic), ablesist slur, unhealthy relationship dynamic/grooming, pseudo-incest
#1.5 The Butcher of Anderson Station: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 Caliban's War: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2.5 Gods of Risk: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#2.7 Drive: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#3 Abaddon's Gate: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 The Churn: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
Wow.....reading this made me wildly uncomfortable. This is a short little story that gives us some insight into what life was like in Baltimore for Amos Burton. And the short version: it wasn't good.
Three Things:
1. Timmy and Lydia's relationship is deeply messed up. The woman basically raised him after his mother's death, and they have a sexual relationship which is bad enough on its own. But, when you realize he's "barely halfway into his second decade of life" it makes it so much worse.
2. I do like that this series never shies away from the harsh realities of what life is like for regular people. And, it's especially bleak in this story.
3. I am interested in seeing how these side characters play into the larger series. I have a feeling we will be seeing a few of them again.
While I am glad to get more information on one of my favorite characters in the series, I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading this. Or, even necessarily that I recommend it. The content warnings are plentiful - please heed them.
content warnings: violence, gore, murder, child abuse, child sex trafficking, sex work, drug dealing, sex (fade to black, not graphic), ablesist slur, unhealthy relationship dynamic/grooming, pseudo-incest
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
So I admittedly don’t read a lot of contemporary adult romances. So I can’t tell you how this compares to a lot of other recent publications. What I can tell you is that I had a blast reading this – and I was so excited to find out that there will be additional books in this series. Well Met is an enemies to lovers romance set at a Ren Faire. I mean, what more could you want?
“Emma the Tavern Wench was turned on by Captain Blackthorn, Pirate. This could be a problem.”
Emily relocates to the small town of Willow Creek for the summer to help out her sister April who is recovering from a car accident. While chauffeuring her niece Caitlin around, she gets roped into participating in the local Renaissance Faire. She takes on the alter ego of Emma, the tavern wench. And it just so happens that Emma and the pirate Ian Blackthorn have a thing. The catch? Outside of the Ren Faire, Ian Blackthorn is none other than Simon, high school English teacher and no-nonsense director of the Ren Faire, who doesn’t appreciate Emily’s nonchalant attitude about the Faire or her conspiracy theories about William Shakespeare.
“So, what, am I just supposed to pull an extra bard out of my ass now?”
“Not a bad idea. It might dislodge the stick that’s up there.”
We all know where this is going, but its the path it takes to get there that is so much fun. I loved the banter between these two, and the sincerity and vulnerability of some of their conversations. And, the steamy scenes? *chef’s kiss* But, this book is more than just an adorable romcom. There are discussions of abandonment in relationships and how that clouds out perception of ourselves and other people and the unrealistic expectations we put upon ourselves and how that effects our own happiness. But, its also about the way we work through grief and the idea that we need to actually tell people what we want rather than expecting them to just know.
I really loved the themes of friendship and family in this book. Emily finds herself in a town full of people she doesn’t know, but when she opens up and embraces the Faire, she realizes just how much she might like to call Willow Creek home. Emily’s relationships with her sister and niece are really well done too, and develop in a way that feels authentic. I really related to Emily’s sister: a single mom who spends all her time taking care of her kid, and very little time establishing friendships/relationships of her own. Can we please, please get an April centered sequel?! *fingers crossed*
“Let us love you, and remind you that you’re worth it until you figure out what you’re going to do next.”
Overall, I adored this book and these characters. It was everything I wanted from a steamy adult contemporary romance. And, I can’t wait to see what Jen DeLuca does next.
Trigger warnings: car accident (in the past), toxic relationship (in the past), death of a sibling (in the past), talk of loss of a loved one (non-hodgkin’s lymphoma), grief deception, depression depiction, and abandonment
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So I admittedly don’t read a lot of contemporary adult romances. So I can’t tell you how this compares to a lot of other recent publications. What I can tell you is that I had a blast reading this – and I was so excited to find out that there will be additional books in this series. Well Met is an enemies to lovers romance set at a Ren Faire. I mean, what more could you want?
“Emma the Tavern Wench was turned on by Captain Blackthorn, Pirate. This could be a problem.”
Emily relocates to the small town of Willow Creek for the summer to help out her sister April who is recovering from a car accident. While chauffeuring her niece Caitlin around, she gets roped into participating in the local Renaissance Faire. She takes on the alter ego of Emma, the tavern wench. And it just so happens that Emma and the pirate Ian Blackthorn have a thing. The catch? Outside of the Ren Faire, Ian Blackthorn is none other than Simon, high school English teacher and no-nonsense director of the Ren Faire, who doesn’t appreciate Emily’s nonchalant attitude about the Faire or her conspiracy theories about William Shakespeare.
“So, what, am I just supposed to pull an extra bard out of my ass now?”
“Not a bad idea. It might dislodge the stick that’s up there.”
We all know where this is going, but its the path it takes to get there that is so much fun. I loved the banter between these two, and the sincerity and vulnerability of some of their conversations. And, the steamy scenes? *chef’s kiss* But, this book is more than just an adorable romcom. There are discussions of abandonment in relationships and how that clouds out perception of ourselves and other people and the unrealistic expectations we put upon ourselves and how that effects our own happiness. But, its also about the way we work through grief and the idea that we need to actually tell people what we want rather than expecting them to just know.
I really loved the themes of friendship and family in this book. Emily finds herself in a town full of people she doesn’t know, but when she opens up and embraces the Faire, she realizes just how much she might like to call Willow Creek home. Emily’s relationships with her sister and niece are really well done too, and develop in a way that feels authentic. I really related to Emily’s sister: a single mom who spends all her time taking care of her kid, and very little time establishing friendships/relationships of her own. Can we please, please get an April centered sequel?! *fingers crossed*
“Let us love you, and remind you that you’re worth it until you figure out what you’re going to do next.”
Overall, I adored this book and these characters. It was everything I wanted from a steamy adult contemporary romance. And, I can’t wait to see what Jen DeLuca does next.
Trigger warnings: car accident (in the past), toxic relationship (in the past), death of a sibling (in the past), talk of loss of a loved one (non-hodgkin’s lymphoma), grief deception, depression depiction, and abandonment
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Actual rating: 4.5/5
So I decided I didn't want to be the only person on the planet who hadn't read Saga anymore. I've been seeing it all over the place, and I'm not exactly sure what took me so long to give it a go because it's all the things I love in a comic - funny, heartfelt, beautifully drawn, and incredibly engaging.
Saga is about our two main characters Alana & Marko - and their daughter Hazel. Alana is from Landfall and Marko is from Landfall's moon, known as Wreath. Landfall and Wreath have been at war for basically forever ("if there was ever a time these two got along, nobody remembers it") so Alana and Marko are supposed to be enemies. But, they fall in love and have a child. Now they are on the run being chased by agents/bounty hunters/allied nations working for the governments of both their home worlds when all they want to do is find a place to raise their daughter in peace. The best part? The story is actually narrated by Hazel.
"This is how an idea becomes real. But ideas are fragile things. Most don't live long outside of the ether from which they were pulled, kicking and screaming. My name is Hazel. I started out as an idea, but I ended up something more. Not much more, to be honest. It's not like I grow up to become some great war hero or any sort of all-important savior...but thanks to these two [her parents], at least I get to grow old. Not everybody does."
Hazel's narration, for me, really pulls the narrative together and pushes it forward. The explanatory information is helpful to understanding the story while providing insight and heart. It seems to ground the story and raise the stakes so to speak.
This comic is also full of great characters (Izabel), complex characters (The Will), and terrifying characters (The Stalk). And there are plenty of worlds introduced that I can't wait to see explored in future volumes - as well as character development I am sure is to come. However, I will warn you that this is an adult series so there is lots of swearing, violence, and some sexually explicit scenes. I really felt like it worked for the story being told, so they didn't seem too gratuitous for me, but if that's not really you thing you may want to give this a pass.
The upside to being so late to give this a go? I've not the next five volumes waiting for me - and Volume 7 comes out in March. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
So I decided I didn't want to be the only person on the planet who hadn't read Saga anymore. I've been seeing it all over the place, and I'm not exactly sure what took me so long to give it a go because it's all the things I love in a comic - funny, heartfelt, beautifully drawn, and incredibly engaging.
Saga is about our two main characters Alana & Marko - and their daughter Hazel. Alana is from Landfall and Marko is from Landfall's moon, known as Wreath. Landfall and Wreath have been at war for basically forever ("if there was ever a time these two got along, nobody remembers it") so Alana and Marko are supposed to be enemies. But, they fall in love and have a child. Now they are on the run being chased by agents/bounty hunters/allied nations working for the governments of both their home worlds when all they want to do is find a place to raise their daughter in peace. The best part? The story is actually narrated by Hazel.
"This is how an idea becomes real. But ideas are fragile things. Most don't live long outside of the ether from which they were pulled, kicking and screaming. My name is Hazel. I started out as an idea, but I ended up something more. Not much more, to be honest. It's not like I grow up to become some great war hero or any sort of all-important savior...but thanks to these two [her parents], at least I get to grow old. Not everybody does."
Hazel's narration, for me, really pulls the narrative together and pushes it forward. The explanatory information is helpful to understanding the story while providing insight and heart. It seems to ground the story and raise the stakes so to speak.
This comic is also full of great characters (Izabel), complex characters (The Will), and terrifying characters (The Stalk). And there are plenty of worlds introduced that I can't wait to see explored in future volumes - as well as character development I am sure is to come. However, I will warn you that this is an adult series so there is lots of swearing, violence, and some sexually explicit scenes. I really felt like it worked for the story being told, so they didn't seem too gratuitous for me, but if that's not really you thing you may want to give this a pass.
The upside to being so late to give this a go? I've not the next five volumes waiting for me - and Volume 7 comes out in March. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
This book seriously fucked me up.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia can certainly craft a brilliantly creepy story and fantastic characters. And as always she makes you FEEL something when you read her words.
RTC.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia can certainly craft a brilliantly creepy story and fantastic characters. And as always she makes you FEEL something when you read her words.
RTC.
