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ladybugwrites's reviews
285 reviews
The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up. Short story collections are often hard for me to go through, but this one was a delight with how everything was in one universe. It was a great way to introduce different parts of it and Geralt. Honestly, I love the fact that he's incredibly sassy in this, it made me very happy.
Also, all the references were great. I thought they were a lot of fun, like the rest of the book also was.
I will warn that this book is mysogonistic in the way the characters talk about women, and would definitely classify it as a mysogonistic book, but the women themselves are realtively well-written and fleshed out characters that I enjoyed getting to know and reading about.
Definitely going to continue with the books in this universe.
Also, all the references were great. I thought they were a lot of fun, like the rest of the book also was.
I will warn that this book is mysogonistic in the way the characters talk about women, and would definitely classify it as a mysogonistic book, but the women themselves are realtively well-written and fleshed out characters that I enjoyed getting to know and reading about.
Definitely going to continue with the books in this universe.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
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
3.5
Is this book riddled with cliches that you come across in most YA fantasy books? Yes. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily.
I think, because it's been almost 10 years since I originally saw this book in the bookstore (didn't buy it) and thought, I'd like to read that, I went into this book with the mindset that I would be disappointed. Part of me was certain that, I'd love this at 16 and my tastes have evovled and this wouldn't be that good. I was pleseantly surprised that I actually quite enjoyed the book. Yes, it'd has a lot of cliches and a lot of tropes and not all of them are super good or really all that orignal, but part of me didn't care. It was relatively well-written, it has a lot of good moments and I think the plot is interesting.
I don't know if I'll pick up the next book, if I care enough to actually read on because by the end, I wasn't that interested anymore. The first half of the book is definitely better than the second half and I wish it wasn't like that. Pretty sure, if I do pick up the next book, it's gonna be audio, but I doubt I will honestly.
It was certainly a book that was better than expected and I enjoyed reading it, but I still think I have matured from that place of YA fantasy where half the plot relies on romantic interests that I don't really care about. I thought this would be different at first, but it really wasn't. I am happy I gave it a try.
I think, because it's been almost 10 years since I originally saw this book in the bookstore (didn't buy it) and thought, I'd like to read that, I went into this book with the mindset that I would be disappointed. Part of me was certain that, I'd love this at 16 and my tastes have evovled and this wouldn't be that good. I was pleseantly surprised that I actually quite enjoyed the book. Yes, it'd has a lot of cliches and a lot of tropes and not all of them are super good or really all that orignal, but part of me didn't care. It was relatively well-written, it has a lot of good moments and I think the plot is interesting.
I don't know if I'll pick up the next book, if I care enough to actually read on because by the end, I wasn't that interested anymore. The first half of the book is definitely better than the second half and I wish it wasn't like that. Pretty sure, if I do pick up the next book, it's gonna be audio, but I doubt I will honestly.
It was certainly a book that was better than expected and I enjoyed reading it, but I still think I have matured from that place of YA fantasy where half the plot relies on romantic interests that I don't really care about. I thought this would be different at first, but it really wasn't. I am happy I gave it a try.
Scattered All Over the Earth by Yōko Tawada
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a book about languages, about lack of borders, about connection between people who don't speak the same language. It's beautifully written with a relatively unimportant plot - the plot isn't the important part, it's the backdrop of a what this book encapsulates, which is a love of languages and a love of people.
I really liked the first part and I like the ending, but I thought the book dragged a little. Some of the chapters contained the entire backstory of a character, and it got boring when the real art that appears in this book is the one created between the characters.
Now, I will have one gripe with this book that really annoyed me. It won't spoil it, because I don't think it's important to the plot and therefore the reason it annoyed me so much. Whilst it never says that the terror attack in Norway is the one that happened the 22 July 2011, the description of it is a clear reference to it and the use of the name Breivik on a character right after felt, it felt mean almost. By how it was glossed over, it felt like it was making fun of the seriousness of it. It's barely there, it didn't need to be in the book, or - since the book makes the impression it's in some kind of future - it could've been a completely different one. It was completely unnecessary and it left a really bad taste in my mouth, especially when the rest of this book was good and I really liked it. This might be because I'm Norwegain, I don't know. But it felt like it was in bad taste and that annoyed me.
I really liked the first part and I like the ending, but I thought the book dragged a little. Some of the chapters contained the entire backstory of a character, and it got boring when the real art that appears in this book is the one created between the characters.
Now, I will have one gripe with this book that really annoyed me. It won't spoil it, because I don't think it's important to the plot and therefore the reason it annoyed me so much. Whilst it never says that the terror attack in Norway is the one that happened the 22 July 2011, the description of it is a clear reference to it and the use of the name Breivik on a character right after felt, it felt mean almost. By how it was glossed over, it felt like it was making fun of the seriousness of it. It's barely there, it didn't need to be in the book, or - since the book makes the impression it's in some kind of future - it could've been a completely different one. It was completely unnecessary and it left a really bad taste in my mouth, especially when the rest of this book was good and I really liked it. This might be because I'm Norwegain, I don't know. But it felt like it was in bad taste and that annoyed me.