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lit_terary's reviews
499 reviews
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
2.0
Unimpressed by the whole thing. It's, in all honesty, a mediocre (average at best) mystery, underwhelming from start to end, definitely not a page turner. I also found it to be quite verbose,and unnecessary long, it could've been squeezed in 200 pages without losing anything. I really have nothing else to say about this, blandness at its peak.
Dune by Frank Herbert
3.0
3.5
Overall, I found Dune to be a solid sci-fi. It certainly wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a showstopper either. I could tell that it was a slightly older book, a lot of it felt dated and “vintage”, especially when it comes to character - the most lacking element of the novel, in my opinion.
All the characters are pretty much flat, without many layers to make them interesting beyond surface level. Characters didn’t feel like their own personal characters (if that makes any sense), but mere pawns moving through a chess board. Paul was especially bland, perhaps the blandest out of the whole bunch. He’s purpose was only to fulfill the chosen one trope. The most interesting characters, I have to say, are the secondary ones, like Lady Jessica, Chani and Hawat, so much so that I would’ve loved to read more of them.
As story as a whole, it wasn’t that remarkable, but for some reason it emanated such a compelling and attractive force that kept me engaged all throughout. There’s something about this book that I really can’t explain, other than describing it as a primal force that kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat. Might’ve been the world building (not really that explored, but interesting enough to create an immersive atmosphere), maybe the politics (so complicated and convoluted, totally unclear at times, but in a ways that just made me want more, and more, and more.). In short, this book, albeit flawed, had the x-factor.
Overall, I found Dune to be a solid sci-fi. It certainly wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a showstopper either. I could tell that it was a slightly older book, a lot of it felt dated and “vintage”, especially when it comes to character - the most lacking element of the novel, in my opinion.
All the characters are pretty much flat, without many layers to make them interesting beyond surface level. Characters didn’t feel like their own personal characters (if that makes any sense), but mere pawns moving through a chess board. Paul was especially bland, perhaps the blandest out of the whole bunch. He’s purpose was only to fulfill the chosen one trope. The most interesting characters, I have to say, are the secondary ones, like Lady Jessica, Chani and Hawat, so much so that I would’ve loved to read more of them.
As story as a whole, it wasn’t that remarkable, but for some reason it emanated such a compelling and attractive force that kept me engaged all throughout. There’s something about this book that I really can’t explain, other than describing it as a primal force that kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat. Might’ve been the world building (not really that explored, but interesting enough to create an immersive atmosphere), maybe the politics (so complicated and convoluted, totally unclear at times, but in a ways that just made me want more, and more, and more.). In short, this book, albeit flawed, had the x-factor.
Il suggeritore by Donato Carrisi
2.0
This book was a Mess. It started out pretty strong, but then the author gradually lost control over the story. By the end, the plot/mystery was all over the fucking place, confusing and unruly. The ending was also unsatisfactory, another easy way out. Has to be said, the book lost all credibility for me when a "superbatural" element was introduced, and many plot “devices” were employed just for the sake of it, which was really frustrating. Also, can we go without a useless sex scene just to make things saucy? Thanks. What a fucking let down. I’m so mad because the POTENTIAL MAN.
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
2.0
Unimpressed. I found it predictable and a bit flat, the killer was easily identifiable by the first chapters, to be quite honest (or I'm a genius). Maybe I'm just a little worn out by crime-thrillers at this point, but I found this very underwhelming, nothing about it intrigued me enough and buythe end I was simply uninterested. Not a Bad Book, but defo not for me.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
3.0
3.5?
I liked it just fine. It was fun and entertaining. Was it the most memorable fantasy I ever read? Not remotely. The story was ok, pretty average for a high-fantasy, it could've been more daring, could've delivered more, but it sure got the job done. There was nothing astoundingly new about it, which gave it a classic/vintage feel, but I'm not that mad. Quite solid.
I liked it just fine. It was fun and entertaining. Was it the most memorable fantasy I ever read? Not remotely. The story was ok, pretty average for a high-fantasy, it could've been more daring, could've delivered more, but it sure got the job done. There was nothing astoundingly new about it, which gave it a classic/vintage feel, but I'm not that mad. Quite solid.
I Malavoglia by Giovanni Verga
3.0
3.5
Three words: mai 'na gioia (roughly translated as 'never a joy'). That's it. Also, it gave me an existential crisis that made me question all the choices I ever made in my life, but that's only on me. On a more serious note, I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and it was more readable than I feared. The story is depressing but I guess that's what realism entails.
Three words: mai 'na gioia (roughly translated as 'never a joy'). That's it. Also, it gave me an existential crisis that made me question all the choices I ever made in my life, but that's only on me. On a more serious note, I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and it was more readable than I feared. The story is depressing but I guess that's what realism entails.
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
2.0
I want to start this by saying that I had not interest left for anything concerning this series. I had liked a couple of characters in the previous two books, but reading this honestly wore me out and I'm so fed up with everything and everyone. It's the same fucking things over, and over again. Same dynamics, same plots, same drama. Plus, there was so much filler content in this one. It felt like the author had no idea to what write about anymore. She just pulled things out of nowhere to fill 800 pages. Honey, you can write shorter books, it’s not the end of the world, ok?
Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence
4.0
This book was phenomenal. Such an enjoyable and entertaining read, it'll keep you hooked from page 1 to the last. In this sequel we're getting more into Nona's head as she's constantly growing and developing. The world and the politics are astonishing as usual, and Lawrence really came through as the intelligent writer he is. Also: gold relationships!
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
4.0
(One of) the most intense book(s) I've ever read. Truly unput-downable, I read this in one sitting, which is a first. This was insane, complex, convoluted and absurd, but oh man did it work. From half-way onward I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and with no clue of where things would head or how they would wrap. The ending wasn’t the “bang” that I was craving for, but overall it was satisfying enough.
Blake Crouch, you got me, 150% sold and on board.
Blake Crouch, you got me, 150% sold and on board.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
This was a pretty solid book and an interesting start for the series to come. It does read too much like an introduction: a lot of space is given to the main chacter's back story and development (maybe too much), and this considerably slowed down the pace of the book.
As always, Bardugo is a master at creating characters and dynamics, which was the most pleasurable aspect of the novel. I liked Alex as a main character, and I love the way she interacts with each character and how it’s always different depending om who that is. Plus, bomb ass dialogue, which is a given for Leigh Bardugo.
The “fantasy” world is quite interesting, but so far not very fleshed out, but I’m patiently waiting to see it developed in the books to follow. What I really enjoyed was the setting, very dark-academia-esque, and I really hope she will mantain this for the rest of the series.
Overall I would describe this as "Veronica Mars on crack". Now I’m so curious to see where Leigh Bardugo will take the story, the rest of the series had potential.
As always, Bardugo is a master at creating characters and dynamics, which was the most pleasurable aspect of the novel. I liked Alex as a main character, and I love the way she interacts with each character and how it’s always different depending om who that is. Plus, bomb ass dialogue, which is a given for Leigh Bardugo.
The “fantasy” world is quite interesting, but so far not very fleshed out, but I’m patiently waiting to see it developed in the books to follow. What I really enjoyed was the setting, very dark-academia-esque, and I really hope she will mantain this for the rest of the series.
Overall I would describe this as "Veronica Mars on crack". Now I’m so curious to see where Leigh Bardugo will take the story, the rest of the series had potential.