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loiscc's Reviews (313)
Crooked Kingdom did not disappoint me and proved to be every bit the melee of pulse-racing action, infallible ploys and compellingly complicated relationships I hoped it would be. It maintains the steely grit of the Six of Crows, as we learn more about the characters we've grown to love, despite all their flaws and meet new ones, just as formidable. Bardugo gives us even more cunning and intrigue in this sequel novel but even with all the pragmatism, she still manages to transport the reader into a world of enthralling magic. We discover more about the skeletons Kaz Brekker and his crew hoard from their past and this made for beautiful characterisation.
I was a bit hesitant to rate this book 5 stars due to the lack of development into the Khergurd soldiers from Shu, specifically in terms of what their motives were and other such logistics. Also a certain death occurred where I felt like that the story moved on from the event just as soon as it happened and I wanted a bit more...stillness?
Enjoyment-wise though, I thought Crooked Kingdom was absolute genius with the perfect payoff at the end.
I was a bit hesitant to rate this book 5 stars due to the lack of development into the Khergurd soldiers from Shu, specifically in terms of what their motives were and other such logistics. Also a certain death occurred where I felt like that the story moved on from the event just as soon as it happened and I wanted a bit more...stillness?
Enjoyment-wise though, I thought Crooked Kingdom was absolute genius with the perfect payoff at the end.
If Beale Street Could Talk was a book I expected big things from purely because of how influential a figure of civil rights and literature its author still is today and this book lived up to those grand expectations.
We follow the somewhat omnipotent narrator, Tish who is nineteen and pregnant. The father of her child is twenty-two year old Fonny who has been wrongfully convicted for a crime he didn't commit. Tish's family as well as Fonny's father Frank, battle a system of social injustice in 1920s Harlem to get Fonny out of prison.
This book was such a passionate, honest read. The romance between Tish and Fonny was conveyed beautifully with the utmost care. But beyond that, it looks at the black experience at large amidst crippling racial oppression and the people that work hard to thrive under these conditions.
The story took a while to get going so I felt slightly disillusioned going into it but by the end I felt like everything that happened had a purpose or a deeper meaning and I would absolutely read it again.
We follow the somewhat omnipotent narrator, Tish who is nineteen and pregnant. The father of her child is twenty-two year old Fonny who has been wrongfully convicted for a crime he didn't commit. Tish's family as well as Fonny's father Frank, battle a system of social injustice in 1920s Harlem to get Fonny out of prison.
This book was such a passionate, honest read. The romance between Tish and Fonny was conveyed beautifully with the utmost care. But beyond that, it looks at the black experience at large amidst crippling racial oppression and the people that work hard to thrive under these conditions.
The story took a while to get going so I felt slightly disillusioned going into it but by the end I felt like everything that happened had a purpose or a deeper meaning and I would absolutely read it again.
Summary:
In the second volume of Monster, events take place nine years after the end of vol. 1. The Liebert twins have grown up, Anna is now called Nina and has been adopted by a middle-aged German couple called the Forners, but she has no memories of her childhood including the murder of her parents. All that remains is an unsettling blank in her mind. Dr Tenma is still on a mission to track down Johan, Nina's twin brother and this causes him to come into contact with Nina, who he realises is in danger. Meanwhile the police investigation into a series of murders, all involving different middle-aged couples rages on, framing Dr Tenma as a suspect.
My Thoughts:
This volume was just as exciting and suspenseful as the first one and again, I completed it in one short sitting. There's an ominous feeling throughout that I couldn't resist. Johan hardly appears in this volume except through the recollections of others and it's usually to do with his extreme taste for violence. This made his character even more sinister in my mind as it plays on the reader's imagination. This manga also had lots of shock value, particularly concerning the revelations we learn about from Nina.
I was only turned off by the last chapter involving an ex-soldier. It felt very rushed and the way his exchanges with Detective Lunge went didn't make any sense to me. This soldier refuses to provide evidence in a criminal investigation and he's allowed to go free? Isn't that obstruction of justice or something? Or maybe it has something to do with his rank as a soldier affording him some type of immunity I don't know about. In any case, the last chapter did have a softer, more human tone but it was also my least favourite chapter in the volume. All in all, a strong sequel that builds up anticipation for the next in the series!
In the second volume of Monster, events take place nine years after the end of vol. 1. The Liebert twins have grown up, Anna is now called Nina and has been adopted by a middle-aged German couple called the Forners, but she has no memories of her childhood including the murder of her parents. All that remains is an unsettling blank in her mind. Dr Tenma is still on a mission to track down Johan, Nina's twin brother and this causes him to come into contact with Nina, who he realises is in danger. Meanwhile the police investigation into a series of murders, all involving different middle-aged couples rages on, framing Dr Tenma as a suspect.
My Thoughts:
This volume was just as exciting and suspenseful as the first one and again, I completed it in one short sitting. There's an ominous feeling throughout that I couldn't resist. Johan hardly appears in this volume except through the recollections of others and it's usually to do with his extreme taste for violence. This made his character even more sinister in my mind as it plays on the reader's imagination. This manga also had lots of shock value, particularly concerning the revelations we learn about from Nina.
I was only turned off by the last chapter involving an ex-soldier. It felt very rushed and the way his exchanges with Detective Lunge went didn't make any sense to me. This soldier refuses to provide evidence in a criminal investigation and he's allowed to go free? Isn't that obstruction of justice or something? Or maybe it has something to do with his rank as a soldier affording him some type of immunity I don't know about. In any case, the last chapter did have a softer, more human tone but it was also my least favourite chapter in the volume. All in all, a strong sequel that builds up anticipation for the next in the series!
A Vow So Bold And Deadly is the culmination of the Cursebreaker trilogy that sees Grey and Rhen preparing to go to war against each other, one hoping to claim the throne of Emberfall, the other seeks to maintain his position. Meanwhile the newly enthroned Queen of Shyl Shallow, Lia Mara as well as 'Princess' Harper both hope for a more peaceful alliance.
I thought this book handled the main conflict really well. It builds up anticipation for the crux of the very clearly defined power struggle. Also I was glad to see Rhen and Harper had more presence in this book.
The narrative is a POV first-person story that alternates between the four main characters, giving us a detailed look into their thoughts and feelings. Each of these characters experience some form of self-doubt or internal conflict. I like the way these devices usually add depth to a character but in this book, it was a bit hit and miss and I couldn't fully empathise with all the characters, for example, Lia Mara whose whimsically unrealistic notions of peace became more and more jarring the more I read about it. I was mostly invested in Grey who I thought had the best development.
I also liked the detailed nature of the world-building in this book. I felt like it was conducive to an immersive reading experience, though I wish it had a bit more of a rigorous magic system and political structure. I think that had this book been a bit longer, it could've gone a bit deeper in terms of fully fleshing out certain elements of this fantasy world.
Instead this book focuses more on the characterisation and the growing affections between Grey and Lia Mara and also Rhen and Harper, which is perfect for fans of more character-driven fantasy novels, or rather romance heavy fantasy novels that read a bit like fanfiction.
The ending felt anticlimactic and a bit too safe. Everything was wrapped up neatlt in a convenient little bow, whereas I prefer something with more of an edge but if you enjoy a blissfully happy ending, then this book certainly delivers in that regard.
I thought this book handled the main conflict really well. It builds up anticipation for the crux of the very clearly defined power struggle. Also I was glad to see Rhen and Harper had more presence in this book.
The narrative is a POV first-person story that alternates between the four main characters, giving us a detailed look into their thoughts and feelings. Each of these characters experience some form of self-doubt or internal conflict. I like the way these devices usually add depth to a character but in this book, it was a bit hit and miss and I couldn't fully empathise with all the characters, for example, Lia Mara whose whimsically unrealistic notions of peace became more and more jarring the more I read about it. I was mostly invested in Grey who I thought had the best development.
I also liked the detailed nature of the world-building in this book. I felt like it was conducive to an immersive reading experience, though I wish it had a bit more of a rigorous magic system and political structure. I think that had this book been a bit longer, it could've gone a bit deeper in terms of fully fleshing out certain elements of this fantasy world.
Instead this book focuses more on the characterisation and the growing affections between Grey and Lia Mara and also Rhen and Harper, which is perfect for fans of more character-driven fantasy novels, or rather romance heavy fantasy novels that read a bit like fanfiction.
The ending felt anticlimactic and a bit too safe. Everything was wrapped up neatlt in a convenient little bow, whereas I prefer something with more of an edge but if you enjoy a blissfully happy ending, then this book certainly delivers in that regard.
A Heart So Fierce And Broken is the sequel novel in the Cursebreaker trilogy that follows Grey, the dutiful guardsman from the first book, who is now at odds with Prince Rhen since finding out about his own noble birthright.
The story begins after Harper has succeeded in breaking the curse that once plagued Rhen and the kingdom of Emberfall, but with talk of another heir to the throne, disunity reigns and Rhen must fight to hold onto his throne as Grey seeks nothing more than to escape from it.
This story was full of tension and political intrigue but it also had an effervescent quality that appealed to my desire for escapism. I loved the POV style and how it was used to focus more on Grey's backstory as well as introduce us to new characters.
I couldn't fault the world building in this book either and I loved the fact that Kremmer expanded its reach to include new locations, customs, languages and history.
That being said, I enjoyed this book less than A Curse So Dark And Lonely. I liked that we got to see Grey's more affectionate side but it lacked intensity for me. Also I was disappointed that Rhen and Harper played such a cursory role in this book.
For the enjoyment factor alone, I would definitely recommend this series. It made me realise how much I have missed reading fantasy novels and due to surprising nature of the ending in which an unexpected turn of events takes place, I am eager to read the next instalment.
The story begins after Harper has succeeded in breaking the curse that once plagued Rhen and the kingdom of Emberfall, but with talk of another heir to the throne, disunity reigns and Rhen must fight to hold onto his throne as Grey seeks nothing more than to escape from it.
This story was full of tension and political intrigue but it also had an effervescent quality that appealed to my desire for escapism. I loved the POV style and how it was used to focus more on Grey's backstory as well as introduce us to new characters.
I couldn't fault the world building in this book either and I loved the fact that Kremmer expanded its reach to include new locations, customs, languages and history.
That being said, I enjoyed this book less than A Curse So Dark And Lonely. I liked that we got to see Grey's more affectionate side but it lacked intensity for me. Also I was disappointed that Rhen and Harper played such a cursory role in this book.
For the enjoyment factor alone, I would definitely recommend this series. It made me realise how much I have missed reading fantasy novels and due to surprising nature of the ending in which an unexpected turn of events takes place, I am eager to read the next instalment.
I was initially drawn to this book because it won the 2020 Jhalak Prize for BAME writers, my favourite UK literary award and the inspiration behind the BAME book recommendations series on my booktube channel.
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Through the backpacking travels of the author, from France to Russia, culminating in Portugal, Afropean seeks to explore the black identity in Europe. From the violent colonial history of the African continent by its European oppressors to the present-day, this book looks at how originally African traditions, ideas and an altogether African presence has shaped the social fabric of many European countries and the every-day black communities, struggling to thrive in countries that institutionally marginalise them.
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This book is written with an intellectualism that reads like a scholarly text. At the same time, it also conveys the romanticism of being a sole traveller backpacking through Europe, seeking the enlightenment that comes with culture shocks and chance encounters. I felt like I was traversing Europe alongside Johny Pitts as we read about the colonial past of each country he visits and how this puts the present-day and vastly widespread subjugation of black communities across the continent into context.
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Afropean was a challenging read in more ways than one. It presents a history of black people across Europe that has been largely erased and forgotten. I thought this book sorely needed paragraphs as it was hard to read constant page-length blocks of text, however stirring, but overall I couldn't fault this book. I'm glad I didn't rush it because this book is written in a deeply contemplative way that makes for slower, more meaningful reading.
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Through the backpacking travels of the author, from France to Russia, culminating in Portugal, Afropean seeks to explore the black identity in Europe. From the violent colonial history of the African continent by its European oppressors to the present-day, this book looks at how originally African traditions, ideas and an altogether African presence has shaped the social fabric of many European countries and the every-day black communities, struggling to thrive in countries that institutionally marginalise them.
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This book is written with an intellectualism that reads like a scholarly text. At the same time, it also conveys the romanticism of being a sole traveller backpacking through Europe, seeking the enlightenment that comes with culture shocks and chance encounters. I felt like I was traversing Europe alongside Johny Pitts as we read about the colonial past of each country he visits and how this puts the present-day and vastly widespread subjugation of black communities across the continent into context.
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Afropean was a challenging read in more ways than one. It presents a history of black people across Europe that has been largely erased and forgotten. I thought this book sorely needed paragraphs as it was hard to read constant page-length blocks of text, however stirring, but overall I couldn't fault this book. I'm glad I didn't rush it because this book is written in a deeply contemplative way that makes for slower, more meaningful reading.
The Bear and the Nightingale is an otherworldly tale, set in a northern Russian village, about a girl called Vasilisa Petrovna who has second sight, which means she can see spirits and demons.
When an overly zealous priest comes to her village from Moscow and succeeds in turning the people away from their paganism to the Christian church, it sets off a chain of events that will awaken a fearsome darkness in the woods.
I liked the homage to Russian mythology in this book, I thought it gave the story a truly ethereal quality. Also I thought Arden's writing technique was sublime. I love it when a writer personifies nature, so the way things were described, such as the snow and the changing of seasons, I thought was delectable.
I also really liked Vasilisa, or Vasya as she is affectionately called. She reminded me of spirtedness of Arya Stark. This book was problematic in all its renderings of unbridled misogyny but because of that, the reader is able to empathise with Vasya as she constantly subverts gender norms and pushes back against the role she is expected to play because she's a woman.
And finally, even though this book is the first book in a trilogy, I like the fact that it reads like a standalone novel. There is no cliffhanger ending that means you have to continue reading the series, which is great if you're the type of reader that likes fantasy and magical novels, without having to commit to reading an entire series (or trilogy in this case).
This book has a slow burn quality that some readers may find trying. But overall I had no overwhelming concerns with the pacing. Also, given the almost medieval like setting of this book, I was unsurprised by all the problematic moments, such as the occasional demonic references to blackness, but judging this book overall, I very much enjoyed reading it. It is a book of lore and magic with a nightmarish edge.
When an overly zealous priest comes to her village from Moscow and succeeds in turning the people away from their paganism to the Christian church, it sets off a chain of events that will awaken a fearsome darkness in the woods.
I liked the homage to Russian mythology in this book, I thought it gave the story a truly ethereal quality. Also I thought Arden's writing technique was sublime. I love it when a writer personifies nature, so the way things were described, such as the snow and the changing of seasons, I thought was delectable.
I also really liked Vasilisa, or Vasya as she is affectionately called. She reminded me of spirtedness of Arya Stark. This book was problematic in all its renderings of unbridled misogyny but because of that, the reader is able to empathise with Vasya as she constantly subverts gender norms and pushes back against the role she is expected to play because she's a woman.
And finally, even though this book is the first book in a trilogy, I like the fact that it reads like a standalone novel. There is no cliffhanger ending that means you have to continue reading the series, which is great if you're the type of reader that likes fantasy and magical novels, without having to commit to reading an entire series (or trilogy in this case).
This book has a slow burn quality that some readers may find trying. But overall I had no overwhelming concerns with the pacing. Also, given the almost medieval like setting of this book, I was unsurprised by all the problematic moments, such as the occasional demonic references to blackness, but judging this book overall, I very much enjoyed reading it. It is a book of lore and magic with a nightmarish edge.
How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House is an audacious debut novel, set in Baxter's Beach, Barbados. It starkly depicts the stories of those people living on the jagged edges of Paradise.
Lala is a curious eighteen-year-old girl with a talent for braiding hair, but her life has always been troubling and things worsen when she loses her newborn baby girl to a tragic accident. Lala's abusive husband, Adan, is involved in a robbery that goes wrong and ends in man's murder. These two events escalate and converge into a devastating ending.
This book can be described as domestic crime fiction and it features such distressing things as abusive relationships, sexual assault, child death, rape, drug use, misogyny, paranoia and child abuse.
I struggled with the first 90 pages of this book. It had such a slow start coupled with a feeling of monotony that was hard to maintain focus on. There were moments where overuse of the word 'and' was telling, however, I also feel like that particular sentence structure had a purpose, as though intended to reflect the relentlessness of the many trials the characters face.
For readers that struggle with books that are slow burners at the beginning, this book does get much better if you stick with it and the payoff is well worth it. I thought the non-linear way the story developed and the way it ended more than redeemed any grievances I had at the start. I loved the dauntless, unwavering nature of this book.
Lala is a curious eighteen-year-old girl with a talent for braiding hair, but her life has always been troubling and things worsen when she loses her newborn baby girl to a tragic accident. Lala's abusive husband, Adan, is involved in a robbery that goes wrong and ends in man's murder. These two events escalate and converge into a devastating ending.
This book can be described as domestic crime fiction and it features such distressing things as abusive relationships, sexual assault, child death, rape, drug use, misogyny, paranoia and child abuse.
I struggled with the first 90 pages of this book. It had such a slow start coupled with a feeling of monotony that was hard to maintain focus on. There were moments where overuse of the word 'and' was telling, however, I also feel like that particular sentence structure had a purpose, as though intended to reflect the relentlessness of the many trials the characters face.
For readers that struggle with books that are slow burners at the beginning, this book does get much better if you stick with it and the payoff is well worth it. I thought the non-linear way the story developed and the way it ended more than redeemed any grievances I had at the start. I loved the dauntless, unwavering nature of this book.
Bad Feminist is a collection of essays that offers very relatable discourse on Feminist issues. I love the way this book started, it had a very down to earth tone that empathises with the everyday woman who cares about feminism but might not be as well-read or knowledgeable as some feminist intellectuals. I completely support Gay's arguments even though at times I questioned the eyebrow-raising way in which she chose to convey it.
I also became quite fatigued with the constant dissecting of different movies and books and her long-winded way of explaining how each of these examples are problematic. Initially I liked the pop-culture approach she used to further conversations about feminism, but it took up too much of the focus of the book.
And as a black female reader, I couldn't help noticing how little Gay (who is also a black female) discusses matters that would particularly affect black woman as well as other minorities. There is some discussion in the final sections of the book but at this point it was too little too late.
I still wouldn't discredit Bad Feminist as it does touch on some brilliant points and should be considered important feminist reading. It proves that feminism isn't a conversation that only white intellectuals should be having but that of all women, regardless of race, class, gender and sexual orientation.
I also became quite fatigued with the constant dissecting of different movies and books and her long-winded way of explaining how each of these examples are problematic. Initially I liked the pop-culture approach she used to further conversations about feminism, but it took up too much of the focus of the book.
And as a black female reader, I couldn't help noticing how little Gay (who is also a black female) discusses matters that would particularly affect black woman as well as other minorities. There is some discussion in the final sections of the book but at this point it was too little too late.
I still wouldn't discredit Bad Feminist as it does touch on some brilliant points and should be considered important feminist reading. It proves that feminism isn't a conversation that only white intellectuals should be having but that of all women, regardless of race, class, gender and sexual orientation.