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luanagomes's reviews
1024 reviews
Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis
3.25
This book has some solid leads, but also some solid flaws. The protagonist needs a lot of work,(feels too immature) and the human characters in general lack purpose, so they are the biggest issue to me. I will read book 2 for the science and the aliens, though their story ran a little predictable at times ( or maybe too close to human logic, when it should not have) , and I heard Lindsay listened to the criticism and put a lot of work into it.
The science and the first contact storyline was interesting, though.
Let's hope it lasts
The science and the first contact storyline was interesting, though.
Let's hope it lasts
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
dark
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rosewater by Tade Thompson
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Lincoln and Rachmaninoff Walk Into a Bar: A Novel by Cherie Magnus
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Here we have historical figures coming to our rescue to save us from environmental doom.
Oh, and it all happens in a dream. Weird? Yes, very, but it was not bad, actually.
Because this is a dream state, and a lot can be forgiven in this story.. There's a lot of historical information and interesting bits about the magnificent duo from the title.
I liked it fine, but the real storyline felt lacking to me - the main idea was very interesting, but some imoortant plot points were glossed over, as well as characters we meet along the way.
Inventive, but not quite there yet.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
Oh, and it all happens in a dream. Weird? Yes, very, but it was not bad, actually.
Because this is a dream state, and a lot can be forgiven in this story.. There's a lot of historical information and interesting bits about the magnificent duo from the title.
I liked it fine, but the real storyline felt lacking to me - the main idea was very interesting, but some imoortant plot points were glossed over, as well as characters we meet along the way.
Inventive, but not quite there yet.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What if we could see the story of Arthur through female lenses?
That's the premise for The Cleaving, by Juliet McKenna, which sets out to be a retelling of the Arthurian legend, giving its female characters the chance to tell their part in this saga.
The protagonist here is Nimue, and throughout the story, we also meet and learn from the tales of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere. We see through their eyes how Arthur took the stage while Merlin worked his magic from backstage, expanding the new king's power and reach.
The story follows somewhat the same line as the original story, but the twist here is that the main male characters, often in the spotlight for its virtues, are now in it for their failings.
While I liked the book fine, I felt it did not live up to what it set out to be.
It had a feminine gaze for sure, but not a feminist one - there was potential for including important discussions on gender and patriarchy, but they mostly did not happen or were very surface-level ones. I was also expecting some minor discussions on religion, as they were an integral part of the original story, but they were not present there as well, and that made the setting/world-building lacking to me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I would only recommend this book to readers that do not know much about the Arthurian legends and looking to ease into this journey. As it does not bring much political and cultural leanings, it really works best for beginners. If you have already read other materials, such as The mists of Avalon, for example, I believe this book would feel very underwhelmed to you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
That's the premise for The Cleaving, by Juliet McKenna, which sets out to be a retelling of the Arthurian legend, giving its female characters the chance to tell their part in this saga.
The protagonist here is Nimue, and throughout the story, we also meet and learn from the tales of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere. We see through their eyes how Arthur took the stage while Merlin worked his magic from backstage, expanding the new king's power and reach.
The story follows somewhat the same line as the original story, but the twist here is that the main male characters, often in the spotlight for its virtues, are now in it for their failings.
While I liked the book fine, I felt it did not live up to what it set out to be.
It had a feminine gaze for sure, but not a feminist one - there was potential for including important discussions on gender and patriarchy, but they mostly did not happen or were very surface-level ones. I was also expecting some minor discussions on religion, as they were an integral part of the original story, but they were not present there as well, and that made the setting/world-building lacking to me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I would only recommend this book to readers that do not know much about the Arthurian legends and looking to ease into this journey. As it does not bring much political and cultural leanings, it really works best for beginners. If you have already read other materials, such as The mists of Avalon, for example, I believe this book would feel very underwhelmed to you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Imagine finding out that the universe and characters of one of the best-beloved children´s books are actually real, you are the heir of it all, and it´s up to you to save it. I bet most people would love to be the hero and dive right in the adventure of a lifetime, right?
Well, not Harry Bodie, though. Struggling professionally and personally, this mediocre British actor has no desire to live up to his family literature legacy. He only wishes to be taken seriously for his craft, and keep his distance from all the weirdness it entails. But Fate has other plans for him, and now he has to deal with obsessive-crazed fans, a twisted dark fairy tale universe that is in the same decaying shape his life is right now, and some hard truths about his heritage.
I really enjoyed what I found here. Having a somewhat unlikeable mature protagonist with a twisted spin on the Chosen One trope was great. Even though this book has a lot of Narnia-related references, which was a bit too much on the nose for me, I think it worked fine as a critique/homage to the middle-grade portal-style books.
However, as someone who has read Tchaikovsky before, I was expecting more from the themes, so the story as a whole fell a little flat for me at times, and was not as entertaining as I thought. Still, it is a solid quick read I would recommend, especially for an adult audience who wishes for a different sort of fantasy.
My sincere thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for a free copy in exchange for my honest review and feedback .
Well, not Harry Bodie, though. Struggling professionally and personally, this mediocre British actor has no desire to live up to his family literature legacy. He only wishes to be taken seriously for his craft, and keep his distance from all the weirdness it entails. But Fate has other plans for him, and now he has to deal with obsessive-crazed fans, a twisted dark fairy tale universe that is in the same decaying shape his life is right now, and some hard truths about his heritage.
I really enjoyed what I found here. Having a somewhat unlikeable mature protagonist with a twisted spin on the Chosen One trope was great. Even though this book has a lot of Narnia-related references, which was a bit too much on the nose for me, I think it worked fine as a critique/homage to the middle-grade portal-style books.
However, as someone who has read Tchaikovsky before, I was expecting more from the themes, so the story as a whole fell a little flat for me at times, and was not as entertaining as I thought. Still, it is a solid quick read I would recommend, especially for an adult audience who wishes for a different sort of fantasy.
My sincere thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for a free copy in exchange for my honest review and feedback .