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luckyshmo's reviews
270 reviews
One Piece, Volume 8: I Won't Die by Eiichiro Oda, Eiichiro Oda
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One Piece, Vol. 7: The Crap-Geezer by Eiichiro Oda
adventurous
fast-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
4.0
One Piece, Vol. 6: The Oath by Eiichiro Oda
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One Piece, Vol. 5: For Whom the Bell Tolls by Eiichiro Oda
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days...What is belief - what is faith - if you don't continue in it after failure?...Anyone can believe in someone, or something that always succeeds...But failure...ah, now, that is hard to believe in, certainly and truly. Difficult enough to have value. Sometimes we just have to wait long enough...then we find out why exactly it was that we kept believing...There's always another secret.”
The Lord Ruler has reigned for over a thousand years through oppression of the people and the brutality of the nobles and Inquisitors who lord over them. A group of the oppressed rise up, led by an enigmatic and ostentatious Mistborn (full magic user), to try and overthrow the kingdom, but at what cost? This novel flips the chosen one fantasy trope on its head by asking the question: what if the prophesied hero actually fails?
Mistborn: The Final Empire is book 1 of the Mistborn Era 1 Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Part of the author's overarching greater works in the same universe called the Cosmere, Mistborn is an absolute delight from start to finish. I am pretty late to the Mistborn party but so glad I finally arrived. This is fantasy writing at its finest.
Character development is top-notch, World-building is a highlight, the magic system is wholly unique, and intricate, and incredible, and the plot barrels along at a wonderful pace (especially in the last 200 pages). From hard labor mines, to city slums, to grand heists and grand houses, to nobility intrigues, this book was fantastic start to finish.
For any fantasy fan, this is must read. The Cosmere Universe is vast and can be intimidating, but should be read. Mistborn is the perfect intro into that world. I can not recommend this novel enough.
For parents, there is no language and no sexuality, but does have some violence. Great for teenagers and older. So excited to finally have gotten into this world and, with the amount of novels within it, I won't be leaving anytime soon. Happy reading everyone!
The Lord Ruler has reigned for over a thousand years through oppression of the people and the brutality of the nobles and Inquisitors who lord over them. A group of the oppressed rise up, led by an enigmatic and ostentatious Mistborn (full magic user), to try and overthrow the kingdom, but at what cost? This novel flips the chosen one fantasy trope on its head by asking the question: what if the prophesied hero actually fails?
Mistborn: The Final Empire is book 1 of the Mistborn Era 1 Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Part of the author's overarching greater works in the same universe called the Cosmere, Mistborn is an absolute delight from start to finish. I am pretty late to the Mistborn party but so glad I finally arrived. This is fantasy writing at its finest.
Character development is top-notch, World-building is a highlight, the magic system is wholly unique, and intricate, and incredible, and the plot barrels along at a wonderful pace (especially in the last 200 pages). From hard labor mines, to city slums, to grand heists and grand houses, to nobility intrigues, this book was fantastic start to finish.
For any fantasy fan, this is must read. The Cosmere Universe is vast and can be intimidating, but should be read. Mistborn is the perfect intro into that world. I can not recommend this novel enough.
For parents, there is no language and no sexuality, but does have some violence. Great for teenagers and older. So excited to finally have gotten into this world and, with the amount of novels within it, I won't be leaving anytime soon. Happy reading everyone!
Eruption by James Patterson, Michael Crichton
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A Forest Of Vanity And Valour by A.P. Beswick
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A Time of Courage by John Gwynne
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“We are just people, all of us the same. Flawed, fragile, stubborn, angry, happy. And life treats no one differently. We are born, and we live, and then we die. It’s what we do while we are here that counts. And if we can be called friend, then we are lucky indeed.”
Truth and Courage. The battle cry of the Order of The Bright Star and defenders of The Land of The Faithful. Those two words sum up the heart of A Time of Courage, the third novel in the Of Blood and Bone Trilogy and the seventh overall in the Tale of the Banished Lands.
Faced with overwhelming odds against an enemy that seems devastatingly unstoppable, Drem, Riv, Bleda, Cullen and their allies must find a way to win or their entire world crumbles into brutal annihilation.
Filled with intense gruesome battles, heartbreaking loss, and the power of love, friendship, loyalty, and bravery, I loved this book!! What an absolute fantastic end (?) to a series of novels (all seven) that may very well become my all-time favorite fantasy series ever. I don’t use that phrase lightly. This whole series is a masterpiece.
This series (and the one before it) are absolute must reads for fantasy fans. My time reading about The Land of the Faithful may have finished for now, but I plan to revisit time and time again.
Truth and Courage. The battle cry of the Order of The Bright Star and defenders of The Land of The Faithful. Those two words sum up the heart of A Time of Courage, the third novel in the Of Blood and Bone Trilogy and the seventh overall in the Tale of the Banished Lands.
Faced with overwhelming odds against an enemy that seems devastatingly unstoppable, Drem, Riv, Bleda, Cullen and their allies must find a way to win or their entire world crumbles into brutal annihilation.
Filled with intense gruesome battles, heartbreaking loss, and the power of love, friendship, loyalty, and bravery, I loved this book!! What an absolute fantastic end (?) to a series of novels (all seven) that may very well become my all-time favorite fantasy series ever. I don’t use that phrase lightly. This whole series is a masterpiece.
This series (and the one before it) are absolute must reads for fantasy fans. My time reading about The Land of the Faithful may have finished for now, but I plan to revisit time and time again.
A Time of Blood by John Gwynne
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“We live our lives by Truth and Courage. Love and loyalty, friendship and honour are our guiding lights.”
What an incredible sequel! A Time of Blood picks up right after A Time of Dread ends. New alliances are formed but evil grows ever stronger and sets in place plans to restore their dreaded leader Asroth, unleash devastating abominations onto the defenders of The Land of The Faithful, and bring the world to its knees.
This book was so well written. Huge battles, new friendships, long-lost kin, and stark betrayals litter this novel in all the best literary ways. The last 10 or so chapters leads to an incredible set-up for a breathtaking finale.
I said for the first series and the first book in this series and I will say it again: these are must read novels for any fantasy fan out there. Do yourself a favor and pick these up!!
What an incredible sequel! A Time of Blood picks up right after A Time of Dread ends. New alliances are formed but evil grows ever stronger and sets in place plans to restore their dreaded leader Asroth, unleash devastating abominations onto the defenders of The Land of The Faithful, and bring the world to its knees.
This book was so well written. Huge battles, new friendships, long-lost kin, and stark betrayals litter this novel in all the best literary ways. The last 10 or so chapters leads to an incredible set-up for a breathtaking finale.
I said for the first series and the first book in this series and I will say it again: these are must read novels for any fantasy fan out there. Do yourself a favor and pick these up!!