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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (376)
informative
medium-paced
It's honestly horrifying and bewildering how many ostensibly smart people were so unfathomably stupid throughout the course of this saga. None of this would have happened if any number of investors/academics/politicians/etc. had questioned Holmes EVEN ONCE beyond a quick inquiry shut down by intimidation.
I found myself feeling almost proud of the whistleblowers and the journalist. It's incredible how long this charade was allowed to go on.
A lot of the science & engineering went straight over my head, but it was mainly very engaging and interesting!
I found myself feeling almost proud of the whistleblowers and the journalist. It's incredible how long this charade was allowed to go on.
A lot of the science & engineering went straight over my head, but it was mainly very engaging and interesting!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Literally never would have guessed that this man, with all the success and joy he exudes, had such a fraught childhood. Incredible that he's come out the other side with some peace.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by him, which was a great choice. Not only for the Scottish accent haha. This was a very personal story and it couldn't have been read by anyone else.
It did seem a bit disjointed at times; there are things I thought could have been left out and other things I wanted to hear more about. But overall, very well done.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by him, which was a great choice. Not only for the Scottish accent haha. This was a very personal story and it couldn't have been read by anyone else.
It did seem a bit disjointed at times; there are things I thought could have been left out and other things I wanted to hear more about. But overall, very well done.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This one was so very weird. 😅
Ultimately, I read it in a single day and enjoyed it. I love Eloise and find her both relateable (ADHD-coded much??) and highly amusing. I didn't mind Phillip, but it's definitely a theme in this series that I often have to remind myself of the time period to excuse some things. I found myself doing that even more with him than the other men thus far (except maybe the duke).
And I definitely can't let the book off the hook for the absolutely abysmal view of mental illness. There's only so much I can excuse for the time period. Quinn did NOT have to write that story at all. I take solace in knowing they'll probably do a lot better with Phillip's ex in the show (if the show gets to Eloise).
Overall, though, I found this one very humorous (when it wasn't starkly tragic; quite the dichotomy) and had a good time. Looking forward to Francesca!
Ultimately, I read it in a single day and enjoyed it. I love Eloise and find her both relateable (ADHD-coded much??) and highly amusing. I didn't mind Phillip, but it's definitely a theme in this series that I often have to remind myself of the time period to excuse some things. I found myself doing that even more with him than the other men thus far (except maybe the duke).
And I definitely can't let the book off the hook for the absolutely abysmal view of mental illness. There's only so much I can excuse for the time period. Quinn did NOT have to write that story at all. I take solace in knowing they'll probably do a lot better with Phillip's ex in the show (if the show gets to Eloise).
Overall, though, I found this one very humorous (when it wasn't starkly tragic; quite the dichotomy) and had a good time. Looking forward to Francesca!
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Possibly only because of the show (but I think the book blurb, too...), but I went into this expecting mostly true crime. In reality, it turned out to be mostly history, which all ended up linked back to the crime.
While I wasn't expecting all the history, I still found it fascinating and horrifying. And it is really true that the reasons behind these gruesome murders in the 1980s can be traced all the way back to Joseph Smith himself in the mid-1800s.
Meticulously researched, and engaging. Got a little tedious here and there, and SO MANY PEOPLE to keep track of (though that's more the fault of polygamy than Krakauer), hence the half point deduction.
While I wasn't expecting all the history, I still found it fascinating and horrifying. And it is really true that the reasons behind these gruesome murders in the 1980s can be traced all the way back to Joseph Smith himself in the mid-1800s.
Meticulously researched, and engaging. Got a little tedious here and there, and SO MANY PEOPLE to keep track of (though that's more the fault of polygamy than Krakauer), hence the half point deduction.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first 5 star read in the whole Maasverse. Damn. So good.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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
Honestly, after 80 hours of this series, I was mostly glad for it to be over. 💀 I'm glad I saw it through, but I won't be doing it again lol.
The pacing of this one was especially off. At first, I thought it was fun that they got split up and we had a bunch of unlikely groupings. But hardly anything happened (for a LARGE portion of the book) before the predictable magical coincidence brought them back together.
Also, what happened to Jake Marlow? Did I zone out when they hopefully said he died horrifically?
The pacing of this one was especially off. At first, I thought it was fun that they got split up and we had a bunch of unlikely groupings. But hardly anything happened (for a LARGE portion of the book) before the predictable magical coincidence brought them back together.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vague spoilers throughout.
First of all, I had to speed read this for book club lol. My own fault, but still it probably stopped me from really absorbing it.
However, I'm not sure if I would have liked it better if I read it slower. I was very distracted throughout by my impatience with the main character. Maybe because of internal biases, maybe because of recent events in my own life, but I just had very little sympathy for this woman. She's obviously been through it. No denying that. But to reach the age of 36 without having formed a single meaningful relationship (platonic or otherwise) with anyone but her grandpa's friends... AND express desire for said relationships. Girl, you had every opportunity. Ever heard of therapy? Ever heard of self-reflection? I'm over it.
Also I find it incredibly hard to believe that she went a decade without meeting a single person who thought her job was interesting. I mean, clearly she shut down everything at the FIRST sign of bad feelings, but yeah. I just didn't buy that suddenly everything came together and she met two life-changing humans in one week and turned her life around therapy-free in a matter of months. Lawd.
I didn't dislike it. The ending was sweet, of course. But I think I would have liked this better if it were a straight-up romance novel. That way I could suspended a bit more disbelief. Oh, well.
I totally understand why anyone would love this book and how it could resonate deeply. Just didn't work for me.
First of all, I had to speed read this for book club lol. My own fault, but still it probably stopped me from really absorbing it.
However, I'm not sure if I would have liked it better if I read it slower. I was very distracted throughout by my impatience with the main character. Maybe because of internal biases, maybe because of recent events in my own life, but I just had very little sympathy for this woman. She's obviously been through it. No denying that. But to reach the age of 36 without having formed a single meaningful relationship (platonic or otherwise) with anyone but her grandpa's friends... AND express desire for said relationships. Girl, you had every opportunity. Ever heard of therapy? Ever heard of self-reflection? I'm over it.
Also I find it incredibly hard to believe that she went a decade without meeting a single person who thought her job was interesting. I mean, clearly she shut down everything at the FIRST sign of bad feelings, but yeah. I just didn't buy that suddenly everything came together and she met two life-changing humans in one week and turned her life around therapy-free in a matter of months. Lawd.
I didn't dislike it. The ending was sweet, of course. But I think I would have liked this better if it were a straight-up romance novel. That way I could suspended a bit more disbelief. Oh, well.
I totally understand why anyone would love this book and how it could resonate deeply. Just didn't work for me.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I'm just really grateful that this version exists, so that I, with my very non-science brain, could still read it, take in the lessons, and understand.
This was an incredible reading experience. I learned so much, and I hope I will carry it with me forever. I hope I don't forget to appreciate the earth and all life on it. I do really want to make this a regular practice.
This was an incredible reading experience. I learned so much, and I hope I will carry it with me forever. I hope I don't forget to appreciate the earth and all life on it. I do really want to make this a regular practice.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SHIT. 😂 I really shouldn't write reviews right after finishing books. I need to sit with it for a few days, because right now I'm struggling not to give it 5 stars and struggling to remember that I found 80% of the book incredibly slow. It led up to an ending that had me SCREECHING and crying and even bargaining lol (classic SJM). But I do still have to knock off a point for how long it took me to read. Which is not all the book's fault, but definitely partly.
Despite the slowness, I still found it all interesting, and I can definitely tell that this is a transitional book that is setting up a lot of future action.
Damn, so good, though. I'll never understand how ACOTAR is her most popular series when this exists.
I just have to mention. The very last line on its own got such an emotional reaction out of me. I'm extra glad I read Assassin's Blade first, because I know what that line means. Ugh. I guess this is why some folks recommend reading TAB at this point for maximum emotion impact. But I can't imagine cutting off the momentum after this book. Anyway. Brilliant line. 🤌🏻
Despite the slowness, I still found it all interesting, and I can definitely tell that this is a transitional book that is setting up a lot of future action.
Damn, so good, though. I'll never understand how ACOTAR is her most popular series when this exists.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DAAAAAANNNNGGGG.
I even knew the big twist before reading, though I didn't know when it was coming, and it still HIT!!!
This has quickly become my favorite Maas series. And supposedly I haven't even gotten to the really good parts yet. Damn. Laughing at myself for thinking I wouldn't like this. Lucy, you dumdum.
I gotta say, I really love Chaol. 🥲I was on his side in the ToG love triangle (though I'm always on Celaena's side first) and their slow-ish burn and subsequent payoff had me giggling like a little kid. And even though I already knew he isn't engame, my hopes were CRUSHED only a few chapters later lol. 😭😭 Damn. I have a feeling I'm going to love Chaol and his arc.
I even knew the big twist before reading, though I didn't know when it was coming, and it still HIT!!!
This has quickly become my favorite Maas series. And supposedly I haven't even gotten to the really good parts yet. Damn. Laughing at myself for thinking I wouldn't like this. Lucy, you dumdum.
I gotta say, I really love Chaol. 🥲