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madswritess's reviews
117 reviews
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A significant step up for me. This book is an absolute ride, and the character development is truly, truly so incredible. Abercrombie's character work, again, is executed with deftness. I seriously can't wait to get the chance to listen to the next and final installment.
The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It feels harsh to give this book such a low rating, especially considering how much I enjoyed reading the first book in this series. Everything I loved about it, though, feels and falls flat here. On one hand, I definitely enjoyed some parts, the beginning, mostly—that is, apart from the perspectives outside the central six, which completely eliminated any sense of mystery for me. On another, I ultimately walked away feeling disappointed (which, I guess, you could argue is part of the book's point??). Nonetheless, I can't help but feel this book had so much potential, potential it was unable to reach.
The First Binding by R.R. Virdi
adventurous
reflective
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
4.25
Storytelling at its heart. Reading this book feels like sitting by a warm fire, listening to someone give you a story as the outside world falls quiet around you.
The First Binding shapes an immersive, creative narrative through its poetic prose and deft worldbuilding. While some might find the pace slow, I would have to disagree—mostly. This story definitely takes its time, but it pulls you into Ari's life, bringing you along every step of the way. It's mesmerizing while retaining its more action-packed moments. Seriously, I could gush about the storytelling for days on end. This book's narrative structure is so captivating; it fluctuates with its techniques, moving from the "intermissions" to the larger sections recounting Ari's life, then to the smaller, more contained stories interspersed throughout. It frequently jumps from the past to the present, which I absolutely adored. My favorite parts were definitely the recountings of Ari's past. I found myself wishing for more in the present sections—more of a direct plot and a better connection and depth to Eloine's character.
This book might not be for everyone, but if you're in the mood for a long, patient story filled with twisting legends and tales, then I would recommend giving this one a try.
(NOTE: I've never read "The Name of the Wind," but I've heard it's really similar to that book.)
The First Binding shapes an immersive, creative narrative through its poetic prose and deft worldbuilding. While some might find the pace slow, I would have to disagree—mostly. This story definitely takes its time, but it pulls you into Ari's life, bringing you along every step of the way. It's mesmerizing while retaining its more action-packed moments. Seriously, I could gush about the storytelling for days on end. This book's narrative structure is so captivating; it fluctuates with its techniques, moving from the "intermissions" to the larger sections recounting Ari's life, then to the smaller, more contained stories interspersed throughout. It frequently jumps from the past to the present, which I absolutely adored. My favorite parts were definitely the recountings of Ari's past. I found myself wishing for more in the present sections—more of a direct plot and a better connection and depth to Eloine's character.
This book might not be for everyone, but if you're in the mood for a long, patient story filled with twisting legends and tales, then I would recommend giving this one a try.
(NOTE: I've never read "The Name of the Wind," but I've heard it's really similar to that book.)
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An enchanting sapphic fantasy filled with a dark, fairytale-esque atmosphere. From the first chapter, Allison Saft's prose is incredibly alluring and captivating. She sets the tone immediately, and I really adored it. The environment is rich with folklore and beautiful imagery that often aligned with nature. The dark fairytale vibes are definitely there. And the tension between the characters—especially Lorelei and Sylvia—is everything. The yearning alone. GO READ THIS BOOK!! Seriously. It's tender and heart-wrenching.
This story has some intriguing and compelling characters, but Lorelei was by far my favorite. She's sharp-witted and often quick to anger. Both her and Sylvia are flawed characters, which makes everything all the more realistic. As the book's protagonist, Lorelei allows the reader a direct lens into her struggles and the prejudices she faces daily; this book tackles it with deftness. Furthermore, the way Lorelei's grief is expressed and handled was done very well.
While the pacing is definitely slower at times, this story is not a high-stakes epic fantasy. You definitely shouldn't go into it expecting an extremely fast-paced story. It's much more melodious. The romance is a slow-burn, and before I knew it I was glued to the pages. It took more time than I wished for me to get there, but it was well worth the wait. Though, I definitely wanted more from the ending. The political scene felt rushed, and Wilhelm's character, throughout, felt somewhat misplaced—a little vague to me. I definitely wanted and expected more from him, as well as a few of the other side characters.
However, if you're looking for a dark academia, sapphic romantasy, definitely check this book out. It's truly enchanting. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This story has some intriguing and compelling characters, but Lorelei was by far my favorite. She's sharp-witted and often quick to anger. Both her and Sylvia are flawed characters, which makes everything all the more realistic. As the book's protagonist, Lorelei allows the reader a direct lens into her struggles and the prejudices she faces daily; this book tackles it with deftness. Furthermore, the way Lorelei's grief is expressed and handled was done very well.
While the pacing is definitely slower at times, this story is not a high-stakes epic fantasy. You definitely shouldn't go into it expecting an extremely fast-paced story. It's much more melodious. The romance is a slow-burn, and before I knew it I was glued to the pages. It took more time than I wished for me to get there, but it was well worth the wait. Though, I definitely wanted more from the ending. The political scene felt rushed, and Wilhelm's character, throughout, felt somewhat misplaced—a little vague to me. I definitely wanted and expected more from him, as well as a few of the other side characters.
However, if you're looking for a dark academia, sapphic romantasy, definitely check this book out. It's truly enchanting. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
mysterious
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
Never has a novella left me so speechless, so intrigued, and so absorbed by a story—in such a short amount of time, too. In the Shadow of the Fall is a fast-paced, immersive fantasy that follows Ashâke as she navigates her life as an acolyte, one that is flipped on its head. From the start, we're introduced to an alluring, well-crafted world with intriguing characters and an engrossing plot. I couldn't stop reading. The atmosphere is felt from the first page with Ogundiran's prose, and the mystery behind Ashâke held my interest throughout. Not only are the world and characters so captivating, but the storyline itself—more specifically, the level of emotion pulled—gripped my heart. I enjoyed the twists, and Yaruddin's threatening presence was hugely felt through the page. If you're looking for an epic fantasy with cosmic-level stakes, while retaining its personable characters, read this novella. I will be—impatiently—waiting for the next installment. Seriously, this was an incredible read.
A huge thank you to the NetGalley team at Tor/Forge for this egalley in exchange for an honest review!
A huge thank you to the NetGalley team at Tor/Forge for this egalley in exchange for an honest review!
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A great introduction to a gritty, gruesome world. Abercrombie's character work is definitely to be applauded. I was a little weary at the start, especially due to the lack of female characters, though I was still hugely interested in the rest of the cast. I really loved the moral ambiguity, and the character interactions were really great. When the separate plot lines converged, I was having so much fun. While this book did feel like a set up, it makes me super excited for the rest of the series. Never been so stoked to see character arcs developed even more.
And the narrator, Steven Pacey, was amazing!
And the narrator, Steven Pacey, was amazing!