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mahiyaa's reviews
60 reviews
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
3.75
So, Ruin of Kings is absolutely fantastic, if you know what to expect. If you're looking for a huge fantasy saga with slow-paced, intense politics or pages upon pages of worldbuilding, look elsewhere. That's not to say that Ruin of Kings lacks in it—there are a large cast of characters, names, and family dynamics for you to keep track of, and personal histories aplenty—but that is not where the book shines.
Ruin of Kings does a fine job with weaving a world with its own histories, almost all of which go beyond the scope of our protagonist Khirin; giving the story a large sense of scale. But the book truly shines in its personality. The way it is written (the book itself is a compilation made by a certain character who puts their own quips in the footnotes) is quite unique—and the dialogues can be downright hilarious at times. Pair that with fast-paced, alternating narratives and a writing style that will keep you absolutely hooked from one chapter to the next, and you have a solid, addictive read that will entertain you to pieces, if nothing else.
TL;DR — Sure, the book has some nitpicks. But it is a hilarious, fast-paced read that you'll find super hard to put down. Just be aware, it's not a slow-paced, sprawling saga type of fantasy book, so if that's what you're looking for, go elsewhere! If not, strap in, give it a try! The way that it is written and the humor it carries is quite one-of-a-kind when it comes to the fantasy genre, so you are guaranteed a wild ride.
Ruin of Kings does a fine job with weaving a world with its own histories, almost all of which go beyond the scope of our protagonist Khirin; giving the story a large sense of scale. But the book truly shines in its personality. The way it is written (the book itself is a compilation made by a certain character who puts their own quips in the footnotes) is quite unique—and the dialogues can be downright hilarious at times. Pair that with fast-paced, alternating narratives and a writing style that will keep you absolutely hooked from one chapter to the next, and you have a solid, addictive read that will entertain you to pieces, if nothing else.
TL;DR — Sure, the book has some nitpicks. But it is a hilarious, fast-paced read that you'll find super hard to put down. Just be aware, it's not a slow-paced, sprawling saga type of fantasy book, so if that's what you're looking for, go elsewhere! If not, strap in, give it a try! The way that it is written and the humor it carries is quite one-of-a-kind when it comes to the fantasy genre, so you are guaranteed a wild ride.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault
Black Spartacus: The Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture by Sudhir Hazareesingh
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Mazes of Power by Juliette Wade
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
this book made me want to chew rocks (derogatory). not interested in any of the characters, they are all so cookie cutter generic, and the writing style doesn't help. it is so...... pretentious? obnoxious? let's say both.
lots of random buzzwords that have no deeper meaning or context (how can you describe the decor of a setting as neoclassism?) and the paragraphs upon paragraphs of useless character dynamics exposition dumping is not writing people! what happened to show don't tell!
also did i mention all the characters made me want to slam my head against a wall? because that too.
lots of random buzzwords that have no deeper meaning or context (how can you describe the decor of a setting as neoclassism?) and the paragraphs upon paragraphs of useless character dynamics exposition dumping is not writing people! what happened to show don't tell!
also did i mention all the characters made me want to slam my head against a wall? because that too.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
How do I say this in the nicest way possible. I know this story. We all know this story. The glamor, the sexualization, the misogyny, the secret infamous lives of famous women. So, does this book add anything to the narrative? Does it say anything that has not been said equally by, if not better than, the lives of real women that have lived with Evelyn Hugo has lived? Is it a challenging, thought-provoking narration that examines our beliefs in ways that nonfiction can't? No.
Does it, in fact, succeed in saying anything at all beyond what is written in the pages? Also no.
The book is not written in extraordinary prose. The titular character, the mysterious, complex Evelyn Hugo is perhaps the least complex character I have ever read in my life. Ambition & pragmatism does not make a person morally gray. It does not make a person complex.
It was a fine read—good pacing, the writing flows fine. But that's basically all this book was to me, outside of a few personal glaring faults. You won't hate reading it, you'll probably even enjoy it, but you're not missing out on anything by skipping this one, honestly.
Does it, in fact, succeed in saying anything at all beyond what is written in the pages? Also no.
The book is not written in extraordinary prose. The titular character, the mysterious, complex Evelyn Hugo is perhaps the least complex character I have ever read in my life. Ambition & pragmatism does not make a person morally gray. It does not make a person complex.
It was a fine read—good pacing, the writing flows fine. But that's basically all this book was to me, outside of a few personal glaring faults. You won't hate reading it, you'll probably even enjoy it, but you're not missing out on anything by skipping this one, honestly.
Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary by Anita Anand
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
The Velocity of Revolution by Marshall Ryan Maresca
adventurous
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
4.0
Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tyldesley
informative
fast-paced
5.0
I absolutely loved reading this book. It isn't terribly long, and is definitely a good starting point for people who don't have a strong background in Egyptian history, or Cleopatra's life, but want to start somewhere.
The book focuses less on being a traditional biography of Cleopatra's life (a feat that might be impossible seeing how little we know of her & the lack of largely unbiased sources), but is rather a reframing & contextualization of the politics and cultures she was a part of. Through this, we get a glimpse of Cleopatra's life that is less reliant on the western lens. Subjects like Cleopatra's ethnicity, what she looked like, her reputation as a foreign seductress and villain to Rome (and her status as a Mother-God in Egypt) are discussed against the background of the Egyptian culture and Ptolemic propaganda of the time, as well as Plutarch & Diomedes' accounts, plus her Western legacy in general.
All in all, an amazing read for people who want to examine Cleopatra as a politician and ruler, whether you've read heavy-languaged history books before or not!
The book focuses less on being a traditional biography of Cleopatra's life (a feat that might be impossible seeing how little we know of her & the lack of largely unbiased sources), but is rather a reframing & contextualization of the politics and cultures she was a part of. Through this, we get a glimpse of Cleopatra's life that is less reliant on the western lens. Subjects like Cleopatra's ethnicity, what she looked like, her reputation as a foreign seductress and villain to Rome (and her status as a Mother-God in Egypt) are discussed against the background of the Egyptian culture and Ptolemic propaganda of the time, as well as Plutarch & Diomedes' accounts, plus her Western legacy in general.
All in all, an amazing read for people who want to examine Cleopatra as a politician and ruler, whether you've read heavy-languaged history books before or not!
The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge, and India's Quest for Independence by Anita Anand
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0