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my_corner_of_the_library's Reviews (320)
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unpopular opinion time: Cutter is my king of horror. And no, I won't be taking criticism at this time.
I understand that his books aren't for everyone, but so far The Troop and The Deep have been the only dark horror books that had me looking over my shoulder. The Troop is a book that regularly pops into my mind. Some of those scenes and characters live rent-free in my brain, and now, Clayton and the Treste will probably live there too. I understand that others have found this book boring and unimpressive compared to The Troop, but as someone who listened to a chunk of the book in the dark, at night, with noise-canceling headphones, I was genuinely becoming jumpy and looking at the shadows around me a little bit closer.
The characters felt real and every subplot left my skin crawling and heart racing. I wish the 'Gets plot would have been played out more, but I just didn't care.
Ultimately, what knocked this book down from 5 stars to 4, for me, was the same thing that knocked it down for most people, and that was the ending. I was 100% ready to accept that descent into the supernatural as Luke going crazy. It was already established that that could be a result of being down in the Trieste. However, the last 2 pages implied that this ending was almost meant to be taken...literally? And that I just wasn't on board with. If that ending was meant to be literal supernatural interference then I'm out, because it was just way over the top. But if it was meant to be a representation of Luke's descent into madness: top-notch. I'm just not sure how to interpret it as a descent into madness with those last 2 pages.
I can't wait to start Little Heaven next time I'm in the mood for horror.
I understand that his books aren't for everyone, but so far The Troop and The Deep have been the only dark horror books that had me looking over my shoulder. The Troop is a book that regularly pops into my mind. Some of those scenes and characters live rent-free in my brain, and now, Clayton and the Treste will probably live there too. I understand that others have found this book boring and unimpressive compared to The Troop, but as someone who listened to a chunk of the book in the dark, at night, with noise-canceling headphones, I was genuinely becoming jumpy and looking at the shadows around me a little bit closer.
The characters felt real and every subplot left my skin crawling and heart racing. I wish the 'Gets plot would have been played out more, but I just didn't care.
Ultimately, what knocked this book down from 5 stars to 4, for me, was the same thing that knocked it down for most people, and that was the ending. I was 100% ready to accept that descent into the supernatural as Luke going crazy. It was already established that that could be a result of being down in the Trieste. However, the last 2 pages implied that this ending was almost meant to be taken...literally? And that I just wasn't on board with. If that ending was meant to be literal supernatural interference then I'm out, because it was just way over the top. But if it was meant to be a representation of Luke's descent into madness: top-notch. I'm just not sure how to interpret it as a descent into madness with those last 2 pages.
I can't wait to start Little Heaven next time I'm in the mood for horror.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Since this is the third book in the series, I'll keep this pretty short. This has been my favorite IPB book so far. I felt like it had an actual plot outside the romance and the romance was honestly super cute.
I'm one of those people who can read erotica in public and around family without so much as flinching, but that scene at the beginning with the...*carving* had me blushing and cringing with secondhand embarrassment, then laughing out loud when Aehako had no shame at all and brushed it off as the prank it was. Was Liz awful for that little bit of advice? ...Yeah...but I love that it was carried from one book to the other and not treated with animosity. I've been reading this series for lighthearted fun, and that's exactly what this was.
Also, Aehako's determination to love Kira not only on her terms but in spite of the resinence issue was adorable and I was totally here for it. Was the ending expected and predictable? Absolutely, but I think I would have been upset if it ended any other way.
I'm one of those people who can read erotica in public and around family without so much as flinching, but that scene at the beginning with the...*carving* had me blushing and cringing with secondhand embarrassment, then laughing out loud when Aehako had no shame at all and brushed it off as the prank it was. Was Liz awful for that little bit of advice? ...Yeah...but I love that it was carried from one book to the other and not treated with animosity. I've been reading this series for lighthearted fun, and that's exactly what this was.
Also, Aehako's determination to love Kira not only on her terms but in spite of the resinence issue was adorable and I was totally here for it. Was the ending expected and predictable? Absolutely, but I think I would have been upset if it ended any other way.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a review I never thought would happen...however the other day, I needed a short audiobook to keep me entertained while I cleaned the house and this popped up in my library feed. So...here we are. And wouldn't you know it...I don't have much negative to say!
This may seem confusing since I only rated it 3.75 stars but let's be real...this is alien smut with giant blue walking talking sex toys. I couldn't bring myself to give it more than that. But let's be honest: Ruby Dixon found a niche, knew EXACTLY what she was doing, and went for it. The writing style was fun and light, the story was fast and intriguing and the sex scenes...well that's up to the individual to determine, but I was satisfied. This story didn't feel like it was trying to justify the problems, nor did it feel like it was celebrating them. The problems were there, they were acknowledged, and we moved on, all accepting that this was happening.
This will be one of the rare instances where a book under 4 stars will warrant me to continue the series, but don't be surprised if you see the sequels pop up on my 'read' list.
This may seem confusing since I only rated it 3.75 stars but let's be real...this is alien smut with giant blue walking talking sex toys. I couldn't bring myself to give it more than that. But let's be honest: Ruby Dixon found a niche, knew EXACTLY what she was doing, and went for it. The writing style was fun and light, the story was fast and intriguing and the sex scenes...well that's up to the individual to determine, but I was satisfied. This story didn't feel like it was trying to justify the problems, nor did it feel like it was celebrating them. The problems were there, they were acknowledged, and we moved on, all accepting that this was happening.
This will be one of the rare instances where a book under 4 stars will warrant me to continue the series, but don't be surprised if you see the sequels pop up on my 'read' list.
dark
emotional
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book felt so Orson Scott Card that I didn't expect anything else, to the point it was almost boring just on the basis that it was as Orson Scott Card as a book can get. I understand that authors have particular styles but I truly feel that if you are writing a new world with new characters there should be some variety.
Scott Card really loves to make teens with no life experience seem way older than they are, and the love story left a lot to be desired. Laz was a fine main character but felt like a copy and paste of Ender. Ivy was really irritating and as much as I don't want to say it...I kind of hated her. It took me a long time to come around to their relationship, and even by the end, I was still so-so.
More than anything I was annoyed that we spent so much time trying to justify the premise of the story that it took from the story itself. The plot felt like a device being used to prove a theory, rather than the theory driving the plot forward.
Scott Card really loves to make teens with no life experience seem way older than they are, and the love story left a lot to be desired. Laz was a fine main character but felt like a copy and paste of Ender. Ivy was really irritating and as much as I don't want to say it...I kind of hated her. It took me a long time to come around to their relationship, and even by the end, I was still so-so.
More than anything I was annoyed that we spent so much time trying to justify the premise of the story that it took from the story itself. The plot felt like a device being used to prove a theory, rather than the theory driving the plot forward.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
I have no intention of giving a star rating for this book, due to a particular author's opinions on certain subjects, HOWEVER, I didn't learn about these things until I was well over halfway through this book. So, since I read it, I figured I would give my thoughts.
Ultimately: I enjoyed this book, though if I gave it a star rating, the ending would have knocked it down considerably. I read it during a particularly hard time of my life and it kept me distracted when I needed it.
Looking back though...I realize there are several things about it I didn't like.
Trying Too Much
This book...had way too much going on. Between the chaos and orderly conflict, the houses conflicts, the emperor trials, the murder mystery, AND the dragons...it was just too much and none of it felt fleshed out. I wish we would have focused on just one or two of those things. I was enjoying the trials for the most part, but they very suddenly ended and the book took a left turn that really turned me off. I WISH everything that happened after they were ejected from the Truth had been the Truth. One particular line from the priests had me thinking that that's exactly what was happening, but it didn't pan out, which was really disappointing.
We're All Emperor's Now
Really? REALLY? Really... this ending felt so forced and predictable. I honestly thought the author would be more creative than that. Not to mention the way the characters were acting during the last...50? pages or so felt so out of character. Emilia had this instant character change that I just hate in books. One big revelation and she suddenly had full control of her powers, was condescending and arrogant. Complete 180 from who she was.
The "Romance"
I just wanted to roll my eyes...we got one half-assed chapter at the end of the book where two people ALMOST confess their feelings for each other...this isn't a slow burn, it's unnecessary. It would have been much better if the non-romance was just left out.
Ultimately: I enjoyed this book, though if I gave it a star rating, the ending would have knocked it down considerably. I read it during a particularly hard time of my life and it kept me distracted when I needed it.
Looking back though...I realize there are several things about it I didn't like.
Trying Too Much
This book...had way too much going on. Between the chaos and orderly conflict, the houses conflicts, the emperor trials, the murder mystery, AND the dragons...it was just too much and none of it felt fleshed out. I wish we would have focused on just one or two of those things. I was enjoying the trials for the most part, but they very suddenly ended and the book took a left turn that really turned me off. I WISH everything that happened after they were ejected from the Truth had been the Truth. One particular line from the priests had me thinking that that's exactly what was happening, but it didn't pan out, which was really disappointing.
We're All Emperor's Now
Really? REALLY? Really... this ending felt so forced and predictable. I honestly thought the author would be more creative than that. Not to mention the way the characters were acting during the last...50? pages or so felt so out of character. Emilia had this instant character change that I just hate in books. One big revelation and she suddenly had full control of her powers, was condescending and arrogant. Complete 180 from who she was.
The "Romance"
I just wanted to roll my eyes...we got one half-assed chapter at the end of the book where two people ALMOST confess their feelings for each other...this isn't a slow burn, it's unnecessary. It would have been much better if the non-romance was just left out.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I don't have much to say about this book. I LOVED Coraline, and had high expectations going into this, but ended up being ultimately bored. 30 pages from the end all I could think was, "Are we still doing this? Is this still going on?"
This 180 pages seemed to have 3 climaxes, and by halfway through I didn't care anymore. Unpopular opinion, I know, but that's just how I felt.
This 180 pages seemed to have 3 climaxes, and by halfway through I didn't care anymore. Unpopular opinion, I know, but that's just how I felt.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes