olivyre's reviews
45 reviews

Tintin and the Shooting Star - The Adventures of TinTin by Hergé, World Comics Studio Inc, World Comics Studio Inc

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Asterix and the Goths by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel

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informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

You know what, this was pretty decent. It walked a fine line between reading as non fiction and fiction, though I’m aware it is all non fiction. It did slightly feel like a narrative, which made it more palatable than the average science book for me personally.

I also just found Harrison’s journey very interesting, though I already knew the general outline.

It far exceeded my expectations. I would read it again at some point.

‘Timepieces don’t really keep time. They just keep up with it, if they’re able.’

Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

Spoilers!

I cried my heart out at the second-to-last chapter. This series was incredible - I’d have read many more of these books if they were to exist. The character growth was amazing. It was so well written. I think I have a new favourite series. Or at least extremely high up there.

Moments I loved: Shae and Mada in the temple after the bombing; the whole Tar arc; the side activities of Ru and Jaya; Shae and Wen’s kidnapping; others that I’m too stunned to think of right now.

I would have liked Bero to get his recompense though. I guess it was meant to show that he was worthless to the Green Bones despite his lifetime spent hating and undermining them.

The whole series ended with the old dishwasher for the Twice Lucky driving Anden to dinner - the same dishwasher (Sampa) that opened the series as Bero’s coconspirator. His name isn’t mentioned in Jade Legacy, so it’s easily missed, but it was such a satisfying way to tie everything up.

‘’It would be a mercy to cut your throat, Ayt-jen,’ she hissed, ‘and spare you from being the Pillar at this awful time when you’re most needed.’’

Jade War by Fonda Lee

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-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

4.75

Spoilers!

PAGE 298-307 OH MY GOD THE BEST CHAPTER EVER THAT SHOWDOWN WAS INSANE

I predicted Wen to die. I thought there would be a dramatic moment where Hilo finds out about her involvement with the clan through her death and to be honest, I was actually pretty close - though she was only almost dead and now paralysed. I hope her brain isn’t damaged beyond recognition because she’s quite a cool character.

I hope Cory becomes relevant later on and ties in somehow. I did not appreciate the Pillar of Southtrap splitting them up. It was a nice little side story that didn’t get much closure.

I have very mixed feelings about Hilo and Shae, particularly Hilo because killing Enyi was so shocking, but I guess I should’ve expected it - and then Shae didn’t even bat an eyelid. But Anden etc are in the dark about that which will be interesting - and how Niko will find out.

I really want a perspective from Ayt Mada, she’s become one of my favourite characters despite really only being on the side, but I specifically love the chapters where she talks to Shae in secret.

The characters really grow in this book, it’s so good I 100% would recommend.

‘’I promised you before, you foolish girl, that you would live to see your clan in ruins,’ Ayt Mada whispered. ‘It would be dishonest to kill you until then.’’

DayX by Kirisy

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adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I LOVED the art. I’m very excited for the reboot in 2024 because this ‘trial run?’ was amazing. Scarlett is very very cool.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

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adventurous 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

4.5

Spoilers!

I love the world that this is set in - a combination of fantasy and gangster/mafia with guns but also hand to hand combat.

It’s very well written and I can tell this is going to be a great series. It’s right up my street.

The only thing is I wish there were some more women - I know Fonda Lee said the lack is for realism but at the same time I feel like we need a break from that specific part of realism especially since fantasy books don’t have a huge focus on realism anyway. Maybe its just the books I’ve read but lots of epic fantasies with dark themes have mysteriously no women. There’re 4 named in this whole book and there are a lot of characters let me tell you.

But that is legitimately my only criticism, I cannot wait for the next book. I love the characters and I hope they don’t all die :)

‘’Expectations are a funny thing,’ Wen said. ‘When you’re born with them, you resent them, fight against them. When you’ve never been given any, you feel the lack of them your whole life.’’

Asterix the Legionary by René Goscinny

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced