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savage_book_review's reviews
276 reviews
The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So it appears my inner mood-reader thinks it's spooky season, as I'm currently in the middle of my witch era. This is the second book that I've read this year with the basic premise that a witchling must compete in a trial to try and become the new leader of their coven, so I felt on firm ground from the off. But the characters, chemistry and magic system gave it its own USP, and made it a really enjoyable read. It also gives off vibes similar to the Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig, so if you enjoyed that I'd highly recommend picking this one up!
The writing is extremely focused on our main character, Raven, and although it's written in the third person it comes across as being completely from her point of view. As a result, many of the secondary characters are held on the periphery of your notice - they are named and you get a sense of them, but unless they have a direct affect on her outlook they don't really get fleshed out to the extent that one might hope. Even the main competition, while described in more detail, doesn't necessarily pop off the page in the way that they should. However, this means that all of your attention is drawn to the core cast. I personally am particularly intrigued by Grey... I feel like he needs his story told!
The premise of the story is set out well, but there are elements that you just have to go with as the depth of explanation isn't always there. For example, the magic system is really well developed throughout the book, and the fact that Raven is an Unmarked Witch is clearly important and sets her apart from the rest of the coven. But it's not as highlighted in the narrative as you might expect. And when it does become central to the plot, it's explained in a 'blink and you'll miss it' way. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with it, even though there is enough there for your imagine to fill in the gaps.
Similarly, the start of the relationship development between Raven and Bastian is incredibly good to read; sweet and yet totally inkeeping with the type of character he is, and yet it does feel a little abrupt - I was expecting things to go in a very different direction. BUT *Shadow Daddy alert!* Bastian is everything you'd hope for; dark, brooding, sexy and powerful, the villain in everyone's narrative but his own and would burn down the world for his girl. And he has wings. And a mountain cabin. With soup. Need I say more?
There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises in here, with moments I was genuinely not expecting. While they didn't cause me to drop my Kindle in shock or launch it across the room, they're the sort of events that make you wonder just how the author is going to bring things back around because surely she didn't just do that?! This continues right to the conclusion, and to borrow a phrase it definitely ends on a cliff dangle! And I have to know what happens next! So there's another KU book jumping the TBR queue...
The writing is extremely focused on our main character, Raven, and although it's written in the third person it comes across as being completely from her point of view. As a result, many of the secondary characters are held on the periphery of your notice - they are named and you get a sense of them, but unless they have a direct affect on her outlook they don't really get fleshed out to the extent that one might hope. Even the main competition, while described in more detail, doesn't necessarily pop off the page in the way that they should. However, this means that all of your attention is drawn to the core cast. I personally am particularly intrigued by Grey... I feel like he needs his story told!
The premise of the story is set out well, but there are elements that you just have to go with as the depth of explanation isn't always there. For example, the magic system is really well developed throughout the book, and the fact that Raven is an Unmarked Witch is clearly important and sets her apart from the rest of the coven. But it's not as highlighted in the narrative as you might expect. And when it does become central to the plot, it's explained in a 'blink and you'll miss it' way. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with it, even though there is enough there for your imagine to fill in the gaps.
Similarly, the start of the relationship development between Raven and Bastian is incredibly good to read; sweet and yet totally inkeeping with the type of character he is, and yet it does feel a little abrupt - I was expecting things to go in a very different direction. BUT *Shadow Daddy alert!* Bastian is everything you'd hope for; dark, brooding, sexy and powerful, the villain in everyone's narrative but his own and would burn down the world for his girl. And he has wings. And a mountain cabin. With soup. Need I say more?
There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises in here, with moments I was genuinely not expecting. While they didn't cause me to drop my Kindle in shock or launch it across the room, they're the sort of events that make you wonder just how the author is going to bring things back around because surely she didn't just do that?! This continues right to the conclusion, and to borrow a phrase it definitely ends on a cliff dangle! And I have to know what happens next! So there's another KU book jumping the TBR queue...
Dark Restraint by Katee Robert
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
In the latest instalment of the 'Dark Olympus' series at the time of writing, we turn to Ariadne and the Minotaur's story. Trouble edges closer to Olympus, the Thirteen are under threat and no-one is safe. This one does feel like we've finally struck a balance between the lovers' story and the series arc, and it opened up another level of enjoyment for me.
While the characters have known eachother since they were teenagers, there is a hint of the obsessive stalker type romance in the way Asterion seems to fixate on Ariadne. His character traits, plus the wider foreboding of the plot, makes this feel like probably the 'darkest' book yet, but at the same time it also feels like the closest to the most 'conventional' love story. He has some wonderful, if fleeting, moments of softness towards Ariadne and feels very much like a brooding, overprotective alpha with "touch her and die" vibes radiating off him. In other words, yum!
I'm also enjoying how my feeling towards other characters in the series keep changing. Hera, in particular, started off for me as a woman to be admired; strong, feisty, independent and willing to sacrifice herself for the love of her sisters. But in this book it really feels like she has become one of the Thirteen proper, and something just feels 'off' about it to me. I'm sure all will be revealed and resolved in Zeus and Hera's book when it comes out, but in the meantime while I'm not a huge fan of that particular character development, I love that there are clearly still twists and turns to come!
There is part of me that wishes the previous books had been written in this way. While I really do enjoy the specifics of each relationship as they are fleshed out throughout the series, it feels to the detriment of the stories that the overall series arc has taken quite some time to set up. I feel like the earlier books could have done with this level of 'exterior' action and worldbuilding to really bring the stories to life, and perhaps give the underlying tension more of a slow build.
Also loving that this book ends with a nice hook into the next one... and that I only have to wait until April for it! Overall, while I can't say it's the best series ever written, it gives me a lot of things I enjoy, it sparks my imagination with some great visuals, and it's just a great ride.
While the characters have known eachother since they were teenagers, there is a hint of the obsessive stalker type romance in the way Asterion seems to fixate on Ariadne. His character traits, plus the wider foreboding of the plot, makes this feel like probably the 'darkest' book yet, but at the same time it also feels like the closest to the most 'conventional' love story. He has some wonderful, if fleeting, moments of softness towards Ariadne and feels very much like a brooding, overprotective alpha with "touch her and die" vibes radiating off him. In other words, yum!
I'm also enjoying how my feeling towards other characters in the series keep changing. Hera, in particular, started off for me as a woman to be admired; strong, feisty, independent and willing to sacrifice herself for the love of her sisters. But in this book it really feels like she has become one of the Thirteen proper, and something just feels 'off' about it to me. I'm sure all will be revealed and resolved in Zeus and Hera's book when it comes out, but in the meantime while I'm not a huge fan of that particular character development, I love that there are clearly still twists and turns to come!
There is part of me that wishes the previous books had been written in this way. While I really do enjoy the specifics of each relationship as they are fleshed out throughout the series, it feels to the detriment of the stories that the overall series arc has taken quite some time to set up. I feel like the earlier books could have done with this level of 'exterior' action and worldbuilding to really bring the stories to life, and perhaps give the underlying tension more of a slow build.
Also loving that this book ends with a nice hook into the next one... and that I only have to wait until April for it! Overall, while I can't say it's the best series ever written, it gives me a lot of things I enjoy, it sparks my imagination with some great visuals, and it's just a great ride.
Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
My brain needed this today. Something familiar, with enough substance to keep me engaged but not so complex that it would fight for space amongst the buffering processing of Onyx Storm. This book turns to the story of Orpheus, Eurydice and Charon and gives it the usual magic Katee Robert spicy retelling treatment. And it's a hot one!
The dynamics here work really well; this feels like it strikes a perfect balance between the standalone plot and the development of the series arc, and all of the characters have been introduced previously, so there's no need for set ups and introductions to get in the way of the story. It drops a big revelation but still leaves you with questions, and it starts the build towards the ultimate climax of the series without leaving you on tenterhooks.
As is usual for the author, the story doesn't span that long a time frame and the pace does move quickly to reflect that, but there are plenty of moments where everything slows down to prolong your pleasure. The scenes where our three main characters take the time to talk to one another settles them into what feels like a more natural relationship than some of the others in the series, even if the timescale does seem to take them from 0-100mph in 3.5 seconds. This also has the appeal of making things feel incredibly domestic, despite the underlying tension and juxtaposing action scenes worthy of any Michael Bay movie (or, at least, that's what I'm seeing in my head).
All of the author's books are a banner for diversity and representation, but it feels particularly prevalent in this one. People of different races, sexual orientations, relationship statuses and genders are all in evidence, and the author is diligent at making sure the reader knows exactly what to picture when talking about any given character, and using a wide variety of pronouns to expand the world beyond the simple binary. I will admit to not being completely au fait with the less 'common' ones; if someone could educate me regarding if ze/zir and xe/xer denote different genders, both are the same just with different spellings, it's a 'dealers choice' kind of situation etc. I'd be most grateful - I'd like to picture those character in the right way!
Charon was definitely my favourite character here - quiet and brooding, yet thoughtful, kind and considerate, whilst also being a BAMF when called upon. It's a great mix of character traits that brings him vividly to life in my imagination. It makes him a great foil to Eurydice, whose developing character is in full evidence. She still comes across as a little immature in places, but nevertheless seeing her step out from behind her sisters' shadows and stand on her own two feet feels like more growth than we've seen from other characters in the series to date. The same can be said for Orpheus; his willingness to atone for his previous poor treatment of Eurydice allows the reader to experience both the sweetness of his deferral to both Eurydice and Charon and see him start to deal with his own demons.
Plus, there's plenty of Hades and Persephone in this book too! It's not about them, but still love their partnership!!!
The dynamics here work really well; this feels like it strikes a perfect balance between the standalone plot and the development of the series arc, and all of the characters have been introduced previously, so there's no need for set ups and introductions to get in the way of the story. It drops a big revelation but still leaves you with questions, and it starts the build towards the ultimate climax of the series without leaving you on tenterhooks.
As is usual for the author, the story doesn't span that long a time frame and the pace does move quickly to reflect that, but there are plenty of moments where everything slows down to prolong your pleasure. The scenes where our three main characters take the time to talk to one another settles them into what feels like a more natural relationship than some of the others in the series, even if the timescale does seem to take them from 0-100mph in 3.5 seconds. This also has the appeal of making things feel incredibly domestic, despite the underlying tension and juxtaposing action scenes worthy of any Michael Bay movie (or, at least, that's what I'm seeing in my head).
All of the author's books are a banner for diversity and representation, but it feels particularly prevalent in this one. People of different races, sexual orientations, relationship statuses and genders are all in evidence, and the author is diligent at making sure the reader knows exactly what to picture when talking about any given character, and using a wide variety of pronouns to expand the world beyond the simple binary. I will admit to not being completely au fait with the less 'common' ones; if someone could educate me regarding if ze/zir and xe/xer denote different genders, both are the same just with different spellings, it's a 'dealers choice' kind of situation etc. I'd be most grateful - I'd like to picture those character in the right way!
Charon was definitely my favourite character here - quiet and brooding, yet thoughtful, kind and considerate, whilst also being a BAMF when called upon. It's a great mix of character traits that brings him vividly to life in my imagination. It makes him a great foil to Eurydice, whose developing character is in full evidence. She still comes across as a little immature in places, but nevertheless seeing her step out from behind her sisters' shadows and stand on her own two feet feels like more growth than we've seen from other characters in the series to date. The same can be said for Orpheus; his willingness to atone for his previous poor treatment of Eurydice allows the reader to experience both the sweetness of his deferral to both Eurydice and Charon and see him start to deal with his own demons.
Plus, there's plenty of Hades and Persephone in this book too! It's not about them, but still love their partnership!!!
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I'm currently feeling ALL the emotions, and processing the fact that there's now a looooong wait to find out what happens next! That was one hell of a rollercoaster; if you choose to read this, prepare for your flabbers to be gasted and your thunders(or lightening 😉) to be struck; prepare for your heart to sink, to jump into your throat, to break and to leap; prepare for questions to be answered and more to take their place; prepare for... oh, who am I kidding? There is no possible way to prepare for this. Just mount your dragon and enjoy the ride!
Even with my reread to jog my memory of characters and plot, it wasn't quite enough to get me situated immediately, so I would recommend doing a proper deep dive into Fourth Wing and Iron Flame before heading into this one. But, what was clear from very early on is the amount of time and energy expended by the author in getting all of the elements of this story to coalesce. The narrative feels so much more 'put together' than Iron Flame, and even with the sheer volume of people, dragons, places and plot devices in here, everything flows really well and builds beautifully, layer by layer. I don't think there's a single wasted chapter in here. And while I am definitely a 'passenger princess' when it comes to reading, there is PLENTY to speculate about until book 4!
I listened to the audio version, and while I can't say I was the biggest fan of the narrator, I still have to give her points for her enthusiasm and nuanced delivery. I think the Graphic Audio version that's coming in a couple of months will probably help with the separation of characters (the different actors made it so much easier for me to follow FW and IF), but for the time being it was definitely worth investing in the audio. However, overall I suspect I would probably get more out of a physical/ebook read as I'd get through it far quicker and thus be able to follow each character more closely. I did find that, in places, it was hard to differentiate when characters would switch between speaking aloud and mind-speaking through a bond, for example.
Some random spoiler-free exclamations that came out of my mouth while reading:-
- "Well that didn't take long..."
- "Slow burn, now? Really?!"
- "Rebecca Yarros, that was MEAN!!!"
- "For such a smart girl, that took you WAY too long to figure out!"
- *in the style of Admiral Ackbar* "IT'S A TRAP!!!"
I'm going to let this digest for a while; let my grain ruminate on the possibilities and the bits I'm still a bit confused over while I wait for the graphic audio version, then after that wait for the paperback version of the book to come out to read, and only THEN will I be able to pass final judgement. But immediate impressions; this book deserves the hype, deserves the midnight openings and the billboard in Times Square, and deserves every accolade that can be thrown at it.
I'm currently feeling ALL the emotions, and processing the fact that there's now a looooong wait to find out what happens next! That was one hell of a rollercoaster; if you choose to read this, prepare for your flabbers to be gasted and your thunders(or lightening 😉) to be struck; prepare for your heart to sink, to jump into your throat, to break and to leap; prepare for questions to be answered and more to take their place; prepare for... oh, who am I kidding? There is no possible way to prepare for this. Just mount your dragon and enjoy the ride!
Even with my reread to jog my memory of characters and plot, it wasn't quite enough to get me situated immediately, so I would recommend doing a proper deep dive into Fourth Wing and Iron Flame before heading into this one. But, what was clear from very early on is the amount of time and energy expended by the author in getting all of the elements of this story to coalesce. The narrative feels so much more 'put together' than Iron Flame, and even with the sheer volume of people, dragons, places and plot devices in here, everything flows really well and builds beautifully, layer by layer. I don't think there's a single wasted chapter in here. And while I am definitely a 'passenger princess' when it comes to reading, there is PLENTY to speculate about until book 4!
I listened to the audio version, and while I can't say I was the biggest fan of the narrator, I still have to give her points for her enthusiasm and nuanced delivery. I think the Graphic Audio version that's coming in a couple of months will probably help with the separation of characters (the different actors made it so much easier for me to follow FW and IF), but for the time being it was definitely worth investing in the audio. However, overall I suspect I would probably get more out of a physical/ebook read as I'd get through it far quicker and thus be able to follow each character more closely. I did find that, in places, it was hard to differentiate when characters would switch between speaking aloud and mind-speaking through a bond, for example.
Some random spoiler-free exclamations that came out of my mouth while reading:-
- "Well that didn't take long..."
- "Slow burn, now? Really?!"
- "Rebecca Yarros, that was MEAN!!!"
- "For such a smart girl, that took you WAY too long to figure out!"
- *in the style of Admiral Ackbar* "IT'S A TRAP!!!"
I'm going to let this digest for a while; let my grain ruminate on the possibilities and the bits I'm still a bit confused over while I wait for the graphic audio version, then after that wait for the paperback version of the book to come out to read, and only THEN will I be able to pass final judgement. But immediate impressions; this book deserves the hype, deserves the midnight openings and the billboard in Times Square, and deserves every accolade that can be thrown at it.
Lion of Zarall by Eddy Rose
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
I won this in a Storygraph giveaway, which I entered because I liked the sound of the blurb. The story definitely went in a different direction to my expectations, but it absolutely had me on an emotional rollercoaster! You could almost imagine this really was taking place in Ancient Rome, but for the little touches that take this into the realm of fantasy. And as you'd expect for a book focused on recreating scenes from the Colusseum, it gets pretty dark in places, so definitely check your trigger warnings if you're that way inclined.
Although it should be hard to get into the mind of a character who has been conditioned purely to obey and serve, the writing makes it so incredibly easy to reconcile that complete and utter control Lion has over his mind, despite the complete lack of control he has over his body. And despite his having very few lines of dialogue and the book being written in the third person, the insight into his character is crystal clear. Needless to say, I felt like I was in his head for much of the book. And as his perspective changes, your heart gets pulled into the mix as well. If for no other reason, you should read the book for this masterful bit of character writing.
You root for Lion due to his status, but his status does mean he commits some horrific acts (even if they're not all explicitly described). So although he might be described as the blond-haired Adonis and his quiet, gentle behaviour in some scenes might leave you with a very appealing impression, I do understand Olira's hesitancy in accepting him into her life and home. However, given her background, I had expected something of a softer personality from her when it comes to Lion; for someone who doesn't believe in slavery, man she's a hard taskmaster! Yes, there's a reason for it, but her negative attitude felt like it went on for a bit too long before she thought to actually talk to the guy. And genuinely I was just waiting for the master/slave romance trope to kick in. But then you realise that's probably not going to happen and that's a whole other layer of sadness.
The clever thing is that following Lion's character gives you (and the author) a bit of an on-ramp for worldbuilding. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's all there and very very easy to picture and follow, but because you're following from Lion's limited perspective, the immediate focus is on his experiences and so the outside world is built up slowly, layer by layer. It's a rich, varied world and even the smaller details fall seamlessly into place. I didn't need to question anything; I was simply transported.
The one thing it did take me a moment to reconcile was the dual POV/dual timeline narrative. In the case of the latter, it's not immediately obvious that you're going to be jumping between two time periods, so I did have to take a moment to adjust when I realised. But thereafter, again, it really works well. This is a case where I can't imagine the story being any clearer or better if it were written chronologically; the dual build just adds to the atmosphere of the story.
This is not a light and fluffy read by any stretch of the imagination, but it's very easy to read and I'm interested to see the sequel.
Although it should be hard to get into the mind of a character who has been conditioned purely to obey and serve, the writing makes it so incredibly easy to reconcile that complete and utter control Lion has over his mind, despite the complete lack of control he has over his body. And despite his having very few lines of dialogue and the book being written in the third person, the insight into his character is crystal clear. Needless to say, I felt like I was in his head for much of the book. And as his perspective changes, your heart gets pulled into the mix as well. If for no other reason, you should read the book for this masterful bit of character writing.
You root for Lion due to his status, but his status does mean he commits some horrific acts (even if they're not all explicitly described). So although he might be described as the blond-haired Adonis and his quiet, gentle behaviour in some scenes might leave you with a very appealing impression, I do understand Olira's hesitancy in accepting him into her life and home. However, given her background, I had expected something of a softer personality from her when it comes to Lion; for someone who doesn't believe in slavery, man she's a hard taskmaster! Yes, there's a reason for it, but her negative attitude felt like it went on for a bit too long before she thought to actually talk to the guy. And genuinely I was just waiting for the master/slave romance trope to kick in. But then you realise that's probably not going to happen and that's a whole other layer of sadness.
The clever thing is that following Lion's character gives you (and the author) a bit of an on-ramp for worldbuilding. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's all there and very very easy to picture and follow, but because you're following from Lion's limited perspective, the immediate focus is on his experiences and so the outside world is built up slowly, layer by layer. It's a rich, varied world and even the smaller details fall seamlessly into place. I didn't need to question anything; I was simply transported.
The one thing it did take me a moment to reconcile was the dual POV/dual timeline narrative. In the case of the latter, it's not immediately obvious that you're going to be jumping between two time periods, so I did have to take a moment to adjust when I realised. But thereafter, again, it really works well. This is a case where I can't imagine the story being any clearer or better if it were written chronologically; the dual build just adds to the atmosphere of the story.
This is not a light and fluffy read by any stretch of the imagination, but it's very easy to read and I'm interested to see the sequel.
The Witch and His Crow by Ben Alderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*Please note, I was provided an ARC copy by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.*
I think I knew I was in love with this world within about the first three chapters. And every subsequent chapter just reinforced the fact. It's dark, dangerous and full of deceit, with a fast paced, heart-pounding plot and characters that jump off the page. The only reason I didn't finish this in a single sitting was because I was desperate for sleep last night, but I had to force myself to put this down!
The story starts with a bang, and never really lets up. There are a couple of quieter moments sprinkled throughout, but even within those the tension (whether surrounding the overall plot or the sexual chemistry between the characters) is being ramped up. You spend the entire book almost feeling like one of the characters, constantly on edge and waiting for the next shock to come from the shadows. While there is a lot of violence throughout - not surprising when the main plot device feels akin to a darker Triwizard Tournament (but better), or a Hunger Games for adults - the descriptions are really well done to walk that line between graphic and yet not horrific. Likewise, you follow the characters in never really being wholly comfortable in the environment. With elements of magic, time travel and unseen threats, as well as the people you know who actually are out to get you, it doesn't give you the same jump scare as a horror book might, but it certainly keeps you on your toes!
I loved the attitude of our MMC, Hector. Confident almost to the point of recklessness, snarky and just the right amount of bloodlust! And yet the character has been given such depth and nuance, with various moments of vulnerability and emotion that make him fascinating to read. As with all of this author's books (or at least, the ones I've read and have seen advertised), the book is led by LGBTQ+ characters, and while this is made abundantly clear almost immediately (seriously, may as well be big pink flashing neon signs!), even if it wasn't the relationship development is just gorgeous. And I have to admit, watching a male and female lead working together and knowing it won't turn romantic feels really refreshing! The relationship between Hector and Romy is feisty and a bit of a battle of wills, and is so much fun to read.
Some of the secondary characters feel a little familiar - it may be because I've just done my Fourth Wing reread, but there is one character who definitely has a whiff of Jack f*****g Barlowe about them - but if they do have such traits it only helped me sink further into the story because I already felt comfortable with the idea of who these people were.
Although the magic system is not explained in huge amounts of detail, it's still really easy to pick up and follow. As a result, the world coalesces really easily in your mind, and you're not left with confusion or questions about how things work. It's just a book that picks you up and carries you along without your brain having to do too much work to keep up.
There is only one reason this book doesn't get the full five stars, and it's trivial yet important. The blurb of the book and the marketing almost give too much away. I went in already having a rough idea of what to expect, so when the build up in the book ran contrary to that belief, the climax should have been a great twist/reveal/shock. And if you're picking this up cold, it will be (or, at least, if you guess what's going to happen you'll get a sense of satisfaction out of it). But some of the bits and pieces I've seen went further than just a 'rough idea' and so reduced the effect. I absolutely understand wanting to market the book and engage people's interest, but it's a shame that it could be at the expense of the impact of the storyline.
Seriously though, if you like MM dark magical fantasy, go and buy this when it comes out!
I think I knew I was in love with this world within about the first three chapters. And every subsequent chapter just reinforced the fact. It's dark, dangerous and full of deceit, with a fast paced, heart-pounding plot and characters that jump off the page. The only reason I didn't finish this in a single sitting was because I was desperate for sleep last night, but I had to force myself to put this down!
The story starts with a bang, and never really lets up. There are a couple of quieter moments sprinkled throughout, but even within those the tension (whether surrounding the overall plot or the sexual chemistry between the characters) is being ramped up. You spend the entire book almost feeling like one of the characters, constantly on edge and waiting for the next shock to come from the shadows. While there is a lot of violence throughout - not surprising when the main plot device feels akin to a darker Triwizard Tournament (but better), or a Hunger Games for adults - the descriptions are really well done to walk that line between graphic and yet not horrific. Likewise, you follow the characters in never really being wholly comfortable in the environment. With elements of magic, time travel and unseen threats, as well as the people you know who actually are out to get you, it doesn't give you the same jump scare as a horror book might, but it certainly keeps you on your toes!
I loved the attitude of our MMC, Hector. Confident almost to the point of recklessness, snarky and just the right amount of bloodlust! And yet the character has been given such depth and nuance, with various moments of vulnerability and emotion that make him fascinating to read. As with all of this author's books (or at least, the ones I've read and have seen advertised), the book is led by LGBTQ+ characters, and while this is made abundantly clear almost immediately (seriously, may as well be big pink flashing neon signs!), even if it wasn't the relationship development is just gorgeous. And I have to admit, watching a male and female lead working together and knowing it won't turn romantic feels really refreshing! The relationship between Hector and Romy is feisty and a bit of a battle of wills, and is so much fun to read.
Some of the secondary characters feel a little familiar - it may be because I've just done my Fourth Wing reread, but there is one character who definitely has a whiff of Jack f*****g Barlowe about them - but if they do have such traits it only helped me sink further into the story because I already felt comfortable with the idea of who these people were.
Although the magic system is not explained in huge amounts of detail, it's still really easy to pick up and follow. As a result, the world coalesces really easily in your mind, and you're not left with confusion or questions about how things work. It's just a book that picks you up and carries you along without your brain having to do too much work to keep up.
There is only one reason this book doesn't get the full five stars, and it's trivial yet important. The blurb of the book and the marketing almost give too much away. I went in already having a rough idea of what to expect, so when the build up in the book ran contrary to that belief, the climax should have been a great twist/reveal/shock. And if you're picking this up cold, it will be (or, at least, if you guess what's going to happen you'll get a sense of satisfaction out of it). But some of the bits and pieces I've seen went further than just a 'rough idea' and so reduced the effect. I absolutely understand wanting to market the book and engage people's interest, but it's a shame that it could be at the expense of the impact of the storyline.
Seriously though, if you like MM dark magical fantasy, go and buy this when it comes out!
The Fire Thief Fights Back by Terry Deary
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Well that was underwhelming. I am genuinely so disappointed in this series; for a topic that has so much room for fun interpretation and scope to tailor for an audience of any age, it should have been a dream for a master of telling historical tales with a twist. But it feels like it's a story that's been dashed out in five minutes to fulfil a publishing obligation rather than being a story the author truly wanted to tell.
Once again, the set up is practically identical to the first two books; a parent and child con-artist team arrive in Eden City to fleece the locals, and they run into Prometheus, still on his quest to find a true human hero. The structure is the same too, with the Eden City events alternating with those in Olympus before slowing coming together. We've gone back to a boy MC this time, and as a result there's a serving/slave girl who makes an appearance for him to befriend and save. Again, all very familiar (that plot device appears in the Tudor Terros series too). Not sure why the girl in the last book didn't get a serving/slave boy equivalent, but whatever. So the markers are all there. But that's all that seems to be there.
The plot this time feels even thinner than before, and relies heavily either on repeats of the scenes from the previous books just tweaked to suit the new characters, or humour that probably does work for the appropriate age group. There's just no real substance to it. I did enjoy the introduction of various monsters from Greek myth into the plot, but they were literally just obstacles between the MC and his goal, and each were dismissed or dispatched within a couple of pages. They could have had so much more importance within the plot, but by this stage it feels more like we're aiming for cheap laughs.
After three books, I was at least hoping for a decent payoff. But I was left disappointed there too. It's probably the most honest and insightful piece of writing in the whole trilogy, but that doesn't stop it from leaving you feeling shortchanged. In my opinion, it basically negated the entire purpose of the books. So, so frustrating!
I think I'll stick with what I know from this author from now on, as I don't want to tarnish his otherwise stellar reputation as a force for kids' (and big kids') entertainment and education. This was a very strange blip in his back-catalogue!
Once again, the set up is practically identical to the first two books; a parent and child con-artist team arrive in Eden City to fleece the locals, and they run into Prometheus, still on his quest to find a true human hero. The structure is the same too, with the Eden City events alternating with those in Olympus before slowing coming together. We've gone back to a boy MC this time, and as a result there's a serving/slave girl who makes an appearance for him to befriend and save. Again, all very familiar (that plot device appears in the Tudor Terros series too). Not sure why the girl in the last book didn't get a serving/slave boy equivalent, but whatever. So the markers are all there. But that's all that seems to be there.
The plot this time feels even thinner than before, and relies heavily either on repeats of the scenes from the previous books just tweaked to suit the new characters, or humour that probably does work for the appropriate age group. There's just no real substance to it. I did enjoy the introduction of various monsters from Greek myth into the plot, but they were literally just obstacles between the MC and his goal, and each were dismissed or dispatched within a couple of pages. They could have had so much more importance within the plot, but by this stage it feels more like we're aiming for cheap laughs.
After three books, I was at least hoping for a decent payoff. But I was left disappointed there too. It's probably the most honest and insightful piece of writing in the whole trilogy, but that doesn't stop it from leaving you feeling shortchanged. In my opinion, it basically negated the entire purpose of the books. So, so frustrating!
I think I'll stick with what I know from this author from now on, as I don't want to tarnish his otherwise stellar reputation as a force for kids' (and big kids') entertainment and education. This was a very strange blip in his back-catalogue!
A Dead and Stormy Night by Steffanie Holmes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well this was a little bit kooky and a little bit spooky, but a fun, lighthearted series starter that offers some great visuals, a fair few giggles and just a sprinkling of murder-mystery... so it really has something for everyone! When Mina starts work at her local bookshop, she just thinks her gorgeous-but-surly boss Heathcliff and his equally hunky flatmate, James Moriarty, have unfortunate if oddly fitting names. But as we all know, sometimes the truth can be stranger than fiction...
Now, this was a first for me in that I switched from the audiobook to the ebook about 25% of the way through (yay for SYK days!). While I was really enjoying the story and the scene setting, unfortunately I just could not get on with the narrator. I enjoyed her take on the characters' voices, and when she was playing a role she was wonderful. But when she wasn't doing dialogue, it sounded like someone learning to read aloud. She would stress words in strange places, and every time she said the word 'a' or 'the', it sounded like it was the most important word in the sentence - a stilted pause before, an elongation to 'ayyy' or 'thee' and another stilted pause, like she wasn't quite sure what the next word was. It got to the point that it was detracting from my enjoyment and distracting me from the actual story and writing. But, once I started reading the ebook and was able to use my own internal monologue to follow along, it became far more engaging.
The writing is a little rough and ready, but it's got a feel-good factor to it that just sparks joy. It flowed well and the book zoomed by at pace, giving me everything I needed to enjoy a couple of hours of escapism while setting up the premise of the wider series. Most importantly, it doesn't take itself too seriously! Yes, the plot revolves around a murder, but it really is secondary to getting to know the characters and drawing the reader into their inevitable attraction to Heathcliff, Morrie and Quoth (you'll see 😉), so it doesn't really bother me too much that the culprit is pretty obvious from fairly early on.
Speaking of the boys; well, I'm sold on Morrie from the first second he appears. And yes, I'm seeing Andrew Scott - if you're not then there's something not quite right with you! 🤣 I've never read Wuthering Heights so have no frame of reference for the 'real' Heathcliff, but I'm less convinced by him at the moment. When he is being sweet he's great, but that's not often and he just hasn't 'spoken' to me yet. And I want to know more about Quoth, but I'm picturing a Kingfisher-esque look in my mind for him so he can definitely stay!
I like how the author has populated the village with proper OTT characters too. Because, let's face it, every village has them! Maybe not these characters specifically, but they're there! Even Mina's mother is recognisable - even if you don't know someone like her directly, it's not hard to conjure up an image of someone like her. Despite the madcap plot, somehow these random people with their insane foibles serve to make the setting more believable. Although there were a couple of oddities that didn't sit quite right with me - the village setting with a council estate of the ilk described doesn't quite fit in my head, and the 'market' sounds more like a bigger convenience store. But different strokes for different folks!
I think every bookworm will be able to relate to Mina in some way, but the addition of her declining sight and the acceptance she finds from the boys when not expecting it is lovely. The whole book opens up her character to allow the reader to feel that additional anxiety that discrimination and even basic things like inadequate lighting can cause. It's clear this is an element of the character written from the heart and the experiences of the author herself, and it's beautifully done.
My TBR pile is currently out of control and there is a certain dragon book coming out next week that I have to read quickly so I don't get spoiled, so it may take me a little time to return to this series, but I'm definitely planning on it! Highbrow literature this isn't, but if you're just looking for a good time, it's well worth a try!
Now, this was a first for me in that I switched from the audiobook to the ebook about 25% of the way through (yay for SYK days!). While I was really enjoying the story and the scene setting, unfortunately I just could not get on with the narrator. I enjoyed her take on the characters' voices, and when she was playing a role she was wonderful. But when she wasn't doing dialogue, it sounded like someone learning to read aloud. She would stress words in strange places, and every time she said the word 'a' or 'the', it sounded like it was the most important word in the sentence - a stilted pause before, an elongation to 'ayyy' or 'thee' and another stilted pause, like she wasn't quite sure what the next word was. It got to the point that it was detracting from my enjoyment and distracting me from the actual story and writing. But, once I started reading the ebook and was able to use my own internal monologue to follow along, it became far more engaging.
The writing is a little rough and ready, but it's got a feel-good factor to it that just sparks joy. It flowed well and the book zoomed by at pace, giving me everything I needed to enjoy a couple of hours of escapism while setting up the premise of the wider series. Most importantly, it doesn't take itself too seriously! Yes, the plot revolves around a murder, but it really is secondary to getting to know the characters and drawing the reader into their inevitable attraction to Heathcliff, Morrie and Quoth (you'll see 😉), so it doesn't really bother me too much that the culprit is pretty obvious from fairly early on.
Speaking of the boys; well, I'm sold on Morrie from the first second he appears. And yes, I'm seeing Andrew Scott - if you're not then there's something not quite right with you! 🤣 I've never read Wuthering Heights so have no frame of reference for the 'real' Heathcliff, but I'm less convinced by him at the moment. When he is being sweet he's great, but that's not often and he just hasn't 'spoken' to me yet. And I want to know more about Quoth, but I'm picturing a Kingfisher-esque look in my mind for him so he can definitely stay!
I like how the author has populated the village with proper OTT characters too. Because, let's face it, every village has them! Maybe not these characters specifically, but they're there! Even Mina's mother is recognisable - even if you don't know someone like her directly, it's not hard to conjure up an image of someone like her. Despite the madcap plot, somehow these random people with their insane foibles serve to make the setting more believable. Although there were a couple of oddities that didn't sit quite right with me - the village setting with a council estate of the ilk described doesn't quite fit in my head, and the 'market' sounds more like a bigger convenience store. But different strokes for different folks!
I think every bookworm will be able to relate to Mina in some way, but the addition of her declining sight and the acceptance she finds from the boys when not expecting it is lovely. The whole book opens up her character to allow the reader to feel that additional anxiety that discrimination and even basic things like inadequate lighting can cause. It's clear this is an element of the character written from the heart and the experiences of the author herself, and it's beautifully done.
My TBR pile is currently out of control and there is a certain dragon book coming out next week that I have to read quickly so I don't get spoiled, so it may take me a little time to return to this series, but I'm definitely planning on it! Highbrow literature this isn't, but if you're just looking for a good time, it's well worth a try!
Flight of the Fire Thief by Terry Deary
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed by this book. It's a cute little story for kids, but I'm not entirely sure there's enough in here to keep even their attention fully focused. The author is usually so good at finding the sweet spot mid-way between education and entertainment, but in this case it feels like he's missed the mark on both counts.
It just comes across as a watered down rewrite of the first book, except while the story follows on its being told by a completely new character, who basically has the same traits and backstory as the original. It feels like the similarities were used as a quick shorthand to get the story moving without having to develop the new characters very much, and their actions become very repetitive very quickly, so there's not actually that much to enjoy of them. The fact that the premise of Prometheus' story has already been set up means that layer of the story is also removed, and so while he is the lynchpin of the plot, he doesn't have all that much to do in this one, which is a shame because he is by far the mist interesting character!
There are two new elements introduced here. The first is a potted retelling of the Trojan War, which is mainly used as a set up to continual jokes about how, in the ten years of the war, Helen's beauty has gone from being able to launch a thousand ships to ever decreasing numbers. We do meet Achilles and Paris as squabbling rivals, and it portrays Zeus and Hera as bored Gods who are just playing with the human population for their own amusement. It does do a little to introduce the myth to the book's target audience, but again not in the same depth or tone that you'd usually expect from the author. And while I am no expert, I do love a good Greek myth retelling and some of the elements used in here are completely new to me... so I do wonder if the author has chosen to stray fully from the source material and just make up his own events to suit?
The second element are the 'Wild Ones' who have surrounded Eden City. Although it doesn't state it explicitly, the names of the characters and other inferences suggest to me that they are based on Native Americans. Unfortunately, while the role they are meant to play in the story should be quite important, that whole aspect feels very glossed over and they fade into the background really quickly. Again, I feel like this was a missed opportunity - there is so much more that could have been done to develop the plot and the characters here.
There are clear signposts towards a 'big reveal' in book three, which I do have handy as the library has just delivered it for me and I do want to finish the series. But ultimately this book seems to be purely a bridge from the set up to the finale, with very little point in and of itself. Perhaps it would have been better as a duology? I don't know. I keep coming back to the fact that I'm not the 'right' age for this book, but then again this is also true for his 'Tudor Terrors' or 'Horrible Histories' series, and I still love those! Perhaps I'm now learning why I hadn't heard of this series until recently... Ah well!
It just comes across as a watered down rewrite of the first book, except while the story follows on its being told by a completely new character, who basically has the same traits and backstory as the original. It feels like the similarities were used as a quick shorthand to get the story moving without having to develop the new characters very much, and their actions become very repetitive very quickly, so there's not actually that much to enjoy of them. The fact that the premise of Prometheus' story has already been set up means that layer of the story is also removed, and so while he is the lynchpin of the plot, he doesn't have all that much to do in this one, which is a shame because he is by far the mist interesting character!
There are two new elements introduced here. The first is a potted retelling of the Trojan War, which is mainly used as a set up to continual jokes about how, in the ten years of the war, Helen's beauty has gone from being able to launch a thousand ships to ever decreasing numbers. We do meet Achilles and Paris as squabbling rivals, and it portrays Zeus and Hera as bored Gods who are just playing with the human population for their own amusement. It does do a little to introduce the myth to the book's target audience, but again not in the same depth or tone that you'd usually expect from the author. And while I am no expert, I do love a good Greek myth retelling and some of the elements used in here are completely new to me... so I do wonder if the author has chosen to stray fully from the source material and just make up his own events to suit?
The second element are the 'Wild Ones' who have surrounded Eden City. Although it doesn't state it explicitly, the names of the characters and other inferences suggest to me that they are based on Native Americans. Unfortunately, while the role they are meant to play in the story should be quite important, that whole aspect feels very glossed over and they fade into the background really quickly. Again, I feel like this was a missed opportunity - there is so much more that could have been done to develop the plot and the characters here.
There are clear signposts towards a 'big reveal' in book three, which I do have handy as the library has just delivered it for me and I do want to finish the series. But ultimately this book seems to be purely a bridge from the set up to the finale, with very little point in and of itself. Perhaps it would have been better as a duology? I don't know. I keep coming back to the fact that I'm not the 'right' age for this book, but then again this is also true for his 'Tudor Terrors' or 'Horrible Histories' series, and I still love those! Perhaps I'm now learning why I hadn't heard of this series until recently... Ah well!
Iron Flame (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
Well, that's the reread complete with just 9 days to go until Onyx Storm! And I certainly needed the refresher! I will admit that I don't enjoy Iron Flame quite as much as I do Fourth Wing, but as always the Graphic Audio format comes to its rescue and makes things so much more digestible for my brain. And to hear 'My house. My chair. My woman' in glorious technicolour (oh, you know what I mean...) makes it worth it all on its own!
The calibre of the voice actors in this series continues to be the main draw for me. Every actor portrays their part so well and has me more invested in the plight of not just Xaden and Violet, but all of the secondary characters too. It's not that I didn't notice them when reading the physical book, but they just feel so much more prevalent within the story when it's experienced in this format. And of course, the chemistry between Violet and Xaden only gets hotter in this part of the tale...
The main thing that the GA couldn't improve for me is the worldbuilding. The immediacy of Basgaith and Eritia are absolutely great and I can see both of those locations in my mind's eye, and of course the 'set up' of everything works incredibly well. But I've never been completely clear on the geography, and the further into this book I got the more confused I felt. Likewise, the background to the current conflict makes my head spin a little bit, and even things like the set up kn the sections, squads and wings become more fuzzy as time passes. I feel like a physical reread would be worthwhile at some stage, perhaps even with (shock horror) some annotations being made to help me keep things straight.
And yet, there are elements of the writing that shine through and that are enhanced further by this format. The moments between Xaden and Violet hashing out their relationship is really well done (even if I'm not always convinced by Violet's demands), and of course the last scene with the two of them is just a gut-puncher. Andarna's contrary teenage sass and Tairn's eye rolling ways are always funny, but when you can have that side by side with those touching moments of Andarna protecting the squad, or Tairn's defending of Violet, my understanding of dragon-kind became so much more than it was after reading the physical book.
Looking forward to seeing what book three brings!
The calibre of the voice actors in this series continues to be the main draw for me. Every actor portrays their part so well and has me more invested in the plight of not just Xaden and Violet, but all of the secondary characters too. It's not that I didn't notice them when reading the physical book, but they just feel so much more prevalent within the story when it's experienced in this format. And of course, the chemistry between Violet and Xaden only gets hotter in this part of the tale...
The main thing that the GA couldn't improve for me is the worldbuilding. The immediacy of Basgaith and Eritia are absolutely great and I can see both of those locations in my mind's eye, and of course the 'set up' of everything works incredibly well. But I've never been completely clear on the geography, and the further into this book I got the more confused I felt. Likewise, the background to the current conflict makes my head spin a little bit, and even things like the set up kn the sections, squads and wings become more fuzzy as time passes. I feel like a physical reread would be worthwhile at some stage, perhaps even with (shock horror) some annotations being made to help me keep things straight.
And yet, there are elements of the writing that shine through and that are enhanced further by this format. The moments between Xaden and Violet hashing out their relationship is really well done (even if I'm not always convinced by Violet's demands), and of course the last scene with the two of them is just a gut-puncher. Andarna's contrary teenage sass and Tairn's eye rolling ways are always funny, but when you can have that side by side with those touching moments of Andarna protecting the squad, or Tairn's defending of Violet, my understanding of dragon-kind became so much more than it was after reading the physical book.
Looking forward to seeing what book three brings!