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savage_book_review's reviews
276 reviews
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 5 - 8 by Eva Chase
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
The story of Rory Bloodstone continues in this second omnibus edition of the Royals of Villain Academy series, with even more secrets, surprises sexytimes in store. The main focus remains on the pentacle of scions, but expands beyond Blood U to take in the wider world, both mage and nary, to take you on a ride where the outcome isn't certain for any of them. This is more emotionally charged than the first half, both in terms of your investment in the characters and the overarching narrative, there are moments that really draw you in to examining your own stance on various happenings in the real world, and moments that make you wish you lived in fiction!
As before, the pace is very quick, with the whole story really being more than the sum of its parts. But what I liked about this was the various elements of uncertainty throughout. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping the options open every step of the way, so that it's completely possible for the various scenarios to have multiple outcomes. I found myself wanting to keep reading so I could get all the answers, from whether all of the pentacle would make it to the end and would there be a HEA, to whether certain characters would turn out to be heros or villains. Again, the omnibus is over 1,000 pages but it is definitely not a hard read and it really does fly by!
This book also has the advantage that, even though it essentially follows straight on, the characters all seem to come into their own a little more, presenting much more maturely and facing the problems of the outside world as adults rather than the petty middle school childishness that went on in books 1-4. I found this made all of the main characters far more likeable, and when coupled with their individual moments in the spotlight, made them all more well rounded too. They probably could have done with a little bit more development to really flesh them out as they don't come across in my head as vividly as others, but they're engaging enough for you to envy Rory her position, and to recoil from the barons.
The chemistry between Rory and the boys cranks up a notch here, with the appeal of each only improving as the story progresses. This book has helped me understand the appeal of the reverse harem, although I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of four guys at the same time, especially with no crossing swords... may need to go back and read those bits again... 😉.
There is what feels like a little bit of catastrophising social commentary within (well, maybe it's not catastrophising if it feels like we're heading that way!), but it's also a great illustration of the power of people, young and old, when they band together to take a stand about issue they believe in and the way the power of the minority in charge could be brought to bear on those who disagree. In some respects, I felt that this element was glossed over a bit too quickly, which detracted from the effectiveness of Rory's machinations. Likewise, the ending felt somewhat rushed and a little bit of a disappointment after the long old build up; it all just slotted into place a little too quickly and neatly.
Overall, I prefer this book to the first one, but the series as a whole was well worth a read and I'm definitely making sure the author is on my list to go and meet at RARE25!
As before, the pace is very quick, with the whole story really being more than the sum of its parts. But what I liked about this was the various elements of uncertainty throughout. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping the options open every step of the way, so that it's completely possible for the various scenarios to have multiple outcomes. I found myself wanting to keep reading so I could get all the answers, from whether all of the pentacle would make it to the end and would there be a HEA, to whether certain characters would turn out to be heros or villains. Again, the omnibus is over 1,000 pages but it is definitely not a hard read and it really does fly by!
This book also has the advantage that, even though it essentially follows straight on, the characters all seem to come into their own a little more, presenting much more maturely and facing the problems of the outside world as adults rather than the petty middle school childishness that went on in books 1-4. I found this made all of the main characters far more likeable, and when coupled with their individual moments in the spotlight, made them all more well rounded too. They probably could have done with a little bit more development to really flesh them out as they don't come across in my head as vividly as others, but they're engaging enough for you to envy Rory her position, and to recoil from the barons.
The chemistry between Rory and the boys cranks up a notch here, with the appeal of each only improving as the story progresses. This book has helped me understand the appeal of the reverse harem, although I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of four guys at the same time, especially with no crossing swords... may need to go back and read those bits again... 😉.
There is what feels like a little bit of catastrophising social commentary within (well, maybe it's not catastrophising if it feels like we're heading that way!), but it's also a great illustration of the power of people, young and old, when they band together to take a stand about issue they believe in and the way the power of the minority in charge could be brought to bear on those who disagree. In some respects, I felt that this element was glossed over a bit too quickly, which detracted from the effectiveness of Rory's machinations. Likewise, the ending felt somewhat rushed and a little bit of a disappointment after the long old build up; it all just slotted into place a little too quickly and neatly.
Overall, I prefer this book to the first one, but the series as a whole was well worth a read and I'm definitely making sure the author is on my list to go and meet at RARE25!
Royals of Villain Academy: Books 1-4 (Villain Academy Box Sets) by Eva Chase
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Blaming my bestie for this! My first RARE25 author read of the year, and the first dip of the toe into the world of reverse harem. And I feel like this was a good place to begin! A series with a fairly straightforward setup, but with lots of underlying action and intrigue to keep things interesting, a little bit of magic and fantasy to keep me within my comfort zone, and some great characters! It also helped that this is an omnibus edition of the first half of the series, meaning it was easy to get really into the story without interruption.
I will admit that I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I was reading the books separately. While each one does have an individual story to tell, the overarching narrative is far more prevalent and so, to me, it works far better as one big book (even if that book is over 1,000 pages!). The pacing is still fast despite the length, but it is tempered by the fact you are able to focus on the series arc and thus it has a nice build to it, both in terms of dramatic and romantic tension. Wjereas each individual section flies by and I think if I'd been reading them individually I'd have found each one 'something of nothing'.
Our main character, Rory, is a protagonist who stands at odds with the world she's dropped into and so the perspective you get is skewed through her eyes from the getgo. While the story absolutely gives justification for this, it's so easy to see past it, which does make her come across as a little naive and blinkered. Her character does develop well, but even by the time you reach the end and she has modified her opinions, there is still that underlying bias which feels even more out of place than it did at the start. I'm certainly interested to see how this continues to develop jn the second half of the series.
It does read very much like teen crushes and playground politics for much of the story; despite it being set at a university and all the characters being of age, everyone seems to act like they're still in school. So when things turn more adult, the writing makes it work but there is something of a disconnect between those moments and the rest of the goings-on. That being said, there are some beautiful moments of 'quiet', where Rory and one of the boys are alone together and having an honest conversation or a moment away from their stresses.
Speaking of the boys, I don't blame Rory for not wanting to choose! The author has done really well at developing each of the characters so that the bullying at the outset leaves you with that lingering sense of mistrust and the 'bad boy' appeal, but at the same time gradually revealing their layers to give some reasoning for why they are how they are. And all of the boys are developed evenly; it's easy to share Rory's developing feelings as everything seems to progress naturally (if a bit quickly). I guess this is a pretty standard response to an RH/why choose book, but I'd just have convinced myself that Rory would be best paired with one character, when the author would completely flip the script and I'd find myself rooting for another of the guys! Genuine can't pick a favourite (although I will admit I'm still not totally sold on Malcolm, but I think that's the point!).
For a chonky tome, this was a really nice, easy read (albeit with a few flashes of darkness), perfect for switching off your brain and just being carried along. I guess I'd better go download the second half now!
I will admit that I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I was reading the books separately. While each one does have an individual story to tell, the overarching narrative is far more prevalent and so, to me, it works far better as one big book (even if that book is over 1,000 pages!). The pacing is still fast despite the length, but it is tempered by the fact you are able to focus on the series arc and thus it has a nice build to it, both in terms of dramatic and romantic tension. Wjereas each individual section flies by and I think if I'd been reading them individually I'd have found each one 'something of nothing'.
Our main character, Rory, is a protagonist who stands at odds with the world she's dropped into and so the perspective you get is skewed through her eyes from the getgo. While the story absolutely gives justification for this, it's so easy to see past it, which does make her come across as a little naive and blinkered. Her character does develop well, but even by the time you reach the end and she has modified her opinions, there is still that underlying bias which feels even more out of place than it did at the start. I'm certainly interested to see how this continues to develop jn the second half of the series.
It does read very much like teen crushes and playground politics for much of the story; despite it being set at a university and all the characters being of age, everyone seems to act like they're still in school. So when things turn more adult, the writing makes it work but there is something of a disconnect between those moments and the rest of the goings-on. That being said, there are some beautiful moments of 'quiet', where Rory and one of the boys are alone together and having an honest conversation or a moment away from their stresses.
Speaking of the boys, I don't blame Rory for not wanting to choose! The author has done really well at developing each of the characters so that the bullying at the outset leaves you with that lingering sense of mistrust and the 'bad boy' appeal, but at the same time gradually revealing their layers to give some reasoning for why they are how they are. And all of the boys are developed evenly; it's easy to share Rory's developing feelings as everything seems to progress naturally (if a bit quickly). I guess this is a pretty standard response to an RH/why choose book, but I'd just have convinced myself that Rory would be best paired with one character, when the author would completely flip the script and I'd find myself rooting for another of the guys! Genuine can't pick a favourite (although I will admit I'm still not totally sold on Malcolm, but I think that's the point!).
For a chonky tome, this was a really nice, easy read (albeit with a few flashes of darkness), perfect for switching off your brain and just being carried along. I guess I'd better go download the second half now!
Iron Flame (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
This book makes me wish I was more of an analytical reader. There are so many theories that stem from here about what might happen in Onyx Storm, but I'm blissfully unaware of the majority of them because I'm just along for the ride. Likewise, where Fourth Wing does a fabulous job at setting up the world you're immersing yourself into without overloading you, this first half of Iron Flame builds on that and starts to paint a more detailed picture of the country and continent the action is taking place in. Its history, geography and traditions are all woven really well into the narrative, but it's here where I lose the thread. I feel like I need a Battle Brief map to keep everything straight! It's so well done and the writing could easily persuade me that this place exists, but my brain is too busy being distracted by dragons and a shadow daddy to actually process it.
That being said, the graphic audio does make the story in general far easier to follow, plus the fact that I'm reading it following straight on from Fourth Wing without a break means I have actually been able to keep all of the characters and relationships straight in my head as well. The performances are all great, and I'm finally 'there' with Gabriel Michael as Xaden, so that made it even more enjoyable. His performance, and that of Khaya Fraites as Violet, kicks up another notch in this instalment and the heat between their characters, whether the pent up frustrations, snarky flirting or indeed in the resolution of all that sexual tension, is scorching.
As an aside, I was proud of (and maybe slightly worried for) myself for immediately recognising Anthony Palmini's one line, but then realised I'm going to have to listen again as somehow I missed Jon Vertullo's dulcet tones somewhere in here... if anyone can point me in the right direction, it'd be much appreciated!
There is again enough action and intrigue in this first half to keep the audio engaging and pacy, and enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. It's also found a stopping point that feels quite natural within the narrative, rather than mid-scene as with the last book. Overall, it's a tight and well crafted production that draws on the excitement of the source material and manages to improve upon it by bringing it to life in such an enthralling way.
That being said, the graphic audio does make the story in general far easier to follow, plus the fact that I'm reading it following straight on from Fourth Wing without a break means I have actually been able to keep all of the characters and relationships straight in my head as well. The performances are all great, and I'm finally 'there' with Gabriel Michael as Xaden, so that made it even more enjoyable. His performance, and that of Khaya Fraites as Violet, kicks up another notch in this instalment and the heat between their characters, whether the pent up frustrations, snarky flirting or indeed in the resolution of all that sexual tension, is scorching.
As an aside, I was proud of (and maybe slightly worried for) myself for immediately recognising Anthony Palmini's one line, but then realised I'm going to have to listen again as somehow I missed Jon Vertullo's dulcet tones somewhere in here... if anyone can point me in the right direction, it'd be much appreciated!
There is again enough action and intrigue in this first half to keep the audio engaging and pacy, and enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. It's also found a stopping point that feels quite natural within the narrative, rather than mid-scene as with the last book. Overall, it's a tight and well crafted production that draws on the excitement of the source material and manages to improve upon it by bringing it to life in such an enthralling way.
Diddly Squat: Home to Roost by Jeremy Clarkson
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
Well, here we are again. Another year, another Clarkson book to add to the collection. Only this time it was a Christmas present so I didn't spend my own hard-earned cash on it. But yep, still a sucker.
I think what gets me is the books seem to be getting thinner, and there are more and more blank pages, pages with illustrations (albeit still beautifully drawn ones) rather than the content you've paid for and, this year, a shed load of advertising of his previous books at the back (which, as we've previously established, I already own) followed by yet more empty pages. It's getting to the point where it feels like I would just be better off buying the newspaper of a weekend as it'd be better value for money!
The articles themselves are fine; while I've given up on the idea that they will be as humorous as they were in days gone by, there are a couple of moments which induce a light giggle, and he does actually raise some properly good points about the impact of political decisions on farming. There is an article which mentions that there are 'no death duties on farmland' and I was hoping that the book might extend enough to cover his involvement in the protests against the new Government's decision to change this (driven by professional curiosity), but alas not. So, yet again, there's a hook for me to get the next one. Likewise, only when you get to the very last article does he mention that he's bought a pub, so the adventures of The Farmer's Dog will also have to wait.
As a result, the majority of the articles don't feel very personal, which again detracts from the whole point of my reading. I like hearing about his triumphs and failures, his schemes and successes, and his take on life. There is even one article in here that is essentially a car review - it mentions the farm briefly at the start, but that's it. Which brings me back to my argument that, if he's writing a weekly column and this is the best they can do to pull together his writings about the farm, surely it would be better if they went back to the 'World According to Clarkson' days and just put together a compendium of all his articles from the year?
It is worth a read though, and I'm very grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for buying it for me. And it gets me off and running for 2025!
I think what gets me is the books seem to be getting thinner, and there are more and more blank pages, pages with illustrations (albeit still beautifully drawn ones) rather than the content you've paid for and, this year, a shed load of advertising of his previous books at the back (which, as we've previously established, I already own) followed by yet more empty pages. It's getting to the point where it feels like I would just be better off buying the newspaper of a weekend as it'd be better value for money!
The articles themselves are fine; while I've given up on the idea that they will be as humorous as they were in days gone by, there are a couple of moments which induce a light giggle, and he does actually raise some properly good points about the impact of political decisions on farming. There is an article which mentions that there are 'no death duties on farmland' and I was hoping that the book might extend enough to cover his involvement in the protests against the new Government's decision to change this (driven by professional curiosity), but alas not. So, yet again, there's a hook for me to get the next one. Likewise, only when you get to the very last article does he mention that he's bought a pub, so the adventures of The Farmer's Dog will also have to wait.
As a result, the majority of the articles don't feel very personal, which again detracts from the whole point of my reading. I like hearing about his triumphs and failures, his schemes and successes, and his take on life. There is even one article in here that is essentially a car review - it mentions the farm briefly at the start, but that's it. Which brings me back to my argument that, if he's writing a weekly column and this is the best they can do to pull together his writings about the farm, surely it would be better if they went back to the 'World According to Clarkson' days and just put together a compendium of all his articles from the year?
It is worth a read though, and I'm very grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for buying it for me. And it gets me off and running for 2025!
Fourth Wing (Part 2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Finishing out 2024 with the second half of Fourth Wing, and oh wow does the GA give you ALL the feels! From the shocks of the plot twists, to the sinful delight of the spice, to the heartbreak of... well, you'll just have to listen and find out... every moment of this audiobook is perfectly pitched. I listened to three quarters of it in one go, and only had to stop because I was falling asleep standing up!
In this half, the characters really start to come together and build that cohesive unit to back up Violet and Xaden, whilst also having their own individual personalities properly begin to emerge. In turn, this helps Violet and Xaden's characters develop further. Ridoc is a firm favourite because of his clownish ways (he certainly stands out more for me in the GA than he did in my physical reading), and Liam is, of course, a dream.
The plot also thickens as existing threats become more prevalent and new ones emerge, and while there is a fair bit of background information to get your head around it's weaved seamlessly into the story - not once did I feel like a character was info-dumping for exposition; if there is a moment of explanation, it comes across as a perfectly natural internal thought process for Violet. The pace doesn't let up, but nor does it feel like you're skipping over vast swathes of time or information to get you to the climax; it's just a steady, even build to an epic conclusion... and a great cliffhanger!
I'm still not quite over the Xaden/Lucien voice thing, but the resolution of that UST certainly helped! It certainly brought Xaden's onyx eyes and dark smirk to mind with ease, and let's just say I can't wait to see what Lucien might get up to with Elain if he gets the chance in the future... But not only that, his softer moments where he fears he's lost Violet really gave his character form and flesh in my mind.
Looking forward to starting 2025 with Irom Flame, and then spending January's Audible credit on the Onyx Storm audiobook (can't fit a hardback on my shelf and the library queue is ridiculous, so Audible is the quickest and easiest way for me to consume book three, even if it isn't in the GA format yet...).
In this half, the characters really start to come together and build that cohesive unit to back up Violet and Xaden, whilst also having their own individual personalities properly begin to emerge. In turn, this helps Violet and Xaden's characters develop further. Ridoc is a firm favourite because of his clownish ways (he certainly stands out more for me in the GA than he did in my physical reading), and Liam is, of course, a dream.
The plot also thickens as existing threats become more prevalent and new ones emerge, and while there is a fair bit of background information to get your head around it's weaved seamlessly into the story - not once did I feel like a character was info-dumping for exposition; if there is a moment of explanation, it comes across as a perfectly natural internal thought process for Violet. The pace doesn't let up, but nor does it feel like you're skipping over vast swathes of time or information to get you to the climax; it's just a steady, even build to an epic conclusion... and a great cliffhanger!
I'm still not quite over the Xaden/Lucien voice thing, but the resolution of that UST certainly helped! It certainly brought Xaden's onyx eyes and dark smirk to mind with ease, and let's just say I can't wait to see what Lucien might get up to with Elain if he gets the chance in the future... But not only that, his softer moments where he fears he's lost Violet really gave his character form and flesh in my mind.
Looking forward to starting 2025 with Irom Flame, and then spending January's Audible credit on the Onyx Storm audiobook (can't fit a hardback on my shelf and the library queue is ridiculous, so Audible is the quickest and easiest way for me to consume book three, even if it isn't in the GA format yet...).
Fourth Wing (Part 1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I may have started my Empyrean reread a bit early at this rate! But the Graphic Audio version of this book is so good, I didn't want to stop listening! This style of audiobook is far and away my favourite way to ingest books now; they just heighten the whole experience, especially when the story is as well written and enjoyable as this one.
What really helps in this case as well is the fact that the story 'hits the ground running', so you're immediately thrown into the world and you become ehaged very quickly. And then as the story progresses and you're able to hear Jack's unhinged threats, Violet's developing confidence, Dain's overbearing mother hen act etc., it really solidifies the characters and sharpens your impressions of Basgaith. I could feel the stomach churning dips and drops of the dragons in flight and the impact of blows landed during sparring, and felt even more immersed in the world than I did when reading the book. I am grateful I have both parts of the GA though; part one ends mid-way through a scene!
The voice performances are all excellent, although it did take me a couple of hours to stop picturing Xaden as a certain red-headed fox boy (and even now I haven't entirely let that drop). And one of the professors (and the guy who introduces the books and reads the credits) sounds and awful lot like Donald Sutherland to me, so I was mostly picturing President Snow when he was speaking! I think that's the only thing that pulls me out of the book a bit - there are a lot of cast members who also appear in the ACOTAR/CC graphic audios, and on more than one occasion I found my mind drifting from the story to try and place the voice with their ACOTAR character. I think my difficulty comes down to the fact that there are no visuals - if there were they'd be dressed as that character and I could separate them out more easily like I do with actors on-screen. But my brain struggles a bit more with just the voices - no idea why!
Tairn and Andarna are just perfect throughout - the attitude of both characters comes through on the page well enough, but hearing them is hilarious! And while I know I'd end up in the Scribe Quadrant, I'd risk the high probability of death if I got to bond with those dragons!
But of course, things heat up in part two... 😁😁😁
What really helps in this case as well is the fact that the story 'hits the ground running', so you're immediately thrown into the world and you become ehaged very quickly. And then as the story progresses and you're able to hear Jack's unhinged threats, Violet's developing confidence, Dain's overbearing mother hen act etc., it really solidifies the characters and sharpens your impressions of Basgaith. I could feel the stomach churning dips and drops of the dragons in flight and the impact of blows landed during sparring, and felt even more immersed in the world than I did when reading the book. I am grateful I have both parts of the GA though; part one ends mid-way through a scene!
The voice performances are all excellent, although it did take me a couple of hours to stop picturing Xaden as a certain red-headed fox boy (and even now I haven't entirely let that drop). And one of the professors (and the guy who introduces the books and reads the credits) sounds and awful lot like Donald Sutherland to me, so I was mostly picturing President Snow when he was speaking! I think that's the only thing that pulls me out of the book a bit - there are a lot of cast members who also appear in the ACOTAR/CC graphic audios, and on more than one occasion I found my mind drifting from the story to try and place the voice with their ACOTAR character. I think my difficulty comes down to the fact that there are no visuals - if there were they'd be dressed as that character and I could separate them out more easily like I do with actors on-screen. But my brain struggles a bit more with just the voices - no idea why!
Tairn and Andarna are just perfect throughout - the attitude of both characters comes through on the page well enough, but hearing them is hilarious! And while I know I'd end up in the Scribe Quadrant, I'd risk the high probability of death if I got to bond with those dragons!
But of course, things heat up in part two... 😁😁😁
Gold Dust Grimoire: A Mythological Paranormal Romance by Billie Nicks
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
If it's not already obvious, if something is marketed as a Hades and Persephone retelling, I'm going to read it! So when I saw this pop up on my Instagram feed when it was released on 21 December, it jumped straight to the top of my TBR pile. And it was absolutely worth it!
It just feels like a joyous romp (sometimes literally 😉) from start to finish. The story is really well balanced between staying true to the lore that surrounds this couple, giving it the modern twist and adding its own unique take to the tale, so it feels familiar yet also fresh and new. The narrative takes you through a myriad of twists and turns, carrying your emotions with it - you can literally be laughing one moment and crying the next - and it's one of those books where nothing necessarily comes as a complete shock, but equally there are some things you can't anticipate. But while there are dark moments, it's definitely a book that made me smile throughout.
As for our two lead characters; Cole is just a dream. A hot-shot lawyer who can argue his way out of a corner and into a girl's knickers in 30 seconds flat, but who is an actual nice guy. Save for when it comes to protecting his woman, when he turns into the smouldering 'burn the world for you' dark hero, and when he's in the bedroom and demands to be called 'Sir'. He carries on the modern trend of being more nuanced than the traditional Hades, but by making him 'properly' human the author has given him an extra layer of normality, which somehow makes him more relatable than the actual God. Likewise, the author's approach to Evie puts her in the driving seat immediately. She's an incredibly strong and forthright character from the getgo. Even though there is a significant amount of male dominance shown by Cole even in the wider world (her lack of knowledge about modern life, for example, and more often than not she's being carried by him!), which does make her appear more delicate and submissive, she isn't afraid to speak her mind. But most importantly there is a great sense of equality between them throughout; it feels like a real partnership. Their chemistry is amazing, and there's plenty of good spice in here for those that like! The draw between them spills off of the page, and their jealous streaks are brilliantly portrayed.
I love that Cole has very little care for the mythology that is shaping his life, and so there is an element of you learning about his fate alongside him and Evie, and the characters you know slot into place in ways you might not expect. The introduction of the coven did initially feel a little odd to me (probably because I generally read history books about witches, rather than fiction), but again it ends up being tied in really well, both in terms of working with the Greek myth and as its own element within the wider story.
There's definitely a reflection of American society (and society at large) in the depiction of the varying standpoints of the covens, from traditional to liberal, and their reactions to differing points of view. The underlying commentary about culpability, bodily autonomy and freedom of expression all add an undertone which makes a serious point, but it's done in such a digestible and enjoyable way; it makes you think while allowing you to switch your brain off, and I love that!
Honestly, the only reason this doesn't get the full five stars from me is that I would have perhaps preferred a slower burn; as much as there is still a whole lot of steam between the characters throughout, I feel like a slower burn could have resulted in some toe-curlingly good UST! But that's completely personal preference. Otherwise, this one is right up there with the best of them and I can't wait for more!
It just feels like a joyous romp (sometimes literally 😉) from start to finish. The story is really well balanced between staying true to the lore that surrounds this couple, giving it the modern twist and adding its own unique take to the tale, so it feels familiar yet also fresh and new. The narrative takes you through a myriad of twists and turns, carrying your emotions with it - you can literally be laughing one moment and crying the next - and it's one of those books where nothing necessarily comes as a complete shock, but equally there are some things you can't anticipate. But while there are dark moments, it's definitely a book that made me smile throughout.
As for our two lead characters; Cole is just a dream. A hot-shot lawyer who can argue his way out of a corner and into a girl's knickers in 30 seconds flat, but who is an actual nice guy. Save for when it comes to protecting his woman, when he turns into the smouldering 'burn the world for you' dark hero, and when he's in the bedroom and demands to be called 'Sir'. He carries on the modern trend of being more nuanced than the traditional Hades, but by making him 'properly' human the author has given him an extra layer of normality, which somehow makes him more relatable than the actual God. Likewise, the author's approach to Evie puts her in the driving seat immediately. She's an incredibly strong and forthright character from the getgo. Even though there is a significant amount of male dominance shown by Cole even in the wider world (her lack of knowledge about modern life, for example, and more often than not she's being carried by him!), which does make her appear more delicate and submissive, she isn't afraid to speak her mind. But most importantly there is a great sense of equality between them throughout; it feels like a real partnership. Their chemistry is amazing, and there's plenty of good spice in here for those that like! The draw between them spills off of the page, and their jealous streaks are brilliantly portrayed.
I love that Cole has very little care for the mythology that is shaping his life, and so there is an element of you learning about his fate alongside him and Evie, and the characters you know slot into place in ways you might not expect. The introduction of the coven did initially feel a little odd to me (probably because I generally read history books about witches, rather than fiction), but again it ends up being tied in really well, both in terms of working with the Greek myth and as its own element within the wider story.
There's definitely a reflection of American society (and society at large) in the depiction of the varying standpoints of the covens, from traditional to liberal, and their reactions to differing points of view. The underlying commentary about culpability, bodily autonomy and freedom of expression all add an undertone which makes a serious point, but it's done in such a digestible and enjoyable way; it makes you think while allowing you to switch your brain off, and I love that!
Honestly, the only reason this doesn't get the full five stars from me is that I would have perhaps preferred a slower burn; as much as there is still a whole lot of steam between the characters throughout, I feel like a slower burn could have resulted in some toe-curlingly good UST! But that's completely personal preference. Otherwise, this one is right up there with the best of them and I can't wait for more!
House of Flame and Shadow (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaption] by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I started the year with the ACOTAR graphic audios (and have listened to them basically on repeat since), so it seems right that I (almost) end the year with the latest dramatized adaptation from the world of SJM. And honestly, it made the book a whole lot more enjoyable than the 'straight' audio version I listened to when the book was first released! It's not that Elizabeth Evans' narration is rubbish, far from it! It's just the pace of this book is so slow that the sound effects, music and full cast give it more of a lift , and make it far easier to follow the different threads of the story.
The main takeaway I had from this is that, while Bryce's character takes something of a beating in this book writing-wise, I now can see that a lot of my annoyance at her stems from the fact that she spends most of her time misleading and being unapologetically bitchy to characters which I (and a lot of the readership) have come to know and like. As a result, I was drawn to take their 'side' over Bryce's and view her through their eyes. However, when trying to look at things a bit more objectively, I can begin to understand Bryce's actions are those of someone who doesn't know these other characters or understand their motives. Still doesn't stop me from grinding my teeth at her attitude, but I'm really trying to like these books a bit more...
As is usual for the graphic audios, it really does help bring the characters and situations to life. While I am glad they didn't go too 'graphic' with the sounds and voice acting in the more harrowing moments, it does hammer (no pun intended) home the conditions in the Asteri dungeons, for example, which in turn makes the actions that take place down there all the more imaginable.
That being said, there were some elements that even the GA couldn't save. The biggest one is the absolutely massive info-dump/exposition speech by Selene. Yes, the fact that there were sound effects gave it a very slight lift, but it's just something that effectively stops the story for goodness knows how many pages just to give you a potted history of the Asteri, which feels really dull and comes as quite a big disappointment given the build up. There are so many better ways that that could have been woven into the wider narrative!
Having the cast of actors also made me realise just how much 'woe is me' and self-loathing goes on in here. EVERYONE is blaming themselves for something which is clearly not their fault, and as much as I don't get the hate for Ithan and Tharion, this book doesn't exactly give the characters a lot of opportunity to redeem themselves in the eyes of the readers. This does make Bryce's 'bitch queen' attitude stand out from the crowd, but this doesn't do a lot to endear her to me.
The performances are all great, as we've come to expect from the GAs, and overall I just think it highlights the difference in the writing - something went off the boil a bit here IMO and, while it tries to have the same scope and scale of the author's other books, given that so much of it is set in a couple of static locations with no links to the outside world, it misses out on so much of the worldbuilding that we've come to expect. But of course, part two is still to come...
The main takeaway I had from this is that, while Bryce's character takes something of a beating in this book writing-wise, I now can see that a lot of my annoyance at her stems from the fact that she spends most of her time misleading and being unapologetically bitchy to characters which I (and a lot of the readership) have come to know and like. As a result, I was drawn to take their 'side' over Bryce's and view her through their eyes. However, when trying to look at things a bit more objectively, I can begin to understand Bryce's actions are those of someone who doesn't know these other characters or understand their motives. Still doesn't stop me from grinding my teeth at her attitude, but I'm really trying to like these books a bit more...
As is usual for the graphic audios, it really does help bring the characters and situations to life. While I am glad they didn't go too 'graphic' with the sounds and voice acting in the more harrowing moments, it does hammer (no pun intended) home the conditions in the Asteri dungeons, for example, which in turn makes the actions that take place down there all the more imaginable.
That being said, there were some elements that even the GA couldn't save. The biggest one is the absolutely massive info-dump/exposition speech by Selene. Yes, the fact that there were sound effects gave it a very slight lift, but it's just something that effectively stops the story for goodness knows how many pages just to give you a potted history of the Asteri, which feels really dull and comes as quite a big disappointment given the build up. There are so many better ways that that could have been woven into the wider narrative!
Having the cast of actors also made me realise just how much 'woe is me' and self-loathing goes on in here. EVERYONE is blaming themselves for something which is clearly not their fault, and as much as I don't get the hate for Ithan and Tharion, this book doesn't exactly give the characters a lot of opportunity to redeem themselves in the eyes of the readers. This does make Bryce's 'bitch queen' attitude stand out from the crowd, but this doesn't do a lot to endear her to me.
The performances are all great, as we've come to expect from the GAs, and overall I just think it highlights the difference in the writing - something went off the boil a bit here IMO and, while it tries to have the same scope and scale of the author's other books, given that so much of it is set in a couple of static locations with no links to the outside world, it misses out on so much of the worldbuilding that we've come to expect. But of course, part two is still to come...
The Fire Thief by Terry Deary
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
When Prometheus breaks free from his endless torture, he is destined to be hunted for the rest of time by The Fury. But Zeus offers him a deal; find a true hero amongst the humans and he will go free. Meanwhile, in a smoky Victorian city, Jim and his Uncle Edward prepare to perform their travelling show, and perhaps pilfer a few things of value from their kind host...
One of my favourite fictional book series as a kid was Terry Deary's 'Tudor Terrors', and I love a good Greek myth retelling, so when I found out that the master of 'Horrible Histories' had written a trilogy of stories about Prometheus, I had to hunt them down! The writing style of this is very different; this is somewhere slap bang in the middle of the serious yet informative storytelling of those Tudor books and the complete irreverence of 'Horrible Histories'. The story is told as if Jim is writing it, with comedic footnotes and chapter introductions that break the fourth wall and keep a reign on where you are in time and why.
It felt aimed at a younger audience than the Tudor books; the story is quite simplistic and takes place over a very short space of time (or a million years, depending on your perspective!), and the depth of character and story wasn't quite there for me. It's a fun little read, but I think where I'm struggling is I was prepared for it to be more of a Greek myth retelling than it is. Although it introduces the Greek pantheon, that element comes across as more of a vehicle for the series than the main thrust of the story. Prometheus is going to be the main character if the series, but he's not the main character of the book.
The comedy is clever, while not being overly complex. There's plenty of eye rolls, sarcastic comments and other asides from the 'author', great banter between the young boy and girl (which is similar to the feel of the Tudor books, if slightly more juvenile in here) and an adult character who is all bluster. For the right age group, I can see this being laugh-out-loud funny in places, but even for the adults in the room it can raise a wry smile here and there!
It being a Terry Deary book, it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of history; Prometheus' punishment is described, an execution takes place and the squalor and poverty of the Victorian slums are evident, but if course it's all dealt with in such a way that it sets the scene and invites/answers questions without being traumatising for the younger reader. It continues to amaze me how the author gets this balance absolutely spot on every time.
I think what I struggled with most is that the depth of story and character just isn't there. Again, I can appreciate that this will work perfectly well for its intended audience; the plot skips along merrily and doesn't require too much concentration. However, I cannot help but compare it to the Tudor books, whose characters feel so much moren tangible. It seems a shame that the same level of craft isn't evident in this book, and I can't work out why.
I'm still very pleased to have read this though!
One of my favourite fictional book series as a kid was Terry Deary's 'Tudor Terrors', and I love a good Greek myth retelling, so when I found out that the master of 'Horrible Histories' had written a trilogy of stories about Prometheus, I had to hunt them down! The writing style of this is very different; this is somewhere slap bang in the middle of the serious yet informative storytelling of those Tudor books and the complete irreverence of 'Horrible Histories'. The story is told as if Jim is writing it, with comedic footnotes and chapter introductions that break the fourth wall and keep a reign on where you are in time and why.
It felt aimed at a younger audience than the Tudor books; the story is quite simplistic and takes place over a very short space of time (or a million years, depending on your perspective!), and the depth of character and story wasn't quite there for me. It's a fun little read, but I think where I'm struggling is I was prepared for it to be more of a Greek myth retelling than it is. Although it introduces the Greek pantheon, that element comes across as more of a vehicle for the series than the main thrust of the story. Prometheus is going to be the main character if the series, but he's not the main character of the book.
The comedy is clever, while not being overly complex. There's plenty of eye rolls, sarcastic comments and other asides from the 'author', great banter between the young boy and girl (which is similar to the feel of the Tudor books, if slightly more juvenile in here) and an adult character who is all bluster. For the right age group, I can see this being laugh-out-loud funny in places, but even for the adults in the room it can raise a wry smile here and there!
It being a Terry Deary book, it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of history; Prometheus' punishment is described, an execution takes place and the squalor and poverty of the Victorian slums are evident, but if course it's all dealt with in such a way that it sets the scene and invites/answers questions without being traumatising for the younger reader. It continues to amaze me how the author gets this balance absolutely spot on every time.
I think what I struggled with most is that the depth of story and character just isn't there. Again, I can appreciate that this will work perfectly well for its intended audience; the plot skips along merrily and doesn't require too much concentration. However, I cannot help but compare it to the Tudor books, whose characters feel so much moren tangible. It seems a shame that the same level of craft isn't evident in this book, and I can't work out why.
I'm still very pleased to have read this though!
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Four childhood friends, who happen to be witches, have grown into adulthood and survived a brutal witches' war, all suffering loss in the process. When oracles start to see the rise of an evil entity, and the portent of doom shows up for real, each of the friends must decide where their loyalties lie...
Well that wasn't what I was expecting. Even slightly. I don't know why, but I had in my head that this might be more of a darkly humorous tale, but there's absolutely nothing funny about it. It starts off relatively pedestrian, but quickly becomes an examination of the prejudices and privileges of certain elements of society and the divides and dangers they can cause. The main focus of the story is on the acceptance (or otherwise) of a transgender character, and the author tackles both sides of the argument with gusto and does a great job at rebutting the increasingly ridiculous and circular arguments put forth by those who insist that biological sex and gender are the same thing. I feel like the book absolutely makes the point it's aiming for here, but it could have done so much more to make the arguments of both sides more nuanced and avoid the simplicity of 'accepting = good, prejudiced = bad' trap. There is a brief attempt to try and explain the prejudices of one character with a legitimate concern or fear, but it falls really flat and doesn't actually make that much sense.
Likewise, one of our band of friends, Leone, spends a lot of her time focused on the privilege of white women and the effect this has on women of colour. This starts off as an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, and seeing her run her own Coven to specifically cater for those she feels are excluded or discriminated against by HMRC felt like quite a powerful thing. But as we progress and the same "rant" happens over and over (it felt like every time we shifted to her POV), it lost its effect and ended up just making me want to fast forward (not that I did). Now, I appreciate my perspective is entirely that which she's railing against, but a lot of the comments made me feel like the character (and by extension the author) want to see big change, which is completely right, but it came across as all surface-level stuff within the story. I feel like if the author had had Leone's Coven play a more significant role in events to illustrate the points made about how they work, this would have made for a compelling and effective contrast between the old white ways of HMRC and the scope for progression which is clearly badly needed!
The amount of 90s pop culture references in here is astounding, and it's clearly written for someone of my precise age group to indulge in a little nostalgia, while at the same time reminding us just how old we actually are! The frustrating thing is that I just couldn't identify enough with any of the characters enough to really submerge myself into the story. I'm convinced that I'd have enjoyed this book far more if one of the characters spoke to me a little more.
Nicola Coughlin is a fantastic actress, and she made bringing the characters to life in the audio version look easy with the sheer number of believable accents she was able to use to populate the world. Everything from Yorkshire to RP, from her native Ireland to French, the performances of the dialogue were impeccable. Sadly however, I can't say the same for her narration of the descriptions. She wasn’t monotone or dull, but the spark just wasn't there and I ended up feel like I was just powering through to get to the end. There are also odd moments where it doesn't quite flow properly, so it feels like it might need a few tweaks in the edit.
I'm also not convinced by the writing itself. It comes across as very much telling rather than showing, and there's a lot of convenience for the sake of the plot. Plus there are a good number of 'c' bombs dropped throughout. There is a plot and steps to get from one element to the next, but actually it doesn't feel like all that much happens, even during the grand finale, and none of the characters have huge amounts of depth to them. As you've probably figured from my above comments, while prejudices do play an important role in the plot, it comes across to me that the author has used this as a vehicle to set out their agenda loud and clear and has come up with a story to fit, rather than it being seamless woven in.
This has left me quite disappointed and underwhelmed overall. I had bought the second book on sale on Audible, but I'm not convinced I'll listen to it any time soon. The prequel novella does sound more up my street and I may give that a go. But yeah, this isn't one I'll be revisiting. And now I'll go and hide under a rock somewhere as I'm convinced that, despite my best intentions and a genuine desire to respect anyone and everyone, given the subject matter I'm sure I'll have offended someone...
Well that wasn't what I was expecting. Even slightly. I don't know why, but I had in my head that this might be more of a darkly humorous tale, but there's absolutely nothing funny about it. It starts off relatively pedestrian, but quickly becomes an examination of the prejudices and privileges of certain elements of society and the divides and dangers they can cause. The main focus of the story is on the acceptance (or otherwise) of a transgender character, and the author tackles both sides of the argument with gusto and does a great job at rebutting the increasingly ridiculous and circular arguments put forth by those who insist that biological sex and gender are the same thing. I feel like the book absolutely makes the point it's aiming for here, but it could have done so much more to make the arguments of both sides more nuanced and avoid the simplicity of 'accepting = good, prejudiced = bad' trap. There is a brief attempt to try and explain the prejudices of one character with a legitimate concern or fear, but it falls really flat and doesn't actually make that much sense.
Likewise, one of our band of friends, Leone, spends a lot of her time focused on the privilege of white women and the effect this has on women of colour. This starts off as an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, and seeing her run her own Coven to specifically cater for those she feels are excluded or discriminated against by HMRC felt like quite a powerful thing. But as we progress and the same "rant" happens over and over (it felt like every time we shifted to her POV), it lost its effect and ended up just making me want to fast forward (not that I did). Now, I appreciate my perspective is entirely that which she's railing against, but a lot of the comments made me feel like the character (and by extension the author) want to see big change, which is completely right, but it came across as all surface-level stuff within the story. I feel like if the author had had Leone's Coven play a more significant role in events to illustrate the points made about how they work, this would have made for a compelling and effective contrast between the old white ways of HMRC and the scope for progression which is clearly badly needed!
The amount of 90s pop culture references in here is astounding, and it's clearly written for someone of my precise age group to indulge in a little nostalgia, while at the same time reminding us just how old we actually are! The frustrating thing is that I just couldn't identify enough with any of the characters enough to really submerge myself into the story. I'm convinced that I'd have enjoyed this book far more if one of the characters spoke to me a little more.
Nicola Coughlin is a fantastic actress, and she made bringing the characters to life in the audio version look easy with the sheer number of believable accents she was able to use to populate the world. Everything from Yorkshire to RP, from her native Ireland to French, the performances of the dialogue were impeccable. Sadly however, I can't say the same for her narration of the descriptions. She wasn’t monotone or dull, but the spark just wasn't there and I ended up feel like I was just powering through to get to the end. There are also odd moments where it doesn't quite flow properly, so it feels like it might need a few tweaks in the edit.
I'm also not convinced by the writing itself. It comes across as very much telling rather than showing, and there's a lot of convenience for the sake of the plot. Plus there are a good number of 'c' bombs dropped throughout. There is a plot and steps to get from one element to the next, but actually it doesn't feel like all that much happens, even during the grand finale, and none of the characters have huge amounts of depth to them. As you've probably figured from my above comments, while prejudices do play an important role in the plot, it comes across to me that the author has used this as a vehicle to set out their agenda loud and clear and has come up with a story to fit, rather than it being seamless woven in.
This has left me quite disappointed and underwhelmed overall. I had bought the second book on sale on Audible, but I'm not convinced I'll listen to it any time soon. The prequel novella does sound more up my street and I may give that a go. But yeah, this isn't one I'll be revisiting. And now I'll go and hide under a rock somewhere as I'm convinced that, despite my best intentions and a genuine desire to respect anyone and everyone, given the subject matter I'm sure I'll have offended someone...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Transphobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail