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scriptedsolstice's Reviews (170)
This entire series is ADDICTIVE, and it goes without saying that the reason I love these books is because of the characters. I was so incredibly happy to be back here amongst the gang with their detailed personalities and strong bonds of friendship.
I do sometimes find Maggie’s writing a little confusing in this book. She’s definitely an avid fan of repetition in her books, with phrases said 3 times for added affect multiple times. The writing style is why I knocked off a star - it just didn’t match up with the rest of the series for me e.g. she talks about a “dead lake” then tells us there was something “dead” about it?
I do sometimes find Maggie’s writing a little confusing in this book. She’s definitely an avid fan of repetition in her books, with phrases said 3 times for added affect multiple times. The writing style is why I knocked off a star - it just didn’t match up with the rest of the series for me e.g. she talks about a “dead lake” then tells us there was something “dead” about it?
This story read like a fairy-tale, enriched with storytelling and vast magical lands. Snippets of Arthurian Legend were peppered throughout, and I thought the way that the author re-invented them was masterful, putting her own spin on the events and characters. The world-building in here was seriously mesmerising, and I could keep reading about the different groups of people, the wars, the politics and the lively taverns.
I adored the little quirks within this world, such as the tree sage that makes a person feel peaceful when breathed in, and the variety of food and drinks.
I do think the way in which the story was executed fell short. It started off by throwing you straight into the bleak scenes of darkness and death, but then the pacing and characters didn't really live up to this. Nothing really happens in here until around the halfway mark, and everything we know about the world is just told to us by the MC, or told to her by her companions. There wasn't a great deal of showing, which made it less special. We spend far too long travelling, and it felt very much like The Lord of the Rings in this sense, but in a Norse inspired setting. Once we do get to the action scenes, they are over in a heartbeat, leaving it very anti-climactic.
The small quirks within this world are definitely what made this story for me. Although i disliked the way we found out information, it was fascinating to read of the wars, the Pig Witches, the Quicks, the Wolves etc.
Overall, its an okay read. The story itself didn't excite me, but the unique elements of the world and the stories within made it enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I adored the little quirks within this world, such as the tree sage that makes a person feel peaceful when breathed in, and the variety of food and drinks.
I do think the way in which the story was executed fell short. It started off by throwing you straight into the bleak scenes of darkness and death, but then the pacing and characters didn't really live up to this. Nothing really happens in here until around the halfway mark, and everything we know about the world is just told to us by the MC, or told to her by her companions. There wasn't a great deal of showing, which made it less special. We spend far too long travelling, and it felt very much like The Lord of the Rings in this sense, but in a Norse inspired setting. Once we do get to the action scenes, they are over in a heartbeat, leaving it very anti-climactic.
The small quirks within this world are definitely what made this story for me. Although i disliked the way we found out information, it was fascinating to read of the wars, the Pig Witches, the Quicks, the Wolves etc.
Overall, its an okay read. The story itself didn't excite me, but the unique elements of the world and the stories within made it enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*3.5 STARS*
(slight spoilers at the end of paragraph 3!)
Ok so I just want to say that I enjoyed the crap out of the second half of this book. The first half? Not so much.
Daughter of the Pirate King tells the story of how Alosa is sent by her pirate king dad to be fake captured by two sons of a pirate lord in order to retrieve a part of a map her father is searching for. Once aboard, she finds herself distracted by one of the sons (who happens to be super good looking) see where this is going?
So this story was super fun and fast paced. I enjoyed the sea setting a lot, and I liked Alosa most of the time. What I hated was that we had this all powerful female pirate who lets no one walk all over her...except her dad and she’d do anything to impress him (despite the literal abuse he inflicted upon her). That being said, it is a duology so maybe this will be resolved in the next book.
I did also find the writing a little basic. I don’t feel like I really understand the world, and there just wasn’t enough of it! But, it was still a fun adventure set at sea with that cringey YA romance and I want to continue ☺️
(slight spoilers at the end of paragraph 3!)
Ok so I just want to say that I enjoyed the crap out of the second half of this book. The first half? Not so much.
Daughter of the Pirate King tells the story of how Alosa is sent by her pirate king dad to be fake captured by two sons of a pirate lord in order to retrieve a part of a map her father is searching for. Once aboard, she finds herself distracted by one of the sons (who happens to be super good looking) see where this is going?
So this story was super fun and fast paced. I enjoyed the sea setting a lot, and I liked Alosa most of the time. What I hated was that we had this all powerful female pirate who lets no one walk all over her...except her dad and she’d do anything to impress him (despite the literal abuse he inflicted upon her). That being said, it is a duology so maybe this will be resolved in the next book.
I did also find the writing a little basic. I don’t feel like I really understand the world, and there just wasn’t enough of it! But, it was still a fun adventure set at sea with that cringey YA romance and I want to continue ☺️
*Actual rating 3.5 stars*
This was one of the easiest books to read with writing that allows you to just sit back and really enjoy the drama. Filled with witty dialogue, the writing in here was really funny, and made the experience very enjoyable.
I enjoyed the world and the concept of a disease that causes immortality. The small excerpts throughout give us the more scientific side, which made everything feel more real and possible.
In terms of the world building itself, I don't feel as if it was very developed and was just average for me. I also didn't connect with any of the characters which made it difficult for me to care about their fates. Finally, i didn't get a huge sense of danger whilst reading. We know lives are at risk. yet there doesn't seem to be a great deal of urgency to really figure out what to do.
Overall., I really did enjoy the writing style, particularly the witty dialogue between characters. I do however think that the world building and atmosphere could have been better developed. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the pubisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of the easiest books to read with writing that allows you to just sit back and really enjoy the drama. Filled with witty dialogue, the writing in here was really funny, and made the experience very enjoyable.
I enjoyed the world and the concept of a disease that causes immortality. The small excerpts throughout give us the more scientific side, which made everything feel more real and possible.
In terms of the world building itself, I don't feel as if it was very developed and was just average for me. I also didn't connect with any of the characters which made it difficult for me to care about their fates. Finally, i didn't get a huge sense of danger whilst reading. We know lives are at risk. yet there doesn't seem to be a great deal of urgency to really figure out what to do.
Overall., I really did enjoy the writing style, particularly the witty dialogue between characters. I do however think that the world building and atmosphere could have been better developed. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the pubisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This started off so cute and cozy, and quickly turned very dark! We follow a young boy who visits a library to return some items, when he is led to the "reading room" by a mysterious, tempered man. Once there, he realises he is not allowed to leave.
I originally went into this thinking it was a children's book, but i quickly realised it is definitely not! It has a fair bit of violence that could be disturbing to younger readers.
I didn't get enough from this to give it more than three stars, however I did listen to the audiobook. I think if I had the physical version, the experience would have been more immersing. It was filled with magical realism, and you have no idea what is real and what is not.
I originally went into this thinking it was a children's book, but i quickly realised it is definitely not! It has a fair bit of violence that could be disturbing to younger readers.
I didn't get enough from this to give it more than three stars, however I did listen to the audiobook. I think if I had the physical version, the experience would have been more immersing. It was filled with magical realism, and you have no idea what is real and what is not.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones follows the lives of the twins Jack and Jill. We visit their world, but we also get a glimpse of their lives before they opened their door. We see just how toxic their parents were, and how they inflicted gendered positions upon the twins.
The Moors was so dark and chilling. It isn't a place where you would want to live, and that made me love exploring it! I definitely think the plot wasn't as thrilling in here, as I enjoyed the mystery of the first one. We already knew what happens, however I really love Seanan McGuire's writing and I'm excited to continue in the series.
The Moors was so dark and chilling. It isn't a place where you would want to live, and that made me love exploring it! I definitely think the plot wasn't as thrilling in here, as I enjoyed the mystery of the first one. We already knew what happens, however I really love Seanan McGuire's writing and I'm excited to continue in the series.
I was so happy with the way this series wrapped up but I’m super sad to say goodbye to some of the most real characters I’ve ever met!! I read this straight after Blue Lily Lily Blue and honestly, the two have sort of merged in my brain, but I’ll try summarise my thoughts!
This final book took me on such a wild and emotional ride. I really loved how unsure the characters were of what was going on, which mirrored my own feelings of uncertainty. If you have read this series, you’ll know about the few major events that are predicted from the beginning and I was just on EDGE to find out how they were going to play out. It didn’t end as I thought it would, but it was really satisfying!
Overall, I’m happy how everything wrapped up, and these characters will stay in my heart forever
This final book took me on such a wild and emotional ride. I really loved how unsure the characters were of what was going on, which mirrored my own feelings of uncertainty. If you have read this series, you’ll know about the few major events that are predicted from the beginning and I was just on EDGE to find out how they were going to play out. It didn’t end as I thought it would, but it was really satisfying!
Overall, I’m happy how everything wrapped up, and these characters will stay in my heart forever
