spootilious's reviews
121 reviews

The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 

The Golem and the Jinni review: “A wonderful historical fantasy. Wecker provides amazing imagery and has an array of multicultural characters. Looking at immigrant lives in early New York through the newborn eyes of a golem and the ancient eyes of a Jinni the ambience and cadence of this is book is definitely what makes it a gem. A refreshing twist on cultural stories the reader may already know.” 

For the most part, this review is applicable regarding The Hidden Palace. Helene Wecker is a wonderful writer. She has a way of describing the world that seems to just jump off the page. Her characters are memorable and each one has a unique voice that can easily be recognized even as the pov shifts from one to another. 

The story continues in The Hidden Palace, but the golem no longer sees the world with new eyes and the story becomes bogged down with the day-to-day life of the people around here. The story quickly becomes more about the events happening around them than the actual plot of the story. This saddens me mostly because the first book had a wonderful balance between the two while this one the scales are tipped making the storyline feel far more disjointed. 

That being said the characters are the drive to this story. I found myself wanting to read more and more about Sophia’s journey, but all of the characters had their own charisma. In fact it has been pointed out to me recently that there is a shockingly low amount of literature that focus’ on the Yiddish and Jewish culture that does not revolve around the holocaust. The fact that these two books contain a female protagonist that could be considered Jewish is something that is seldom heard of and a fact I must commend. (Seeing as I am not Jewish I will admit I had not realized this until a Jewish friend who had recommended the books pointed it out.) 

I will also say that the plot is far too predictable. The fact that these characters continuously run into one another in such a large city makes the pattern far too easy to see, but then again, I usually feel this way about many of the books I read. 

All these things being said, the characters are lovable and unique, the exploration of cultures a breath of fresh air, the magical realism stunning, and surprisingly a very coherent sequel after such a long gap. 

Solid 3 out of 5 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

 
** spoiler alert ** I quite enjoyed this book. That being said I recognize that there is a lot wrong with it. However, before I jump into the issues, lets start with the things that I liked.

Stockett brings attention to issues that were not only present during the time in which this book takes place, but some of which that are still present in today’s society. The theme of this book (prejudice and racism) is compelling and relevant even in todays society and while it is a topic that is being brought up more often within the last ten years, it is not something that is discussed enough. (I’m including prejudice because there are a few places in the book where Stockett mentions the way homosexuals are treated and while I am white and cannot pretend to truly understand the effect that the horrors that have happened throughout the centuries of racism in this country, I can acknowledge them. I am certainly not straight however and am faced with prejudice regularly due to my openness and while acceptance (in regards to lgtbq+) over the past few decades has increased we are no where near where we need to be and it isn’t often that I find even a mention of the abuse gay men and women where faced with back then. It never pulls the story too far away from the focus of racism but I did enjoy the added comments, so I felt I needed to add it here.) (That being said I’m getting away from the point)

Stockett’s descriptors are beautiful. More than once during my read I found myself smiling at the way she described this or that. She adds small details in the way a child’s laughter sounds, or the way that someone waddles rather than walks. I vividly remember how she describes one of the women, patting the back of her hair to puff it higher making it look even more like her head got stuck in a beehive. It really gives character to the world and makes me smile.

The grammatic structure of the book is also something to note. To be clear, this is not tone of the book (i.e. the dialect in which it was written), but rather her sentence structures and the way the book shifts from perspective to perspective. The transitions are done well, clean and to the point. Each character has a unique voice making it difficult to forget who is who. Sloppy transitions and poor character voice is something that has ruined books for me in the past (namely Hidden Figures which was a book I had extremely high hopes for).

Now on to the numerous issues regarding this book:

Tone is the biggest issue with The Help. While I am a bit supporter of using AAVE (African American Vernacular English) in literature it is very poorly used throughout this book. Granted, I am a southern woman who doesn’t sound anywhere near AAVE so I maybe wrong, but this is my opinion and I open to being corrected. However, I do hold a minor in linguistics and have studied AAVE intensively. It is obvious that Stockett was attempting to give an authentic voice to these women and I can respect that. However, I feel as if it could have been better executed if she limited AAVE to dialog rather than the full POV sections. It would have been far more effective when viewed by individuals that have grown up hearing AAVE in their household and communities (again I may be wrong). On the other side however, it may have brought more attention to the flaws in the version of AAVE Stockett attempts to write. This also would mean that the majority of the story would need to be rewritten in third person which could also have diluted the character voices. There is no way of knowing just how much the story would have changed if this had been done. So over all while I felt that the AAVE wasn’t perfectly executed I can understand the reasons for choosing to write the story the way she did.

Another issue with the book is Stockett’s tendency to tell and not show certain aspects of the story. Skeeter’s friendship with the other women in her bridge club for instance. We never really see their friendships (minus a tiny tiny scene with Elizabeth after Skeeter pulls her first stunt with Hilly) we are just told about it. We are told of a number of things that happen, and what is said and done, but very rarely are we pulled into the issue through the character’s emotional response. One of the women are beaten but her husband and yet we only get told of the bruises until late late chapters when Stockett talks about how she asks why he does it. With a little more emotional response this book could be a moving and tear jerking masterpiece rather than just a good book. The most emotion scenes we get out of it is the last scene between AB and the child she cares for.

The last two issues worth mention regarding the novel is just that it has a few pointless characters, and it was fairly predictable even without having seen the movie. Its one incident after another, each lighting the way to twists and turns you can see coming from a mile away. The story wouldn’t loose anything if the boyfriend character were completely removed or even the dad character (who could just be mentioned to be the owner of the truck Skeeter drives). I understand that they were used to soften the character’s persona, but honestly I wouldn’t mind if there were there or not.
Still, overall I really enjoyed the read. I highly recommend the book for anyone if you’re just looking for your next book. I wouldn’t claim that its an authentic look into the racism of Mississippi during the civil rights movement, but it does highlight some serious issues that shouldn’t be ignored. 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 

4.5 stars 

I absolutely loved this novel. The grammatic structure of the book is a work of art. Though, I suppose that’s not too surprising considering its Gaiman. That alone had me excited to continue reading. Pair it with a compelling story and some loveable characters and the knowledge that I didn’t give this book 5 stars is almost painful. 

Honestly, when reading the physical copy of the book the way the dialog is structured can be a bit disorientating and the ending left just a little something to be desired but that is all the negatives I can muster. 

The dark undertones and realism in this book is utterly fantastic. The audiobook is practically perfect, and Gaiman has a beautiful voice that suites the themes of this novel. 

The book focus on the importance of life and seizing our humanity despite being set in a graveyard. The ending is heart wrenching and warming at the same time. 

This is definitely a book that will always have a place on my shelf. 

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

*** REREAD UPDATE AT THE END OF THE POST ***

Listen, I’m no stranger to Brandon Sanderson. The Wheel of Time is a masterpiece that couldn’t have been completed with out him. Stormlight is fantastic and Mistborn is definitely notable. However, there is one thing I can not wrap my head around: How is it when people recommend Sanderson to me they don’t start with THIS book?! What are you doing people?!!!! This is his best work by far! (from the ones I have read of course) 

Sanderson never fails to deliver when it comes to world building. His magic systems are always unique but this one… he has out done himself with this one. I don’t know where he gets these ideas, but they are stunning. 

His sentence structures and cadence are always a treat and Warbreaker is no different. The characters have depth, and the world is well rounded (pun intended). While Mistborn had a lot of religious tones throughout the work Warbreaker feels more authentic, lacing inconsistencies and translation conflicts throughout the two main religions (which as someone who has studied religion and mythology in college I greatly appreciate) making it even more intriguing. (That isn’t to say that Mistborn didn’t, but Mistborn was focused more on political religion while, though it had a political religion, Warbreaker seemed to focus more on the belief than the politics behind it.) 

 There is very little I can complain about in this book. Its almost perfect in my opinion. The only things I had to mark off on was, 1. The jumps in setting can be a bit disorienting, and 2. The ending felt a bit… unnatural. I feel like with just a few more chapters (just one more chapter) Sanderson could have had the perfect ending. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say I wished it was a bit more action packed, allowing the reader to see the conflict that the ending hints at. 

That being said, the characters are wonderful (even vivenna who I didn’t car much for), settings are breath taking, plot twists are thrilling, and worldbuilding is stunning. 

I can honestly say I have not read a book this good in a very very long time and it has definitely earned its place as one of my favorites. 
*******************************************************************************************************
 

Read: November 21, 2023
 Title: Warbreaker 

Author: Brandon Sanderson 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
 Rating: 4 / 5
 Review: 

The second reading of this novel is obviously not as fine as the first. However I still love this story. In fact, it’s a bit difficult to find too many faults with it even still. 

I will say that it drags a bit. Sanderson is known for his endings and this one doesn’t quite have his usual flare but is still solid. Everything else though was a bit of a slog. 

Having read a lot more of Sanderson’s recent works I would like to retract my statement about this being the best book. It is still one of my favorites but it cannot hold a candle to Stormlight. I stand by my comments on religious tone and politics and appreciate it even more with this reread. 

Reading the book a second time allowed me to really appreciate the nuances and parallels between characters. I particularly love the parallels between LightSong and Siri. It also made me appreciate Sanderson’s skill in creating these intricate tapestries of  deception that fools even the reader so that his twists are all the more surprising at the end. 

I still love this book and highly recommend it. But am lowering my rating. 

  Quotes: 
 “Unknowing ignorance is preferable to informed stupidity.” 

“You see, the great thing about madness is that it's all in your head.” 

“It seems to me that the person you are when you're about to die isn't as important as the person you are during the rest of your life. Why should a few moments matter more than an entire lifetime?” 

“They all want to be involved, but nobody wants to be responsible.” 

“But he’d found that imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people’s lives.” 

“The value in something relates to how it is treated, Your Grace. If you see these items as junk, then they are, regardless of what someone else would pay for them.” 

“The truth is, most people who do what you'd call "wrong" do it for what they call "right" reasons.” 

“But he’d found that imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people’s lives.” 

Champion of the Titan Games by Brandon Mull

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 This is going to be a rough review.

With every book I love this series all the more. Granted, that isn’t surprising when we look at how much I loved Fablehaven and The Five Kingdoms. Brandon Mull very rarely disappoints.

First and fore most as a middle school book I would give this 4.5 stars. It was exciting with great characters and fun adventures. Wonderful world building and unique creatures.

As an adult reading this book, I’d give it 3 stars. Kendra falls a bit flat in this one. She does things that feel a bit out of character and here personality is a bit even throughout. Then again, this book is all about Seth and what a ride it is! Seth meets some great new characters, my favorite being Reggie, and goes on some grand adventures. He really flushes out the story but that also means that the book is more character driven than plot and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Still, it’s a lot of fun.

Like most of Mull’s works this book tends to just keep the wheels spinning rather than actually resolve anything. There is no real climax to the book (or ending for that matter). It definitely suffers from middle book syndrome. That isn’t to say that it isn’t a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is just not as good as it could be. Mull is extremely talented and can really elevate his work when he truly wants to and with just a bit more character depth, and a tangible build up.

Overall, I loved this book because I adore the characters and the series as a whole. 

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

informative slow-paced

2.0

First off, allow me to preface this by say that I do not read reviews on books before I read the book, that way I can go into it with high hopes. Going into Hidden Figures, I had higher hopes than almost any book I have read in a very long time. I knew the story behind the novel and was excited to go more in depth and immerse myself in it.

For once, I wish I had read the reviews first….

 

The premise behind the novel is one I support fully and adore. This book did wonders to bring to light the otherwise ‘hidden’ stories that were the foundation of history! The focus on people of color and women is moving and I was very excited to learn what I had from this novel.

 

That being said, this novel was so packed with lists of facts that I felt I was reading out of textbook and a very poorly written one at that. The jumps backwards and forwards in time are disorientating and confusing. It is very difficult to keep up with what is important to remember and what is simply a tiny tidbit of information that Shetterly found interesting but doesn’t actually apply to the story of the individuals at hand.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong, Shetterly obviously did her research and she made it clear that she was an amateur historian which would explain why the writing is so disjointed and heavy to read. With more experience I have no doubt she could turn this work into something that would have us all glued to its pages. As it stands, It was almost painful to read.

 

I hate that I didn’t care for the book because its message is so important, promoting feminism and breaking through racist bigotry. When it comes down to it, however, I am here to rate a book and as such this does not hold up.

 

Time Jumpers by Brandon Mull

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Time Jumpers: 3.5
The Five Kingdom Series: 4.0

 

I finished Time Jumpers a few days ago and while I usually pride myself on posting reviews almost as soon as I finish a book, this one took a bit to really settle. To be honest, I’m not sure it really has.

As a stand-alone Time Jumpers wasn’t the best in the series, breaking off from Brandon Mull’s climb in quality in the series. It was a bit bogged down as he worked to connect all the pieces he laid out through the series, jumping from this place to that and moving quickly enough not to slow the pace. It was certainly a fitting last book for the series and was definitely not as bad as the first book (Skyraiders) which wasn’t terrible either.

I’m giving this book a strong 3.5 stars, making its place 4th out of the five book, Death Weavers leading the group with a 4.5 stars. Overall, This book has great characters, wonderful world building and some twists and turns that I hadn’t really expected which is refreshing when compared to so many books I’ve read lately that are far too predictable for comfort.

Mull finally provides the epic battle we’ve all been waiting on and the ending isn’t quite as abrupt as in so many of the other books in this series. It is well rounded and wonderfully written.

And I have no shame in admitting that the epilogue had me sobbing which is a rarity now days. So, Bravo Mull… Bravo…

 

As for the Series, I give The Five Kingdoms a solid 4 stars. Brandon Mull continues to fuel my love for his writing. It was a weak start, but a strong adventure with wonderful laughs, exciting twists, unique mechanics, and overall a heart wrenching/warming end. 

Death Weavers by Brandon Mull

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

It seems to me that Brandon is enjoying this series more and more as each book is completed. Deathweavers is by far the best up until now (haven’t read the last book yet). Everything just feels different in this one, like he finally found his stride. Granted, there is still a bit of repetitiveness in the quest but even the characters get annoyed with it making it more amusing than tedious. The dialog is still a bit odd when reading but the audiobook does it justice. The surplus of characters is a signature of Mull’s style and can cause readers to get a bit lost at points, but he is always quick with reminders. The ending is a bit abrupt like most of the books in this series, but it makes it feel more like a steppingstone to the end of the series rather than a full stop between each book and I kinda enjoy that. I truly love the new characters and mechanics introduced in this novel. Definitely my favorite so far.
I started off the series with low hopes. I really didn’t care for Skyraiders and the second book wasn’t too much better, but I have to admit that Books 3 and 4 make this series. They are very good. 

Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Going into this book I didn’t have my hopes set very high. I found Skyraiders to be predictable, slow, and oddly split (as if it needed to be two books). The Rogue Knight was better but still not the Brandon Mull I remembered. Crystal Keepers, however, was exactly what I needed.

The book introduces a new kingdom full of crazy tech, well rounded characters, and awesome sub plots. It still is a bit predictable but managed to hold itself up. Its action packed with a great balance of funny and serious moments. The ending is a bit abrupt but that isn’t uncommon in some of Mull’s books (a few of the Fablehaven books… Dragonwatch (particularly Master of the Phantom Isle)).

Overall, this was probably my favorite out of the series so far. 

Master of the Phantom Isle by Brandon Mull

adventurous medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

I struggled with this one. Master of the Phantom Isle definitely suffers from middle book syndrome. That of course doesn’t mean it was bad! I enjoyed it quite immensely, in fact. I suppose my biggest issue was that there was no real ups and downs. It read at a meanderingly even pace, even during actions scenes. It just chugged slowly along. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that; though it does make for a lengthy read despite its lower page numbers.

The book introduces a number of new creatures and characters, along with new settings and challenges. In that aspect I really enjoyed seeing more of the Fablehaven world. And of course, Mull is all ways creative when it comes to magical mechanics and restrictions. Many of them so unique that I just might have to add them to my next D&D campaign.

Overall, Master of the Phantom Isle felt like a stepping stone to the next installment of the Dragonwatch series.