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srm's reviews
1150 reviews
Empire by Conn Iggulden
adventurous
dark
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
Another excellent installment, but frankly, really kind of depressing. I guess I went and got attached to these folks. I hope day Iggulden returns to Ancient Greece. (Not that I didn't enjoy Book 1 of his current Ancient Rome series.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: War
Minor: Blood, Grief, Alcohol
The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- 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
4.25
As much as I adore the audiobook, it was a real pleasure to read this again in a read copy I could mark up and soak in a bit. Still adore Fetch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood
Minor: Torture, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
fast-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
I'm not necessarily a Grishaverse person, but I thoroughly enjoyed this Darkling origin story. Unsurprisingly, it's really dark, yet quite compelling. And the artwork is gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood
Lion by Conn Iggulden
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Iggulden's Greek histories continue to be incredibly enjoyable. I miss George Blagden reading the audio, but I'm still liking the series a lot. I'll even admit to maybe crying a little at Pausanias's end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol
The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
A charming story about a young Englishman who heads to Edinburgh in the 1820s for med school. He quickly finds himself involved in the, ahem, supply of specimens for the anatomy students, but darker secrets than mere body snatching lie beneath the city. True crime fans will get a treat, as will historical fiction readers. Also, I very much enjoyed the side of swoony M/M romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Murder
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A solid enough follow up, but nowhere near as good as the first book. The next book will definitely be less of a priority.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Grief
Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields
adventurous
dark
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
Steamy romantasy with a kinky frenemies relationship at its center. If that's your sort of thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia, Murder
Minor: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fun hockey romance with a nice amount of smut. I definitely find the leads charming and the full cast audio is great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Protector by Conn Iggulden
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
4.25
The continuing story of the Greco-Persian Wars, this book picks up at the Battle of Salamis and goes through Plataea to the end of Themistocles's life. Once again, utterly compelling and wonderfully read by George Blagden.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, War
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Against the Ice by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Ejnar Mikkelsen
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Absolutely remarkable story of two men stranded together for 2 and a half years in Greenland. One of the best psychological examinations of the deprivations experienced by people just trying to survive in polar regions I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Medical content
starvation