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stormlightreader's Reviews (935)
First read: just totally random and not a very Reacher story. That said, I love the stories from other people's perspectives where Reacher appears as a nobody.
First Re-read: original review stands. Nothing outstanding and a very odd situation in general but a quick read (3* review still stands).
First Re-read: original review stands. Nothing outstanding and a very odd situation in general but a quick read (3* review still stands).
Not Reacher but a decent short story. Very convenient in places but had it have been more fleshed out, it could've been good.
I didn't previously enjoy historical fiction until I started watching Vikings and then The Last Kingdom (which is what convinced me to pick up these books), and Cornwell is making this fictional version of England's history very entertaining.
- Things are really tough for Uhtred and he loses a lot (Iseult, his son, Leofric).
- The book sheds more light on Uhtred's loyalty to Alfred, despite Alfred's poor treatment of Uhtred.
- The battle scenes are really well written and fun to read.
- Things are really tough for Uhtred and he loses a lot (Iseult, his son, Leofric).
- The book sheds more light on Uhtred's loyalty to Alfred, despite Alfred's poor treatment of Uhtred.
- The battle scenes are really well written and fun to read.
I enjoyed this book enough that I will be reading the two previous instalments of the series. Some of the scenes were quite drawn out, but the more enjoyable ones made up for it. There's definitely a problem of “men writing women” that made me a bit uncomfortable, but it was easy to overlook.
I haven't seen the show yet, but I have already heard bits about what Geralt is like. This gives the reader look at what goes on in his head. I like how BoE sets up Ciri’s character. Triss was also an interesting POV, but not as interesting as Yennefer. I also really enjoyed Dandilion's POV.
Although the book is lengthy, I appreciate that it was probably necessary to get the story going and establish characters and their motives.
I haven't seen the show yet, but I have already heard bits about what Geralt is like. This gives the reader look at what goes on in his head. I like how BoE sets up Ciri’s character. Triss was also an interesting POV, but not as interesting as Yennefer. I also really enjoyed Dandilion's POV.
Although the book is lengthy, I appreciate that it was probably necessary to get the story going and establish characters and their motives.
I did and didn't like the short story structure. I read Blood of Elves before The Last Wish, and although some of the stories mentioned in Blood of Elves are given a bit more context here, I didn't feel as though I was missing any major plot points while reading Blood of Elves. If I'd started with The Last Wish, I don't think I'd have attempted a second book. I think my favourite stories were The Edge of the World and The Last Wish.
Side note: I wasn't expecting to get strong Dresden Files vibes from this book.
Audiobook note: the narrator does not match what I'd imagined Geralt to sound like at all.
Side note: I wasn't expecting to get strong Dresden Files vibes from this book.
Audiobook note: the narrator does not match what I'd imagined Geralt to sound like at all.
"Sleep is good and books are better."
My enjoyment of this book grows with each read. I rated it so low when I first read it because of all of the war planning and battles but when I reread it, I appreciated it so much and there was even more to appreciate this time around.
I think book 1 delivers better on relationships than book 2 does. Book 2 develops certain characters well and develops the overall plot, but it feels like the relationships take a bit of a backseat this time.
Favourite characters (book 2):
• Daenerys Targaryen
• Cersei Lannister
• Catelyn Stark
• Davos Seaworth
• Stannis Baratheon
• Jon Snow
World building:
The incredible world building continues. The magic is more apparent, with Melisandre's introduction and the growing dragons, but overall still quite subtle.
Atmosphere
As with AGoT, the majority of my favourite moments took place in the North. GRRM does atmosphere so well and some of the best examples are in his descriptions of The Wall and Winterfell. The description of the scale and natural features of Winterfell are brilliant. The Battle of the Blackwater was amazing! The descriptions are great and there are some differences between how it plays out in the book and in the show, and I wish the show had some of those scenes.
Cannot wait to revisit A Storm of Swords again!
I've nearly completed my chronological reread of Jack Reacher and this short story is a new one to me, and I really liked it. It's crazy how much can happen to Reacher in so few pages, and you do have to suspend disbelief a little, but I like any story where Reacher crosses paths with another character who has a history of law enforcement (and is outside of his circle of army colleagues). The actions of Reacher and Heller are morally ambiguous at best, but the interplay between them is great. I'm now quite intrigued by Nick Heller, so will probably try one of those books.
First read: another instalment of 'How did Reacher walk into this situation?'
Re-read: original thoughts still apply but it's a fun short story and the way that Reacher just walks away was quite impactful.
Re-read: original thoughts still apply but it's a fun short story and the way that Reacher just walks away was quite impactful.