sullyisreading's reviews
52 reviews

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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

5.0

The whole novel was deeply fascinating for me. There were a couple of simple errors that must have slipped through the translation and editing phase, but nothing distracting.

At the end of the day, who truly dislikes Butter?

Spook's Dark Assassin by Joseph Delaney

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I can agree that the ending could have been longer, but to say it was rushed doesn't feel right with me. I think the nature of how things were told and paced felt fully appropriate. The fact it is the end and the last of the Spooks books is horribly sad to me. It is an end of something that played a major part in my teenage years. 

I'm happy to say I've read all the main-line Spooks books now. It's wild to say that in a way. I wish I had read them sooner. And a wholly sincere Rest In Peace to Joseph Delaney, who once visited my middle school and gave me inspiration in many parts to be an author myself, and fall in love with a great series of books.

I think the Spooks books are a classic, and anyone interested should give them a read.

The Dark Army by Joseph Delaney

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This particular story in the series had a difficult job I reckon; firstly it had to continue off from a major event in the first story, and continue onto another major event occurring in the follow-up, and I believe, last book of the series.

The only thing that ever bothered me as I read was some repetition of information. I think Delaney is writing adult fiction but repeats information to make it more YA. Personally, although this series is YA, I've always felt it approaches topics with a great maturity and strong ideas. Delaney is clearly a talented writer.

This book has an amazing story. I go straight onto to the third and last book now.

The Moorcock Library: Elric Stormbringer by P. Craig Russell

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This was incredibly enjoyable and definitely an amazing entrance to the world of Moorcock's fantasy world and Elric as a series (even if this book covers the ending of that series). I loved it, especially for the art, but the story that is told and Elric's struggle throughout. There were definitely some emotional moments that I believe the graphic novel could have focused a little longer on - perhaps they do in the book by Moorcock? - but regardless it was an enjoyable read that expanded my idea of what fantasy can be. 

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

My only regret with this story was beginning it at a time when I was either too stressed or too consumed with other tasks to finish reading it when I began the story, back in 2019 when I acquired the hardback, which comes with a short story which I will be continuing on to read now that I have finished Machines Like Me.

Regardless of my confused thoughts concerning Ian McEwan, it's clear he's a talented writer. This book was a gift to read and gave me so many thoughts to consider, emotions to stew on and process - in fact, I wish he had dwelled on some moments more. But perhaps he didn't have to. Reality allows us to dwell on these moments in our own time. 

I highly recommend the book. Since I got to page 70 before stopping and then returning 5 years later... I suppose my advice is read the first 71 pages and decide from there.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

I had been looking forward to this book for quite a while. Unfortunately, the style of prose didn't gel with me. It was entertaining and interesting initially, but I got quite tired of it. As well, I may have mistakenly read the Introductions first, which ended up giving away the whole story, and essentially made the experience hard to care for. 

I recommend giving the book a try. I'll go on to watch the film version - I think it will be more to my taste.

Anthonology by Piers Anthony

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

A strong anthology! My favourite stories from the vook were 'Possible to Rue', 'The Ghost Galaxies', 'On the Uses of Torture', and 'Small Mouth, Bad Taste'.

The range of stories is genuinely impressive. I reckon not many authors have such a diverse range to base their stories in. It turns out that even when a particular story isn't too my liking, and may slog, that I can't resist from skipping because there is always a redemptive quality that makes me glad to have stuck.

I debated picking 'In the Barn' as another of my favourites. One on hand, I may never read anything quite so peculiar as it ever again. On the other hand, I felt its principal ideal while strong in its elements were not woven together perfectly. Nonetheless It's worth a read, providing you can stomach how bizarre and disgusting it was. I will say this: the story reflected reality all too well, but perhaps too on the nose, as well. I did personally like the story, although I spent the better half doubting Anthony's intentions.

Radiant Black, Vol. 1 by Kyle Higgins, Cherish Chen, David Lafuente, Marcelo Costa

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

The art and characters are the main appeal here. I don't know how big a fan I am of the whole Power Rangers shtick that's being set up. But it's very good. Don't know if I would read more, but definitely enjoyed this.

Medea by Rosie Hewlett

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

There is little to nothing I can complain about with this novel. Like the author herself, I have a great fascination and love for Euripides' Medea. Rosie Hewlett's novel perfectly expands and novel-ises the myth into something more human, which is honestly an achievement, as it has always been my opinion of the Greek tragedies I've read that Medea was already the most human of the myths.

Highly recommend.

Dorohedoro, Vol. 1 by Q Hayashida

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Very engaging beginning to a series. It clicked very quickly and I love a lot of what has been established so far. Would like to read more of the series.