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tallangryplanet's reviews
43 reviews
Saint Death's Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
"Stoneses die young," her big sister explained patiently. "We have to grow up fast if we're to grow up at all."
And indeed, the Stones family has a complicated history of untimely deaths, mostly told through the footnotes at the end of each chapter. But that is not the only thing that makes them special: they have historically served as assasins to the royal family of Liriat and, most importantly, they all have rather extravagant names. Miscellaneous "Lanie" Stones is the youngest member of this family, and after her parents' deaths she and her sister must find a way to pay all their debt and avoid losing the family home, getting tangled up in some dangerous schemes along the way.
This story was incredibly ambitious, there was a lot of worldbuilding to do and a lot of ground to cover plot-wise, and yet the book didn't feel incomplete. There were some points I was left wondering about, like the exact workings of the magic system or other types of wizards, but all that was shown made sense. As for the plot, it was a bit dense for me, especially because it didn't move that fast until about halfway through the book, and so the characters (except for the protagonist) didn't seem to have that much room for development and connection with the reader. It also left a few loose ends, so I'm hoping for a sequel that will round everything up, but the book also works as a standalone.
Finally, I would like to mention the writing style, which was flowy but still made for a great narration. I think it was perfect for this story, with its aristocratic setting and eccentric characters. It felt humorous at just the right moments (the footnotes were a really fun aspect and their "serious" tone was perfect), but it somehow also made me feel worse for Lanie at her lowest moments. The weird family names were also a great touch, if a bit confusing at first, but they made complete sense after knowing a bit more of the family history throughout the book.
All in all, this was a great read. It's definitely not for reading in one afternoon, but if you like fantasy you might want to give this book a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
And indeed, the Stones family has a complicated history of untimely deaths, mostly told through the footnotes at the end of each chapter. But that is not the only thing that makes them special: they have historically served as assasins to the royal family of Liriat and, most importantly, they all have rather extravagant names. Miscellaneous "Lanie" Stones is the youngest member of this family, and after her parents' deaths she and her sister must find a way to pay all their debt and avoid losing the family home, getting tangled up in some dangerous schemes along the way.
This story was incredibly ambitious, there was a lot of worldbuilding to do and a lot of ground to cover plot-wise, and yet the book didn't feel incomplete. There were some points I was left wondering about, like the exact workings of the magic system or other types of wizards, but all that was shown made sense. As for the plot, it was a bit dense for me, especially because it didn't move that fast until about halfway through the book, and so the characters (except for the protagonist) didn't seem to have that much room for development and connection with the reader. It also left a few loose ends, so I'm hoping for a sequel that will round everything up, but the book also works as a standalone.
Finally, I would like to mention the writing style, which was flowy but still made for a great narration. I think it was perfect for this story, with its aristocratic setting and eccentric characters. It felt humorous at just the right moments (the footnotes were a really fun aspect and their "serious" tone was perfect), but it somehow also made me feel worse for Lanie at her lowest moments. The weird family names were also a great touch, if a bit confusing at first, but they made complete sense after knowing a bit more of the family history throughout the book.
All in all, this was a great read. It's definitely not for reading in one afternoon, but if you like fantasy you might want to give this book a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
In a world where the sun barely shines anymore, the last Silversaint shares the tale of his life with a vampire.
The vampires in this story are not the sparkly kind, but rather brutal creatures with an incredible hunger for power. I would like to start by saying that this book was way more explicit than I expected, so if you're sensitive to gore and violence I'd advise to go in mentally prepared. However, even though those elements sometimes threw me off, the book was still pretty enjoyable.
There are two timelines here, following two different moments in the protagonist's life. In the beginning it felt a bit info-dumpy because of how complex the world was and all the interruptions to explain some aspects of the lore, but it picked up later, and it wasn't too hard to follow the different stories. The plot itself was interesting, and the different characters made it more dynamic without getting too confusing.
This was, in general, a pleasant reading experience. I don't have a particular reason for my rating, but rather the feeling that it could've been better, and that some parts were just too heavy and dense. However, it was not at all a bad book, and if you don't mind taking some time to read it (this is not the kind of story you're done with in an afternoon), I totally encourage darker fantasy fans to give it a go.
The vampires in this story are not the sparkly kind, but rather brutal creatures with an incredible hunger for power. I would like to start by saying that this book was way more explicit than I expected, so if you're sensitive to gore and violence I'd advise to go in mentally prepared. However, even though those elements sometimes threw me off, the book was still pretty enjoyable.
There are two timelines here, following two different moments in the protagonist's life. In the beginning it felt a bit info-dumpy because of how complex the world was and all the interruptions to explain some aspects of the lore, but it picked up later, and it wasn't too hard to follow the different stories. The plot itself was interesting, and the different characters made it more dynamic without getting too confusing.
This was, in general, a pleasant reading experience. I don't have a particular reason for my rating, but rather the feeling that it could've been better, and that some parts were just too heavy and dense. However, it was not at all a bad book, and if you don't mind taking some time to read it (this is not the kind of story you're done with in an afternoon), I totally encourage darker fantasy fans to give it a go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As always, Becky Chambers has created an amazingly hopeful world with a story that will leave you feeling all kinds of good. This time we follow Dex, a monk living in the eco-friendly world of Panga, as they try to figure out their life's purpose and end up making an unlikely and curious friend.
The story is set in a completely different world from ours, where humanity has learnt from its mistakes and now cares for their "Earth", leaving part of the planet untouched and wild and trying to be as respectful of its half of the environment as possible. People have all they need, and yet one little monk finds they're never satisfied. While exploring the wild half of the planet they run into a descendant of the robots that left civilization centuries before, and both robot and monk begin to learn from each other. There isn't really a grand plot, as this is more a "slice of life" story, just set in a fantasy world.
The book is a (not so subtle) exploration of the topic of purpose, what truly fulfills us after all our needs are met. It also feels like a promise of the future our planet might have, if we start trying right now, with beautiful descriptions of sustainable living arrangements (honestly, Dex's wagon is The Dream) and of the kindness people are capable of showing one another. The book felt like one of Dex's special cups of tea, this one specifically tailored to comfort my own worries about the climate and our future, even if no specific answers could be given, and Chambers's writing style fits perfectly with the tone of the story.
All in all, this was a perfect comfort read. It's short and sweet, best accompanied by a rainy afternoon and a cup of tea, and I can't recommend it enough.
The story is set in a completely different world from ours, where humanity has learnt from its mistakes and now cares for their "Earth", leaving part of the planet untouched and wild and trying to be as respectful of its half of the environment as possible. People have all they need, and yet one little monk finds they're never satisfied. While exploring the wild half of the planet they run into a descendant of the robots that left civilization centuries before, and both robot and monk begin to learn from each other. There isn't really a grand plot, as this is more a "slice of life" story, just set in a fantasy world.
The book is a (not so subtle) exploration of the topic of purpose, what truly fulfills us after all our needs are met. It also feels like a promise of the future our planet might have, if we start trying right now, with beautiful descriptions of sustainable living arrangements (honestly, Dex's wagon is The Dream) and of the kindness people are capable of showing one another. The book felt like one of Dex's special cups of tea, this one specifically tailored to comfort my own worries about the climate and our future, even if no specific answers could be given, and Chambers's writing style fits perfectly with the tone of the story.
All in all, this was a perfect comfort read. It's short and sweet, best accompanied by a rainy afternoon and a cup of tea, and I can't recommend it enough.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was about to give this book four stars because of the way the ending threw me off and I struggled to see how it connected to the rest of the story (for me, it kind of ruined the message I was getting), but the overall reading experience was so good that I decided to give it five stars anyways. It was a very emotional read and I cried a lot, but in a way that was incredibly enjoyable.
How high we go in the dark follows a diverse cast of characters who are all trying to survive through a terrible pandemic and its aftermath, climate change destroying the world, and, most importantly, grief. Grief for the people they could've been, the lives they might have led, the better choices they should've made. All of the stories are connected, but they are unique enough that it truly feels like they represent the diversity of people when dealing with hard times. Even though none of the characters really get that much time, they all feel like real, three-dimensional humans, and it was impossible not to empathize with them.
The way Nagamatsu presents the grim future doesn't seem too unrealistic, especially now that we've seen how humanity really deals with a pandemic. The scenarios depicted really help understand the characters, and it feels as if there is an (excellent) study of grief being done all throughout the book, but not in a way that takes readers out of the story.
As for what I mean about the ending, it's a big spoiler, so feel free to skip this paragraph.In the last chapter, it is revealed there's a sepcies of "superbeings" that supervise the creation of life around the universe, and one of them lives on Earth. She is responsible for the pandemic that destroyed humanity, but also for some great discoveries. This made it feel like the overarching message of humanity's resilience and will to live, explore, and get better was conditioned by someone better than us watching from the shadows, ready to intervene if we were to stray too far off the right path. But as I said, the book is still incredible, and if you lean more towards fantasy the ending might make it even better for you.
All in all, I loved this read. At some points it even reminded me of Record of a spaceborn few by Becky Chambers, which is one of my favorites. If you need something that will make you let out a good cry while picking up your spirits, this is definitely the perfect read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
How high we go in the dark follows a diverse cast of characters who are all trying to survive through a terrible pandemic and its aftermath, climate change destroying the world, and, most importantly, grief. Grief for the people they could've been, the lives they might have led, the better choices they should've made. All of the stories are connected, but they are unique enough that it truly feels like they represent the diversity of people when dealing with hard times. Even though none of the characters really get that much time, they all feel like real, three-dimensional humans, and it was impossible not to empathize with them.
The way Nagamatsu presents the grim future doesn't seem too unrealistic, especially now that we've seen how humanity really deals with a pandemic. The scenarios depicted really help understand the characters, and it feels as if there is an (excellent) study of grief being done all throughout the book, but not in a way that takes readers out of the story.
As for what I mean about the ending, it's a big spoiler, so feel free to skip this paragraph.
All in all, I loved this read. At some points it even reminded me of Record of a spaceborn few by Becky Chambers, which is one of my favorites. If you need something that will make you let out a good cry while picking up your spirits, this is definitely the perfect read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was a bit wary of reading this book because of its classification in horror, but it ended up being a pretty good read. There were some scary parts and a feeling of tension throughout the book, but it was lighter than I expected.
The story follows Tess, a high school student who works in the school library during the summer, and Eliot, the son of the headmaster, as they accidentally release a demon and scramble to prevent it from completely ruining their lives. They come from very different backgrounds and in the beginning it seems like they'll never get along, but as they're forced to work together they find they're more similar than they thought.
As someone who isn't very familiar with the horror genre, I didn't expect most of the twists in the story, but they still felt coherent and most of them made sense in retrospective. Waiting for the next one was never boring and it kept me almost constantly on edge. I was also completely rooting for the main characters and hoping for them to finally catch a break, although I did feel slightly disappointed when I found out one of the main motivations for the protagonist. Parents arguing about finances didn't seem as much of a big deal for Tess to completely prevent her sister from seeing them . However, I did like how she evolved throughout the story so it wasn't that big of a deal.
I did notice that some parts of the setting and characterization didn't really fit with the ya category, but it made more sense after finding it was originally meant to be an adult book. This is really the only aspect I didn't like, as the characters felt too old to be in high school, because in everything else they were easy enough to relate to (as a musician, Tess's obsession with having to practice was like having a mirror held up to my face).
All in all, it was a very enjoyable read, and I might even pick it up again in the future. Even if you're not a big horror fan, it's light enough that it won't be too scary but still tense enough to avoid being boring.
The story follows Tess, a high school student who works in the school library during the summer, and Eliot, the son of the headmaster, as they accidentally release a demon and scramble to prevent it from completely ruining their lives. They come from very different backgrounds and in the beginning it seems like they'll never get along, but as they're forced to work together they find they're more similar than they thought.
As someone who isn't very familiar with the horror genre, I didn't expect most of the twists in the story, but they still felt coherent and most of them made sense in retrospective. Waiting for the next one was never boring and it kept me almost constantly on edge. I was also completely rooting for the main characters and hoping for them to finally catch a break, although I did feel slightly disappointed when I found out one of the main motivations for the protagonist.
I did notice that some parts of the setting and characterization didn't really fit with the ya category, but it made more sense after finding it was originally meant to be an adult book. This is really the only aspect I didn't like, as the characters felt too old to be in high school, because in everything else they were easy enough to relate to (as a musician, Tess's obsession with having to practice was like having a mirror held up to my face).
All in all, it was a very enjoyable read, and I might even pick it up again in the future. Even if you're not a big horror fan, it's light enough that it won't be too scary but still tense enough to avoid being boring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
True Loaf by Lauren Johnson
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I picked up this audiobook because of how interesting the concept sounded. I know nothing about Balklan folkore except for Propp's studies, which are mentioned in the bonus content, but it was still a very nice read.
The story itself is not inspired by any particular tale, but rather by the common themes and structures of folklore: a girl is sent on a quest, finds she can't complete her task alone, and the rest is history. It is a very short story (just about 15 minutes of audio) that has the simplicity of traditional fairytales, but with all the necessary elements to engage the reader and leave them satisfied in the end, which, even before listening to the explanation in the bonus contents, made me feel like the author really knew what she was doing. I would have liked some more context or less ambiguity in the end, but that didn't hinder my entertainment that much.
As for the audio, I think the narrator was an excellent pick. Her voice is what you'd expect from a lovely grandma telling the kids a story, and she had a great sense of tone and emphasis to maintain the listener's attention.
All in all, I enjoyed this short story. You don't really need to know anything beforehand to read it, and it's short enough to just do it while having a break and a cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story itself is not inspired by any particular tale, but rather by the common themes and structures of folklore: a girl is sent on a quest, finds she can't complete her task alone, and the rest is history. It is a very short story (just about 15 minutes of audio) that has the simplicity of traditional fairytales, but with all the necessary elements to engage the reader and leave them satisfied in the end, which, even before listening to the explanation in the bonus contents, made me feel like the author really knew what she was doing. I would have liked some more context or less ambiguity in the end, but that didn't hinder my entertainment that much.
As for the audio, I think the narrator was an excellent pick. Her voice is what you'd expect from a lovely grandma telling the kids a story, and she had a great sense of tone and emphasis to maintain the listener's attention.
All in all, I enjoyed this short story. You don't really need to know anything beforehand to read it, and it's short enough to just do it while having a break and a cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Out Front the Following Sea by Leah Angstman
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Out Front the Following Sea follows Ruth Miner, a curious young woman, as she struggles to survive in the New England of 1689. Ruth's story is heartbreaking, as she deals with being accused of her parents' murder and witchcraft in a town that does not want to see her survive at all and she has to find her way in a terribly lonely world.
I did not enjoy reading most of this book. The reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is that it did get better in the last few chapters, and that I enjoyed the ending. The story itself was good and it seemed like a great concept (especially knowing the research that went into this book), but the execution did not deliver for me.
The characters were developed weirdly if at all, strong feelings kept constantly appearing out of nowhere (I'm pretty sure the protagonist has deep attachment issues), and it felt like the plot just happened to them, rather than characters having any agency. Ruth seemed like an interesting character at first, and she was, but it felt like she made no progress during the story, as she herself says "the haste from which she could never seem to learn, never seem to untangle from her nature". The only development I would say we see from her is learning to be more hopeful, which is quite something for a 17th century woman, but I don't think it's enough for a protagonist. The rest of the characters, mainly Askook and Owen, are intriguing, but most don't get enough story time for us to really get to understand them, and there are so many terrible people along the book that it was sometimes disheartening.
As I said before, I did think the story was good. The events were nicely interconnected and there weren't any plot holes or particularly improbable parts. However, the writing style kept pulling me out of it. The mix between modern and "ancient" speech and the written portrayal of (often inintelligible) accents were incredibly distracting, and I couldn't figure out what the tone of the story was supposed to be. In the middle of serious scenes the main character would go and say something that tried to be funny but did not land, while other times actions that I believe were supposed to be taken seriously felt like bad jokes.Ruth literally asks if she can be friends with someone she met two sentences ago and who has shown absolutely no indication of wanting to be friends, just because they are both women. Maybe it's supposed to say something about her naivety, but I also don't think we're supposed to read this resourceful young woman as naive.
All in all, I wouldn't recommed this book to just anyone. If you're a fan of historically accurate novels set during real, important events then I think you'd enjoy this story, as despite the flaws mentioned the historical aspects are well done. I personally did enjoy learning more about this time period, the disputes, political and religious, and the way people got by, but it didn't really make it worth the effort of getting through the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I did not enjoy reading most of this book. The reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is that it did get better in the last few chapters, and that I enjoyed the ending. The story itself was good and it seemed like a great concept (especially knowing the research that went into this book), but the execution did not deliver for me.
The characters were developed weirdly if at all, strong feelings kept constantly appearing out of nowhere (I'm pretty sure the protagonist has deep attachment issues), and it felt like the plot just happened to them, rather than characters having any agency. Ruth seemed like an interesting character at first, and she was, but it felt like she made no progress during the story, as she herself says "the haste from which she could never seem to learn, never seem to untangle from her nature". The only development I would say we see from her is learning to be more hopeful, which is quite something for a 17th century woman, but I don't think it's enough for a protagonist. The rest of the characters, mainly Askook and Owen, are intriguing, but most don't get enough story time for us to really get to understand them, and there are so many terrible people along the book that it was sometimes disheartening.
As I said before, I did think the story was good. The events were nicely interconnected and there weren't any plot holes or particularly improbable parts. However, the writing style kept pulling me out of it. The mix between modern and "ancient" speech and the written portrayal of (often inintelligible) accents were incredibly distracting, and I couldn't figure out what the tone of the story was supposed to be. In the middle of serious scenes the main character would go and say something that tried to be funny but did not land, while other times actions that I believe were supposed to be taken seriously felt like bad jokes.
All in all, I wouldn't recommed this book to just anyone. If you're a fan of historically accurate novels set during real, important events then I think you'd enjoy this story, as despite the flaws mentioned the historical aspects are well done. I personally did enjoy learning more about this time period, the disputes, political and religious, and the way people got by, but it didn't really make it worth the effort of getting through the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-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? Yes
5.0
I was originally going to add a quote to the beginning of this review, but I just couldn't bring myself to choose just one.
This book is a genderbent retelling of the founding of the Ming Dynasty in China, but even (or maybe especially) if you know nothing of the story it is greatly enjoyable. Zhu starts off as the unimportant daughter of a poor peasant, but after her entire family dies she takes her brother's identity and, hopefully, his fate of greatness. We also learn about general Ouyang, an eunuch tortured by the cruel way the Mongols dealt with his family and his duty to that lost family, as his path crosses with Zhu's. Through these two characters the author also explores gender identity in a very touching way. There is also a struggle with internalized homophobia for one of the main characters, which felt very relatable and well represented for me.
As someone who started this book without knowing anything of the real story, the plot was extremely engaging. I was constantly curious to see what Zhu's next move would be, and how she would deal with her problems, even if some of the solutions were rather unrealistic. Her development as a character as the story progressed was also greatly enjoyable, I was so invested I worried for her as the choices she made became darker and darker. The other characters, even those with shorter appearances, felt fully fleshed out too. Chinese history and myth also play a very important part, which makes the book even more interesting as the character's faiths and perceived obligations to family and culture make their decisions harder and their personalities more complex.
If you're looking for a queer historical fantasy this might be the perfect read for you, I can't wait for the next book!
This book is a genderbent retelling of the founding of the Ming Dynasty in China, but even (or maybe especially) if you know nothing of the story it is greatly enjoyable. Zhu starts off as the unimportant daughter of a poor peasant, but after her entire family dies she takes her brother's identity and, hopefully, his fate of greatness. We also learn about general Ouyang, an eunuch tortured by the cruel way the Mongols dealt with his family and his duty to that lost family, as his path crosses with Zhu's. Through these two characters the author also explores gender identity in a very touching way. There is also a struggle with internalized homophobia for one of the main characters, which felt very relatable and well represented for me.
As someone who started this book without knowing anything of the real story, the plot was extremely engaging. I was constantly curious to see what Zhu's next move would be, and how she would deal with her problems, even if some of the solutions were rather unrealistic. Her development as a character as the story progressed was also greatly enjoyable, I was so invested I worried for her as the choices she made became darker and darker. The other characters, even those with shorter appearances, felt fully fleshed out too. Chinese history and myth also play a very important part, which makes the book even more interesting as the character's faiths and perceived obligations to family and culture make their decisions harder and their personalities more complex.
If you're looking for a queer historical fantasy this might be the perfect read for you, I can't wait for the next book!
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was a wild ride. I went into it with no expectations, and was pleasantly surprised, but I definitely wouldn't say it's a new favorite.
The worldbuilding and lore within the book were my favorite parts, as they are very well done. There are different religions that all feel very realistic and distinct despite their occasional similarities, although not all of them are equally explored. The characters tell each other stories throughout the story, which made the world feel much more alive, and it contributed to the exploration of identity, which I really enjoyed.
The story itself was interesting, although the plot seemed a bit scattered, as some apparently important points were suddenly abandoned and then reappeared a few chapters later, and others seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, it was still not hard to follow and I enjoyed most of it.
Lastly, the characters felt well-rounded, although at times the main character, Évike, was a bit annoying. She's 25, but she didn't seem very mature, and sometimes her thought processes made no sense. At other times, though, I liked her a lot, for she did her best with the options she had, and isn't that all we can ever do? Something that I could not get off my mind while reading through some passages was how she was just normal. She can hunt, but she's no warrior or agile spy, so she can't just hide in the shadows or charge against stronger enemies (though she sure would love to). Gáspár seems like a much more mature person, so I do wish we could have read some of his thoughts, especially concerning their relationship, as it seems to be based almost only on lust on Évike's part, which I didn't like that much.
All in all, I think this can be a nice read for anyone who is a fan of complex worlds and who doesn't mind the gory parts.
The worldbuilding and lore within the book were my favorite parts, as they are very well done. There are different religions that all feel very realistic and distinct despite their occasional similarities, although not all of them are equally explored. The characters tell each other stories throughout the story, which made the world feel much more alive, and it contributed to the exploration of identity, which I really enjoyed.
The story itself was interesting, although the plot seemed a bit scattered, as some apparently important points were suddenly abandoned and then reappeared a few chapters later, and others seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, it was still not hard to follow and I enjoyed most of it.
Lastly, the characters felt well-rounded, although at times the main character, Évike, was a bit annoying. She's 25, but she didn't seem very mature, and sometimes her thought processes made no sense. At other times, though, I liked her a lot, for she did her best with the options she had, and isn't that all we can ever do? Something that I could not get off my mind while reading through some passages was how she was just normal. She can hunt, but she's no warrior or agile spy, so she can't just hide in the shadows or charge against stronger enemies (though she sure would love to). Gáspár seems like a much more mature person, so I do wish we could have read some of his thoughts, especially concerning their relationship, as it seems to be based almost only on lust on Évike's part, which I didn't like that much.
All in all, I think this can be a nice read for anyone who is a fan of complex worlds and who doesn't mind the gory parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read this book because of the 2005 movie adaption, and it was an even better experience than the film. The characters are smart and witty (although I probably did miss most of the jokes), and reading their thoughts about everyone else, with their insights on the cultural norms of the time, was incredibly fun. The only reason I'm not giving it the full 5 stars is that some parts felt particularly slow and I was very impatient for the story to advance, but that might have been due to already knowing the plot and wanting to get to the romance part. Either way, I feel like this is a great book for anyone wanting to read more classics, as it is also written in a pretty accessible style.