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tinyelfarcanist's Reviews (326)
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
I didn't hesitate to get this book after reading the synopsis. It is heavily character-centered, just the kind that I love. I expected a fun and quick read but found myself quickly immersed in the intricate characters and their motivations.
I was disappointed to see some of my favorite characters put aside when the central pieces for the overarching scheme became evident.
I anticipated some cliché characters and drama but was pleasantly surprised. I can't wait for the next installment.
I was disappointed to see some of my favorite characters put aside when the central pieces for the overarching scheme became evident.
I anticipated some cliché characters and drama but was pleasantly surprised. I can't wait for the next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
This book pushes you right into the action with mention of races, factions, and other technical terms that for a while made me question if I was missing something. I had already confirmed that this is a standalone, so I kept going (albeit a little confused), but it took me a good quarter to finally get invested in the story.
For a book that grew my Kindle Vocabulary Builder exponentially, I believe it could have made without some 'swells' (with a total of 41 iterations)... It's not even THAT kind of book.
As the overuse of a word is my worst complaint about the book, you can tell the rest is good. Fun read with lots of action and interesting ideas.
I'm not a furry, but I couldn't help to ship Kerin and Nala.
For a book that grew my Kindle Vocabulary Builder exponentially, I believe it could have made without some 'swells' (with a total of 41 iterations)... It's not even THAT kind of book.
As the overuse of a word is my worst complaint about the book, you can tell the rest is good. Fun read with lots of action and interesting ideas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Violence
Minor: Addiction, Gore, Torture, Kidnapping, Colonisation
adventurous
funny
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
I found myself oddly engrossed by this book where nothing happens.
Well-developed characters kept me wanting to read, but for the most part I wasn't sure where the story was going. ("spoilers": Nowhere.)
The main POVs are by these characters:
Logen Ninefingers has just lost everything. He doesn't have time to mourn, just to survive.He didn't mourn even when he finally has some time to rest and it bothered me that his loss might just be a cheap tool.
Sand dan Glokta is a horrible human being. He has suffered enough to still inspire some sympathy.
Jezal dan Luthar is an arrogant and narcissist noble. His story was the one I found the most engaging.I guess I've got a soft-spot for assholes in love
It fails the Bechdel test as the only two (relevant) female characters never meet. One of them was my favorite and I can't wait to read more about her.
I loved and loved to hate the characters. This book is just the setting up of the world and characters, but I'm definitely invested in The First Law world.
The Blade Itself is, as the inquisitors would say:
'Excellent,' said Glokta brightly.
'Excellent,' said Severard.
'Etherer,' said Practical Frost.
Well-developed characters kept me wanting to read, but for the most part I wasn't sure where the story was going. ("spoilers": Nowhere.)
The main POVs are by these characters:
Logen Ninefingers has just lost everything. He doesn't have time to mourn, just to survive.
Sand dan Glokta is a horrible human being. He has suffered enough to still inspire some sympathy.
Jezal dan Luthar is an arrogant and narcissist noble. His story was the one I found the most engaging.
It fails the Bechdel test as the only two (relevant) female characters never meet. One of them was my favorite and I can't wait to read more about her.
I loved and loved to hate the characters. This book is just the setting up of the world and characters, but I'm definitely invested in The First Law world.
The Blade Itself is, as the inquisitors would say:
'Excellent,' said Glokta brightly.
'Excellent,' said Severard.
'Etherer,' said Practical Frost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Slavery
Minor: Vomit, Cannibalism
Fire: Demons, Dragons and Djinns
Susan MacGregor, Kevin Cockle, Lizbeth Ashton, Claude Lalumière, Annie Neugebauer, Dusty Thorne, J.B. Riley, Krista D. Ball, Blake Jessop, Wendy Nikel, J.G. Formato, Heather M. O'Connor, Rhonda Parrish, Damascus Mincemeyer, R. W. Hodgson, Mara Malins, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Chadwick Ginther, Gabrielle Harbowy, V.F. LeSann, Joseph Halden, K.T. Ivanrest
adventurous
fast-paced
I read this to quench my need for djinn stories. TBH I enjoyed the first half and was mostly annoyed/bored by the rest, but I managed to finish it.
Here are my ratings for the individual stories:
-She Alone by Blake Jessop ★★★★
This was an interesting tale that I would have loved to read more of.
-Strange Attractor by Kevin Cockle ★★
"Blue eyes the colour of anti-freeze worried in the rear-view mirror." For real?
-Magnesium Bright by Lizbeth Ashton ★★★★
I really enjoyed this one. Interesting twist.
-Permanence by Dusty Thorne ★★
This story goes nowhere just for the "big reveal".
-Old Flames by V.F. LeSann ★★★★
It was fun and character-centered.
-The Hatchling by K.T. Ivanrest ★★★★
Wholesome story with character development.
-The Djinni and the Accountant by Hal J. Friesen ★★
I felt this one was longer than needed and still the character development felt out of nowhere.
-The Second Great Fire by Laura VanArendonk Baugh ★★★
It's probably just that it wasn't my kind of story. I felt satisfied at the end so it got an extra star.
-Bait by Krista D. Ball ★★★★★
This was my favorite one. It was funny and I didn't want it to end. I want to read more from Lieutenant Dodd!!
-Double or Nothing by Mara Malins ★★★★
Weird <i>Yu-Gi-Oh!</i> style story mixing different folklore, but I found it exciting and liked the ending.
-A Girl, Ablaze with Life by Claude Lalumière ★
Fire RAPING a girl. I almost skipped this one.
-Light My Fire by Susan MacGregor ★★★
Jim Morrison inspired story.
-Ring of Fire by JB Riley ★
Another boring story that goes nowhere and expects to be something in the end.
-Aladdin's Laugh by Damascus Mincemeyer ★
I couldn't connect to the characters.
-Phoenix Rising by Heather M. O’Connor ★
Honestly, I didn't get it. I'm sorry I'm stupid.
-Cold Comfort by Gabrielle Harbowy ★★★
Interesting story with character development. I would've liked it more if it was a full novel.
-Aitvaras by R. W. Hodgson ★★★
I liked the ending. It's based in a less known fire creature.
-Midnight Man versus Frankie Flame by Chadwick Ginther ★★★
It was ok for a short story. I got nothing out of it, though.
-Breath of the Caldera by Wendy Nikel ★★★
Predictable, but not bad.
-Cilantro by Annie Neugebauer ★
Woman living in a bad marriage, nothing is explained. Nice horror elements.
-The Midwife and the Phoenix by J.G. Formato ★★
A little bit predictable. I guess I was just tired.
Here are my ratings for the individual stories:
-She Alone by Blake Jessop ★★★★
This was an interesting tale that I would have loved to read more of.
-Strange Attractor by Kevin Cockle ★★
"Blue eyes the colour of anti-freeze worried in the rear-view mirror." For real?
-Magnesium Bright by Lizbeth Ashton ★★★★
I really enjoyed this one. Interesting twist.
-Permanence by Dusty Thorne ★★
This story goes nowhere just for the "big reveal".
-Old Flames by V.F. LeSann ★★★★
It was fun and character-centered.
-The Hatchling by K.T. Ivanrest ★★★★
Wholesome story with character development.
-The Djinni and the Accountant by Hal J. Friesen ★★
I felt this one was longer than needed and still the character development felt out of nowhere.
-The Second Great Fire by Laura VanArendonk Baugh ★★★
It's probably just that it wasn't my kind of story. I felt satisfied at the end so it got an extra star.
-Bait by Krista D. Ball ★★★★★
This was my favorite one. It was funny and I didn't want it to end. I want to read more from Lieutenant Dodd!!
-Double or Nothing by Mara Malins ★★★★
Weird <i>Yu-Gi-Oh!</i> style story mixing different folklore, but I found it exciting and liked the ending.
-A Girl, Ablaze with Life by Claude Lalumière ★
Fire RAPING a girl. I almost skipped this one.
-Light My Fire by Susan MacGregor ★★★
Jim Morrison inspired story.
-Ring of Fire by JB Riley ★
Another boring story that goes nowhere and expects to be something in the end.
-Aladdin's Laugh by Damascus Mincemeyer ★
I couldn't connect to the characters.
-Phoenix Rising by Heather M. O’Connor ★
Honestly, I didn't get it. I'm sorry I'm stupid.
-Cold Comfort by Gabrielle Harbowy ★★★
Interesting story with character development. I would've liked it more if it was a full novel.
-Aitvaras by R. W. Hodgson ★★★
I liked the ending. It's based in a less known fire creature.
-Midnight Man versus Frankie Flame by Chadwick Ginther ★★★
It was ok for a short story. I got nothing out of it, though.
-Breath of the Caldera by Wendy Nikel ★★★
Predictable, but not bad.
-Cilantro by Annie Neugebauer ★
Woman living in a bad marriage, nothing is explained. Nice horror elements.
-The Midwife and the Phoenix by J.G. Formato ★★
A little bit predictable. I guess I was just tired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There was a lot of focus on the djinn’s penis size.
I was very excited for this as I love djinn folklore, but the steampunk setting didn’t do it for me. I found the resolution predictable and underwhelming.
I was very excited for this as I love djinn folklore, but the steampunk setting didn’t do it for me. I found the resolution predictable and underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood
Moderate: Suicide
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
What a strange and whimsical tale!
This cover needs a disclaimer: Piranesi is NOT a satyr. I was very disappointed.
It was very confusing at the beginning and I was bothered that it made no sense for Piranesi to know what an albatross is, or the meaning of wife and aristocratic. Once you start to get what is going on you can't put it down.
This cover needs a disclaimer: Piranesi is NOT a satyr. I was very disappointed.
It was very confusing at the beginning and I was bothered that it made no sense for Piranesi to know what an albatross is, or the meaning of wife and aristocratic. Once you start to get what is going on you can't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, Excrement, Vomit, Sexual harassment
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
Smiles conceal knives.
Death, nightmares, betrayal, prophecies and romance!
Don’t expect as much action as in the previous book.
So many new names, terms and factions to keep track of, but I still enjoyed the political intrigue.
Too many fictional horses were hurt.
I was a little disappointed that Seregil didn’t even mourn Runcer. He was like “Yeah, new Runcer, at least you know us now.”
Death, nightmares, betrayal, prophecies and romance!
Don’t expect as much action as in the previous book.
So many new names, terms and factions to keep track of, but I still enjoyed the political intrigue.
Too many fictional horses were hurt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence
emotional
fast-paced
I've read snippets from her longer works. I think I would enjoy those more than just an erotica short story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
Another Anela Deen’s story about broken people from different worlds who find sanctuary in each other: A lonely and wary man who cannot admit his gentle heart; a kind woman surviving recent trauma whose life is about to change. The characters and their relationship are close enough to Beneath Cruel Fathoms to taint my enjoyment by comparison. If you enjoyed this book, I recommend checking Beneath Cruel Fathoms.
Deen shines in her character development; their emotions are palpable and the romantic tension thrilling. She's one of my favorite writers.
Deen shines in her character development; their emotions are palpable and the romantic tension thrilling. She's one of my favorite writers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lift is such a funny character and her interactions with Wyndle even more so.
As in other books in the Stormlight Archive saga, there are some wise moments. This time, coming from a 12-year-old.
As in other books in the Stormlight Archive saga, there are some wise moments. This time, coming from a 12-year-old.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment