walrusfromspace's reviews
84 reviews

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

dark informative medium-paced

4.25

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

adventurous dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

A great read about a truly bewildering event. Grann does an excellent job of not only relating the tale but also musing about justice, the right of law, and other things.

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

If you know about the Cosmere then this book is such a treasure.

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Boy was this a slog. Don't get me wrong, I loved the reveal at the end. It just feels like this book could have been a third of the length and been even more impactful. The ending saved this book from legit being a one star book. 

Another thing, I'm not sure if it's the translation or what, but the prose feels so clunky and dry, it was really hard to get into it. I really hope the sequels feel a little more fluid. 

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

I don't know what it is about Brandon Sanderson but every time I think meh, this one's isn't going to be that good, and then I find I can't stop myself from reading it. I found myself smiling so goddamn much throughout this book. Just such a fun read.

One small (or i guess not that small) nitpick I do have is the ending.

Why bait-and-switch it? Why not just let Yumi exist without having Painter "will" her back to life out of nowhere? She could've just been fine in the end and travelled to Kilahito with her magic and then just stopped using it or something. I mean Sanderson literally goes, oh yea, this had to end like this, its sad look. And then proceeds to walk back on that 2 pages later? Don't understand why he did that.

Other than that this was a good ass book.

Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Suzanne taught me ecology in 2018 (right before this book came out) and I distinctly remember she was very inspiring and thought provoking, but her classes were all over the place and she was always in a rush. She's a busy lady. 

I was excited to read this book and I very much enjoyed it. I had no idea about all that she went through, and that makes her discoveries all the more sweet. 

The only small gripe I have with the book is that it has dialogue that you can just tell didn't actually happen, that Suzanne uses to weave a story throughout her life. Other than that it's informative and leaves a message that as a lover of nature I think everyone should hear and consider. 

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book feels like it could've used an extra 100 pages to really flesh out the world and tie up the end of the story better. There isn't really any resolving action the climax happens and then it just ends. That being said, the reason I say it should be longer is because I really liked what there was to read. The characters aren't perfect, and some might and a certain one might be a little obtuse

(looking at you Naranpa)

but it's written in a way that it adds to the story. 

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Hmmm. Let's just say you can clearly tell this is Sandos first book. Dialogue is clunky, the plot is a mess and the characters are kind of one dimensional. This book is nothing spectacular, yet for some reason it kept me engaged, just like the rest of Brandon's stories. 

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh my good word what a book what a trilogy. I think the only complaint I have for this book is that it ended. I wanted to keep reading what happened next.

Don't get me wrong I absolutely hated the ending personally  (

I was team Orso all the way

) but in the end it all just fits so perfectly. Of course what happened happened. Abercrombie has a way of both slapping you with surprise while also making it make so much sense that thinking back you feel dumb you didn't see it. 

Small thing I loved (it might have been throughout the series but I really picked up on it this book) is how the scenes are written as if you've been following a character for a whe before the scene begins, so if they're holding something when the scene starts, Abercrombie will just drop in mentions of it like we know about it but he's never even mentioned it at all. Really added to my immersion somehow. (I hope I explained that right) 

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

adventurous dark funny reflective sad 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

5.0

Simply Abercrombie at his absolute best. I had small complaints about book one. Can't really think of any for book 2. Bravo.