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wendleness's reviews
316 reviews
Methods of Dyeing by B. Mure
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Put simply this books is a gorgeous, quiet, and funny murder mystery.
The gorgeous part cannot be understated. I love the artwork so much. It’s both casual and precise, detailed but not overwhelming. The line work seems deceptively simple and expresses so much, while the colours are simple with a limited palette, but used so perfectly. It all comes together to make such peaceful pieces that make me feel calm. I get lost in the art.
A slightly longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
The gorgeous part cannot be understated. I love the artwork so much. It’s both casual and precise, detailed but not overwhelming. The line work seems deceptively simple and expresses so much, while the colours are simple with a limited palette, but used so perfectly. It all comes together to make such peaceful pieces that make me feel calm. I get lost in the art.
A slightly longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
3.25
There is a lot of world- and character-building in this book. A lot of it relevant later on, as the story plays out and threads weave together. But also a lot of it not so relevant. I loved the aspects that did all pull together in the final chapters—that’s always satisfying. I also loved, perhaps even more, certain character details that didn’t lead anywhere specific. Eight Antidote’s desire to travel and see the worlds, Eight Loop’s missing intentions and motivations, Five Portico’s possible uses for the faulty imago-machine. I hope these are things that get explored in the sequel.
The world building… is where I start to not love the book as much. Because there is a lot of it. And that’s not necessarily a criticism, so much as it is me, personally, not enjoying it. I struggled to get into this book initially because there was just so much to take in.
I will certainly be reading the sequel at some point. There are a lot of loose threads that I hope get picked up, as there are several things I want to know more about.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
The world building… is where I start to not love the book as much. Because there is a lot of it. And that’s not necessarily a criticism, so much as it is me, personally, not enjoying it. I struggled to get into this book initially because there was just so much to take in.
I will certainly be reading the sequel at some point. There are a lot of loose threads that I hope get picked up, as there are several things I want to know more about.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Like Frontier, this book is heavily character driven. We meet a new character each chapter, dipping into their world and their story. While it was the main character’s journey that helped string the previous book’s chapters together, in this book it is the hotel, Abeona. Each chapter gives insights not only into the characters, but the hotel. You could argue the hotel is the main character.
Though all the characters had something to add to the bigger plot weaving between the chapters, it was the staff and their connections to the hotel and each other that I enjoyed the most.
Talking of the plot. It was slow at first. Small hints at something. Then several somethings cropping up. Not all of which mattered to the main thread, but all fed into it. It was the last 100 pages or so where things really got going, and only the last 25 where all the threads pulled together. I love the part of a story when everything comes together.
A full review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Though all the characters had something to add to the bigger plot weaving between the chapters, it was the staff and their connections to the hotel and each other that I enjoyed the most.
Talking of the plot. It was slow at first. Small hints at something. Then several somethings cropping up. Not all of which mattered to the main thread, but all fed into it. It was the last 100 pages or so where things really got going, and only the last 25 where all the threads pulled together. I love the part of a story when everything comes together.
A full review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was excited to be finishing this trilogy. To discover what other secrets Area X and the Southern Reach held. But… I didn’t find it as compelling as the first two books in the Southern Reach series. Annihilation and Authority followed single characters navigating new and increasingly bizarre situations. This books followed several characters and was less about the strangeness around them, and more about them as individuals. Each chapter felt like a character-driven vignette loosely strung together with the .
This wasn’t a bad thing, necessarily. But it wasn’t what I had expected. I enjoyed meeting characters we had only really heard about and barely met, and seeing more of their motivations and feelings. Saul, the lighthouse keeper, was most definitely my favourite, and his chapters were always a delight. They were also bittersweet, as we already know where his story ends. Seeing him get there was heart-wrenching. The Director was, in some ways, the most interesting. Her story bridges the gap between the first two books in a lot of ways.
There are so many links and chains and circles in this trilogy, and I think this book brings many of them to light in a fascinating way. Parts of the narrative starting as others end, people’s stories ending only also to begin. Themes and motifs running through and so many questions begged with so precious few answers given.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
This wasn’t a bad thing, necessarily. But it wasn’t what I had expected. I enjoyed meeting characters we had only really heard about and barely met, and seeing more of their motivations and feelings. Saul, the lighthouse keeper, was most definitely my favourite, and his chapters were always a delight. They were also bittersweet, as we already know where his story ends. Seeing him get there was heart-wrenching. The Director was, in some ways, the most interesting. Her story bridges the gap between the first two books in a lot of ways.
There are so many links and chains and circles in this trilogy, and I think this book brings many of them to light in a fascinating way. Parts of the narrative starting as others end, people’s stories ending only also to begin. Themes and motifs running through and so many questions begged with so precious few answers given.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
The focus was heavily on the characters’ relationships and development. Having agreed to work together, they need to figure out what that looks like—what their goals are and how to achieve them.
Seeing this group of women with different histories, different priorities, and different views come together to become a family and work together was a delight. I love them all. While the story and what they’re fighting for is important and driving the plot, it is them as people that drives the heart of the story.
And the art. The art. The way the tones and colours change with the mood of the scene. The use of text outside of speech. The exquisite composition and showcasing of negative space. The comical faces in brawls and shocking moments. Pan’s sparkly rainbow jumpsuit! Scottie’s freckles!!
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Seeing this group of women with different histories, different priorities, and different views come together to become a family and work together was a delight. I love them all. While the story and what they’re fighting for is important and driving the plot, it is them as people that drives the heart of the story.
And the art. The art. The way the tones and colours change with the mood of the scene. The use of text outside of speech. The exquisite composition and showcasing of negative space. The comical faces in brawls and shocking moments. Pan’s sparkly rainbow jumpsuit! Scottie’s freckles!!
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
What brings the story—Bob’s life—together, is the present day sections that bookend the others. The lessons learnt in his life, how they brought him to where he is now, gave him the ability to embrace the people and the opportunities crossing his path. How to let himself be happy.
Every person we meet, even the ones that only appear briefly and have only a few lines, have an immense amount of character. Everyone feels so unapologetically themselves, and I just flipping adore that so much. I feel it’s what deWitt truly excels at, and the thing that makes me want to live inside one of his books.
There were a couple of moments in the book that literally brought me to tears. A couple more that made me gasp in shock. But overwhelmingly this book made me laugh. I laughed so much, out loud, and without shame. Undoubtedly, the biggest laugh I had came at the very end of the book, leaving me cackling with joy and cementing the five stars I gave it.
A full review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Every person we meet, even the ones that only appear briefly and have only a few lines, have an immense amount of character. Everyone feels so unapologetically themselves, and I just flipping adore that so much. I feel it’s what deWitt truly excels at, and the thing that makes me want to live inside one of his books.
There were a couple of moments in the book that literally brought me to tears. A couple more that made me gasp in shock. But overwhelmingly this book made me laugh. I laughed so much, out loud, and without shame. Undoubtedly, the biggest laugh I had came at the very end of the book, leaving me cackling with joy and cementing the five stars I gave it.
A full review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
The Two Doctors Górski by Isaac Fellman
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The most interesting aspect for me were the title characters. Marec Górski and his homunculus, Ariel. The idea of syphoning off the parts of yourself you dislike to make a new person, and the profound conflict that creates was morbidly compelling. Marec hated those aspects of himself so much he gave them away, but then leant heavily on Ariel emotionally. Is it easier to accept those parts of yourself when they are no longer actually a part of you? It’s a fascinating psychological concept and I could speculate and theorise on it all day.
We learn about both Górskis through Annae, who interacts with them both but also reads both their minds. Annae is another character I could analyse for a while. On the surface she seems fairly simple to understand, but there is depth to her. It’s a complex and murky depth that I think she herself is reluctant to explore. Instead, she reaches out into others’ minds to discover what they make of her. It leaves her much more focused on everyone’s thoughts and feelings but her own.
I loved the ending. It leaves just enough unspecified for plenty of room for speculation, but also lets us know where the characters are a little further down the line. What place they are in compared to where they were during the events in the story. And what I particularly loved was the ultimate correlation between Marec and Annae—those that can’t do…
A slightly longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
We learn about both Górskis through Annae, who interacts with them both but also reads both their minds. Annae is another character I could analyse for a while. On the surface she seems fairly simple to understand, but there is depth to her. It’s a complex and murky depth that I think she herself is reluctant to explore. Instead, she reaches out into others’ minds to discover what they make of her. It leaves her much more focused on everyone’s thoughts and feelings but her own.
I loved the ending. It leaves just enough unspecified for plenty of room for speculation, but also lets us know where the characters are a little further down the line. What place they are in compared to where they were during the events in the story. And what I particularly loved was the ultimate correlation between Marec and Annae—those that can’t do…
A slightly longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
The Trials of Koli by M.R. Carey
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
My biggest criticism of the book is that is was a little slow to get going. Travelling, camping, contemplating. Not bad things, per se, but not exactly an enticing start, either.
Once Koli and co reach Birmagen the story actually starts to pick up. It follows them on a months-long, several seasons journey, and while I got a genuine sense of time passing as things happened and characters evolved, it didn’t drag. Seeing more of this world as well as what’s left behind of the old one was fascinating. More tech and threats posed by people from other places, streets of bones and decayed buildings. I couldn’t get enough. The characters are what truly drive Koli’s story. Koli himself is so naive in many ways yet so unintentionally wise in others. He is the perfect narrator for this story.
While Koli’s story is very much a group effort, with each character bringing something to their journey and goals. Spinner’s story, however, is very much a one-woman show.
Spinner is all but alone while learning the secrets of the Ramparts and their tech back in Mythen Rood. Despite it all being new to her, she asks the right questions and has the right kind of intelligence to get results.
The end of both stories left me desperate for more.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Once Koli and co reach Birmagen the story actually starts to pick up. It follows them on a months-long, several seasons journey, and while I got a genuine sense of time passing as things happened and characters evolved, it didn’t drag. Seeing more of this world as well as what’s left behind of the old one was fascinating. More tech and threats posed by people from other places, streets of bones and decayed buildings. I couldn’t get enough. The characters are what truly drive Koli’s story. Koli himself is so naive in many ways yet so unintentionally wise in others. He is the perfect narrator for this story.
While Koli’s story is very much a group effort, with each character bringing something to their journey and goals. Spinner’s story, however, is very much a one-woman show.
Spinner is all but alone while learning the secrets of the Ramparts and their tech back in Mythen Rood. Despite it all being new to her, she asks the right questions and has the right kind of intelligence to get results.
The end of both stories left me desperate for more.
A longer review can be read on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Square Eyes by Luke Jones, Anna Mill
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story explores ideas around identity, reality, memory, and freedom. As the back of the book itself says: In a city built on digital illusion, who really holds the power? In some ways these concepts are thrown at the reader so obviously and clearly, but it’s also open enough that the reader needs to do some work themself to put more subtle pieces together and consider what life in a world like this would genuinely be like (spoiler: it’s not good).
While the story and concepts are interesting, it is truly the art that brings them to life. It’s outstanding. The level of detail, use of colour, the overlaying of reality with the digital world, the digital interfaces, the use of negative space. Every page, every frame, is an entire piece of art worthy of being framed and hung. I took my time reading this book in order to fully soak up the art and I never got tired of looking at the pages.
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
While the story and concepts are interesting, it is truly the art that brings them to life. It’s outstanding. The level of detail, use of colour, the overlaying of reality with the digital world, the digital interfaces, the use of negative space. Every page, every frame, is an entire piece of art worthy of being framed and hung. I took my time reading this book in order to fully soak up the art and I never got tired of looking at the pages.
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Like the first book, this one also balances the focus between characters and plot around the mysteries of Area X… and perhaps how very entwined they are. We learn about the people who have been working at Southern Reach for so, so many years, how they are each acutely peculiar in their own way and the eerie, creeping, unsettling suspicion that Area X is somehow the reason for that.
I can’t express just how great the writing is. It’s not showy or obvious, it’s just so, so well crafted. The meaningful and dangerously eerie elements of the Southern Reach and Area X are juxtapositioned with reluctantly humorous moments of levity in some of Control’s observations and takeaways. At times while reading I almost felt myself falling into a trance along with Control—his mindset and experiences felt so well captured.
And somehow, amongst it all, with so much more information on the table… I still feel just as far away from any answers. I absolutely freaking love it. At this point, I’m not here for the answers. I don’t want everything explained and to suddenly make sense. I’m here for the journey. The vibes. The absolute off the wall wild speculation. I want to experience the terroir of it all.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.
I can’t express just how great the writing is. It’s not showy or obvious, it’s just so, so well crafted. The meaningful and dangerously eerie elements of the Southern Reach and Area X are juxtapositioned with reluctantly humorous moments of levity in some of Control’s observations and takeaways. At times while reading I almost felt myself falling into a trance along with Control—his mindset and experiences felt so well captured.
And somehow, amongst it all, with so much more information on the table… I still feel just as far away from any answers. I absolutely freaking love it. At this point, I’m not here for the answers. I don’t want everything explained and to suddenly make sense. I’m here for the journey. The vibes. The absolute off the wall wild speculation. I want to experience the terroir of it all.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.