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whatsheread's Reviews (2.3k)
MASQUERADE OF THE HEART by Katy Rose Pool is a fantastic ending to a duology that melts your heart. Once you get past the self-sacrifice for your love trope, the rest of the story is exciting and full of surprises. Ms. Pool’s resolution to the many problems Marlow faces may be a little too clean, but it still satisfies as it also shows that you can’t win them all. I particularly love how Marlow truly acts her age. She is very much still a teenager making rash decisions and creating many avoidable mistakes. However, she shows her growing maturity in taking ownership of those mistakes and seeking to rectify them. At the end of the day, however, my heart belongs to Adrius, who once again is as golden, as melancholic, and as hopelessly in love as he was in the first book. MASQUERADE OF THE HEART ends Ms. Pool’s second series, and with it she becomes a must-read author for me. Her ability to create fantasy that is somehow realistic in feel despite any magic is excellent. I can’t wait to see what she has for us next!
SONG OF THE SIX REALMS by Judy I. Lin is a beautiful story that is almost lyrical in its prose. The entire narrative has an ethereal quality to it that, I feel, mimics Xue’s music. The romance between Xue and the Duke is sweet in its naivety. And it is lovely to watch Xue grow in confidence and strength as she learns to fight for herself. SONG OF THE SIX REALMS is a welcome break from all of the Eurocentric fairy tales that exist, and I will gladly read anything else Ms. Lin publishes.
WOW! THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean is an intense thriller where you know from the start that what you see is not the whole truth but have no idea in which direction the story will go. The identity of the abductors took me by complete surprise, as did another reveal at the end. With Ellie’s story touching on not just abduction cases but also misogyny, racism, and the power of wealth in the justice system, it is as timely as it is enlightening. THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK is a welcome addition to the thriller genre, and I look forward to reading what Ms. Jean publishes next!
THE FIREBORNE BLADE by Charlotte Bond is a good example of a novella that does not work for me. While there is a good amount of action that is both interesting and suspenseful, the story lacks the depth that would put the action into context. There is little world-building and no character development. We know nothing about Maddileh’s past, even though she thinks about her parents and about going home to them. We don’t know what made Maddileh pursue a life as a knight, nor do we really get a full explanation for why the Fireborne Blade is so important to her. We don’t even know why it is so special other than the fact that it is in a dragon’s lair. As for the dragons, we get glimpses that not all of the dragon slaying stories Maddileh knows are true, but nothing comes of that knowledge. To me, THE FIREBORNE BLADE would be better as a much longer novel, one that would afford Ms. Bond the room to develop her world and her characters. As it stands, it needs a detailed backstory, complete with a better picture of the world Maddileh inhabits, to make it complete. Right now, THE FIREBORNE BLADE is all action with the rest of the story and the necessary context missing.
WHEN AMONG CROWS by Veronica Roth had me from the very first sentence. After all, when the author herself describes this novella as The Wizard of Ox meets The Witcher, it is difficult to resist. Me? I’m a sucker for any story about Polish mythology, and WHEN AMONG CROWS has that and more. In the true Polish spirit, so many of the characters are resigned in their self-sacrifices and tortured by their past deeds, but they all obtain the peace they seek. WHEN AMONG CROWS is a rarity among short stories in that Ms. Roth is able to not only create a fully visualized world and tell an entire story arc, but she also includes the necessary backstory and character development to engender empathy for the characters. While I am not normally a fan of novellas because they tend to lack the story depth I enjoy, this is the second of Ms. Roth’s novellas I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t wait to see what she does next!
MIND GAMES is yet another stellar novel by Nora Roberts. Breaking from her normal story formula, MIND GAMES focuses less on the criminal element’s need for revenge and more about the importance of relationships and the challenges that come with opening yourself up to someone else. It is a sweet story, somewhat sappy and a bit wholesome in its rural setting complete with home-cooked meals made with ingredients fresh from the garden, but I find it a balm to the soul in these turbulent times. MIND GAMES reminds us that we choose our families, and there is beauty and love where you least expect to find it.
COURT OF WANDERERS is a satisfying conclusion to an entertaining duology. I appreciate Mx. Chupeco’s fresh take on the vampire myth. The spice level is lower than I expected, but I appreciate the tact and humor of certain bedroom scenes. The mystery remains intriguing until the end, and there is plenty of action to engage the mind. The redemption arcs for various characters are also good, nothing too ground-breaking but satisfying nonetheless. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a different vampire story with minimal spice.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book two in Olivie Blake's The Atlas series, THE ATLAS PARADOX, is a bit of a paradox itself. While the story picks up shortly after the events of the first book and spans the initiates' second year at the Society, there isn't much in the way of action. And yet, despite the lack of action or significant plot development, the story grows ever more complex.
In my notes, I describe THE ATLAS PARADOX as a cerebral novel, maybe even more than the first book. In that, we were still meeting the characters, learning the world of the Society, and discovering this world's magic. In THE ATLAS PARADOX, we need none of that, and Ms. Blake wisely does not include any of it in her sequel. Instead, we get 400 pages of astrophysical theories, telepathic scenes, and dream hopping, all to explore what it means to have power and what changes having power will bring to someone.
While I am not a fan of any book that requires me to interpret what I read, I enjoyed every last page of THE ATLAS PARADOX. I might not have understood half of it and am still fuzzy on what certain characters can do, but the story is like a dream. In saying that I mean that the story feels very nebulous, very ethereal, as if you aren't supposed to understand all of it but rather pull out the salient points and learn from them. I enjoy these characters, none of whom are enjoyable, and all of whom suffer from narcissism and neuroses.
The idea we are left with as THE ATLAS PARADOX ends, that people in power or who have power will never do the right thing for the greater good, is a chilling one. At the same time, you don't have to look hard or long to find examples that fit this narrative in real life. And, just like in real life, it is difficult to discern the Big Bads in THE ATLAS PARADOX. Personally, I find the morally gray ground of the novel fascinating; I am excited to see how Ms. Blake brings it all together.
In my notes, I describe THE ATLAS PARADOX as a cerebral novel, maybe even more than the first book. In that, we were still meeting the characters, learning the world of the Society, and discovering this world's magic. In THE ATLAS PARADOX, we need none of that, and Ms. Blake wisely does not include any of it in her sequel. Instead, we get 400 pages of astrophysical theories, telepathic scenes, and dream hopping, all to explore what it means to have power and what changes having power will bring to someone.
While I am not a fan of any book that requires me to interpret what I read, I enjoyed every last page of THE ATLAS PARADOX. I might not have understood half of it and am still fuzzy on what certain characters can do, but the story is like a dream. In saying that I mean that the story feels very nebulous, very ethereal, as if you aren't supposed to understand all of it but rather pull out the salient points and learn from them. I enjoy these characters, none of whom are enjoyable, and all of whom suffer from narcissism and neuroses.
The idea we are left with as THE ATLAS PARADOX ends, that people in power or who have power will never do the right thing for the greater good, is a chilling one. At the same time, you don't have to look hard or long to find examples that fit this narrative in real life. And, just like in real life, it is difficult to discern the Big Bads in THE ATLAS PARADOX. Personally, I find the morally gray ground of the novel fascinating; I am excited to see how Ms. Blake brings it all together.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The final novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, THE LAST OLYMPIAN, is everything a final novel should be. There is no build-up because Mr. Riordan took care of that in the first four books. Neither does he make readers wait for the promised battle. He doesn't add any last-minute characters. Instead, we have nonstop action and the unveiling of long-held secrets.
Even better, Percy finally shows some of the maturity I would expect to see from a teenager who was forced to grow up at a young age. He is clever with his battle tactics, compassionate where necessary but brutal when needed. After feeling like Percy sounded too young and naive in books three and four given his experiences, it is a treat to get a glimpse of what Percy would be like as an adult.
I'll also say that even though I wasn't a huge Percy and Annabeth fan, the ending of THE LAST OLYMPIAN was adorable. Mr. Riordan handled the awkwardness and Percy's nervousness with delicacy and just a slight touch of humor. I imagine there was more than one child who used those scenes as motivation for their own awkward romantic encounters.
There is no doubt that THE LAST OLYMPIAN is the best book in the series. It contains within its pages everything I was hoping to see in previous books culminating in the battle for Olympus. I thought the battle scenes to be well-written, detailed without being graphic, and touching on fallen comrades and foes with the appropriate level of gravitas. While Mr. Riordan sets up the next series with a well-timed prophecy, I consider my time with Percy Jackson and friends at an end, with a final book that provides enough closure to satisfy me.
Even better, Percy finally shows some of the maturity I would expect to see from a teenager who was forced to grow up at a young age. He is clever with his battle tactics, compassionate where necessary but brutal when needed. After feeling like Percy sounded too young and naive in books three and four given his experiences, it is a treat to get a glimpse of what Percy would be like as an adult.
I'll also say that even though I wasn't a huge Percy and Annabeth fan, the ending of THE LAST OLYMPIAN was adorable. Mr. Riordan handled the awkwardness and Percy's nervousness with delicacy and just a slight touch of humor. I imagine there was more than one child who used those scenes as motivation for their own awkward romantic encounters.
There is no doubt that THE LAST OLYMPIAN is the best book in the series. It contains within its pages everything I was hoping to see in previous books culminating in the battle for Olympus. I thought the battle scenes to be well-written, detailed without being graphic, and touching on fallen comrades and foes with the appropriate level of gravitas. While Mr. Riordan sets up the next series with a well-timed prophecy, I consider my time with Percy Jackson and friends at an end, with a final book that provides enough closure to satisfy me.
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
Book nineteen in J. D. Robb's In Death series is VISIONS IN DEATH. As usual, Eve must solve a heinous crime while balancing her life as a billionaire's wife. This time, the murderer hits a little too close to home, and Eve has to rush to find the killer before he attacks another person she loves.
Some of Eve's cases have been terrible but not disturbing. In VISIONS OF DEATH, the murders are awful, made worse by the fact that Eve meets with a psychic who relives the murders in detail. If Ms. Robb was writing these books today, this one would definitely have a trigger warning at the beginning.
What eases some of the trauma is watching Eve learn what it means to have friends and what it means to be a friend. Intimate dinner parties, saying yes to a friend's request for help, and sharing your most private secret - these seem like such easy things, but for Eve, they are monumental steps forward.
Susan Erickson remains one of the best narrators. In the last book, you could tell she suffered from a cold because her character voices were off. Roarke's Irish lilt wasn't quite there. Peabody's voice was lower. In VISIONS IN DEATH, she recovered from whatever was ailing her, and everyone sounds like they should.
Nineteen books in, and Eve Dallas' story keeps getting better. I love seeing her grow as much as I enjoy the reminders of how much more she needs to heal. (The scene with Mavis asking Roarke and Eve for a huge favor is particularly entertaining.) The murders in VISIONS IN DEATH are just as fascinating and disturbing as the first few. I can't wait to see what is next!
Some of Eve's cases have been terrible but not disturbing. In VISIONS OF DEATH, the murders are awful, made worse by the fact that Eve meets with a psychic who relives the murders in detail. If Ms. Robb was writing these books today, this one would definitely have a trigger warning at the beginning.
What eases some of the trauma is watching Eve learn what it means to have friends and what it means to be a friend. Intimate dinner parties, saying yes to a friend's request for help, and sharing your most private secret - these seem like such easy things, but for Eve, they are monumental steps forward.
Susan Erickson remains one of the best narrators. In the last book, you could tell she suffered from a cold because her character voices were off. Roarke's Irish lilt wasn't quite there. Peabody's voice was lower. In VISIONS IN DEATH, she recovered from whatever was ailing her, and everyone sounds like they should.
Nineteen books in, and Eve Dallas' story keeps getting better. I love seeing her grow as much as I enjoy the reminders of how much more she needs to heal. (The scene with Mavis asking Roarke and Eve for a huge favor is particularly entertaining.) The murders in VISIONS IN DEATH are just as fascinating and disturbing as the first few. I can't wait to see what is next!