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writingmidnight96's Reviews (53)
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This might be my new favorite book in the series? The last book was the best book for Egwene, and the worst book for Mat because he wasn't in it, and those two are my favorite characters. This book is the opposite, so my Thrill at seeing Mat again was hampered a bit by the fact that Egwene is barely in this one. But she does appear briefly and Mat has all kinds of nonsense going on what with Meeting Tuon and breaking the Aes Sedai out of Ebu Dar. I really enjoyed Seeing Mat regain some Agency from his last appearance, and Nynaeve got a very different light shed on her this go around, both in her relationship to Lan and to Rand.
I have been critical of Robert Jordan's approach to Romance thus far in the series (Mostly because I feel like a lot of it sort of swings in from left field as fully formed infatuation with not enough ground work done, we're just sort of told characters love each other shortly before they are ripped away so they don't interact for like... 6 books and then it's just a lot of long distance pining). I understand that Romance is not a focal point of this series and every character has other stuff going on, so there may not be time to allow for that slower build that would either offer more variance or a more believable arc (For me). However, now that we are finally starting to see some of those relationships come to fruition in more concrete form I am finding the depth in how the characters interact after things are solidified much more satisfying.In particular Nynaeve and Lan feel so solid and supportive. The quiet moments between them really sell the depth of their connection and what they mean to each other. I'm also very pleased with the final resolution of Min/Rand/Elayne/Avienda into a polycule. Considering the time in which it was published and the fact that all the romance is closed door, I really appreciate the implication of queerness that is especially prominent with Elayne. I feel it's not out of cannon to interpret the interactions of the group as Min/Rand and Elayne/Avienda as sort of loosely 'primary' relationships with Elayne and Avienda both being bisexual and thus also involved with Rand. I really like how their character arcs have finally brought them together and made them feel like a cohesive unit of four people with a variety of relationships to each other, rather than a harem centered on Rand.
I have been critical of Robert Jordan's approach to Romance thus far in the series (Mostly because I feel like a lot of it sort of swings in from left field as fully formed infatuation with not enough ground work done, we're just sort of told characters love each other shortly before they are ripped away so they don't interact for like... 6 books and then it's just a lot of long distance pining). I understand that Romance is not a focal point of this series and every character has other stuff going on, so there may not be time to allow for that slower build that would either offer more variance or a more believable arc (For me). However, now that we are finally starting to see some of those relationships come to fruition in more concrete form I am finding the depth in how the characters interact after things are solidified much more satisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Slavery
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This was a reread of one of my old class books. I really enjoyed most of the read (more on that later), and generally find the book to be engaging. If you are at all interested in studying sociology or anthropology this is an essential read. Boaz is a good writer and was a fantastic anthropologist. The dichotomy of his 19th century vernacular paired with what are ostensibly very 20th century ideals can sometimes be a bit dissonant but ultimately makes the read more engaging in my personal opinion. I did occasionally get the sense that he was taking shots at his contemporaries with some of the more scathing lines but unfortunately lack the historical context to understand if there was any good tea there.
The book did have the unfortunate honor of being one of several I was in the middle of right as I was moving, and I did find it exceptionally difficult to jump back in with a chapter and a half left after the dust had settled. I would not recommend any kind of extended pause mid-chapter as a result.
The book did have the unfortunate honor of being one of several I was in the middle of right as I was moving, and I did find it exceptionally difficult to jump back in with a chapter and a half left after the dust had settled. I would not recommend any kind of extended pause mid-chapter as a result.
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
A very good, brief,broad strokes overview of the challenges faced by those working to solve homelessness on the large scale. If you are looking tfor the nitty specifics on how to start or run a program with this focus, this is not the right book, but if you're just starting to look into the issue, it's a great read. Written with accessible language, the author makes ample use of both statistics and easy to reference visual charts. They talk through what is most likely to work, and why, and what has not worked, and why, as well as the major causes of homelessness.
I read it for my small group at church and we were all very engaged with the text.
I read it for my small group at church and we were all very engaged with the text.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the author's first novel, and there are some points in the book where it feels like he hasn't quite found his own style. Especially around how the main character describes herself. It took me a minute to get into the book as a result, but once the plot kicked off we were in good shape and the novel as a whole was pretty entertaining. As the tension ramps up and the main character gets more invested the author does a great job of keeping you engaged. I found the ending a bit disappointing though. The tension doesn't so much resolve as it fizzles out and fall away. I was especially disappointed that there was no real resolution for Lena's inability to recreate the original Saint's Fog. The book felt like it was foreshadowing... something. Either the plant or the blight-y fuzz growing on it would resolve to a recreation that would help Jonathan or at least act as the cure tor the street drug at the end of the book. But instead, we just stop hearing about it and what the failure of it means for Lena at the end of the story? I also disliked the resolve of the love story in the background. I'm bisexual, and I'm all for women loving women as the resolution for a story, but in this instance, Jonathan had the better setup for a romantic resolution with Lena than Audrey did. These things considered, I think the last 80 pages or so needed one more round of edits to help resolve some of the plot threads either faster, so the tension doesn't fizzle, or in a way that gives more weight to the story beats earlier in the book. I would read the author's next book though, as with a little more polish and a little more time to refine his authorial voice I can see him writing something really great and really satisfying.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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:
Complicated
One of the best books for Egwene. Not enough Mat.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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 read the Golden Compass and the Subtle Knife as a kid, maybe in 4th or 5th grade. I had remembered a lot of the Golden Compass on my reread, and I had remembered odd specific details in the Subtle Knife, but rereading has been super satisfying. Watching Will and Lyra figure out how to work together and searching for their own goals without understanding exactly how everything is entwined is super satisfying.
I never got to The Amber Spyglass as a kid, but I'm very eager to see how their adventures continue in the next book.
I never got to The Amber Spyglass as a kid, but I'm very eager to see how their adventures continue in the next book.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wonderful as always. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Like all things to do with sex in Jordan’s writing, sexual assault happens behind closed doors so our interaction with it is with characters dealing with the emotional fallout after the fact. These theme is seen with two characters in the book. One female in the early chapters and one male in the second half of the book.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love this series. I do have the sense that things are getting slowly darker, slowly more serious as time is continuing to move on. Still light hearted, but I am so looking forward to seeing the cast engage with slowly but steadily higher stakes as we continue.