youcancallmefi's reviews
697 reviews

The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan

3.5

 

Hm. Not sure if this was second book syndrome or just laziness. 

I found the bits with the necromancy and horror very compelling and interesting and was hoping for a deep dive onto it but the book was punctuated with a lot of staggering dull moments and pointless mystery instead. 

Helena’s and Vonvalt relationship…..that was a choice that I am not a particularly big fan of. I think that must have tainted my overall enjoyment of the book as it also tarnished Helena’s behaviour (hating and getting jealous immediately of a female justice as soon she shows up….no). I am not a massive fan of romance but I do enjoy when they benefit the plot but it became almost central, or at least it was there the whole time and in every action and I did not enjoy that. 

I didn’t feel as immersed on this one as I found myself on book one. 

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan

4.75

 

Colonialism, Politics, Medieval setting and a touch of necromancy with a broody main male character? Where do I sign up? 

This was everything I wanted and needed without asking for it. I was recommended this from a few people and did not disappoint. 

I love heavy politics laced with religion. I find the debate so interesting and difficult to navigate and that’s the main basis for this book. At what point it is justifiable what we are doing for the greater good and justice when we are stepping the line as the enemy? 

 

My only nitpick with this is the main female character, Helena. I understand she is young and though naïve, but I found her slightly…annoying. However, I respect the way she the story is narrated through her POV. There’s a heavy feeling of dread through her retrospective narration and I really appreciate that. 

The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

• 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

4.0

How can someone construct such a meticulous world, politics and main character is beyond my comprehension. 
This was jarring, suffocating and emotional in all the heightened ways. 
I have massive whiplash from this.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

• 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

 

You can see this as JUST a story of a mother telling her daughters about her youth and fleeing relationship with an actor. Or you can see this as a woman sharing her life lessons, regrets, hopes and dreams, reminiscing about her young love with an actor and how life is simple yet complicated in all nooks and crannies. 

I adore family stories and having Meryln Streep narrating this book was a master stroke. 

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

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

3.0

I'm just here for fun. which I did get from this book.
if something happens to Mustang in this series, i will go feral.

Water by John Boyne

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.5

 

John Boyne writing will never fail to unleash a million of raw emotions, all at once. Proof that you don’t need 600 pages to pack a punch in a story. 

Water is a beautiful portrait of sorrow, grief, motherhood and making peace with yourself.  Even if you have not experienced the horrific things our main character has (and I hope you never will) the author’s writing is so sublime tat makes you feel you are her, feeling it all under your skin, experiencing shock and heaviness in your heart. 

I am not sure what took me so long to pick this up, but I am so glad I finally did. I cannot wait for the rest of the elements novels to be released. 

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

 

DNF at 55% 

I struggled with this book, but I guess I should have managed my expectations a bit better. 

I gave it a fair shot but I can’t keep reading if at 50% mark I still have not connected with any character or plot point. The writing was all over the place and often it felt the author did not know where to take her characters. 

I wasn’t expecting to feel…bored. It felt like a massive chore to pick up this book. 

You can tell the author researched a lot to write this book. It is brutally realistic and no detail is left astray to setup the narrative but unfortunately that was pretty much the only good point of the book for me. 

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy. 

Panenka by Rónán Hession

5.0

 

A beautiful tale of vulnerability, personal redemption, love and family. 

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

3.0

 

I have tried to write this review multiple times, but since I’ve finished the book that I’ve felt conflicted in what I think about it. 

The best definition I can give to the plot is…. Uneven and foggy. The action picks up immediately where we left in Godkiller and the narrative continues to be presented in multiple POV. 

However, I felt that for most of the book nothing really happens and if it does, the pace changes so much that is hard to visualise the overall effect of what happened to the story.  

I never felt completely hooked as I was in Godkiller. 

There was a lot of build up to a separation between two of the characters and when eventually does, it’s only for a page or two. I also really missed more Kissen in this book and I felt her arch was….rather sloppy. I already had a feeling regarding the nature of Inara and was excited when I read it, but was not sure if the build-up to it was done in the best way possible. I can’t really put my finger on why and where. 

Maybe I had other hopes for the direction of the book. I don’t know. 

I do think that the world building and the magic system is so beautiful and well-constructed and the author’s writing is still phenomenal. 

The ending definitively makes me eager to read book three. 

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted slow-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? N/A

4.0

This was wholesome, comforting and cute.
I can't really say there is character development but they are cute, funny and endearing.
Protect Thimble at all costs!