Julie
Not sure what to think of this one. Kind of slow, not really too interesting characters, didn't grab me from the start but it was good enough to finish and then buy the 2nd book in the series. This might be one of those books that if you read it twice you get more out of it. There isn't a ton of action but there was enough to keep me curious and keep me reading. The ending was good, nothing left out to wonder about, and I'm curious what the whole trilogy will bring. We will see as I've already started the 2nd book.
This is the 6th book of the two series that I've read from [a:Trudi Canavan 15890 Trudi Canavan http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1194378660p2/15890.jpg] and I actually like the Traitor Spy Trilogy better than the Black Magician Trilogy. Based on the few reviews I looked at before going into the second trilogy I was surprised this was the case because so many like the first trilogy better. The second trilogy is more subtle and more realistic about the issues we all have to consider in our lives. There isn't black and white there are always exceptions to the rules and how we deal with them is the story. The second trilogy explores this more and made me think more than the first trilogy. There were a lot of unknowns in the first trilogy and because we didn't know the main character of Akkarin very well he wasn't that fleshed out. I also felt that some of the characters were just there while and the actual storyline wasn't that complicated.
I really enjoyed this book and it makes me want to start to re-read the whole series. I've been reading a lot of books out of the Fantasy genre and it just seems to take longer to read them, I flew through this book. I instantly connected with Magda and her struggles and enjoyed reading how the Confessor was born. The only reason it doesn't rate a five, was that it's hard to get fives and although I enjoyed the book it didn't knock my socks off. As I get older, it takes more and more to do this. Plus knowing the series and the World it is written in already from the previous books, it would be hard to do this as this book tells you the beginning and explains how things were and now you get an idea of how history distorted events. Terry Goodkind always writes a good tale and mixes in somethings to think about.
A friend recommended this book to me after I told him I was into SciFi/Fantasy. I probably should have told him that I'm more into the Fantasy side. I saw that this book was highly recommended and won a ton of awards but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I think that it was just too out there. I had trouble following the storyline or actually recognizing the story line. In fact, I had to go back and read the end a couple of times as I thought I was missing something. After reading the couple of pages at the end from another author talking about [a:William Gibson 9226 William Gibson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1282769227p2/9226.jpg] I got more from what the book was about then the book itself. I guess I just don't like to go that deep into reading my books. However, I also had similar feelings about the Mars trilogy from [a:Kim Stanley Robinson 1858 Kim Stanley Robinson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217240935p2/1858.jpg] and I find myself thinking of those books in different situations. I really don't see that happening with this book as there wasn't much “human” interactions or I didn't get it at least. I need to have more personal relationship development than this book provided.
This was a thinking book, it didn't draw me in every night but it made me think. I did want to know more about Shadow and how he was going to react to things. I think that Shadow was portrayed as an everyday sort of guy and that made him relatable. I liked the fact that the books was based on old religion and new religions that we may not even think about as religions. Overall the premise of the book was interesting and like I said it made me think in different ways which I always enjoy.
These books are ok, not great just ok. I'm finding I like the story of the bankers much more than the supernatural story of the “spider cult”. It has taking such a long time for the story to develop and I guess I'm just not getting into it as much as I'd like to. However, saying that it is interesting that the “big bad” in the story is subtly moving and taking over. I do think that the author is trying to make a point as to what can happen if you don't keep your eyes open to evil in the world. Sometimes it isn't as cut and dry or black and white as we all believe it to be. That evil can be described as truth and if not common sense is applied then terrible things can happen. Specifically, I kind of refer back to what happen in Germany with the rise of Hitler and how the Holocaust was allowed to happen.
This is the second series that I've read in the past couple of weeks that was self published. This book was better written right off the bat and I didn't have a problem diving into the book. The storyline was great and I was immediately transported to the land the author was portraying. It was a simple, clean and enjoyable read. I didn't have to think too hard and I was entertain. The magic system was there but not the forefront of the book which if there was one issue I had that was it. I'm not really sure what the magic system is but I just went with it and I'm sure that I'll learn more in the next book.
The 2nd book in the series is much easier to read than the first and the author seems to have found her voice and I can't wait to read more. The story and characters have found their rhythm, although there are still a few surprises. The magic system is new and unique and I look forward to the next books in the series whenever they come out.
The beginning of this book was a bit hard to follow. I liked the characters and the storyline but the way the characters were introduced was hard to follow. Where did they come from? was a thought that I had a couple of times. I originally got this book as it was free through amazon.com and I'm glad I did as the author was self published at the time. I've already read the 2nd book in the series and I'm looking forward to the next books as well. I've heard that the author now has a publisher and is rewriting or rather re-editing this book so I look forward to reading the new and improved version. I suspect that my rating will go up after that and I won't be as confused during the first half of the book.
Three quick reads. This book as three complete storylines in one book with only a few relationships that connect them together besides the overall “rules” of the Night World. The characters are pretty basic no one to really cheer for. It's more that someone is telling you their story over a beer or you are gossiping over coffee about someone's life.
This whole series was a quick read for me, done in 2 1/2 days. The last book of the series ties up the rebellion you knew was coming. With the introduction of a whole unknown allies from a place that you thought was destroyed. Kathniss has more allies to fight with against the President and to fight with personally. Again, Kathniss as a reluctant hero she sees fights for her friends and family but never really wants to see the whole picture. The whole picture may overwhelm her even though she is the symbol the rebellion rallies behind. As a symbol, her greatest moments are those that aren't staged that are her speaking from her heart. And I think that is the key to the overall series. We have a girl that never wanted this, that just wants to survive under overwhelming odds. She hardly dreams she just lives.
The second in a series by [a:Suzanne Collins 153394 Suzanne Collins http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1285984570p2/153394.jpg] and this book brings up even more of the politics of the land. While book one was more about survival and on a micro scale this book brings in the under-riding politics and is more sinister on the macro scale. You really start to see how manipulative the government is and what they are willing to do maintain power. This book widens its focus and one starts to really understand the true scope of how everything is controlled.
I started reading this book because of all the hype because of the movie opening. It seemed like it would be right up my alley as far as a story-line, and it was. You can tell that this book was characterized as a YA book but it was still entertaining. More substance than the other hyped books...Twilight and I enjoyed it. Loved the strong female character and the the afterthoughts that come up after thinking about if this world could ever develop in ours. There was something to think about afterwards, which is always a good thing.
I heard an interview while driving down to Louisiana from Frank Calabrese, Jr. on a public radio station. It sounded interesting so I thought I'd buy the book. While the story was interesting the writing was not so good, which took a bit away from the story. But then again, this guy was groomed to be a mobster not a writer. I'm glad that his father got what he deserved.
I think I should have re-read the entire series before I read this book. I have forgotten many details. However [a:George R.R. Martin 346732 George R.R. Martin http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1195658637p2/346732.jpg] again has surprised me. I gasped out loud at a couple of events. I just hope that we get the next book faster than we did this one.
After reading the first two books in this series I thought it may get a little stale but I found myself enjoying this book as well. At the end I couldn't put it down either. I thought that I had figured out [a:Jennifer Donnelly 36346 Jennifer Donnelly http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg]'s reading style and although I did see somethings coming. I was totally surprised on others, and not altogether happy about some of those surprises. Which in my opinion is a good thing. Keeping me guessing is the way to keep me reading. Again, the author does a great job with strong female characters and I love that I'm learning a bit about history as well. Not too much mind you as I'm not a history buff but I like that the characters followed and expanded my understanding of historical events.
I'm flying through these books. Again, [a:Jennifer Donnelly (Author) 4996970 Jennifer Donnelly (Author) http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] has told a honest and great story for the time. She again has choose a great strong female character who battles through the time and against great odds. In the end this is a love story like all the “Rose” books are but I'm loving the historical references and the movement to different parts of the world.
This book was recommended by a friend and I enjoy it immensely. I love strong feminine characters and the heroine in this book is just grand. I also loved the voice in this book as the characters English cockney accents were front and center. The author kept it real and you feel like you are experiencing the time and place that they are living. I also liked that it revolved around tea, such a different way to experience the time period. You learn a bit about it all while rooting for the characters to make it big!!
I jumped right in to this second book after tearing through the first one. I'm glad that the story was connected to the first but in many ways all together different. I'm also glad that our heroine started showing some cracks. I love seeing a character develop into something different or become more complexed. [a:Stieg Larsson 706255 Stieg Larsson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1246466225p2/706255.jpg] has a great storytelling voice and it is disappointing that we lost him so early.
I've been meaning to read this book for a very long time, and since my friend Cynthia was reading it and said it was very good I moved it up the To Be Read list and made it happen. I really enjoyed the intrigue and characters. Different that my usual reading material and it really held my interest and I was always wondering what is next. Not too deep of a book but I do think that the “Lisbeth” character was a deeper character than most and I look forward to meeting her more in the next books. My only probably is that I need to get some work done and diving in to the next book right now probably isn't the best idea. I was up to 11:30 last night and I finished the book while on the elliptical at the gym this morning. I NEVER read while working out but I NEEDED to finish the book!
As I read further in this series I like it more. I don't like it a ton but I liked this book better than the first in the series: [b:Red Mars 77507 Red Mars (Mars Trilogy, #1) Kim Stanley Robinson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320484020s/77507.jpg 40712]. It continues to hold my interest and I want to find out what happens to the characters. I may like this book better because I like the point of view of the characters that are highlighted in this second book rather than those from the first. [a:Kim Stanley Robinson 1858 Kim Stanley Robinson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217240935p2/1858.jpg] writes the books in a series of sections from one character's point of view. Which in this case is a good thing because without it I may have gotten bored and not continued with the books. Usually when a author does write this way I'm disappointed to leave that point of view but in this case it allows me to be refreshed and continue on. I do think there are some significant holes in the science but I don't pay particular attention to this as a reader. I read to be entertained so as long as there is consistency in the story and no glaring or jarring discrepancies in the way the author builds their universe I accept and move on.
This book is one of those books you don't know what to think of. It received all sorts of awards but I'm not sure why. I kept on thinking why I'm I continuing to read this book, it isn't very interesting. I'm not usually a sci-fi person, the story kind of drags along but I wanted to find out what happened to those characters I had been following. I say this but I've also just bought the 2nd book and I plan on reading it as well. So I guess the development of Mars isn't really that interesting to me but where the characters go and why is enough to hold my interest and to continue on.
