Mairin

Arthurian legends?
Badass female characters?
A seductive and chaotic demon?

COUNT ME IN!

This book is such an eye opener. It deals with racism and speaking as a white girl I can't begin to imagine what's it's like but I felt that there from Bree.

Mental illness and grief is dealt with spectacularly in this book. Bree is forced to come to terms with losing her mother and what she did (by shoving it down and away) in a way that comes across as she's healing and not healed. Some authors like to make their characters be healed instead of continuing to struggle but on their way upward.


I am a sucker for Arthurian legends and Merlin. This took low fantasy to a knew level and I loved every second of it. The magic system was thought out enough that I understood it, the characters were well fleshed and Sel is an interesting and complex character which is why I love him


I did predict the ending to a point but there were two twists that took me by surprise.


Filled with emotion and relationships romantic and platonic, this book is a brilliant ride and one of the few I wanted to read again once I'd finished.

The author didn't pull any punches and Bree's reactions to the stress and grief old and new where genuine. The writing was well thought snd everyone needs to read this book.

I cannot wait to continue with Bree's adventure.

Meh. This book was meh all throughout

I enjoyed it but I kept waiting for them to escape sooner rather than have the whole Book be them escaping the Pit.
Main character is interesting enough but there's something lacking there that makes me want to love her.
And the twist at the end was so obvious the author told you in the first chapter. I'm furious that the MC didn't see it coming.
However, I like the magic system.
The author threaded some hooks throughout the story that makes me want to read book 2 but not enough as is usual for ending of book 1s.

I always vote up on goodreads but it's really a 2.5 ⭐️

A school that tries to kill you, with a hot dude around every corner protecting you from the school that is trying to kill you.

This book surprised me. At first I wasn't too keen on the voice, but as we moved into chapter 6 things started to pick up.
I still feel as if this story lacked something in the ingredients. It repeated itself a bit, with monsters trying to kill the Main Character Galadriel (El) and while the stakes increased, I like a story with more layers.
However, the ending was good. The Characters journey did make me want to continue.

This has got to be the weakest Hobb book I've read to date.

It was fine. Nothing much happened that I would expect from a Hobb book but I'm prepared to sit and wait for the emotional damage I know she'll give me.

I am enjoying that characters especially the dragons. She manages to make something so old come across so new.

But oh Hobb can write terrible men! First there was regal then Kyle who I thought could get no worse and now HEST. Please tell me he gets what's coming to him cause my god.

This book felt more of an introduction to the characters and the dragons. It teases the implications on what could happen because of the deformed dragons and hints at certain character arcs. A slow book but one I enjoyed. O feel book 2 and onwards is where a lot of the things I love about Hobb will come forth.

3.5

This was a meh book. It didn't grab my attention wholly (I listened to it) and I skimmed over some points.

MC was boring and lacked any character. I was far more interested in the side characters.

The story could have been interesting if the character was. Otherwise it was meh.

I feel you'd like this if you like kings of the wyld.

This book is amazing! Red rising hood but goes hunting for wolves and put a splash of what it's like to me a woman in this day and age?

Incredible.

It's told in 2nd person and that makes it all the more appealing. You get a deep understanding of what it's like to live in a world today where men refuse to believe woman when we speak up and blame us for their actions. Add the wolves to the mix and it's a brilliant metaphor.


The found family in this is everything I was after. Joined together from the experiences how they grew close and closer the more the opened up.

The ending I think needed a bit more of a heavier hit. More of a mention for it to hit stronger but I enjoyed it.

All the stars

I almost Dnfed this.
But when it started to get good is when it got really dark. It started off a little dark but then it got so much WORSE.
(Check all TW before jumping Into this one)

It took me a while to realise that we were working on two different time lines through the dual Povs. Alex is an incredible character in that she's not meant to be likeable, and yet you feel for her when you realise what she's gone through.
When the story started to join the dots together I couldn't put it down. There were some ending payoffs I suspected from the beginning of the book but it didn't take away the ending payoff.

Dark academia at its best with demons ghosts and down right terrible terrible people.

Overall, I enjoyed it.

Darker and darker with each book

The tale Of Tomas Pioty continues to fascinate me. I love how he's stuck in a bind, a man surviving from war and not a great person. Yet I love him. Yet, while he isn't the best person he doesn't abide cruelty and I love the harsh dealing of justice In this!

As a dark tale, there are some light themes. Friendship
At the front . But, like Tolkien I like seeing how these characters struggle with battle shock, the aftermath of war. It brings a lovely crash of humanity onto the pipes men, making them appear more human other than just killers.

Again, the narrator sold this book to me. Far better than reading the physical!

Even better on the reread !

One flesh one end.

I stayed up past my bedtime reading this (which I never do)

I listened to this first in audio and I missed a lot not to mention so many emotional connections between Gideon and Harrow.

There are few words to describe Gideon the Ninth.

Exceptional.

I DNFed this one. I wasn't too keen on the writing style and I didn't like Nimh. I loved the idea of above and below and with the gods. I liked north but... eh wasn't for me.

I may try reading it again but I don't know.

The idea of this book is amazing, brilliant and I wanted to love it.
But, I have so many problems with this book.

The writing style was bland. There was no emotion from the MC, and I wanted to DNF at page 100, but as this was a buddy read, I pushed through.

Never can I regain those moments back in my life.

First we have the Akeli, who can't die but can only if they receive a true death. Akeli are always women and they have to do a ritual of purity, when they reach 16, they cut themselves with a knife to see if their blood runs gold.

The theme of this book is pretty dark, I'd call it Grimdark and yet the characters, bar one, are happy and jolly naïve girls. It doesn't add up with the original theme. And, the author decides to tell us these bad things that have happened, with an empty attempt at trauma afterwards, instead of show. I understand it's a YA, but unless it's a MG book, which you wouldn't put these themes in anyway, it doesn't add up.


The pacing is so rushed I was left feeling like I've been in a bouncy castle and thrown around. It's jarring, not the smooth fast paced it was meant to be.

Characters.

The story is told from Deka's POV and the author made a terrible choice. It should have been told from Belcalis POV as she has the trauma, the motivation to go through with this revolution. Deka is doing as she's told and downright a BORING piece of fish.
I HATED Britta. The way she wrote her speech, as the only one with a farmgirl's tone, was jarring. I don't need you to remind me every damned time that she speaks that it's in an accent. Plus her personality is being loyal. That's it.
The side characters were there simply to get Deka out of trouble and I hated it.
Belcalis is the only character that held my interest but we don't see much of her.

Deka, boring, bland, but also her personality is all over the place. One moment she is piously religious, the next she renounces but then she's back to being religious again. She says things and is told things but later she conveniently forgets because of PLOT!

Honestly, I felt like I was being treated like a dump little kid who couldn't add up 1+2.

PLOT:

The whole POINT of this plot was to for White Hands, (the fuck is that name? ) to keep a secret from the other Aleki when she COULD HAVE TOLD THEM FROM THE BEGINNING!

‘I can't tell you now, you aren't ready'

BULLSHIT!

There was absolutely no reason for that to be kept a secret as, from their vantage point in the desert, where they are being looked after by a band of boy warriors they are training with, and a bunch of Shadow assassins (which are women and in this society the women can't have any say so that's contradicting) it's a far better position for the revolution instead of killing their own kind to have this big battle/showdown with the Emperor.

Talking of the Emperor. He let White Hands out of her prison to use her, was foolish and stupid and only served the plot.

Honestly, White Hands shouldn't have been needed in this story.

WORLDBUILDING;

It was bland and I wanted more. Not to mention the animals were weird and we're given no explanation. If Deka knew of this stuff, I understand and we still need an explanation, but if she didn't we still need an explanation and her curiosity.

This book would have served better in 3rd POV

SubPlot;s. The author set up a subplot with the Deathshrieks and I expected more from that, but it was just left to the wind.

Some of the scenes were pointless, if not downright stupid and only to serve an emotional connect which I never felt as it was done so poorly. Like Kieta was sent away only to be caught by the Emperor. STUPID!

And the Love Interest. She tells us they hang out, ‘embraced' is used way too much but she never meant she kissed him. Then the kiss scene arrives and she has a severed head and the way it's described...
‘Sparks fly across my skin'

Fucking WERID. Who does that?

And the Love interest was forced. Kieta was there to serve plot, there was no connection because we weren't shown. One moment he hated all Aleki, as everyone does, the next it's just gone? There is no explanation for it.

I could have looked past the Chosen One Trope if for the fact that she didn't put in a resurrection trope, and Britta just comes back alive because she commanded it? I hate it soooooo much!

THE ENDING;

What the hell was the ending? The character's captured for ‘emotional connecting and conflict' were swept away almost instantly so what was the point in that? And the battle. Apparently the emperor can now move really fast? And he beat Deka, but then she rose up and just killed him? WTF? It was over so quickly. And everyone just stood by and watched? I expected much more.

But again, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN NESACARY IF WHITE HANDS HAD TOLD THE FUCKING TRUTH IN THE FIRST PLACE.


There are so many problems with this book. The themes handles, like sexisms', torture, rape were done so poorly and brushed to the side, I can't imagine what people who have suffered through that would feel.

I really do not recommend, and if I could give it minus stars, I would.

This needs a whole new round of edits to make it even flow nicely.

I've decided that these books aren't for me

I enjoyed mort more than the others I have read but there is nothing about these books that keep me wanting to read. I can see why people love them but discworld isn't a story I find myself liking. The humor isn't my kind of humor and hind myself bored most of the time and not caring about the characters.

When a book opens with the word, C*unt, you know it's going to be a good book.

I loved it. There isn't much more to say than that.

For this book I listened on audible and I highly recommend it, as the narrator did a perfect job of nailing the MC Tomas Pioty. It brought to life his character and was an experience I want to enjoy every time I open a book

Tomas Pioty is a gang leader and a Priest. Returning home from War, he tries to reclaim the streets that were once his, while being shackled by the Queen's Man at his side.

Tomas is an interesting character. People call him cold, uncaring but underneath his mask is a man who cares perhaps a little too much for those he calls his friends. Loyal and harsh, I loved following him on his journey .

This book deals with some hard topics as PTSD from War, coming to terms with sexuality, and sexual abuse. As I listened to Tomas describe what happened I was horrified.

It was well done.

The relationship between Tomas and his brother is interesting and brings to life a backstory of pain. The two brothers deal with their pain and suffering in vastly different ways, and from Tomas's POV, I love how he handles his brother. Underneath the pain, there is a fierce love for him.

Overall, an excellent read and I would recommend. But, beware of the hard topics in this book as it wouldn't be for everyone.

4.5 stars.

while it started slow, it was nice to visit the world again.

the characters were well thought out and old characters grew. Zoya had a deep level of depth I didn't foresee. Nikolai and Zoya banter was on point. And Nina was brilliant, as always but seeing her grow from Six of Crows was great.

I would have loved to see more internal emotions from Nikolai as he battles his monster, but that's my only issue with the book.

a simple enough plot, but the Characters drove this story. the twist at the end I foresaw, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

It started off enjoyable but the flashback scenes were so boring I couldn't continue

Deliciously creepy

Engaging characters.

A thrilling story that I had to put down multiple times because I got too creeped out

I cried. I damn well cried at work at this ending (in a good way)

I am loving Tarvi so much and this series is a ball of fun.
Nothing better happen to my characters Jim Butcher or I swear

This surprised me how much I liked it

Would want more development between the two love interests and I'd love to see more of the crew just hanging out and having fun

But a good fun easy read.

Dragons. DRAG–ONS. There isn't a book about DRAGONS that I won't like. This is no exception.

This book isn't blessed with amazing characters, but it has a pretty good plot.
It was about halfway through this book that I started to feel the pull. The what's going to happen next, the worry for the characters.
Antony Ryan takes his time to set up the world and the magic system. It pays off. I enjoyed both immensely.

Characters.
There's Clay, a simple thief, nothing really extraordinary about him but goes through the most emotionally. The last third of the book really brought Clay to life. Hillmore, I couldn't give two shits about. Lizanne. Oh, Lizanne! She is by far one of my favourite characters, and written by a man to boot. Think of a female James Bond, but BETTER.

I want to pick up book two immediately, but alas I don't own it. yet

Pain. JUST PAIN

I can't decide if I want to try reading this again. It's an okay book but it could be my mood. Tentatively soft DNFing this for now.
The graphic audio is good though. I do wish it would read the whole book with the added sound effects. But still a good production.

Absolutely amazing book! Had me bellow laughing. Wish it would never end!

never have I laughed so much! the trouble Locke get into and his clever wit to talk his way out.

fucking LOVED it

I will always love this book.
I want to find my own green creak pack.
I cannot find a fault. This is just so perfect. I would love in this book forever

My heart is heavy. There was no other way for this to end.

Coming from Dark Age this book was abit of a let down. I loved Dark age, with all its brutality but light bringer was softer. There are so many character moments I loved in this. But for quite a bit of the book it felt as if we were going nowhere.
There were the epic battles, one duel scene I loved but looking back on the book as a whole, the characters were stuck in places. Granted, they needed to be, but I was always waiting for more.
The beginning of Lyria storyline felt dropped, and I wondered why I followed her through it all for it to come to nothing.

I am one of the rare people who love Lysander. I find him interesting and while his story for the most part of this book was meh, by the end I was screaming at him.

The strong points of this book are the villains. I love Atlas. Volga grandad. Incredible characters.

And Cassius. Oh I loved his arc from the first book to now. He's become one of my favourites.

The ending is what is strong in this book. The whole beginning was leading up to this point and I can't wait for the next book.