Dina
4.5 stars. This was wonderfully creepy and a bit gross and super compelling. And I adore Noemí!
For a more detailed review, check out the SFF Book Review.
This is one of those books that drag incredibly in the beginning but pay off soooo much. I read about 250 pages, not really understanding the politics or the intrigue and I kept going only because I had grown to like Phèdre, Delauney, Alcuin and Hyacinthe. I cared for the characters first. When that big plot twist comes up, however, this is a rollercoaster ride of action, politics, intrigue, romance,... it's got everything.
And Jacqueline Carey's style may not be for everyone, but it is for me! I love her poetic, flowery language that makes the angelic people of Terre d'Ange (it's France) all the more ethereal and alien.
You'll need some time and you may have to push yourself through the first few hundred pages, but trust me: This will catapult Jacqueline Carey to the top of your favorite authors list. It did with me...
4.5 stars
The constant repetitions made me feel like the author thinks I'm stupid, but the story and characters were SO GOOD I couldn't help but love this. Also, I'm crying now.
WOW!
I'd read the book before but the cast and music and sound effects really make it come to life. I kind of never want to listen to regular audiobooks again now...
You can find a more detailed review of this over on sffbookreview
When I read this, I enjoyed every page and would not put the book down. However, there was one thing that bothered me while reading and bothers me even more now, a while after I've read this.
The side characters, in fact the entire group of “Old Farts” are cardboard cutouts only there to explain things to our protagonist and maybe die to show us how brutal this war can be. I didn't have time to get attached to them, I couldn't even really tell them apart.
Scalzi may be a great writer who know's how to keep my attention and make me want to read more, but this story? Very bad on the character side (and that's what I value the most).
Plot, story-telling and world-building: Absolutely brilliant.
I was one of those who kind of fought though this book to get to “the good bits”. In retrospect, however, I think I didn't value the story enough the first time around. And I will re-read it once I'm done with the entire series (soon, oh so soon)
Full review: http://sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/stephen-king-the-gunslinger/
And he blew my mind again. While only about 10% of this book further the plot and the rest is a flashback into Roland's past, I wouldn't have wanted to miss a single page. What an amazing (and surprisingly romantic) story within a story. There was one passage that felt a bit too long but other than that this book was perfect. 9/10 points. Read a full review at the SFF Book Review
This felt like 4.5 stars at first but then Mary Robinette Kowal made me cry again.
2 stars
Ironically, one of the most forgettable books I've read this year.
Edit: The more I think about it, the more I dislike this book. It has no substance and is just author-insert wish fulfillment. Can't believe this took 10 years to write... half of it is repetitions with the names changed, the other half is descriptions of freckles, curls, and the bland characters ‘ general beauty and not-like-the-others-ness.
Full review at SFF Book Review
I really enjoyed this book despite a number of concerns. It is mostly generic epic fantasy, set in a medieval world called Alera where people bond with the furies - elementals - and an impending war threatens their peace. Cursor Amara and farmboy Tavi set out on an adventure to prevent the worst.
It is mostly due to Jim Butcher's great writing that I didn't get bored with this. I rooted for the characters and was fascinated by the people of the Marat and their customs - if I had had a say in it, the entire book would have been about them. But the magic system was also up my alley and made me want to learn more about furycrafting.
Some of the characters and subplots were unnecessary, in my opinion, or unnecessarily drawn out. And some of the action scenes felt like they were just there to keep the readers from getting bored. Thrilling as they were to read, I like books where every scene serves a purpose and I can feel all the little puzzle pieces fall together at the end. This was not one of those books.
This is a farmboy rises to save his kingdom book. Nonetheless, it is worth the read and it definitely gave me a hunger for more adventures in Alera.
This was great! Review to come closer to publication date. But you should put it on your wishlist. :)