Sasha
I don't think a book could make me hurt this much. Crying yes but actually hurt? Not until I read this one.
I laughed and cried. Often both at the same time. And felt the loss and grief of the characters as my own.
As Ove spent time with Parvaneh and Patrick's family, their daughters and his other neighbours, I kept thinking, ‘Sonja would have loved this.'I wished for her to be alive like Ove. And I fell in love with her glimpses in the books.
I doubt I would ever have an experience like this again.
My only regret is that I couldn't spend more time with the characters. The ending felt too detached from the chapter before even if I didn't mind reading.
But all in all, this book truly is amazing and I'm so thankful for the experience.
I have a bit of mixed feelings about this book. While I love exploring the world build and the surroundings, the descriptions felt too lengthy. They were with a reason I won't deny that but it keep breaking my attention off the story and I had to read them 2-3 times to understand what was being mentioned because I couldn't comprehend the large amount of info at once.
As much as the book dragged on it became thrilling in the end. I bit my nails and while scenes kept changing I didn't mind at all because it made sense.
Character I absolutely adored and cheered for in this book was Sabae. I loved her attentiveness and the fact that he keeps the group together. She's smart and strong.
One interesting thing I noticed about Hugh is that, while what he does in the beginning feels dull it doesn't stay that way. And the reader gets rewarded for their patience plentiful.
Talia, I'm kinda on the fence on. There's things she does that I love but also things she does that I really, really dislike, that said I heard things happen later in the series so I want to hope that I'll come to like her.
Goddrick, is someone I'm really really interested in exploring in further books. Especially seeing how his mindset and personality was expanded on in this book. There's also some thing people would love seeing about him at the end I think.
Alustin.... I don't know what to about say with spoiling. In fact I wanna scream.
TL;DR - It lagged in the beginning but was amazing at the end. ESPECIALLY at the end. Like THE END.
I cried in every single chapter. And in some particularly touching ones I ugly cried.
There's positive family dynamics in this. That being selfish for self care is okay and that's very rarely talked about in Asian countries and Asian media speaking as an Asian myself.
I would love to just adopt all the characters in this manga myself if that was possible. 😂
I loved the characters, the characters growth and the story. I even wanted to read more. But what I couldn't forgive is the bad Ghana rep and I'm not even from there. It's little but that's the sign of an author. They make intricate stories out of little details that blow you away. So when an author doesn't do their research you can say no matter how nice the plot of their stories are or how lovely the characters, it doesn't mean much when they're writing contemporary lit and conveniently forget to not properly explain one very real place.
I will very much be bothered.
This isn't the 20th century where writers didn't have access to research much of what they wanted to write about. We have the internet, and there are beta readers and editors. Respect others as you do your own please.
Woah boy, that was a ride.
First things first, I read this as a buddy read with 3 chapters each that. I think the best way to experience this book is to limit yourself and not rush through.
Now then. What can I say about the plot? Thrilling. Absolutely thrilling and nail biting. That also might just be being very easy to scare but also the book being that suspenseful.
I love the characters in this. At times there were people that get you so angry but at times some that just make you want to hug them.
Also, this book is not very plot-centric but rather character driven. It's hard to go into details without giving spoilers.
The flaws? One of the modern day Caroline and also one of our main protagonists, goes on her weekend anniversary trip alone after her finding out her ex cheated on her and finds something historical in her attempt to get away.
Not very original. And kinda unrealistic. I found myself questioning that how easy it must have been for someone to do the same things as her. Someone who lived in the very city.
All in all though, the ending created a lot of discussion in my group and while we had different yet welcome opinions, we all walked away appreciating this newest addition to our shelves treasuring all the characters and the adventure that this book made us experience.
Final thoughts:
Kinda cliche, at times unrealistic yet intriguing and personal at the same. I rate this 4/5 stars as a very enjoyable read.
The second book certainly drags a lot but it still wins out in the end with what happened in the last part.
There were a lot of surprises that should have been obvious but I was quite hopeful nonetheless wishing for the opposite to happen.
Either way, this book may feel dragging due to the political intrigue and for the people on the other end it just might be what they wanted, but it's a good read both ways I feel.
The way to write a historical fiction book I believe is to neither diminish the people of the times the book is set in, nor uphold them as a end all be all standard.
Frustatingly, just 4 chapters in, what happens in the book is the former. The half of the so called “girl group” are held in an image of cowardish women because the two rather stay away from war and because one has a very attractive body. And apparently any men this girl attracts is super dumb cause of course she's the slutty dumbfuck of the group.
Which makes it seem like everyone the character doesn't like is just dumb anyways. Not that there's reasons for their own beliefs or anything.
I really enjoyed this. Lovely romance especially since I love seeing healthy romances.
However. I have to say that plot wise it could have been more clever. There's comparisons of two different cultures one that forbids lgbtq folks' existence and the other that embraces.
The good part about this other culture that is, Tithenai's culture, lots of diversity lots, more emotionally healthy folks, freedom of expression etc.
My dissatisfaction comes with the political aspect. The system is still hierarchical. There isn't much light shed on how freedom of expression would work alongside with governance in a system where ranks and orders still exist and I feel like a very fun opportunity for something that could have been cleverly crafted was missed. Yes there's the sequel but considering the plot of this book I was left quite disappointed at the final reveal.
Interesting idea but it didn't work much for me. The monster heritage part first of all because obviously Joan has seen her cousins display power and yet no one explained to her anything in detail. Especially considering how she could try to travel without borrowing time and kill herself. Not to mention if the Olivers are so hostile that they're ready to kill Joan for fun then there's no way her family would've allowed for her to be that oblivious with that family grudge between them.There's little details that don't make sense at all like Joan is covered in blood after the massacre but when she and Aaron get to the hotel the lady at the counter doesn't even look at them twice over.
The the way the MC still had feelings for one of the characters didn't sit well with me because the relationship hadn't even begun, she just crushed on him. There's no proper exploration of a relationship and yet she hurts so much for a guy who killed her family. Didn't like that at all.
A historical YA novel that I read a few years back and still read to this day. I just love all the lines in this novel and all the characters. John and his relationship with Elzevir is an unusual one and just amazing in its own way.
MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!
I loved the beginning it was amazing and heart wrenching and I cried like hell when Kvothe's parents died. But it got weird and really sucked for me when he was at the University.
I get that he is young during his part and the impulsivity is his flaw but it wasn't the kind of flaw I enjoy reading about. Not to mention the recurring villain that is Ambrose really really ticked me off.
I really hate it when places of learning have these toxic environments in books and this book had that. I won't say it's necessarily a bad thing to put into a story but I hate it personally so that's also another major part of why it cut off for me.
I think everything comes down to personal taste and for me this book didn't make it.
Maybe it will in the future cause there were some parts I really enjoyed. But at this point in time I can say that will not be happening.
Overall: good story with slow pace plot yet solid prose and interesting cast of characters and the major protagonist struggles and character flaws.
Might not hit for everyone but still an interesting read.
05 march 2022.
I got recommended this when I was looking for relaxing, slice of life comics and since I am still in college this series didn't really fit my bill of relaxing but nevertheless it was nice to read. The stressful stuff was shown in a good comedic way but things were still a lot realistic. What I didn't like how almost every character wanted to be in a relationship and it was too sexual for my taste.
If it's one thing I hate in books, it's when authors drop in main characters in pre established groups with some tragic history so now the new comer gets shit treatment from one person in the group and the other people just ignore it.
I can't even being to say how much I hate this lazy af writing device. If there needs to be drama surely there's better way to introduce it. Second of all, the toxcity gets water under the bridge card and there's seldom any apologies offered leading me into my third and most important irritation.
The details of the so-called tragic back story are constantly hidden or not talked and the MC has to keep apologising for not approaching the topic properly when they don't even have any semblance of an idea what it is. Which is clearly the author just witholding information from the reader for a “better” and “exciting” reveal later in the story, which is again characters being hurt at having to reveal the tragedy and maybe throw in a horrible thing happening or two, again one person and one thing being the sole cause of it so now they gotta work together to solve the issue but yes we mustn't forget this was all one person's fault! How dare they not know! How dare they question?!
(I'm being petty. This is how much I hate this trope. And I have a headache from reading because it's just plain annoying)
TL; DR - I hate drama induced by bad communication that can be easily solved. And I hate the “you don't belong in our pre-established group” trope.
I don't want to read further cause I don't find it worth my time to read about impossible to enjoy characters. Maybe I'll come back to it for the lore someday and maybe when I'm able to ignore my annoyance with the character situation or maybe not.
This book was just weird as heck. Not for me.
As to what was weird about it, The strange obsession this book has with sex, nudity and constantly thinking that finding out past possible romances of a dead character is somehow “self- discovery” for her husband. Why is everyone spilling their guts to Arthur? It wasn't done in a natural manner and clearly forced by the author. Example: When he calls the Indian guy, the giver of the first charm, he keeps talking about how the wife might have had a relationship with someone even if he did hear that she recently passed away and the person he is spilling all that to the dead woman's husband. (HE IS INDIAN. AN INDIAN PERSON WOULD NEVER DO THAT. HINTING AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS LIKE SOCIAL SUICIDE AND HUSHED UPON HERE!!!How do I know? Cause I'm Indian myself.)Excuse me? Why would you do that when you just heard she died and he is grieving for her? There was nothing to indicate he was rambling either. Most disturbing was all the scene where Arthur shared a room in a hostel with girls who did leave when he entered but later the girls came back drunk and with a guy. Two people had sex and Arthur somehow later felt at ease hearing other people breathing around him as he slept when earlier he was so uncomfortable. Even if wasn't graphically descriptive being so incredibly left field and just plain disturbing.Later when he goes to France to find out the about the charm send from a boutique, he and the owner some how develop attraction in the span of a few hours. How come a lady who just found out her good friend has died wants to try spending a night with said DEAD friend's grieving husband? She even becomes slightly offended at Arthur's polite rejection and hints at Miriam's not graceful past. ......Did character that just got introduced for a few paragraphs suddenly have a long time interaction with the protagonist and now wants to disgrace his dead wife? Did that actually happen?Should I say the author thinks too lightly of anyone that's not a main character or too lightly of French women? I don't even know at this point. I also definitely don't get why Arthur ended up naked modelling when he went to find out about a paint palette charm at an art college. And again another guy working there endings up spilling his guts about his tumultuous relationship with his lawyer wife but it's all good and dandy because good sex.Just no. The idea of introducing various relationship perspectives this way was too forced. It was just too gross and disgusting. Like the idea that a plain and normal relationship of two people just meeting and falling in love is too normal and therefore just not possible.
TL; DR - This book is obsessed with sexual themes and nudity and takes very weird turns. INCREDIBLY weird turns. Tries too hard and thinks a quiet and happy marriage is too bland.
I don't understand how any of this was supposed to be about healing and self discovery.
Repetitive and bland. Charlie N Holmberg's books do start off very interesting but they have a tendency of either reading like a short outline or being very unoriginal and motivation-less plot wise. Things happen because she wants them to, conflicts go on and on for books when everything could be wrapped up in just one 500 page book.
I tried my best to read this book and enjoy it but it was a huge effort. A HUGE EFFORT.I never felt as frustrated reading about characters as the ones in this book. The MC is constantly irritated and frustrated. It's not bad that she complains. It's what she does despite having those complaints. The love interest is a pathetic gruff man always on about how powerful he is and how he has to kill the MC only to get his sickly ass repeatedly saved by the MC. And the MC of all things is pinning after a guy who is not only the worse ever man to be interested in (cause hello death threats) the guy has no redeeming factor to him. He trusts an insane ex lover to help him only to find out that she betrayed him. If that isn't rage inducing for you then honestly good for you. Enjoy what you enjoy. I on the other hand did not enjoy the menacing headache and unnecessary rage this book made me go through. None of it was worth it. I hate these characters so much. I rather read about the insane diabolical ex lover as she skewers through her latest victim. Or maybe not as I'm pretty sure she'll be made into some plastic rage inducing character as well. Oh and this shiz continues in 2 more books. A trilogy when everything could fit in just one book. Nah uh. Buh bye.
Final rating: -1