Senne
Wow, what a book! For me, this was a huge step up from GoTM and I finally start to see why people love Malazan. It's still a complex book, but I was more able to understand the story and to not get lost in the density. I didn't have a big need for a companion guide for example.
The best part of Malazan so far is that it completely sinks into my mind. After GoTM I couldn't stop thinking about it and this was also the case while reading DG. During the day I wandered off to think about certain aspects of the story or the characters. I wasn't expecting this to be such an emotional book and it also raises important questions about loneliness, friendship, resilience, racism, humanity, hope, ...
This is a great side story that adds to the character development of Fred Johnson, but I think this could easily be put into the main books.
The book has a bit of a slow start and can be confusing. Therefore it can take some time to get involved in the story, but it is really well constructed in its entirety.
There is this constant crescendo that keeps on going with the last 200 pages just blowing your mind.
I think where it shines even more then Empire of Silence is the emotional impact of the story and how the characters interact. It feels way more natural and I felt way more connected.
I enjoyed what Pierce Brown did with this book. There is a huge step up in his writing and this really helped with the emotional impact of some scenes. His exploration of multiple POV's also deepens the worldbuilding and story.
However, not all the POV's were as good. Some storylines took a lot of time to get going.
The character work in this book is absolutely amazing! I loved every second of it.
Emotions are beautifully written.
This is definitely a SCIENCE fiction book. I felt dumb for about 75% of it, but the story and the vibe was amazing.
I especially liked the cultural background and it made me google a lot of Chinese history. I didn't expect this.
Yet again a great addition to the Sun Eater saga! This shouldn't be considered as a short story or novella, because it really is just a full blown novel.
I think this is a must read, since it adds so much more to Lorian's character. Ruocchio also proves that he can write just as great from a total different pov.
There is also another great addition to the worldbuilding with the ice planet Belusha.
This was a quick and entertaining read!
Kaden Love does a good job in introducing the world and the magic system. It's also immediately obvious that the world is so much bigger and deeper than what is told in this story. It definitely makes me curious for the first novel.
The magic system is original and interesting. It also raises a lot of moral questions.
I do wish that the novella would be a little bit longer. Some parts felt a bit rushed.
I decided to read the original story to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Brokeback Mountain (the movie). And yes, I do feel old while typing this.
Proulx’s writing is sparse, but very captivating. The story keeps moving forward and intensifies every page. So much is said, with so little words. The plot is as amazing as I know from the movie.
And there lies the issue, because knowing the movie did ruin the experience for me. I’m really impressed by how the movie captured the essence of this short story, but it used almost every little detail from the book to get there. Everything is literally on these pages: iconic dialogues, scene descriptions, deep character work, emotions, …
The story of Ennis and Jack will always have a place in my mind and heart, but the movie is just a too perfect adaption of this little book.
I'm pleasantly surprised by this fast paced and action packed debut novel. Watson does an amazing job at building a believable world that feels way bigger then what is mentioned in this book. There is lots of potential for future stories.
Some of the fantastical elements were original and well executed. The snarky humour is just perfect and got a few chuckles from me.
The characters are layered and I got really emotional invested in some.
There is a lot to love in this book. It’s the perfect combination between sci fi and fantasy, there is some interesting world building, and it sets everything up for a big and epic adventure in the coming books.
There were also some downsides for me. The book has a clunky start and most of the characters were one dimensional. Especially the antagonist is just a basic bad guy. The tropes of the chosen one and going through test trials were really dominating.
It left me behind with the same feeling as I had when finishing Red Rising. But that first book is beloved by a lot of readers and the entire series is turning out to be one of my favorites.
So I will continue on to book 2, because I really believe the best is yet to come.
It's amazing that this novella is available for free, because it feels like a must read for anyone that is a fan of epic and action packed fantasy.
The story drops you immediately in a chaotic scene and you can barely catch your breath until the very end. There is obviously not enough time to give the reader all the information (if this is the first book of the serie you read), so you have to work a bit to understand the fantasy elements.
I didn't think this was too difficult because it (magic with elements, dragons and bonding, ...) felt familiar to some extend.
So although it's a very short book, Ryan Cahill succeeds in writing a story with a believable world and characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I will definitely be reading the next books!
This was a step up from Leviathan Wakes. I loved that the writers added more POV's with very different personalities. The characters are well written and I felt more emotionally involved with them than in LW.
I definitely liked the fast pace and all of the action in this book.
This was a quick and easy read, but I felt a bit let down. I do think that was mostly because my own high expectations, which were never achieved.
Mine has been a life of much shame. I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being.