Joan M. Planas

Really loving this fantasy series of books. The characters are well balanced and reasonable within their universe as well as the interpersonal relationships between dem (albeit the Rand-Mat tension felt forced).

Hard to put down, entertaining and somewhat deep at times. Charming characters while remaining somewhat high fantasy.

This book was a slow burn at first and then it turned into a page-turner. Quite dry without being ironic or sardonic, and the author was long rundown sentences, which isn't common in the books I've read in Norwegian. I did enjoy it a lot despite being quite a sad story about betrayal in the most intimate circle of the family, but I feel it deals with the themes in a quite elegant if not a bit blunt way.

Some literary style-choices work quite well. At points it feels as if we are in the authors thoughts, thinking her develop the internal narrator, reasoning with herself to explain what is really happening.

I haven't been able to put it down since I got around half-part of it. Really recommend it, in any language.

Despite the book having room for some edition, this was a solid read in LGBTQ history and has definitely instilled in me a taste for more. Particularly enjoyed the sarcastic/ironic bits. I've recommended it to several friends, as I feel it's a good introductory way to see history, with the lens given by today's knowledge.

Very interesting and sad novel. I liked some themes but maybe I would have liked a somewhat more “worked” resolution.

I went in expecting something more shallow than what I got, and of course I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the literary style and likeability of the characters. The tempo was appropriate, if maybe a bit slow at the start, but that is to be expected.

I am not a big fan of biographies and to be honest I was more interested in this book for the conservatorship and that was imo a bit glazed over. That was to be expected, I don't blame Britney for not wanting to dedicate more time to what seemed like hell on earth. It was quick and it was nice to get her insight on it.

After reading Weir's Project Hail Mary I was really excited about this one. It did deliver but maybe I had higher expectations. I liked the characters despite them feeling a bit stagnated at times. There was little progression in them.

Also I wish Ngugi got what she deserved. Maybe the resolution of the conflict between Jazz and Ngugi was brushed over too quick.

I really enjoyed this one. I feel the book had a great pace in general and had a hold on me at times. I am unsure about the last couple of chapters as well as the ending, but I felt for Junie regardless, while at the same time I could see the fault in her way of thinking.

I really am not the demographic for this book. The story or plot concerning Navarre was really what brought me into the book. That and the dragons. But the young adult love, the crass language at how some sex scenes were worded and all just made this feel like a soft porn teenage fantasy. The insistence on the attraction of the characters was also tiresome. We get it, they wanna get in each other's pants. Let's move on.

Not my cup of tea but I can see others might like it.

Lykke bruker sin vanlige tørr og sardonisk stil. Selv om noen karakterer er nokså karikert, klarer kun å skape en dyp fortelling om utroskap og menneskehet. Veldig bra.

This was a tough read. To begin with I had trouble relating to the characters inability to “see” each other, and that made the first quarter of the book a bit challenging. Judes story being a really tough one to digest makes you also think (imo) that the concrete details of his story don't matter, but it's how his support failed him time and time again when it should have been there for him.

It was a heart wrenching novel from start to finish and despite agreeing that at times it goes too deep into “misery porn territory” I do think it uses it in a way to discuss very strong themes such as life, death, grief and love (of all kinds).

I do feel the book could have also been edited to around 500-600 pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. This is the first time I read from this author, and I was pleasantly surprised! I felt and liked most if not all the characters and was taken by the plot.

This book was a treat. At first it was a bit confusing, with the scifi context being a bit loose and undefined, but the beauty of the literary language, really pulls you in.

I am not to one who reads epistolary romance but this one was a beautiful book about two individuals so far removed and at the same time so close in their nature that it was irresistible.

Tasteful and sensitive, with great style and elegant writing.

I enjoyed it. Was this Bardugo's best novel? No, but it was entertaining, despite its flaws. I feel a bit too little is left to be explained - considering its historical fiction it takes a bit too many liberties without explaining why. I think she should have gone further into detailing the magic and its rules, or kept them even looser than it is.

I don't give it 4 stars because I feel the romance was poorly developed and forced. Luzia's character did not need it and it felt even Bardugo didn't care for it.

Enjoyable but not sure it's as good as the Alex Grant series.