I certainly enjoyed this book. This is the 2nd book the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb and I found this to be a very character driven book more than plot driven
This is not to say there is no plot or plot progressino there certainly is but I did find that this book focused alot of Fitz's character while the other characters were really background chracters to this story with not much in other view points.
Despite the title the book does not focus much on Assassin aspect of Fitz's character but rather his relationships with other characters, and as a character driven reader I thouroughly enjoyed this book and so far am really liking this series as a whole!
Originally posted at youtube.com.
Exile was OK. I find I dont have much to say about it.
Jacen continues on his dark side path. Ben gets sent on a dangerous mission to a sith homeworld
Not much to say here but may come back go edit it as I mull over it for a day or so as I consider what I am going to say in my video review.
The Book of Negroes is a historical fiction that tells the story of a 11yr old African Gril abducted from her home in Africa and shipped to America as a slave and follows her through several decades and relates her expierences
Meena's story is one of tragedy, terror and loss. Sold as slave and torn from her home and family In africa in the mid 1700s. This story is not for the faint of heart and contains many trigger warnings and deals wtih subject that as they say on TV warnings, offensive to some readers
I learned alot reading this book, including some history of Canada that I did not previous know and found myself google searching different places and evenst as they relate to the story within history. IE I did not previous know about the Race Riots in nova scotia in the late 1700s and Canada's (then a british colony not a independent nation) role in Slave trade.
Other things I learned were about Freetown Sierra Leone in Africa and how it came to be as part of tha abolistionist movement
I love when I can learn something new and this story driven by heartache, compassion and a character driven narrative I found I could not help but come to love and while I am mostly a fan of scifi and fanasy and this is historical fiction I do not hestiate to say this wll go down as one of the best reads of 2024
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
What a wild ride through space time and the fabric of the cosmos.
Once again Brian Greene has given us a fascinating read into the nature of reality as we ride the waves of space time history.
This books takes us through the history of quantum mechanics and development of string theory and is a must read for the science enthusiast
Well damn, things are getting just a bit insane, wild ride, such a good read
JIm butcher never fails to impress with the world of Dresden Files. so much going on its just too hard to summarise lol. Vampires, Fairy realm and creatures, outsiders from time and space, and the mortal world stuck in the cross fire. so good
Everything about this series is just a wild ride, the characters, the action, the world building. Hands down Harry Dresden is my all time fav wizard and my fav urban fantasy series of all time. If you have not read the Dresden Files do so!!!!
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
I had heard alot about this book from booktube and have been wanting to read more scifi.
As the title alludes to this is a book focused on physics as the basis for telling the overall narrative.
I love reading up on physics and what the math tells us and always find that a intersting topic to read up on. That being said however this is for sure a hard scifi with alot of math and physics involved in the book. Virtually and entire chapter is essentially a science paper and I would say about half this book is all about explaining these scienctific concepts and ideas which for me really detract from the narrative progession overall. It almost feels like if you took all the science explanations out of the book what you would be left with is a summary of the narrative
I do however love the overall big ideas behind this story and plot. The books ideas focused around progression of civilization and enviromental ideology are explored in this work and are a focus for much of the narrative.
I did enjoy getting some insight into the chinese communist cultural revolution and how that movement in china impacted or influence science in china
I have heard this book described as influenced by classic scifi, big ideas but not alot of character development, which is certainly true for this book. it was a very narrative driven story, not character but could have spent less time on the science and more time on plot development and story progression would have made this better for me personally.
Plus: big idea scifi that makes for a compelling and good read
Minus: long winded science based explanations and info dumps and flat 2 dimensional characters
Contains spoilers
This one truly is a great ending to the legacy of the force series. Epic battle between twins Jacen (aka Darth cadeous) and twin sister Jaina while the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance
If you are a star wars fan I highly recommend this series as a whole. Well worth it in my opinion.
while not a major plot point I loved the idea presented of one species in the galaxy using biological radio within their minds as a natural radio for telepathic communication I just thought that was a really cool idea and very plausible.
The only question we have is was Jacen truly redeemed at the end. I will let the reader decide
Loved it!
World building was amazing. I love the magic system of this world that draws its power from the world itself using the natural energy of tectonic plates to and heat energy to fuel its magic
The book follow a single character who changed identity through out her life at each major turning point.
Well written and enjoyable read I would highly reccomend it to any fantasy fan.
Be sure to visit my YouTube channel Drew's book reviews for more detailed review!
Like the other witcher books before it this one was also a really enjoyable read.
Andrzej Sapowski has created a fairy tale world that can be enjoyed by all fantasy fans alike.
While not perfect. I found somethings I did not like. Such as how certain philisophical positions were handled in terms of the writing it was a good read over all.
You can see a more detailed review on my youtube channel drews book reviews so check it out there
To be honest I am a bit split on how I feel about this book.
The cover does not seem to really portray the story which seem to be more focused on #cirillaofcintra than #GeraltOfRivia who while had some part in the story was really more of a backdrop to the story than any main plot or story.
The writing at times was good but at other times kind of boring and found my attention wavering. Some of the politcal plot lines I found really didn't add much of anything of value.
However the story of Ciri's capture by bounty hunters, her eventual escape, finding of shelter, and eventual finding of the tower of swallows was certainly a good read, but really could of done without the rest.
3/5 stars on good reads. Didnt love it but didnt hate it. Will be posting a video review tomorrow
Do you believe in destiny. If not this book just might have you believing.
Book 0.75 of the witcher series makes for a fun entertaining read. Mermaids. Trolls. Sea monsters etc...
Lots of adventure and fun for everyone
Witchers are not supposed to have feelings but don't believe it. Either Geralt of rivea is a odd ball witcher or that's just myth and legen. You will have to read it and decide for yourself
To check out a full review visit me on YouTube drews book reviews
This is a fantastic book about a true canadian heros expierence as a astronaut and what his career has taught him about life and how to live
Highly reccomend it. I learned so much about the process and skills required.
I had previous watched the HBO Series His Dark Materials and did enjoy it the TV show and now I have started this series as a whole starting with the golden compass
This world has the feel of a steem fantasy set in a alternate earth universe where everyone has a animal companions referred to as daemons which for me at least is a unique take on alternative earth.
The world that we find our main character Lyra in, is controlled by a religious orgnization known as the maigsterium aka the catholic church which is reference in a few different ways and seems to, like the tv show to be heading into a conflict between religious dogma and scientific advancement, which I think is the point of these books to begin with.
One could argue I think that this is a young adult series, between the young protagonist and the animal companions in a way it has a kind of cozy feeling of growing up while taking on that call to adventure, like harry potter, Lyra is very young when she gets her call to adventure and I am certainly enjoying this book series so far.
I found the writing style to be simple and easy to read, while still doing a great job and world building and character development. The anthropomorephized bears with their armor are prob some of my fav aspects of this world, as well as the unique take on wtiches which unlike other fantasy, are not the typically dark, ugly forest women who prey on unsupecting victims lol
all around fun read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
Meh, i liked much of what this book had to say but much of the examples used and data provided are at this point 20-30 yrs out of date.
This book was published in 1995 and while the underlying concepts and message is very relevant with how much has changed over the past 25yrs its hard to say how the state of our education system now is relative to then.
As an example sagan laments the lack of science based educational media but today we have things like curiosity stream, numerous science baaed non fiction books, youtube science channels, many tv networks devoted to educational programming, improved science education in schools etc...
While there is for sure a segment of society that is willfully or otherwise ignorant of scientific literacy they are the small vocal minorty.
Overall I still enjoyed this book but for sure not feeling it much more than a 3
Just read this. Seriously.
I will be putting a full review on my youtube channel so you can check out there
I don't normally read msytery crime fiction etc... but decided to try this one out. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it as much as I did, and it seems it is part larger oveall series.
This is at its heart a crime/murder mystery but we know from the start at leats who the accussed are. As the story gets established we soon come to realize the accussed may not be guilty of the crime they are accussed of but for them it is too late and its now up to their long lost daugther, Olivia to solve this decades old crime
Olivia is thrown into a world of papparazzi and mystery after learning who she is and that her parents are accused serial killers.
This story takes us through a unusal world of occult signs and superstition with characters of mysterious past in small town usa but a town that on the surface seems peaceful but underneath is filled with people with mysterious and in some cases dark pasts.
This book is not takes you down a path of intrigue and mystery that for me was really quite enjoyable, and pleasant surprise from my normal genre of reading.
However I would have liked to see more mystery in the investigation of the crimes, and more in depth occult connections within the overall plot. It would have been nice to explore the people of the town of cainsville more. overall 4/5 stars.
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
I had high hopes for this book. It was also the viewers choice book review from bac in march on my youtube channel that I finally got around to getting done
I had heard alot of good about this series and was excited to read it but it honestly fell flat for me in some ways. I did not connect with the characters for the most part but did enjoye the overall story itself
The world is a interesting world with Giants and reference to gods which has always been a interest to me when gods are invovled in our fantsy so it gets points for world building and mythology but loses points for flat characters
overall I give this 3.5 stars so not terrible but not great
Originally posted at youtu.be.
Contains spoilers
Crossroads of Twilight. Book 10 of the Wheel of time by Robert Jordan.
This is among the slower of the Wheel of Time books, part of what is commonly called the slump in the middle.
Honestly not much happened in this one for its 800sh pages.
Elayne is in Andor trying to navigate the politics and trying to secure her crown while being pregnant with Rands child
Perrin is trying to figure out how to rescue Faile from the shaid Aiel
Matt as fled Ebou Dar while kidnapping daughter of the nine moon heir to the Seanchan throne.
Egwene and the rebel Aes Sedai laying siege to Tar Valon
Not a whole lot of movement or story progression in this book but despite that still enjoyable read although Rand is virtually non existent in this book.
Several references to Rands cleansing of saidin but no one knows what is really happenning only that shadar logoth is gone.
Not much more to say right now, may add to this review later
Contains spoilers
This is the 4th and final book of the Hyperion Cantos series. I definitely enjoyed it more than Endymion as a lot of unexplained things from Endymion are explained in this final book of the cantos and I have very little if any critiques.
The book follows our 2 main character, Anea and Raul (Endymion) as they return from old earth which had been taken away and hidden in another galaxy by the “lions tigers and bears”
Raul tells his story from his shroedengers prison in orbit around a empty world. This is his prison for 13 or so months. He is in complete isolation in a small orbital box which is set to release poison in his air if the right quantum particle is detected. Telling his story is the only way he can remain sane.
Anea has basically been set up as Jesus Christ figure with Endymion as her diciple/lover.
Anea is tasked with basically redeeming mankind by introducing death and mortality and destroying the Catholic church and the pax control over humanity. She is a fusion of the AI ultimate intellegence aka god and humanity and the carrier of a genetic nano virus that is contained in her blood. This nano virus seeks out and destroys the cruciform which acts as a tool of ressurection and growing the techno cores control over humanity via the church.
Essentially this book is a time travelling jesus preaching the gospel gaining diciples. Allegorical in nature and a kind of twisted dark anit-christ type alternate version. This one bringing death instead of life and rather than the cross or cruciform being a symbol of faith the destruction and rejection of it being the symbol of faith.
The sacrement of the wine mixed with her literal blood to bring about this viral change in her followers and eventual self sacrifice by the authorities of the day but they ultimatley fail to stop the spread of Anea's message.
All throughout her mission she speaks of the void which binds powered by the force of love. Love being that powerful force which gives us the means to thrive in the one life we have.
I loved the anti-christ-christ sort of a dark christ story telling that can almost be viewed as a scathing rebuke of the religious ideology and mind set. Almost to suggest that rejection of religion is what brings love, compassion and care for all.
Overall I loved this book!! The angle from which it tells this clearly relious story is really intriguing read and capture my imagination at least! 5 stars for me easily.
sA Scanner Darkly is a tale of drug addiction and the damage it can do to one minds. A cop that has been affected by this split personality finds himself investigating himself without knowing it as part of a drug investigation
Philip K Dick certianly has a vivid imagination and tells a great story in a lot of ways. This one is no exception. I love his imagination of how the world will be at the timeperiod he sets his story in, early 1990s, although some of the tech described is a far cry from tech levels at that time its fun to see what he imagined it would be
That being said I found some of the writing in this story did not entirely hold my attention well for some of it, which TBH led to some confusion on what was going on, prob more because my mind was wandering at some points, overall a 3.5/5 stars so its not terrible, still a good read over if not a great read
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
Contains spoilers
For a star wars book it was ok. I want to give it 2.5 stars but since I cant pick half a star we will leave it at 3 stars
Jacen continues to slide to the “dark side” of the force and memories of the old with lord's surface with the force choke used for the first time in this particular star wars book series.
Family loyalties continue to be tested between luke, mara and Ben as well as han, leia and jacen.
One little thing that seemed to be kind useless and pointless was when Ben decided he needed to arrest han and leia. He decides this in the middle of a battle when they are trying to survive. I mean why wait till mid battle if they were all aboard the falcon why wouldn't he have decided to do this before? It just made no sense for the timing and seemed a rather pointless thing to insert into the story at that time.
Overall it was ok. Not terrible but not great
Jacen has finally revealed himself as jaina has a revelation of her own
Good book. Good story and good read all around.
I might add more to this review in a bit
I read this book to hopefully get a better understanding of residential schools and the impact it had and still is on the first nations community and it did not dissapoint.
Before you read this book be aware this book contains a lot of triggering content. Sexual abuse, racism, violence, bigotry, rape etc...
This book had me crying 10 pages in. I have always had empathy for the horror, abuse, genocide, and suffering the 1st nations community had to endure and this books really hit me hard.
This is a heart wrenching story of Saul Indian Horse who survived the residential school system, barley.
While a fictional account it is, from my understanding based on true accounts of the authors family and expierences.
The writing style feels so authenticate, visceral and real I could not put this story down. I Read it in one sitting. Its impossible not to feel for Saul and what he had to endure and highly reccommended.
Excellent book