Ethan Poole
I liked this second book more than the first. The world building is amazing and so immersive. The plot is fast-paced and high stakes. I really grew to like Anden and Wen in this book.
Exquisite! This is the first book that I have ever preordered, despite being a lifelong reader, as I have been reading a lot of NK Jemisin this year (2018) and was super excited for her new work. It did not disappoint! Each of these stories was encapsulating and an absolute delight to read. Many were thought-provoking in a way that much scifi/fantasy decidedly is not. Previously, I had considered Jemisin a fantasy author, but these short stories show that she would be a great scifi author as well. As with other Jemisin work, the characters are diverse, face realistic challenges and struggles, and react to them in a very human, relatable way. The plots and themes are imaginative and original. I read one or two stories per sitting, because I felt that each one deserved some time to sink in and be appreciated. Definitely a must-read for scifi/fantasy readers!
It was okay. It started off too slow, and the events really only started happening halfway through. I didn't care for the writing style. I had a really hard time getting into the book.
Elizebeth Smith's story is incredible. She is truly one of the many unsung heroes of WWII. The book was captivating and well-written. At times, it did feel a bit embellished or crowded with too many details, but overall, it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it for anyone with an interest in early cryptography and/or interesting women.
The Kingdom of Copper was okay, but not nearly as captivating as The City of Brass, which was a bit of a letdown. The plot was really, really slow in the middle and doesn't seem to have contributed much to the overall plot. Overall, I enjoyed reading it though, and I intend to finish the trilogy, whenever the third book comes out.
An inspirational read! Michelle Obama's life story is fascinating, a true American story. I enjoyed her perspective on politics and on being in the White House.
I first read this book in high school, and I decided to reread it as an adult. I enjoyed the book and found it interesting, but I don't have anything original or interesting to add the discourse about this book.
I listened to the audiobook version. This book was so engrossing that I actually looked forward to my commute where I could listen undisturbed. In many ways, it felt like watching a (good) movie. I really enjoyed the characters of Ender and Valentine. The ending is superb. However, conquering the world via blogging is a little silly, but I'm willing to accept it as having been believable in 1994. Having read [b:Speaker for the Dead 7967 Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2) Orson Scott Card https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1295660894s/7967.jpg 2327777], I can see that everything in this book is necessary to build up to Speaker for the Dead, which is an even better novel.
One of the best books that I've read this year. The storytelling is brilliant, and it unfolds like a fairy tale. It was charming and delightful. Novik is such a talented writer. That said, I did not like the Stockholm-syndrome crap that she did at the end, but I'm willing to overlook it.
Very YA, but a fun and engaging story. I definitely want to read (well, listen to) the next one.
A great end to the trilogy! It definitely redeemed the somewhat lackluster second book. The plot was well-paced and brought everything together nicely.
For a novella, there were too many subplots. I would read it after [b:A Master of Djinn 52504334 A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe, #1) P. Djèlí Clark https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600715136l/52504334.SY75.jpg 78021845] (which I really enjoyed) so that you know more about the world going in.
It was an enjoyable light read, though I thought that the story itself was somewhat drawn-out.
The premise of this book was great: Navajo mythology meets dystopian urban fantasy. However, the execution left a lot to be desired. The book started out really strong, but towards the middle, I had some trouble following the plot. It became all about the protagonist's love relationships—but what about the monsters? The interpersonal relationships felt very artificial, and the weird make-over and nightclub scene was unnecessary and somewhat cringeworthy.
This ended up being a murder-mystery set in a fantasy world. I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't terribly memorable. Nevertheless, I liked the setting and the characters, so I'm interested to see where the author takes this in future books.
This book is about complex relationships between (i) people and (ii) people and their environment. Every character is both lovable and hatable at the same time. Their actions and motivations are complex and nuanced. I really enjoyed reading this book because it felt like an accurate reflection of a broken family and seeing one's hometown lose its character. A phenomenal debut novel!
This is a captivating retelling of the story of Circe, a lesser goddess in the Greco-Roman mythology. I am not terribly interested in Greco-Roman mythology (it is overdone, in my opinion), but I really enjoyed reading this book nonetheless. The story is told from Circe's perspective and grapples with some of the darker sides of mythological gods, such as the petty drama between gods, the gods' relations to mortals, and the loneliness imposed by immortality. It was refreshing to read a take on Greco-Romance mythology from one of the peripheral characters' perspective.
As many others, I was already familiar with Frankenstein in pop-culture, but I didn't really know what to expect going into the novel itself. I was pleasantly surprised. The book is immensely sad and tragic, much more complex and philosophical than the standard tropes would lead one to believe. The language is a little hard to read, but after a few pages, I became accustomed to it.