jess

Goodkind introduces a new group of people and characters in order to work within the larger plot. At times, this book did not even feel like part of the series. The new stories and characters are engaging in their own right. Oddly, there is a lot of repetition in the book, where a character might think the same thing two sentences apart or tell someone the same thing more than once in dialogue. That, and the typos in my kindle version were jarring to me in that they took me back out of the story with the realization that I am just reading a book.

This book gets better with a second reading...and third.

I just read it again because I got my hands on Iron Gold, and I love that the story still holds little surprises to find that an unaware first reader will miss. What a treat.

This is the beginning of an awesome story and engrossing all on its own. If you enjoy adventure, give Red Rising a shot. Seriously fantastic. I love the world, the characters, the challenges, and Brown makes it all keep us reading.

Sabaa gives us an external tragedy in Laia - a girl out to do something, to save what matters most to her - and an internal tragedy in Elias - a boy who does not want to become what he is being made into. Both of them face impossible odds but keep up a spirit of hope.
On top of a gripping young adventure/is this love? tale, we get magic, mythology, and new fantastical beings.

I was a little put off at first by the simplified groupings of peoples: Martials (killers), Scholars (mostly slaves), Mariners, etc. But, I think the author decided to go with that and finish her book rather than come up with some other separation of peoples. Also, besides keeping the already beaten down Scholars in check, it is not entirely obvious in this book why the Martials are so, er, Martial. The current politics are not given (or I missed it).

Of the Tiffany Aching books, this one and the first are my favorites. The story has returning characters, new characters, and a fun weaving plot.

It has the signature Pratchett whim. Read it when you need an interesting other world to escape into an frolic through with the power of a chalk witch.

I heard I was going to love this series. The story was interesting. Somehow, I made it through without really relating to/ caring about the protagonist. I'll see how it goes through the other books.

The world is imaginative, the creatures unique, and the story endearing. I did not like the pacing, at the beginning it moved too quickly for me to understand the character motivations. As the story went on, I got a bit more of the depth of the characters, so that was good. I never felt immersed in the world, and I really want that for a fantasy story.

I think the target audience is 8-11, maybe a little precocious to be interested in sci-fi/fantasy. There is no foul language, and the mean characters keep their meanness to generalities, mostly.

Endearing characters, arcane wisdom(?), and old New York City make this story into a wondrous mixture of history and fantasy. While the story starts out slowly, it unfolds in a delightful way. As the reader, you begin to grasp the connections between characters and their circumstances far before they do, increasing anticipation and keeping the pace. This is a complex tale, well woven by Wecker.

I'd recommend this to middle grades and up. There are some mature topics (an out of wedlock pregnancy, fighting, etc.), but nothing graphic.

I had to finish to see what became of the story, but Part III was really disjointed and frustrating. Everyone seems to recycle themselves. The deep character building dies with unnecessary gore.

Overall, this story is good enough to read through, but could have been reworked-possibly with a sequel. Not appropriate for kids due to sex and violence.

I enjoyed this book because it gives an in-depth look at cancer from the side of the patient, the oncologist, and the activist. The author breaks each bit down into a story - a story of one scientists struggle, a story of one treatment, a story of one patient - in order to build up a narrative about cancer and its treatment (or lack thereof) overtime.

Although I enjoyed the book, and I feel that I have benefitted from reading it, I did not fly through the story. I had to read it in measured bits. At points, I bored with the text as the author labored over details that weren't interesting enough to me, but perhaps would be to others. But, generally, I appreciated that the medical terminology and approaches were broken down for the reader, so I could follow along.

My advice to folks who don't have time to read the book: Still read the thought experiment of Atossa's treatment over time (pp 463-465). It shows (less poignantly than the stories in the book) that diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of treatment of cancer has changed substantially over the last 2500 years or so for some cancers but not at all for others. Sober indeed.

I am not a medical professional, and I assume that folks with knowledge of cancer may not appreciate this book.

I learned so much from this book about world history, culture, and trade than I thought I would...of course, salt is still salt, but it has real power.

I loved this book. I loved the way the characters navigate a world with little hope and no time but still make a life. I loved how the story capture the ferocity of teenagers.

Truth- I am fairly immersed in the Green brothers universe: books, podcast, YouTube...I put off reading this one because I knew it was about cancer, and I know John is a little melancholy. I thought it would be too deep and sad for me. However, this book was funny and beautiful. Sure, I cried, but I also laughed, and more of the latter.

Artemis Fowl fans will likely enjoy the continued humor and perseverance of the characters that we have grown to love. Artemis, Butler, Juliet, Holly, Foley, and Mulch all figure prominently in the adventure. However, this seventh installment in the Artemis Fowl series introduces the concept of thralls and runs (magic with very little magic), a new super fairy villain, a fairy space program, and a strange disorder. It's almost too much. Still an interesting story, but less captivating.

I could barely stay engaged with the story because of so many things that appeared to be out of step with the world that Eoin Colfer had so diligently created in stories 1 through 5 (6 introduced time travel and a new species, so it was a bit off as well).

I would recommend that readers just skip this one, but I have not yet read #8.

Imagine a world where humans had animal spirts and could shift between their animal and human form with nothing more than a thought.

Now, imagine the people express and share the characteristics of their animal spirits.

Add in some intrigue, some existential threat, rebellious teenagers, misinformation, and ancient history.

Mix.

This story is beautiful, exciting, and refreshingly different.

Throughout, I was less interested in the narrative than in previous Pollan books. Somehow even with good writing and an interesting subject, this one didn't call out to me. Each part does have fascinating tidbits of information and some characters (real people) you want to know better.

After a few pages of slow start, this book really gets going. I enjoyed the ups and downs with the characters, the somewhat historical nature, and the adventure. You can almost feel the conflicting pulls on the main character.

Read this if you are interested in how the Hamilton musical happened and/or you really want to read the words of the songs.

Perfect to satisfy your history itch. Even after reading Chernow's book (which is, basically, all of what the collective we knows about Hamilton), I got something out of this.

It's beautiful. Raw creativity.

Happy to return to first characters after the LiveShip Trilogy diversion. Fitz gets back in the royal game, but how does it go? You can guess, but it would be more fun to watch the story play out with this trilogy. You can't just read this book. Prepare to dive into the whole Tawny Man trilogy. It'll go by quickly.

This story is so sweet and fast and full of new experience, like any coming of age story. It's got real friendships, jerks, and romance. The POV character is trans, and there is a whole other level of complexity to her life as a teenage girl.

We end on a hopeful note.

I don't really enjoy romance as a genre, but I read this one for the Book Riot 2021 Read Harder challenge. The characters sucked me right in. Well done.

I'll admit it. I didn't like this book until I was a little moe than half way through it. The characters captured my imagination, but the setting and plot were difficult - almost as if the story started in the wrong place. Only knowledge than Sanderson is s masterful story teller kept me reading onward.

I do look forward to following these characters in the rest of the series. I must know what will become of them!

The kindle version of this book was absolutely full of typos. With very similar names for things that were quite different - Arleth, Arteth...that contributed to the difficulty I had following the story.

This one is on and off for me. I liked some of the stories, and I didn't quite get others.

All in all, is a good collection of essays and sketches if you like David Sedaris. I recommend Me Talk Pretty One Day higher than this one.

Contemplative book. There's a little “look at me” but it's mostly interesting modern historical connections. I recommend using the audiobook.

A little weird with the ages - our hero is, like 11, and has real life or death like battles.

I like the opening of the story - where our character has to go through the door (call to action) twice. He does present as somewhat helpless. Thankfully, maybe, he doesn't become a shameful double agent.

The story has some leaps of faith and piles dirt on science and being smart as, well, very uncool.

Easy read...not sure of target age reader.

A curious reflection on life and reality. What is as we think it is? Who has our back?

I enjoyed both the narrative and the characters. With many little subplots, this story can keep you hoping for more.

Fun- bringing a forgotten tale fresh again. However, I caution those who might use this short tale to judge Maguire. His re-imaginings take on much more life in Wicked and Mirror Mirror.

I really wanted to like this book - the premise of reliving old family vacations while also searching for the quintessential small town is so nostalgic. Bill Bryson is also an entertaining and detailed writer - or at least that was my perspective having previously read a couple of his books about “everything” and “home life.” The Lost Continent starts off promising: the author leaves his childhood home town and follows the well-worn roads to his grandparent's town, and so begins his journey. In this part of the book, called “East,” he mostly sticks to what is promised in the introduction - offering up assessments of small towns and a bit of humor on the drudgery of life on the road. He tries to walk around towns and give a feel for life there - hitting up a restaurant and bar before retiring to a hotel room that is either awful or fantastic. There are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments in this part of the book. In the second half of the book, “West,” he seems to have forgotten the point of the exercise. The story becomes a series of complaints about weather, roads, and national parks. Most western towns are “small,” but they seem to be ignored in favor of decrying dreary drives and lack of food service. It really could have been a good book - I'm disappointed.