Silviya
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this book - I liked the setting, the plot and the characters.
It's a lovely (if slightly too dreamy) tale of love set in Scotland. It had adventure, compelling romance and some nice friendship, as well as hardship.
I took away half a star because I didn't much like the scenes with Judith's father.
Beware, the “romantic” scenes in this book are quite graphic (a bit too graphic for my taste), though if that's not your thing, you can skim them (like I did). And if that is your thing, congrats - you have found a good one.
I think the author managed to strike a good balance between romance and plot. One of the better books written by Julie Garwood.
Somehow, I find this book darker than the first one of the series, despite the lack of as notable heart-wrenching death at the end. This book is the last step before plunging down the pit of terrible despair that the author has prepared for us in the other books. The last book where hope still lingers and the most difficult for it.
I love it though. It made me love Tyrion where I just liked him in the first book. It made me like Catelyn where I hated her in AGOT, which goes for Sansa as well.
I loved seeing the awakening of magic and itched to see more of it.
Another masterpiece by one of the most talented butchers in literature.
3.5 stars
Easy to read. Really enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's writing stile (this is the first book from the author I have ever read).
A bit surface level and a bit tropy, though I am clearly not the target audience, so I wouldn't take points away from it for that.
What I did take a point away for is the skipping of time and telling rather than showing - we would go through weeks and months where what happened had been summarised for us. Not really my preferred way of witnessing stories.
I also didn't like the love triangle part, but I never do. Just a personal thing.
Regardless, I think the story was nice and I would recommend to people who are looking for a light read, with some angst and some good old chosen one to follow around.
Nice cosy story, I liked it just fine.
It had many fairytale-like elements and cute characters, which i really really liked.
The ending was rather quick and underwhelming.
I will continue with the series though. i'm curious as to what else this world has to offer.
Exquisite!
Politics, betrayals, scheming, melodrama, more politics, more scheming, and even love (if y0u can believe it).
I can't say I had fun reading this, but it sure evoked a lot of emotions and sitting on the edge of my seat.
This book demonstrated perfectly how, when it comes to politics, the nicer one is, the more hated he ends up being by everyone.
I loved all the twists and turns and the reveal we got at the end, though I still think there's more to that story than what we got.
Can't wait to read the last book in the series!
Стилът на писане, сюжетната линия, героите и тяхната мотивация... Всичко беше недомислено.
Много неща бяха започанти и недовършени. Много неща нямаха никакви последствия. Още повече неща нямаха смисъл.
Главната героиня беше непоносима и си противоречеше постоянно.
Сцените не бяха добре описани и не се развиваха по разбираем начин.
Ето един пример, който не е спойлер (извинявам се за чуждицата, не знам дума на български, която да я замести):
Нашата главна героиня се събужда и вижда непозната жена и без да са си казали имената, нашата героиня знае коя е жената. Все едно не сме видели частта от разговора, в която са се представили. Доста често попадаме на такива “полуготови” сцени.
Книгата определено има сериозна нужда от редактор.
Като цяло, историята можеше и да ме заинтригува, ако беше написана по-добре. Което е много жалко.
Беше мъчение да я довърша и не мисля, че ще продължа с поредицата.
3.5 ⭐️
I really liked the contemplation of stories and the merit of fiction. There was quite a bit of 4th wall breaking that fit very well in the narrative.
I liked the set up and outcome, as well as the characters we were introduced to.
What I didn't like was the overuse of misunderstanding to drive the plot. I would've preferred if it was minimised for the sake of relationship development.
Overall, I had a good time.
4,5 ⭐️
What a great find this book was!
The collection features 23 short stories by some authors I admire and some authors I had not heard of before. Each one comes with the promised twist ending and while I can't honestly call all of them masterpieces, I definitely did not dislike any of them.
The book was definitely worth reading and I highly recommend it.
Here's a bit about some of the stories that stood out to me the most:
- The Open Window, Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) - this is my most favorite of all the stories as it got me through a wheel of emotions. It takes all of 5 minutes to read, so if you have the opportunity, give it a go.
- The Lady or the Tiger, Frank R. Stockton - this one... I am still thinking about it. It has one of the most frustrating endings on the planet, yet I still liked it. Mostly because it offers such a morbid dilemma and I can't help but ponder it on occasion.
- The Case of Lady Sannox, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - This one grabbed me from the beginning. The author offers a curious mystery within the first two paragraphs and I was hooked instantaneously. I kinda wish it was longer, but it was still great.
-The Bet, Anton Chekhov - I wouldn't say I liked this one, but it did prompt a lot of thinking. If you are interested in partaking in some existential dread, this one is for you.
- Myra Meets His Family, F. Scott Fitzgerald - This one was so entertaining and the twist was so fun! Now, mind you, I did not like the beginning and 2 pages in, I was convinced that the story, and the author's writing in general, aren't for me. But I am so happy I disregarded that conviction and gave the story a chance. Probably the most fun of all the stories in this collection.
-The Monkey's Paw, W.W. Jacobs - if you're interested in scaring yourself to death, I would highly recommend this one. The story is super sinister and dark and I liked it, even though I generally avoid scary things.
-Our Aromatic Uncle, Henry Cuyler Bunner - “It is always with a feeling of personal tenderness and regret that I recall his story.” This is how the story starts and this is exactly how I feel about it too. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved it so much! On top of that, the writing style of the author is exquisite, so I can't recommend it enough. But there is so much more to it, especially towards the end.“Why? Don't know. Been a fool all my life. Never could do anything but make money.” This monologue still gets me.
All in all, a great find and I'm so happy I got my hands on vol.2 :)
This is a very detailed memoir which focuses specifically on the author's life while apprenticing and working as a steam boat pilot, and later on travelling on the Mississippi river (why does this thing has so many double letters???!).
When I say “very detailed” I mean VERY detailed. We get a large portion of minute facts and feelings related to the pilot job, as well as quite a few anecdotes.
I very much enjoyed the read, though I suspect it will likely be considered rather dry and boring by the majority of readers.
The author spares no effort to describe the river, the job, the people, the boats, the organisations... There is a good amount of the characteristic for the author sarcasm, which made me cackle quite a few times.
It was a good relaxing read.
I quite enjoyed this one. We have a tech lady and the quintessential bad boy getting together after knowing each other for a long time - so kind of friends to lovers.
We have a small town setting, a nice mystery and a good amount of chemistry between our main characters.
What I don't like is the way the author always takes it too far too quickly. You can't have regency outcomes in a contemporary setting, when it comes to the romance. Or you can, but you must make sure that the ground is properly set. So, when you turn a man who has slept his way through hundreds of women and hasn't had a serious committed relationship a day in his life into an I-love-you-throwing dedicated partner within a week, I have to give you the side eye. Which is why I took away a star.
But I had fun reading this book and would recommend it.
Another masterful book and a fitting end to this trilogy.
Brutal and realistic (for a fantasy novel that is).
The author managed to make me like and dislike the same characters within the span of 2 pages.
And effortlessly at that.
This was the fastest paced book in the trilogy, and the final battle sequence was masterfully done.
(Book 2 is still my favourite though.)
Many questions were answered and many still remain, so I'll be looking forward to the next books set in this world.
Great trilogy! I am so happy I read it!
P.S.: Bet Bayaz killed Juvens after all...
Full 5 stars.
World Building - A vast world with a vast history. A lot was revealed, but every new answer brought with it a dozen more questions. Just the way I like it.
Characters - The best things about this book, or any book at all. Loved absolutely all of them. There are no perfect beings here, just a pile of broken sad human remains, and I wish that I knew them all personally. Misery that inspires.
Plot - Some people say there's not plot to this book. Do not listen to those people. Granted, the book seemingly focuses on revealing who our characters are as people, both in the present day and in the past. However, every reveal is intentional, and the course of actions and events is anything but random, which eventually leads the reader to seeing the plot.
All in all, I recommend it highly, if you don't mind a bit of a gruesome bloodshed, and brutal display of the misery that accompanies humanity.
Оne of the best children's classics!
It's been more than 20 years since I last read this book before I picked it up again, but my feelings towards it haven't changed one bit.
The story is enchanting and the characters impossible to dislike. It focuses on the simple joys and rewards in life, and how to see them when dealing with harsh circumstances.
I felt like I was in the mountains, among the pine trees myself.
If you're a fan of Indiana Jones and/or Dan Brown's writing, this one is definitely for you.
It's a high octane action-adventure-thriller-mystery which focuses on religion, mythologies and secret societies. As well as a bit of science.
The author seems to have done a thorough research and compiled a plot so vast a twisted, It at times felt like I read a whole series rather than just one book. Which is also why I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars - it was simply too much at times.
Still, a good engaging read and I recommend.
What an amazing book this was!
If you ever wanted to read a classic fantasy book, which features all of your favorite tropes, but still manages to surprise you every time you think you've got it figured out, then this one is for you.
We have a vast intriguing world, a huge cast of characters, an amazing atmosphere, mystery, history, action, quests... And all of this is written in such a clever way! We have a beautiful and solid writing style, which left me feeling like I can trust this author to tell an enchanting story. Which he did.
The one thing you need to be prepared for is this: the book is SLOW! And while I enjoyed it and definitely think it's worth it, it might be an issue for the faster readers. The author takes his sweet sweet time to introduce this world and his many characters and stories, and doesn't shy away from putting scenes on page, just because they make the story cosier.
So, if you're planning to read this one, make sure that you're okay with not being hasty, then pick it up and enjoy the ride.
Why did this took me so long to read, I will never know.
Yet another great, fast-paced entry in this lovely series.
The plot thickened and the cast expanded. I really liked where the story went and the things we learned.
I do wish the author had spend a bit more time on the outcome of the story, but other than that I had a great time.
Can't wait to get to the next book in the series!
P.S.: I really love the werewolves and am happy Butcher kept them in the roster!
I kind of think this series (or at least the first 2 books so far) is like Percy Jackson for grown ups.
In a good way!
I enjoyed the first book immensely, but this one did even better (or maybe I was more in the mood for it).
The plot was very well woven and the character work was amazing. But the best thing about the book was the atmosphere. There's just something about it that makes me want to keep on reading. Like a pair of comfortable shoes.
What was even better about this book is the fact that we are starting to see shades of the main plot and I am so excited about it.
What I really like about The Dresden Files novels is that after reading one i feel like I do after having a small nutritious meal - I don't feel too full and I don't feel hungry. I feel satisfied and looking forward to the next one. There's always a lot going on in these books, but the author somehow manages to keep it short and sweet.
Another thing I enjoy are the characters, especially Harry Dresden himself. I find him charming and endearing, while still being able to acknowledge his shortcomings. Of which there are plenty, but the author is not pretending like they aren't there which makes them seem intentional (which they are. Plus they make the character more understandable and believable.
Why I took away a star is because I didn't like how the backstory was thrown in seemingly haphazardly. We left book 2 at a certain spot and then all of a sudden we pick up like a year later and we're told about things Harry did and villains he fought, but we never get to see those (and they are important). It was referred to at multiple key spots and in such a manner as to imply we have already seen this. So much so, that I started considering that I might've missed a book or something. I went to the internet multiple times to see if there was another book I was supposed to read before this one, but there wasn't.
Regardless, I still enjoyed myself quite a bit and can't wait to read the next in the series!
Another fantastic entry in one of my favorite series ever written.
We get (a little bit) more of Reacher's back story and a super exciting and mysterious plot revealed in a masterful way. I was on the edge of my seat for 90% of this book and if I didn't have an adult's responsibilities, I would've read this whole thing within 24 hours.
The book also delivered in terms of tough emotional moments and humanised our rather stoic main character slightly more.
Probably my favorite book of this series so far (I say this about every book of this series).
What's the opposite of Middle Book Syndrome? Well, whatever it is called, this book is a prime example of it.
I loved absolutely every moment of reading this book.
There's no amount of praise I can give it, that will do it justice.
Let me just say, that if you liked book 1, you will absolutely love this one. And if you were on the fence about the first book, you will absolutely love this one.
I loved The Blade Itself, mainly because of the characters, and pretty much nothing has changed in book 2. Except the world became so much bigger and better defined. Not to mentioned the plot with its multitude of threads.
Highly highly recommend.
I've owned this book for maybe a year and only now, and somewhat reluctantly, decided to read it. And damn, if it's not some of the best sci-fi I ever read!
From chapter 1, I did not want to put it down. And when eventually would, I'd spend my time thinking and theorising about it.
100% recommend!
What a great time I had reading this book!
There are a few similarities with book 1 in the way certain scenes are executed, but as a whole, this was a very nice sequel that kept my attention and had me theorising relentlessly.
The one thing I'm disappointed about is that Dr. Levine didn't get eaten on the island. I would've liked nothing more than to see some regret in this jerk's eyes.