Silviya

4 - 4.5 ⭐️

Another great entry in the series!

And this time, we had our guy play a rather interesting double game, which was so much fun to follow.
There were some masterfully done elements - like the setup, the action scenes, the little details about the location, the flashbacks, the pre-reveal of the twist... Many great things.
The thing I didn't like was the somewhat rushed ending. I wanted to know more about the villain and how he managed to survive these unsurvivable injuries and I wanted to see more of the fallout from the situation.

Nevertheless, reading this was a lovely experience - these books are long but quick to go through and I always feel like I want more after each one.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

4.5 ⭐️

This series has absolutely solidified itself as one of my favorite ones of all time!

And this book is another great entry in it.

If you like desert settings, you will love this one - i could practically feel the heat! Based on that, I recommend you read this one in the summer.

Can't say much more than what I have already said before - Lee Child has an amazing writing style that makes you feel like you are right there and experiencing the things with the characters. He also has a LOT of knowledge about everything he puts into his books and I was once more impressed by his ability to weave tons of information into every scene, without it feeling like exposition for even a second.

I took away half star, because I did not like how he built Carmen's character. I thought she deserved a bit better.

Still, I had THE BEST time reading this book and I can't wait to continue with the rest of the series!

The plot and execution of this book were amazing! The author made every page an absolute pleasure to read! Highly recommend.

The only reason I took 1 star away is that there was infidelity in the book that was brushed away as “not applicable” because the couple was already having issues and because “they didn't get naked”. And that is something I can't stand.

This was a nice ending to the series, if slightly anticlimactic.
Don't get me wrong, I quite liked it - both where it started and where it ended. I liked the plot twists and how the author brought it all together.
I just feel as though the power balance was too vague and inconsistent and that made it harder to suspend disbelief than usual.

Regardless, I had a good time and can't wait to read the next series that continues the story!

I picked up this book and from start to finish I couldn't stop reading it.

I think it was an amazing ending to this series and I couldn't be more satisfied.

I spotted one plot thread that kind of went nowhere, but other than that, I have nothing to complain about.

I think one of the best things about this series is that the author isn't afraid to bring secondary characters from previous books out of obscurity and give them a prominent role in the narrative. This attention to the “unimportant” people lends endearing and surprisingly realistic aspect to the story.

Another thing I need to give praise for are the well plotted and laid out twists. Some I managed to guess (including the last scene, which I loved!!!) and some surprised me nicely.

Michael J Sullivan has done a great job with these characters and this plot and I am so looking forward to reading more from him.

Highly recommend!

It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I started getting into it, reading became a pleasure.

I believe it important to mention that the writing style is very factual and might be a bit jarring, especially in the beginning. It's the main reason my rating is less than 5 stars.

But i did like the odd places the author took this story. It made me think.
I like the universe he has crafted - it's so rich and so considerate of circumstances. So much so, that ecological and environmental consideration are woven into every bit of the story. Without it ever becoming too much.

I'm happy I read this book now and not when I was a teenager and first considered it. I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it back then.

Not bad.

I'm not really a fan of magical realism and this book proved once more.

Still, the stories are nice and I liked the messaging

The book started quite promising and up to the 30% mark I was having a great time. Interesting characters, fascinating world and an exciting quest.

And then some patterns started to emerge that soured my enjoyment and doomed me to struggle all the way to the end.

The book is VERY derivative of other works. And while I have no issue with tropy stories, and unpredictability isn't end all be all to me, copying characters and scenes from other stories and pasting them into your own exactly the same will always be worthy of scorn. Samuel - the former seeker was basically a counterfeit of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. There was also so much "borrowed" from Star Wars and The Wheel of Time, among other things, that I had to wonder how anyone who's ever consumed these works could possibly enjoy this one. Of course, I am no gatekeeper of the virtues of literature, so if you did enjoy it, then please disregard this rant - your enjoyment does not require my approval. :)
But even worse, when you have predictable story lines, but are dragging them around for ages as though they are big secrets, it makes me feel like I'm waisting my time. You can't create and maintain suspense when your reveals are obvious from the start. Prolonging the reveal and continuously dropping little hints only works if your “mystery” isn't obvious to begin with. And we had quite a few of those. It left me feeling as though many of the scenes were overwritten and overstayed their welcome.

If there is one thing that can turn me off from an author almost instantaneously, that is unnecessary s**ual violence against children. I'm not saying it should never be in books, but it should makes sense to be there. And if it's not needed, like in this case (literally, if you remove those parts NOTHING will change for the story), then that means the author only added it because he wanted to. And I can't help but derive conclusions based on that fact.

And lastly, the author has tried to create a highly philosophical work (my observation is that he has borrowed quite a bit from Ayn Rand in that aspect), and has for the most part succeeded. But on quite a few occasions, he has failed to maintain moral and logical consistency in his musings. Which left me with the impression of performance rather than actual conviction. And that extended to the moral triumph of the main character, which did not ring true (no pun intended).

ALL that being said, the story is vast and if you are able to ignore the obvious “influences”, could be interesting, so I feel comfortable giving it 3 stars.

Unfortunately, barring unexpected circumstances, I will not be continuing with this series.

I quite liked this book!

The main character is not the nicest person, yet she is easy to understand and like. The love interest is lovely (except for a moment at the end that was a bit too dramatic). The supporting characters were pure gold!

The romance was quite sweet and I really liked the banter between the two, though they started throwing around the “love” word waaay too quickly in my opinion.
Speaking of which, this book was surprisingly spicy. I mean, I expected some sexual scenes, but what I got was waaay too detailed for my taste and I felt extremely uncomfortable reading through those moments. Though I am sure that will appeal to a lot of people.

Why I gave the book 4 stars is because the culmination of the conflict between the two main characters was so over the top and relied on a misunderstanding that could've been solved in all of 2 sentences (if that). I feel like the author didn't want to actually have a conflict between the two and wrote this scene in a quickness. It felt half-done and nearly killed my desire for those two to end up together.

All in all, as far as romance books go, Get a Life Chloe Brown is one of the best.

This story was kind of all over the place, but I liked it.

It started very calm, with the typical for King sort of slice-of-life introduction to a character, which I think I enjoyed the most.
Then we switch gears to another point of view and while that part was the proverbial meat on the bones, I found it slightly stale. Things were happening, but I was neither particularly intrigued, nor scared. I found myself mostly looking forward to the moment when the two perspectives would overlap.
And when they finally did, I did enjoy it. I think the way the author did it was appropriate and satisfying. And it pretty much saved the book for me.

The whole premise of this book is very good and it could've been really scary, but it was executed with so many conveniences, that all possibility for horror flew out the window. My biggest gripe being with the way the bad guys were portrayed. When you put a super smart protagonist, against a group of lazy and at times stupid villains, you simply can't maintain an atmosphere of fear.

I would qualify this book as a sci-fi thriller more than anything else, though given the slow pace in the first half of it, you might not feel too “thrilled” for a while there. But the second part and especially the ending definitely redeem it all.

I do want to point out something that upset me a bit though. And that is the inappropriate innuendo about children private parts in every other chapter, as well as the weirdly detailed thermometer scene (if you know you know). All of this was unnecessary and the plot wouldn't have suffered one bit if it was removed. So the author added it just because he wanted to and that really made me give him the side eye. I was ready to DNF the book then and there and while I'm happy I didn't, it has changed my opinion for the author as a person in a negative way.

I would recommend this book to those looking to explore (somewhat of) a sci-fi thriller with a paranormal aspect.

2.5-ish ⭐️

This is one of the weirdest books I have ever picked up and one of the least enjoyable to read. It reads like a fever dream more than a story and at the end I am left to wonder, what was the point of this entire word salad?

You have a fusion, or should I say, a confusion of post-apocalyptic, western and Arthurian fantasy and pretty much no coherent storyline. Scenes follow one another in whatever order, pacing is a myth and you couldn't find character motivation to save your life.

The book had tons of potential and terrible execution, and reading it left me feeling bored and/or lost and/or disgusted, depending on the chapter.
I was indifferent to pretty much all the characters pretty much all the time, to the point of hating them for wasting my time.

I would've given this lower rating, except, as I said, I did like the setting and the story did have some more lucid moments (hopefully it will go somewhere better in book 2).

P.S.: I am looking forward to the day I will read a Steven King book that doesn't feature child molestation.

A great book which will definitely appeal to people who enjoy political intrigue in their books and a magic system that borders on sci-fi.
The book has a lovely set of characters which I alternately hated and loved but was never indifferent to.
More than anything, this book offers an amazing family dynamic and an opportunity to ponder your own values and perception of right and wrong.

The reason why I took away a star is the waaaaaay too detailed sex scenes. I didn't need to know whose fingers went exactly where, the amount of saliva utilised or the level of penetration that occurred. If that's to your taste, have at it. To me it felt voyeuristic and altogether cringy.

I am DNFing, possibly temporarily.

I don't mind books that are allegorical in nature, but I am not feeling these characters and being super busy, I prefer to take a break and give it another go one day when I can potentially appreciate the book better.

Okay, here's the thing, I liked reading this book. But upon completing it I am left to wonder: what was the point of all this?

First of all, I picked this book up thinking it was a historical fiction and then around chapter 3 I discovered that it is actually a post apocalyptic fiction (I wouldn't call it science-fiction as there's not much science going on). Which was such a nice surprise and I was so ready for it.
The book discusses some very interesting ideas and speculates on possibilities that surely trouble a lot of us.
And it was all done in a setting so remote to what we are used to associate with these subjects - I was very intrigued.
There was also this spirit of discovery and adventure, plus mystery, combined with certain archetypes that reminded me somewhat of The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (minus the dinosaurs).
Needless to say, I was enjoying myself quite a lot.

But upon reaching the conclusion of this story, I am left underwhelmed and quite disappointed. The ending frankly leaves the impression of directionlessness.

There were so many plot points that lead nowhere For example, what was the point of Rose not speaking or being Tom Lacy's daughter at all? The book would've been way better if Rose was not in the book at all and Agnes carried her plot points. What was the point of the Piggeries trip? Of the blacksmith's son taking so much money to deliver a letter. What was the point of the letter at all?? What was the point of the drama with Captain Hancock? So many things were injected and overdramatised creating anticipation, only to end up nowhere.
So many questions remained unanswered. Like what's with the two sleeps? Why is there a first and a second sleep as a tradition? We discovered nothing of how the world actually "ended". We learned close to nothing really.

Basically, the author had a great idea and in the confines of writing, executed it quite well. But his story ended up lacking direction and, in my opinion, general meaning in the end.

Still, as the book made me think quite a lot and I generally enjoyed my reading experience, I am giving it 3 ⭐️.

I had quite low expectations for this book and was pleasantly surprised.
It's different than anything by Leigh Bardugo I had read so far and I enjoyed it a lot.

First, her writing style is very smooth and makes the book so easy to read, as always.
She utilises a few different timelines to tell the story and managed to make it work, without it becoming overcomplicated.

The characters are interesting, though somewhat on the younger side. The book sits on the verge of becoming edgy and cringy, but never crosses over, which speaks volumes about the mastery of the writer to walk a tight rope (so to speak).

I think what surprised me the most was the brutality of this book. And not in the usual murder-dismemberment way. At least not only in that way. Leigh Bardugo doesn't spare her characters harm of a more graphic sexual nature, from a very young age mind you. And some really gross ingestion of bodily substances (and I will leave it at that)
So keep that in mind before you pick up the book.

Overall, I liked it a lot, though I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to people.

Simply splendid!
This just warms my heart.

I loved this sequel!

I must admit, I wasn't overly excited to continue with the series, despite enjoying Skyward. Yet as soon as I picked up this book, I was hooked and used any spare time I had to read it.

It follows mostly Spensa, with a brand new team of secondary characters and brief appearances from the old crew.
We get to explore new places and cultures, and we get to know more about the mysterious entities we briefly saw at the end of Skyward, as well as the history of humanity and the circumstances of them ending up on Detritus.

I really loved the character development Spensa went through and the many twists in the plot.

I simply can't wait to pick up the next book in the series!

4.5 ⭐️

Oh my, a book about a girl that lives in a library, hangs out with talking books and wields a sword??! Take my money, please!!!

Within 2 pages of the book I knew I was going to love it. We have a lovely and, FINALLY, TALL female protagonist. I am myself a short person, but even I get tired of the dainty-little-girl-that's-somehow-stronger-than-all-the-men trope. It was refreshing to see a tall beautiful young woman in a young adult fantasy!
We have an amazing atmosphere that I can only describe as cosy industrial whimsy. And I highly recommend reading the book in the fall!

I also liked the supporting characters though some of them felt like cliches at times.

The plot was so exciting and things were happening at a nearly perfect pace. I also very much enjoyed the ending.

As far as young adult fantasy (with a bit of romance) goes, this one is top shelf!

I read this literally within a few hours.

This book is widely considered as one of the weaker ones by the author and boy, am I excited to read the rest of his works! I would like to point out (unrelated to the plot and the content of the book) that I picked it up because I was told that people who like Ruth Ware's writing hate Riley Sager and vice versa. And being that I somewhat detest Ruth Ware's books, I was curious. After reading this book, I can confirm that the above mentioned belief seems to be true. :))

The story is set in a very prominent landmark New York building and from the very beginning I was really interested. Because the atmosphere was right, because the main character was likeable and vivid, because the author made this ridiculous situation somehow seem plausible. Because I have been poor and know the feeling of having just a few bucks in your pocket, and not knowing where to go and what to do, and felt entirely defeated. And I think the author managed to portray that brilliantly.

I really liked the twist and the resolution, though I have to admit that I found the villain slightly too villainy, and that took away a bit of the believability. Which is why the book gets 4 stars and not 5.

Man, was this a nice read!
As far as young adult fantasy goes, this is one of the best!
The world was elaborate and well crafted, the writing style beautiful without being too much, the character were nuanced and likeable, the plot was intricate and well-woven.
And I loved how everything, even the language revolved around scent. It was very original and very well done. The author shows a lot of knowledge and imagination.
I wish this book was more popular and highly recommend it for the fans of the genre.

3.5 ⭐️

Not my usual read, so I don't have much frame of reference.
But I liked this one. It wasn't perfect - the writing style was a bit off and some of the storylines didn't really need to be in, in my opinion. Not to mention that, at one point, it went a wee bit darker than I had initially expected.
Regardless, nice story, nice characters, short chapters, no sex scenes (in truth, there was barely any romance, which I liked). It was a nice quick read.

Alright.
This was a nice read and I recommend it for people looking for a YA thriller.

What I liked about it:
- Fast paced (for the most part) read;
- Interesting plot, full of twists (like, really, so many);
- Very nice formatting of the book - I thought the visual representation of the different types of documents and records was an awesome touch.

What I didn't like:
- The main character wasn't well developed and I pretty much didn't care about her at all;
- Some things were a bit over the top and I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to allow me to enjoy it fully. Like, how everyone gave this girl all the information for no reason. Or our main character's action at times. I just couldn't buy it all.

Ultimately, the book is great for younger readers who are more inclined to perceive unrealistic events and circumstances as plausible. It would appear that I have, unfortunately, been infected with the skepticism that comes with age and experience, and as such enjoyed it only marginally.

4.5 ⭐️

This book was way heavier then the first one and took our heroes and villains in directions that I didn't always expect.

We saw the old characters we loved and got to meet and follow some new ones. I did enjoy reading it, though some moments, particularly relating to Fidele and Maquin, were honestly difficult to read. And I have to give it to John Gwynne, he knows how to make me hate a villain with a burning passion. At one point I had to put the book down and pace a little bit. Well done!

If I have one complaint, it's that in my opinion, some of the chapters could've been cut. I can understand what the author was trying to build with them, but he could've done that in the course of other scenes by adding the needed dialog there.

At the end, the book delivered and I am so looking forward to seeing what happens next. Though to be honest, I am also scared for what the author will do to the characters I have grown to love.

I am so conflicted about this book.

Let me start with the extraordinary - the author's writing style and skill with words, especially when it comes to sarcasm and creative insults, is worthy of praise. I do not enjoy crass language in books, yet I find it tastefully executed in the books from this series.

I also love our main characters, as well as some of the supporting ones (captain Zamira Drakasha for example) - they have managed to carve themselves a place in my heart and I am deeply interested in what happens to them.

However, the plot of this book was a total mess, to say the least.
We have a saying here - the author brought water from 9 different wells, trying to create a web of mystery, only for it all to make no logical sense at the end.

We begin with the fallout from book one and this part I actually enjoyed, to the point that I started predicting a new favorite.

But then, the author seemingly decided that this is not grand enough and threw another plot line with another villain.

And then, at about 40% of the book, all of sudden he changed his mind on what the book will be about and introduced a whole new setting and yet another plot line. It felt so abrupt and, in my opinion, completely unnecessary, to the point that I lost all interest.
Then a chapter before the end, we are back to the original plot line, which made it feel disjointed and rushed as though it was an afterthought.
And just to clarify, I did like the place where the characters ended and the cliffhanger that was introduced, but getting there was exhausting.

I also didn't like the fake morality the author tried to inject. I mean, you are writing a book about two thieves who steal for the fun of it, sir. One of them literally overtook a gang by beating little kids to assert his dominance. Any financial and social morality you'd like to share rings hollow in this context. Locke isn't Robin Hood - he is literally a “priest” of the god of thieves. He steals for the sake of stealing. He is not interested in doing honest work who benefits honest people. I don't care that he steals from rich people, he has no high horse to sit on. And I liked him in book 1 because he didn't pretend to be anything else.

All in all, the book is okay, but I had very high expectations and am definitely disappointed by it.

I do plan to continue with the series and hope for going back to greatness in book 3.

I think as far as self-help books go, this one is actually one of the better ones.
It doesn't just talk about what you should strive to achieve, but gives you actionable meaningful steps and tools for how to go about achieving things.
I liked that the book was split in specific principles and discussed them separately with good examples and then gave us different methods to combine and execute those principles, based on personality and convenience.
The one reason why it doesn't get 5 stars is that I think the author went a bit overboard. There is such a thing as too much explanation and you can kind of find it here. I also think that all the methods provided (though truly helpful if you apply them properly - I have used them in management and they do work) can be a bit overwhelming to most people. By principle 3 one is already fed up and anxious to apply the theory in practice. But there's still more and there is just too much management talk for the average person to find meaningful. I rather think it will confuse and deter them from even beginning.
Still, great book that it taught me a few things. I recommend if you are struggling to adopt and maintain new habits.