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July 3, 2018 @ 12.09 AM to July 9, 2018 @ 11.50 PM
this quote sticks with me: “In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves.”
05/02/2022
friends to lovers
interesting storytelling, goes back & forth btwn past and present; reminds me of another story...PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION (just checked - read PWMOV first). also, i think the tone is kind of similar? but this one hit harder / hurt more. idk if it was bc of the story itself or the time when i read it, but i think i liked this one better ... both were kinda melancholic, but this one.....hurt my heart man
when the reader finally finds out what happened, oof ... and then u realize it didn't have to be this way - MAJOR oof :(
satisfying ending tho
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27/05/2021:
oh my god
edit: that was a cathartic read, damn
fun read but like....hm - some...questionable plot details
but it was a cute enough story, if a lil toooo on-the-nose twds the end
i accidentally finished the book as soon as i did but honestly – this is one of The Best fantasy books I have read....in a long time / ever
it's just the right amount of adventure & darkness & humor, with an emphasis on the commonality of the human condition and the complexity of human nature.... brilliant!
the characters are very well written - for...i think the first time?? i actually loved all the perspectives. like, there are times when you just want to skip a POV bc the character might not be interesting or like there's another POV you might be looking forward to but honestly – this story was riveting, and I enjoyed reading from the different perspectives.
Maybe I'll develop this later, but I liked the contrast of the Patriarchal land ruled by King Aden (Arden? w/e the stupid guy's name is) vs. the Matriarchal Valarian (or is it Valian? i might be mixing it up w GoT LOL) rule... and other similar parallels in the book btwn the characters.
There's also just enough foreshadowing and things coming together... man, I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story develops/unfolds & to see how all the pieces come together !!
And the ending man... glad all the books are out LOL but also - i cannot be reading rn!
Trevor Noah is a fantastic storyteller.
i'd heard the last story in one of his stand up specials but honestly,
holy shit
still have goosebumps
4.5
I READ THE TEASER for the NEX T book and holy shite WTF?? AAA
tbh, i was interested in the premise of the book, with the anti-hero prince and librarian apprentice girl ... I didn't think I'd read past the first book
but that teaser
Thoughts / Review on TaT:
So before I start TaT, there's something that's been nagging me about CoK...(I'm not sure if this has been mentioned/discussed before, I only read the most recent post on r/queensthief about chapters 21 – 23).
Did anyone else feel worried after finishing CoK? In the last few chapters, we realize Eugenides's plan of becoming the King of Kings (which was so nicely foreshadowed in the last sentence of KoA), Eugenides is still getting treated by physicians for some mystery ailment, and there's Sophos' blind faith in Eugenides
For some reason, that last exchange really sticks out to me and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Specifically:
1) When Sophos and Gen are talking about the people of Eddis being mad at Eugenides and
2) When Sophos is explaining to Gen why he went to Oneia and then Gen says “I see.”
3) (this wasn't in the last chapter but) when Gen and Helen are seeing off Sophos, and this exchange occurs: “Helen...you sent me to Attolia. She stiffened....we do what we must, but we are not defined by our circumstances”.
Before delving into these 3 points, I want to backtrack a little.
In KoA, when Irene is talking to Relius, she tells him that Gen is afraid of failing and stealing Irene's power from her. But I think Gen's fear may have more to do with whatever the gods have planned, because later on, drunk Gen tells Coastis that he's drinking to bury the truth and that it's the first time he's “caught in something that he can't get out of...because [he] doesn't want out of it” and he's “terrified that if they know how much [he] hates it, they might take it away”.
Upon first glance it's like “yeah, Gen's worried about the responsibilities he'll have as Attolis” (remember that scene in QoA, when he visited the amputees?), but Gen probably knew or figured he'd have to become the Annux (King of Kings) – from the gods? – and I think he's worried about the responsibilities/repercussions associated with attaining that power and potentially losing the friendship of the few people who he actually cares about (like having to manipulate Sophos to swear fealty to him). But at the same time, he doesn't not want to have the power (?)
Whatever the case is, Eugenides knows some things – Helen mentioned as much to Sophos in CoK (“I believe that the veil for [Eugenides] is always thin, and that he walks through the world gingerly”) – and its interesting to note Gen's various roles: as Thief, as Attolis, as Annux (whenever Helen declares her loyalty to Attolis).
Okay, so back to CoK. I think there's some larger plot that the gods have planned, and I feel like the clues are there, but I can't put my finger on it... so: the rest of this analysis might be a stretch (please call me out on it if that's the case HAHAHA).
When Gen reminds Helen that she sent him to Attolia and the fact that she stiffened – I think there's some other realization in this this seemingly innocuous reaction...I didn't think much of it initially, but there's the fact that Gen's ancestor building the library in Attolia, and Gen is still the Thief...and Helen tells Sophos everything – I feel like there's more to this statement than was revealed .-.
So after Helen tells Sophos everything, Eugenides mentions that the people of
This might be a stretch:
- If I recall correctly, in QoA we're told that Helen sent Eugenides, he warned her against sending him, but she still decided to send him and then his hand got cut off.
- Also, remember in QoA, Helen figured Eugenides lost favour with the gods, and then Gen called on the gods for a conversation and we're given the impression that things are happening for a reason (I think the goddess who visited him said that he hasn't lost favour?).
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2020-06-30: ngl last 2 chapters really did me in...had to stop reading for 10 minutes
yes, i predicted the plot....and the cliffhanger too, wassup
still, kind of a fun read even though i was like “are u serious” for most of the book LOL
i liked the dual perspective in this one...interesting cliffhanger, look forward to reading the finale
honesty, they're all clowns - what a soap-opera
really liked the representation in this book!!
helped me get into ASL again :)
ending was kinda...anti-climatic, so the extra star is for the rep