Plot: 4 Characters: 4 Writing Style: 4 Cover: 4 Enjoyment: 3.5/4 Buyable/Re-readable?: Maybe. I'll explain at the end,NETGALLEY ARC + thank you Hogarth
Plot: 4 Characters: 4 Writing Style: 4 Cover: 4 Enjoyment: 3.5/4 Buyable/Re-readable?: Maybe. I'll explain at the end, since it may or may not be a spoiler.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violent child abuse (physical, emotional, psychological), human sacrifice, torture, kidnapping, caging children, dismemberment, suicide, disappeared, genocide. I don't always include these but felt it prudent this time. I was able to get through the book, and this may help others as well, because I was reminded of the fantastical setting regularly, therefore making it easier to remember this was a work of fiction and fake.
This story is told in third and first person POVs, and divided into six parts (I would say that, for the most part, the characters had different voices but not always, it's curious) - � Part 1, Jan 1981 - Juan and Tali. � Part 2, Jan 1983 - Jorge Bradford (it had a lot of run-on sentences), only one 'chapter'. � Part 3, 1985�86 - Gaspar, Pablo, Adela, Vicky. Run-on sentences as well, some that work, some that are frustrating. The kids are around 12 here and Juan is 34. The second half gets, I don't know, odd? Like, it almost drags. � Part 4, 1960�1976 - First POV, Rosario Bradford and about Juan during youth. She's 11 and he's 8 at some point. She tells a story set in 1919. A time jump occurs where Juan is 15, and then about to turn 18 in another. Gaspar is two at some point, and it ends with Juan 24, Luis (his brother) 30. � Part 5, 1993 � First POV of journalist, Olga. 7 years since a significant disappearance. It's written like one of her stories, includes interviews. � Part 6, 1987�97 - Told through Luis, Vicky, Gas, Pablo, Steve/Esteban. Gaspar is 14 at some point, 18 at another. Pablo is 23. The book ends with Gaspar being 25.
The author chose to use quotation marks but also omitted them throughout - ex: We’re leaving, he said as he shook him gently. I am not a fan and very curious as to why they chose to do this? Things included are: the Order, the Ceremonial, mediums/priests & priestesses/shamans, invocations, demons, occult, sex magic, blood magic, sacrifices, saints, deities, tarot, Cults of the Shadow, initiates, BrujerÃa, imbunche, ghosts/memories/echoes, psychic-like connections, talismans, and even some real world things, such as The National African Company, war in Argentina, etc.
This book won't be for everyone, from the trigger warning content, to the writing style, to the sheer strangeness. When asked what was the book about, I could only say it's weird. It's a wild, wild ride that has enjoyable moments and others less so. It's like...supernatural horror with real world war elements and an interesting magic system. Sort of, heh.
With regards to it being re-readable, this is my SPOILER WARNING!!
(view spoiler)[The ending leaves room for a possible sequel. If no such plans come to fruition, then this is a one-and-done book, given the dark, heavy content and kookiness. However, if another installment comes out, one may want to read the first book as a refresher of events that occurred, though I might just remind myself through spark notes or something. We'll see. And if another doesn't come, then I wish we had gotten a better wrap up for certain characters. A lot of unanswered questions, or at least, not answered in a fully satisfying manner. (hide spoiler)] 3 and a halfish stars....more
Plot: 4 Characters: 4 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 4 Enjoyment: First half = 5 // Latter = 3 Buyable/Re-readable?: Not for me.
3.5 â� This book will NETGALLEY ARC
Plot: 4 Characters: 4 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 4 Enjoyment: First half = 5 // Latter = 3 Buyable/Re-readable?: Not for me.
3.5 â� This book will NOT be for everyone.
As I didn't read the full synopsis, the book wasn't what I thought it would be, and therefore, I at first didn’t know the excerpt hinted at the fiction bleeding into reality - I wonder how differently this would have read for me, had I known going in, heh. It was fun at first; I like the whole book-within-a-book method, but there came a point where the humor dropped off and the 'wtf-ery' kicked in.
Example: Part III - Drowning - I flat out do not understand why the main character did what she did here. It pulled me out of book rather alarmingly, leaving me feeling disconnected, weird, etc I never figured out the motive for getting with these kids and the scenes afterward. And honestly it was at Part III that the book began to lose me. I was bewildered enough about the ending to contact another reviewer of the book, but they didn't even remember the ending ("which probably says something"), so. Alas. And was she asexual or not, because representation would have been cool.
That the author is a stand-up comedian makes loads of sense, as the first half or more was utterly hilarious. I'd giggle or laugh aloud and often want to share those parts with my husband. I learnt some new words and new peoples! We get first person POV from the main character and third person for the book excerpts.
Petty small thing - I don't care for the name choices. I felt that they were too bland for mermaids, however, they were also neat, using typically male given ones for female characters, and kind of neat they take names of sperm fathers? but...isn't that also playing into the patriarchy and aren't we fighting that same thing in this novel?
To be somewhat lazy, these fellow readers sum it up fairly well -
� Natalie - “This is a complex and unusual novel.� Very much so. � Amy - “Truthfully, there's so much in this book, I feel I should read it a few more times to really digest all the ins and outs of it thoroughly.� Y U U P, same. � Jenn - “At times the writing was a little wordy but seeing that the main character is a writer, it makes sense.� - Agreed, sometimes too Big Brain for me. � Jennifer - “I'm sure that someone will read this and make literary connections that I missed or something to do with gender identity and the relationship between Penny and Sylvia. But for me, I was reading this for the story and not for it to be a major social commentary.� Right, went into it expecting one thing, came out wonder wtf did I just read? Heh....more
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 - Whilst I enjoyed it so very thoroughly, I can see an argument for the extremeNETGALLEY / WILLIAM MORROW ARC
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 - Whilst I enjoyed it so very thoroughly, I can see an argument for the extremely flowery nature being a bit too much for some readers. Cover: 5 - Cover is so pretty, I want to choke. MUCH love. Enjoyment: 5 Buyable/Re-readable?: Ohhh yes. As of now, this will make my Top 2023 list.
This is almost a Beauty and Beast reimagining, in that it's thought to be the origin story and inspiration, with historical fiction (Medici family, characters who were real people. etc).
"This story is, above all, a work of fiction. Though I tried to stay faithful to the facts that are known about the Gonzales family, as well as to those that scholars have deemed most likely, for the sake of a more coherent narrative I did take liberties with history. In places, time lines have been blurred and historical sites, and even people, combined. The song that Catherine sings is a modified translation of a traditional Italian lullaby. Animal-husband tales have appeared in cultures all over the world for centuries upon centuries. One� Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s The Beauty and the Beast� has spawned countless variations. Whether the historical protagonists in this book might have been the inspiration for Villeneuve’s story is� like so much else about their lives� a matter of conjecture, though one that sparked my imagination." - Molly Greeley
The story is written in third POV and in 7 parts that time-jump. It's told through both Pedro (our would-be 'Beast') and Catherine, his wife. It kicks off with the death of Pedro and then flawlessly weaves the tapestry of their lives in the past up to the present; from 1547 to 1619. It takes place in Italy, mostly, with a few visits elsewhere. I know how underwhelming it is to say 'it's a great book', but seriously, this is such a wonderful novel. The build-up, the world building, the interactions, the brutal honesty and exposure to life at court for living beings (little people, exotic animals, people with deformities, and so on) turned into entertainment for the privileged. It is absolutely a story of resilience. I found the changes made to be agreeable (especially those done to Ludovico).
Also? Molly includes some biology with regards to childbirth that hardly anyone else includes or discusses, so kudos for going there, thank you very much.
Molly Greeley includes sources and suggestions for further reading, as well, for those interested in extending their exploration. Always a plus....more
Plot: I say 5 for concept and what it could have been, what I wanted it to be. Characters: 2 Writing Style: 2 Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 1? Even wriNETGALLEY ARC
Plot: I say 5 for concept and what it could have been, what I wanted it to be. Characters: 2 Writing Style: 2 Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 1? Even writing this up was annoying. Buyable/Re-readable?: Nope.
Alright, I made it 47% and just can't go any further. I already pushed myself for Reasons and have met my limit. The concept is just...it has so much potential. Like, it's said the old Gods (my sic) turned themselves mortal in order to have sex with actual mortals to then produce witches and thus spread magic throughout the world. And that a witch can keep their powers if turned into a vampire by a certain age. Like...I wanted and expected to enjoy the heckin' heck out of this book. I was not immediately drawn in and was honestly bored most of the time. How a book about witches, vampires, and magic can be dull is...IDEK. I felt that the author's hand-holding was somewhat insulting, in terms of repeated information. And things are repeated A LOT. I debated counting but became so annoyed that I sometimes skimmed just to be done quicker. It almost read like badly written fan-fiction. Somewhat akin to Stephanie Meyer overusing and/or wrongly using a word, so too does Flores with 'gulp' (and possibly 'scoff'). 'Gulp' is used twenty-three times in 368 pages. I couldn't throw this book across the room, because that would mean throwing my Nook, but I sure wanted to. I instead took to venting to my husband about about infuriating the read was. The characters don't speak naturally, using names while addressing one another far too often. And the contradictions, ugh. Example being, Ava says she hasn't seen any animals and yet Kaye's chapter is mentioning animals...or the writer contradicting the world's rules (I.E. vampire healing). The character actions are overly dramatic and borderline aggressive. There was a point (in chapter 14) where another character was apparently trapped and the way in which it was written was extremely confusing and only made known after some paragraphs.
The romance comes about abruptly, without much of a hint or build. Almost like it was an afterthought forced into the narrative for reasons.
We get alternating chapter narrators in first person between Ava and Kaye. Each chapter has a starter blurb in italics from an in-world source (training book, journal, etc). Those were the only part I enjoyed, heh. And the use of a Book of Mormon name was neat? And the mother and step-father of Ava are perfectly ruthless villains. Step-dad fits that fairy tale trope and kind of reminds me of a Doctor Frankenstein type.
Oh, right, and this is supposedly a re-imagining of Rapunzel, and yet Ava is out of the tower in, like, three seconds. So.
[image]
P.S. Here's another example of the poor writing, ala the usage of the word "Look" -
�Look, I have no love for vampires, unlike my mother,� Kaye continues. “But I will honor her wishes to protect those of you who may deserve a second chance. You are running away, I assume?�
The impersonal way she speaks with me feels like she’s punching me in the gut several times over. She’s so different from before. “You were going to kill me, too,� I say, the words coming out of me in a flustered rush. Her green eyes flash in the light of the flames, but she doesn’t reply. I’ve spent years reading lies and half truths from my mother and Zenos. This doesn’t seem like a lie, yet doubt still tugs at me. The sound of underbrush being hacked down nearby and a triumphant whoop cut through the air. I shrink away, my back hitting the closest tree.
“Do you want them to find you or not?� Kaye asks, sending a panicked glance over her shoulder toward the source of the sound. �Look, it’s obvious you’re running away, you don’t even have any shoes. I will escort you to the nearest town—Chrysalis—and if any witches come across us, I will explain that you are mine....."
545 words later -
�Look.� Kaye levels her gaze at me, with an urgent cut to her voice. “Either we go together now, or I burn you where you stand.�
And ‘Look� is used to start another sentence again 3 pages later.
"The present collection is intended to provide an overview of Eroshenko’s engagement with the fairy-tale form, with particular emphasis given to tales in which he employed subversive techniques and experimental prose styles to provoke and raise the political consciousness of his readers. Each tale has been selected for the various social and political injustices they highlight, the experimental techniques they exhibit, and the value they have as biographical or historical commentary."
Uh, why am I just now learning about this gem of a writer? This collection at times reminded me of 'After the Romanovs' book I read earlier this year, with the displacement/diaspora/exile. There are fables and the like in the first portion, and then we're treated to some tales from him directly in first person, covering experiences in China, Japan, and Russia. Strong messages in every piece, some of which didn't translate well for me, which was fine. I still enjoyed this; thoroughly. I would discuss it aloud with my husband whilst reading.
NOTES - � He chose a mosquito??? D; (In a tale titled 'The Martyr' and the little insect is just so endearing that I instantly loved them.) � Ch. 9 ; I'm not crying, you're crying. � Ch. 16 ; Seems akin to the oppression of religion and those rising up to defy it, despite warnings (ex: homosexuality means Hell even though, supposedly, "God loves all")....more
A nice mix of powerful and entertaining. As I am not Black, I didn't understand every poem NETGALLEY ARC
Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 4 Buyable/Re-readable?: Yes.
A nice mix of powerful and entertaining. As I am not Black, I didn't understand every poem or piece, but that is to be expected (heck, that's to be expected with ANY poetry). Being a third generation genocide survivor through my dad's side, however, I was able to connect on some level for the darker things. And then the mythology stories were just fun.
My ARC had a few 'Author Biography Forthcoming' bits at the end, which is fine. The typos, being as numerous as they were, were a tad distracting.
I particularly enjoyed, "The Feeding Of Closed Mouths" (Eden Royce), "Abode" (Jermane Cooper), and "Both Hands" (Christopher Caldwell)
And then ;
"And finally, he told her that everyone came to at least one fork in the road during their lifetime. One way might lead to a best life even though family and friends might not agree while the other way might work well for everyone except the person who has to live with the decision." - THE VISITby Tina Jenkins Bell
While I was well aware of the age group going into this, it was still too immature for me, but decently cute for a child. I was NETGALLEY ARC
2.5 stars
While I was well aware of the age group going into this, it was still too immature for me, but decently cute for a child. I was enticed by the artwork (which is darn right adorable and the best part, IMO) and title and hoping I could find some enjoyment, but it honestly was somewhat annoying and I ended up skimming at some point. What bothered me was the Overuse of Capitalizing Things and the haughty tone; again, though, it's likely amusing and humorous for the kiddos. Teaches lessons about humility, too (owning mistakes, correcting lying, etc).
15 chapters, plus an epilogue, cute drawings on most pages, and an elementary school reading level....more
NETGALLEY ARC ▲▼▲▼ DID NOT FINISH! Stopped at 30% / Ch 10 (and this was attempt number two)
Plot: The concept gets a 5. I wanted this book so badlyNETGALLEY ARC ▲▼▲▼ DID NOT FINISH! Stopped at 30% / Ch 10 (and this was attempt number two)
Plot: The concept gets a 5. I wanted this book so badly and just...could not. Characters: 2 Writing Style: 3 Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 2 Buyable/Re-readable?: Not for me.
� Need to include the disclaimer that I am not Black, and therefore may have received this differently.
� This book would have been so amazing! It has generational, light, and shadow magic branches, which sound neat as heck, coupled with Mages, Queens, Cardinals, etc. Generational has a focus on the Moon, Light the Sun...ugh, I wanted to bask in all of it. � Three voices - 1st POV for twins, Cris and Clem, 3rd for Val. Not sure why Mom and Granny, etc are in present tense vs her mom, etc. That style made for awkward reading, honestly. Thus far (chapter three), not much of a difference in voices. Plus, a Zachary, Lenora, Jean-Louise. � Like some name choices. � Stop telling me the same things over and over, please. � A ton of cursing� like, I get younger characters, but everyone swears a questionable amount (and I love to use curse words), including adults around younger characters. Like, every character is angsty AF (or badass or bold or insert similar adjective here, since the characters were all similar, so much so I would forget whose chapter I was reading). � Ch. 2 - Confusing scene with Cris re: Oz - loves him and then gets into major accusation fight? IDEK. � A few run-on sentences. � Ch. 6 - The character states they can't do anything to stop their aunt...but then tries to intervene. ?? � Overusing the whole "it's all up to me" burden. � Overusing "Can't tell him, I'll lose him, he'll hate me," blah, blah, blah. � Points for discussing lynching, mental illness (a character takes and openly discusses anxiety meds)....more
Alright, I love this book while simultaneously take issue with it. It rather instantly sucked me in with it's lovey writing style - we get two narrators, alternating chapters between Neve and Ronan who have very distinct voices and personalities. I adored the melding of myths and folklore (Ireland, Egypt, etc), and for me, found less than five minor confusing moments, though it had more to do with the style choice. And on that note, I felt that the last act felt rushed, and yet the book is fairly quick-paced. There were a few unanswered and/or not quite abandoned bits but something like that (example being the fate of a certain antagonist). I think some of the enemies were far too quickly dealt with and could have benefited from battle scenes that were fuller, more fleshed out. What romance does exist does not dominate the story (which is nice) and there maybe, maybe is a hinted throuple? I could be reading a tad too much into that though...pretty sure I am, actually, heh.
I didn’t see twists or surprises coming, I am thoroughly grateful it didn’t AT ALL remind me of Pixar's Brave. It didn't feel like a cheap, repeat story; it has a life of its own....more
Honestly, I wanted more story, more memories. I very much feel that this could have been longer, that it would benefit from a tad more fleshing out. More, like, snapshots into author’s life, because we don’t always get a follow through or wrap up conclusion to certain incidents and that was a little disappointing. The art style wasn't for me; not great, however, it really fits the story. If IRL hadn't gotten in the way, I easily could have read it in one sitting, it’s hookable and relatable in various ways from PoC, assault, time period setting (knew references and liked some), female woes, dad issue woes, stepfamily woes, etc etc
I'm glad I took a blind leap and requested this, because I just saw the words 'graphic memoir' and 'Egypt' and hit that button, heh. Nice coming of age story.
Also, my favorite part was probably the AIM reference!!! Ah, nostalgia. I miss AIM. And I hear you, Malaka, I hear you, xD...more
Welp, the title is no longer cute and quirky. No, it is now Sad AF. ;___; This book? It will leave you in shambles, it will fuck you up. It's brutal. It's simultaneously rough and wonderful. And not just the fictional characters lives, but the history woven within (China, Hong Kong, Japan). We get the story told in two voices, alternating chapters; Lily (daughter) in present day and first person, and then Sook-Yin (mother) in the past and in third person. Wharton's writing composition is superior and vastly intelligent. Sometimes I needed sentences to be reworded in order for me to understand them, which made the book’s reading level a nice and healthy sort of challenge. I did, however, forget names/characters if I stepped away for too long but that might be a result of a Western brain. Not sure, it wasn't a huge set back either way. For this and the exceptional story, I would read it again, equipped with my Know-the-Ending-Now knowledge. I adored a few of the female characters (and the cast is mostly female), whilst others were pretty brutal. I do kind of wish we had gotten even just a tiny note about keeping in touch with certain characters, once the third act had resolved, but I also think you can get enough of a feel from the implied tone. Or maybe I’m just creating head-canon, it’s fine, we’re fine, everything is fine.
I learned a lot, having to pause to Google places and the like and I enjoyed the detours. Definitely appreciated the amount of work put into this novel, everything felt one hundred percent authentic, genuine....more
First off, it was a lot of fun. Though the pacing was inconsistent (and when it was off, it felt clunky maybe?), the story is worth sticking with and even following into the next installment, which I will be doing. The gifts/abilities/powers are super neat! I like the little tweaks and personal take Epps added to already existing abilities. Should this be turned into a movie/show, they would translate well visually. Definitely got a Bioshock: Infinite vibe with the cities in the sky thing (LOVE.THIS.) The story is told from third person POV with each chapter being a different character (around four characters total). And they each, for the most part, had their own voice, as well. Nothing overly angsty for me, either, given that the characters are in high school and I'm nearing forty, heh.
Only one hiccup for me - I am confused about Uzochi's...we'll call it outburst to stay vague that then turns into a rapid reverting in thinking, as it seems to come from no where? I understood his breaking point, but it's the lack of working through it or anything that that left me dissatisfied and uncertain. I get the feeling book 2 will be rescue and training and 3 will be taking down Big Baddie if Epps does a trilogy, IDEK. Regardless, looking forwards to the rest of the story! Wonderful start to an interesting series....more
I connected with this novel so very much, from octopi/octopuses being a favorite animal, to being extremely empathetic, to adoring animals period, to giving a shit about the earth, etc, AND because I was fortunate enough to meet a lovely lady octopus. I had the honor of meeting her (nameless, in compliance with an olde seafaring superstition that giving names equates death) at the Houston Zoo for a birthday. Because I would visit her every time I went to the zoo - and this was often, because we lived within walking distance and purchased passe - she came to know my face (it's true what the book says that they remember faces). Upon doing the behind-the-scenes encounter, she recognized me! It was beyond words and when she died, I was heartbroken. Needless to say, I pictured her throughout this amazing, unique, fun, emotional, relevant novel. The passion and research put into Nayler's work is so very obvious and I appreciate everything. We get multiple, third person POV chapters, nearly all of which have their own voice. It wasn't 100% at all times, but it was certainly close enough. The chapters are broken by two articles/essays; one written by a main character and the other by an important secondary character. I personally enjoyed them both enough to read the entire essay, so if you feel like releasing that, Ray, I'm down. The passages are, of course, pertinent to the following scenes. Also, ummmm, does this mean we're getting a sequel??? Gimme.
Along with Kaikeyi, Ray Nayler's The Mountain in the Sea makes my Top Ten of 2022.
P.S. I see what you did with the cover. Clever....more
Plot: 5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5!!! I want it as a poster! Enjoyment: 5 Buyable/Re-readable?: Yes.
Having recently returned frNETGALLEY ARC
Plot: 5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5!!! I want it as a poster! Enjoyment: 5 Buyable/Re-readable?: Yes.
Having recently returned from Colorado, it honestly made reading this all the more enjoyable and special, as I pictured myself back there when envisioning the book’s setting. If I had had a chance to read it outside whilst there, I totally would have. Makes sense, too, since the author resides near the Rockies.
Somer has a most fantastic writing style, some things gorgeous, some fierce. There were a few very intense scenes that had me holding my breath or unconsciously tensing my muscles. Somer was able to evoke emotions (especially if one is empathetic towards animals and the like - if you view other living things as commodities, as items, then I can't guarantee you'll appreciate this novel to its fullest extent). I teared up, for sure. It drops you right into the story and doesn’t provide much background/past information, but what we are given is enough. Including the ending, I think. There's a neat as a heck concept he introduces in the post-apocalyptic setting, as well, called Earth Dreams. I'll let him and the main character, Ben, explain it -
"‘Some of the first migrants are suffering them, these vivid, completely immersive dreams of Earth. Where they’re in a jungle or a forest or on the plains, and there’re herds of animals, swarms of insects, and the sounds of birdsong on the breeze....(T)hey say that Earth Dreams are the brain’s way of coping with the fact it’ll never see Earth again.....(A) resurgence of two-hundred-thousand-year-old memories from the deepest folds of our brains, something to comfort those who go farther from home than anyone has ever been, knowing they won’t be returning.....(W)e know how our bodies can deal with it, we don’t have much a clue how our brains will. The primal brain is set up to react, not to think. It’s there to make us survive at all costs. Doesn’t seem out of the question that it would start taking over, fighting for us where our conscious brain has failed. Genetic memory they’re calling it. A manifest of evolution, buried deep in our heads.�"
Love it, believe it, insanely cool and unique.
There's also a scene towards the end of the amazing book where the main character performs such an intimate, loving, respectful act that had me nodding my head and thinking, 'Yep, I would do the exact same thing'.
For fans of post-apocalyptic, space travel (-ish, since we stay on Earth but it's discussed numerous times), animal protection/ranger duties.
I appreciate that this book gives a smartly placed warning at the very beginning:
�(I)t should not be relied upon as recommending or promoting any specific diagnosis or method of treatment for a particular condition, and it is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or for direct diagnosis and treatment of a medical condition by a qualified physician. Readers who have questions about a particular condition, possible treatments for that condition, or possible reactions from the condition or its treatment should consult a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.�
Just an overall fun and informative read. This book provides Symbolic, Color, and Component Meanings, as well as Possible Powers, and Folklore and Facts about said herbs. Though my ARC was incomplete (and as such was missing some photos, facts, etc,), it contained more than enough to get a feel for the book. Which, again, is just plain fun.
The back includes lists! A list of culinary herbs, as well as common herb names. There apparently will also be a list of common meanings and powers, however my ARC did not have said information.
This makes for a much better physical book than digital; it’s rather difficult to read on an e-reader/tablet, due to formatting. I, for one, will be purchasing it - I said as much the moment I opened the document and saw the table explaining the symbols, levels of toxicity, etc. The drawings are pretty, too. c:
I'm perennially a fan of all things Egyptian and this nonfiction book fulfilled my obsession. Thankfully, I learned from painstaking, extensively researched work, which was one of the reasons for reading it. I had no idea how drastically Akhenaten/Amenhotep IV shook things up, and it was fascinating having the ways in which he did revealed. The book has an interesting layout/approach/storytelling. However, it could very much benefit from including images. And hey, maybe the final project will? I hope so, because it was tedious trying to Google everything and more than half of those searches coming up empty or, erm, complicated. It wasn't always *smooth* storytelling, though, making it difficult to follow at times, even after re-reading 2+ times. And then some things were repeated in later chapters that I didn't think needed to be, so I'm not sure why the Darnells chose to do so.
A fitting example of how different things were during the reign of Akhenaten (and Nefertiti): "For those buried in the large rock-cut tombs in Akhet-Aten’s eastern mountain , conformity to the king’s political theology and sole reliance upon Aten seem to have been the prerequisites of eternal life. From hymns that the elite carved in their tombs to shrines they erected in their homes, we know that their only gods were the new trinity: Aten, Akhenaten, and Nefertiti."
If archeology, history, or Egypt is your cup of tea, then so too will this book be. John and Colleen , in the very least, deserve an award or multiple somethings for how much time and effort was blatantly put into it....more
A very quick, quirky, and witty read. Sometimes I am able to "turn off" my brain and allow myself to not guess who the culprit is and I was able to do so with this; thus, I didn't know who the murderer was and upon the reveal found it made sense and was acceptable. The pacing was perfect, the switches in third POV chapters fresh, and I wouldn't mind reading more of Spector's adventures (as I'm assuming, this being book one, we will be getting). Can't say I saw the point in one of the characters, unless she was meant to be a distraction? On that note, the red herrings were fun. Definitely reminded me of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes series and Rian Johnson's Knives Out. Hell, even a little bit of Landis and Lynn's Clue: The Movie.
Bonus points for keeping British English spellings!...more
This was mostly a lot of fun, save for the serious bits (of course). I very much enjoyed the threading of Jewish and Slavic culture/beliefs and saved quite a few foreign words to boot. I learnt that tumbleweed is not, in fact, native to North America, but instead "(i)n 1873, Russian immigrants arrived in South Dakota, selling off and planting flaxseed they had carried with them from their home villages. The seed, unbeknownst to them, had been contaminated with thistle." And thus, we got thistle/windwitch/tumbleweed. The abilities presented in the novel were unique and worth exploring - really got a kick out the Yagas. I did not, however, gel with one of the relationships. It left me feeling slightly icky at times, if I'm being honest Maybe one or two teeny tiny threads that went unfinished, but nothing major enough to deter from the main story. Nethercott writes so very poetically that soaking up their beautiful writing is worth reading this, alone. And she references relatable traumatic events in such a subtle yet powerful way that leaves you like 'Oh. OH! Oh...shit.' Doesn't hold back on the narrative of said horribleness, either; appreciated that. We also get third-POV chapters from both siblings and a few others including the quirkiest character, Thistlefoot. :3...more
This book is different and poetically written from the point of view of our main character, Vera. There is a vast amount of vagueness that works nicely, making it feel almost familiar or not at all. Examples being we don't know where it takes place, nor when. Ages aren't given, nor the exact the passage of time and the time-jumps.
I didn’t see a reveal coming until moments before, when the same thing happened to our main character. At one point, I was in doubt as to the true meaning of ‘gone� in their town up until the very end, however, I then remembered her describing vanishing, so I feel more/fairly confident it did happen as was described most times. The author, the narrator, the story, they never explain what it is, but also hint at similar things in other elsewheres, magical or supernatural type things. I both liked it while also lovingly hating it, because I wanted to know all the things! We're never told why or how, and you have to be okay with that if you're going to enjoy this one. I also appreciated the inclusion of rarely discussed actions, such as flatulence and childbirth (though that was gross and horrifying, tyvm)....more
A Broken Zebra
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