On one hand, I was waiting for Shane to get his turn, on the other - I was dreading it because of the pairing. It was good. I guess this one really shOn one hand, I was waiting for Shane to get his turn, on the other - I was dreading it because of the pairing. It was good. I guess this one really showcases "The Voice" in a way that made me understand it a little better. Although I like Marguerite's take on binding a bit more.
The one thing that annoyed me is the joke about turning the car around that, unlike other modern jokes in this setting, did NOT make sense and threw me off quite severely. ...more
A lot of it was fairly predictable (except for Smooth men, for the most part), but also it is so well-written that I didn't really care. It's all abouA lot of it was fairly predictable (except for Smooth men, for the most part), but also it is so well-written that I didn't really care. It's all about the way that the small things are described.
Istvhan's offended description of his past love encounters made me literally laugh out loud and I had to re-listen it to make sure I did not mishear....more
**spoiler alert** Wow, and I thought Piper's reaction to the door was strong (although justified)! Smells really do have the ability to bring you back**spoiler alert** Wow, and I thought Piper's reaction to the door was strong (although justified)! Smells really do have the ability to bring you back into the past (I hate some smells with passion because of that), and Grace is the perfect character to showcase the sense of smell as both a curse and a blessing.
The fact that it describes a life as a grown-up, with grown-up's limitations where it comes to anything physical, including sex, is oddly charming. And it also has a clear explanation for all the miscommunications (and they can't even be solved by talking to each other, even if they still feel like it).
P.S. The conversation with Istvhan is hilarious. The fact that it's sort of echoed in Paladine's Faith is very touching....more
I'm always glad to find books that do not glaze over the dirt and the unfortunate happenings of the real world (even if this world is not my world). II'm always glad to find books that do not glaze over the dirt and the unfortunate happenings of the real world (even if this world is not my world). I loved this weird world though, despite all the imperfections. I liked the gnoles (especially the voices), and I liked "two sides of the same story, both wrong" - they were sad, hilarious and realistic.
Out of the series, accidentally listened to this one first. Do not regret it at all. I would've probably not liked Piper as much if I was introduced to him through Smooth men....more
Ah, the joy of good writing! A bliss of a well-researched setting! It might be intended for an audience sliiightly younger than myself, but it was stiAh, the joy of good writing! A bliss of a well-researched setting! It might be intended for an audience sliiightly younger than myself, but it was still a joy to listen to, because how many modern books you know where the main character is not The One Who Saves All, but just a little baker girl?...more
Cute. Minimally engaging. Smut was good (esp compared to Yarros) and didn't take a lot of time. Perfect for cross-stitching, lolCute. Minimally engaging. Smut was good (esp compared to Yarros) and didn't take a lot of time. Perfect for cross-stitching, lol...more
**spoiler alert** Iiii don't know. There are so many issues. So many questions.
The way love is tied to sex - and practically only sex! - when sex is a**spoiler alert** Iiii don't know. There are so many issues. So many questions.
The way love is tied to sex - and practically only sex! - when sex is also used to punish the person you supposedly love? The way ANY secrets are used as a pretext to deny sex, which is equated with love?
Like, does SHE have zero secrets? How is that possible? And how can he promise not to keep anything from her even if it's classified, in a world where torture is just something they prepare their young for, where mind-readers exist, and where there is this huge war going on?
And there are also villains with no motivation but "do bad things", people and dragons striving to kill bonded riders when their lives are directly tied to each other, riders and dragons being put into situations where they are almost ENCOURAGED to kill riders? Like, a dragon killing a dragon is a no-no, but it's completely fine for a dragon to kill a rider, even though this leads to the same dead dragon in the end. But it's okay because it wasn't a direct one-on-one?
And the thing that almost broke me, in the end, where they are in Basgiath - their entire force is in Basgiath - and she asks him where he'd prefer the wards raised, in Basgiath or Aretia. What does that even mean?! "Imma leave you and everyone else to die valiantly in Basgiath and go raise the wards somewhere else"? What? WHAT?...more
Interesting world, a lot of potential there. Dragons! Dragons are really good. The plot twists are not very twisty [to me], but not too flat. There arInteresting world, a lot of potential there. Dragons! Dragons are really good. The plot twists are not very twisty [to me], but not too flat. There are some tropes that I like, but overall I feel like I liked it because of the reader, Rebecca Soler.
Things that annoyed me: - Love is depicted only through sexual attraction. This annoyed me throughout the second part and made me put the book aside for a long while. - The death percentages do not make sense in the context of the book's politics. - Violet's body has limitations that are mostly ignored except in some cases. - The characters think and act as 16 year olds and 20 year olds in turns. I mean, it's YA. But it does feel like their age was moved up to allow for sex....more
Still not happy about Catalina, but she's better in audio format, lol. Still holding on for an Arabella book or three.
Overall, this felt lighter than Still not happy about Catalina, but she's better in audio format, lol. Still holding on for an Arabella book or three.
Overall, this felt lighter than the other books. Again, might be because of the audio format, but still. The Russians were hilarious. Hilariously stupid though, especially with that offer....more
Pro: deep dive into history of genetics, not only the official path that we are currently at the end of, but also all the branches that were growing aPro: deep dive into history of genetics, not only the official path that we are currently at the end of, but also all the branches that were growing at the same (or sometimes ahead of) time. Careful attention to women in genetics - some forgotten, some proposefully omitted, some well-known.
Contra: it's still one person's biography. Isaacson does good job pointing out that people will always tell the version of truth most beneficial to themselves, but human relationships are messy and attempting to be neutral when focusing on one person's side is always hard....more
It was a difficult book to listen to - I can honestly say that I only finished it because it was so short and I was reasonably sure that Availle wouldIt was a difficult book to listen to - I can honestly say that I only finished it because it was so short and I was reasonably sure that Availle would not read a book not worth reading :) I wish it was possible to include the sketches in audiobook as well.
Isabella L. Bird is someone who comes off as completely lacking empathy: she is disgusted by people around her (except missionaries) and she seems to have more admiration and respect for her horse than for people he is named after. When describing suffering of people who ensured her safety and ability to travel, she uses very specific words that are more about ridicule than about empathy.
It's very difficult to hear in the year 2024 and tarnishes her descriptions of her surroundings and experiences. Still, she is a woman who traveled through Tibet on her own (and here I mean "lacking any stable companion from her own country, male or female) in her late 50s. She's someone who went through mountain passes that few dared to cross. And she's also someone who hid her broken rib because she didn't want people around her to fuss....more
A fascinating and very thorough description of Japanese society in the late 19 century as seen by an American woman (who clearly took great pains to oA fascinating and very thorough description of Japanese society in the late 19 century as seen by an American woman (who clearly took great pains to observe without judgement as much as she was able to).
Many thanks to LibriVox volunteers for recording it in audio format....more
This needs to come with trigger warning, not only for the plot but also for the characters. It's an amazing book but it hit me HARD.This needs to come with trigger warning, not only for the plot but also for the characters. It's an amazing book but it hit me HARD....more
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