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| 0143034901
| 4.30
| 685,593
| Jan 01, 2001
| 2005
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really liked it
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Review posted on my blog [image] Stories involving books have always interested me. I think I can chalk this up to having been a r Review posted on my blog [image] Stories involving books have always interested me. I think I can chalk this up to having been a reader for a long time and finding the general idea of stories and books comforting. However, the rest of the premise has to grab me, too and the plot needs to be engaging beyond simply involving books. Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind has a fascinating premise and an intriguing mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat! While there were some things about this story that didn’t work for me, I ultimately came away with more positive feelings than negative. Before I divulge my thoughts any further, let’s look at what the story is about. Summary The story opens with a young boy named Daniel and his father visiting a local shop in Barcelona called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. While there, Daniel is encouraged to pick a story to take home. Daniel picks The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax and after reading it finds himself interested in learning more about the author and his other works. However, as Daniel begins this search, he discovers that Julián Carax’s books are relatively unknown and hard to find in Barcelona. When Daniel meets a mysterious man going by the name of a character in Carax’s novel, he finds himself thrust into a race against time to learn what happened to the author, as the stranger aims to find and destroy every last copy of his work. Thoughts What I really like about the premise of this story is that the books discussed in the narrative are used as a basis for a mystery entrenched in danger, betrayal, and love. This made the story incredibly difficult to put down and I found myself heavily immersed in what was happening! The central mystery is absolutely captivating! I also want to briefly mention the setting of this story. Concepts like the creepy mansion in town that might be haunted and the idea of the scent of burnt paper signaling danger add up to a captivating setting that I wanted to keep exploring! This creepy backdrop led to me being on my guard in certain scenes, convinced something was going to come out of nowhere and change the trajectory of the scene. I absolutely loved it! Now that I’ve gotten those random thoughts off my chest, let’s talk about characters! Characters Daniel Sempere There is a lot about Daniel that I like. His fascination with the mystery surrounding Julián Carax was enthralling to watch! Seeing him go through all that he does to learn more about Laín Coubert and Inspector Fumero showed his courage in gripping ways. I love how good of a friend he is to Fermín as well. Daniel’s kindness toward him was heartwarming and showed his compassion for others. I also love how Daniel is open about his fear in the narrative. He shows how he understands and respects the gravity of his circumstances. His interactions with Laín Coubert are great examples of this. Daniel is honest about his fear of this man to both the reader and other characters in the story, showing that he feels in over his head and needs help to get through the situation. With all this on the table, I think that’s all I have on Daniel. Let’s move on to Inspector Fumero next. Inspector Fumero Fumero’s character surprised me in a lot of ways. I didn’t expect him to be as brutal as he was, to the point where he is possibly the most menacing character in this story. He possesses almost no positive or even sympathetic characteristics, and the more I learned about his personality, the worse it got. Seeing him use the façade of a regular detective to get away with the things he did, to the point where several people in Barcelona were afraid of him specifically, was absolutely horrifying! The people he chooses to get involved with makes him even worse. He shows every hallmark characteristic of a corrupt individual. He instigates a lot of the violence in this story and seeing him act in this way with no remorse in sight made him a terrifying character that raised the stakes significantly. Well, I’ve just covered one of the most chilling characters in this novel, so I think it’s time to move on from characters and talk about the structure. Structure I think this story runs the risk of confusing some readers with how complex it is. It took me a decent amount of time to fully understand how the narrative was built and � even once I did � I still felt confused at points by certain turns the story took. It is split into parts and blends the narrative concerning the past with what is occurring in the present, which leads to a rather convoluted path for the reader to follow. I also feel this led to certain arcs being buried in all that happens. There were certain pieces of information that I found myself going back to look for once I had finished the story. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these details were often small and easy to overlook given the wide net the narrative casts. The structure felt a large rabbit hole that took me quite a bit of time to fully explore. Now that I’ve discussed the story’s building blocks, let’s talk about the writing. Writing The prose is one of the best parts of this story. The writing flows in such a way that creates a mysterious mood and tone. These two things work perfectly to keep the story engaging throughout! While the mood can be rather dark in places, there is also a beauty to some of the prose and this made me sit back for a second and just think about how it was written. There is also a flair to the writing that aids the atmosphere of the setting. There are some Gothic elements in this story and the way they are presented is creepy, beautiful, and captivating! The word choice and detail illustrate Barcelona as a place full of mystery and danger, making it easy to get caught up in whatever Daniel is doing at the moment. Well, I’ve covered everything I was looking to discuss. Let’s wrap this review up! Conclusion In the end, I really enjoyed this! While the main story got rather complicated, I found myself hooked on the subjects being handled within the narrative. This was a captivating read, and I found myself not wanting it to end! For this reason, I will be giving this story four stars. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 26, 2024
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Nov 02, 2024
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Oct 26, 2024
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Paperback
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49
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| 0008514704
| 9780008514709
| 0008514704
| 4.35
| 40,481
| Dec 06, 2022
| Dec 08, 2022
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] When I picked up the Elements of Cadence duology, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I Review posted on my blog [image] When I picked up the Elements of Cadence duology, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no clue that so many things about the first book would work for me and that I would call it a favorite! I finished the first book, A River Enchanted, eager to write its review. I not only wanted to get my thoughts out, but I also wanted to get into the second book as soon as possible! A Fire Endless continues this duology’s trend of leaving me on the edge of my seat with its story, characters, and conflict! I am honestly blown away by how much this series affected me! As I am about to go into the sequel, certain events from the prequel will be mentioned. I recommend reading my review of it if you haven’t done so already. With that out of the way, let’s see what the story is about! Summary The story opens in the spirit realm where the king of the spirits, Bane, is holding a meeting. As the spirits gather, they learn that Bane is looking to stop Jack Tamerlaine from calling upon them with his music. When the spirits decide to rebel against Bane for this, a dangerous disease descends upon the eastern side of Cadence, rotting the orchards and befalling innocent people. On the isle, Jack is still trying to cope with Adaira leaving the east. When he discovers the rotting orchard and learns of the spirits� struggles with Bane, Jack decides to travel west to find a way to restore the orchard and stop the fighting. In the west, Adaira is adjusting to her life with her parents. When she learns that Jack has traveled there, she quickly moves to help him in his quest. However, as Jack and Adaira continue to search for answers, they discover that the disease rotting the east may be just the beginning of Bane’s wrath as the sickness hangs Cadence’s future in the balance. Thoughts There is a lot to unpack here. Despite that, though, Rebecca Ross continues the trend of weaving together every thread set out within the story. Seeing Jack and Adaira again and finally traveling to the western side of the isle ended up being different, but captivating! I love how the spirits� stories are expanded upon and how they are aligned with what happens in the present. All the elements of the narrative coming together is fascinating. Seeing the full story of the spirits and their hierarchy along with learning more about Jack’s family history and meeting Adaira’s parents all work to further flesh out this world in intriguing ways! Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s talk about characters! Characters Jack Tamerlaine Jack’s journey takes a different turn here. Seeing him get wrapped up in the spirits� conflict expands upon one of the most interesting elements from the prequel! It was awesome to see him go to the west side and try to solve the problem concerning the spirits. I love how, as the mystery deepens, he becomes more determined to find the answers. Seeing him get wrapped up in the spirits� story and what it means for him and Cadence is gripping! I also really like his personal struggle, too. His desire to learn more about his family is incredible! Seeing him realize he wants more for himself and the people he loves hooked me on anything concerning his background. His resolve to find out more about his family and how to move forward made for a highly compelling character arc! While I have seen character journeys like this before, seeing how his family history tied into the clans� divisions was interesting! Now that I’ve discussed Jack, let’s talk about Adaira! Adaira Tamerlaine This time around, we see a different side to Adaira and I love it! Seeing her back with her biological parents allows for new relationships to form. This new setting puts her in situations that show her unease in this new environment. I love how she is confident and commanding on the outside while harboring her own inner conflict. Seeing her try to find her place amongst the Breccans while still maintaining her Tamerlaine side is awesome! This inner conflict is very interesting to me. While she has moments of incredible courage, she keeps her misgivings secret. Despite her unease, though, even she wants answers about her past and I love that she is not shy when asking her parents for more information. And some of the answers she received were jaw-dropping and kept me hooked on her arc! With that said, I think that’s all I have on the characters. Let’s move on to the structure! Structure This story continues using a lot of the same structural characteristics as the prequel, but some elements are expanded upon. Seeing the Cadence mythos intertwined with the present-day story is awesome! I love how the mythology is connected to what the characters are contending with. While this was an element of the prequel as well, here it is given a direct spotlight. I also love how the happenings in the east and west are covered, and what they mean for Cadence. It is really awesome how the mythology of the isle directly ties into how the two clans run their sides of the isle. Not only did certain things make more sense after learning about the role mythology plays in the society, but it also made me want to know more about the history of the setting! Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s discuss the writing! Writing While I loved the mood and tone of the prequel, the writing of this sequel affected me for a different reason. The mood isn’t as dreamlike as before, but the tension is through the roof! This darker and intense mood reflects the change in setting. The writing continues to be incredibly tight, which helped to make the significant pieces of information stand out when needed. The prose is clear and concise, making it very easy to follow despite the many different angles of the plot. That said, the pacing did start to drag a bit toward the end. I suspect this occurred because there is a lot to this story, so there were several things that needed to be wrapped up, but it was done over several chapters. This means that the ending wasn’t as concise as it could have been. While I do appreciate everything being wrapped up, I am wondering how it would have worked if certain closures had been shortened to include only the relevant information rather than entire scenes. As it is, it feels like there are too many different scenarios being mapped out in their entirety, bogging down the pacing. Well, I think that’s everything I wanted to cover. Let’s wrap this up! Conclusion I’m still surprised by how much I liked this series. There are several ideas in this duology that I find fascinating! The interesting magical elements along with the fascinating mythology and overarching plot all come together to create a beautiful world that left me intrigued, breathless, and in awe! While I am sad that this series is finished, I can say that it was an amazing story, and I will absolutely consider reading more of Rebecca Ross� work in the future! ...more |
Notes are private!
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Oct 02, 2024
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Oct 04, 2024
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Oct 01, 2024
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48
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| 0063055988
| 9780063055988
| 0063055988
| 4.07
| 79,252
| Feb 15, 2022
| Feb 15, 2022
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] I was bored the other day, scrolling through Apple Books, when I found A River Enchanted by Rebec Review posted on my blog [image] I was bored the other day, scrolling through Apple Books, when I found A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross. I read the description and decided to give it a try. I’ve always loved fantasy stories. My entire life, I’ve been intrigued by the limitless possibilities the genre presents. Knowing this, I wanted to see what Rebecca Ross would reveal within the narrative. Before I go any further into my thoughts, however, let’s look at what the story is about. Summary The story opens with music student Jack Tamerlaine being summoned to his childhood home isle of Cadence after years away at college. Once he arrives on the isle, however, he discovers that the summons was written by his old childhood rival Adaira. Adaira needs his help to summon the elemental spirits of the isle to locate missing children. As Jack and Adaira begin the search, Jack notices even stranger things occurring on the isle, as he begins to suspect that the mystery may run deeper than the missing children. Thoughts I’m kind of at a loss for how to explain myself. From the very first chapter, I realized that I loved the mood of the story! There is something about it � and Cadence as a whole � that I find absolutely lovely! The fantasy elements are interesting while the tense narrative left me on the edge of my seat, always wondering what would happen next. Speaking of which, I love how all the different arcs come together in this story! Not a single element feels wasted and it’s easy to see how they all work together in the narrative. In part this is thanks to the beautiful, but still tight, writing. I’ll discuss the writing further in its respective section. Now that I’ve discussed those general thoughts, let’s talk about some of the characters! Characters Jack Tamerlaine Jack is a highly compelling character in my opinion! Seeing his courage and care for his family despite his rough past is amazing! I love how a good portion of his character arc is him figuring out what he really wants in life and wrestling with the consequences of his decisions. Seeing him come back to Cadence and learn more about himself and the people around him is incredibly intriguing! One of the things I find most interesting about him is his relationship with his past. He comes to Cadence with a lot of his feelings about his upbringing unresolved and seeing him try to tackle these ideas made him sympathetic. Seeing him strive to find the answers along with how far he will go to protect the people he cares about made his story gripping to follow! I think that’s all I have on Jack. Let’s discuss Adaira next! Adaira Tamerlaine Going into this, I didn’t expect to like Adaira. Her introduction had me worried that she wouldn’t have positive characteristics. I was so wrong! I love how she is caring, responsible, and has a sense of duty to her clan and her subjects. Her obvious love for her family and those around her is evident in every move she makes, and her clear inner conflict concerning what is best to do is captivating! How she handles herself when it comes to her political position is great to see as well. Her professionalism combined with how she presents herself is awesome to see. What I like about this is � despite that professional front � she discloses her inner thoughts to those closest to her, showing her more vulnerable side. That said, I think that’s all I have on the characters. Let’s move on to the structure next! Structure The structure of this story is interesting to me. The narrative is split into three parts and is told from several different crucial perspectives that give insights into different characters and where the story is heading. All the different elements introduced are easy to follow and the way the narrative is organized helps build the tension by ending chapters with important bits of information. This worked to keep me hooked on whatever was occurring! The thing that amazes me about all this is how every piece of information feels crucial. Even the smallest details are important. This story fleshes out the characters and the plot in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Seeing this narrative built up from even the smallest ideas worked wonders to help me follow what was happening and it made me question every possible answer as I continued the story. Well, I think that’s all I have on the structure. Let’s move on to the writing. Writing I think I fell in love with the mood and tone of this story. There is something so beautiful yet suspenseful about the way this narrative is written. The prose has a snap to it that left me wanting more as the story continued. I found as the story went on that the writing kept drawing my attention to every detail, helping me remember even the smallest things. The flow of the prose worked to make the narrative easy to follow despite all the details built within it. Setup and payoff work wonders here, too. Because every setup has its place, the payoffs left me wanting more! They’re all executed in such a way that they’re never obvious, but still make perfect sense once an entire scenario is revealed for what it is. I absolutely loved this aspect of the writing, because it allowed everything to come together in a succinct way. With all that said, I think that’s everything I wanted to talk about. Let’s move on to the closing thoughts. Conclusion I did not expect to like this as much as I did. The world in the story is fascinating, the characters are wonderful, and the plot is gripping! I really cannot overstate how much I love how it all came together to create this beautiful, captivating story. I look forward to visiting Cadence again very soon! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 26, 2024
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Oct 2024
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Sep 22, 2024
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Hardcover
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47
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| 059309932X
| 9780593099322
| 059309932X
| 4.28
| 1,540,075
| Jun 01, 1965
| Oct 01, 2019
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really liked it
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Review posted on my blog [image] Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes something epic in literature or media. To me, the wor Review posted on my blog [image] Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes something epic in literature or media. To me, the word “epic� greatly concerns scale, where the protagonist’s world or life is threatened, and they meet that threat with greater or admirable force to match. I’ve seen ideas that I would consider epic in other stories before, but I admit that I didn’t expect to come to see Frank Herbert’s Dune in this way. While reading, I also kept thinking about how legend and myth are tied into the story. I really enjoy when a story’s world and culture is fully realized. If said culture begins tying into the main narrative, I am more likely to be captivated by events within the story. Frank Herbert’s intricate worldbuilding, combined with the breathtaking narrative at the center, made this book very difficult to put down! Before we go any further, let’s recount the story. Summary We open to Paul Atreides and his family leaving their home planet Caladan to live on the desert planet Arrakis. Paul’s father, Duke Leto, is being given control of the spice mélange there, allowing the family considerable political power. Once they get to Arrakis, however, Paul and his parents quickly discover that not everything is as it seems, as the family’s authority puts them at risk from an old rival group willing to do anything to bring them down. As tensions rise, will Paul and his family find a way to survive in this new, hostile world? Thoughts There was something about this story that I couldn’t get enough of! The plight of the Atreides family and how they cope after being uprooted from their home planet Caladan to live on Arrakis is amazing! Seeing Paul, his mother Jessica, and father Duke Leto Atreides all try to survive as war unfolds on their new home is amazing! However, as I hinted earlier, it isn’t just this family’s story that I find so interesting. I also love the background Paul relates to Jessica at the closing of the first part of the story. It is fascinating and I found myself captivated by the history he relates to her. This was only the first in what became a line of mind-shattering reveals and twists thrown into the narrative, and these revelations made the book very hard to put down! They helped raise the stakes significantly, building suspense and danger throughout the narrative. Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s discuss some of the characters. Characters Paul Atreides I find Paul rather interesting. His abilities continue to develop and influence his actions as the story goes on, particularly shaping his desire to stop a terrible disaster he foresees. Seeing the fallout on Arrakis from that, along with how it affects him as an individual, is really thought-provoking. Seeing him try to understand what he is and how he fits into the world of Arrakis is gripping! I think this most shines through during his time with the Fremen. The spiritual journey he goes through is moving, showing how he grows as a result. How the Fremen culture shapes his character right up to the end is particularly interesting, as his actions show that they had a significant impact on him. With that said, I think that’s all I wanted to say about Paul. Let’s move on to another member of the Atreides House. Lady Jessica I find Lady Jessica interesting for different reasons. I love how Herbert builds her up as this incredibly powerful Bene Gesserit and she is aware of (and not afraid to use) her abilities. While reading, I was wondering if how others viewed her boiled down to sexism, so seeing her show the people questioning her that she is more than they think is amazing! Her journey is just as fascinating as Paul’s. Speaking of Paul, her concern for him is heartwarming, and adds a layer of tension to her arc. This arc then works on two fronts, where her character is more fleshed out as a caring mother, and then also in her role as part of House Atreides, which influences how she handles people she perceives as threats. I think that’s all I wanted to say about Lady Jessica. Before I close out the character section, I want to switch gears away from the Atreides family and discuss whom they are up against. The Harkonnens The Harkonnens raise the stakes significantly in this story. Their conflict with the Atreides family is built up beautifully. Seeing how the two families work against each other drives up the stakes and fleshes out the Harkonnen family’s goals to the point where the threat they pose is considerable. The family members themselves are rounded and interesting, where they are cruel enough to evoke anger in the reader while also having their own stories outside of the conflict. I do have one issue that I want to bring up, though, concerning Baron Harkonnen. Frank Herbert frequently highlights one characteristic of his in tandem with presenting him as an evil tyrant, and the chosen characteristic is rather dated. I understand that this story was published in the sixties, but this aspect was mentioned frequently, to the point where I felt annoyed whenever it was brought up. With that said, I think that’s all I have on the characters. Let’s move on to the story’s structure! Structure The structure is one of my favorite aspects of the story! Each chapter opens with a quote from Arrakis history texts, usually talking about the mythical figure of Maud’Dib. This helps to flesh out the world and politics of Arrakis, giving the reader a glimpse into their literature, religion, and customs before we even see the events of the coming chapter. It’s awesome to get a taste of their society in this way, and I love how the epigraphs tie into the overall mood and tone of the story. If I had to nitpick anything, though, I will admit that I wish Frank Herbert had handled the glossary better. When you come across a word that is explained in the back of the book, there is nothing to let the reader know that it is a word that needs further explanation. This caused me to miss quite a few vocabulary terms before I finally caught on and started looking for definitions. There needs to be something within the text to let the reader know when a word they are seeing is defined somewhere else. Well, that’s what I have about the structure. Let’s look at the writing next. Writing Frank Herbert has an interesting writing style. The prose is complex, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to reread certain passages multiple times because of how convoluted the phrasing got. For me, this isn’t much of an issue because I have dealt with prose like that before and I don’t mind rereading to better understand something. However, I call it out because not every reader may feel that way. Every word needs to have its place in the text for the message to be completely clear. While I personally like the writing style, I am not sure it was always transparent in what was being communicated, which is why I suspect I needed to reread certain parts. Besides the prose, I think we should talk about mood and tone with a story like this. The overall mood of the story is tense and it’s part of what worked to keep me hooked. However, the tone of the writing shifted whenever a character’s inner thoughts were highlighted, and I found the sudden change jarring in the beginning. I think the payoffs for these types of setups are strong enough to more than make up for that original feeling of mine (and I did get used to the interjection of characters� thoughts as I continued), but I wanted to mention it because the changes took some time for me to get used to at first. With all that said, I think I’ve covered everything. Let’s wrap this up. Conclusion In the end, I enjoyed this very much. The story is captivating and epic, with the scale of the world being large and intricately built! The conflicts within the story are also gripping and kept me guessing. All of this put together made this very difficult to put down once I got into it, and I think the message of the narrative is thought-provoking and interesting. While there are some issues with the writing and structure, I don’t think they detract very much from the overall work being enjoyable and I would honestly recommend it to any science fiction fan. For this reason, I will be giving the story four stars. ...more |
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May 14, 2024
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May 27, 2024
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May 14, 2024
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Hardcover
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46
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| 1250799058
| 9781250799050
| 1250799058
| 3.79
| 136,734
| Oct 03, 2023
| Oct 03, 2023
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] I don’t remember what exactly enticed me to pick up Starling House. However, once I did dive in, Review posted on my blog [image] I don’t remember what exactly enticed me to pick up Starling House. However, once I did dive in, it didn’t take me long to become heavily engrossed in the story. I’ve had a soft spot for fantasy stories ever since I was a child. Being a child reading gripping stories really cemented for me just how enjoyable fantasy narratives can be! Similarly, I found myself heavily engrossed in Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House. Most of the elements in this story come together so seamlessly that it is difficult to not get wrapped up in it. Before I go any further, though, let’s get a summary for the story. Summary The story opens with a young woman named Opal raising her younger brother Jasper in Eden, Kentucky. Opal has always found herself drawn to this mysterious house in her town called Starling House. One day, when she is looking at the house from outside the property’s gates, she comes across the house’s warden, who warns her away. Rather than frightening her, however, Opal is more intrigued than ever. Meanwhile, the warden, Arthur, is coping with a secret war he has been fighting with the House and will do anything to not draw anyone else into the conflict. With Opal on his doorstep, however, he finds that the conflict has become significantly more complicated. Will Opal be able to discover what is calling her to the property? And will Arthur be able to end his war with the House? Thoughts The setting of this story is fascinating! I love how Starling House is presented and how it plays into the plot of the story. With the way it’s set up, the House seems to act as a character in and of itself. Discovering its secrets and the stories of the people connected to it creates an incredibly captivating narrative. While the history of the House gets rather complicated due to the hearsay thrown around, I love that it is distorted, because it adds to the intriguing elements of the main narrative. I also love the supernatural angle of this story with its Gothic setup. These elements are seamlessly woven into the setting, making it come alive. Every element feels like it belongs, and it is easy to buy that the town of Eden would have supernatural connections because of this. The stories told, the rumors thrown around, and the creepy House all meld together to make this angle completely believable. Following the mysterious and creepy events as they unfold in the story is a fascinating experience that kept me hooked all the way through! Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s discuss the characters. Characters Opal I admit, normally a character like Opal would be difficult for me to get behind. While I think she has an incredibly sympathetic backstory and a lot on her plate, she can come across as argumentative at times and this often leads to conflict. However, I do understand why she is like this. Seeing her strive to cope with her situation, look after her younger brother, and grapple with her own feelings about Starling House and the situation she ends up in make her actions understandable in context, even if they are overdone and frustrating at times. Besides that, I love how she cares for her younger brother Jasper. Considering all she has been through, seeing her take on the tremendous responsibility of raising him and trying to make sure they can manage in life is incredibly moving. Seeing how often she worries about him and how they move forward is awesome and makes her look like an amazing older sister despite all the hardship she has had to face with her brother. The fact that she refuses to give up all so he can continue to grow up in as normal an environment as possible is awesome to see. Now that I’ve discussed Opal, let’s move on to Arthur. Arthur Starling I confess, I did not like Arthur in the beginning at all. He came across as incredibly cold and even cruel. However, once the story switches to his perspective, I found that my opinion of him started to turn around. The idea behind him is fascinating and I think the reason he was so nasty to Opal in the beginning makes sense after we learn more about what he is dealing with living in the House and see the pressure he puts on himself to do the right thing. This ties seamlessly into his relationship with the House as well. Speaking of relationships, I need to discuss his dynamic with Opal for a bit. Honestly, I am somewhat frustrated by their relationship. While I do understand that Opal is tough due to what she went through as a child and Arthur is cold due to his relationship with the House and his fear that he’ll put Opal in danger, I would have liked to see their behavior toward each other change more over time. I just feel like more time was needed for their relationship to develop when it came to their interactions. That said, let’s move on to Elizabeth Baine next. Elizabeth Baine I don’t have enough words to describe how much I hate this character. She comes across as trying to be kind, but it is obvious that doing so is for her own benefit only and she does not care whom she steps on to get her way. Seeing the way she treats Opal in particular is infuriating. I felt angry whenever she showed up in the story because of the way her character is presented and how she acts. Seeing how she often worked from a distance, only coming face to face with Opal on a handful of occasions, made her presence feel even bigger in the story despite how small her physical role is. The lengths she goes to when she is working are awful to watch. She comes across as someone who has no concern for the people her actions affect and her sweet business-mode attitude comes across as insincere at best, because her actions don’t line up with that attitude and seeing her push Opal to do what she wants is troubling. Now that I’ve talked about the characters, let’s move on to the structure of the story. Structure The way the narrative is structured may be one of its biggest strengths. Both Opal’s and Arthur’s perspectives being shown allows the reader both information on how Starling House looks to outsiders along with what it is actually like on the inside. I also really find it interesting how Harrow decides to structure the story like a historical journal article. There are footnotes in the prose with interjections of facts related to the story since the narrative is otherwise told from biased perspectives. I really like this idea because it makes the story feel even more engrossing and it makes the narrative stand out in a unique manner. The way the information is presented is also fantastic. The stories and rumors Opal learns about are tied into the plot organically. Whenever a character says that they will tell a story about something, or explain what they heard about something, whatever they proceed to talk about is so believable within the context of the story that it is somewhat difficult to tell whose story is true and whose isn’t after the fact. This works to strengthen the mystery at the center of the plot and keep both Opal and the reader wanting to find out more! Having said that, I think that’s all I have on the story’s structure. Let’s move on to the writing! Writing One of the best parts of this novel (besides the captivating story) is the breathtaking prose! Harrow’s writing is gorgeous! The lyrical way the story is told shows an incredibly creepy town tinged with an intriguing beauty to it. With both Opal’s and Arthur’s perspectives, the writing is lively and creative, allowing each character distinct writing styles that are intriguing. Harrow also drops hints in the prose to keep the reader hooked on whatever comes next! I also love the way the stories about Eden and Starling House are told. Normally, something like this would annoy me because it takes the reader away from the main plot, but each person telling a story still retains their unique voice while imparting the information, making the prose of these sections come alive and be just as captivating as that main story! I think this is part of the reason that the history and rumors surrounding Eden and Starling House are so captivating to me � the way they are presented to the audience is written in such a way that the reader is pulled in easily. With that said, I think I’ve covered everything. Let’s wrap this up! Conclusion This ended up being a fascinating read! Seeing how everything is tied together is incredibly gripping and I found myself not wanting it to end! While there are some flaws in the story, they were not enough to derail my interest in the world and story Alix E. Harrow has set up. I will gladly pick up any other works Harrow has written after this. In the end, I had a blast with this and highly recommend it! For this reason, I will be giving the story five stars. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 05, 2024
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Feb 09, 2024
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Feb 09, 2024
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Hardcover
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45
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| 1984857193
| 9781984857194
| 1984857193
| 4.42
| 2,430
| Oct 17, 2023
| Oct 17, 2023
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really liked it
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Review posted on my blog [image] I first read Richard Adams� Watership Down when I was fifteen years old, and I fell in love with Review posted on my blog [image] I first read Richard Adams� Watership Down when I was fifteen years old, and I fell in love with it. I have said this before, but the story truly does mean the world to me. Because I love the original narrative so much, I am usually open to experiencing new adaptations of the story. So, when I heard about this graphic novel adaptation, I was both excited and a little nervous, hopeful it would be a faithful telling of Adams� story in this new medium. This graphic novel is absolutely beautiful! While I would not call it perfect, I believe James Sturm and Joe Sutphin understand and appreciate the material they are adapting and have done a really great job with the project! The main essence of the original work is in this adaptation, and it shows that Sturm and Sutphin have a clear love for the story. Because I have talked about Watership Down before and there is a lot to get to in this review, I won’t give a summary this time around. Instead, I’m going to jump right into the review itself. Let’s take a look at this! Thoughts I need to talk about the art first! The illustrations in this adaptation are on another level! I was surprised by how much I liked Joe Sutphin’s style. The beautiful scenery, the vibrant colors used, the charming designs of the main protagonists, all work to convey this gorgeous but brutal world of the story. Personally, it is one of the biggest highlights of this adaptation for me. However, there were some drawbacks to some of the character designs, despite how charming the illustrations are overall. I’ll discuss that in more detail in the Artwork section. Besides that, this adaptation included some scenes that I wasn’t expecting. One of my favorite moments from the climax of the original story was adapted here. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it, because it is small enough that it has been kept out of other adaptations until now. It is a brief scene but, in my opinion, it holds just as much impact here as it did in Adams� work. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I want to change things up a bit and talk about how Adams� text is adapted for this version of the story. Adapting Adams� Writing Perhaps one of the most important things to discuss here is how the source material is adapted. James Sturm and Sutphin include many aspects from the novel in this version, but some things did end up being left out. That said, I appreciate that they were able to include some rabbit folklore and adapt those stories into visual scenes, as it allows for breathing room from the main action while expanding upon the rabbit mythos, much like the stories did in the original novel. In the main story, the depiction of Efrafa ended up being a similar strong point. The situation is conveyed through haunting illustrations and jarring speech patterns. This created an air of oppression that made the scenes stand out. However, a decision that I felt was a bit odd was the use of Hazel as a narrator at one point in the main narrative. While it is true that the Watership rabbits greatly value oral storytelling, the narration felt like it came out of nowhere, to the point where I didn’t know who was speaking at first. Usually, when a rabbit is telling a story, we see them right away or have context that lets the reader know whom we are hearing from. When this same technique is later used with Dandelion, it works better because we have the context of knowing where he was during the situation he recounts, so it’s easy to tell he is speaking, and he is speaking to a group of kittens during this scene. With Hazel’s narration, he is breaking the fourth wall, which doesn’t work because that technique is used nowhere else in the story. I think, if this technique must be used, having Bigwig narrate instead would work better since the reader has just spent a lot of time following the plot from his point of view. It would tie in better with the flow of events before the rabbits get back to Watership Down. Artwork Like I said earlier, the artwork of this graphic novel is gorgeous! There is a charming aspect to the illustrations that work wonders to present all the different scenarios from the novel. However, I do see a problem with some of the character designs. While Sutphin tries to design each set of rabbits depending on which warren they come from (much like the film did), some rabbits are difficult to tell apart from each other. Here, we lose a lot of Adams� text, so there are no tags denoting who is speaking. It requires more careful study of their designs to distinguish who is who. I want to turn away from the main narrative for a second and discuss the illustrations in the El-ahrairah stories that are adapted. Sturm and Sutphin adapt these scenes in such a way that there is this sort of otherworldly distance from the El-ahrairah story being told, separating it from the main narrative, but also keeping the stories close enough that they tie in seamlessly. This close but still separate identity works the same way it did in the original novel, somewhat blurring the lines between Hazel’s group and El-ahrairah’s adventures. Depictions of Action I think I should briefly touch on the way action sequences are adapted in this edition. This was honestly one of my biggest concerns going in, because Adams pulled no punches in the original novel. If there was violence in a sequence, his prose would depict it openly and honestly. Sturm and Sutphin decided to adapt the violent situations as they are depicted in the novel, so the illustrations are graphic during these scenes. They are not easy to view, but the depiction of the scenes works to show just how dangerous life is for the characters in this story. I want to talk about some of the word art used to accentuate events in an action sequence. What I mean is when there is a word used in a panel that denotes a sound. These words are used to convey what has occurred in as succinct a manner as possible. This technique (to the best of my knowledge) is exclusive to the graphic novel/comic book format, and Sturm and Sutphin do use it when it is applicable. One of the most memorable panels for me with this technique is in Part II. I won’t spoil the circumstances of the scene, but the way the sound is illustrated on the page when it occurs shows how it impacts everybody involved, even those not actually near the source of it. The art illustrates the impact of the situation perfectly. Adapting Epigraphs One of the most memorable things from the original novel is the epigraphs that open each chapter. These epigraphs often worked to help set the mood for the chapter because they matched up with something that was about to happen. Sturm and Sutphin try to adapt at least some of Adams� original sources. An epigraph introduces each individual part of the story, rather than each chapter like in the novel. This technique ended up working really well. In Adams� text, there is room for all those quotes because the original story is not a visual medium. However, due to the medium being used in this adaptation, including all the quotes could potentially bog down the pacing of the story. So, the graphic novel instead opts to frame the four parts of the narrative with some of the novel’s epigraphs, cutting it down to the concise form needed while still staying true to the original. The epigraphs selected work within the context of the narrative to give the reader a taste of what is to come in that particular part. Use of Lapine and the Lapine Glossary I see issues with how the rabbit language Lapine was used in this graphic novel. While I love that the language is sprinkled throughout the story, there needs to be something to signal when a character is using a Lapine phrase for the first time. If someone were to be introduced to Watership Down solely through this graphic novel, there is nothing telling them when they need to go to the Lapine glossary in the back of the book to learn a word and understand how it is being used. Helping the reader learn Lapine and how it is used is especially important to do before the closing chapters of the book, because toward the end of the story there is a full phrase that is completely untranslated. In the novel, Adams put a small marker whenever there was a new phrase being used, which then guided the reader to where the word could be translated before continuing. So, when this untranslated phrase appeared in the novel, the reader was expected and equipped to understand what Adams had written without it needing to be spelled out. The graphic novel does not have this formatting. Simply putting a little asterisk next to a new Lapine term or name in the speech bubbles would help with making the use of the language flow better. It would signal to the reader when to go to the glossary to learn the word being used. Conclusion Out of all the Watership Down adaptations, I think this one is my personal favorite. While there are problems with it, they mostly come down to small details and I think the main story shines through despite these flaws. While I would still recommend the original novel before even touching this graphic novel, I think Sturm and Sutphin have done a wonderful job bringing Adams� narrative to this new medium. It is a beautiful, faithful adaptation that I am sure will delight both old and new fans of Watership Down alike! Update November 20, 2023: Upon further study of the graphic novel, I've noticed that I made a mistake in the Adapting of Adams' Writing section. Sturm and Sutphin actually do frame Hazel's narration with him telling the story to the rabbits on Watership Down, so the narration does make sense in context. My apologies for missing that. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 22, 2023
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Oct 27, 2023
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Oct 22, 2023
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Hardcover
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44
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| B08XVWSSJC
| 4.60
| 15
| unknown
| Mar 01, 2021
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] Last October, I got into a drama series involving a crime family in Birmingham, England. I enjoye Review posted on my blog [image] Last October, I got into a drama series involving a crime family in Birmingham, England. I enjoyed it so much that it opened me up to the possibility of exploring other stories dealing with the world of crime. That is why, when Di Angelo’s work was brought to my attention, I knew I had to give it a try. And it did not disappoint! I was captivated from the very first scene, drawn right into the world he has created. I was enthralled by the twists and turns of the plot, worried for the characters as everything unfolded. Before we go into it further, though, let’s get a summary for the story. Summary The story opens with a young man named Alvario Di Sano witnessing the murder of his father Amedeo Di Sano and being chased by authorities after being framed for it. His father was a well-respected don of La Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia. Alvario awakes from the nightmare of this event to find himself traveling to Sicily where he will be safe from the man who framed him for his father’s murder. With a new name and a new life in Italy, it seems like he can start anew. However, with his father’s demise and other terrible actions the murderer committed fresh in his mind, Alvario finds himself hungry for revenge. Will he be able to avenge his father’s death and find peace after all that has happened? Thoughts Where do I even begin? Alvario’s story was amazing to see. I felt for him every step of the way and wanted to see him exact his vengeance on the individual who so ruthlessly tore apart his life. Learning about his life only made me want him to succeed even more. I wanted him to get what he most desired. There are honestly so many things I could discuss but I am going to do my best to be mindful of spoilers while doing so, because this is the kind of story where surprise after surprise happens, and I do not want to ruin the fun for anyone interested in picking it up. I will say that some of the events present within the narrative had me audibly gasping in front of my copy multiple times, and I think this is part of why I am so excited about this story! Di Angelo is a master of suspense and keeping the reader hooked! Even if I had the slightest inclination that something was going to go a certain way, I still found myself completely engrossed. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let’s discuss the characters! Characters Alvario Di Sano It was very easy to feel sympathy for Alvario. The more I learned about him, the more I felt that he deserved nothing but happiness in his life after what he went through. Seeing his time in Italy was amazing as he tried his best to adapt to the situation he was in. His relationship with the man who took him in is incredibly sweet. It is obvious to me how much Alvario cares about Giuseppe and appreciates his help after what happened in America. Seeing their bond grow in the story was amazing and showed me that Alvario wants the people he cares about to be safe. That said, we also see in the narrative that Alvario has a cruel side if a situation makes him angry. He is not just an innocent young boy who will not punish those who have done wrong. This especially comes out when his nemesis from America is discussed. As I learned more about this individual from Alvario and the events of the plot, I completely understood where that vitriol was coming from, and I waited with great anticipation to see how things would unfold. Don Amedeo Di Sano Even though we know from the start of the story that Don Amedeo Di Sano is deceased, he is seen when the narrative jumps back in time to earlier in his life before the tragedy. I must admit, I felt sympathy for him, especially as the plot went on. It is clear he is very dedicated to his work and well-respected in his circles, making what happens to him hit all the harder for both the characters of the story and the reader as the plot goes on. The times we see him in power present him as intimidating and powerful to even his inner circles and not just individuals outside the mafia’s organization. This gives him a frightening side as we see some of the darker actions the organization has done at his command. His relationships show that, while he is respected for the most part, he makes some enemies along the way. I like that Di Angelo gives background to his relationship with Don Mortorana, showing why the two men have come to hate each other and how it was not always like that. This adds an element of tragedy to their relationship that makes it difficult not to feel for Di Sano. Don Paulo Manzullo Out of the many people Alvario meets in Sicily, Don Manzullo genuinely frightened me! As the story goes on, he does things that caused me to feel concerned not just for Alvario, but the entire mafia organization. Seeing what this man would engage in to hold on to and amass more power was scary! Seeing how he also treats his family is just as alarming. The thoughts he has about his nephew show me that he isn’t afraid to engage in underhanded actions to get what he wants. It hints that he can participate in darker deeds that are horrifying. Speaking of which, Manzullo engaging with politics the way he does is also incredibly troubling. Seeing how he meticulously works on his plans to attain more power is both awesome and frightening, and it makes him a genuinely intimidating antagonist that I wanted to see punished. Structure Di Angelo sets up this story by splitting up the story into parts and switching between the two primary locations of Italy and America, depending on which events of the narrative are being focused on. The pacing is perfect, being fast but not so quick that it is hard to understand what is going on. I like what Di Angelo is doing with the jumping back and forth in time because of what results from it. He uses these jumps to first provide a hook with the main events when they are first introduced, then hits the reader later with the full context which allows them to see everything and completely comprehend every piece of information being given. Writing I think one of the strongest aspects of this story is the writing. Each scene is built with great care, setting the mood for whatever is about to happen. Particularly in the opening scenes, the prose just drips with Alvario’s anger over the situation he is in. This is especially significant because his rage drives his goals for the story. I want to mention the writing for some of the more intense scenes, because these situations are where I think Di Angelo’s prose is at its most effective. There is a scene where we see the Di Sano family gain new recruits to be part of the mafia, and these individuals are people Di Angelo has given us time to get to know, so the tension is up from that alone. The scene is incredibly dark, showing the inner workings of this world and how those shadier dealings can directly affect the people involved. The sections with the antagonists mark a noticeable change in the writing. The prose quickly becomes more sinister as they plot whatever crimes they wish to commit. These sections had me angry, horrified, and concerned and the change in the tone of the writing is a major reason for that. It shows the evil within these individuals and exactly why the reader should be worried about whatever they plan. I could not put the book down during these types of scenes because they were so captivating! Conclusion In the end, this was amazing! I seriously can’t get over how much I enjoyed it! Every element being used here is handled with care, the plot is exhilarating, and the story is dark and engrossing! It had me on the edge of my seat all the way through! I would highly recommend this to a reader into stories with thrilling plotlines, narratives that grab you and refuse to let you go until the end. When all was said and done, I still found myself thinking about the story, and the fact that it stayed with me like that is, to me, one of its best aspects. It’s an amazing story that I highly recommend! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 10, 2023
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Feb 18, 2023
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Jan 17, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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43
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| 1737623218
| 9781737623212
| B09B4724KV
| 4.33
| 27
| unknown
| Sep 18, 2021
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] I tend to rate stories based on how they make me feel, and this generally means my gut reaction i Review posted on my blog [image] I tend to rate stories based on how they make me feel, and this generally means my gut reaction is one of the most important factors of my review process, if not the most important. Now, of course, in writing these reviews I do my best to be fair and look at all angles, good or bad. All that said, I can’t ignore when my emotional reaction is one of being immensely intrigued and/or blown away, to the point where I must know what happens next! In this case, I’m so invested in the story Frank Winter has created that I cannot wait to finish this review and dive into the next book in this duology! This story has captivated me! Before I go any further, we need to set the stage and talk a bit about what happens in the narrative. Shall we? Summary The story opens with a news broadcast where it is revealed that there has been a bombing at a high school known as Villa Vista on the night of the Homecoming football game. Diving in, we meet several students and two teachers before the incident. These are the characters the main narrative will follow. After the bombing, the students and teachers find that they are all dead but trapped in the ruins of Villa Vista in something of an afterlife. When a vengeful student makes the move to entice the rest of the student body to find the bomber, however, the rest of the students and teachers find themselves in a war to avoid becoming victims of his wrath. Will they find the bomber before they are picked off one by one? Thoughts Going into this, I was not entirely sure what to expect. The opening chapters (following the prologue) seemed to set this up as an ordinary story involving a high school, making that prologue easy to forget. Thinking that at the time, I was feeling a little disappointed. However, that didn’t last long! Once we get into the aftermath of the bombing and what happened to the students and the school, I honestly loved everything about it! Winter’s prose sets up an incredibly creepy and violent world where one in power can manipulate and intimidate others to reach their goals. This setup had me thinking one thing about the bomber’s identity, only to doubt myself down the road as even more information was revealed. I had no clue what was going to happen next! That said, all of this wouldn’t be as nearly as exciting as it is if it weren’t for the key players in this story. While some of them do blend into the background given there are so many victims, I liked seeing Winter focus in on a few couples and two noteworthy teachers. It made things easier to follow and ultimately more interesting. Not to mention, having so many victims meant that guessing the bomber’s identity was really a shot in the dark. I had no idea who was the mastermind! Speaking of characters, let’s head over that way. Characters Blaire Tidwell and Andrei Tunnikov I think I’m going to talk about these two as a couple because it is kind of difficult to talk about one and not the other. I like Andrei and Blaire a lot. Their resolve to be there for each other is awesome given the situation they are in. I love that they genuinely care about each other and want to work together to survive in this world. There is one section of the story where the student Joe Torelli and his army open the door of a classroom to see Blaire huddled in darkness after something bad happened. What follows in that scene is awesome and shows me just how much she cares about Andrei. On the other side, seeing Andrei be just as protective of Blaire is awesome, too! There is a little detail left at some point in the story where it is revealed that, during the explosion, he attempted to shield Blaire from the impact. These are high school students. The fact that they are willing to go that far to protect each other is incredible to see! Rick Wallace and Bob Melkonian These are two other characters that I feel are important to cover in one section as well because � like Andrei and Blaire � they are frequently seen together. Anyway, I love these two characters. Seeing how far both go to protect the students, seeing what they are willing to endure so the students do not have to, is incredible! One little detail that I think is a very nice touch is Rick Wallace’s willingness to pray for the students, his desire to help them find peace in all the chaos. Wallace’s desire to turn to faith to try to be a better person after some of the (admitted) mistakes he made in his life makes it very easy to feel sympathy for him. The way he cares for the students is clear � he loves them as if they were his own. Moving on to Bob Melkonian, I really like just how brave he is. There is a scene in the story where he directly challenges Torelli, and I love seeing him stand up for what is right. Seeing how much he cares for and loves his daughter Monika also helps to round him out as more than just a teacher. He is a good man that cares for the children in his life, because it is talked about that he loves the Villa Vista students like family. Joe Torelli Torelli is the one student I feel comfortable talking about by himself. And I must admit, he is an incredible threat to the peace at the school. Seeing him go in there armed set off incredibly loud alarm bells for me, because it told me that he would do things by force if he felt it necessary. That said, I like that Frank Winter gives him a bit more backstory, so his motives are a bit easier to understand. It does not excuse his power grab, but I appreciated seeing the reason. Speaking of that reason, I even feel a degree of sympathy for him. This does not excuse his actions, but I understand his choices because of the story Winter has built for this character. It is clear to me that Torelli was suffering long before the events of the narrative even kicked off. Finally, I also appreciate the larger role he plays in the story. The way he acts is unnerving and it all made me wonder what exactly was going on with him, and I wasn’t sure if he was a scared victim or a terrifying criminal. It heightened the tension significantly! Structure So, Winter uses a structure to set up the story that is familiar to me because I have used the same technique he does in my own creative writing in the past. Basically, he breaks up some chapters into certain sections to cut to important situations. Now, the last time I saw this structure (in another story), it slowed the pacing significantly for me. However, Winter does it in such a way that the pacing is not slowed even a little bit. I am guessing this is because a lot of the situations he is playing with are incredibly high stakes. The cuts don’t bog down the story because the entire narrative has played out with a lot of tension. I think the only real detriment to this structure is that because there are so many students, fleshing out every single one of them is incredibly difficult. While I did see the main cast fleshed out more as time went on, it was still a lot to keep track of and kind of made the final reveal a little bit harder to follow. That said, having so many characters helped to hide the final reveal at least, and I do appreciate that aspect. Writing I think one of the major pluses of this story is the writing. Winter is a fantastic writer! I especially think he excels when writing about Villa Vista after the bombing. Before, it was just an ordinary high school. After? I’d be afraid to set foot in this place. It is creepy, dangerous, and unnerving! I wonder what will come next. For example, seeing the students and teachers look in the mirrors for the first time after the bombing was incredible! It was a horrifying scene given the setting he paints. The students and teachers look in those mirrors, the flames still tearing into the building in the background, and they see exactly how the explosion impacted them physically. Honestly, these situations were awesome! It is almost like the author took the old setting from when all the students were alive and turned it inside out, exposing the dark from within. Conclusion I enjoyed this immensely. I think Winter has created a captivating narrative here, one that is hard to forget. From the setting, the characters, and the high stakes, I enjoyed the ride the story took me on. It was an awesome experience! As to whom I would recommend this, I think this story would be a good fit for a reader that likes to see a darker story with high stakes and beautiful writing. At its core, this is a gorgeously written story with a gripping plot line that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 16, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 16, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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42
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| B09SDY3CTM
| 4.65
| 52
| unknown
| Feb 14, 2022
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it was amazing
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Review posted on my blog [image] I expect a lot from the books I read. I have become the type of reader who reads critically as we Review posted on my blog [image] I expect a lot from the books I read. I have become the type of reader who reads critically as well as for enjoyment and reading critically has led me to often find issues with whatever I consume. Even if I enjoy a story, if I feel a problem has detracted enough from that enjoyment, I start deducting stars from my final rating of the book I’m reading. This is why most of my ratings come out as four stars and not five. This simply means that I enjoyed it, but it didn’t wow me. But you know what? For once, I’ve found something different, a good different. Because I must admit that I finally enjoyed something enough to say, this is it! I’ve finally found something that I enjoyed so much that I am giving it five stars! This entire story hooked me from beginning to end! As per the usual with me, we need to give this a summary before we go into more of me divulging my thoughts. Let’s do it! Summary We open in Shinjuku. Gabriel is a samurai with nanotech technology repairing him every time he goes into battle, rendering him an incredibly dangerous opponent who has sworn to work and kill for the Holy Eight. Hana is a young girl whose life has been a nightmare, and she will do anything to get out of the horrible situation she finds herself in. When she is given a chance to escape, she crosses paths with Gabriel, who knows that protecting the young girl will put him in direct conflict with his brothers of the Holy Eight. Still, something about the young, innocent Hana makes Gabriel want to help her deep down. Will he be able to save her and protect her and himself from the Holy Eight? Thoughts This was a different experience for me than usual. Normally, I have major problems with books that deal with one conflict after the other moving at breakneck speed. I don’t have an issue with the action itself, I have an issue with there never being a chance to slow down, breathe, and build character. But here’s the thing. I think we see who Gabriel is, who Hana is, through the action that does occur. Because Gabriel is always protecting Hana, it is what he has chosen to do. And Hana refuses to leave him and has grown to care about him and worry for him whenever something bad happens to him. There’s one scene in the story where Gabriel needed care from others. Hana never left his side through all of it. We can see that she is scared for him, but her compassion overpowers her fear. As for Gabriel? There is one fight he gets into where his opponent repeatedly mocks his relationship with Hana. Gabriel, in response, completely goes all out in the fight that follows, showing no mercy. I think that that tells me more about him than I would know if Riley had just come outright and said, “Gabriel had grown to care about Hana.� He didn’t have to. I could see it through what the character did. And that is the biggest plus for me with this book � the way their relationship is shown and how it grows is the heart and soul of the story! Characters Gabriel I admit, I had to warm up to Gabriel. He’s kind of cold in the beginning and a little too eager to jump into a fight. That said, once he and Hana meet, I saw a different side of him that I absolutely loved. Like I mentioned in the previous section, it becomes obvious that he grows to care about someone else. I think that’s when I really started rooting for him. I also loved the small detail where the old man Hasegawa (more on him in a minute) compares Gabriel to the Archangel in front of Hana. I loved that scene especially, and I’ll talk more about it when I discuss Hasegawa. I must talk about the Holy Eight before I close this section. I didn’t think about it until the end of the book, but it’s heartbreaking seeing Gabriel’s own brothers go to war with him. I like that Gabriel’s not afraid to stand up and protect Hana, but the fact that it’s against the only family he’s ever known is heartrending. He gives up all he has for this young girl and the impact it has on him is obvious. The fact that he admits that it’s no longer safe for either one of them going forward shows that he knows he’s crossed that line, and he can never go back to what was before. Hasegawa I liked Hasegawa a lot. The fact that he was willing to help Hana and Gabriel right off the bat by letting them stay at the old church was very nice, giving them food and allowing them to stay as long as they needed to. The compassion was a breath of fresh air after Gabriel and Hana running into conflict with literally everyone they met, because the Holy Eight had eyes everywhere. I also really enjoyed that he indirectly helped Gabriel deal with the Holy Eight. Seeing him use his past military experience to protect both Gabriel and Hana without hesitation was amazing, and I loved that � even though he’d only known both a short time � he immediately jumped into action when he saw them in danger! I mentioned earlier that there was a scene where Hasegawa compared Gabriel to the Archangel Gabriel in front of Hana. This was one of the few moments where the story got to slow down and show them truly bond. We know from the beginning of the story that all the Holy Eight members were given names related to the Archangels, but it was something that Hana was not aware of, so to see Hasegawa teach her something about her protector’s name and the significance behind it was incredibly heartwarming! Structure The structure of this story is interesting, and I’m trying to think about how to describe it. Riley opens the story by describing the world briefly, but not long after we’re introduced to Gabriel, he gets into a fight. This sets up his status as a killer, and we start to see hints of what the Holy Eight is and the power they have over Gabriel. All of this creates the tension that will carry the story. I like that, interspersed between Hana and Gabriel running, we see the setup of what’s behind the Holy Eight. We get a scene with their leader learning about Gabriel and Hana having fled Shinjuku, and it sets up what follows perfectly. I knew right away when I read that scene that something big was coming. It conveyed exactly what it needed to, and because the brothers were always following Gabriel throughout the book, that scene was impossible to forget! Riley basically told us that what Gabriel had feared would happen if Hana stayed with him had already occurred, and the tension went up significantly. I think the reason I like something like this so much is because often, when there’s a setup with a bigger threat behind a smaller threat, the bigger threat is not seen, or is kept hidden, until the very end. This is used to keep the suspense up, but I hate that setup, because we get no knowledge of who’s being faced and it’s more annoying than suspenseful. Because I saw the Old Man earlier in the book, the very last scene in the story has me curious and concerned. What’s going to happen next? What on earth is he planning? Writing I was thinking a lot about how I was going to approach this section. I’m not very good at describing someone’s writing. That said, I do have something to say about it, so bear with me. Because this book is so action-packed, I was actually thinking a bit about my favorite story of all time once I’d finished it, because said story got called out for the violence and people thought its intended audience were young children. Anyway, in this story, the author would approach a fight scene like a sports commentator, highlighting what the enemy is doing wrong and why the main character he’s following was able to get one up over on them. The way Riley approaches a fight scene is different. He goes by every move that is significant and illustrates the cause of the effect he is aiming for. For example, if someone is crossing weapons with another character, he will describe the pressure coming from one side as one person works to overpower the other and then shows why it did or did not work and what resulted. Moving on from the action, how he builds each setting is incredibly unique as well. The way he opens the first scene in Shinjuku sticks out to me as a really strong opening. He opens with a simple, striking sentence that introduces Gabriel as what he was before he met Hana, painting him as a dangerous individual. He goes on to paint this world of Shinjuku where no one is safe from the Holy Eight and why. It’s beautiful and sets up tension regarding the group. Even before we see them, they’re frightening and intimidating! Conclusion In the end, I really, really enjoyed this. It was gripping all the way through, and I loved every second of it! The characters, the story, the stakes, all of it stuck with me and made me care about what was happening. I can’t think of a single thing to criticize. I think the only thing I will say is that I hope Riley won’t leave this as a standalone. The last scene in the book hinted at something more, something bigger going on, and I hope it will be explored down the road. So, I usually end my reviews with whom I would recommend what I’m reviewing to. I think this story would fit an audience that likes a story full of action, but also has heart to it that is sweet and leaves the reader with a message of hope despite bad situations that occur. At the heart of it, this is a story about a relationship between a young girl and her protector, and that’s where the heart of it is. I can’t recommend it enough! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 28, 2022
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May 09, 2022
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Apr 28, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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41
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| 1421513277
| 9781421513270
| 1421513277
| 4.38
| 20,965
| Jul 04, 2006
| Jul 03, 2007
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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40
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| 1421511789
| 9781421511788
| B004ZKXI5U
| 4.20
| 19,247
| May 02, 2006
| Jan 01, 2008
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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39
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| 142151155X
| 9781421511559
| 142151155X
| 4.21
| 19,945
| Feb 2006
| Mar 06, 2007
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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38
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| 1421506300
| 9781421506302
| 1421506300
| 4.19
| 21,267
| Dec 02, 2005
| Jan 02, 2007
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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37
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| 1421506297
| 9781421506296
| 1421506297
| 4.22
| 25,760
| Sep 02, 2005
| Nov 07, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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36
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| 1421506289
| 9781421506289
| 1421506289
| 4.44
| 29,468
| Jun 04, 2005
| Sep 05, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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35
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| 1421506270
| 9781421506272
| 1421506270
| 4.39
| 29,006
| Apr 2005
| Jul 05, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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34
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| 1421506262
| 9781421506265
| B01EKIH0AU
| 4.31
| 31,373
| Feb 04, 2005
| May 02, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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33
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| 142150331X
| 9781421503318
| 142150331X
| 4.42
| 40,629
| Nov 04, 2004
| Mar 07, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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32
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| 1421501708
| 9781421501703
| B004ZKVETM
| 4.45
| 40,402
| Sep 03, 2004
| Jan 03, 2006
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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Paperback
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31
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| 1421501694
| 9781421501697
| 1421501694
| 4.48
| 54,522
| Jul 02, 2004
| Nov 08, 2005
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50
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| 4.30
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really liked it
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Nov 02, 2024
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Oct 26, 2024
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49
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| 4.35
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it was amazing
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Oct 04, 2024
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Oct 01, 2024
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48
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| 4.07
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it was amazing
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Oct 2024
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Sep 22, 2024
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47
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| 4.28
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really liked it
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May 27, 2024
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May 14, 2024
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46
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| 3.79
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it was amazing
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Feb 09, 2024
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Feb 09, 2024
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45
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| 4.42
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really liked it
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Oct 27, 2023
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Oct 22, 2023
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44
|
| 4.60
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it was amazing
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Feb 18, 2023
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Jan 17, 2023
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43
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| 4.33
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it was amazing
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 16, 2022
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42
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| 4.65
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it was amazing
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May 09, 2022
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Apr 28, 2022
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41
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| 4.38
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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40
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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39
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| 4.21
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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38
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| 4.19
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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37
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| 4.22
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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36
|
| 4.44
|
it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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35
|
| 4.39
|
it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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34
|
| 4.31
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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33
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| 4.42
|
it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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32
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| 4.45
|
it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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31
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| 4.48
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it was amazing
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not set
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Sep 20, 2020
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