I think one of Maas's weaknesses as a writer is that she tells rather than shows. And sometimes what she tells us directly contradicts what she shows I think one of Maas's weaknesses as a writer is that she tells rather than shows. And sometimes what she tells us directly contradicts what she shows us.
If I wasn't told that Celaena was the best assassin in the land? I'd really have no reason to believe it. And despite all the horrors she's supposedly endured, she's so incredibly naive. Horrified at things she should really be inured to. She's always expecting to be treated well, when we're supposed to also believe that she never has been. She often acts like a spoiled child, which worked (somewhat) in The Assassin's Blade, since, though she was an assassin, she was also a spoiled pet. The favorite of a powerful crime lord, and, as such, given pretty much anything she desired.
But she should have matured since then. Hardened. If she's really suffered everything she's supposedly suffered . . . which is why I really don't believe in her or her character.
I enjoyed the introduction of magic (which I wasn't really expecting). But in general I just don't think that Maas's characters are well enough developed to keep me very interested. ...more
Picks up where Homecoming left off. Just as strong as the first book and just as worth reading. Picks up where Homecoming left off. Just as strong as the first book and just as worth reading. ...more
This is classic, old-school, Newberry-honor-style goodness. They don't write books like these anymore (or at least that feels true).
Good writing + goThis is classic, old-school, Newberry-honor-style goodness. They don't write books like these anymore (or at least that feels true).
Good writing + good storytelling + great character development. There is a meatiness here, to these characters, their world, their griefs, their joys . . . one of those stories that clears vision and restores right weight to things.
What a book should be. It doesn't coddle you, and it doesn't coddle its characters. But man does it love them. ...more
So . . . I'm not sure what I thought of this book.
It's clearly by a Christian author (which I didn't realize until a good way through the book) withoSo . . . I'm not sure what I thought of this book.
It's clearly by a Christian author (which I didn't realize until a good way through the book) without being overly preachy - but also not quite as subtle as I probably would have preferred.
It's also fairly clearly a retelling of Daddy-Long-Legs, which, if you've read that book, pretty much means that you know the "twist" from the outset.
Sweet? Yes. Derivative? Yes. There's nothing unexpected or new here, but if you want a gentle read with no surprises (that's squarely moral in its outlook), it wasn't a bad read. It just wasn't a great one. ...more
I am still a fan of Rainbow Rowell. Light, feel-good romance with heart.
This was probably not my favorite of her work, and I could almost have mistakI am still a fan of Rainbow Rowell. Light, feel-good romance with heart.
This was probably not my favorite of her work, and I could almost have mistaken it for an Emily Henry novel, rather than a Rainbow Rowell novel. Which is not meant to be a disparaging remark. Emily Henry is one of my favorite writers of light, feel-good romance. But Rainbow Rowell usually has slightly more magic in her work. Usually captures something more about the ache, and beauty, of existing - and of growing up. This was missing that something more (or at least, I didn't quite encounter it). But still an enjoyable read. ...more
I really did not like ACOTAR, but the premise of Throne of Glass seemed slightly more appealing to me.
Some pet peeves: * Why is the heroine so incredI really did not like ACOTAR, but the premise of Throne of Glass seemed slightly more appealing to me.
Some pet peeves: * Why is the heroine so incredibly young? (But so determined to think of herself as not young at all?) * The heroines in Maas's books seem to share a common flaw: Maas wants them to be simultaneously untouchably tough (when it suits her writing needs) AND incredibly vulnerable (again, when it suits her writing needs). I end up just finding them to be incredibly inconsistent (and inhuman).
I enjoyed these short stories well enough. But I don't think Maas is a strong enough writer to deliver any sense of character development (something that has been confirmed now that I've started Throne of Glass itself). ...more
Read on my honeymoon (and finished shortly after returning to Jordan). Poems about longing and belonging - very much a collection written by a TCK. ThRead on my honeymoon (and finished shortly after returning to Jordan). Poems about longing and belonging - very much a collection written by a TCK. Thoroughly enjoyed. (One of the better/best reads of the year.)...more
Not exactly what I was expecting, but I love this series for being able to keep delivering installments that are not quite what I'm expecting. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I love this series for being able to keep delivering installments that are not quite what I'm expecting. ...more
I started out listening to this in audiobook form, then finished it off with a physical copy.
Reading it was . . . a confusing experience. First off, I started out listening to this in audiobook form, then finished it off with a physical copy.
Reading it was . . . a confusing experience. First off, I couldn't place the time period. For most of this book, I thought I was reading a period piece, set sometime after WWII, but certainly not during my lifetime. Maybe the 60s? But then a cellphone showed up. So really I have no idea. But I can't say that I recognize the attitudes or the characters herein contained. As part of a disappearing age, where people of independent means spend their time thinking and reading while housekeepers run their homes, I buy it. As part of my world? No, I don't recognize it.
Also, there is no Sunday Philosophy Club in this book titled The Sunday Philosophy Club. And it's unclear whether there ever was.
As to the mystery . . . IS there a mystery? For most of the book, I wasn't sure.
And as the above statement might suggest, I wasn't really sure what this book was actually about - or what it was intended to be about. There is a lot of reflection on sexual morals throughout, which seemed like an odd choice of a theme in a book billing itself as a cozy mystery. If it was set during the sexual revolution, then maybe. But even so, I'm not sure the main character's observations (obsessions?) are particularly relevant, or insightful, to her readers.
This series was fascinating. As often happens, I wasn't as in love with the conclusion as the beginning (it's such a hard balance in fantasy / sci-fi This series was fascinating. As often happens, I wasn't as in love with the conclusion as the beginning (it's such a hard balance in fantasy / sci-fi not to explain too much, and thus steal the wonder away). But utterly unique? Yes. Worth reading? Yes....more
This series was fascinating. As often happens, I wasn't as in love with the conclusion as the beginning (it's such a hard balance in fantasy / sci-fi This series was fascinating. As often happens, I wasn't as in love with the conclusion as the beginning (it's such a hard balance in fantasy / sci-fi not to explain too much, and thus steal the wonder away). But utterly unique? Yes. Worth reading? Yes.
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