Quick thoughts: And with this volume I conclude Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman. What a fun ride. I loved the characterization, the adventure3.75 stars
Quick thoughts: And with this volume I conclude Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman. What a fun ride. I loved the characterization, the adventure and my god the artwork is just stunning. This volume has some silliness to it, but personally, I enjoyed it. This Catwoman is one being haunted by Batman, he's in all her nightmares. This Catwoman is tormented by the questions of her past. This Selina is sensuous and quick-witted, sassy and a fighter, but she's also so very lonely.
I have to say, the last pages are the same ones that are at the end of Dark Victory so it was a little underwhelming. The story is also constricted by the events of DV, we know this is Selina's six month adventure in Italy, and so we know how it ends. Still, it's a fun volume with some faces I was not expecting to see in Italy....more
Quick review: a worthy sequel to The Long Halloween. It's even darker, and sadder, but I love the last page. Tim Sale's artwork is stunning. 4 stars!
Quick review: a worthy sequel to The Long Halloween. It's even darker, and sadder, but I love the last page. Tim Sale's artwork is stunning. It was a good mystery and a great balance of characters and stories between the Falcone family, Two-Face's revenge and Batman working with Gordon and the Gotham Police trying to find Dent and to discover the identity of the Hangman. I loved the inclusion of Dick in the second half of this book. He brings such a joy to the page which was a refreshing element in such a dark tale. ...more
First thoughts: A collection of three one shots all set during Halloween. I particularly enjoyed the second tale, called Madness where Batman 3.5 stars
First thoughts: A collection of three one shots all set during Halloween. I particularly enjoyed the second tale, called Madness where Batman has to face the Mad Hatter, while remembering and grieving for his mother. They weren't the best stories (I particularly did not care at all for Scarecrow nor the romantic subplot) but it was still fun to read. Loeb and Sale's Batman is just something else. ...more
3.5 stars Initial thoughts: This is one of the times when I hate goodreads doesn't allow for .5 ratings cause giving it a 3 is too low, but a four does 3.5 stars Initial thoughts: This is one of the times when I hate goodreads doesn't allow for .5 ratings cause giving it a 3 is too low, but a four does not reflect my experience either. Especially considering I'm unhauling this book. I feel like the cover is misleading. You see it and think YA romance, but this book is so much more, it became insane. Two boys, each from a different country (there's only two at that time in Earth) are selected to go on a rescue mission to Titan, a moon of Saturn. Ambrose Cusk, our main character, is the brother of the missing explorer in Titan. Something goes wrong at the time of launching, and Ambrose wakes up after months in a coma, cared for the AI of the ship. There's still many months of the journey, a bunch of repair tasks to complete and a boy from a rival country to meet.
I was not expecting the real plot of the book, the mystery was so good. But, to be honest, I think if I had known how dark it was, I wouldn't have picked it up, cause the themes touched in this book are ones I don't really enjoy. There's hopelessness and bleakness in these pages. It made for a fascinating and quick read, but I had some issues with the YAness of it all, the execution, the plot holes that come from the genre. I also had a few issues with the writing. But again, I was not expecting the real plot and I think the mystery was handled very well. So yeah, 3.5 stars rounded down....more
First thoughts: Though this novella is not connected to the main storyline/ending of the last book in the series, it was such a joy to reunit3.75 stars
First thoughts: Though this novella is not connected to the main storyline/ending of the last book in the series, it was such a joy to reunite with Filip and see the struggles one of the systems is facing after the events of Leviathan Falls. I find this story quite reflective. It's dark and sad, but through Filip's eyes, through his guilt and his trauma as the son of Marco Inaros, this novella is quite deep. Though I wish we could have gotten a happy ending, and I wish there were answers for many things the books left in the air, I'm happy this was the story Daniel and Ty decided to finish the series with. I also really loved the author's note....more
This is a story about family. About trauma, abuse and the cycles we choose to end. Derek Ouelette is a violent man who used to be a hockey pla4 stars
This is a story about family. About trauma, abuse and the cycles we choose to end. Derek Ouelette is a violent man who used to be a hockey player. He was famous and talented, but the rage living in him from a young age costed him that life. Having lost hockey, the one chance he had to escape his old circumstances, he finds himself back in his childhood town. He's the drunk's town, a has-been. He gets by by kind people trying to help him. He has a small room in the ice-rink he used to train when he was a child, he has he same job at the same restaurant his mother used to work in, and at nights he goes to the same bar and drinks alone. And then he fights. He fights anyone who bothers him. And then one night his younger sister is waiting for him outside his door. She's hurt, she's running away from an abusive relationship. The years haven't been good to her. They haven't seen each other since she was 13. She's been homeless, she's been hurt, and she's an addict now. Together, they'll try to finally face their demons and their past.
This isn't a nice story. It is not a fun read, but it is a little hopeful. And Lemire has this ability to tell small town stories where you can feel the isolation, the sadness and the cold, the most absolute desolation. He's so good at this. So good at making the setting of a story a character in itself. So many moments are said through the artwork. Through the color palette, through the lack of dialog and double spread illustrations. Derek is being hunted by little flashbacks from his past. And those memories are in color. Those memories were from a better time, where his mom was still alive and he was starting to play hockey. And then we come back to the present and everything is so bleak and dark. It's so good.
Though I love Lemire's big stories, I love finding these pockets of realism, of small town characters who are dealing with life. With family trauma and loss. It's such a nice contrast to let's say Descender. But I love them both....more
I finished The Expanse... what do I do with my life now? I have one novella to go... but the series that has been my comfort read since 20174.25 stars
I finished The Expanse... what do I do with my life now? I have one novella to go... but the series that has been my comfort read since 2017 is done and I'm so sad. What a journey, what an ending....more
3.75 stars I think with this re-read I ended up enjoying this book a lot more. I struggled a lot with the first hundred pages or so (it's just a lot of3.75 stars I think with this re-read I ended up enjoying this book a lot more. I struggled a lot with the first hundred pages or so (it's just a lot of info dump and SO much description of nature and landscapes, I struggled with it). It's quite the slow start, but when Nenavar becomes the setting of the story, I just started to love it. Now to the sequel!
Original review:
The Plot: For the last two decades there's been war in Kesath. Gaheris's Night Empire is slowly conquering the remaining territories of Sardovia. With little hope, the Sardovian armed forces are still resisting and fighting against the fearful stormships that wreak havoc and destroy Sardovian cities. However, Sardovia still has a secret weapon. Talasyn. Talasyn's the only remaining Lightweaver in Sardovia. She might be the last hope against the brutal Shadowforged Legion of the Night Empire, but with little training and constant siege she can't do it on her own yet. When her ship is attacked, she finds herself being hunted by the Legion and she's forced to reveal her light abilities to survive. In that moment, she meets and confronts Alaric, heir of the Night Empire and leader of the Shadowforged. With her lightweaver abilities exposed to the enemies, she becomes a new target. And when she is forced to find her nexus, the place where she can commune and learn to control her powers, she's suddenly in the middle of a new land, in the midst of political plays and intrigue. She's thrusted into a political marriage that will give her what she's looking for, refuge for the Sardovian resistance, but the cost of their protection is binding her life to Alaric of House Ossinast.
The Hurricane Wars was one of my most anticipated releases of this year because: 1. Years ago I read the og story that ended up being groundwork for THW, and 2. I really like how Thea is able to create complex character dynamics and political intrigue that keep the story grounded and engaging.
This book... well, it ended up being just okay for me. Maybe it was my expectations, or maybe it was the fact that for the first third of this book I was really struggling with the over-descriptive writing style and heavy handed worldbuilding. Or maybe, it was the involuntary comparisons I was constantly making regarding the original fanfic that made me struggle to enjoy this new world I was getting into. So yes, you may be wondering why the four stars rating then. And honestly I'm a little confused myself too. Because I do think I'm being a little generous. I have a lot of criticisms, but I also know (or have a general idea) of what's coming for Alaric and Talasyn. And knowing this is only their beginning, and having so much faith in what Thea can do with them, well, I'm excited.
The first part of this book feels like a prologue, like a one hundred page introduction of the current state of the war. It feels like Thea said, here, have a quick summary of the conflict and let me show you Talasyn's life before this book becomes a Romantasy.
I didn't particularly enjoyed the beginning, however when Talasyn gets to Nenavar, I started to really have fun and I think when the romance sublot is introduced Guanzon's story finds its footing. When the political marriage is on the table, we not only focus in the romance and all of their forbidden aspects of it, we get to see Talasyn learning and growing as a character and as a leader. She dives into the political games her queen grandmother is playing and she gets to learn more about the magic system, about the magical threat that right now is more urgent than the rebellion against the Night Empire. We see Talasyn out of her depth, struggling, but adapting.
In this part of the book, Alaric's presence and pov are also more frequent. Which I really enjoyed, because of the two main characters I find Alaric more interesting and complex. Alaric is the heir of the Night Empire, his burdens are his alone. No one knows the fear his father instills in him, no one knows how he is a puppet of Gaheris. He's just as alone as Talasyn, but thinking that is weakness. But, as you can guess, this being Romantasy, he quickly finds himself falling for his enemy. The Lightweaver, whose powers are the enemy of his father's rule.
There's a big cast of caracters in this book, however I feel like only three really stand out. Talasyn, Alaric and Queen Urduja. I really enjoyed Talasyn's conflicting relationship with her grandmother, however, I do wish Thea would have explored more of Talasyn's relationship to her father. The Prince feels like such a superficial, weak character and I wish he'd had a stronger presence, a stronger relationship with Talasyn. I have to say though, Talasyn is quite the one note character for most of this book. She's angry and feisty and a little immature all the time. And though I understand the reasons why she's always so angry, it was such a stagnant element I wish there was a little more of character growth. Here's hoping for book 2.
There are many elements I wish Guanzon could have improved on, but as a Romantasy, I had fun. Like I said, it feels unfair to give a better rating in the hopes of what's to come, because I have an idea of Talasyn and Alaric's future relationship. But what can I say, despite all, I think this is a solid book. I'm intrigued by the magic system, and by the world Thea created here....more
3.5 stars Fence: Disarmed is the sequel of Fence: Striking Distance. Both written by Sarah Rees Brennan and inspired by the graphic novels by C.S. Paca3.5 stars Fence: Disarmed is the sequel of Fence: Striking Distance. Both written by Sarah Rees Brennan and inspired by the graphic novels by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad, this second book goes further away from Kings Row. The boys of the fencing team are invited to a prestigious and exclusive training camp in France so, with the help of Seiji and Seiji's dad, the boys get ready to meet and train with the best teams in Europe and to also face a familiar face from Seiji's past.
I had more fun with this book than with Striking Distance. Having the freedom of having the boys in a new setting, there were new characters, new friendships and so much more fencing than in the previous book. This book felt dynamic. It felt fresh. It was good.
Not everything is going well though. This book takes places a couple of weeks after Striking Distance, and Aiden is still hurt by Harvard's rejection. Harvard is still confused and feels guilty by his newfound feelings. That's the main conflict of this book. A friendship broken by miscommunication. Two characters pining for each other while inadvertently hurting each other constantly. As for the rest of the team, Eugene once again stays a background character after having an allergic reaction that makes him miss training at camp. Nicholas realises again how out of the depth he is in this world of fencing, but he doesn't get intimidated being at the bottom of the barrel, he gets motivated to train more, to learn from the others. Seiji is having a tougher time that what he expected, Jesse's presence in France and his constant demand of having Seiji back with him at Exton boys Academy is making him doubt his place at Kings Row and himself as a fencer.
This book is a little more angsty, a little more heavy on the romance. Aside for Aiden and Harvard, there are also hints on Seiji and Nicholas' relationship. My favorite part is that they are heavily implied in Seiji's pov, but he doesn't understand why he's protective, why he's mad at Nicholas sometimes, why he cares so much for him. Once again, Brennan's scenes where Seiji confides and talks with his dad were some of my favorites. I wish the comics would go a little deeper on Seiji's family too.
I don't think we'll get a third book from Brennan, it'd be fun if we did. I think her writing style goes perfectly with Fence. She's funny and knows how to write banter, but she also knows when to hit you with the sadness that comes from those formative teenage years. And in this book I think she really found her footing writing these characters....more
This book is insaaaaaane. I think, it is the best book of The Expanse so far. I'm not sure if it's my favorite yet (a re-read of Caliban's War5 stars!
This book is insaaaaaane. I think, it is the best book of The Expanse so far. I'm not sure if it's my favorite yet (a re-read of Caliban's War must happen again to confirm), but I had the craziest time reading and listening to this book. Shout-out to Jefferson Mays for once again killing the audiobook. The emotion in this one, he did an amazing job.
I can't properly talk about this book without spoiling the events from Persepolis Rising.
This is the eight and second-to-last book of the series, but it is also the second book of the last arc of The Expanse, and it went in an insane direction. I thought it would be the bridge of the expansion of the Laconia Empire (book 7) to hopefully its end (book 9). The book that would lead to the battle against the ¨gods¨ that killed the protomolecule architects. But it is so much more. It's a sad book, for once. The Roci crew are all separated and in their own journey. They don't know if they'll ever be together again. Naomi, resilient Naomi, has been isolated for years now working as one of Saba's right hand people. She's living in containers, hiding and organising the resistance. Planning for a way to bring the end of Laconia without relying only on violence. Bobbie and Alex are the captain and pilot of the Gathering Storm. As the only ship from Laconia in the resistance, they are on danger of being captured constantly. Bobbie, as opposed to Naomi, believes on combating the enemy until the end. She's ready to give her life to this battle, not realising how she's one of the last true fighters from the resistance. Alex, as always, is the reliable teammate. The concerned friend and supportive companion. Amos is MIA. He went on a mission a couple of years before the events of the book, armed with a pocket nuke and a evac transmitter. His objective was to infiltrate Laconia and save Jim, but no one has heard from him since. Jim is still Duarte's prisoner. His dancing bear. And he's still just trying to survive in enemy territory while knowing a bigger threat is coming.
The way this book is structured, the way is written, it's just so good. The pacing is fantastic, there's war and political conflict, and then there's alien technology and weapons, the threat of complete human decimation. But in between these tense and extraordinary moments, there's the characters, the Roci crew, and the love they feel for each other. The drive to survive, to fight another day so their little family can be together again is so bittersweet to see. But it's this drive and love the cause of so much growth for all of them. Naomi is finally, after decades of hiding behind Jim, the face and leader of the underground. She's taking charge, and I'm so proud of her. Bobbie is finally the captain of her own ship, and the loyalty she inspires has belters and younger generations following her to death's door. It's the characters and their humanity against these big threats what ends up making The Expanse into something better and greater. Because yes, the story is great, the writing makes this sci-fi story so accessible, so engaging, and the science fiction elements are epic. But the cast of characters are what pushes the story into a higher level. The Roci crew, as people and as a family, is what cements this series as one of the greatest.
Aside from the Roci, the book has two other pov chracters and their journey is amazing as well. Altough Elvi coming back was something teased in Persepolis Rising, I was so happy to see her again. She's such a great character. The scientist working under direct orders from Duarte, on a mission to investigate alien objects and gather information that can help Laconia against their extradiomensional enemy. Elvi is a very pragmatic character, but she's also full of compassion. Having her in the inner circle helped balance Laconia's harsh rule and Cortazar's inhumane experiments. Like I said, I'm so happy Elvi and Fayez came back. I'm so happy Elvi got to meet the sweetest and saddest siblings from The Expanse (if you haven't read Strange Dogs what are you doing with your life?) Teresa Duarte is the other pov character and through her eyes we get to see Duarte in a different light, not as immortal high emperor or protomolecule experiment, but as a concerned and loving father, though distant and removed. Through Teresa we also get to see Holden in a different light. He's her enemy so he scares her, but he's also just a prisoner. An old and lonely man. And through Teresa, we get to see Timmy too...
This book takes risks like no other. The opening line is INSANE. Killing off that character like that, happenning off book. I had to pause the audiobook. I had to pause the audibook so many times. The many alien attacks. The consequences of such attacks. The losses and sacrifices in this book. The rare moments of joy and happiness. The moment of realisation I had while listening to the prologue that meant Holden wouldn't be a pov character... So many risks were taken, but with high risks come high rewards and Tiamat's Wrath ended up being the best book the series (so far). I can't imagine what will come after, how the series will wrap up.
I'm not ready to say goodbye, I'm not ready to finish this series that I have loved for six years. Definitely my favorite sci-fi series. This book was such an accomplishment, such a surprise at how nothing was played safe, it was just a wonderful reading experience. And now to the end.
Fence: Striking Distance is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and it is inspired by the graphic novels written by C.S. Pacat and illustrated by 3.25 stars
Fence: Striking Distance is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and it is inspired by the graphic novels written by C.S. Pacat and illustrated by Johanna the Mad. This book takes place after volume four, where Kings Row fencing team has its first match and first victory. This book, however, is not part of the graphic novels canon.
The plot is simple. Coach Williams is aware of the team's main weakness, that is, they are not actually a team. Aiden is never in attendance. Nicholas has an awful technique, and in the midst of extra training of the basics he's still trying to either fight with Seiji or catch his attention. Seiji, on the other hand, is so used to being alone and being the best, he doesn't know how to bond with people. Eugene is insecure and inexperienced. And the captain of the team, Harvard, is trying to keep all of them out of trouble but disregarding himself. So, Coach Williams has a plan and that involves team bonding exercises. Trust falls and writing a personal essay on their childhoods so they can get to know and trust each other. Will the team listen to her?
This book is okay. It's fun and lighthearted but never manages to capture the essence of the graphic novels. Even though there's barely any fencing and the book focuses on the characters' shenanigans, I feel like most of the characters were a caricature of who they are originally. And I didn't enjoy some of the portrayals. Eugene is just there to say bro. Nicholas is very simplistic, he has almost none of the sadness or depth he has in the comics. Aiden I'd say is the most similar, though he sometimes was too bratty. Too aloof when talking with the Coach. The one I struggled with the most was Seiji though. I don't know if Pacat has said anything regarding Seiji being on the spectrum, I always read him as a child prodigy who had trouble making friends because he was so involved in training and fencing from such a young age, his peers resented him and his talent isolated him. But in this book Seiji's perspective very much read as him being on the autistic spectrum. And that's okay, except... him not understanding friendly camaraderie, nor romantic interest, nor having any socialeconomic awareness regarding Nicholas's struggles, I don't know, that's not the Seiji from the graphic novels. His stuggles to socialize were too amplified. That being said, I did love how Brennan included Seiji's father and their relationship in this book.
So, this book is about friendship. And supporting your team. And about romance. Aiden has been secretly in love with Harvard his whole life. And, because of his abandonment issues and what he feels like rejection from Harvard, he's overprotective of their friendship. He's possessive and jealous and when Coach Williams asks Harvard to be selfish for once, to even try dating, Aiden founds himself desperate to keep Harvard around. It's, well, a little toxic. It is understandable though, Brennan goes deep into Aiden's fears and childhood insecurities, so much so that feels quite unbalanced regarding Harvard. We get a little of him and his trauma, but never enough. It honestly feels like Aiden is the protagonist of both of Brennan's books.
Overall, it was nice to be back to this world and to some iteration of these characters. When I bought the books it was before reading the last volume of Fence (volume six Fence Redemption). At the time, I didn't know if this book and Fence: Disarmed were canon. Having read them a month after reading Redemption it is clear they are not. Still, I had fun. Having to wait between a year and year and half for each volume of Fence is a long, long wait considering they are only four issues each. So these two books were a fun adventure while missing the graphic novels....more
First thoughts: Not my favorite novella from The Expanse, but I just gotta say, I love how the Laconians are being written. Both Strange Dogs3.25 stars
First thoughts: Not my favorite novella from The Expanse, but I just gotta say, I love how the Laconians are being written. Both Strange Dogs and Persepolis Rising build this amazing portrait of the Laconian Empire, and Auberon gives us another showing of a Laconian officer taking control of a new world. There's also an old face that made me happy to see again. ...more
4.25 stars Initial thoughts: I loved this title! The tone, the tragedy, and the hopeful ending was so well written by Brubaker. This volume made me love4.25 stars Initial thoughts: I loved this title! The tone, the tragedy, and the hopeful ending was so well written by Brubaker. This volume made me love Holly (and tolerate Slam Bradley, though it will always be fuck Slam Bradley for me). I loved how well developed this version of Catwoman is. Makes me sad to think on some newer titles to be honest. Selina is my favorite DC character and I appreciate how this series makes her so competent, so selfless, so human. Truly loved it!...more
The best book of the series so far, which is crazy because it is a collection of three novellas, each of them following a different characte4.5 stars!
The best book of the series so far, which is crazy because it is a collection of three novellas, each of them following a different character and taking place in a different planet. The stories are connected and happen one after the other while Spensa is out having her adventures in Starsight and later in the Nowhere (Cytonic). I'm so pleasantly surprised with this book. Except for Sunreach, Sanderson's and Patterson's writing blend perfectly. The character growth that this novel has, the fleshing out of characters that were abandoned in books 2 and 3, the cohesive flow of all three stories, everything is just done perfectly. This collection makes Skyward Flight a solid presence, but makes Jorgen the backbone of the rebel alliance that is forming in these pages. Truly had the best time, and Evershore is the best installment in the whole series. Sorry to my girl Spensa, but Skyward Flight has my heart.
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