The story is minimally sketched out, just snippets of this post-apocalyptic setting, but Stålenhag's illustrations are incredible.The story is minimally sketched out, just snippets of this post-apocalyptic setting, but Stålenhag's illustrations are incredible....more
Landline and now Slow Dance just didn't reach the heights of Attachments for me. I liked the concept of Slow Dance--two old friends reconnect2.5 stars
Landline and now Slow Dance just didn't reach the heights of Attachments for me. I liked the concept of Slow Dance--two old friends reconnecting after years apart--and I liked a lot of the characters, like Shiloh's kids and Mikey and Cary's mom, but I didn't really like Shiloh and Cary themselves for various reasons.
Shiloh spent so much of the book being the worst, both as a teenager and a thirty-something, and Cary never developed to the point where he felt like a real person to me. I also wasn't crazy about the structure, as the jumps from before to now sometimes felt arbitrary rather than a natural unfolding of the plot....more
I liked the cozy mystery aspect of this story; less so the romance subplot, as Maggie was a frustrating protagonist (a lot of her banter came2.5 stars
I liked the cozy mystery aspect of this story; less so the romance subplot, as Maggie was a frustrating protagonist (a lot of her banter came across mean rather than fun) and Ethan came off as bland yet also overly flirty? I think the first half of the book was stronger than the second half, because it got bogged down in relationship drama and then wrapped up the mystery way too fast....more
I don't think I would rate The Dark as highly as McGahern's Amongst Women or That They May Face the Rising Sun, because it's more limited in focus. McI don't think I would rate The Dark as highly as McGahern's Amongst Women or That They May Face the Rising Sun, because it's more limited in focus. McGahern's command of prose is fascinating: it's mainly dialogue, told through second-person POV (you) but with sudden switches to first-person (I) and limited third (he).
It was pretty heavy-going, so I put it down for long periods of time despite its short length. And the ending was very frustrating to me as the reader, but fit with everything we saw of the protagonist and the way his father wielded control in that household....more
I found the first third-to-half of this book the funniest, but maybe edging too close to "cringe comedy" for my own personal comfort. Esme wa2.5 stars
I found the first third-to-half of this book the funniest, but maybe edging too close to "cringe comedy" for my own personal comfort. Esme was an endearing heroine; this helped when the entire premise of the story was a bit worrisome (one romantic partner recklessly pursues the other even when the object of their affection repeatedly says no). I didn't like Cleavis, and Morsi lost me a bit in the second half once Esme and Cleav were married....more
I liked The Magicians of Night more than The Rainbow Abyss, because I think that the horrors of 1940 Nazi Germany were immensely more terrifying than I liked The Magicians of Night more than The Rainbow Abyss, because I think that the horrors of 1940 Nazi Germany were immensely more terrifying than the issues unfolding in Rhion's fantasy world. There was also a lot more action compared to book #1, which I appreciated.
But on the more meh front, the pacing and structure felt weird at times--Hambly would introduce a character like Saltwood, only for him to not show up until a good chunk of the book later, and the tension would ratchet up in the WWII sections only to slow down in the bits with Tally in the fantasy world. The end also sets up further conflicts for further books, but after 30+ years this remains a duology....more
The whole time I was reading The Rainbow Abyss I was wondering what the point was, what was Hambly building towards? Now that I've started The MagiciaThe whole time I was reading The Rainbow Abyss I was wondering what the point was, what was Hambly building towards? Now that I've started The Magicians of Night the point is very clear, but I'm not sure that justified an entire book of setup!
The world here is rather like that of the Windrose Chronicles and Stranger at the Wedding, but even worse: while Kira was disowned by her father for her magical ability yet still able to see her family, Rhion's parents formally declared him dead and people in the Forty Realms actively harass, heckle, and even kill wizards.
Rhion was a bit of a frustrating protagonist as well, because he makes such stupid decisions. Oh well, onto book #2, which is much more engaging thus far....more
The plot of Alchemy of Fire is rather meandering, and some aspects of the story (Anna's fear about her daughter being subsumed within the royal familyThe plot of Alchemy of Fire is rather meandering, and some aspects of the story (Anna's fear about her daughter being subsumed within the royal family) end up dropped within the narrative and others (Anna's relationship with Kallinikos, Kallinikos developing the Greek fire) are sidestepped by the two year time jump. Bradshaw's research is fascinating, but I don't think this is anywhere close to her strongest works like The Beacon at Alexandria or Island of Ghosts....more
Not as detailed as some of Kelly's earlier Regencies--Jamie and Jerusha fall in insta-love, and while there are impediments to their story they're solNot as detailed as some of Kelly's earlier Regencies--Jamie and Jerusha fall in insta-love, and while there are impediments to their story they're solved pretty easily--but still a sweet story....more
Delphie was a delight, but otherwise The Five-Minute Marriage felt like an attempt at a Georgette Heyer novel that didn't quite stick the landing.
GarDelphie was a delight, but otherwise The Five-Minute Marriage felt like an attempt at a Georgette Heyer novel that didn't quite stick the landing.
Gareth was a rather dour hero, and Mr. Fitzjohn and the fake Miss Carteret were so ridiculously villainous (I mean, his name was Mordred!)--plus I found the mystery element of the plot was a little too opaque for my taste....more
I think the problem with reading a multi-book series as they're published--as opposed to racing them all at once--is that my ability to remember what I think the problem with reading a multi-book series as they're published--as opposed to racing them all at once--is that my ability to remember what happened in what particular book definitely lessens with the passage of time.
I like the characters in the Lady Sherlock series, how much each of them have grown, and I like the romance of Charlotte and Ash, but I can't keep track of everything that previously happened, especially when Thomas gives minimal explanations about past characters and events.
I also am not sure what Moriarty's goal is, besides overall evil and chaos? I know Charlotte and co. have to stop him, but his *~*everything*~* remains somewhat nebulous even eight books in. I think that may be why I prefer the original Holmes stories to pretty much any of its adaptations--they're much more self-contained....more
"Picture a Christmas" was my favorite story of the three--the first two stories had cartoonishly nasty villains and too fast of romances for my taste,"Picture a Christmas" was my favorite story of the three--the first two stories had cartoonishly nasty villains and too fast of romances for my taste, but the last story felt more like real people with nuanced problems....more
I know there's at least one more book after this one, The Icarus Coda, but I have no idea how Zahn plans to conclude this series. The Icarus Needle enI know there's at least one more book after this one, The Icarus Coda, but I have no idea how Zahn plans to conclude this series. The Icarus Needle ends with some major changes, but I am also apparently bad at guessing Zahn's plot twists and turns.
We learn a little bit more about the portals and the hypothetical Icari past, but Roarke also pulled an awful lot of assumptions and ideas out of thin air, at least to me as the reader. I enjoyed getting to meet his dad, though--especially because I had assumed from all the "as my dad said" quotes that he was dead!...more
All the stories were good, and filled with the things I love from Connie Willis's writing, but I think my favorites were "All Seated on the Ground" anAll the stories were good, and filled with the things I love from Connie Willis's writing, but I think my favorites were "All Seated on the Ground" and "Epiphany."...more
Surprisingly dark and grim, although I don't know why that surprised me in a Maggie Osborne book--maybe because this was a Harlequin historical, and ISurprisingly dark and grim, although I don't know why that surprised me in a Maggie Osborne book--maybe because this was a Harlequin historical, and I thought that with the shorter page count it would be lighter?
I think that shorter page count also contributed to me feeling like the story ended abruptly, and I think that Lucie's business could have been elaborated on and that Lucie and Jamie had more issues to work through....more
I wish Allston had written more in this series! I liked Zeb as the protagonist even more than Harris in Doc Sidhe, I think because his experi3.5 stars
I wish Allston had written more in this series! I liked Zeb as the protagonist even more than Harris in Doc Sidhe, I think because his experiences as a black man in this 1930s analogue fantasy world was more compelling than Harris's sad sack romantic problems....more
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