4 Stars // 82% First things first: Somebody PLEASE get this series an actual map before my internet service provider calls me asking why I have a sudde4 Stars // 82% First things first: Somebody PLEASE get this series an actual map before my internet service provider calls me asking why I have a sudden interest in places like Antioch, Ephesus, Antirhodos, and other random territories scattered across Eurasia/Africa probably no twenty-first century American has ever heard of outside of Emily Holleman and readers of this book. (That was an exaggeration please don't kill me)
Rant aside, I quite enjoyed this fictionalized account of two of Cleopatra's siblings, Berenice and Arsinoe. The sisters' lives are changed forever after their weak, impotent father Ptolemy is deposed via a coup, with Berenice becoming the new ruler of a fragmented and precarious kingdom facing both the threat of the Roman Empire and Ptolemy's inevitable return. Young Arsinoe's loyalties are tested, meanwhile, as her father and beloved sister Cleopatra leave her behind in their escape, and she is left abandoned under the reign of her much less familiar sister Berenice.
My favorite aspect of the story by far was the politics: the covert plots Berenice's advisors made with enemy factions, her struggle to hold on to power, the unscrupulous and shameless ways courtiers tried to advance their social standing. Holleman paints such an interesting, although not particularly attractive, portrait of the decisions a monarch such as Berenice would have to make on a daily basis as well as her motley circle of courtiers. Speaking as someone who knows very little about this period of history, there's also an undercurrent of suspense involved with Ptolemy's impending return and Berenice's Cypriot military campaign that kept me turning the pages.
The characterization was also excellent—again, I'm admittedly partial to Berenice's storyline simply for how ill-fated it is, but Arisinoe's transformation from a naive little girl to a cynical and world-weary young woman also held my attention. While Berenice's perspective focuses more on the politics of the larger world and she remains a static character throughout, Arisinoe has more of a personal journey that deals with her education and personal relationships. Neither is particularly self-aware: Berenice is intent on forcing out any sense of compassion, love, "softness" within her, while Arsinoe is plagued with "prophetic" visions that cause her to doubt herself. I respect Holleman for writing complex protagonists one can resonate with, with flaws that make sense given their life experiences.
That said, a major qualm I have about this book other than the lack of a map is that Holleman weighs down her writing through the descriptions of classical art, overly relying on it to build setting. If I never have to read about a Greco-Egyptian frieze or vase again, that would still be too soon. The story can also be claustrophobic, given that 90% of the scenes take place in one location (the palace). Even if historically inaccurate, some variety would have been nice. Regardless, despite my quibbles, I was still tremendously intrigued by Cleopatra's Shadows and would recommend it to any fan of ancient Egyptian history, or merely anyone interested in a political, character-driven plot....more
4 Stars // 87% It always stuns me when I read a historical fiction novel and it turns out that some of the figures mentioned were interviewed by the au4 Stars // 87% It always stuns me when I read a historical fiction novel and it turns out that some of the figures mentioned were interviewed by the author. It serves to remind us that as dystopian as I Must Betray You feels, these events really did happen less than 50 years ago. Two facts I took away from this book in particular:
1. Romania had the only violent revolution during the series of Eastern European anti-communist uprisings in 1989.
2. One in ten citizens was an informer during Ceaușescu’s regime, spying on friends and family members for the Securitate—the secret police.
I’ve read two other books by Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray and Salt to the Sea), and I do think this is her best work yet. As always, she paints the characters with nuance and delicacy, featuring a wide array of perspectives that uniquely convey the gap between the haves and have-nots. The first-person narration draws us closer to the story; the snappy chapters keep the pace brisk, the pages turning. I could always imagine a movie playing out in lieu of the narration.
I would also like to mention that it’s also a thriller, with a heavy dose of espionage, politics, and plot twists—some of which I caught early on, others I found inevitable in retrospect. Small hints, like surveillance reports unbeknownst to the characters, are interweaved in the story to clue the reader into a small part of what is happening but never unveil the full picture. The atmosphere of paranoia and the ways that lies play out in the story are very satisfying.
My only complaint is that the writing felt juvenile at times. Yes, I understand that from a framing perspective, it is a recollection of a 17-year-old boy's experience, and he's not a native English speaker. The problem is that sometimes the foreshadowing gets a little too heavy-handed, with phrases like "I didn't know it yet, but..." occurring at the end of many chapters. I'm also not a big fan of free verse poetry, and the prose in this book often falls into that style. Again, this makes sense from a narrative perspective, but I much preferred the writing style in Sepetys' other books.
Nonetheless, I Must Betray You is still an eye-opening and engaging read that allowed me to learn more about a dark era of a country we don't often hear about. This book made me proud to be Romanian, and I'm Chinese....more
3 Stars // 67% This is one of the most obvious debut novels I have ever read. Set in an alternative post-colonial Latin America in the 16th century, Su3 Stars // 67% This is one of the most obvious debut novels I have ever read. Set in an alternative post-colonial Latin America in the 16th century, Sun of Blood and Bone features an original and highly captivating setting, with the main character, Leonora, leading a double life as both an obedient Spanish noblewoman and a fierce, fearsome shapeshifter and resistance fighter: La Pantera. The dichotomy between her claustrophobic, yet comfortable life in the palace and her freedom in the jungles of Mexico was interesting, as was the inclusion of aspects of Aztec/Mexican culture. The battles, especially the final one, were also thrilling and cinematic. However, that is about where the positive features of the book end.
The main aspect that detracted from my enjoyment was the oversimplistic, on-the-nail writing. Characters would go on paragraph-long monologues about their backstory and motivations in the middle of what is meant to be an important conflict. At the same time, the most basic themes of the novel are spoon-fed to the reader. Sun of Blood and Ruin is marketed as adult fiction, yet it gives the impression that the author does not trust her audience to piece together what she is trying to convey.
Another problem was that Lares was trying to execute too many plot points with too little page count. The most significant consequence of this was, of course, the character development. While many side characters, such as Jerónimo, Lady Amalia, MartÃn, etc. had the potential for development, most of it happens off-page and, as a result, feels rushed. Lares also attempts to mix genres by incorporating both a historically inspired anti-colonialist rebellion and paying tribute to indigenous mythology with a rather generic prophecy/Doomsday storyline. Needless to say, neither plot receives the attention necessary for the reader to care about how it is resolved. This book satisfies neither historical fiction fans (such as myself) nor fantasy buffs (which I once was).
Finally: The elephant in the room, Deus ex machina. The problem with making characters too overpowered is that you reach a certain point when nothing can stop them, and Lares toed the line here a bit too much. Oh, and that romance was quite literally one of the most uninteresting and unseasoned subplots ever published (see my previous paragraph re: Character development).
Regardless, I don't think Sun of Blood and Ruin was without merit; it just necessitated better editors and a more experienced author. I am rating it three stars because I genuinely believe the series has a lot of room for growth. In terms of quality, though, it is more of a two-star read....more
"Having a child of your own flesh, while you were still alive, meant having a child who wasn't a part of that tapestry. It meant having a child who
"Having a child of your own flesh, while you were still alive, meant having a child who wasn't a part of that tapestry. It meant having a child who had no soul."
4 Stars // 87% Arch-Conspirator, an adult sci-fi novella by Veronica Roth, has been on my radar for a long time. It's a retelling of Antigone set in a post-apocalyptic world, where humans are borne out of genetically engineered sperm and egg of the dead, and instead of being a product of incest, Antigone and her siblings were made au naturel.
Unlike the play, a lot of the themes in this book are implied, as opposed to explicitly laid out. I get the feeling that Roth was inspired to write this after Roe v. Wade was overturned, as a central conflict that Antigone and the other female characters face is bodily autonomy versus societal good, as well as predetermination versus free will. (It's ironic because as Arch-Conspirator is a faithful retelling of the original play, their fates are already decided.) While Roth does not really have anything new to say in the area of women's rights, what I was more interested in was her discussion of science—genetic engineering as a substitute for religion, where belief in the afterlife via heaven is replaced with belief in the concept of immortality through the passing on of DNA after death. It's fascinating to me that the now common practice of extracting gametes from the living in practices such as IVF has been mutilated to such an extent in her story. The concept of a belief that gametes not only contain genetic information, but the essence of humanity—a soul—and the Archives being reminiscent of a temple is a testament to how far Roth's surprisingly plausible society has made a martyr out of biology.
I also appreciated how Roth took the time to write from multiple perspectives. Though it wasn't strictly necessary for the plot of the story, it does help to show a more well-rounded version of events. This isn't unique to Arch-Conspirator, but I like how Kreon (Creon) was portrayed as not necessarily power-hungry, but merely stubborn in the belief that his way would result in the least lives lost. I enjoyed the discussion of the knife's edge between protection for the good of the protected and the restriction of individual liberties: "I have built a strong wall around this house. It is not made of stone, it is made of rules that mitigate damage, and it has been the great work of my life. What do you think would happen, if I allowed a crack in my wall?"
Similarly interesting was the characterization of Eurydice, whom in the original play I found unremarkable, but compelled me in this retelling as an intelligent and gentle woman who somewhat serves as Kreon's voice of reason but is withheld any real power, who doubles as this story's Tiresias and snaps after her premonitions come to fruition. Though she is different from Antigone, both of them were dealt a bad hand in life but can write the endings of their own destinies.
Unfortunately, I don't think Roth capitalized on Polyneikes' six pages as well as she could have, leading the chapter to feel a bit extraneous in the slim tale. Another inconsistency is the character of Ismene, who had a change of heart at the very end that was not quite fully explained. I believe Roth could have expanded Arch-Conspirator to a full-length novel, which would address the character arcs in more depth and further develop the already very promising worldbuilding to include more elaboration on the extent to which women's lives have been impacted in the fictional society.
Hundreds of years ago, Antigone was singular in that it was one of the only major works featuring a female main character with agency. While now there are many valiant heroines in literature, Roth has successfully retained most of the core facets of what readers continue to love about the play specifically to address twenty-first century issues. I believe Arch-Conspirator is a worthy read for anyone who is interested in the marriage of human rights themes with questions surrounding scientific ethics (provided you know Antigone's original story, of course)....more
4 Stars // 86% A retelling of Romeo and Juliet is nothing new, but this book manages to make it at least a little bit original by exploring the events4 Stars // 86% A retelling of Romeo and Juliet is nothing new, but this book manages to make it at least a little bit original by exploring the events of a play through the eyes of a character who is mentioned in passing only a few times: Rosaline, Juliet's cousin and the girl Romeo was first in love with. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was that Solomon was not afraid to mess with traditional interpretations of characters such as Romeo and Tybalt, which apparently seems to be a point of contention among other reviewers. If you are a Shakespeare purist, I would advise against reading this book, but in my eyes, I see nothing wrong with repurposing a centuries-old play to suit a cautionary message. The Bard would also support that, I think.
At first, I was unsure if I was going to like our plucky young heroine, Rosaline, but she grew on me over time. She is very realistic, a believable depiction of a clever girl held back by medieval gender roles. I appreciate that while she makes mistakes, she is also very resourceful and unafraid to make sacrifices for what she believes in; the ending is possibly one of the best I have read, ever. Rosaline feels mature beyond her years when compared to other YA heroines. In the same vein, I also respect how Solomon characterized Tybalt. In the original play, I believe he is wholly unlikeable, yet in Fair Rosaline he became one of my favorite characters.
What this book does share in common with the original play, however, is that it is critical of society and the many ways it causes innocents to suffer. In Romeo and Juliet, the main characters die because of a petty feud; in this book, Rosaline and so many other girls are shunned by society simply for being born female. The events that transpire show all the ways in which everyone, not just Rosaline's father or her nurse or the Friar, contributed to the idea that women are good for having children and exist to be the property of men, and if they are not needed they can simply be discarded to the convents. While in most countries that is thankfully not the sentiment anymore, other themes that the book explores, such as grooming/pedophilia, are still very relevant.
I was also impressed at Solomon's ability to describe Verona and, well, write in general. The prose is vivid and colorful; oftentimes when I compare a retelling to its source material, I'm jarred at differences in the writing style—that did not occur here.
So why not five stars? Just by virtue of being a retelling, Fair Rosaline somewhat predictable, although I liked the way Solomon integrated the events of the original play with her imagined details. Additionally, it's too short and narrow in scope for it to have a significant impact on me, but of course, that is because I'm used to reading long multibook fantasy works. Overall, this was an interesting and snappy read, and one I believe many people would benefit from....more
“Humanity is how you act, my lady,� said Jezen. “Not how you were Made.�
4 Stars // 85% It's been a while since I've read a book as deftly plotted a
“Humanity is how you act, my lady,� said Jezen. “Not how you were Made.�
4 Stars // 85% It's been a while since I've read a book as deftly plotted as this one was. To me, that was the shining gem of Crier's War: the storyline itself. Set in a world where automatons (known as Automae) have subjugated the human race to a life of servitude and paranoia while they revel in their decadent palaces, one rebel girl named Ayla has her life turned upside down when she unexpectedly rescues the heir to the throne, Crier. From then on, their paths collide in a inextricable way, and it's fascinating to watch—indeed, together, they could start no less than a war.
This book kept me guessing from start to finish. As other reviewers have already mentioned, there were several plot twists that I genuinely did not see coming, especially that last one. However, everything is woven in very organically, so rather than coming across like a three-year-old banging on a piano (as in the case of some books), the plot is exposed with finesse, like a surgeon opening a torso, or a world-class violinist nailing the introduction to a concerto. And I do mean introduction: as packed with mystery and intrigue as this book already is, what it really serves to do is set up the sequel for even more bone-chilling discoveries and betrayals.
I also felt like the author did a great job at balancing the introspection with plot development. There was never a chapter where I was left thinking to myself, "So what was the point of that?" Whether it was Crier pining for Ayla, for humanity, or Ayla sneaking around a forbidden room, I was always engaged with the text. In addition, the romance, which took a smaller role than I initially thought, was always written naturally and tied into larger themes such as the fragility of human nature and what exactly constitutes as "human."
However, what diminished my experience of reading Crier's War, and what ultimately was the reason why I decided to dock a star, was that I could not really connect with Ayla's character. Crier, obviously, is magnetic because she's a walking hunk of contradictions. She was made to be perfect, yet she experiences uniquely flawed sensations, such as defiance of those with more authority (her father and Kinok). She could easily overpower a human but also has a soft spot for them. She is erudite and interested in the politics of her world, yet incredibly naive when it comes to pretty much anything else.
Ayla, I did not feel the same pull for. Sure, I sympathize with her, but I have read many other versions of her in other YA fantasy books; she doesn't really stand out to me as a character. Nonetheless, I sense that she will have to confront her past and undergo some major development in the next book, so I am interested in how her arc plays out.
Anyway, overall I do think that Crier's War is a great book for fans of fantasy and sci-fi alike. Even if I had some qualms with one of the main characters, the plot was more than engaging enough for me to enjoy....more
2 stars // 64% As you can see, I didn't enjoy this one. Marie Lu is known for her quick-paced science fiction filled with relatable characters and he 2 stars // 64% As you can see, I didn't enjoy this one. Marie Lu is known for her quick-paced science fiction filled with relatable characters and heart-pounding action scenes; unfortunately, The Kingdom of Back has none of those. I knew going in that this was going to be one of those more mellow, introspective novels seeing as it is about Mozart (yes, that Mozart) and his sister, and Lu tries to stay true to history, but I had no idea just how flat and plotless it would be.
The premise of this novel is about the Mozart siblings inventing a fantasy world that becomes more and more real. It parallels their daily lives in the way that if Nannerl/Wolfgang are having an emotional episode, trouble in the Kingdom of Back is sure to follow. However, the entire worldbuilding system felt too convenient to ever be truly fleshed out, which bothered me, and we never reach a true conclusion as to whether the world was actually real or not; if you ask me, the Kingdom of Back was all a coping mechanism in Nan's head. Essentially, there is more than one book to review depending on your stance on the matter. I generally like it when things are left up to the reader's interpretation, but the surrealness of the fantasy plotline made me lose interest in it.
The historical aspects of the book were more interesting, but only barely. I felt that the only thing going on was the Mozart family moving around and playing piano and oh no, Wolfie is sick again. Now listen, I love classical music and shit like that a lot more than the average person, so I did enjoy the parts where Lu wrote about music culture and composition. That being said, this makes for an extremely repetitive plot. In addition, because of the place-hopping, there was never a strong sense of setting to ground the reader. Was it intentional? Maybe.
It also seems to me that Marie Lu was too heavy-handed in her feminist message; show, don't tell is a guideline for a reason. (I'm a woman btw, so don't accuse me of sexism.) I've read a lot of books about woman/minority empowerment, and this one just doesn't bring anything new to the table. Oh no, a man is being unfair to a woman, what an original point of conflict. I personally think an author should focus on making sure their novel has a decent plot, setting, and characters before trying to send a message. I guess Lu forgot to check a few of those boxes.
The only good part about this book was Nannerl and the relationship between her and her brother. Nannerl was far from perfect, but still brave when it mattered, and I sympathized a lot with her. You can feel her frustration on the page, and I commend the author for that. I also ended up touched by Wolfgang's words to her at the end. They're strong kids living a hard life.
So yeah, uh...didn't really like this one, Marie Lu please just stick to sci-fi/fantasy....more
“How can we expect people to change if we don't give them the chance to?�
3 Stars // 80% Renegades is beloved author Marissa Meyer's dive into super
“How can we expect people to change if we don't give them the chance to?�
3 Stars // 80% Renegades is beloved author Marissa Meyer's dive into superhero—and supervillain—lore. It's brimming with cinematic battle sequences, colorful characters with complex rationales and intriguing origin stories, and an innovative, exciting world. In other words, it's exactly what you would expect from Meyer, though it does have a more refined bravado that highlights her improvement since Cinder. And despite the fact that this book was marred by its somewhat black-and-white view on morality and ethics, Renegades is still a thoroughly entertaining read, especially for younger folks.
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I do believe that what makes this book pop—what makes every Marissa Meyer book pop, really—is its characterization. Featuring a large cast of superheroes (known as 'prodigies' in this book), Meyer finds a way to let each and every one of them shine. Even if you don't like a character, you'll find yourself morbidly drawn to them like a fish on a hook because of just how interesting they are and how intoxicatingly thrilling it is to figure out where their loyalties lie. There's no other author who can make readers love their characters so fast.
That being said, I personally think Renegades would have been a much more engrossing read if it hadn't taken on an oversimplistic, dumbed-down view of righteousness. Despite Meyer showing virtue in both the superheroes and the supervillains, it's still crystal-clear who the good guys are (Renegades) and who the bad guys are (Anarchists). Many times I thought Meyer finally would go the extra mile and blur the lines, creating some gray to stir the pot, but the themes always come back to the fight between good vs. evil, anarchy vs. order, superheroes that save the day vs. supervillains that must be exterminated.
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However, if this extreme dichotomy does not bother you, the only other thing that may detract from your reading experience is Renegade's slow-burn pacing. While I enjoyed this as it alotted more time for character development and world expansion, many reviewers on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ were less than than thrilled, and I suspect that it's the source of many DNF's. It's curious how the themes were written with a middle-grade audience in mind, but the plotting and atmosphere is undoubtedly young adult—the opposite of The Lunar Chronicles, where the atmosphere was middle grade, but the themes were young adult.
Overall, this is a decent dessert read that I'm sure will capture the attention of many superhero fans. It's twisty and meticulously built, with valuable (though vanilla) lessons sprinkled in. No, it's not the most philosophical or introspective story in the world, and I was looking for a bit more gravitas. As a famous writier said, conflict between good and evil can drive a story, but it's not as riveting as conflict between good and good. Nonetheless, Renegades is entertaining and genuinely fun to read, and I wouldn't hesistate to recommend it to my friends....more
“Their roots went deep, bound them together in a collective memory. With each new arrival, they pieced together more of their past, built more of t
“Their roots went deep, bound them together in a collective memory. With each new arrival, they pieced together more of their past, built more of their future.�
4 Stars // 86% Blood for Blood is a stunning closer that pulls no punches—tensions are taut and stakes skyrocket in the second and last installment of the Wolf by Wolf series. In place of the revenge-driven, rough-and-tumble motorcycle race is a harrowing, slow-paced but transfixing tale of war and political intrigue, brimming with themes of redemption, heroism, reconnecting with our past, and finding hope in dark times.
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By far the most stunning aspect of this book is its tone. The juxtaposition between heavy, heartwrenching moments, and scenes so effervescent they pop off the page is skillfully utilized throughout, humanizing the story and bringing it to a real, genuine level. This, combined with the unconventional structure and style of this book, makes Blood for Blood less words on a page and more a song or a work of visual art—something to be felt in the deepest parts of the soul.
Just as Ryan Graudin weaves between dark and light in the storytelling, she crafts brilliantly intricate characters with complex motivations and tangled arcs. So many other authors try to pigeonhole their characters into good or bad, but Graudin takes a different route and instead makes it known to the reader that these two opposing qualities are actually inextricable. Bad things happen to those who don't deserve it, and mercy chooses those with the least merit, and it's all we can do to keep living in spite of that.
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Blood for Blood is not a pretty book. Graudin knows just the right buttons to push to make you feel—though it was adrenaline that pushed you through the last book, in this one, it is a real, palpable fear that forces you to stay. Emotions seep through the pages like blood through a thin layer of gauze. Characters are so caught up in political maneuvers they lose track of themselves. Death haunts everyone, whether it chooses to take them or not, and like valkyries surveying a battlefield, it all comes down to one choice: life or death.
All in all, I highly recommend these books to every history/WWII buff out there, as well as anyone looking for an original young adult series that doesn't talk down to its audience or sugarcoat the dark stuff. Thanks to Ryan Graudin, I can now safely say to anyone who asks that alternate history is my favorite genre.
“I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
4 Stars // 84% In A Darker Shade of Magic, w
“I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
4 Stars // 84% In A Darker Shade of Magic, we follow Kell Maresh and Lila Bard as they jump through parallel Londons trying to maintain order across the kingdoms. Not only does it get points for creativity and the sinuous, free-flowing plot, it's also brilliantly paced. Reading this book is the equivalent to watching water trickle through a stream or going on a hike in the mountains: soothing, immersive, and hypnotic.
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V.E. Schwab's books bring to mind a discourse as old as literature itself: Given you cannot have both, is it better to have a strong plot or a strong cast of characters? Her work tends to skew heavily towards one side depending on the book�This Savage Song barely has a plot but features excellent characters while Vicious has a phenomenal plot but mediocre character development (at least in my opinion).
A Darker Shade of Magic is a lot like the latter, with character development playing second fiddle to storytelling. That's fine when you are caught in the ebb and flow, but after finishing you cannot help but wish the characters were more complex. Directing the lens towards Kell and Lila didn't make anything better—they are the least intriguing and most righteous characters in all of the four Londons.
I suppose A Darker Shade of Magic was never meant to be a deep, philosophical story. Rather than providing a source of quiet introspection and intellectual challenge, it simply serves as a fun fantasy romp to escape to when times get rough. But as it's already very tame compared to other pieces of the Schwab repertoire, a little moral greyness and character exploration wouldn't hurt.
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All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my dive into the four Londons despite wanting a little more out of the characters, and I am excited to see where V.E. Schwab takes the story next....more
“Any given innovation that empowers the individual will inevitably come to empower the powerful much, much more.�
4 Stars // 87% Foundryside is a m
“Any given innovation that empowers the individual will inevitably come to empower the powerful much, much more.�
4 Stars // 87% Foundryside is a multi-faceted novel. At first glance, it's the story of a thief-turned-reluctant-hero who steals a precious artifact and sends the world into an unstable balance. Look again, and it's the tale of a city on the brink of industrial revolution, where merchant houses wage a quiet war against each other and against themselves, and where the only rule is that there are no rules. This book succeeds as fantasy and as cyberpunk, blending together the best of speculative fiction.
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The heart of Foundryside really lies in its magic system, where reality can be manipulated like a computer program or a piece of origami paper if you care enough to say the right things at the right times. The author does a fantastic job of showing rather than telling, and the worldbuilding only compliments this system's deep-set lore, acting as a strong second fiddle. It's fascinating to watch the author expand upon the existing mythology as the story unfolds.
The characters in Foundryside are no less compelling, either. I personally believe this book finds that perfect, delicate balance between plot, worldbuilding, and character, no element overtaking the others. Every character from hero to villain is well-drawn, with their own idiosyncrasies that make them endearing. They spring out of the pages with a life of their own. Backstories are also used to full advantage, as they linger everywhere in the storyline, yet readers do not notice anything until the perfect moment.
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Overall, this is a masterful novel that acts as an excellent first dip into the series. I was truly immersed in this world and sad to leave it when it was over. If you enjoyed the atmosphere of Six of Crows but longed for something with a more mature aura, Foundryside is your best bet....more
“Alessandra Stathos, that’s positively despicable.� He says the words like they’re the highest compliment he can give me. “You are an absolute gem,
“Alessandra Stathos, that’s positively despicable.� He says the words like they’re the highest compliment he can give me. “You are an absolute gem, do you know that?�
3 Stars // 79% I suspect that many of you are not going to like this book, or did not like this book. What The Shadows Between Us does well it does very well, and what it doesn't do so well, it fails spectacularly. Alessandra's plan for power (woo the king, marry the king, kill the king) is predictable for the first 90% or so. But the last 10% blew my socks off and was enough to make an average story an ingenious one.
The focal point of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Much like Blood Countess, romance and interpersonal relationships have center stage while other elements like worldbuilding and politics are swept aside. Unlike Blood Countess, The Shadows Between Ussucceeds at this character-driven narration, as court intrigue is still inextricable from the storyline, twists are adequately foreshadowed, and Tricia Levenseller does an excellent job juggling the many plot threads.
[image] No...not like that...
However, as I mentioned, the negatives of this book are almost laughable. Levenseller completely mishandles the overall tone of the writing and story, unable to decide whether she's writing for young teens or almost-adults. It baffles me why The Shadows Between Us is so sexually explicit (for a YA book, anyway), yet skirts around the edges of violence and mature themes. I wanted a dark, seductive story of power and lust, and I got a cheap, vanilla (albeit twisty) love story.
The writing was also very blunt, like Levenseller didn't trust her readers well enough to let them deduce feelings and plot points on their own. It just felt like I was constantly being talked down to, sheltered, et cetera. I don't know if I can truly fault her for that, though, since I do think this book was ultimately intended for the younger side of YA...and there's nothing wrong with that!
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Alessandra is what I would call an anti-anti hero—someone who is kind as default but will destroy anyone who crosses them without a second thought (think Kestrel from The Winner's Curse or Jude from The Cruel Prince. And surprisingly, I did enjoy that. Despite wanting darker elements in her personality, I grew to appreciate her as a heroine who was both ambitious and charming. Plus, she's one of the few non-virgin YA protagonists, which is a breath of fresh air.
Speaking of fresh air, that ending left me shook in about ten thousand different ways. The Shadows Between Us started as a casual read, and I had expected it to stay that way, three-star it, and forget about it the next week. But the last thirty pages or so showcase what Tricia Leveseller might have done had this been adult or NA instead of YA. (view spoiler)[Maybe I'm a sadist, but I was disappointed when Alessandra ended up with Kallias. Think about how powerful this book could have been if she built an empire without him from the ground up! *salivates* (hide spoiler)]
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All in all, though this book was a little too juvenile for me, I still enjoyed it, and would certainly recommend it to younger fans of YA and those who are not yet comfortable with a full dive into dark fantasy/politically-charged fiction just yet.
PS. I just realized that Kallias mentioned something about liking the piano, yet not once in this 300+ page book does he play the piano. Dammit, authors, if you're going to mention an instrument YOU BETTER SHOW IT ON PAGE. /end petty complaint....more
Art is the whisper of history heard above the noise of time. Art does not exist for art's sake: it exists for people's sake.
4 Stars // 80% The Nois
Art is the whisper of history heard above the noise of time. Art does not exist for art's sake: it exists for people's sake.
4 Stars // 80% The Noise of Time is Julian Barnes's semi-biography of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. It takes us to three critical points in his life, each twelve years apart, with beautiful stream-of-consciousness writing and poetry-like narrative freedom. The atmosphere is grim, the story pessimistic, and the overall themes dark and discouraging, yet there is always something to give you hope.
I think one of the most striking things about this book is its structure—or rather, the lack of it. Though most of the plot points progress chronologically, flashbacks are interspersed throughout the story, phrases repeat like an echo chamber, and many parts and paragraphs are puzzling without the right context. The writing, which is often run-on, can only emphasize this. Overall, it really does feel like you are stuck inside Shostakovich's troubled, tormented brain.
[image] Yeah, this guy.
I do admit that I felt a little unsteady at the beginning. As I said, the prose is thick and hard to get into, and it requires some prior knowledge of Stalinist Russia. But if you can brave the flow of the book, you'll find all sorts of philosophical musings and ethical issues that challenge your perception of self—some chilling, and others strangely comforting to ponder over. For example, to whom does art belong to? Why does it exist? Is it easier to be a hero or a coward?
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Twentieth-century contemporary music generally isn't a style I enjoy, and Shostakovich is not exactly one of my top ten favorite composers (though I do have a soft spot for his fourth symphony). But The Noise of Time was still a compelling, thought-provoking, and thoroughly satisfying read for me, and if you are as interested in classical music history as I am, you might just enjoy it as well....more
“You humans always think you’re destined for things, for tragedy or for greatness. Destiny is a myth. Destiny is the only myth. The gods choose not
“You humans always think you’re destined for things, for tragedy or for greatness. Destiny is a myth. Destiny is the only myth. The gods choose nothing. You chose.�
4 Stars // 89% Inspired by the backdrop of China's Century of humiliation, The Poppy War is a military epic in the style of a traditional Chinese Wuxia story, locking two thinly veiled fantasy versions of China and Japan (Nikan and Mugen) against each other in a bloody, wretched fight for territory. And as Mugen advances on the Nikan coast with a vengeance, caught in the center is the peasant turned shaman Rin, whose mystic ability to wield the power of a long-forgotten god could make her the savior—or destroyer—of her beloved Nikan.
You can really tell that Asian culture means a lot to R.F. Kuang. There's something tender in the way she describes the fictional Nikan, from the lush mountain landscapes in Tikany to the bustling, crowded slums of Sinegard that evokes such feelings of a bittersweet longing in me. The mythological aspects used seems like an amalgamation of discrete bits and pieces of Asian folklore, and Kuang sprinkles this book with a multitude of real-world references from Chinese history. I particularly enjoyed the subtle allusions to The Art of War and Zhuge Liang (Kitay brings up a battle tactic used by the latter in part one).
Revenge is a powerful theme in The Poppy War, perhaps the most important. It's the undercurrent of Rin and Altan's development—the glue that binds them together and the drug that corrupts them both. This book is a beautiful, horrible study of the vicious cycle that is enmity, and how it destroys everyone: peasants, children, nobles, soldiers. More than that, it's a warning of what occurs when you start to view people like pests, like statistics, like numbers on a page. In today's chaos, these messages are sorely needed.
I give massive props to the author for not glamorizing the horror of war. There's a brutal honesty to the violence—if R.F. Kuang's cultural descriptions are vivid and alluring, her wartime prose is succinct and hard-hitting. Much of the carnage is quiet, not at all like the epic shows of destruction like the ones in other novels, yet there's also a grotesque beauty to it, a strange elegance in entropy, like blood dripping into the snow. You can't help but admire the covert operations and harsh betrayals depicted in this book, even as your mind struggles to make sense of all the politics and recalibrate your moral compass as a result of the complex ethical dilemmas presented.
The criticisms I have with The Poppy War have more to do with the raw mechanics of storytelling rather than the story itself. Though I'm sure R.F. Kuang did her research on the Sino-Japanese wars, the parallels between battles in this book and actual historical battles lack context. If you went into this book with no knowledge of atrocities like the Battle of Nanjing (understandable, since it's barely taught in the United States), you might find the content gratuitous, uncalled for. There's also oversimplicity in the way R.F. Kuang portrays large-scale destruction; the Mugenese perspective feels a bit too black-and-white, and the slightly imbalanced pacing leaves you wanting for more elaboration in certain aspects—perhaps less of a bird's-eye view Wikipedia dump and more of a humanized, in-the-moment sequence.
Overall, though The Poppy War isn't a perfectly polished debut, it's undoubtedly one of the most impactful and original books I've read thus far. Asian history buffs and dark fantasy fans alike will certainly get a kick out of this one....more
3 Stars // 75% The premise of Blood Countess reminds me of a Chinese movie I saw a few weeks ago that retold the legend of a beautiful young woman name3 Stars // 75% The premise of Blood Countess reminds me of a Chinese movie I saw a few weeks ago that retold the legend of a beautiful young woman named . In it, the titular character is offered to the sadistic King Fuchai of Wu along with several other girls, as a gift from King Goujian of Yue. Long story short, Fuchai kills Xi Shi's friends but actually falls in love with her, neglecting his political duties and allowing Goujian to successfully bring down the State of Wu.
Now, there are obviously a few differences between the legend of Xi Shi and Blood Countess. For one, Xi Shi has a lot less agency than the heroine of this book, Anna Darvulia. The former is also much richer in terms of political intrigue between states, while this book mostly focuses on character relationships. But the comparison still stands, and in my opinion, Blood Countess is the inferior tale.
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My main issue with this book is that it is too surface-level. Popović is certainly capable of bringing up important issues and does not shy away from heavy themes, but she never truly gives them the attention they deserve. I enjoyed reading about Elizabeth Báthory's character at first when she was a woman caught in the perpetual corner of fight or flight. Then she went from a troubled ruler to a full-on serial killer in about twenty pages with barely any motivation.
Here's the thing: If you are going to write a downward character arc, you either have to do it subtlely or balance both sides—light and dark. What PopovÃc did instead was to go pick the option that doesn't work, and Elizabeth suddenly snaps and joins the dark side.
In summary, here are the ways to write an unlikable character:
1. They slowly develop into a bad person (And I Darken, good)
2. Balance the scale so they do too many bad things to be good but too many good things to be bad: (The Xi Shi movie, good)
4. The antiheroine turns into a scary villain in a week (this book, BAD)
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In addition, I expected to see more political intrigue beyond the walls of Elizabeth's castle. As I said, the focus of Blood Countess lies in the relationship between Anna and Elizabeth. Truly, it's alright if other story elements take a backseat but still fundamentally exist. But in this book, everything else simply disappears, whether worldbuilding or plot progression or politics. It gives the reader the impression that Anna exists in a vacuum. I mentioned And I Darken before and I'll mention it again because it's a great example of maintaining historical context within a character-driven storyline.
The only reason why I'm giving this three stars is even though none of the characters were developed and the worldbuilding was nonexistent, I did have a fun time reading this, and I think if you aren't the type to read critically as I am, you might even find it crawling into your favorites list. I may b*tch and moan about Elizabeth Báthory's wasted potential, but the truth is that she is a genuinely scary villain, and the ending is impressive. Plus, Anna is one smart, kind chick.
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Overall, this book has its faults and its merits, its surprises and its disappointments. It was easy to get absorbed into the story, and as long as you start it with the right set of expectations (it's a twisted historical romance, not a dark, political, in-depth character study), you're in for a good time. So try Blood Countess out, why not?...more
3 Stars // 79% I feel as though I can describe Prelude for Lost Souls in one word: uninspired. Flat, mediocre, and amateurish also work. And I'm not tr3 Stars // 79% I feel as though I can describe Prelude for Lost Souls in one word: uninspired. Flat, mediocre, and amateurish also work. And I'm not trying to be mean here; it's just that every single thing about this book is so contrived and underutilized that it somehow vanishes into the fourth dimension and becomes a mildly entertaining read—an bizarre amalgamation of prominent fantasy tropes and archetypes.
The main thing I want to mention is the plot structure. Prelude progresses quite subtly. The reader starts off the book in the dark, but slowly but surely that fog clears away. There's no main villain until the last twenty or so pages, and even then the characters get off the hook far too quickly. I don't even think there is a climax, just a languid, lethargic mood that pervades the entire novel. Of course, it can be beneficial to slow down the plot if the characters or worldbuilding or maybe writing is exceptional, but that's not the case here.
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I guess I'm not mad, just disappointed. Helene Dunbar really had the potential to make this a good book. The premise is unparalleled in terms of atmosphere, the idea that three separate plotlines can interlock so smoothly it drives a novel fascinating. (Of course, the musical themes also helped draw me to this book.) Unfortunately, Dunbar doesn't ever dig deeper than what's surface level, and thus Preludenever truly astounds me or makes me think beyond the text.
Nonetheless, for all my complaining, this is a reasonably easy read. As I already mentioned, the premise hooks you through the pages, and the mystery behind the titular prelude is just captivating enough to make for a satisfying conclusion. And while the characters aren't exactly multidimensional, they are easy to root for, with interesting, differing motives and complex backstories fitting together like puzzle pieces. All the elements are here, they're just not well-developed.
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Honestly, this really just felt like a contemporary author trying to write young adult fantasy, and it's not that bad. Is it anything the genre hasn't seen before? No, not really. Is it halfway decent? Yes. Even the musical representation was accurate—you can really tell Helene Dunbar appreciates classical music. If you're not a particularly critical reader (and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that), you'll be able to enjoy this book just fine; however, I was expecting a little more depth and expansion. Recommended with caution....more
PSA: Listening to Ray Chen play Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata while reading this book yourself is a form of self-care.
4 Stars // 85% Devil's Trill is PSA: Listening to Ray Chen play Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata while reading this book yourself is a form of self-care.
4 Stars // 85% Devil's Trill is an exceptionally crafted, expertly played tale of theft, corruption, deceit, and exploitation in the cutthroat classical music industry. It follows blind violin teacher Daniel Jacobus as he tries to track down a stolen violin worth millions of dollars, but soon spirals into a much more sinister game of cat-and-mouse, where all bets are off and anyone could be victim or criminal.
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From the very beginning, it's clear that Gerard Elias is a veteran in this trade. Not only is his prose vivid and expressive, the sensual way he writes about violin and music indicates a strong affection for it. The passage where he compares (view spoiler)[playing the violin and sexual desire (hide spoiler)] will stay with me for a long, long time. Fair warning, though: if you have never been involved in the world of classical music, Elias's rhetoric may just bore you.
As with other novels like this one, the characters are either hit-or-miss. Jacobus is a wholly unlikable protagonist, at best irritable and worst downright nasty. But even in his most foul moods, he is also multi-faceted, hiding a kind heart beneath his repellent exterior. The side characters are no less riveting, either—sensitive Yumi has a dark side and haughty Victoria Jablonski is far from bland.
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In any case, Devil's Trill works both as a mystery and a careful commentary on what we do to get what we want, while also accurately depicting how music competitions capitalize on young prodigies and dump them in a landfill after they've served their purpose. It's not really the message anyone is looking for (especially now that the Menuhin Competition is going to be held extremely close to where I live), but it is the harsh truth no one wants to admit.
This is definitely not a book for everyone. I fully admit that. It is niche, it is specific, it is precise. But if you are looking for a realistic, if not exactly optimistic, portrayal of what it is like to work in the classical music industry, I can think of no better read....more
"Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped."
4 Stars // 85% This is def
"Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped."
4 Stars // 85% This is definitely not a book I thought I would like—I typically prefer darker sci-fi and fantasy as opposed to The Martian's lighter, more humorous take. But I'll admit, reading this book was the most fun I've had in ages. Mark Watney is snarky and resourceful and optimistic (sometimes a bit too much, and he comes across as a little too impervious to negative emotions at times, but as I said, this is a light book). My sense of humor lines up perfectly with his.
I know that I'm about to sound like a boring English teacher, but I really enjoyed seeing the NASA crew and Mark's comrades work together to rescue him. It shows that no matter how great the adversity, we can always overcome it if we stand together (that sounded less cheesy in my head, I promise). And I liked that The Martian chose to illuminate the better side of human nature rather than the rotten, dirty side that so many other books show.
The long, complex technical rants that Mark went on didn't bother me that much, mostly because if it didn't interest me I would skip it, and if it did interest me, I wouldn't. I love science and I love space travel, so, all in all, I think there was a part of me that was satisfied that Mark dealt with his problems through physics and botany. When SHTF and you're suddenly all alone on an inhospitable planet, it's nice to know that the laws of science will never abandon you.
So you know your nerdy friend whose birthday is coming up soon? The friend that you barely know anything about besides their science obsession but still need to buy a present for? Buy them this book. Trust me; they'll love it and be ever so grateful.
"Every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out. It might not seem that way sometimes, but it’s true."
“In my land, we're known as Paper Girls... Easily torn, existing only for others to use and discard. But there's something that they've all forgotten
“In my land, we're known as Paper Girls... Easily torn, existing only for others to use and discard. But there's something that they've all forgotten about paper. It can light the world on fire... And make it burn.�
4 Stars // 83% As a queer Asian, this story was obviously super, super impactful. Girls of Paper and Fire is many firsts for me—the first time I've seen my culture represented in a positive, beautiful light, the first time I've read through the point of view of a lesbian main character, the first time I've seen sexual harassment depicted respectfully rather than just a threat to be thrown around carelessly.
One of the things I really loved about this book was how well it portrayed sexual desire and attraction: that tingle in your stomach when you see a pretty face, the hunger for that person to touch you, the euphoria and electricity when they do, and even the moment of "oh damn, maybe I like girls" that's so relatable to queer women. I also thoroughly enjoyed all the female friendships—truly, Girls is a celebration of womanhood and the hardships we have endured.
That said, there are a few things that didn't quite click with me, first being Lei. While her bravery and resistance are certainly admirable, I am on a whole more drawn to stories centering flawed protagonists, and Lei is a little too perfect. The writing style is also too blunt and awkward (perhaps even vaguely anachronistic?), lacking subtlety and a certain grace that is expected from a palace fantasy.
I expected a bit more court intrigue as well. In the beginning, Lei is in the dark about virtually everything, which works because we readers need to be introduced to the Hidden Palace. But as the book progresses, her lack of agency grows more and more irritating. I signed up for a book about a girl fighting back, not about a girl who barely does anything while others spin webs around her.
The ending of Girls of Paper and Fire fixes everything, though. Lei is forced to take charge and think for herself. She has become one tough girl, and the full effect of what six months has done for her character development really shows. Other reviewers have mentioned that the climax relies too much on deus ex machina, but I think that it further cements the theme of finding support in the strength of others and the weak toppling a powerful regime by sticking together.
So yes, Girls of Paper and Fire is not a perfect book, but it is one that is close to my heart. Finding myself in a book, whether in personality or appearance like this one, is a feeling I adore. Girls is definitely not for everyone, but if you are as tired of misogynistic fantasy books as I am, then you can't miss this diverse gem.
4 Stars // 86% Sepetys is a truly phenomenal writer of historical fiction. Her books are always beautifully written, with flowing yet emotional sentenc4 Stars // 86% Sepetys is a truly phenomenal writer of historical fiction. Her books are always beautifully written, with flowing yet emotional sentences that never fail to unmask the horrors of history no one dares to talk about—yet it really does only take one author with a pen and some time to change the world. Ms. Ruta, I would read a book about the growth and development of grass if you wrote it....more
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