A very queer but uneven poetry collection. It doesn't reach the dizzying heights of Brand New Ancients.A very queer but uneven poetry collection. It doesn't reach the dizzying heights of Brand New Ancients....more
3.5 stars A very wistful, not-quite-romance novella set in a fantasy dystopia sketched with few but deft strokes. Evocative and a bit sad. I would love3.5 stars A very wistful, not-quite-romance novella set in a fantasy dystopia sketched with few but deft strokes. Evocative and a bit sad. I would love to explore this world more.
This is a freebie, I think, or it was when I got it....more
First, let me say that Hall is one of my fave authors and I loved the few novels I've read so far from him. I vibe with his wriAlas, I'm disappointed.
First, let me say that Hall is one of my fave authors and I loved the few novels I've read so far from him. I vibe with his writing style and his humour, and I really didn't expect to feel let down by this novel, esp since I'm a huge fan of Arden and Caspian. Luckily, I went and read a few reviews when I began feeling like the book's direction was off, so I was prepared.
What worked for me: --Arden's narration continues to be hilarious, vibrant and just super enjoyable to read. His voice is so good that it kept me reading, often the only thing that kept me going through the passages I didn't like (more on that below). --I like Ellery's friendship with Arden a lot. --I do love Caspian and Arden together. They have great banter and the ending is super cute.
What didn't work: --Where do I start? I guess the main issue is that I wasn't happy with Hall's creative choices in this novel, starting with having Caspian engaged with someone else and Arden getting over him for 90% of the book. I loved the second novel and how slowly they got closer and closer; it was absolutely delightful and I loved every minute--until the heartbreak at the end. But I could cope with that because I assumed that in this installment we'd see the two of them working through their issues together and becoming a stronger couple. However, we got the two of them going their separate ways, one getting engaged, the other getting a job and moving on, until circumstances threw them back in each other's path, briefly, before they separated again.
--This novel is more an Arden-coming-of-age book where he gets his first job after uni, gets a shitty flat, has kinky sex, has friends and is trying to get over a breakup. It's great that we see him grow up on his own, but it's not the novel I signed up to read.
--George is a fabulous character but I didn't care for her having sex with Arden. Nope.
--The Lancaster Steyne thing didn't work for me.
--There was only one sex scene with our main couple in this book. Which was a smokin' hot scene but also (view spoiler)[they were cheating at the time, and instead of feeling pleased, I felt bad for the other dude. (hide spoiler)]
--The ending was very cute but it came across as a tad too cute. Perhaps it was because the lovely feelings were concentrated on the last 10% instead of being spread-out. Perhaps because it was a HFN, capturing a lovely moment of reconciliation, but not showing us how they work together as a couple now. Caspian will still work late and miss dinners, for example. He might still lose his lid with Ellery with Arden present. How will they deal with these issues? We don't know.
It's funny how the novel titled "How to Blow it" made me brace myself for angst, but I got a super lovely and heartwarming book till the last chapter; and the novel titled "How to Belong" gave me two people going their separate ways until the last 10%.
In short, although I enjoyed Arden's voice, I wasn't happy with how the plot evolved. Nevertheless, I'm still a fan of Alexis Hall and looking forward to more of his novels....more
Wow. Just wow. I haven't been this engaged and absorbed in a book in months.
Ocean's Echo is the second novel of Everina Maxwell and I liked it a lot mWow. Just wow. I haven't been this engaged and absorbed in a book in months.
Ocean's Echo is the second novel of Everina Maxwell and I liked it a lot more than the first. It has excellent pacing, lots of twisted military intrigue and conspiracies, and two amazing characters. Tennal is one of the most vivid characters I've encountered in fic. Surit might not be the live wire that Tennal is, but he holds his own with his quiet competence and his unwavering morals and his limitless kindness. They work very well together, mostly in fucking everything up. Repeatedly.
The worldbuilding with the Remnants and the mind powers is also fascinating. I don't think I've ever read something similar. I also loved the concept of chaotic space.
This is mostly a sci-fi story with the romance taking a distant second place. If you go in expecting lots of romantic little moments, glances and touches, UST etc, or even some spice, you'll be disappointed. However, I didn't find the lack of making eyes at each other constantly a problem. The two main characters get to know each other deeply and they become inseparable in a way that was very satisfying to read.
That being said, if I were to knock half a star from the rating, it'd be because I'd have liked a little more time with the boys at the end when the plot was done and they were confessing. I needed to see them together a little more or preferably to have a scene after [spoiler] returns from [spoiler]. My heart needed to witness them happy and together. I also found the mind expanding powers towards the end a bit hard to follow but it could be because I'd been racing through the story late in the night.
Overall, a strong second novel with fantastic characters, a twisted, unpredictable story, and fascnating worldbuilding....more
It's possible that if I'd read this seven years ago when I first read the first two novels, I'd have liked it more. Or maybe not, who knows. I found iIt's possible that if I'd read this seven years ago when I first read the first two novels, I'd have liked it more. Or maybe not, who knows. I found it a frustrating novel; so many things irked me. When I finished it last night, I was like "it was OK". And it is: it's not awful or anything. But since then I keep thinking of nonsensical actions by the characters and nonsensical authorial decisions, and I get annoyed. That's what frustrated me: there was potential for something more substantial but we got a bunch of random POVs, an expansion of the world, supposedly clever people doing stupid things for no reason, a lot of scenes that had little impact on the plot or main characters, basically a lot of words to tell a not particularly interesting story. Characterisation is a mixed bag. You have fascinating characters like Holland with intriguing background and lots of depth, and then you have Lila, who is always posturing and the author fawns over her. A grating caricature of a badass.
I'm glad I read the conclusion of the series but it's not one that I'll be revisiting.
P.S. As a street rat, a commoner in London, Lila would be speaking a pretty rough accent of English, possibly even Cockney. She is praised in Red London for her English and everyone's like "oh wow you must be a noble" so for half the series I couldn't shake the unintended comedy of the Royals speaking like "Rhy, listen to your muver. Kell, go wiv 'im to 'elp 'im out, fanks"....more
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