This series is such a mixed bag. I loved the first book. I found the whole world enchanting. And as the series went on, despite some hang-ups, I fell for the characters and the way they all pulled together gradually. But in the end, each book is just full of diminishing returns. Also, this is the end of the series. At least, the end of the stories about Meg and Simon and the Lakeside Courtyard . . . but I am left pretty unsatisfied by […]
A Fly By Any Other Name
Fly by Night is Frances Hardinge’s first novel, but the third or fourth novel of hers that I’ve read. I liked it, and I definitely think that it’s one of the better middle grade novels out there, however it’s not my favorite of her books. Twelve year old Mosca, who is orphaned, lives with her uncle and is smarter than most of the people in her little town. Her best friend is the goose Saracen, because outcasts stick together. When the smooth talking con-man Eponymous […]
It makes sense in the book, I swear (ft. Greg Davies)
A classic in fantasy. You’ve probably already read this, right? If not, lucky you! You get to read it now. Like right now. Stop reading this and go find the book! Still here? Eh, I tried. If you’d like to know the book takes place in a universe where the world is a flat disc and balancing on the back of four elephants who in turn rest on the back of A’Tuin, the giant turtle. This is where Rincewood lives. In a chaotic, warm and […]
It’s not the book, it’s me
For the past couple of years I’ve been hearing about how the Thursday Next series is a great series of books and everything I’ve heard about it has definitely made me think that the series would be a great read. So I put it on my list of books to check out, and when this book came up as the alt for the Vaginal Fantasy July read I thought it would be the perfect time to actually read it (especially because the main book this […]
Another YA series where the protagonists will fight an evil Empire
3.5 stars Spoiler warning! Some spoilers for the early parts of the book in this review (although some of it is already spoiled in the book’s blurb). We’re back to me reviewing books I read a month ago, so Goodreads will have to help me out here: Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those that do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved […]
‘Grimdark’ wears out its welcome for me
So lately I really seem to be picking books with really unredeemable characters (see my reviews for the Tales of the Ketty Jay series), and I’m struggling a bit. I read this book in the gym–I’m a nerd and reading while cycling/on the elliptical is one of the only things that keeps me from getting bored at this point–and some points were really exciting, but most of the time I just felt kind of… meh about it. Mostly this is because I found I didn’t care […]