At last, CHEERS to my inauguration to the vast universe of Discworld!
"Guards! Guards!" Umm... it was good. Okay, noo, this book was Flippin' Amazing. At last, CHEERS to my inauguration to the vast universe of Discworld!
"Guards! Guards!" Umm... it was good. Okay, noo, this book was Flippin' Amazing. I devoured it like Errol chomps on kettles and coals! But I did that with grace, mind you.
Now, bear in mind that while "Guards! Guards!" is my first book by Pratchett, it wasn't my first attempt. I tried reading "Mort" before. Twice! But I failed miserably. I was too impatient to jump on the hype train, and Pratchett's old-school English humor just bounced off my thick skull. It was a mess, like trying to teach a troll to tap dance.
However, with "Guards! Guards!", it wasn't the hype that got me. It was curiosity. I decided to give Discworld another go. After some proper research (read: frantic Googling), I found out "Guards! Guards!" is one of the most famous (if not the most famous) books in the series. So, one day, I sat down and started reading. And the rest? It was a fantastic journey (dreamy sigh).
I listened to the audiobook and read the ebook simultaneously. Highly recommend the audiobook. Jon Culshaw absolutely nailed it. I loved how he did Sergeant Colon's voice... it was pure gold. Aaaa!...more
Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the best way possible. It is indeed a dazzling journey through the most illustrious years of Hollywood.
And I loved every single second of reading this book. I regret not reading it earlier...
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" was quite a cinematic tale. At the core of the story, we have Evelyn Hugo - a film legend and a Hollywood icon. Now 79 years old, she's long retired. The reclusive former movie star is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to leaving show business in the 80s-and, of course, the seven husbands along the way-Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidded love. But as Evelyn's story nears its con- clusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Moniques's own in tragic and irreversible ways....more
Currently on my semester break, I've been trying to read the books that have been sitting on my bookshelTitle: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Currently on my semester break, I've been trying to read the books that have been sitting on my bookshelves for a while; basically, the ones I own physical copies of. "A Game of Thrones" was easily my most anticipated one out of those books. I remember buying this book 2-3 years ago with the money I saved by skipping lunch in school. And now I honestly feel like the money went to waste (the excited little me had bought the second book too!).
I believe everyone knows about the plot of "A Game of Thrones" at this point, so I won't waste our time talking about the storyline. Also, if you want to know why one should read this series, I'm sure you can find tons of raving reviews on the internet. It has great action, political intrigue, battle scenes, and an incredibly well-built fantasy world. It's epic, it's brutal, and the writing is compelling enough to keep you turning the pages.
However, despite all its positives, reading this book felt like torture. I honestly didn't even mind how brutal and gruesome it was. I won't dive deep into the issue of sexism in fantasy books, mainly the ones written by male authors. I've come to compromise when it comes to epic fantasy, especially medieval fantasy. So, I approached this book with an open mind. I knew there would be lots of sexism. But what I did not expect was the complete lack of appreciable female characters. The book objectified women so much that I lost my cool. Even when there's absolutely no need, the author would casually insert some offensive comments about women. How is it possible that not a single male character (out of so many) respects women? Are you telling me all men are that bad?
The characterization was bad. There are eight POVs and plenty more on the side - and not a single one of them is likeable. Now don't give me the excuse of morally grey characters. Morally grey characters are what Joe Abercrombie writes. The characters in this book are just bad. The closest Martin gets to a truly nuanced character is through Catelyn. And even she's not very likeable and has a bad attitude. However, I definitely have to say, I loved Arya.
This book contains the worst romance and sex scenes I've read. There are tons of bizarre flowery euphemisms. And don't even get me started on the author's obsession with incest! The urge to vomit while reading this book was extremely strong, trust me.
In the end, I'm just plainly disappointed. This book put me into a reading slump. It was such a torture. Will I continue? We shall see about that. But I'm not even coming near this book for a while. Bye....more
It pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book. The Heroes is officially my least favorite Joe Abercrombie book till date.
I'm a huge fan of JoIt pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book. The Heroes is officially my least favorite Joe Abercrombie book till date.
I'm a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie. And the First Law is one of my most favorite universe to explore. I love grimdark fantasy and Abercrombie is a master at writing them. I've apparently seen many First Law to claim that The Heroes is their favourite book in the series (or at least of the standalone trilogy). So I obviously had high expectations from this book. Sadly I am very very disappointed.
The Heroes is a book taking place over a course of three days, in a battle field. You would expect it to be eventful, no? But it wasn't. The writing felt monotonous after a certain point. Nothing significant was happening. The characters was having boring monologues and speaking gibberish with each other. The pacing felt so slow. All of my interest in reading this book totally evaporated in the air. I just saw no point in continuing with it. So I quit.......more
Since the release of "The Justice of Kings", I have been seeing it everywhere on the internet. This series is BookTube's darling. So it hurts me to saSince the release of "The Justice of Kings", I have been seeing it everywhere on the internet. This series is BookTube's darling. So it hurts me to say that..I didn't enjoy this book.
Not enjoying "The Justice of Kings", was mostly my own fault. I picked it up clearly knowing that I do not typically enjoy political fantasy. And this book is political fantasy to its core. I just saw the audiobook available in my library and failed to resist (sigh)
Also there were a lot of characters in this book. Many of them were introduced within a short time interval. And all of them had difficult names. I had a hard time remembering who is who. After a certain point, I stopped trying all together... I'm obviously not good at remembering names. However it would have been nice if the author had provided a character list in the book.
Overall, I thought "The Justice of Kings" was a good book. But reading it felt like a chore to me personally. Wouldn't continue with the series....more
"Deadly beauty is the starkest variety. And you will never find a murderess more intoxicating, more entrancing, than the sea."
"Memory is often"Deadly beauty is the starkest variety. And you will never find a murderess more intoxicating, more entrancing, than the sea."
"Memory is often our only connection to who we used to be. Memories are fossils, the bones left by dead versions of ourselves."
Brandon Sanderson can never write a bad book. I already knew that but this book just strengthen my trust in him. Tress of the Emerald Sea have easily made it to the list of my favorites books of 2024. And Tress? This girl is in a word... Incredible. Definitely one my the best book heroines I've ever met.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical epic fantasy standalone. Every aspect of this book mesmerized me. It was just so perfect. The world building was amazing. The characters were well fleshed and had distinct qualities. There's a cute romance at the center of this book. However, to me, the best part of Tress of the Emerald Sea was its magic system. Imagine oceans of something that isn't water, basically non-liquid oceans....Do I need to say more?? Please go and read this book if you haven't yet. Trust me you'll love this one.
"Danger is like icy water; you can get used to it if you take it slowly."
"Strange desperation is exactly the state that often leads to genius."
"We pretend that love is rational, if we can only see the pieces, the motivations."...more
Reader - *dead* "The Sword Of Kaigen", Guilty as charged....
Pain is all I know now. Intense, never ceasing pain...The last book that had given me such Reader - *dead* "The Sword Of Kaigen", Guilty as charged....
Pain is all I know now. Intense, never ceasing pain...The last book that had given me such deep wounds was "The Song of Achilles". Yes, I am comparing this book with a masterpiece cause The Sword Of Kaigen" is a masterpiece on it's own...just in a different way. I cried my eyes out and bleed to death anyway.
"Stay,” she said softly and tugged him in until their bodies leaned together. “Stay and watch the sun set with me."
✷ · ˚ * . * * ⋆ . · ⋆ ˚ ˚ ✦ ⋆ · * ⋆ ✧ · ✧ ✵ · ✵
"You learn over time that the world isn’t broken. It’s just… got more pieces to it than you thought. They all fit together, just maybe not the way you pictured when you were young."
The mountain Takayubi shelters the Kaigenish Empire from the rest of the world. The poeple of Takayubi lives to serve the Empire. They are always the first one to endure the blows from the enemies when they attack. High up on the mountain, is seated the prestigious Kumano academy - renowned for training the best and elite warriors of the Empire. Kumano Academy doesn't only train its students to be fighters, it brings out the best of them in the light. The poeple of Takayubi are not only warriors but also owner of many great magical talents.
In this multi-pov epic fantasy story, we mainly follow Misaki, a warrior woman who had abandoned her own dreams to nurture and protect her famliy - years ago. We also follow Momaru, Misaki's eldest son. Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might have been misled by the empire he's fighting for.
A mother struggling to repress her violent past, A son struggling to grasp his violent future, A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is an incredibly well written fantasy novel, put together with exceptional skill and deployed on a grand scale. I can't pinpoint a single thing that I didn't like. I loved every bit and piece of this book. I enjoyed every single second of reading it. And this is a standalone, which is crazy. Because from where I'm standing, I only see a book wrapped in perfection. The author packed so much into one single book....it's just wonderful.
The prose is beautiful. Yes, writing style is wordy and very desprictive. But it never feels boring. I was enthralled by the prose. It lured me in like a deadly lullaby until I found myself unable to pull away. I was enchanted by the way M.L. Wang writes the emotional scenes. Some of the parts are really emotional and heartbreaking. I cried and cried and cried.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is a dark and gruesome war based story that also utilizes elemental magic. The elemental magic is a really core aspect of the book. The combat within this book is astoundingly good. It's visual and harrowing. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed the action sequences and fighting scenes of a book so much. The combination of Japanese Samurai style sword play and the elemental magic is amazing to say the least.
The characters are some of the best I have ever met. All of them have just the right amount of emotional depth. The characterization is so good that they appear to be achingly real. You would feel their pain and agony in your bones, you'll want to cry because of them, for them. The author portrays motherhood beautifully. The way she writes about Misaki's relationship with her sons is pure perfection. The author genuinely approaches topics such as family and martial arts and feminism and racism too. The book discusses very important things without feeling it tried so hard to do so. Every emotion, every scene, every character is so well written and so fleshed out, I could relate to them and I loved them and I mourned them and I can’t stop thinking about them.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is a wonderful book I will like to recommend to everyone out there. This book is a hidden gem. From first page to the last one, it was an epic, wild ride for me. This book is going to stay with me in many years to come....more
"When the dead betray the living, the victims are memories."
"We were foolish to think the Fhrey were gods, but it was insanity for the Fhrey to
"When the dead betray the living, the victims are memories."
"We were foolish to think the Fhrey were gods, but it was insanity for the Fhrey to believe it, too. I’d rather be foolish than insane."
Back in 2021, I tried to read Theft of Sword, the first book of The Riyria Revelation, Sullivan's first and most famous work till date. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan. I ended up dnf'ing the book around 200 pages in. It was probably due to the lingering disappointment from the experience that it took me so long to pick up "Ages of Myth". Honestly, I had no plans to read it. Even after seeing everyone reading and loving The Riyria Chronicles, I had no intention of returning to this world known as Elan. However, Regan from PeruseProject finally convinced me to give it a go. We share very similar tastes when it comes to books. So, I decided trust her recommendation; her raving praises for this book had me intrigued. And now I'm so glad that I read this book, I am happy that I didn't give up on Sullivan. "Ages Of Myth" was fantastic in a word. I can't recall the last time I had so much fun reading an epic fantasy book...Marvellous and splendid. Going to start book two immediately.
"He had a hundred potential directions, a multitude of choices, and the enormity of the options left him paralyzed. Freedom, he discovered, had built a greater prison than his family or clan had."
Finally a 5 stars horror read! "The Hollow Places" is genuinely dark, twisted, super weird, fast paced, terrifying and scary...A wild mind boggling riFinally a 5 stars horror read! "The Hollow Places" is genuinely dark, twisted, super weird, fast paced, terrifying and scary...A wild mind boggling ride.
It's a story about a portal world. Spoiler alert: It's not Narnia. It's the Willow world.
A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle's house, leading to madness and terror...
Pray they are hungry...
The story starts off when Kara, a freshly divorced graphic designer, winds up moving in with her Uncle Earl to help him work his museum, The Wonder Mesuem. When he gets called up for surgery, Kara is to take over running the museum until he’s rested and ready to return. This would be great, except that after he leaves, a hole to another dimension appears behind one of the walls. It doesn't seem dangerous at first. Simon, her neighbour promises to help to to close this hole. They starts investigating how this mysterious appeared and where it leads to. Soon enough, Kara and Simon stumbles into is a realm filled with terrifying beings beyond comprehension and they’ll need all their wits and a healthy dose of luck to survive.
Kara was an interesting protagonist to follow. Her narrative insights and commentary were indispensable and she had me snorting and rolling my eyes in amusement, ever when the situation wasn't really...amusing. Kara is sarcastic and hilarious. She's strong, determined, straight forward and has a very likable personality. Then we have our second main character Simon, the barista who works at the coffee shop next too to the mesuem. I really loved him. He's an amazing friend. His involvement made the story ten times better. I wouldn't want to embark on such terrifying journey with anyone other than this duo. They were insightful individuals and also fantastic as a duo. They are friends, don't expect to see them as a couple cause that's not gonna happen. Yet their chemistry is incredible...natural and flows effortlessly throughout the entire book.
The characters were undoubtedly the best part of the book. But I really loved the horror aspects too. T. Kingfisher takes us to an innovative and scary world that would definitely take you breath away and make you scream inwardly. The description are graphic and gore. Some parts of the book scared me to death. I listened to the audiobook, which is really really good. Listening to it enhanced my reading experience by a lot. I got scared, I was terrified and I LOVED every minute of it. Most of all, the ending is very satisfying. A good ending is a rare thing to find in a horror book. All in, I really enjoyed this book. A perfect Halloween read. Can't wait to read more from this author....more
"The Book of Babel" has lost all its charm and wit. I loved the previous two books but this third insThe spell wore off. Where did the cool stuffs go?
"The Book of Babel" has lost all its charm and wit. I loved the previous two books but this third instalment was really underwhelming. I tried but still failed to enjoy it. I missed the humor. I missed the cool gadgets and marvellous inventions. I really really missed seeing the crew all together and of course their banter. This book was heavy with political intrigue and action; not what I was expecting. Overall "The Hod King" was really underwhelming. It failed to meet the high expectations I had from this series. Disappointing....more
edit: increasing my rating from 4 stars to 5 glowing stars because I can't get this book out of my f*cking mind. the more I think about it the more I edit: increasing my rating from 4 stars to 5 glowing stars because I can't get this book out of my f*cking mind. the more I think about it the more I realise how much I loved it. I still think it's very flawed and could be better but youknow what? I loved this book.
One of the darkest and most disturbing books I've ever read. I was prepared for the pain. But that didn't make it hurt less. It was heart breaking, intense, dark, confusing, nauseating and very thought provoking. I'm having a hard time deciding whether I liked it or not.
"My Dark Vanessa" follows two different timelines. During the course of this novel, the reader is transported back and forth between the years 2000, when the protagonist red headed Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old, and the present day, 2017, when Vanessa is 32 and experiencing turmoil and trauma endured during her teenage years.
"My Dark Vanessa" offers a fictional account of a traumatic sexual relationship between its protagonist, Vanessa Wye, and Jacob Strane. Wye is 15 years old and a lonely student at boarding school when Strane, her 42-year-old English teacher, begins grooming her for a sexual relationship which will come to cast an appalling shadow over her life. The
I have mixed feelings about the characters in this book. They are unlikable and unreliable to such an extent that it is sure to make the readers frustrated. The narrator is a terribly wounded young woman who only adhered to a dream in order to escape the horrifying entanglement into which she has been groomed into. I felt deep empathy for Vanessa.
The author does an excellent job of maintaining the thin line between self-hatred and illusion. It's a given fact that you won't approve of Vanessa's behaviour or her actions. She's self destructive, unstable and disturbed. She often feels disassociated from her own story. All in you surely won't like Vanessa. But you still would want to give her a hug. Vanessa is not your typical sympathetic character, yet her story is absolutely a tragedy.
"My Dark Vanessa" is about a victim so psychologically shaped by her abuser that she needs to see herself as his accomplice, fully complicit in the things he did. Vanessa refuses to see herself to see as a "victim". It’s the only source of power she has left. Because if it wasn't a "love story"...then what was it? Everything in her life circles back to the same point, 'that' point. And Vanessa isn't willing to accept that her whole life has been a horror story. The story also rattles us to the core. Ignites a fire inside us. Rusell deliberately has written the book in a way that makes the readers uncomfortable and angry. It's not an experience suitable for everyone. But I personally will never forget about this book. It was exceptional. Raw, guttering, nauseating and so so painful, it felt personal in a strange way I'm unable to explain.
This book was a deeply moving novel. I really appreciated the author's bravery, her courage for writing such a poignant yet disturbing story; specially considering the story has been inspired by her own tale. "My Dark Vanessa" is a book that's challenging to both write and read. No wonder Russell had to dedicate 18 years of her behind this book. I, as a reader, had a really hard time reading this book. It was very vivid and descriptive. It hurt to read it. I hated how raw and vulnerable it made me feel. All I have to say it, I didn't hate "My Dark Vanessa", but I really did hate reading it....
My only complaint is the pacing wasn't smooth. It dragged a lot in the middle. Some parts felt quite unnecessary. I loved her first half of the book, but the second half seemed underwhelming in comparison. Maybe, it was only because I was tired. After all, this book drained me completely.......more
Unique and fascinating. A perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. The cast of characters is beyond amazing. I loved this book would be an understatement Unique and fascinating. A perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. The cast of characters is beyond amazing. I loved this book would be an understatement in this case.
The continent of Sarn has suffered from many alien invasions from an enemy known as the Jure’lia, the worm people. The Eboran empire, a once wealthy and prosperous place, for centuries has been the central defence against this formidable foe. Their tree-god, Ygseril, would deliver various war beasts that would aid the valiant Eboran warriors during the battles, and each time the Jure’lia were defeated. However, in the last assault, known as the eighth rain, a final climax between Ygseril and the Jure’lia caused the death of the sacred tree-god. Now, Ebora is in ruin and Sarn faces the ever terrifying prospect of another invasion, but this time without their defenders.
Eborans are on the verge of extinction following the death of their tree-like god Ysegril but Hestillion is doing all she can to keep him alive. In fact she'll go to any lengths to save him… any lengths at all. Hest's brother Tormalin can't sit around and wait for the end. So he's engaged by Lady Vincenza (Vintage) de Grazon to be her factotum and hired sword during her quest for knowledge. It's turning into more of an adventure than they'd planned, even before Fell witch and fugitive Noon joins them. Now the trio must work together, putting prejudices and passions aside (others' as well as their own). The Ninth Rain is coming and more than Ebora is in danger.
The synopsis of this book is really really confusing. I read it several times yet couldn't grasp on what it's supposed to mean...Therefore, you can say I started it blindly, knowing almost nothing about the trilogy. I only knew that our main character is 40 years old and possibly queer. That's it. And I really had no difficulties getting into it. The writing is very accessible. The book is fast paced. Explains the vast world and the magic system thoroughly. Just be patient and enjoy the company of the characters. The information will come to you by themselves.
I loved the inimitable world Jen Williams has created. It's epic in scope, full of magic and magical creatures. The world building has the perfect blend of Sci-fi and Fantasy. In this world, an inhuman species called Eborans reside alongside the humans. They have a very long life span. The Eborans are graceful warriors, the sole protectors of the land. These Eborans are like an unison of human, vampire and elf. Then we have Eboran war beasts. Very fascinating creatures. However we don't get to see them much in the first book. We also have witches in this world. The witches posses fire magic that's called Winnow flame. Then there are these worm pe0ple who wants to destroy the land........more
“Stephens,” he says, tone dry once more, “if you’re the villain in someone else’s love story, then I’m the devil.”
Charlie Lastra
I approve. Man do “Stephens,” he says, tone dry once more, “if you’re the villain in someone else’s love story, then I’m the devil.”
Charlie Lastra
I approve. Man do I approve! Charlie Wonderful Lastra was just perfect. Way too perfect. I now need a Charlie Lastra of my own. Do you know where I can find my Charlie Lastra? Where the hell do they sell "Charlie Lastra"? Please let me know if you have the faintest idea...I WANT Charlie Lastra. Or else I'll throw a tantrum.
Let me hop on the hype train first. Then we can scream Charlie Lastra together.
"That’s the thing about women. There’s no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and you’re hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn’t have to tend to them and you’re a heartless bitch."
"Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you."
"Maybe love shouldn’t be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can’t exist without them either."
"If worn for too long, a costume becomes comfortable, natural. A man always in disguise must take care lest he become the disguise.”
From t
"If worn for too long, a costume becomes comfortable, natural. A man always in disguise must take care lest he become the disguise.”
From the very first page of this sequel to Senlin Ascends, life once again takes some drastic turns for our main protagonist, Thomas Senlin. Once a man of letters, then progressing to a man of action, he must now live a life piracy. The hunt for Senlin’s wife, Marya, becomes more complex and as Senlin and his crew struggle to survive upon their stolen airship, he realises he’s going to need help, a lot of help. In their desperation they decide to seek out the infamous Sphinx.
“We are, each of us, a multitude. I am not the man I was this morning, nor the man of yesterday. I am a throng of myself queued through time. We are, gentle reader, each a crowd within a crowd.”
"Arm Of The Sphnix" is lot more whimsical and captivating than "Senlin Ascends". This time around, we get to explore the tower in depth; its as surreal as ever, with more strange clockwork mechanisms and bizarre animals, magnificent balloon airships.
Bancroft's prose is exquisite and poetic. In this instalment, his writing is more accessible than it was in his debut. His voice is stronger, the story is much more organised. "Arm Of The Sphnix" has multiple povs. It follows all the members of Senlin's ragtag crew. Senlin’s character still remained at the forefront of the narrative. But we also receive Edith, Voleta, Iren and Adam's perspective on various events.
The characters development is phenomenal. Senlin is not the same man we met in the first book, not anymore. I was pleased to see his naivety lessen, his actions become bolder, and his sense of loyalty to his friends deepen. Senlin's character is so utterly, beautifully human that it never ceases to amaze me. That is why I am so drawn to his character. The other characters are also interesting. I love Edith and Voleta. Both are such awesome badass female characters. They are very very different from each other but I loved them both. Iren doesn't receive the spotlight as frequently. I still liked her. Adam is frustrating to be honest. It made me happy to see that he wants to repent for his actions. He wants to gain the captain's trust once again. He was working really hard for it to be honest. Yet I found him uninteresting, sometimes even annoying. All in, Senlin remains as my favourite character.
“It had never occurred to him how unforgiving books were until he lay at the bottom of a great pile of them.”
The humor is fantastic. This book gave me a good laugh. Many of the characters become sassy and good naturedly bantered or quibbled with one another in this instalment, even when events took perilous turns. Aside from the prose, the magic system, the characters and the humor, I also loved the close knitted friendships we get to see here. Thomas Senlin and his crew are all so loveable. I loved their banter and amazing dynamic with each other. Specially, Senlin and Edith. These two has such an unbreakable bond, built upon mutual trust and respect. If Senlin wasn't married already, I would've started to ship him with Edith.
I liked that this book was focused on fewer geographical locations. There wasn't much of info dumping which gave me relief. Bancroft takes us deeper into the incredible world that he has created. But it never seemed rushed or tiring to me. The pacing is just perfect. Not for a single moment I felt overwhelmed or underwhelmed. And the ending! It is purely evil. The book ends with a cliffhanger. It threw me off. I literally have no idea which direction the author wants to take the story to. Nevertheless, I'm really really excited to read book 3....more
Magnificent. Surprisingly short in length yet deliciously clever. Never imagined a novella could be so good. Sanderson is truly an evil genius.
In thisMagnificent. Surprisingly short in length yet deliciously clever. Never imagined a novella could be so good. Sanderson is truly an evil genius.
In this book, we are following Wan ShaiLu, an infamous and staggeringly talented forger. She is proud of herself for being a true artist but forgery is prohibited. So, that makes her a criminal in the eyes of the empirical judicial system. One day, she gets betrayed by her partner and is caught. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.
"The Emperor's Soul" had an unique and intelligently crafted plotline. Sanderson's prose was accessible as always. The world building was marvellous. The magic system was rich and inventive. I loved the characters. Specially our character Shia. She's doubtlessly one of the cleverest and strongest female characters I've ever met. In very few pages Sanderson manages to weave a complete yet intricate tale of magic, theft, and human connection, with none of the flippancy short-stories and novellas sometimes convey. Loved this book!
I listened to the graphic audiobook of "The Emperor's Soul". It was an incredible experience. The full cast narration, the sound effects were absolutely perfect. The audiobook definitely levelled up my reading experience by a lot. Highly recommended.
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an o
It was LOVE at the first sentence...
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
"The Hobbit or there and back again" is the unforgettable story of Bilbo, a peace-loving hobbit, who embarks on a strange and magical adventure. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. Tolkien's imagination has no boundaries, no restrictions. This book was so vividly descriptive, imaginative and unique. Tolkien's prose is unpretentious and straightforward, taking as given the existence of his imaginary world and describing its details in a matter-of-fact way, while often introducing the new and fantastic in an almost casual manner. I loved the writing style.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Many of my fellow readers told me that "The Hobbit" is mainly targeted for the younger audience. One may like it if they're into classic literature; they would like it if they had read it before, mostly because of the nostalgia. However more than a few poeple told me that I probably won't like it as someone who had never read Tolkein's books before or watched the movies. They warned me against nurturing high hopes. So, I was basically afraid to read The Hobbit and therefore LoTr. I kept delli dallying as long I as could. As an avid adult fantasy reader, I was afraid to be disappointed by the predecessor of modern fantasy. I want to curse myself for being so stupid! My fear was valid but I was totally wrong! "The Hobbit" is most wholesome book I've ever read.
This story never failed to make me laugh. It's so hilarious! Fun and eerie. The author makes time for cracking a joke even in midst of a serious conflict. Gandalf was a really funny character. I also liked the dwarfs. And Bilbo was so cute! I enjoyed his foolishness and gradual character development. He is always entertaining. For instance, how Bilbo keeps tripping and getting lost everytime they are on a run. And this part...
“You’ve left the burglar behind again!” said Nori to Dori looking down. “I can’t be always carrying burglars on my back,” said Dori, “down tunnels and up trees! What do you think I am? A porter?”
However, I believe I wouldn't have liked this book so much if it weren't for the fantabulous audiobook narration. I tried to read the physical book but couldn't get into it. When I started listening to tge audiobook I was immediately invested into the story. So, all thanks to the talented narrator. I would highly recommend the audiobook....more
"A fool is any man who doesn’t think he’s a fool."
"A man doesn't know his true strength until he fears for his life."
"Between lovers, betrayal
"A fool is any man who doesn’t think he’s a fool."
"A man doesn't know his true strength until he fears for his life."
"Between lovers, betrayal is always the worst sin."
✿ Positives :
1. Heavily character focused. Casts an assembly of morally fraudulent characters.
2. Immersive writing. Exquisite prose. Easy to read and follow.
3. Innovative and fascinating world building. A world that is rich in history of wars and bloodshed.
4. Found family. A heart-warming tale of brotherhood and friendship.
5. Intense political turmoil and shifts in power.
6. Animal companion.
7. School setting. We learn a lot about all the orders of Faith. And also get to explore the fifth and sixth order through Vaelin's keen eyes.
8. Battles and war. Dark magic. Discussions on humanity and morality.
✿ Negatives :
1. Info dumping.
2. The author introduces too many characters at once. Provides too much information all at once. It was hard to keep track of everything going on.
3. Lack of good Action. Though we are in amidst of wars for more than half of the pages, the book doesn't have enough heart pounding action sequences.
4. Pretty uneventful in terms of twists and turns. Nothing 'mind blowing' happens.
5. The ending is pretty absurd.
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My reading taste has become absolutely colorless. I just can't bring myself to read anything other than Epic Fantasy and Romance (mostly MM)! I know that's obscure. Yet this has become the reality I'm living lately.....
So here I go. Starting yet another Epic Fantasy.......more
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