jackcryan's reviews
324 reviews

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Very sad and romantic. The war often feels far away.

AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order by Kai-Fu Lee
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.

More on China then AI

The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

First Military fantasy horror book I’ve read.

The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Good second trilogy book. Same critique that the characters don’t change much.

Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Good start to series, like Abercrombie new POVs. Explore more of the world and focuses on the magicians are behind the throne, which the last series left.

Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Good grimdark ending book. Too many time jumps and rushed ending. Still enthralling.

King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Explore more of the interesting world. Too anime at times, when Jorg is just out smarting his enemies or his motivations seem one dimensional.

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Great origin story for fantasy antihero. I like the post apocalypse/sci-fi/fantasy setting

The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings: Poems, Tales, Essays, and Reviews by Edgar Allan Poe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

Will finish another time when I feel spooky

Beowulf by Anonymous

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Second Epic. Can see it’s influences in a lot of fantasy.