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meadhbh's reviews
196 reviews
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
This book took a while to get going, and honestly, from both the description and the first few chapters I thought this was going somewhere else entirely. It seemed more whimsical and light hearted, and while it certainly started that way, it ended up somewhere altogether darker and more adventurous.
I would compare this book to the Skulduggery Pleasant series actually, now that I'm thinking back on it, although less sarcastic in tone. But the adventure, the twists, the dark moments are all there. There's a wholesomeness there at times too, and a certain sense of satisfaction at how it all comes together. I sped through the last third - by that point, the plot had well and truly gripped me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I would compare this book to the Skulduggery Pleasant series actually, now that I'm thinking back on it, although less sarcastic in tone. But the adventure, the twists, the dark moments are all there. There's a wholesomeness there at times too, and a certain sense of satisfaction at how it all comes together. I sped through the last third - by that point, the plot had well and truly gripped me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
The Tropic Of Serpents by Marie Brennan
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken by The Secret Barrister
informative
medium-paced
4.0
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked the start and the end, but it really dragged in the middle. Not as good as Babel.
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Fun, but the mystery felt a little more convoluted than the first book
House of Odysseus by Claire North
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Odysseus is almost ready to return home, but before he does, Claire North returns once more to his home island of Ithaca to explore the story of Penelope, his wife.
House of Odysseus explores the return of Orestes and Elektra to Ithaca, after the death of their mother by Orestes' hand. Wracked by guilt and pursued by his uncle Menelaus, who insists Orestes is mad, Penelope must deal with this new complication while continuing to keep the fragile peace.
I enjoyed the return to Ithaca and Penelope a lot. Once again, the combination of Claire North's writing and Greek myth is excellent. However, I didn't enjoy Aphrodite as a narrator quite as much as Hera. There didn't feel like there was as much depth or emotional stakes to the narrative as the first book. Still, very enjoyable and entertaining book that I absolutely flew through on my holidays!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
House of Odysseus explores the return of Orestes and Elektra to Ithaca, after the death of their mother by Orestes' hand. Wracked by guilt and pursued by his uncle Menelaus, who insists Orestes is mad, Penelope must deal with this new complication while continuing to keep the fragile peace.
I enjoyed the return to Ithaca and Penelope a lot. Once again, the combination of Claire North's writing and Greek myth is excellent. However, I didn't enjoy Aphrodite as a narrator quite as much as Hera. There didn't feel like there was as much depth or emotional stakes to the narrative as the first book. Still, very enjoyable and entertaining book that I absolutely flew through on my holidays!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book, but the format kept me from loving it. The multiple narratives made it slow to get going, and I always find with these stories that there tends to be some narratives I prefer to others, which was very much the case here. A good book, but wouldn't rave about it the way some others have.