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nclcaitlin's reviews
1731 reviews
The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi
3.5
After being disappointed by Faebound, I was cautious about this final instalment. There was no need. El-Arifi proved her skill through her beautiful writing and incredible, thoughtful world-building with complicated characters.
Home isn't the opposite of not belonging. It's choosing where you belong.
Anoor has been caught in the spider’s game, joining The Sandstorm’s Yona - Wife, grandmother. Anoor is prophesied to be the saviour of the Zalaam, to bring the Ending Fire. But the disciples, her new allies, aren't what they seem.
Sylah has returned, reuniting with Hassa who spreads the news that the Zalaam use bone marrow to shift the balance of the world and they are bringing war.
Even if the Zalaam don't kill them, the weather, made worse by Bloodwerk, eventually will.
Sylah’s mind is loveclouded. She cannot see beyond Anoor, much to Hassa’s chagrin who wants Sylah to see beyond one person and for the rebellion to succeed.
Sylah reverts back to her cruel self she was in book one. Similarly, we see Anoor changing, becoming disillusioned and losing her heart.
The pieces of her weren't the same: where they had once been as pliable as warm sand, they were now glass, fragile but sharp.
I was worried all the character development would unravel, but El-Arifi handles her arcs with such care, you can see the threads, temptations, and relationships linking from the first book to the finale.
Even till the end, my heart was in my throat.
I do wish this might have been four books long to spend more time learning the different parts of the world, their knowledge, culture, and lore.
This is clearly a compliment to El-Arifi’s world-building, being aware of so many different aspects which weren’t explored but were there.
I am wavering between three and four stars. ⭐️
Home isn't the opposite of not belonging. It's choosing where you belong.
Anoor has been caught in the spider’s game, joining The Sandstorm’s Yona - Wife, grandmother. Anoor is prophesied to be the saviour of the Zalaam, to bring the Ending Fire. But the disciples, her new allies, aren't what they seem.
Sylah has returned, reuniting with Hassa who spreads the news that the Zalaam use bone marrow to shift the balance of the world and they are bringing war.
Even if the Zalaam don't kill them, the weather, made worse by Bloodwerk, eventually will.
Sylah’s mind is loveclouded. She cannot see beyond Anoor, much to Hassa’s chagrin who wants Sylah to see beyond one person and for the rebellion to succeed.
Sylah reverts back to her cruel self she was in book one. Similarly, we see Anoor changing, becoming disillusioned and losing her heart.
The pieces of her weren't the same: where they had once been as pliable as warm sand, they were now glass, fragile but sharp.
I was worried all the character development would unravel, but El-Arifi handles her arcs with such care, you can see the threads, temptations, and relationships linking from the first book to the finale.
Even till the end, my heart was in my throat.
I do wish this might have been four books long to spend more time learning the different parts of the world, their knowledge, culture, and lore.
This is clearly a compliment to El-Arifi’s world-building, being aware of so many different aspects which weren’t explored but were there.
I am wavering between three and four stars. ⭐️
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
3.75
A hauntingly dark fairy tale full of complicated families, dysfunctional deities, and impossible bargains. Romantically written, steeped in rich descriptions with a fragile girl at the centre of it.
Hazel is the thirteenth child, unwanted, unloved, and forgotten. She is claimed at birth by the Dreaded End, her deathly godfather.
On her birthday, Hazel is whisked away by her godfather to start a new lone life as a healer, holding peoples’ lives in her hands.
Because no matter how big and overwhelming the present felt, no matter how my heart ached or rallied or sank again, no matter how I tried to wish myself out of the moment I was in, I knew that was all it was. A moment.
One tiny moment in a life destined to have far too many.
You may have to suspend belief as at 13 years old, Hazel becomes a genius at healing. She knows everything, reads numerous books that are unfathomable, and is then trusted with patients, a stranger with no acclaim to credentials.
However, Craig’s writing allows you to make this allowance. It is a world where gods exist, deities show favour, magical diseases plague the country.
Craig’s writing is luscious. Her cast is kept small and this intimacy suits her story and how everything unfolds. Even brought to court, Hazel feels sequestered, solitary, alone.
She just wants someone to look after her. To think of her first. To know her interests, ambitions, and worth coming from a family with too many mouths to feed and too few hugs.
“Birthdays are important times, don't you think?" he went on, musing.
"I've never thought so."
Leopold made a face. "They are, and anyone who says otherwise had something terribly traumatizing happen to them as a child."
He wasn't wrong.
Have cake ready because the descriptions of cakes, breakfasts, and tea are dreamily delectable.
I just wanted more about the puppy. If you have a dog called Cosmos, I expect to have a lot more appearances!
If you enjoyed this or want something similar, I would recommend The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or, better yet, Peaches and Honey!
Thank you to Rock the Boat for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Hazel is the thirteenth child, unwanted, unloved, and forgotten. She is claimed at birth by the Dreaded End, her deathly godfather.
On her birthday, Hazel is whisked away by her godfather to start a new lone life as a healer, holding peoples’ lives in her hands.
Because no matter how big and overwhelming the present felt, no matter how my heart ached or rallied or sank again, no matter how I tried to wish myself out of the moment I was in, I knew that was all it was. A moment.
One tiny moment in a life destined to have far too many.
You may have to suspend belief as at 13 years old, Hazel becomes a genius at healing. She knows everything, reads numerous books that are unfathomable, and is then trusted with patients, a stranger with no acclaim to credentials.
However, Craig’s writing allows you to make this allowance. It is a world where gods exist, deities show favour, magical diseases plague the country.
Craig’s writing is luscious. Her cast is kept small and this intimacy suits her story and how everything unfolds. Even brought to court, Hazel feels sequestered, solitary, alone.
She just wants someone to look after her. To think of her first. To know her interests, ambitions, and worth coming from a family with too many mouths to feed and too few hugs.
“Birthdays are important times, don't you think?" he went on, musing.
"I've never thought so."
Leopold made a face. "They are, and anyone who says otherwise had something terribly traumatizing happen to them as a child."
He wasn't wrong.
Have cake ready because the descriptions of cakes, breakfasts, and tea are dreamily delectable.
I just wanted more about the puppy. If you have a dog called Cosmos, I expect to have a lot more appearances!
If you enjoyed this or want something similar, I would recommend The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or, better yet, Peaches and Honey!
Thank you to Rock the Boat for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Conspiracy by A.C. Cobble
3.25
Truth was a weak thing. The only power it had was the power your granted it, and in this place, the librarian held all of the power.
The House of Wahrheit had ruled as peacefully as a kingdom built on the strength of arms, steel, and magic could be ruled.
But now the king was dead. The landgraves, the rulers of the five provinces that had been brought together, were eyeing each other like a pack of dogs circling one thick, juicy cut of meat.
It is a race to find someone to put on the throne as Assasin’s circle, opposing nations invade, and landgraves make greedy, bloody land grabs.
"Tell me if I have it right. The king is dead, and you need a new one?
Seems straightforward enough. But he has no heir. A problem, I agree.
And for some reason, you've decided that his heir should be... me? That's insanity, obviously, but for the sake of argument, I'll leave it for now.
The conspirators involved in this plot are the two of you, a single dragon knight, a peasant, and a possible wizard who does not do magic?“
Our main characters include:
Ulrik: classic village boy who loses everything during a raid who then joins the army.
Countess Ursula Marchand who is rescued from her home during an invasion from a warring kingdom. Everyone she knows is dead.
Then we have a honourable dragon rider, a magical artifice archived who just wants to be left alone and get her work done, a quick-talking spy, and a mysterious wizard.
“You want stakes? Everything we know and love depends on this vote.”
“Right," declared Gerhard. "I'm awake now. Noah, forget the coffee. Make it two bottles of wine."
Despite this being fairly classic fantasy-esque in its predictable troupes; the prose is witty and modern, the characters keep you on your toes, and the inclusion of fae who are on the sidelines but everyone knows never to deal with them - creates an interesting story.
However, ultimately, I feel I have read this sort of story before and I am craving something extremely unique.
The problem of reading a book a day…
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
4.25
THIS PACKED A PUNCH. One that will leave me winded and agonising over for weeks.
This book is multi-genre. Marketed as a suspense mystery, this is also a coming of age, a dark academia, a contemporary literary drama, romance, and thriller. Part anti-hero journey.
Sade (SHAH-DAY) arrives for the third year at of Alfred Nobel Academy after her father’s death, leaving his multi-million-pound estate, and the burden of grief and the awkwardness that came with leaving a string of deaths behind her to anyone who gets close to her.
Alfred Nobel Academy is filled with luxury and Sade knows all too well wealth leads to secrets buried six feet under.
Shortly after arriving, her roommate disappears.
This is about dealing with mental health, trauma, grief, guilt.
This discusses how corrupt our world is. The apparent lack of consequences it seemed there is for the well-connected. Money does buy happiness - through security, hush hush, celebrity….
"Are you okay?" She hated asking that question when she knew the answer was so obvious.
It was something she hated being asked herself, especially after the many tragedies in her life.
Are you okay is what people ask when they don't know what else to say. It's an easy question for the asker, but an unbearable one for the asked.
This had the potential to be over-the-top and cringy. There’s an Unholy Trinity. There’s a popular clique who adopts Sade. The matron seems to hate her. There’s a play boy who’s the prince of the school who has his eyes on Sade.
How the author pulled this all together to keep you on the edge of your seat, gritting your teeth, and bracing yourself.
"You know what gets me through really tough times?" Sade said.
“What?” She asked.
"I tell myself to keep swimming, and if I can't do that, if that's too hard, I simply float."
Baz has my heart by the way. Him, his unhealthy jammy dodger obsession, and Muffin who he rescued (stole) from being a biology experiment.
Baz is chaotic in the best way and I loved his endearing, supportive, funny self.
This reads older YA with deep and dark themes. However, there is no content which would make it inadvisable for slightly younger YA readers!
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for gifting the physical book in exchange for a review!
This book is multi-genre. Marketed as a suspense mystery, this is also a coming of age, a dark academia, a contemporary literary drama, romance, and thriller. Part anti-hero journey.
Sade (SHAH-DAY) arrives for the third year at of Alfred Nobel Academy after her father’s death, leaving his multi-million-pound estate, and the burden of grief and the awkwardness that came with leaving a string of deaths behind her to anyone who gets close to her.
Alfred Nobel Academy is filled with luxury and Sade knows all too well wealth leads to secrets buried six feet under.
Shortly after arriving, her roommate disappears.
This is about dealing with mental health, trauma, grief, guilt.
This discusses how corrupt our world is. The apparent lack of consequences it seemed there is for the well-connected. Money does buy happiness - through security, hush hush, celebrity….
"Are you okay?" She hated asking that question when she knew the answer was so obvious.
It was something she hated being asked herself, especially after the many tragedies in her life.
Are you okay is what people ask when they don't know what else to say. It's an easy question for the asker, but an unbearable one for the asked.
This had the potential to be over-the-top and cringy. There’s an Unholy Trinity. There’s a popular clique who adopts Sade. The matron seems to hate her. There’s a play boy who’s the prince of the school who has his eyes on Sade.
How the author pulled this all together to keep you on the edge of your seat, gritting your teeth, and bracing yourself.
"You know what gets me through really tough times?" Sade said.
“What?” She asked.
"I tell myself to keep swimming, and if I can't do that, if that's too hard, I simply float."
Baz has my heart by the way. Him, his unhealthy jammy dodger obsession, and Muffin who he rescued (stole) from being a biology experiment.
Baz is chaotic in the best way and I loved his endearing, supportive, funny self.
This reads older YA with deep and dark themes. However, there is no content which would make it inadvisable for slightly younger YA readers!
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for gifting the physical book in exchange for a review!
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3.5
Old Man's War tells the story of aging people on Earth who volunteer for an off planet life in the army in return for a 'makeover'.
We are in the head of John Perry, aged 75, who is as astounded, crass, and disturbed as we would be in the same situation.
Delivered with humour, Scalzi manages to skate the fine line of being non-offensive with outlier jokes and confrontational, provocative remarks.
All of Scalzi’s protagonists just seem so real. They are not the heroes you would expect for a space opera sci fi. They react realistically with the accompanying disbelief, relationships, resignation, and emotions real people would.
Please speak the name you would like to give your BrainPal.
"Asshole," I said.
You have selected "Asshole," the BrainPal wrote, and to its credit it spelled the word correctly. Be aware that many recruits have selected this name for their BrainPal. Would you like to chose a different name?
"No," I said, and was proud that so many of my fellow recruits also felt this way about their BrainPal.
Would you like Asshole to refer to itself in the first person?
"Absolutely." I said.
I am Asshole.
"Of course you are.”
It kind of makes sense that this is regularly referred to as ‘man’ sci fi. The humour would definitely appeal to older men and teenage boys humour (I speak from experience in my household).
My favourite John Scalzi (which I recommend to everyone) is Starter Villain.
Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh
3.25
Two ordinary women make a pact to take revenge for each other so neither can be held responsible for the murder of the men who caused them such harm and grief.
Weirdly, the entire premise of the arrangement is only agreed upon at 30%. However, this was more because of the different POVs which sets up the characters and their situations.
The POVs were utilised well, their purposes becoming clearer as the story progressed and you found out the greater revelations.
My favourite troupe - unreliable narrators! Overwhelmed by grief, trauma, PTSD; fuelled by rage and grief which clouds their judgment - do two wrongs ever make a right?
Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?
THAT TWIST AT THE END?!
I am not normally a fan on a curveball chucked in right at the end. However, WOW. You thought you knew how it would play out…
This was fun, but I didn’t feel myself at the edge of my seat. Saying that, I know thrillers aren’t a genre that typically gets raving-changed-my-life reviews.
I would recommend the audiobook!
Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
2.5
This is my last attempt at trying to get into this series.
Instead of journeying to one place for one species, we follow Isabella to many different places and her perilous adventures aboard a ship.
Along for the ride is her young son Jacob; Jacob’s nanny Abigail; and Tom, Isabella’s research partner.
Good manners warred with curiosity, and lost.
Jacob’s accompaniment and presence, six years older from the last book, which demonstrates the tension between career and motherhood, expectation and personal desire that has been alluded to.
This added a more innocent and adventurous feel to their journey compared to Isabella’s more cynical approach.
One thing I did enjoy was the more nuanced discussions on gender where they visit a place where Isabella as a gender between man and woman.
"So long as my society refuses to admit of a concept of femininity that allows for such things," I said, "then one could indeed say that I stand in between.”
Whilst I previously felt compelled to keep listening due to Isabella’s voice, I found this instalment lacking.
Sadly, I don’t think this is a series I will be continuing after pushing through three.
Instead of journeying to one place for one species, we follow Isabella to many different places and her perilous adventures aboard a ship.
Along for the ride is her young son Jacob; Jacob’s nanny Abigail; and Tom, Isabella’s research partner.
Good manners warred with curiosity, and lost.
Jacob’s accompaniment and presence, six years older from the last book, which demonstrates the tension between career and motherhood, expectation and personal desire that has been alluded to.
This added a more innocent and adventurous feel to their journey compared to Isabella’s more cynical approach.
One thing I did enjoy was the more nuanced discussions on gender where they visit a place where Isabella as a gender between man and woman.
"So long as my society refuses to admit of a concept of femininity that allows for such things," I said, "then one could indeed say that I stand in between.”
Whilst I previously felt compelled to keep listening due to Isabella’s voice, I found this instalment lacking.
Sadly, I don’t think this is a series I will be continuing after pushing through three.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
2.0
Angel is sold into prostitution at a young age during the 1850s California Gold Rush.
Michael, a farmer, is the antithesis of Angel's world. He is an honourable Christian who blushes at anything unseemly.
However, Michael is convinced that God intends for him to take Angel away from her circumstances and marry her.
Despite Angel’s seedy past and the warnings of others, Michael is determined to love Angel unconditionally and show her that she is not something to be used, but someone that is deserving of love.
Angel is a survivor, using her beauty and wits to navigate the dangerous world of brothels and dangerous, selfish, demanding men.
Michael is gentle, kind-hearted, and never expects anything of anyone.
These two opposites shows the spectrum of love and how expectations can damage someone.
I read this as I really enjoyed A Voice in the Wind and multiple people recommended this book to me.
Sadly, I found myself quite bored and the message felt slightly too forced, especially compared to A Voice in the Wind series.
The prose felt more clunky with very short sentences and repetition. This isn’t helped that the story seemed to be covering the same ground: Angel sins. Michael takes her back. Angel leaves. Michael comes looking for her. Etc.
Until Angel can believe she is worth being loved and worth redemption.
I feel like you could have read the title and basically know the plot. I know some people like that/expect it from romance books. This just did not appeal to me. Everything was too predictable. Ridiculously so.
Sorry. But I still recommend A Voice in the Wind to everyone.
The Shattered Realm of Ardor Benn by Tyler Whitesides
3.5
Seemingly stealing the royal regalia, disproving Wayfarist doctrine, becoming a Paladin Visitant, and feeding the beloved crusader monarch to a dragon is enough to kickstart a war.
Ard is hired by the newly widowed Her Majesty to find out whether the current King killed his cousin and twelve year old heir to get himself on the throne.
It seems like the King is being puppeteered by an ancient dangerous organization known as the Realm who operates under the strictest procedures, security, and obscurity.
They'd saved civilization, but now it was tearing itself apart in the aftermath.
Sadly, this didn’t work as well as book one for me.
Of course, the humour is still top-notch, maybe not quite as sharp and natural as book one, but still a joy to read.
"I just thought you might go to Big Man conventions, or something," Ard said. "You know, where you talk about how cold your feet get as they dangle off the end of your bed. And you write letters advocating for higher doorframes?"
"Yeah," Raek said. "And we practice getting things down from the top shelf. It's a real hoot."
We also have a new pov of Portsend who teaches Grit theory at a college. He is hired by the King and the Wayfaring Isles to develop new Grit, something thought impossible.
I have to admit to being slightly bored with his chapters as it is a lot of calculations and experiments and the characters just never felt developed and felt very flat. Just there to show the development of new Grit.
The escapades started to feel repetitive and the shenanigans weren’t as grand and exciting despite this feeling more high stakes at times.
Also, despite the huge length, character work seemed to take a down turn where the other two leads seem to take the roles of his sidekick and his love interest which is disappointing.
"Well, next time, why don't you have Raek be the father of your child?" She stood with her arms folded across her chest.
Raek shrugged. "I already feel like Ard's father half the time."
I think I still would recommend this for a good time, but nothing that will break into new favourites which was a hope after book one.
Ard is hired by the newly widowed Her Majesty to find out whether the current King killed his cousin and twelve year old heir to get himself on the throne.
It seems like the King is being puppeteered by an ancient dangerous organization known as the Realm who operates under the strictest procedures, security, and obscurity.
They'd saved civilization, but now it was tearing itself apart in the aftermath.
Sadly, this didn’t work as well as book one for me.
Of course, the humour is still top-notch, maybe not quite as sharp and natural as book one, but still a joy to read.
"I just thought you might go to Big Man conventions, or something," Ard said. "You know, where you talk about how cold your feet get as they dangle off the end of your bed. And you write letters advocating for higher doorframes?"
"Yeah," Raek said. "And we practice getting things down from the top shelf. It's a real hoot."
We also have a new pov of Portsend who teaches Grit theory at a college. He is hired by the King and the Wayfaring Isles to develop new Grit, something thought impossible.
I have to admit to being slightly bored with his chapters as it is a lot of calculations and experiments and the characters just never felt developed and felt very flat. Just there to show the development of new Grit.
The escapades started to feel repetitive and the shenanigans weren’t as grand and exciting despite this feeling more high stakes at times.
Also, despite the huge length, character work seemed to take a down turn where the other two leads seem to take the roles of his sidekick and his love interest which is disappointing.
"Well, next time, why don't you have Raek be the father of your child?" She stood with her arms folded across her chest.
Raek shrugged. "I already feel like Ard's father half the time."
I think I still would recommend this for a good time, but nothing that will break into new favourites which was a hope after book one.
Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik
2.25
You cannot ignore the range of Novik and she still remains an author I will always read from!
The main negative of this short sorry collection is that I think you would have to be familiar with all of Novik’s other works to have a full understanding and enjoy most of the stories. This seems to be a splattering of short fiction Novik wrote in tandem with her main works but couldn’t fit in.
As a short story collection, I believe it should be accessible to anyone who wants to dip their toes into an author’s work whereas this is not the case for this.
There’s some standalone stories, but there’s also some from the Schoolmance universe set after the Calling.
One from Temeraire where Antonius of Rome becomes the first dragon rider.
My personal favourite which is a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of Temeraire with a gothic literature-loving dragon.
One which is verbatim a shorter story version of her novel Spinning Silver which Novik admits to in the introduction. However, I do think I enjoyed this shorter version! Despite foregoing the atmospheric descriptions, the writing was crisper and more engaging.
Here it was the dark of being a thing in the wrong place, soft and vulnerable and fallen between the turning wheels of a machine, like one of the poor little hedgehogs that tried to cross the road and were flattened by cars into useless pulp.
Novik ventures into science fiction which I thought was fascinating and would love to see her attempt a full length novel!
Children of virtually any society are an excellent resource for the diplomatic servant or the anthropologist, if contact with them can be made without giving offense. They enjoy the unfamiliar experience of answering real questions, particularly the stupidly obvious ones that allow them to feel a sense of superiority over the inquiring adult, and they are easily impressed with the unusual.
It is undeniable Novik is a master of words and delving into different niches. I thought this would make her short story collection outstanding. Sadly, for the aforementioned reasons, it did not.
Thank you to Cornerstone for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
The main negative of this short sorry collection is that I think you would have to be familiar with all of Novik’s other works to have a full understanding and enjoy most of the stories. This seems to be a splattering of short fiction Novik wrote in tandem with her main works but couldn’t fit in.
As a short story collection, I believe it should be accessible to anyone who wants to dip their toes into an author’s work whereas this is not the case for this.
There’s some standalone stories, but there’s also some from the Schoolmance universe set after the Calling.
One from Temeraire where Antonius of Rome becomes the first dragon rider.
My personal favourite which is a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of Temeraire with a gothic literature-loving dragon.
One which is verbatim a shorter story version of her novel Spinning Silver which Novik admits to in the introduction. However, I do think I enjoyed this shorter version! Despite foregoing the atmospheric descriptions, the writing was crisper and more engaging.
Here it was the dark of being a thing in the wrong place, soft and vulnerable and fallen between the turning wheels of a machine, like one of the poor little hedgehogs that tried to cross the road and were flattened by cars into useless pulp.
Novik ventures into science fiction which I thought was fascinating and would love to see her attempt a full length novel!
Children of virtually any society are an excellent resource for the diplomatic servant or the anthropologist, if contact with them can be made without giving offense. They enjoy the unfamiliar experience of answering real questions, particularly the stupidly obvious ones that allow them to feel a sense of superiority over the inquiring adult, and they are easily impressed with the unusual.
It is undeniable Novik is a master of words and delving into different niches. I thought this would make her short story collection outstanding. Sadly, for the aforementioned reasons, it did not.
Thank you to Cornerstone for providing an arc in exchange for a review!