This is one of those times where I kind of don't like having to rate books on a 1-5 scale. I definitely liked this book more than I like most of the bThis is one of those times where I kind of don't like having to rate books on a 1-5 scale. I definitely liked this book more than I like most of the books I rate with 4 stars, but I didn't think it quite met my very strict 5 star standards. 4.5 I suppose, to be fair.
In most ways, I really like Cherryh's writing (and I tend to love her characters), but I have to admit that sometimes it gets a little tricky figuring out what's happening. She has a tendency to shift viewpoint abruptly and at times I kind of think she shouldn't be switching. So, that is probably the main reason why I couldn't give this five stars like I really almost did.
Pretty much everything else about this book was good. I don't know much about Slavic mythology, but I know a bit, so it was nice to kind of get more of that. I tend to hate teenage protagonists, but I really didn't in this case. Most of the time I forgot that Sasha was supposed to be a kid, which is really for the best, my loathing for teenage protagonists being what it is. Cherryh's books tend to get me in a feels trap, and this was of course, exactly that. As a writer, I am plain jealous of her ability to make me feel for characters, especially characters I didn't think I could care about. But I digress. I have to admit, I was less than in love with her female character this time around. She sort of rang hollow to me, which is just bizarre in a Cherryh work, and I pretty much didn't care about her at all.
I read this book in one sitting, so it was decently paced and the plot was interesting enough that I didn't want to go do something else instead. I get kind of ADD at the best of times with books, so that I was 3/4 of the way through before my mind began to wander for a few minutes is pretty impressive....more
Me precisely one minute ago: wait...that's the end of the book?
I'm not saying that the book wasn't a bit long at parts and could have possibly been shMe precisely one minute ago: wait...that's the end of the book?
I'm not saying that the book wasn't a bit long at parts and could have possibly been shorter, but by the end I was definitely on board for some more. I am saying that I'm kind of surprised that I liked this book as much as I did. I mean, it was by far one of the best I've read this year. Sure, there were some issues (my copy had grammar mistakes) and there were a few instances of questionable wording, but I haven't been so interested in a book in a while. ( The Burned Tower doesn't count, being a novella).
The primary reason I was dedicated by the end was the character development. Seriously, well done. I wasn't too hot on any of the characters in the beginning, although they were passable and amusing enough. But there really is a slow unfolding of who the people are in depth, and I ended up liking characters I did not expect to like. Honestly, other than the quite jerkish villains, I can't think of a character I disliked all of them were complicated, with redeeming characteristics as well as realistic (and sometimes extremely dark) flaws.
The plot overall wasn't the most original, but it was also far from the basic fantasy fare. I mean, yes, the protagonists are farm folk and the best and special and blah blah blah. But, this was definitely a good twist on the usual rags-to-heroism story. Firstly, the rise to prominence was prior to the beginning of the book, and then there's the fact that they're set to rob people on the very first page. There was also a bit of steampunk thrown in, which I didn't quite love nor did I hate it. I might change my mind on this in the future, depending on how well the author handles it.
Right now my biggest fear is that this first book in the series was so good, that the next two are going to just let me down and crush my hopes and dreams. Usually when I find a first book I love, the next book ruins everything. So, that's a compliment. This book was so awesome to read that I'm more than half-scared to read the next one, but must because I seriously can't let everything end like it did....more
This is actually among my favorite books by Ross Macdonald, which I did not expect at all. It had all of the usual elements of his writing: family disThis is actually among my favorite books by Ross Macdonald, which I did not expect at all. It had all of the usual elements of his writing: family disfunction, social issues, robbery and murder, but it was also different in a number of ways-good ways.
The protagonist was a married lawyer of Scandinavian descent; pretty sure I will never write that sentence again. I loved how that lent a new angle to the plot, one that I'm not accustomed to and couldn't predict.
And the allusions and references...I love being able to understand what is being referred to, and it not being some random pop culture aspect. I guess I mean to say that I love how this felt more educated than most books.
There were a few moments when I was annoyed by certain things, like a baby having "masculine kicks," however (view spoiler)[it was a girl. Hah. (hide spoiler)] I think most of them turned out to be integral to the plot, or disproved. Actually, sitting here praising so many aspects and not being able to think of a legitimate complaint, I've had to up this a star....more
Wow, I adored this. That's kind of shocking, since I haven't loved something I've read in a very long time. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since tWow, I adored this. That's kind of shocking, since I haven't loved something I've read in a very long time. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since this book is the product of the authors, who wrote The Scar, which I also loved.
It was a bizarre little story, but I liked how it was just unapologetically weird. I also admit that I was completely absorbed in the raw emotionality that the Dyachenkos are so good at delivering. (Even in translations from the native language, so kudos to the translator as well). It helps get me caught up in what's happening, so much that I was almost one hundred ebook pages in when I looked to see how much I read, and was shocked and disappointed that I was almost done.
Overall, I really need to read more from these authors, because this was an awesome literary gem and now I want more....more
Okay, I had real trouble rating this book. Originally, I gave it four stars, but then couldn't sleep and kept thinking that maybe it was five stars. ROkay, I had real trouble rating this book. Originally, I gave it four stars, but then couldn't sleep and kept thinking that maybe it was five stars. Really, I think that I would say that it is not a perfect book at all, but it is pretty much what I was looking for. Actually, I had guessed at what this book was gonna be about before I even heard that it was written. (So me and Brett Battles plot our books similarly, I have to give him points for that.) But the biggest reason I was convinced to change the rating was that the way that I rate books is 5 stars if I can't find anything to complain about, 4 if there are a few things, etc. The thing is, I can't think of anything to complain about. Sure the plot was predictable, (because I had thought it up, lolsy) but more in a comforting way than in an I've-seen-this-a-million-freaking-times kind of way. (view spoiler)[Plus, I think I need a little predictability and comfort after that ending. Seriously Battles, that was messed up. (hide spoiler)] There wasn't anything extraordinary about this book; it really isn't innovative or thought provoking, but I was pretty rapt while reading it, liked it a whole lot, and still want more. I guess I can't ask for much more for a five star book....more
So, this book basically invented steampunk, I'm a bit of a fan of steampunk and yet I had never thought it necessary to read this. Part of me thought So, this book basically invented steampunk, I'm a bit of a fan of steampunk and yet I had never thought it necessary to read this. Part of me thought it would be like the tripe that is most of the genre these days, but I really should have given the inventor a bit more credit.
I didn't have the issue that other readers have had with the language and the confusing science. Having read Jane Austen, the language in this book was comparatively easy, and the confusing science I just sort of went with it. The resonance thing I understood right away, since I've read about accidents caused by such resonance. Then there's the fact that I just read the book Resonance. I also don't agree with the plot being slow or boring. I read the whole book in one sitting because it managed to keep my attention throughout.
However, I was sort of shaky on whether this book deserved four or five stars. I honestly can't remember the last time that I gave out a five star rating, so I was more than hesitant to do so here. But then, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the originality (because, despite being steampunk, it isn't about a plucky heroine on an airship drinking tea). This book made me happy and didn't irritate me in any significant way...I think that's enough to finally warrant five stars....more
I was actually surprised at how much I liked this book. I expected it to be much slower, but stuff started right away, which is one way to raise a booI was actually surprised at how much I liked this book. I expected it to be much slower, but stuff started right away, which is one way to raise a book in my opinion. And it really just got better as it went, I'm pretty sure my heart rate sped up. Any book that gets a physical reaction is also just plain awesome. I really love it when books are better than expected.
There were some actually creepy parts, and I thought I might get annoyed at (view spoiler)[the seemingly tossed in romance, but not, this time Herbert was doing it not only to be gratuitous; it ended up being pretty awesome that the chick was a rancid ghost the whole time. Awesome. (hide spoiler)]
This book is also a bit different from anything else I can think of (outside other Herbert books,) it's not really Stephen King-esque despite being the same genre, and it's definitely not Koontz-like. All that is intended as praise, if that wasn't apparent....more
Okay, this is a bit strange. I was liking each book less than the previous, thinking that I had guessed (and usually rightly so) what Abercrombie was Okay, this is a bit strange. I was liking each book less than the previous, thinking that I had guessed (and usually rightly so) what Abercrombie was up to. That is to say, he makes me like a character, and then completely destroys said individual. Well, this one went a bit differently. There was a fair amount of soul-crushery involved, but there was actually some goodness (SHOCK there) and a bit of hope at the end. Calder...I started off wanting to bitch slap him in the previous series, but wow did he have some freaking character development, in all senses of the word. Definitely made the book for me. Gorst was pretty good too, but much less change involved, and he sort of came through everything to end up where he started. With Shivers I was kind of depressed, (don't want to think about it) but at least he got to be badass. Last random thought: some parts of the battle really reminded me of bits of the American Civil War, and I'm wondering whether it was somehow coincidental, or if Abercrombie really loves his military history. The Union is called The Union....more
Finally this book came out... Sorry, I meant: finally a book that gave me what I wanted. I admit, I was nervous that it would suffer from second-book Finally this book came out... Sorry, I meant: finally a book that gave me what I wanted. I admit, I was nervous that it would suffer from second-book syndrome, in which the first book was amazing and the second was bland and lacked the elements that really made the first so good. Not at all the case here. Actually, this might have been a hair better, partly because it built on the plot of the first one.
Okay, so the characters aren't the most detailed or intriguing I've ever read, but that hardly matters to me. Honestly, some of the "twists" were rather predictable, which did slightly matter to me. Together with a few parts that were just the faintest bit boring (paragraphs long, only, but enough where it slowed the otherwise exceedingly fast-paced plot), that takes a star off my review.
But really, I would give this a 4.5 if I could, because I really did enjoy reading it. I was rapt a great portion of the time, because the author doesn't waste time with dozens of characters and detailed intrigue. I think I laughed out loud several times as well, at both bits of dialogue and situations that were so ironic that I couldn't help but laugh. And the lack of a defined romantic angle... oh so many good things about this book. I'm sure tomorrow I'll regret having read this so quickly and facing once more a long wait for the next book....more
Well, for the second time today I was pleasantly surprised by a book. I kept expecting this book to slow down and get boring eventually, but that neveWell, for the second time today I was pleasantly surprised by a book. I kept expecting this book to slow down and get boring eventually, but that never actually happened. Definitely could see the influences of 19th century Russian literature, especially in the character of Amalia and Zurov's hate-love with her which reminded me of Nastassya Filippovna and Rogozhin from The Idiot. Okay, I guessed at the end, but I was still pretty happy that the author had the guts to write that. I love how the plot started out with some minor little event and turned into a global conspiracy....more
I have to admit, I really did enjoy this. I thought it might be a somewhat amusing little book, but there was much more to it than some role reversal.I have to admit, I really did enjoy this. I thought it might be a somewhat amusing little book, but there was much more to it than some role reversal.
Alright, I'm not sure to what degree several of the characters are actually villains, but since (view spoiler)[that's sort of the point of the book (hide spoiler)], that's not a downside. So, the beginning was intriguing, which led me to continue reading it, to see where this strange plot was headed. From there it was sort of an off-color, typical fantasy story. Except the parts where I was reminded it was really a parody, and the several instances where I had to stop reading because I was laughing too hard. Once really loud laugh occurred in the middle of the night, while I was trying to not make noise...thanks book, for making me sound crazy. Really, though, a lot of my love comes from the (view spoiler)[Dragonlance-y crew's part. (hide spoiler)] That was just too funny for me, and it came out of nowhere so I was utterly caught unaware by the hilarity. Several of the other twists are predictable, but that side plot was wonderfully unexpected/
It wasn't perfect, though. There were ways that it could have been better. For one, I got a bit bored of the quest about halfway through, because it was just stuff I had already read dozens of times before except done by "villains." Kaylana also tended to bug on more than one occasion, (although the other female character, Valerie, was surprisingly likable) and her character really didn't do much to make me interested. She was far too much the straight-man in this endeavor, and I tend to hate that kind of character. Lastly, there was not enough Raistlin. I mean T....whatever his name was, I can't remember because every time I saw the name I mentally substituted Raistlin. Once I got a taste, then I didn't want to read anymore about the questers, I wanted surprisingly non-evil, parody Raistlin and company. Eventually I got over my disappointment, but still, more of that would have convinced me to give this a perfect rating.
Funny, I usually don't give long reviews for books that I liked, but with this one I had a lot I thought needed saying. Overall, this was a rather good book, and one I probably will re-read in the future, for the lols....more
Start off saying that I put this down for a few days because the first fifty pages were so good, I thought that the book had to get slow and boring afStart off saying that I put this down for a few days because the first fifty pages were so good, I thought that the book had to get slow and boring afterward. I was mistaken. The only real complaint I had was the parts where the narrator would go off on a random subject and rant for two pages. The plot was terribly convoluted, but for some reason that just seemed to work with me and anyway Internecine wouldn't be very internecine if it was all simple and straightforward. Have to say that the last twist did not really surprise me. My reaction was "Ah, yeah, I see that."
I don't know if I can properly express my love of this book, because it's really based on several small factors rather than one thing specifically. Well, Dandine, I guess that's one big factor. One of my favorite characters ever, which is not an easy thing to accomplish in a standalone book. Anyway, the writing was awesome for the most part, the plot was far from trope or cliche driven. This was like a lovely bit of fresh originality with a quick pace and piles of sarcasm. It's almost like someone designed the book specifically for me to love it....more
Firstly, I love my French Revolution books. And secondly, I love Sydney Carton. If you read this and don't love him, then I just don't know what to thFirstly, I love my French Revolution books. And secondly, I love Sydney Carton. If you read this and don't love him, then I just don't know what to think about you. He's such an irascible jerk in the beginning (which is strangely awesome) and then...yeah. Okay, the first fifty pages are kind of boring. By kind of, I mean very. But after that it does pick up, and the ending alone is worth a few stars. It's rare that I cry at the end of a book, so if I do, it's gotta be pretty powerful. I'm not a huge Dickens fan, I think he can be a bit too verbose sometimes, but this book is just amazing. As I'm writing this, I'm repeating the last lines in my head. They're just absolutely perfect, and memorable....more
This is one of my more favorite treatments of Norse gods in any setting, but especially in a modern one. Thor is just perfect to my understanding of hThis is one of my more favorite treatments of Norse gods in any setting, but especially in a modern one. Thor is just perfect to my understanding of him, and the reasons for the common misconceptions of him are explained in this. Then there's Dirk Gently, who is pretty much just the comic relief (in a comedic book). I don't think he gets anything right until the end, he's got to be one of the worst holistic detectives. And that's got to be a small group. I love him though, he's too ridiculous not to love. ...more
I loved the random humor in this book. It was so bizarre and unexpected, that the first chapter completely threw me, and then I was just laughing throI loved the random humor in this book. It was so bizarre and unexpected, that the first chapter completely threw me, and then I was just laughing through the whole thing. I've heard other people say that this book is boring or doesn't make sense, and I've come to the conclusion that they don't get that it isn't a very serious book. Yes, there are serious underlying themes, but things like Milo's crazy criminal enterprise aren't really supposed to be taken completely serious. This is parody, people. Behaviors are exaggerated for comic effect, and to make a point. I'm not all that huge on the point to be made, but I certainly enjoy how they are used for comic effect. And there's Major Major... Maybe the book starts to lose some steam at the end, but most comedic books do, and this one is just so awesome that I completely forgive it any trespasses....more
This is a really interesting take on true crime. It isn't as if the crime is laid out with the causes first, then the murder, then the aftermath. It'sThis is a really interesting take on true crime. It isn't as if the crime is laid out with the causes first, then the murder, then the aftermath. It's sort of like a story about the town and the people in it, as it is about the murder. And it's almost surreal sometimes. There are some strange people that do some really strange things. I think that is what I liked best about this book. The crime itself isn't all that interesting, it's people like Chablis that make this worth reading. Strangeness and novelty, two things I very much appreciate in a book, and to find them in a nonfiction is just very unexpected and appreciated. And the cover, come on, that's the reason I even picked the book up....more
I did not like the little reverse twist initially, (view spoiler)[Georgia coming back (hide spoiler)] and actually, I did not want to like it because I did not like the little reverse twist initially, (view spoiler)[Georgia coming back (hide spoiler)] and actually, I did not want to like it because that whole situation is just...um...weird. I don't know...the ending worked, somehow. I also felt like this book actually wrapped properly, unlike the ends of other series. Everything came together, there was poignancy, there was bits of happy ending, and I could imagine how things would continue on after the series, but didn't have to try and make anything up. The series has been strangely awesome for how uneventful it is, and I think I am already missing the uniqueness that was this take on a post-apocalyptic society full of zombies....more
I agree that for a zombie book, there are remarkably few zombies. But since the society is still relatively functional, I don't think it would make seI agree that for a zombie book, there are remarkably few zombies. But since the society is still relatively functional, I don't think it would make sense for there to be overwhelming hordes everywhere. I didn't even read this series for the zombies, I was actually interested by the media angle, and how that would play into a zombie semi-apocalypse, and the place of media in the world after coming back from the brink. I like the interesting, damaged characters. And maybe I like a zombie story in which more than two people (including stock blonde chick) survive....more