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didyousaybooks's reviews
2941 reviews
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
adventurous
mysterious
3.75
This is the type of YA that, while new, feels really familiar, and that’s good thing when it works. And The Luminaries really worked for me.
It’s mysterious, a school(ish) setting, family drama and monster fighting, all of that in an enclave of “our” world and stereotypical and yet compelling characters.
What I mean by “stereotypically compelling” is that they are the characters you expect in a YA story and it just works. Nothing extraordinary but when well done, it’s exactly what you’re looking for.
And I found The Luminaries to do this quite well.
It’s mysterious, a school(ish) setting, family drama and monster fighting, all of that in an enclave of “our” world and stereotypical and yet compelling characters.
What I mean by “stereotypically compelling” is that they are the characters you expect in a YA story and it just works. Nothing extraordinary but when well done, it’s exactly what you’re looking for.
And I found The Luminaries to do this quite well.
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Who knew that after DNFing it a couple years ago because I just wasn’t in the mood, I would have such a blast with this book?!
I mean, I’m not that surprised because it is a well loved series, I’m just happy to join the Abercrombie readers to finally be able to know what they’re talking about.
I was on the edge of my seat, despite this book not having a lot of action, I just could stop reading when I finally sat down.
The characters are so real, I was so frustrated with most of them and yet they are so endearing, each in a different way.
Like absolutely violent, and brute and arrogant and yet, naive and loyal (ish) and stupid and smartly flawed.
And because I’m a character reader at the core, this is definitely my type of story.
I also was not expecting to laugh like I did!
I just had a lot of fun, discovering this world, which is a nice surprise as this is grim dark. It certainly is, so much suffering, and as I’ve only read book one I gather it won’t stop here, but it did not feel depressing, if that makes sense?
It’s exactly because it is labeled as Grim Dark that it took forever for me to finally pick it up again and give it another shot.
I’m happy I did and can’t wait to continue the rest of the series!
Good thing I have the boxset ready, as well as the trilogy on my kindle lol
I mean, I’m not that surprised because it is a well loved series, I’m just happy to join the Abercrombie readers to finally be able to know what they’re talking about.
I was on the edge of my seat, despite this book not having a lot of action, I just could stop reading when I finally sat down.
The characters are so real, I was so frustrated with most of them and yet they are so endearing, each in a different way.
Like absolutely violent, and brute and arrogant and yet, naive and loyal (ish) and stupid and smartly flawed.
And because I’m a character reader at the core, this is definitely my type of story.
I also was not expecting to laugh like I did!
I just had a lot of fun, discovering this world, which is a nice surprise as this is grim dark. It certainly is, so much suffering, and as I’ve only read book one I gather it won’t stop here, but it did not feel depressing, if that makes sense?
It’s exactly because it is labeled as Grim Dark that it took forever for me to finally pick it up again and give it another shot.
I’m happy I did and can’t wait to continue the rest of the series!
Good thing I have the boxset ready, as well as the trilogy on my kindle lol
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser
4.0
Very well researched.