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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (381)
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
........huh?
Sigh. I really hoped to love this conclusion, but I am mostly confused and underwhelmed.
I can appreciate what the author was going for with thecyclical nature of history and the persistence of human cruelty. But I found the execution lacking.
He says in the acknowledgments that he didn't really consider these overarching themes until he had finished book 1, and I'm afraid I think that really shows in the execution. I adored book 1 and found it perfect in its simplicity. Each book afterwards just got more complicated (borderline convoluted) in a way that wasn't as easily accomplished in the novella/parable format. It's not that I think his ideas were bad or nonsensical, just that the story got more confusing and less compelling as it went on.
I mostly found this third book boring unfortunately. The characters didn't grab me at all, and their missions and thought processes left me scratching my head. I somehow thought this book was too long AND that it should have been a full length epic fantasy instead. While I understand the reasons for the ending, I wasn't remotely satisfied by it.
Now, I am fully willing to admit that a large part of this is probably user error and/or personal preference. It's entirely possible that I just didn't get it. But I think it also just wasn't for me, sadly.
BUT I will always sing the praises of book 1! I think it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone honestly. But I also still think it's worth continuing and seeing if the overarching story resonates with you!
Sigh. I really hoped to love this conclusion, but I am mostly confused and underwhelmed.
I can appreciate what the author was going for with the
He says in the acknowledgments that he didn't really consider these overarching themes until he had finished book 1, and I'm afraid I think that really shows in the execution. I adored book 1 and found it perfect in its simplicity. Each book afterwards just got more complicated (borderline convoluted) in a way that wasn't as easily accomplished in the novella/parable format. It's not that I think his ideas were bad or nonsensical, just that the story got more confusing and less compelling as it went on.
I mostly found this third book boring unfortunately. The characters didn't grab me at all, and their missions and thought processes left me scratching my head. I somehow thought this book was too long AND that it should have been a full length epic fantasy instead. While I understand the reasons for the ending, I wasn't remotely satisfied by it.
Now, I am fully willing to admit that a large part of this is probably user error and/or personal preference. It's entirely possible that I just didn't get it. But I think it also just wasn't for me, sadly.
BUT I will always sing the praises of book 1! I think it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone honestly. But I also still think it's worth continuing and seeing if the overarching story resonates with you!
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
What a finale to this first Gael Song era!!!!
Wrapped enough up to be satisfying, but also left enough unfinished to make me eager to jump into era 2! I'm annoyed there is only one book from that done yet. 😂
These books are so fast-paced, so well-researched, full of intriguing history and folklore, and this one also got me more emotionally invested in the characters as well! That was missing a little bit from the first 2 books, but really worked here. I actually shed some tears at the end.
I'm not sure what else I can say. Just an excellent series! I'm so excited to continue this story!
Wrapped enough up to be satisfying, but also left enough unfinished to make me eager to jump into era 2! I'm annoyed there is only one book from that done yet. 😂
These books are so fast-paced, so well-researched, full of intriguing history and folklore, and this one also got me more emotionally invested in the characters as well! That was missing a little bit from the first 2 books, but really worked here. I actually shed some tears at the end.
I'm not sure what else I can say. Just an excellent series! I'm so excited to continue this story!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Against all odds, I liked this quite a bit more than The Wall of Storms!
I do have to acknowledge, that's due in large part to the fact that I immersion read it. (Also occasionally just did audio and let my attention slip a little... especially for certain chapters in part 4. If you know, you know.) I can't bring myself to rate this higher, knowing that my enjoyment rested so heavily on the reading format.
However, I do also think the narrative in this book just suited me better. For one, I think much of the plot was more exciting - the product of so much build-up in the previous two books. But also, I really enjoyed staying with various factions for such long periods of time. The character work really flourished here. And I generally love when core characters are split up across the world, especially when their actions, although independent, are all tied up with one another. So this book worked really well for me, for the most part!
I definitely do believe that part 4 really didn't need to do all that...... but I didn't hate it (thanks to letting myself multitask through those bits).
This left me quite excited for Speaking Bones! Looking forward to it... after a bit of a break.
I do have to acknowledge, that's due in large part to the fact that I immersion read it. (Also occasionally just did audio and let my attention slip a little... especially for certain chapters in part 4. If you know, you know.) I can't bring myself to rate this higher, knowing that my enjoyment rested so heavily on the reading format.
However, I do also think the narrative in this book just suited me better. For one, I think much of the plot was more exciting - the product of so much build-up in the previous two books. But also, I really enjoyed staying with various factions for such long periods of time. The character work really flourished here. And I generally love when core characters are split up across the world, especially when their actions, although independent, are all tied up with one another. So this book worked really well for me, for the most part!
I definitely do believe that part 4 really didn't need to do all that...... but I didn't hate it (thanks to letting myself multitask through those bits).
This left me quite excited for Speaking Bones! Looking forward to it... after a bit of a break.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another lovely summertime escape with Emily Henry! 😊
Including this one, I've read her last 4 releases at the same spot for my annual summer lake vacation. Never lets me down. 🤌🏻
Having followed EmHen on social media for a while, I knew from the moment she announced this book that it would be different from her usual. So, with that plus reviews I've seen, I went in with my expectations in the right place. But also trusting that Emily will deliver what I love her for - endearing characters written in her signature fun, humorous, and serious-when-needed tone.
And she gave me exactly that! Honestly I'm befuddled by reviews that claim this is soooo different from her usual. This read to me exactly like any other EmHen rom-com, just with some bonus content. Granted, like I said, I love her for her writing, not necessarily that the books are romances. So for me, this book was very consistent with her previous work.
It was a tad long and the romance itself felt a little fast-paced for my liking. But otherwise, loved it. Loved our FMC, enjoyed her cracking the MMC's rough exterior, and was intrigued by the unfolding mystery of Margaret Ives.
Thank you, Emily, for consistently providing me with a perfect vacation read! 🤗
Including this one, I've read her last 4 releases at the same spot for my annual summer lake vacation. Never lets me down. 🤌🏻
Having followed EmHen on social media for a while, I knew from the moment she announced this book that it would be different from her usual. So, with that plus reviews I've seen, I went in with my expectations in the right place. But also trusting that Emily will deliver what I love her for - endearing characters written in her signature fun, humorous, and serious-when-needed tone.
And she gave me exactly that! Honestly I'm befuddled by reviews that claim this is soooo different from her usual. This read to me exactly like any other EmHen rom-com, just with some bonus content. Granted, like I said, I love her for her writing, not necessarily that the books are romances. So for me, this book was very consistent with her previous work.
It was a tad long and the romance itself felt a little fast-paced for my liking. But otherwise, loved it. Loved our FMC, enjoyed her cracking the MMC's rough exterior, and was intrigued by the unfolding mystery of Margaret Ives.
Thank you, Emily, for consistently providing me with a perfect vacation read! 🤗
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
A fascinating look at not only a piece of history, but human nature, seafaring, and the extreme hypocrisy and failures of imperialism.
Grann took very old firsthand accounts and rather scant available facts, and wove it into a narrative that was very readable - vivid, intriguing, and often exciting.
I will be honest though, based on the subtitle and the way a lot of people talk about this, I did expect it to be even more exciting... I found myself pretty bored by the time they set sail on their rafts. But then was re-interested by their reception back in England and the way the whole incident was "taken care of" (or not).
Honestly, I ended up being most interested in the anti-imperial themes and wish the book had gone more into that instead of only touching on it. Or I just need to find a book with a similar narrative style that does go further into that.
Either way, it is a great book bringing a very interesting story to the masses. Excited to read more shipwreck books and more from Grann.
Grann took very old firsthand accounts and rather scant available facts, and wove it into a narrative that was very readable - vivid, intriguing, and often exciting.
I will be honest though, based on the subtitle and the way a lot of people talk about this, I did expect it to be even more exciting... I found myself pretty bored by the time they set sail on their rafts. But then was re-interested by their reception back in England and the way the whole incident was "taken care of" (or not).
Honestly, I ended up being most interested in the anti-imperial themes and wish the book had gone more into that instead of only touching on it. Or I just need to find a book with a similar narrative style that does go further into that.
Either way, it is a great book bringing a very interesting story to the masses. Excited to read more shipwreck books and more from Grann.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another thought-provoking installation in the Forever Desert. 👀
Definitely didn't connect with this one as much as book 1. Mainly, I think I was just much less endeared to the main character. But also, the morals are getting a bit more complicated, which is all well and good, but it translated to a pretty messy story here. The author basically admitted as much in the acknowledgments. It's definitely a middle book, helping transition us to what should be an explosive ending. I'm looking forward to it!
Definitely didn't connect with this one as much as book 1. Mainly, I think I was just much less endeared to the main character. But also, the morals are getting a bit more complicated, which is all well and good, but it translated to a pretty messy story here. The author basically admitted as much in the acknowledgments. It's definitely a middle book, helping transition us to what should be an explosive ending. I'm looking forward to it!
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I am absolutely depleted. That is quite possibly the most devastating book I've ever read.
The combination of the horrific, senseless event and Han Kang's mastery of her craft (and of course, the beautiful work of the translator, Deborah Smith) made for an incredibly affecting reading experience.
The prose was gorgeous. The theme exploration was brilliant - it touched on so many things, but what really stood out to me were the contemplations of soul vs. body (what happens to a soul without a body and vice versa), the psychology of crowds, bravery and cruelty, guilt and shame and conscience. Between the prose and theme work, I used up at least 30 tabs marking passages in this 200 page book.
The storytelling was also so masterful and unique. The blending of POV techniques was so effective. I also loved how each chapter focused on a different character, and these chapters all built on each other and were connected in ways that were both devastating and exciting to discover. All while painting a horrifyingly vivid picture of not only this one event in South Korean history, but the atmosphere that led to it, and the grief that it caused, both on a national and individual level.
(And here I have to mention that I didn't even know South Korea had such a violent history of its own. I obviously know somewhat about North Korea, and about the many decades of colonization and subjugation. But I had no clue things ever got this bad in South Korea after the division. Just constantly embarrassed these days by how little I learned in school.)
Despite its short length and readability, I found I could not, under any circumstances, binge this book. Each different POV hit so hard, especially after the ones that came before it. I could only read 1 or 2 chapters per day before having to put it down and process the horror. (Granted, the book only has 7 chapters, so it still only took a few days.)
An absolutely beautiful, heart shattering read. Check triggers PLEASE, but after that, I think anyone who can should read this.
I can't really explain why it doesn't get the full 5. It is an objectively great book. Just didn't quite reach that 5-star gut feeling.
The combination of the horrific, senseless event and Han Kang's mastery of her craft (and of course, the beautiful work of the translator, Deborah Smith) made for an incredibly affecting reading experience.
The prose was gorgeous. The theme exploration was brilliant - it touched on so many things, but what really stood out to me were the contemplations of soul vs. body (what happens to a soul without a body and vice versa), the psychology of crowds, bravery and cruelty, guilt and shame and conscience. Between the prose and theme work, I used up at least 30 tabs marking passages in this 200 page book.
The storytelling was also so masterful and unique. The blending of POV techniques was so effective. I also loved how each chapter focused on a different character, and these chapters all built on each other and were connected in ways that were both devastating and exciting to discover. All while painting a horrifyingly vivid picture of not only this one event in South Korean history, but the atmosphere that led to it, and the grief that it caused, both on a national and individual level.
(And here I have to mention that I didn't even know South Korea had such a violent history of its own. I obviously know somewhat about North Korea, and about the many decades of colonization and subjugation. But I had no clue things ever got this bad in South Korea after the division. Just constantly embarrassed these days by how little I learned in school.)
Despite its short length and readability, I found I could not, under any circumstances, binge this book. Each different POV hit so hard, especially after the ones that came before it. I could only read 1 or 2 chapters per day before having to put it down and process the horror. (Granted, the book only has 7 chapters, so it still only took a few days.)
An absolutely beautiful, heart shattering read. Check triggers PLEASE, but after that, I think anyone who can should read this.
I can't really explain why it doesn't get the full 5. It is an objectively great book. Just didn't quite reach that 5-star gut feeling.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a LOT of info dumping (and somehow also a frustrating amount of withheld information). And interesting things happening off page just to be summarized in a few sentences. And very confusing plot twists. And the FMC constantly being stripped of her agency and only making half-assed attempts to claim any of it back. And an utterly nonsensical and inappropriate semi-romance...
BUT despite all of those things, I am invested!! I loooove this world, it's so vibrant and fun and dangerous and magical, and completely steeped in Arab history and culture and folklore. So refreshingly different from most mainstream fantasy. I was immediately taken in by it. I also really like our main characters! Despite some of their more frustrating proclivities. 🙄 And the lack of meaningful development in this book. I really look forward to seeing where they go from here.
I'm willing to chalk my storytelling gripes up to first book growing pains. I definitely sense that it's 100% a setup book, and I'm very interested to see what it set up. 👀
BUT despite all of those things, I am invested!! I loooove this world, it's so vibrant and fun and dangerous and magical, and completely steeped in Arab history and culture and folklore. So refreshingly different from most mainstream fantasy. I was immediately taken in by it. I also really like our main characters! Despite some of their more frustrating proclivities. 🙄 And the lack of meaningful development in this book. I really look forward to seeing where they go from here.
I'm willing to chalk my storytelling gripes up to first book growing pains. I definitely sense that it's 100% a setup book, and I'm very interested to see what it set up. 👀
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Great memoir. An absolutely horrifying, harrowing story that needed to be told. I'm so glad that folks didn't shut up about bringing BG home and were able to make it happen before worse could happen to her in Russia. And I love that she now loudly advocates for other American hostages/detainees overseas.
Hearing about this firsthand experience with Russian corruption does make one at least slightly more proud to be an American... Now just to fiercely hope that our wannabe-Putin president doesn't get us to that level.
Hearing about this firsthand experience with Russian corruption does make one at least slightly more proud to be an American... Now just to fiercely hope that our wannabe-Putin president doesn't get us to that level.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
fast-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
Wow.
I've heard such great reviews about this novella series, but had very little idea what it was about or if I'd like it myself.
But WOW. I loved it. Such an impactful work of allegory. It read like a fable or parable or even a bedtime story (a particularly gruesome one, though...). Despite this simplicity, it still managed to make me fall for the characters and feel a lot of emotion for them. It was perfect in its simplicity. Heartbreaking, but so wise and still somehow satisfying.
I wonder if this hit me a little harder because I JUST finished a history book about colonization in Africa. Just a thought. I'm sure I would have loved it either way.
Really looking forward to the rest of this trilogy.
I've heard such great reviews about this novella series, but had very little idea what it was about or if I'd like it myself.
But WOW. I loved it. Such an impactful work of allegory. It read like a fable or parable or even a bedtime story (a particularly gruesome one, though...). Despite this simplicity, it still managed to make me fall for the characters and feel a lot of emotion for them. It was perfect in its simplicity. Heartbreaking, but so wise and still somehow satisfying.
I wonder if this hit me a little harder because I JUST finished a history book about colonization in Africa. Just a thought. I'm sure I would have loved it either way.
Really looking forward to the rest of this trilogy.