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hollymmcg's reviews
284 reviews
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
4.0
Such a beautiful adventure of a book. Thanks to Levar Burton Reads (go listen to that podcast right now), I know that Amal El-Mohtar is a poet, and that is evident in the style of writing in this book. It flirted with poetry the entire time, which gave the novel a wonderful flow and lilt as I read.
Reaching the ending and seeing how pieces of the ending had been woven in to the book from the start was incredibly satisfying and very brilliantly done by the authors.
I wished for just a bit more of a tied up ending. Just a bit. Just the tiniest bit. I am a sucker for a solid resolution and this book doesn't entirely deliver. That said - I don't think a solid resolution would feel right for this book, either.
4/5, I very much enjoyed this and will read again.
Reaching the ending and seeing how pieces of the ending had been woven in to the book from the start was incredibly satisfying and very brilliantly done by the authors.
I wished for just a bit more of a tied up ending. Just a bit. Just the tiniest bit. I am a sucker for a solid resolution and this book doesn't entirely deliver. That said - I don't think a solid resolution would feel right for this book, either.
4/5, I very much enjoyed this and will read again.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
5.0
Samantha Shannon continues to impress. This book is everything I love about high fantasy - magic, vibrant imagery, and epic world building - with the addition of radical inclusion and diversity. While the novel started off a bit slowly for me (I was initially thinking of rating it 4 stars because of the slow start), the rest of the tale and the ending brought it right back up to the full 5. I loved it, I loved the characters, and I can't wait to return to this world someday.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
Folks. Folks.... FOLKS. While book 1 was enjoyable, I have to say it left me with a feeling of, "well that was good, but I don't really get the hype of this series." BOOK 2 IS WHAT DOES IT. You read book 1 to GET to book 2.
This book took everything I thought I knew about this world and turned it on its head. I went from loving characters to despising them, and despising characters to loving them.
I am almost embarrassed by how much I loved Tamlin initially and how much of a blind eye I turned to his abuse under the guise of "love", but that's the power of Maas' writing. It was so easy to go along with Feyre and feel what she felt but the slow sweeping turn of the tide to Rhysand...
Was just so well executed. It took a long time, and I've seen some argue that it shouldn't have been so long and there was a lot of fluff that could have been cut out, but I disagree. Healing from trauma, rebuilding and reshaping relationships, building new love, all take time. And Maas DELIVERED that. Though I do think there were times when Feyre reacted poorly... To a certain revelation, for example. Though I suppose we would not have the cabin without that, so oh well.
I WILL say that the end was HECTIC. It was brilliant and so good but more happened in the last 5 or so chapters than the rest of the book. Not to say the rest of the book wasn't good but that ending. Hoo boy.
A masterpiece. I cannot wait to tear into book 3 and watch the Spring Court and those associated with it and Hybern burn.
This book took everything I thought I knew about this world and turned it on its head. I went from loving characters to despising them, and despising characters to loving them.
I am almost embarrassed by how much I loved Tamlin initially and how much of a blind eye I turned to his abuse under the guise of "love", but that's the power of Maas' writing. It was so easy to go along with Feyre and feel what she felt but the slow sweeping turn of the tide to Rhysand...
Was just so well executed. It took a long time, and I've seen some argue that it shouldn't have been so long and there was a lot of fluff that could have been cut out, but I disagree. Healing from trauma, rebuilding and reshaping relationships, building new love, all take time. And Maas DELIVERED that. Though I do think there were times when Feyre reacted poorly... To a certain revelation, for example. Though I suppose we would not have the cabin without that, so oh well.
I WILL say that the end was HECTIC. It was brilliant and so good but more happened in the last 5 or so chapters than the rest of the book. Not to say the rest of the book wasn't good but that ending. Hoo boy.
A masterpiece. I cannot wait to tear into book 3 and watch the Spring Court and those associated with it and Hybern burn.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
3.75 stars lol. Book 2 was still the best in the series.
I enjoyed this book very much. Again, I didn't find myself disliking the middle bits as much as some other reviewers, but I'm not adept at critiquing works as I read them. I will say it's hard to reconcile the start of the book with the end... This could very easily have been two separate books with how much things felt different by the end.
Overall I was pleased with the story, but the ending almost felt a bit... Contrived. It was almost TOO neatly wrapped up. Too happy. Maas threatened us with major character deaths and I never once worried about them because I knew she wouldn't kill them... And she didn't. She even actually DID kill two... But not really. She threatened us with our main group being overwhelmed in battle... JUST to have the saving armies sweep in on time. Maybe this is just the Game of Thrones trauma talking, but it cheapens the experience just a bit.
I was discussing it with my partner (he's not read these books), and he said "well ultimately, they either win or they lose right?" And yes, this is true; but it didn't feel like there was any sacrifice or real loss in the face of their win.
Again, I am enjoying these books but do find them predictable to an extent.
I enjoyed this book very much. Again, I didn't find myself disliking the middle bits as much as some other reviewers, but I'm not adept at critiquing works as I read them. I will say it's hard to reconcile the start of the book with the end... This could very easily have been two separate books with how much things felt different by the end.
Overall I was pleased with the story, but the ending almost felt a bit... Contrived. It was almost TOO neatly wrapped up. Too happy. Maas threatened us with major character deaths and I never once worried about them because I knew she wouldn't kill them... And she didn't. She even actually DID kill two... But not really. She threatened us with our main group being overwhelmed in battle... JUST to have the saving armies sweep in on time. Maybe this is just the Game of Thrones trauma talking, but it cheapens the experience just a bit.
I was discussing it with my partner (he's not read these books), and he said "well ultimately, they either win or they lose right?" And yes, this is true; but it didn't feel like there was any sacrifice or real loss in the face of their win.
Again, I am enjoying these books but do find them predictable to an extent.
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
I'm not a great writer of reviews (yet! Practice makes perfect, right?), so suffice it to say... Wow.
Book 2 of this series really did nail it for the twists. I still have to hand it to book 2 on that front. But ACoSF nails it almost everywhere else. The writing? Improved. The sex? HOT. The feeling? Deep and believable.
Maas finally fleshes out two characters I have been dying to get to know better for BOOKS now. She develops them beautifully; Nesta in particular (I guess there's more growth to be had when you're only in your mid 20s as compared to someone who's 500+). I loved getting to know Cassian better, and I have absolutely changed who I thought my favourite Ilyrian was. I started the book calling Cassian a lovable frat boy and while I loved Nesta, she definitely had her hang ups. By the end of the book, I see Cassian as a kind, intelligent, brave soul and Nesta is the strongest, most badass bitch I've ever wanted to be.
I think that's what hit me the most in this book. It centres so much around women in community with each other and the power that brings to them. It highlights the bonds women form with each other, and the depths of friendship and love they can share. It shows the strength of a team, and though Nesta obviously has to act alone at times, she only got as far as she did because of the two women beside her.
Anyway, I loved it, I desperately want more, I'm dying for a Valkyrie tattoo, and I'm signing up for a martial art tomorrow.
Book 2 of this series really did nail it for the twists. I still have to hand it to book 2 on that front. But ACoSF nails it almost everywhere else. The writing? Improved. The sex? HOT. The feeling? Deep and believable.
Maas finally fleshes out two characters I have been dying to get to know better for BOOKS now. She develops them beautifully; Nesta in particular (I guess there's more growth to be had when you're only in your mid 20s as compared to someone who's 500+). I loved getting to know Cassian better, and I have absolutely changed who I thought my favourite Ilyrian was. I started the book calling Cassian a lovable frat boy and while I loved Nesta, she definitely had her hang ups. By the end of the book, I see Cassian as a kind, intelligent, brave soul and Nesta is the strongest, most badass bitch I've ever wanted to be.
I think that's what hit me the most in this book. It centres so much around women in community with each other and the power that brings to them. It highlights the bonds women form with each other, and the depths of friendship and love they can share. It shows the strength of a team, and though Nesta obviously has to act alone at times, she only got as far as she did because of the two women beside her.
Anyway, I loved it, I desperately want more, I'm dying for a Valkyrie tattoo, and I'm signing up for a martial art tomorrow.
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
3.0
I really, really wanted to love this book. But it just didn't land right for me.
To begin with - I love this author's vision and their imagination. The world is very much alive, and the religions and politics are inspired.
Where I struggled:
*The plot felt jerky and stuttered. The overall progression of the plot made sense, but the flow between scenes felt stilted and forced. Though the overall story arc was logical, it still felt like, "now they're here, now they're doing this, oh no this is happening" and so on and so forth.
*This made it hard for me to really develop any kind of strong feelings for the characters, either good or bad. I found I was more afraid of the random monsters in the woods we meet for only a short scene as compared to the true villain of the entire story. I only felt surface level things for each character.
*And that second point really hampered my ability to get into the love story, which is arguably the crux of the entire book. This is an enemies to lovers romance, which is a literary trope I REALLY DIG, but it has to be done carefully. The MC almost IMMEDIATELY began mooning over the LI (physically, anyway), which rang false with what had just happened to her. This part really got me - I was so excited for one scene in particular that I had seen some people reference in their reviews, that sounded so powerful and moving, and when it finally arrived... I just felt like rolling my eyes
*Pursuant to the third point - I didn't love the MC. I think loving her was hurt by not being able to get into the characters. Realistically, she has strong vibes of two main characters I have read recently and absolutely adored (Nesta Archeron [fiery, wolfish, wounds with her words when feeling cornered or attacked] and Paige Mahoney [stubborn, too noble for her own good and therefore makes bad choices that don't always take others into consideration]), but for some reason when Evike behaved in those ways it just came across as hypocritical and overbearing.
I will continue to follow this author's journey and read future works because as I said - their vision and imagination is incredible. The writing was prosaic and well done, and this was a debut novel - there is room to grow, in my mind!
To begin with - I love this author's vision and their imagination. The world is very much alive, and the religions and politics are inspired.
Where I struggled:
*The plot felt jerky and stuttered. The overall progression of the plot made sense, but the flow between scenes felt stilted and forced. Though the overall story arc was logical, it still felt like, "now they're here, now they're doing this, oh no this is happening" and so on and so forth.
*This made it hard for me to really develop any kind of strong feelings for the characters, either good or bad. I found I was more afraid of the random monsters in the woods we meet for only a short scene as compared to the true villain of the entire story. I only felt surface level things for each character.
*And that second point really hampered my ability to get into the love story, which is arguably the crux of the entire book. This is an enemies to lovers romance, which is a literary trope I REALLY DIG, but it has to be done carefully. The MC almost IMMEDIATELY began mooning over the LI (physically, anyway), which rang false with what had just happened to her. This part really got me - I was so excited for one scene in particular that I had seen some people reference in their reviews, that sounded so powerful and moving, and when it finally arrived... I just felt like rolling my eyes
*Pursuant to the third point - I didn't love the MC. I think loving her was hurt by not being able to get into the characters. Realistically, she has strong vibes of two main characters I have read recently and absolutely adored (Nesta Archeron [fiery, wolfish, wounds with her words when feeling cornered or attacked] and Paige Mahoney [stubborn, too noble for her own good and therefore makes bad choices that don't always take others into consideration]), but for some reason when Evike behaved in those ways it just came across as hypocritical and overbearing.
I will continue to follow this author's journey and read future works because as I said - their vision and imagination is incredible. The writing was prosaic and well done, and this was a debut novel - there is room to grow, in my mind!