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philibin's reviews
825 reviews
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
(2.5 Stars)
I feel really bad giving this book only 3 of 5 stars... The book is very well-written, and the story is... well, it is interesting. I really loved Such a Fun Age by thins author, so I think I was expecting something more like that. I wouldn't say I disliked this book, I just really found it difficult to "get into". I just have so many mixed feelings about this book.
Firstly, there are A LOT of characters. I know it is a "me thing", but I have a difficult time keeping track of a lot of characters, especially when they are all just kind of thrown at you, and some of them have very similar personalities. The book jumps around a lot and at times I was unsure who was speaking, who was being talked about, and what was being implied.
Also... I don't really know how to word this... The main characters all come off as those type of people that can't have silent moments, or need to fill every moment with nervous chatter. I was actually exhausted from reading this... And I read the audiobook version! There were times where I just needed to stop reading, and just sit there in silence.
I don't know who the target audience for this book would be, and I can't compare it to anything else I have read. I guess it would be like reading an account of a reality tv show filled with the most annoying cast possible...who have no idea they are being filmed. And it was cancelled before the end of the season.
I feel really bad giving this book only 3 of 5 stars... The book is very well-written, and the story is... well, it is interesting. I really loved Such a Fun Age by thins author, so I think I was expecting something more like that. I wouldn't say I disliked this book, I just really found it difficult to "get into". I just have so many mixed feelings about this book.
Firstly, there are A LOT of characters. I know it is a "me thing", but I have a difficult time keeping track of a lot of characters, especially when they are all just kind of thrown at you, and some of them have very similar personalities. The book jumps around a lot and at times I was unsure who was speaking, who was being talked about, and what was being implied.
Also... I don't really know how to word this... The main characters all come off as those type of people that can't have silent moments, or need to fill every moment with nervous chatter. I was actually exhausted from reading this... And I read the audiobook version! There were times where I just needed to stop reading, and just sit there in silence.
I don't know who the target audience for this book would be, and I can't compare it to anything else I have read. I guess it would be like reading an account of a reality tv show filled with the most annoying cast possible...who have no idea they are being filmed. And it was cancelled before the end of the season.
Cthulhu Armageddon by C.T. Phipps
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I have to start off my review by saying that I've never been a huge fan of the Lovecraft Mythos. To be honest, I'm a lot more interested in what "other" writers have done with the "lore". That might not be entirely true, when I first read The Necronomicon (at 13), I think I really liked it. And when I re-read it (at 18), I wasn't as impressed.
With that being said, I am a fan of C.T. Phipps. I think he knows how to write a good story, and he is a great person on top of that. So, I may be biased with this review, but I don't think so. I believe I am able to judge this story independently of any known biases.
On the positive side... this story is not much different than many of the author's other works, Phipps does a great job writing an interesting story, sticking to the basic elements as he sees them, and writing as a fan, but a fan with a more modern social (and moral) standard. He is great with dialog, character development, and brings the world together with vivid imagery.
On the negative side, Phipps goes out of his way to almost apologize for the many problematic aspects of Lovecraft's origin story. He deliberately points out where he branches away from many of the sexist/racist/homophobic themes in the original work. And he explains that these backwards ideas have no place in this world. Don't get me wrong... I completely agree with Phipps, I just don't like the throwbacks to the source.
This is a fun, quick story with an enjoyable spin on the original works. It isn't too heavy, and can really be read in a single weekend. It is less "Horror" story, and more like a video-game quest set in a horror-like environment. The Narrator does a great job and the pacing is perfect.
With that being said, I am a fan of C.T. Phipps. I think he knows how to write a good story, and he is a great person on top of that. So, I may be biased with this review, but I don't think so. I believe I am able to judge this story independently of any known biases.
On the positive side... this story is not much different than many of the author's other works, Phipps does a great job writing an interesting story, sticking to the basic elements as he sees them, and writing as a fan, but a fan with a more modern social (and moral) standard. He is great with dialog, character development, and brings the world together with vivid imagery.
On the negative side, Phipps goes out of his way to almost apologize for the many problematic aspects of Lovecraft's origin story. He deliberately points out where he branches away from many of the sexist/racist/homophobic themes in the original work. And he explains that these backwards ideas have no place in this world. Don't get me wrong... I completely agree with Phipps, I just don't like the throwbacks to the source.
This is a fun, quick story with an enjoyable spin on the original works. It isn't too heavy, and can really be read in a single weekend. It is less "Horror" story, and more like a video-game quest set in a horror-like environment. The Narrator does a great job and the pacing is perfect.
Ghosts of Zenith by Larry Correia
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
(3.5 Stars)
This was a decent space crime noir story.
Although, it could easily be read as a stand-alone story, it is really a second part of the Lost Planet Homicide series, so I'd suggest reading the first one before this one. They are both under the three-hour mark, so it goes fast.
If you like thrillers set in a backdrop of a space colony, this should be something you would like. Larry Correia is a good writer, and knows how to weave a narrative. The book is narrated by Oliver Wyman and he does a great job with it.
This was a decent space crime noir story.
Although, it could easily be read as a stand-alone story, it is really a second part of the Lost Planet Homicide series, so I'd suggest reading the first one before this one. They are both under the three-hour mark, so it goes fast.
If you like thrillers set in a backdrop of a space colony, this should be something you would like. Larry Correia is a good writer, and knows how to weave a narrative. The book is narrated by Oliver Wyman and he does a great job with it.
The Reservoir by David Duchovny
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(4.0 Stars)
This was short, but still really good. I can't say too much about this without giving away too much.
What I will say is that the story comes off very "stream of consciousness" and almost rambling... don't give up on it, stick with it till the end, it pays off and makes perfect sense.
This was short, but still really good. I can't say too much about this without giving away too much.
What I will say is that the story comes off very "stream of consciousness" and almost rambling... don't give up on it, stick with it till the end, it pays off and makes perfect sense.
Hate Machine by Stephen Blackmoore
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
(3.75 Stars, rounded up to 4)
I read the audiobook version of this (not the graphic audio version) and I liked it a lot better than the graphic audio, and I am glad that both are available.
The book itself is a much better story now than the series started off with, I feel like it is finally coming together. If you are struggling with the series, don't give up, it gets better with each book.
I read the audiobook version of this (not the graphic audio version) and I liked it a lot better than the graphic audio, and I am glad that both are available.
The book itself is a much better story now than the series started off with, I feel like it is finally coming together. If you are struggling with the series, don't give up, it gets better with each book.
Lost Planet Homicide by Larry Correia
dark
medium-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? No
3.5
(3.5 Stars)
This was a quick little space noir thriller. An interesting plot, neat little "world", and good character development. This was my first book by this author, I'm honestly not sure how to feel about all the controversy with this author. But this story is good.
This was a quick little space noir thriller. An interesting plot, neat little "world", and good character development. This was my first book by this author, I'm honestly not sure how to feel about all the controversy with this author. But this story is good.
How to Survive History HOW TO OUTRUN A TYRANNOSAURUS, ESCAPE POMPEII, GET OFF THE TITANIC, AND SURVIVE THE REST OF HISTORY'S DEADLIEST CATASTROPHES by Cody Cassidy
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.5
(3.5 Stars)
This was fun to read. It is a look back at history, at the survivors of some of history's most infamous events... and how the survivors made it through. It really just goes to show you that no matter how prepared, or how well you play the odds, that sometimes it really just comes down to dumb luck.
The narration was good and the pace was good. This book should appeal to anyone who wants quick little snippets of some of the darker moments of history.
This was fun to read. It is a look back at history, at the survivors of some of history's most infamous events... and how the survivors made it through. It really just goes to show you that no matter how prepared, or how well you play the odds, that sometimes it really just comes down to dumb luck.
The narration was good and the pace was good. This book should appeal to anyone who wants quick little snippets of some of the darker moments of history.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
(2.5 Stars)
I hate when I read a book that has received so much praise, and I don't love it. I never know if I maybe expected too much out of it, or if it really just didn't connect with me.
With that being said, I didn't love this book. I can't say if it was because it was written so long ago (technologically speaking), or something was lost in the translation, but I honestly don't think that was it.
This was a story that had several different beginnings all coming to a final point (mostly final, if is a series, after all). Unfortunately, for me, most of these missed the mark. While some of the narratives were interesting, most of the characters were flat and two-dimensional. They also didn't really grow organically, but instead had a time-jump where their "growth" was explained away, or even created whole cloth.
Most of the "science" was theoretical, and a lot of it is seemingly implausible. Disclaimer: I am not a scientist. What I will say is that a lot of this story seems to be like building a Rube Goldberg Machine.
But, my biggest criticism was that ... even though there were some gems in the making ... the overall story was too slow-paced and, well, boring.
I hate when I read a book that has received so much praise, and I don't love it. I never know if I maybe expected too much out of it, or if it really just didn't connect with me.
With that being said, I didn't love this book. I can't say if it was because it was written so long ago (technologically speaking), or something was lost in the translation, but I honestly don't think that was it.
This was a story that had several different beginnings all coming to a final point (mostly final, if is a series, after all). Unfortunately, for me, most of these missed the mark. While some of the narratives were interesting, most of the characters were flat and two-dimensional. They also didn't really grow organically, but instead had a time-jump where their "growth" was explained away, or even created whole cloth.
Most of the "science" was theoretical, and a lot of it is seemingly implausible. Disclaimer: I am not a scientist. What I will say is that a lot of this story seems to be like building a Rube Goldberg Machine.
But, my biggest criticism was that ... even though there were some gems in the making ... the overall story was too slow-paced and, well, boring.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
(3.5 Stars rounded up to 4)
I liked this book much more than the first book in the series. The story came together more and I feel like it had a better "flow".
The characters had more dimension and really came to life in this book. The narration was by the same two people as the last book, and they both did an excellent job.
I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
I liked this book much more than the first book in the series. The story came together more and I feel like it had a better "flow".
The characters had more dimension and really came to life in this book. The narration was by the same two people as the last book, and they both did an excellent job.
I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
A Pair of Nuts on the Throne by Simon Haynes
funny
medium-paced
3.0
(3.0 Stars)
This book/series was fun, and light. If you like fantasy filled with puns and not much real substance, this could be for you. Apparently, there was a character in this book that is also from another series of books by the author, so I don't know if it is an official tie-in or not... but if you do end up liking this book there is an entire other series for you.
Personally, while I did find the puns amusing, I think they would have gotten really old, really fast, and I am glad I decided to read this "omnibus" as three separate books, with several other books being read in-between.
There is not much character development or actual world-building. However, the story is enjoyable enough and short enough that you won't regret the time spent reading it. I read the audiobook version and the narrator does a great job!
This book/series was fun, and light. If you like fantasy filled with puns and not much real substance, this could be for you. Apparently, there was a character in this book that is also from another series of books by the author, so I don't know if it is an official tie-in or not... but if you do end up liking this book there is an entire other series for you.
Personally, while I did find the puns amusing, I think they would have gotten really old, really fast, and I am glad I decided to read this "omnibus" as three separate books, with several other books being read in-between.
There is not much character development or actual world-building. However, the story is enjoyable enough and short enough that you won't regret the time spent reading it. I read the audiobook version and the narrator does a great job!