the_pale_woman's reviews
475 reviews

I found reading this entertaining, but it has completely filled my desire to read any more of this genre for the foreseeable future. I'm not sure why I got an itch to read some YA this summer, but this series rolled in like winter's chill wind. It wasn't bad, and I liked it as much as I like anything that is mildly intriguing, but I've had my fill. At the end of the day, I'd say it's better than some. It has characters, drama, and an ending. I feel there is no need to elaborate.

This book is classic '80s fantasy. If you think you might like that, then I guess I would recommend this read. I liked it, although I tend to enjoy most classic fantasy stories. I'm able to forgive its eccentricities most of the time. Be warned that this book is only half of the opening arc. You take a break from what seems like the main characters toward the end, but honestly, the fact that it has this weird pacing only makes it feel more '80s. If you do pick it up, I'd suggest getting the old original cover, mass-market paperbacks. I believe the act of bending the spine and turning the thick yellow pages completes the reading experience required here.

This feeling of completion is cathartic, but I'll miss my time with Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He's definitely left a mark. Wyrd bið ful āræd. I can even see myself doing a reread of this in the future. It was just that enjoyable. I'd recommend this series to any reader. It's not something you have to binge through either like I did. These are relatively short books, and while the audios are constantly switching up the narrators, I still think overall they were done well. I loved the original narrator, Jonathan Keeble, but Matt Bates does a decent job of finishing out the series. 

I love how Finan kept saying they shouldn't be there, like they were Clerks coming in on their day off. But Uhtred never backs down. Twelve books in, and you know he is going to uphold that oath. 

I liked how this one felt like Uhtred's fight. It made his defeats and victories feel more personal. When mistakes were made, he only had himself to blame. 

I hadn’t read a thriller in a while, so I picked this up. I was intrigued by what I thought was going to be a murder mystery set during Pearl Harbor. Plus, this has a vintage-style cover that appealed to me. Ultimately, I thought this book was a fairly good read. It turned out this murder mystery spans the whole length of WWII. I wasn’t even thinking about the meaning of the title until the events of Pearl Harbor came and went, then it finally clicked. Five Decembers. Oh. Duh. Obviously. 

The writing here is simple, but it fits. The concise tone helps it achieve its noir vibe, complete with quick and snarky dialogue. The characters felt slightly stereotypical in my opinion, and certain plot points felt clichéd, but that’s to be expected in a noir-style thriller. 

The pacing was mostly able to keep the suspense going, but at one point the plot really takes a turn, and I felt like the story just stopped. It didn’t feel completely unintentional, but it also made me wish this story had just stuck with its initial vibe. I was thinking that maybe this story was trying to do too much. The pacing does pick back up and concludes the mystery to satisfaction. However, I wouldn’t call the conclusion itself flawless. It almost dragged along and rushed it all at the same time. 

So, for me, it’s a mixed bag. I liked it, but I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite in its field. I’d recommend this to readers who like detective stories, noir, and WWII historicals.

This sequel was slightly better than its predecessor. In spite of that, the ending here is ridiculous. It goes beyond a cliffhanger. This ending just cuts the story off at the climax. It's cheap and disrespectful to the readers. What about the fans who read this upon release? Shameful.

You might think a two and a half star rating indicates a poor literary work. For me, it represents a state of mediocrity. This interpretation can be applied in a general sense or, as in the case of the book in question, it may reflect the state of my internal conflict. I'd categorize my reading experience here as positive, yet the content falls well below average. The scientific elements are virtually nonexistent and, at times, are plain absurd. The plot is unremarkable. While the characters may fulfill certain criteria, they lack depth and substance beyond their superficial quirks and hastily formed relationships. Collectively, these factors could easily be deemed cringeworthy.

Despite these valid criticisms, I found this read enjoyable and intend to continue with the series. Having read Illuminae, I knew what I was picking up. My expectations met reality, and ultimately, I was not disappointed. I'd call that a win. Just don't take that as a recommendation. It's more akin to a confession.

I'm not even mad that it took 10 books to get here. Uhtred of Bebbanburg for the win! He's easily one of my favorite characters of all time. This inevitable entry into his tale was tremendously satisfying. Wyrd bið ful āræd. Fate is inexorable. 

I quite enjoyed this entry. Uhtred is back in the fight, and we even get to see him sailing again. Finan, Uhtred's best bud, finally gets some long-overdue backstory. Stiorra proves why she deserves to be Uhtred's favorite. Even Brida is back in this one to cause trouble. Yet the best part of all is that Uhtred is doing what he wants for once, instead of acquiescing to some pious, uptight ruler.