3 out of 5 stars Two halves of what should have been different books subtract from each other, instead of adding up. Goodreads.com: Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke Don't get me wrong. I understood Piranesi just fine, once Susanna Clarke chose to make that possible. Up until that point, I was interested, if not quite intrigued. … Continue reading Review: Piranesi
4 out of 5 stars Haunting and beautifully bleak, Circe shows us that female empowerment isn't just for humans. Goodreads.com: Circe, by Madeline Miller The Gods of Ancient Greece are not good. They are cruel and cold. Immortality is a gift and also a curse - how can anything have value if nothing can ever … Continue reading Review: Circe
3.5 out of 5 stars A steady, satisfying sail along with a very efficient author. Goodreads: Fable (4 stars), Namesake (3 stars) by Adrienne Young Adrienne Young has a signature simple writing style that I really enjoy. As in the Sky in the Deep (4.25 stars) series, her plots have more than enough action, but … Continue reading Review: Fable series
4.5 out of 5 stars A magnificently rollicking, heisting, conning, scheming, and hilarious series featuring one of the most enjoyable casts of characters I've ever read. Goodreads: Gentlemen Bastards - The Lies of Locke Lamora (4.5/5 stars); Red Seas Under Red Skies (4.5/5 stars); The Republic of Thieves (4.5/5 stars) From his days as a … Continue reading Review: The Lies of Locke Larmora series
3.5 out of 5 stars Goodreads.com: This Savage Song (3.5 stars), Our Dark Duet (3 stars), by Victoria Schwab In the world of Verity, evil has a consequence: it spawns monsters. Non-lethal violence births hive-minded wraiths called Corsai, and killing spawns a higher order of monster, the Malchi. They both want to kill and eat … Continue reading Review: Monsters of Verity Duology
4 out of 5 stars The end. THE END! My screaming. And everything before it is good, too. House of Sky and Breath, by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City #2) I would have said that "all the things" happen in House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1, 3.5 stars), but Sarah J. Maas had … Continue reading Review: House of Sky and Breath
3.5 out of 5 stars Spunky and charming old-fashioned witchcraft (en francais!) in need of better pacing. Goodreads.com: Serpent & Dove (4/5 stars); Blood & Honey (3.5/5 stars); Gods & Monsters (3/5 stars), by Shelby Mahurin Serpent and Dove is a solid supernatural tale. Louise Le Blanc is the heiress to the greatest magical power … Continue reading Review: Serpent and Dove Trilogy
4 out of 5 stars Oh the puns want to write themselves in this review. Rock solid sci-fi? Down to Earth? I'm a hack even in failing to adequately sum up my praise for this series. Goodreads.com: The Fifth Season (4.5/5 stars), The Obelisk Gate (4/5 stars), The Stone Sky (3/5 stars) by NK Jemisin … Continue reading Review: The Broken Earth Trilogy
2.5 out of 5 stars After the thrill of the Red Queen series, Aveyard's sophomore effort slumps. Goodreads.com: Realm Breaker, by Victoria Aveyard (Realm Breaker #1) Normally, pirates and squires and lost civilizations in alternate dimensions and girlheroes would have me rapt. But putting it all in one story means you'd better deliver big, and … Continue reading Review: Realm Breaker
4 out of 5 stars Goodreads.com: Rule of Wolves, by Leigh Bardugo (King of Scars #2) When Zoya became my favorite character in King of Scars, I knew that Leigh Bardugo could really do anything. When I read Rule of Wolves, high on the binged achievement of "Shadow and Bone"'s Netflix mashup, it made a … Continue reading Review: Rule of Wolves
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