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apollinares's reviews
223 reviews
Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Laurence struggles with yet more moral dilemmas. The world keeps getting more and more fleshed out and I am HOOKED. I love the trope, if one can call it that, of the portrayal of a nation previously thought 'barbaric' as more sophisticated in some way (in this case, in the treatment of dragons) than England.
These two need a win though, seriously.
These two need a win though, seriously.
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I'm practically inhaling this series. With every book, the world feels yet more immersive, the characters - more fleshed out.
I can't wait for the next one!
I can't wait for the next one!
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I enjoyed this book a ton - though I do have some gripes with the pacing.
Make no mistake, I disagree with the reviews claiming the journey portion of the book was boring or unnecessary. I myself am in a D&D game right now where an in-game 6month journey is taking us two years of biweekly playing to finish. Things happen during travel; character development and growth chief among them. We would not, as the reader, hold the same affection for Laurence and Temeraire, had we not spent this time with them.
My issue was mainly with how quickly things got resolved at the end. I'm surprised the intrigue just... Stops abruptly. Still, a great follow up to the first book, and I'm excited to see where things go next!
Make no mistake, I disagree with the reviews claiming the journey portion of the book was boring or unnecessary. I myself am in a D&D game right now where an in-game 6month journey is taking us two years of biweekly playing to finish. Things happen during travel; character development and growth chief among them. We would not, as the reader, hold the same affection for Laurence and Temeraire, had we not spent this time with them.
My issue was mainly with how quickly things got resolved at the end. I'm surprised the intrigue just... Stops abruptly. Still, a great follow up to the first book, and I'm excited to see where things go next!
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Too YA for my taste. Tropey, self-deprecating, reads like an (admittedly not bad) piece of fanfiction.
Still, very metal, very gay, which we love here. More post-apocalyptic books with trans people in them, please!
Still, very metal, very gay, which we love here. More post-apocalyptic books with trans people in them, please!
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
All-around mid book.
The premise was promising but a lot of it just plodded on. The villains were textbook, the twist was easily predictable, the characterizations of the lead and the romantic interest fell flat, and the themes were largely hamfisted. I spent a lot of this book waiting for it to end.
The pacing of the romance itself left much to be desired. Calling someone "the love of your life" after knowing her for less than a month feels... Too YA for my taste.
That said, Shesheshen is a very compelling monster design.
The premise was promising but a lot of it just plodded on. The villains were textbook, the twist was easily predictable, the characterizations of the lead and the romantic interest fell flat, and the themes were largely hamfisted. I spent a lot of this book waiting for it to end.
The pacing of the romance itself left much to be desired. Calling someone "the love of your life" after knowing her for less than a month feels... Too YA for my taste.
That said, Shesheshen is a very compelling monster design.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.25
I think parts of this book were too high concept for me; it took me a month to read this 400-or-so pager because I kept rereading bits of it in utter incomprehension.
The world Leckie has crafted is swarming with intrigue and culture, both of which are often revealed at the precise moment they're needed to parse what's going on in a particular scene. I have trouble "trusting" the author, having read some pretty terrible books in recent years, so I found myself frustrated often during this read, only to have my pre-emptive confusion untangled when time came. This book, I found, required more patience than I could often spare it.
And yet, I enjoyed it all the same, even if it gave me a bit of a headache. Breq is everything I love in a nonhuman protagonist (see: Murderbot), Seivarden's character growth is fun to watch in real time, and the world in and of itself is a beauty.
The world Leckie has crafted is swarming with intrigue and culture, both of which are often revealed at the precise moment they're needed to parse what's going on in a particular scene. I have trouble "trusting" the author, having read some pretty terrible books in recent years, so I found myself frustrated often during this read, only to have my pre-emptive confusion untangled when time came. This book, I found, required more patience than I could often spare it.
And yet, I enjoyed it all the same, even if it gave me a bit of a headache. Breq is everything I love in a nonhuman protagonist (see: Murderbot), Seivarden's character growth is fun to watch in real time, and the world in and of itself is a beauty.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Too short a book to truly be 5 stars, but one I enjoyed nonetheless.
Mandel, as always, crafted a story that felt believable despite its far-fetchedness. Add to that the evocative imagery typical of this author, and you have a beautiful piece that touches (with fondness) on the human condition.
Mandel, as always, crafted a story that felt believable despite its far-fetchedness. Add to that the evocative imagery typical of this author, and you have a beautiful piece that touches (with fondness) on the human condition.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I'm surprised I liked it even this much, considering the prose is so purple it would have cost a fortune in ancient Rome, the characters are teenage stereotypes (from mean girl to meathead and most in between), and that the author, an adult man, spends far too much time focused on the 16 year old female protagonist having graphic sex. He also spends a lot of time focused on the magical boobjob she gets at one point in the book.
It's very well thought out though. I like an "unconventional school" narrative, be it a school of magic, or assassins, as in this case. The story is tightly woven once it gets going (about 100 pages in), and the climax feels sufficiently built-up. What a twist, too!
I was near the end of the book when I found out the author also associated himself with racists recently, however, so I'm sorely disappointed and won't be picking up the sequel.
It's very well thought out though. I like an "unconventional school" narrative, be it a school of magic, or assassins, as in this case. The story is tightly woven once it gets going (about 100 pages in), and the climax feels sufficiently built-up. What a twist, too!
I was near the end of the book when I found out the author also associated himself with racists recently, however, so I'm sorely disappointed and won't be picking up the sequel.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
An interesting premise that I think could have been better executed. None of the characters had a strong enough personality to keep me hooked, and the villain was textbook-level predictable.
Thank god this book was short. I listened to the audio version all in one afternoon and was glad to be done with it.
Thank god this book was short. I listened to the audio version all in one afternoon and was glad to be done with it.
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I don't know what it was, but something in this book absolutely gripped me - perhaps the splendid narration, perhaps the tight (and era-appropriate) writing style, perhaps the immersive world building. Plus, I heard it only gets better from here!
I'm excited to spend more time with Temeraire.
I'm excited to spend more time with Temeraire.