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josiah17's reviews
242 reviews
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really wanted to love this, and I'm so glad I did. I was particularly excited to experience Hobb's writing in third person, and it was wonderful. Her prose remains top quality and very immersive.
This is overall just fantastic nautical fantasy with exceptional character writing, as well as complex and entertaining family dynamics. I enjoyed almost every POV for one reason or another. Hobb writes characters that you can root for here, and some that you vehemently despise. I cannot stand Kyle and Torg. Malta really annoyed me even though I understand she's still a kid, I just hope she learns and develops as a character. And I was always rooting for Brashen, Althea, and I really came to sympathize and feel attached to Wintrow. He deserves better, but unfortunately his father is beyond awful.
The additional worldbuilding for the Realm of the Elderlings with the liveships was also very interesting and unique. The idea of a sentient ship bonded through familial blood is amazing, especially because two ships have their own POV's and we get some insight into their perspectives. I'm very curious to learn more about the Rain Wild Traders as well. The relationships they have with the Bingtown traders is interesting, and I hope the sequels explore some of the actual Rain Wild territory. And I have a suspicion about the serpents, but I still don't really know what's going on with them. They're cool though.
Even though the plot was pretty non-existent for most of the book—per usual with Hobb so far—this was surprisingly just addicting to read. The blurb on the cover says "as addictive as morphine," and that's a pretty apt metaphor for my experience. Nautical fantasy just works so well for the visual movie I have running in my brain when reading, and it seems to scratch an itch. Paired with fantastic writing and captivating character dynamics, this is an amazing read. I could see myself bumping it to 5 stars depending on how the trilogy pans out.
This is overall just fantastic nautical fantasy with exceptional character writing, as well as complex and entertaining family dynamics. I enjoyed almost every POV for one reason or another. Hobb writes characters that you can root for here, and some that you vehemently despise. I cannot stand Kyle and Torg. Malta really annoyed me even though I understand she's still a kid, I just hope she learns and develops as a character. And I was always rooting for Brashen, Althea, and I really came to sympathize and feel attached to Wintrow. He deserves better, but unfortunately his father is beyond awful.
The additional worldbuilding for the Realm of the Elderlings with the liveships was also very interesting and unique. The idea of a sentient ship bonded through familial blood is amazing, especially because two ships have their own POV's and we get some insight into their perspectives. I'm very curious to learn more about the Rain Wild Traders as well. The relationships they have with the Bingtown traders is interesting, and I hope the sequels explore some of the actual Rain Wild territory. And I have a suspicion about the serpents, but I still don't really know what's going on with them. They're cool though.
Even though the plot was pretty non-existent for most of the book—per usual with Hobb so far—this was surprisingly just addicting to read. The blurb on the cover says "as addictive as morphine," and that's a pretty apt metaphor for my experience. Nautical fantasy just works so well for the visual movie I have running in my brain when reading, and it seems to scratch an itch. Paired with fantastic writing and captivating character dynamics, this is an amazing read. I could see myself bumping it to 5 stars depending on how the trilogy pans out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
The Great Change (and Other Lies) by Joe Abercrombie
It doesn't add much to the Age of Madness trilogy, but it's still worth reading. And the last story was great. It was a nice treat to have a Glokta pov and see some familiar faces.
I'm just glad to read more of Abercrombie's writing in the First Law world.
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"The niceties of nuance and compromise are for those with no world to change."
It doesn't add much to the Age of Madness trilogy, but it's still worth reading. And the last story was great. It was a nice treat to have a Glokta pov and see some familiar faces.
I'm just glad to read more of Abercrombie's writing in the First Law world.
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Another fantastic Discworld book. What more could you want than Death experiencing mortality and what's it's like to live a human life? Just utterly phenomenal personification and characterization from Terry Pratchett. He has such a a magic to bringing out profound and meaningful metaphors and lessons within his lighthearted narratives.
And the side plot with Windle and the Wizards was absolutely chaotic and ludicrous 😂. I'm having such a a wonderful time with Discworld.
And the side plot with Windle and the Wizards was absolutely chaotic and ludicrous 😂. I'm having such a a wonderful time with Discworld.
The Will of the Many by James Islington
For starters, the worldbuilding hooked me immediately. The Roman-inspired setting and cultures, and the soft magic system were very captivating and everything took off from there.
I also think Vis is a great protagonist and he's easy to root for. He's been wronged by the Hierarchy and for most of the book, he's juggling both his hidden identity and the new role he receives. This creates for some very dynamic dialogue and high stakes quite early on in the book which is maintained for the entirety of the story. And Vis isn't overly dramatic with his narration which is relieving to read for a first person present tense POV. But he does have his other flaws. Also, there are some other great characters too. I loved Eidhin and Callidus(I'm empty) of course. Ulciscor and Lanistia were interesting. Some of the other academy students were fun to be around too. The side characters don't necessarily have the same depth as Vis, but I do think they're serviceable and I trust they will become even better as the series progresses. There's already signs of that in a few characters.
The plot was truly exceptional too. It's probably my favorite part about this book. There's a magic school, plenty of scheming and misleading, lots of betrayal, and layers of different rivalries and factions opposed against one another. It's very entertaining and keeps you engaged. There's signs of something even larger at stake too, especially with the ending of this book. And speaking of the ending.....that was crazy.
Really enjoyed this. I'm glad it lived up to the hype. Might even bump to 5 stars later. And I was also pleasantly surprised with Islington's writing. As I mentioned before, the dialogue was fantastic and really shines, but the prose overall is very nice and readable. I'll probably try to read Islington's Licanius Trilogy sooner rather than later. But I really need the sequel to this book ASAP.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well, I think this book lived up to the hype. I really don't have any major criticisms. I think it's quite well-rounded and well-written.
"Nervousness means there's a fear to be faced ahead, Diago. The man who is never nervous, never does anything hard. The man who is never nervous, never grows."
For starters, the worldbuilding hooked me immediately. The Roman-inspired setting and cultures, and the soft magic system were very captivating and everything took off from there.
I also think Vis is a great protagonist and he's easy to root for. He's been wronged by the Hierarchy and for most of the book, he's juggling both his hidden identity and the new role he receives. This creates for some very dynamic dialogue and high stakes quite early on in the book which is maintained for the entirety of the story. And Vis isn't overly dramatic with his narration which is relieving to read for a first person present tense POV. But he does have his other flaws. Also, there are some other great characters too. I loved Eidhin and Callidus
"The power to protect is the highest of responsibilities...When a man is given it, his duty is not only to the people he thinks are worthy."
The plot was truly exceptional too. It's probably my favorite part about this book. There's a magic school, plenty of scheming and misleading, lots of betrayal, and layers of different rivalries and factions opposed against one another. It's very entertaining and keeps you engaged. There's signs of something even larger at stake too, especially with the ending of this book. And speaking of the ending.....that was crazy.
Really enjoyed this. I'm glad it lived up to the hype. Might even bump to 5 stars later. And I was also pleasantly surprised with Islington's writing. As I mentioned before, the dialogue was fantastic and really shines, but the prose overall is very nice and readable. I'll probably try to read Islington's Licanius Trilogy sooner rather than later. But I really need the sequel to this book ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Blood
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
I also found Herbert's prose to feel more polished than I remember from reading Dune a year ago. It matches the philosophical and introspective tone quite well.
However, even if the themes and prose are good, they're not quite enough to make up for the elements of the book I found to be lackluster.
The plot introduces some good promise of a conspiracy (minor spoiler). However I don't feel that it delivers on this promise in a manner that is ultimately satisfying.
I also found that I didn't really feel anything for the characters besides resentment towards Paul. I think the massive time jump doesn't help with this either. And I saw someone say something along the lines of Herbert writing his characters as if they're more so pieces on a chess board to convey certain messages, and I think that's accurate to how I feel. They feel more like plot devices rather then real people I'm supposed to connect with. Not that that's necessarily poor character writing, but I'm not sure it works for me. And I didn't have any problem with the subversion of the Messiah archetype with Paul; I actually thought the execution was solid. It's just that I had no strong feelings or attachment to the characters.
And finally, part of the appeal to reading the Dune books was Herbert's praised worldbuilding. I found Dune to match and even exceed the hype around Herbert's worldbuilding. What he's able to do in building Arrakis and the entire Fremen cultural is nothing short of extraordinary. However, because all of that worldbuilding is done in the first book and we remain on Arrakis for this book, Dune Messiah feels like it's missing something captivating to me. I hope that makes sense. I just miss the level of worldbuilding of the first book.
Ultimately, I think this is a step down from Dune.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is decent. For starters, I think the themes and warnings about the power and role of governance, as well as deifying leaders, are well done. They remain relevant today and clearly Frank Herbert was passionate about expressing this caution and philosophy. This is easily the best part about the book.
"There exists a limit to the force even the most powerful may apply without destroying themselves. Judging this limit is the true artistry of government. Misuse of power is the fatal sin. The law cannot be a tool of vengeance, never a hostage, nor a fortifications against the martyrs it has created. You cannot threaten any individual and escape the consequences."
I also found Herbert's prose to feel more polished than I remember from reading Dune a year ago. It matches the philosophical and introspective tone quite well.
However, even if the themes and prose are good, they're not quite enough to make up for the elements of the book I found to be lackluster.
The plot introduces some good promise of a conspiracy (minor spoiler). However I don't feel that it delivers on this promise in a manner that is ultimately satisfying.
I also found that I didn't really feel anything for the characters besides resentment towards Paul. I think the massive time jump doesn't help with this either. And I saw someone say something along the lines of Herbert writing his characters as if they're more so pieces on a chess board to convey certain messages, and I think that's accurate to how I feel. They feel more like plot devices rather then real people I'm supposed to connect with. Not that that's necessarily poor character writing, but I'm not sure it works for me. And I didn't have any problem with the subversion of the Messiah archetype with Paul; I actually thought the execution was solid. It's just that I had no strong feelings or attachment to the characters.
And finally, part of the appeal to reading the Dune books was Herbert's praised worldbuilding. I found Dune to match and even exceed the hype around Herbert's worldbuilding. What he's able to do in building Arrakis and the entire Fremen cultural is nothing short of extraordinary. However, because all of that worldbuilding is done in the first book and we remain on Arrakis for this book, Dune Messiah feels like it's missing something captivating to me. I hope that makes sense. I just miss the level of worldbuilding of the first book.
Ultimately, I think this is a step down from Dune.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and War
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
I was extremely excited to read this, but I was also worried I wouldn't like it. I wasn't sure if the notoriously slow pacing would feel dragging for me, or if Tad's flowery prose would feel perhaps overly flowery. But by the rating I'm giving, that obviously wasn't the case. I'm very glad I enjoyed this as much as I did.
Tad certainly takes much inspiration from Tolkien with the structure of the narrative and his slow and thorough worldbuilding. But he's also clearly very influential for many of the well-known fantasy authors out there, and I don't think he receives enough recognition for that. Considering Robin Hobb, GRRM, and Robert Jordan are some of the writers he's inspired, more people should be talking about Tad Williams. I think I'm also boosting the rating a bit just for his impact on the genre, and it was fun to spot elements that other writers took influence from.
As for the actual book, as I said, I did quite enjoy it. The pacing is very slow, but Williams is one of those writers who makes mundane scenes captivating with his prose. He's a fantastic writer, easily up there for the best prose I've read as far as lyrical and flowery goes. I also loved so much of the worldbuilding. The different races and vast land he's built is extremely impressive. The world feels lived in, and it's magical to simply take in the surroundings that Simon (the mc) encounters wherever he goes.
As for the plot, there's not much motion for the first 200 pages or so. But once things start to get going with trickles of answers and clues, I was definitely invested. And the same happened with Simon. He's the primary POV and takes up majority of the page time. I was able to care about him soon enough that I trusted Williams to get the plot rolling eventually, and from then on I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Simon. The other POV's, besides Binabik, Isgrimnur, and Josua, were a bit of a drag to read, but towards the end I started to feel engaged in them once they became more frequent. It's a good sign for the rest of the series. And I have to mention how much I loved Binabik and his wolf Qantaqa. As soon as Simon stumbled upon them, the book remained a treat to read.
And the ending was really great. Can't wait to see where the series goes from here. Lots of promise for the antagonists, as well as the conflict this story is building up to. Tad is a wonderful writer and captures the enchantment of the fantasy genre.
Although this might not be a book for everyone, I would implore fantasy fans to give it a shot. Especially if you're a fan of the aforementioned writers influenced by Tad.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
"He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder."
I was extremely excited to read this, but I was also worried I wouldn't like it. I wasn't sure if the notoriously slow pacing would feel dragging for me, or if Tad's flowery prose would feel perhaps overly flowery. But by the rating I'm giving, that obviously wasn't the case. I'm very glad I enjoyed this as much as I did.
Tad certainly takes much inspiration from Tolkien with the structure of the narrative and his slow and thorough worldbuilding. But he's also clearly very influential for many of the well-known fantasy authors out there, and I don't think he receives enough recognition for that. Considering Robin Hobb, GRRM, and Robert Jordan are some of the writers he's inspired, more people should be talking about Tad Williams. I think I'm also boosting the rating a bit just for his impact on the genre, and it was fun to spot elements that other writers took influence from.
As for the actual book, as I said, I did quite enjoy it. The pacing is very slow, but Williams is one of those writers who makes mundane scenes captivating with his prose. He's a fantastic writer, easily up there for the best prose I've read as far as lyrical and flowery goes. I also loved so much of the worldbuilding. The different races and vast land he's built is extremely impressive. The world feels lived in, and it's magical to simply take in the surroundings that Simon (the mc) encounters wherever he goes.
As for the plot, there's not much motion for the first 200 pages or so. But once things start to get going with trickles of answers and clues, I was definitely invested. And the same happened with Simon. He's the primary POV and takes up majority of the page time. I was able to care about him soon enough that I trusted Williams to get the plot rolling eventually, and from then on I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Simon. The other POV's, besides Binabik, Isgrimnur, and Josua, were a bit of a drag to read, but towards the end I started to feel engaged in them once they became more frequent. It's a good sign for the rest of the series. And I have to mention how much I loved Binabik and his wolf Qantaqa. As soon as Simon stumbled upon them, the book remained a treat to read.
And the ending was really great. Can't wait to see where the series goes from here. Lots of promise for the antagonists, as well as the conflict this story is building up to. Tad is a wonderful writer and captures the enchantment of the fantasy genre.
"Books are a form of magic... because they span time and distance more surely than any spell or charm."
Although this might not be a book for everyone, I would implore fantasy fans to give it a shot. Especially if you're a fan of the aforementioned writers influenced by Tad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
An okay conclusion to the series, for the most part. Especially considering the flop that was the penultimate installment in Cytonic (imo). I'll just leave my review at that while I mull over the series in its entirety, which I found to ultimately be disappointing and mediocre for me. But if you enjoyed this, more power to you. It just wasn't for me.
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I enjoyed this so much. Perfect way to end the year with some hilarious Pratchett humor, and some great commentary on freedom, what it means to be alive, and being true to yourself. The Way Pratchett consistently interweaves deep themes such as these into his fun lighthearted stories continues to impress me. I really wish he was still around. Such a kind and imaginative soul gone too soon. I'm gonna do my best to read all of these wonderful Discworld books.
Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson
challenging
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? Yes
1.5
Finally done with this. I struggled so much with the first 100 pages. I just never wanted to pick this up again between the other books I was reading. I didn't care about anything. And you can't expect your readers to feel invested in Spensa's relationships with a new cast of characters with each book.
I'm not reading the novellas. I'm just reading Defiant next because I want to be done with this series.
I'm not reading the novellas. I'm just reading Defiant next because I want to be done with this series.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really had no interest in reading the Percy Jackson books until the new adaptation was announced. And I'm glad to say this book surprised me. I had really no expectations, but this was actually fairly fun! It was definitely predictable, partly because I've seen the two movies so I know several plot points, but it was a nice adventure regardless. Percy is a well-written character, and he's got a good crew with Annabeth and Grover. The Greek mythology was neat as well. Not sure when I'll get to book two, but I will definitely read the rest of the series.
(Borderline 4 star read for me, but not quite)
(Borderline 4 star read for me, but not quite)