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lizshayne's reviews
2216 reviews
Rihasi by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It’s very weird to be at the end of this series, at least in terms of what currently exists. I also have a hard time explaining why I appreciate it so much - it feels to me like it combines the best of old school fantasy with significant modern sensibilities. So much of it reminds me of the fantasy stories I loved as a teenager - honor and quests and saving the world - but so much of these stories are also just suffused with the sense that fantasy is a key medium through which we talk about the world as is and discuss the world as ought. These books are, literally, sword and sorcery while also conversations about morality.
This one was great, both the arc of the story overall and the roadtrip escape and also how Aras, despite being no where near main character action, manages to be absolutely hilarious. Now HE would be fun to introduce to Miles.
This one was great, both the arc of the story overall and the roadtrip escape and also how Aras, despite being no where near main character action, manages to be absolutely hilarious. Now HE would be fun to introduce to Miles.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.0
This book was very cute and I clearly read too much T. Kingfisher because I wanted just...a few more severed heads, so to speak.
I understand the idea of a world where nothing goes bad (ish) and a world where there is bad stuff and there's also good in this world and it's worth fighting for (she says, smelling of po-tay-toes from having finished this book while frying latkes), but this one felt a lot like "there's lots of bad stuff, but it's mostly happening over there and to other people and you can absolutely trust the people in charge that bad things won't happen here". Despite any number of encounters in the middle of the book that suggested that was manifestly not the case. And also it felt like a series of encounters mostly strung together by happening to the same adventure party, which would probably have been more my thing if I actually enjoyed playing D&D.
Okay, this is much meaner than I intended to be; I thought it was really cute and sweet and was not trying to be deep and complicated, but a comfortable and cozy fantasy. And I have an ersatz set of criteria that not even I know that determine when the involuntary suspension of disbelief kicks in.
I understand the idea of a world where nothing goes bad (ish) and a world where there is bad stuff and there's also good in this world and it's worth fighting for (she says, smelling of po-tay-toes from having finished this book while frying latkes), but this one felt a lot like "there's lots of bad stuff, but it's mostly happening over there and to other people and you can absolutely trust the people in charge that bad things won't happen here". Despite any number of encounters in the middle of the book that suggested that was manifestly not the case. And also it felt like a series of encounters mostly strung together by happening to the same adventure party, which would probably have been more my thing if I actually enjoyed playing D&D.
Okay, this is much meaner than I intended to be; I thought it was really cute and sweet and was not trying to be deep and complicated, but a comfortable and cozy fantasy. And I have an ersatz set of criteria that not even I know that determine when the involuntary suspension of disbelief kicks in.
The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Xue Shan Fei Hu
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The great thing about this book is that you can look at the cover and title and know exactly whether or not you will be charmed by it or not.
I was very charmed. I wish I knew more about the specific translation choices and the register that it's operating in; I can tell it's intentional and I think I lack some of the cultural context to make sense of it.
Still having a great time reading it, though, and it's very silly.
I was very charmed. I wish I knew more about the specific translation choices and the register that it's operating in; I can tell it's intentional and I think I lack some of the cultural context to make sense of it.
Still having a great time reading it, though, and it's very silly.
Marag by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
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
4.0
Am I enjoying this series enough to read the "how the main character's parents met?" story as the eighth book? Apparently!
Neumeier wrote that this started as a little bit of a "How I met your mother?" and became a novel when she wasn't looking. You can tell, but I appreciate it.
There's an essay somewhere about the Ugaro (and the Lau, but to less degree) and tochacha - the obligation to rebuke. Because the whole point of the story is that we have to be able to say things to one another when we do something wrong, either accidentally or intentionally. We have to be able to confront or confess or we don't have a society. The whole point of the Ugaro is that life is hard and you have to be able to talk to one another about doing things right. Consistently in this story, problems develop when people in power cannot hear critique. And I feel like there has to be an answer beyond fighting each other, although, honestly, that seems to be working so far.
I can't believe I only have one book left.
Neumeier wrote that this started as a little bit of a "How I met your mother?" and became a novel when she wasn't looking. You can tell, but I appreciate it.
There's an essay somewhere about the Ugaro (and the Lau, but to less degree) and tochacha - the obligation to rebuke. Because the whole point of the story is that we have to be able to say things to one another when we do something wrong, either accidentally or intentionally. We have to be able to confront or confess or we don't have a society. The whole point of the Ugaro is that life is hard and you have to be able to talk to one another about doing things right. Consistently in this story, problems develop when people in power cannot hear critique. And I feel like there has to be an answer beyond fighting each other, although, honestly, that seems to be working so far.
I can't believe I only have one book left.
The Shuddering City by Sharon Shinn
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
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? No
3.5
Decades after the Samaria Trilogy, Sharon Shinn writes a new book and the plot is completely different, but the vibes are...familiar. Which is pretty reasonable; it's a Shinn story after all. This one didn't permanently rewrite my psyche, though, unlike Archangel. But sometimes I just want to reread Archangel for the first time. Still very much enjoyed this one.
This book is fundamentally "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" in terms of plot, which is both part of why it's fascinating and part of why the end feels...the way it does. There's a little bit of a...machina ex deus going on that is either a total copout of refusing to answer the Omelas choice OR it's a deep critique of the idea that the options are always either to hurt some or lose the city. There's always another choice. I want to think it's intentional.
Tasmakat by Rachel Neumeier
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
So this is basically my definition of what epic fantasy ought to be - the characters are front and center, the worldbuilding is both extremely detailed and does not make scientific or logical sense, the real world mythological roots are not too intrusive into the story, and I don’t have to deal with too many people’s point of view.
Oh and also there’s a real ethical dilemma at the heart of the story that is not about people being terrible, but about trying to do good against impossible odds. I really needed it.
Oh and also there’s a real ethical dilemma at the heart of the story that is not about people being terrible, but about trying to do good against impossible odds. I really needed it.
Et Cetera: An Illustrated Guide to Latin Phrases by Maia Lee-Chin
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
This book has the exact same energy as every compendium of information about either history or mythology that I devoured as a child and so, obviously, I found this delightful as well because I have not changed.
This was great, I had so much fun reading it.
This was great, I had so much fun reading it.
Tano by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Recovery narratives are hard to write and I always have mixed feelings when magic is an integral part of the story.
On the one hand, it feels strange to discuss coping with trauma through something unavailable to us, but even worse to leave it out of the story entirely. Of course if magic existed it should be used to help with psychological distress.
Interesting to me that this bothered me not at all in the previous book.
Anyway - I find Tano's entire story and point of view of towards the inGara to be a really interesting way for Neumeier to write about the morality of the Ugaro culture from an insider's perspective rather than an outsider trying to decide what is good and bad. I am fascinated by the role that punishment/absolution plays in her image of Ugaro culture, but also the way that both the Ugaro and the Lau are not judgted by the narrative except within the culture clash.I keep wondering if Neumeier actually shades into the "noble savage" trope in the way that both beatings and honor function in Ugaro society, especially honor and truth, but it feels like I need to think on it more. Might also be useful to have more cultures to compare them to. What else is the next book for, after all?
On the one hand, it feels strange to discuss coping with trauma through something unavailable to us, but even worse to leave it out of the story entirely. Of course if magic existed it should be used to help with psychological distress.
Interesting to me that this bothered me not at all in the previous book.
Anyway - I find Tano's entire story and point of view of towards the inGara to be a really interesting way for Neumeier to write about the morality of the Ugaro culture from an insider's perspective rather than an outsider trying to decide what is good and bad. I am fascinated by the role that punishment/absolution plays in her image of Ugaro culture, but also the way that both the Ugaro and the Lau are not judgted by the narrative except within the culture clash.
Letters to My Weird Sisters: On Autism and Feminism by Joanne Limburg
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
5.0
Is there a list somewhere of autistic british mothers writing about their life experiences because that really does seem to be the niche that speaks to my soul.
Every single letter in the book is an absolute joy, but the one to Frau V was extraordinary.
This is why I never do my "books of the year" lists until December 31. Because something in december always absolutely slays.
Every single letter in the book is an absolute joy, but the one to Frau V was extraordinary.
This is why I never do my "books of the year" lists until December 31. Because something in december always absolutely slays.
Suelen by Rachel Neumeier
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book really dug into the culture clash aspects of the series, which I really appreciated. Interesting how much more the Lau tend to judge the Ugaro, rather than the reverse. Or perhaps judge differently; there’s a perspective on one side that feels about civilization, while on the other side, the question is about honor. There is something very interesting in terms of utility and freedom. (Or I read Davids Graeber and Wengrow earlier this year and some of it stuck).
Also I love the way this story complicated and played with the mythology of the book.
And I do love a good medical drama.
Also I love the way this story complicated and played with the mythology of the book.
And I do love a good medical drama.