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lizshayne's reviews
2217 reviews
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.
Tarashana by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
This was the first book in this series where I noticed how wildly different the voices were and how good Neumeier is at conveying culture linguistically.
The first half of the book was good and interesting and there was a lot going on and then the second half happened.
(Cue John Mulaney “that’s when it went from good to great”)
Because suddenly it was a story about rules and kindness and power and whether it is possible to ethically hold power over another and whether even good people will eventually break…
There’s also this background story about “how do different societies handle malfeasance and the people who get swept up into it?” And also “what does mercy and kindness look like?”
The first half of the book was good and interesting and there was a lot going on and then the second half happened.
(Cue John Mulaney “that’s when it went from good to great”)
Because suddenly it was a story about rules and kindness and power and whether it is possible to ethically hold power over another and whether even good people will eventually break…
There’s also this background story about “how do different societies handle malfeasance and the people who get swept up into it?” And also “what does mercy and kindness look like?”
Nikoles by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-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
This series is great and I'm going to have to remember to stop after each one to review them so that they don't all just flow together.
Despite my not-always-fond-of-prequelitude, I really liked this one.
Despite my not-always-fond-of-prequelitude, I really liked this one.
Tuyo by Rachel Neumeier
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
I really like Rachel Neumeier. She writes harsh but lovely fantasy so well and also knows how to tell an epic story at a reasonable scale and with the focus on an individual.
Also this was just the most fascinating world building and I really want to know what happens next.
Also the entire rest of the series seems to be available on kindle unlimited so let’s see how this goes.
Also this was just the most fascinating world building and I really want to know what happens next.
Also the entire rest of the series seems to be available on kindle unlimited so let’s see how this goes.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I knew I was going to like this and I was not wrong. Robert Jackson Bennet does very fun world building and gets the scale of epic fantasy right - meaning the focus is one the human and the things that matter to us.
I can see a lot of ways that it could go, depending on how big this story gets, but also I very much appreciated it for what it is - a delightful murder mystery with weird magic stuff.
And some enjoyable autistic representation as well. Gotta love a good "yes, obviously Holmes was neurodivergent, let's run with it in our recreations of him"
I can see a lot of ways that it could go, depending on how big this story gets, but also I very much appreciated it for what it is - a delightful murder mystery with weird magic stuff.
And some enjoyable autistic representation as well. Gotta love a good "yes, obviously Holmes was neurodivergent, let's run with it in our recreations of him"
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
I cannot believe I have to now wait for the next book to come out; I would like more right now please.
This book was exactly what I wanted for a long travel day and so delightful on so many levels. I am very much looking forward to rereading it before the second one comes out.
This book was exactly what I wanted for a long travel day and so delightful on so many levels. I am very much looking forward to rereading it before the second one comes out.
The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
It was helpful to remember that the first book reminded me strongly of A:TLA because the second book...did not give me any reason to reevaluate that assessment. I quite enjoyed it, although every time I read a book that is based on historical revolutions and that involve magic, I keep feeling slightly demoralized because sometimes it feels like the magic is integral to fixing the world and, at least as far as I can tell, there is no magic in our world.
This was another instance of a book that ended on a cliffhanger and so, when it picked up right where it had left off, I remembered nothing whatsoever about the first book and could really have used a reminder about, for one thing, who knew and loved whom. I caught up eventually, but it was disorienting.
Still, one does appreciate a good femininominon and this book certainly has that.
This was another instance of a book that ended on a cliffhanger and so, when it picked up right where it had left off, I remembered nothing whatsoever about the first book and could really have used a reminder about, for one thing, who knew and loved whom. I caught up eventually, but it was disorienting.
Still, one does appreciate a good femininominon and this book certainly has that.
The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Well it's been a while since "what the hell did I just, but in a good way" was a category in my life so nice for this to fill that gap.
The scale of this book is still unfathomable to me and I have no idea what to do with it beyond just appreciate it for all that it is in all its weirdness and stories of cities and the relationship between immortal beings and the individual and the collective.
And libraries. Can't forget those.
I want someone else to read this book and tell me what happened.
The scale of this book is still unfathomable to me and I have no idea what to do with it beyond just appreciate it for all that it is in all its weirdness and stories of cities and the relationship between immortal beings and the individual and the collective.
And libraries. Can't forget those.
I want someone else to read this book and tell me what happened.
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Oh God this book nearly made me weep on public transit. Calling it horror feels unfair, but dark fairytale somehow undersells just how dark it gets. Mohamed here is a little like if T. Kingfisher's fairytales fought unfairly and I mean that as the highest compliment.
It was so good and so painful and wonderfully awful in what it has to say about sadness and innocence and pain and what we can and cannot give. I loved it even though it was heartbreaking.
It was so good and so painful and wonderfully awful in what it has to say about sadness and innocence and pain and what we can and cannot give. I loved it even though it was heartbreaking.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I keep wanting to like this book because it is a bunch of things that are my jam but, as I remembered after picking this one up, I deeply disliked and disbelieved the relationship between the two main characters and it turns out that that has not changed in the slightest.