mxcopmy's reviews
106 reviews

"Plots behind plots, plans beyond plans. There was always another secret."

It is undeniable that in the first 30% of this book i was still trying to figure out how to place myself in this world, but damn. After that I was almost swallowed up by this story and I had difficulty putting it down.

Brandon Sanderson's work always seemed too intimidating for me to start. After reading the first 250 pages of "The Way of Kings" and then ending up in a reading slump, I decided that I was not yet familiar enough with the world of epic fantasy. Yet the fascination for his works remained great. I then decided to start Mistborn (which many guides recommended to start with), and it didn't disappoint. He is truly the master architect of world-building and scientist of magic systems.

Mistborn's magic system is one you've never heard of before. Because of its originality alone, I was extremely intrigued in learning about the further developments of this story. He makes the Allomancy magic system a very real science by clearly explaining both the possibilities and limitations, without it coming across as an information bomb. In this way he makes it a very tangible experience for the reader to discover these powers of Mistborn/Misting people. The world-building and dark atmosphere that he was able to convey so well gave me that extra push to keep coming back to this book. After finishing it, I honestly felt like I have been pulled out of a world and now back into reality. Well done, Sanderson!!
Most of the characters were easy to digest and fun to follow. But I explicitly say 'most' because I often had the feeling that the characters from The Crew remained superficial. I missed more interaction between Vin and the other members of the gang, which I think would have been useful throughout the story to get you excited for the 2nd book. It is sworn that Kelsier & Vin form a memorable duo, but unfortunately I do not agree with this. There was little dialogue between the two of them to really feel that intimate, caring bond between them. When Kelsier and Vin were together, they usually talked briefly about how to master her Allomancy. I must honestly admit that I found Kelsier rather insufferable and therefore could not connect with his character.

Maybe this comes because i read the spoiler of him dying, lol

. But well, to summarize briefly: the biggest negative point for me was the lack of depth to the characters' history and explanation for their purposes.
The action scenes were really of a different caliber! I really felt like an action movie was playing in my head because of the enormous depth of detail that Brandon Sanderson put into this. This also made up for a lot! I was maybe just a little disappointed with the plot. I expected a huge climax that was going to blow me away, but this wasn't really the case. It was still very good, don't get me wrong. But somehow I expected more. I think I had too high hopes for the ending.

Anyway, I'm eager to start "The Well of Ascension" as I've really learned to embrace this world. In addition, I want to see Sazed, Vin, Breeze and Spook again as soon as possible!

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” This was the beautiful opening of a special adventure of loyalty and friendship. This first sentence immediately made me start the song 'bag end'... and so I found myself back in the familiar Middle-Earth.

'The Hobbit' is one of the most magical works of storytelling I have ever read. And yes, I specifically call it a 'narrative' work, because Tolkien writes The Hobbit as if he were telling it to you himself, which makes it a thousand times more special. This catapulted me back to the time when my dad read me a story just before going to sleep and I lay nice and cozy under my duvet. The fact that J.R.R Tolkien was able to evoke these nostalgic feelings in me made this adventure even more phenomenal.
But what makes 'The Hobbit' so special? Well, I can tell you that the simplicity of Tolkien's fantasy masterpiece and the accuracy of Bilbo's personality is what makes it so compelling. He proves that you don't need complicated magic systems or a thousand evil racial beasts to make a fantasy book really GOOD. Here you are presented with a simple life that turns into an unexpected adventure, which makes you go with the flow. Middle-earth is a world full of surprises that seems somewhat realistic, but still contains its magic. It also contains the necessary portion of humor, action, interesting characters and fairy tale vibes. It was a real journey!

You also immediately notice that 'The Hobbit' was written for children, but this did not bother me. This also made it less complex than his other books and therefore a lot more accessible to read. But although I have to say (and I thought I was never going to say this), I missed this. The depth he can create in his other stories made me appreciate the books even more. At least to a certain extent, for those who know Tolkien's detailed writing 😉. For example, (SPOILER) Thorin's death was a disappointment, as it was described in a few sentences. I felt that a lot of detail was missing in some passages.

The Hobbit was still a real relief to read! 100% recommended for those who want to start fantasy or need a cozy fantasy read! 🐉⚱️🧙🏼✨

Wow! This one was even slightly better than the first book. There was a much darker component that made the story more compelling than the first book. In addition, from the beginning you were given small pieces that told you a little more about the ending. However, I found the plot really disappointing, as it was actually obvious. I expected there to be a huge twist, but it didn't happen.

Still, the series remains fantastic and fun! I will definitely continue with him

It's embarrassing enough that I have to admit that I've never seen the Harry Potter movies. But now that I've started the series, it's even worse to admit that it never even occurred to me to discover this gem. To correct these mistakes, I am happy to inform you that I'm part of the gang: I'm an HP fan!! Yay!

This was truly an immense adventure! When I saw the table of contents for the chapters I was concerned because they were long, but every time I started one I was amazed at how quickly the pages flew by. It was therefore intriguing and compelling to get to know the world of Hogwarts and Privet Drive. Rowling's language is simplistic and compelling, so you don't feel like you've just received a ton of information about a magical world. That makes it very pleasant to read and just as great that this story is written for both young and old. Due to the accessibility of language, but the not super childish way of writing, everyone who sneaks into this world can enjoy it in their own way. The world-building and character development are really fluid and strong! There are many elements of friendship, humor and dedication to details, such as the own game of Quidditch, which in retrospect are very important characteristics for being able to attach that mental label of 'Harry Potter'. How J.K. Rowling was able to create an entire world in less than 350 pages is truly inhuman. This woman must be a genius!

The only negative point for which I did not give 5 stars is that sometimes I could no longer find the coherence in the story. Something is actively described in each chapter, such as the forbidden forest or Norbert the dragon, where they immediately lose their added value in the story (or so I thought). The common thread of 'The Philosopher's Stone' was only found again somewhere towards the end and not necessarily woven throughout the story. That's why it took a long time to find out what the title meant.

But, count me in for an HP movie marathon!! 🧙🏼  ✨

To say that I had problems with 'the selection' is a bit of an exaggeration, but I don't really know which way my feelings are pointing me. Was this book a masterpiece? Absolutely not. Was this book smooth to read? In a way, yes. To shorten these sentences: this was a big slap to read as a comfort book, but you won't get more than the bare minimum that a book can offer you. If you want to read a brainless book, then you should definitely start with 'the selection'.

Don't get me wrong, everyone at some point throughout their reading experiences is looking for a book that you don't have to think too much about and where you can just flow smoothly with the vibe. This was the initial reason why I picked up this book, to be able to have this mindless experience. At least Kiera Cass managed this well, but it's even more superficial than I expected. You get no plot, zero world-building as well as character development, plus a repetitive story that is a bit stolen from 'the bachelor' and 'the hunger games' (without the gruesome game). I've laughed more often because I cringed at the cringiest names and events in this book than I have found it genuinely funny. You are presented with a story about an insufferable teenager America (yes, sincerely, that's her name) who hates when anyone calls her pretty (boohoo, too bad you're so pretty that everyone would fall to their knees for you) and goes then counterintuitively against the fact that she actually does not want to participate in the selection at all, but still has jealous feelings towards the girls who participate.
In addition, with regard to the fact that this book is labeled as a 'fantasy' genre, I thought it was a bit of a stretch. Dystopian, okay. But fantasy? Not for me.
But I also cannot deny that I often continued reading because of the ease and the pleasant feeling I got. In addition, I certainly cannot criticize a book written for teenagers from a 'mature' point of view (which I have actually done a little bit).

It's just, for me, a little too childish without much substance. But if you're looking for a series to dive into for comfort, then it's definitely a good start :)

Leest als boter! Ideaal om uit een reading slump te komen

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Miss maas presents you once again: second book supremacy. This was again a huge improvement over the first book which lacked a lot of body. Here you got the depth you WANT.

In acomaf we meet a lot of new, intriguing characters who were more than welcome to bring more power to this storyline! After I didn't have the feeling that I knew the characters thoroughly with Acotar, I thought I got the feeling that there was an enormous development. Mainly with the main characters, but also with the sub-characters. You were confronted with their history and personality for each character, which left a greater impact on me. So character development was seriously central to this book and what can I say, it was lovely!
In addition, the slow burn between Rhysand and Feyre was one to frame. This is really what I look for in a romance.
Furthermore, the world of Velaris and the night court was simply magical. SJM really made this world tangible, making you sincerely want to be in it. So people definitely didn't lie about this.

Although I must admit that I have occasionally struggled with this book, one way or another. Despite the fact that I feel a huge progress in character development, I don't yet feel a super deep connection with some of the characters... or at least not with the main characters. It wasn't until Rhys and Feyre discovered they were mates that I was more than happy. So it took about 380-400 pages before I could really feel happy for them... the rest of their romance in the story left me a bit cold. I also have the feeling that Rhys and Feyre will escape me more quickly than, for example, Nesta, Mor or Azriel. In addition, I'm still a bit unsure how I feel about the heavy romance in this fantasy. There are certainly plots, but I notice that I am still looking for the grit, strength and powerfulness of these books. Again there are certainly exciting moments (such as the ending, which was WOWWW!), but I sometimes missed the coherence of these exciting moments that ultimately did not lead to anything. Maybe a court of wings and ruins can offer me that?

We will see ;)