Scan barcode
sweets's reviews
87 reviews
The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Absolutely wonderfull. I enjoyed book one but i had a little trouble connecting with the caracters due to the narration style. This was much less distant in the second book wich made me a lot more invested.
I was awed by how inventive this warfare was wich made it much more interresting to me to read dan just the stategic approach in book one.
It is shocking what people with the best intentions will do in the name of love. And how the best laid lans can be foiled by other peoples sceeming.
One of the caracters i found interesting in book one turns into a well intentioned but ruthless villain.
I am very much looking forward to see how this story continues in the 3rd book.
I was awed by how inventive this warfare was wich made it much more interresting to me to read dan just the stategic approach in book one.
It is shocking what people with the best intentions will do in the name of love. And how the best laid lans can be foiled by other peoples sceeming.
One of the caracters i found interesting in book one turns into a well intentioned but ruthless villain.
I am very much looking forward to see how this story continues in the 3rd book.
Light's Shadow by R. Roland Finch
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Received a Netgalley ARC for an honest review. I needed to sit with this one a bit before reviewing this.
The strange thing is i did enjoy reading it but i dont think i enjoyed the story. I have been trying to figure out why.
I think it centers with the disconect in emotion. Its unclear why the light and the dark are at war and even when we dig into the history this is kind of taken as a given wich is strange to me. Then you are ambushed and need to escape wich is a good way to get instandly into the story but your dad doesnt make it.
I would be devistated! I would want to go back as soon as possible and look for him and or bug everyone i can for information. Than you lose your mom while traveling and you don't go banabas. There is to big of an emotional disconect for me in the entire story.
But like i said i did enjoy the reading.
-I liked the world building the concept was interesting though sometimes kinda unclear and filled with details that do not seem to contribute to the story. (Maybe the next book)
-I liked the technologie that was worked out in detail. Somtimes 2 much but still cool.
-I liked the relationships but again, emotionele disconects. After one meeting you have insta friends and insta enemies. No your relationships need to develop and grow emotionaly and even though some background is given. Its just information not emotion. Then they bond and again informational no first person emo. This all mafe me feel disconnected.
-I enjoyed the training however would have prefered a montage instead of a day by day and did not at all like how details the sportscompetitions were. PASS.
-the politics and religion/believe of there origins is also very interesting.
And then we arrive in the last 30 pages and suddenly the emotions are rampent everyones unspoken unshowed feelings suddenly burst up. Wich made the story havevmore dept and make sence yet... very strange the complete twist in writing style. Why, where was this for the rest of the book?
I do think this book is worth your time someone else might not notice the same things like i do and the world building is very interesting and detailed.
Will i try book 2, yes because i think a debut author needs time to find there feet and i did like the world and would like to re-visit. I think the author made a very good attempt for his first book may his writing develope and grow. Good job!
The strange thing is i did enjoy reading it but i dont think i enjoyed the story. I have been trying to figure out why.
I think it centers with the disconect in emotion. Its unclear why the light and the dark are at war and even when we dig into the history this is kind of taken as a given wich is strange to me. Then you are ambushed and need to escape wich is a good way to get instandly into the story but your dad doesnt make it.
I would be devistated! I would want to go back as soon as possible and look for him and or bug everyone i can for information. Than you lose your mom while traveling and you don't go banabas. There is to big of an emotional disconect for me in the entire story.
But like i said i did enjoy the reading.
-I liked the world building the concept was interesting though sometimes kinda unclear and filled with details that do not seem to contribute to the story. (Maybe the next book)
-I liked the technologie that was worked out in detail. Somtimes 2 much but still cool.
-I liked the relationships but again, emotionele disconects. After one meeting you have insta friends and insta enemies. No your relationships need to develop and grow emotionaly and even though some background is given. Its just information not emotion. Then they bond and again informational no first person emo. This all mafe me feel disconnected.
-I enjoyed the training however would have prefered a montage instead of a day by day and did not at all like how details the sportscompetitions were. PASS.
-the politics and religion/believe of there origins is also very interesting.
And then we arrive in the last 30 pages and suddenly the emotions are rampent everyones unspoken unshowed feelings suddenly burst up. Wich made the story havevmore dept and make sence yet... very strange the complete twist in writing style. Why, where was this for the rest of the book?
I do think this book is worth your time someone else might not notice the same things like i do and the world building is very interesting and detailed.
Will i try book 2, yes because i think a debut author needs time to find there feet and i did like the world and would like to re-visit. I think the author made a very good attempt for his first book may his writing develope and grow. Good job!
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
informative
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did not like the writing style it was very simple and shot words and i dont know if this is because of the translation or cultural differences. It velt like i was reading a story that was told in someones second ore third language but not there first.
Reading for me is escapism and this book is the complete opposit. It is not realy a story its a reflection on ones live and meaning and purpose through the eyes of another. If you enjoy confronting yourself with self help books you will enjoy this. If you are just looking for cultural story this might not be for you. But you can give it a go.
The rating is not for the story, it is nteresting enough, its more for the writing style/translation. I did not realy enjoy the reading.
Reading for me is escapism and this book is the complete opposit. It is not realy a story its a reflection on ones live and meaning and purpose through the eyes of another. If you enjoy confronting yourself with self help books you will enjoy this. If you are just looking for cultural story this might not be for you. But you can give it a go.
The rating is not for the story, it is nteresting enough, its more for the writing style/translation. I did not realy enjoy the reading.
The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book is very entertaining. I enjoyed how the story strings different Grimm storys togheter as part of a compleatly new fairytall esk storie. The main caracter is awsome very determent to do whats rright for everybody else.
In the endshe doesnt get what she set out for but does get wa she needs. The twist in the last to pages suddenly made what i thought was a stand alone a series. Not entirely sure how i feel about that. But i am interested
In the endshe doesnt get what she set out for but does get wa she needs. The twist in the last to pages suddenly made what i thought was a stand alone a series. Not entirely sure how i feel about that. But i am interested
The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Basicaly this is a book about a form of alchemy, it is not that limited for the alchemist are training in multiple catagories . We can make fire, metals, earth move and the ultimatum goal for these alchemists?
To extend life so the royal family and rich can live for ever.
It is interesting however how much of the focus of this book is not about extending life but actually about cheating death.
Our main girl turns out to be an acomplished necromancer she uses her alchemy gifts to bring back the dead.
There is however when creating good you also create bad for there is always a price to pay.
This book is interresting but also dark and a little grizzly. It has monsters, murder, a lot of blood, plots and deceit. Who will tell wich of our caracters will turn out on top. Or be left standing/living in the end.
To extend life so the royal family and rich can live for ever.
It is interesting however how much of the focus of this book is not about extending life but actually about cheating death.
Our main girl turns out to be an acomplished necromancer she uses her alchemy gifts to bring back the dead.
There is however when creating good you also create bad for there is always a price to pay.
This book is interresting but also dark and a little grizzly. It has monsters, murder, a lot of blood, plots and deceit. Who will tell wich of our caracters will turn out on top. Or be left standing/living in the end.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
So people act like cosy fantasy is a new thing but actualy i would discribe this as such. Its writen kinda childish but has subjects that are definatly more on the mateure side.
There is loss, magic an intricate hunt for a lost Prince. A witchy villan, secrets, deceit, centiient falling stars, a found family and lots of love all around.
What more could you wish or from a december read.
There is loss, magic an intricate hunt for a lost Prince. A witchy villan, secrets, deceit, centiient falling stars, a found family and lots of love all around.
What more could you wish or from a december read.
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
I am so glad i did not listen to the reviews of people that were negitive about the first book and gave it a go for myself. Where they wrong, not intirely for a lot of people are used to fast pased fantasy and thats not this, in the first book. Its extensive worldbuilding and a lot of tactical and political opponents and enemies need to be introdused to the reader. Als our main caracters there background there familie relations and motivations all need to be set up for the reader to be emursed in this story.
Since i do read some epic fantasy i gave the fist book time to develope and i did enjoy it but it took me 35/40% to actually get into the story.
Now in the second book it pays of if you have paid attention. The political landscope of the different courts is compleatly different. This discibes the different cultures. It is much more fast pased and we have much more time to develope the relationships between these main caracters. The twist in the end keeps me want to continue for the plot but the relationships between the light and dark also keep me on my thoes. Will they betray each other? Who will betray who? Will they chouse to perpetuate this family saga or break the cycle and choose each other? I will have to take these questions with me and probably wait another year for book three. 🤞
Since i do read some epic fantasy i gave the fist book time to develope and i did enjoy it but it took me 35/40% to actually get into the story.
Now in the second book it pays of if you have paid attention. The political landscope of the different courts is compleatly different. This discibes the different cultures. It is much more fast pased and we have much more time to develope the relationships between these main caracters. The twist in the end keeps me want to continue for the plot but the relationships between the light and dark also keep me on my thoes. Will they betray each other? Who will betray who? Will they chouse to perpetuate this family saga or break the cycle and choose each other? I will have to take these questions with me and probably wait another year for book three. 🤞
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
So yes, i wanted to know what the hype was all about. Goodreads choice awards and Booker prize mymy. As Booker prize winners for me generaly disapoint the fact that this one did is not surprising. It was just mid for me.
I enjoy fantasy an Sify and i enjoyed the discriptions of the planet how this made them feel and how they lived on the space station.
However, there is no story here. Its nothing more then a collourfull way to package provoking the thoughtprocess of how small and insignificant we are in the great sceam of things.
Wich is original, but not an ectual story. We never learned anything about these nondiscript people and nothing happend to them if it was not to make a point to provoke another deep existential thought process.
So i think its writen beatifully but it was utterly boring for me. Why, because i dont need these thoughtprocesses and there was no story or carracter for me to, root for, eidentefy with or even care about in the slightest.
Sorry, but yet again i apperantly don't understand why this book got the Booker price.
I enjoy fantasy an Sify and i enjoyed the discriptions of the planet how this made them feel and how they lived on the space station.
However, there is no story here. Its nothing more then a collourfull way to package provoking the thoughtprocess of how small and insignificant we are in the great sceam of things.
Wich is original, but not an ectual story. We never learned anything about these nondiscript people and nothing happend to them if it was not to make a point to provoke another deep existential thought process.
So i think its writen beatifully but it was utterly boring for me. Why, because i dont need these thoughtprocesses and there was no story or carracter for me to, root for, eidentefy with or even care about in the slightest.
Sorry, but yet again i apperantly don't understand why this book got the Booker price.
A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This starts out as a misserable life. We hardly know this girl /women and she falls from one horrible marriage in another.
This is a difficult position to convince us that she is a powerfull god touched warrior. For she lets these men controle her fate and there family abuse her possition and put her last.
This women is fumbeling through her life putting everyone else first to detrament of herself. Then when she sort of kind of chouses something for hersellf this turns out to be a lie?
This doesnt realy make this a story or caracter that gives me any joy. So the 4 is for hope the sequel will restore my fate in what i belief can be a kickass caracter if she will own her stength and take action for herselff. Dont let me down!
This is a difficult position to convince us that she is a powerfull god touched warrior. For she lets these men controle her fate and there family abuse her possition and put her last.
This women is fumbeling through her life putting everyone else first to detrament of herself. Then when she sort of kind of chouses something for hersellf this turns out to be a lie?
This doesnt realy make this a story or caracter that gives me any joy. So the 4 is for hope the sequel will restore my fate in what i belief can be a kickass caracter if she will own her stength and take action for herselff. Dont let me down!
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
adventurous
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
This is a loveley cosy romance. Its easy to read. The caracters are diverse an well worked out. I love how this solitairy person seems to suddenly collect travel companions and how this turns into a found family.
Trough the struggles of her found family she finds the courage to confront her past and own family issues that partialy made her leave home.
Its adventurous, hardwarming, cute and smart. Would have been a five if the main caracter would have found not only a chosen family but love aswell.
Trough the struggles of her found family she finds the courage to confront her past and own family issues that partialy made her leave home.
Its adventurous, hardwarming, cute and smart. Would have been a five if the main caracter would have found not only a chosen family but love aswell.