What a strange dichotomy of a book. On the one hand, the premise and storytelling are so intriguing, the characters so fully realised and three-dimensWhat a strange dichotomy of a book. On the one hand, the premise and storytelling are so intriguing, the characters so fully realised and three-dimensional and empathetic.
On the other… it’s so boring! How can a book be so intriguing, so complex, so meticulous and yet so BORING at once? It’s a complete paradox, and there are a fair few number of those in here. Closed loops and loops left open… Gosh, my brain hurts. In a good way. But oh my God… I was desperate to get to the end of this. The prose is so dense and it was SO slow.
Overall, I think ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ is very well written. Every now and then the author surprises with an absolutely beautiful turn of phrase e.g.
”Men crawl into their cups after a hard day’s work, stirring the bitterness settled at the bottom.”
“The leaves and twigs were so demoralised by the earlier rain they didn’t have the heart to cry out beneath my feet.”
The author also does a really excellent job of—for the most part—clearly conveying what is, at its heart, an extremely complicated, layered and nuanced locked-room murder mystery. But there’s a lot of drag too; a lot of empty space filled with WORDS about stuff I don’t care about. Towards the end, there are also a few moments where the main character jumps to seemingly out of the blue conclusions and springs traps in a previous host without telling the reader what he’s actually done. So the rewards reaped of that felt a bit cheap.
Also, those paradoxes I mentioned? They’re nicely closed until about 75% of the way through the book until suddenly Aidan stops closing them. But everything carries on the next day as though the loop was closed? That bothered me a lot and it happened repeatedly.
One non-spoilery example: it’s never explained how the letter to Cunningham appears under the chair. Aidan says he’ll get a future host to do it, but then he never does. So how is Cunningham compelled to help and Aidan wakes up the next day armed with the help Cunningham provided?
PARADOX!
Overall, the fact it was so unbelievably slow is what’s driving most of my 3/5 star rating, as it really is such an original premise and a unique and fun take on the locked-room mystery. I enjoyed the ride and would like to read other books by the author.
CWs: Contains adult themes, graphic violence (e.g. murder, suicide, self-harm, torture) and scenes readers may find disturbing. Please also note that one of the hosts is fat, and this host is treated with absolute fatphobic disdain by the main character. This fatphobia is neither challenged nor addressed....more
This was a fabulous end to an overall great trilogy--of which this one was my favourite, I think. I love the politics, the tricksiness, Jude's ruthlesThis was a fabulous end to an overall great trilogy--of which this one was my favourite, I think. I love the politics, the tricksiness, Jude's ruthlessness, her relationship with Cardan, her relationship with Madoc, Madoc as a character, Madoc Madoc Madoc... Everything. I love it all.
The ending did feel rushed and a bit too 'neat' if I'm going to be really picky, hence the docking of a single star, but I reserve the right to revise this to 5 at a later date if I choose to. Had the 3 books been published as one hefty tome, this would have been an easy 5/5 stars.
Just pure adrenaline-pumping joy from start to finish. Loved the story, loved these characters, love love love the entire trilogy. No one captures the nastiness, mischievousness and beauty of faeries quite like Holly Black. Superb....more
Though undoubtedly suffering a little bit from 'middle book syndrome', Holly Black's The Wicked King is every bit as knotty, twisty and nasty as its pThough undoubtedly suffering a little bit from 'middle book syndrome', Holly Black's The Wicked King is every bit as knotty, twisty and nasty as its predecessor.
After pulling off a truly incredible coup d'etat against her Red Cap general father, Madoc, Jude Duarte struggles to retain control of her castle as enemies on all sides seek to shove her off her mound. One of these enemies is the Queen of the Undersea -- not the best enemy to have when you yourself live on an island. Worse still, the king she has bound to obey her every whim, Cardan, seems determined to undermine and thwart her at every turn, furious at being tricked. Oh, and she may be beginning to fall in love with him. Just a tiny bit. Just a smidge.
Jude's political machinations are again at the fore here. Having obtained the power she so desperately sought to obtain, she now faces the far greater challenge of trying to keep it. The schemes at play here are intricate and clever, and it's an absolute joy watching all the characters try and outwit each other, even when things look grim. I simply could not guess whose hand was behind what scheme, or indeed what said scheme was or what its outcome would be. Constant surprise! That's quite a feat to achieve in a novel, especially a short and snappy YA novel like this.
I should note here that I broke my self-enforced no-YA rule for this book. I'm so pleased I did. Holly Black is the bomb.
I also want to take a moment to talk about Madoc and Jude for a moment, whose complicated father/daughter relationship in this book was simply fantastic to read. Madoc's newfound respect and admiration for Jude amidst the sting of her betrayal speaks volumes as to his character. He murdered Jude's parents, yes, but he also raised her as his own. He taught her everything he knew, and she bested him... and he likes that. Throughout the whole of this book, you can see Madoc trying to bring Jude on side, trying to subjugate her again as his daughter. Her continued refusal is just her passing another test -- she's better than a mere daughter. She's an enemy. His equal. And there's nothing a Red Cap likes more than something, or someone, to defeat. I found that kind of dynamic really interesting -- truly incredible stuff. I adore Madoc. He's my favourite character in this series.
Now for the juicy stuff... Jude and Cardan! Obviously, this being a YA novel, their romance features pretty prominently, but it never dominates, never feels out of place or forced for the sake of it -- it's woven seamlessly into the warp and weft of the plot. Jude and Cardan are the embodiment of 'enemies to lovers' (view spoiler)[-- and in fact the 'lovers' part happens a lot sooner than I anticipated... yay! (hide spoiler)]. It's like Holly Black made a conscious decision to take this trope -- problematic power dynamics, abusiveness and all -- and just run with it, and I have to say she does it extremely well. You can't help but love Cardan and Jude as a pairing, and I lived for every moment they were on the page. I can't wait to see certain things resolve themselves in the upcoming The Queen of Nothing!
Stuff I liked less... To be honest, not much happened in this book. It felt very much like things were just getting going when it all abruptly ended. This is what I meant when I said the book suffers from 'middle book syndrome'-- it's a setup book; a means of getting Jude and Cardan to where they need to be for the finale. That's perfectly fine of course -- entirely necessary -- but it did make the book feel slow in places, the beginning especially. Secondly, I have of this book the same criticism I had of the first: it's not long enough. There's so much capacity for depth here. I wanted more emotion. More anguish. More... well. More.
Overall I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one, and I am very much looking forward to The Queen of Nothing....more
I was really disappointed with Blood of the Fold. I just don't really feel like much happened and don't feel like I learned anything new. The first boI was really disappointed with Blood of the Fold. I just don't really feel like much happened and don't feel like I learned anything new. The first book in this series, Wizard's First Rule, showed a lot of promise. Stone of Tears dragged a lot but picked up the end. Blood of the Fold never really got off the ground. In addition to this, Terry Goodkind's writing style is really beginning to grate on my nerves. All the villains seem to have the same character flaws in the sense that they are sexually perverse, and want to take over the world for seemingly no reason, or a reason poorly explained. All female characters wind up being raped or sexually assaulted at one point, which I find very disturbing. Goodkind has an extremely sadistic streak, which whilst in the case of the Mord Sith can be extremely creative and refreshing, after a while just becomes sadly predictable. I just get the sense that the author is getting a kick out of it, rather than using it to tell his story more effectively. I also notice contradictions in this whole passion vs. reason stuff. It's constantly reiterated that Richard needs to use his reason over his passions, but then has no control over his magic at the same time, and is guided by 'instinct'. These things are then discussed to death via internal monologue or dialogue between characters (which makes for tiresome, repetitive)... and I still find myself confused as to what exactly Goodkind is trying to say. What does he want us to use? Our brains? Or our feelings? And where does instinct stop and passion take over? All in all, I'm really struggling to make my way through the rest of the series. I was beginning to flag at Stone of Tears, but Blood of the Fold was even slower and less immersive than its predecessor. I am hoping that Temple of the Winds will recapture the mystery, suspense and excitement I felt in Wizard's First Rule, otherwise I may never learn the end of Richard and Kahlan's story....more
I absolutely flew through this one — really enjoyed it. Lots of complex court intrigue and tricksy fae at their most duplicitous. All the characters wI absolutely flew through this one — really enjoyed it. Lots of complex court intrigue and tricksy fae at their most duplicitous. All the characters were so complex and well-drawn, and although none of them were particularly nice people, I still found myself rooting for them anyway. (view spoiler)[Except Taryn. Jesus effing Christ, just... no. (hide spoiler)]
Roiben and Kaye made an appearance! Yay!
Vivi ♥
The only thing keeping me from rating this book a full five stars out of five is that it didn’t quite open up an unending well of love and feeling inside me, and I definitely feel like it had the potential to do so. (view spoiler)[Particularly as far as Prince Cardan is concerned; Holly Black was a bit sketchy on the details when it came to his abusive relationship with his family. Why did Eldred hate him so? And how did he come to be so obsessed with Jude? What is it about her that drives him so crazy? Is it the very fact she’s the only one who dares to challenge him? Whilst this is certainly implied, I wanted MOAR (hide spoiler)].
I think this might be to something to do with the writing style as well, which was sharp and punchy. I live for long, slow, meandering fantasies, rich in detail and full to the brim with emotion and character development. The Cruel Prince was very much all about the Plot, which is fine in and of itself because it was very exciting, but I was left a bit wanting.
I’m really excited to read The Wicked King!...more
I think I enjoyed The Silkworm even more than The Cuckoo's Calling. It's a lot more gruesome and politically complex, and I genuinely had no idea who I think I enjoyed The Silkworm even more than The Cuckoo's Calling. It's a lot more gruesome and politically complex, and I genuinely had no idea who the culprit was. I couldn't fathom precisely who it was or why they did it at all. I love it when books keep me guessing!
This time Cormoran Strike and his sidekick Robin seek to expose the dark underbelly of publishing; an industry that the author Robert Galbraith -- aka JK Rowling -- obviously knows very well. There's a lot of opportunity for satire here, and the whole thing is very tongue in cheek (how meta would it be if the portraits in Bombyx Mori were based on real people in JK Rowling's life?).
On the subject of Bombyx Mori, its grotesque and repulsive imagery very much called to mind the likes of Federico Fellini, Artaud, Kafka, Berkoff etc. which I loved. There was also a decidedly claustrophobic, chintzy, 'old' atmosphere that clung to the pages throughout, which was really unsettling. Very domestic, but kinda 'mucky'. Awkward, obscene kink. I loved it.
Leonora Quine ♥
As per The Cuckoo's Calling, it was a bit overly long, and I didn't like that Strike knew who the culprit was for several chapters before revealing it to the reader. I would have preferred for us to discover with Strike. It was frustrating....more
It's very rare that I'll read a new release and feel like I'm holding a modern classic in my hands. There was a lot of hype and discussion surroundingIt's very rare that I'll read a new release and feel like I'm holding a modern classic in my hands. There was a lot of hype and discussion surrounding The Hate U Give when it was released last year. It debuted at no. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller List (I believe it is still there at the time of writing), dominated my Twitter feed, was universally praised by numerous Booktubers and Book Bloggers that I follow, and is already being made into a film. I confess I was ready to be disappointed. After all, how can a book that's been hyped that much possibly match up to my positively astronomical expectations?
Effortlessly, apparently. The Hate U Give is just so goddamned good. Powerful, emotive, confrontational, brutally honest, nuanced, compulsively readable and believable. Caught between two worlds and struggling to reconcile them both against a background of gang violence, systematic racism and police brutality, Starr Carter is a wonderful heroine. Deeply flawed, vulnerable and brave all at once, The Hate U Give follows Starr's journey through grief, fury and despair after she witnesses her unarmed best friend's death at the hands of a white police officer.
Despite being a white adult woman living in the UK, I still found Starr - a young teenage black girl living in the US - incredibly relatable. That feeling of being thought "too posh" or "not posh enough" depending on which group of friends you hang out with I know only too well (without the racial element of course). And what teenage girl can't relate to the drama of, "Why did you unfollow my Tumblr?!" and that horrible feeling you're - rightfully - drifting apart from your friends? I loved how Starr was permitted to harbour hostile thoughts and make mistakes; that she was allowed to be a human being and not always be right. I loved watching her grow in confidence and become more comfortable in her own skin. I loved Starr's wonderful, loving relationship with her dysfunctional family; it was an absolute joy to read, and so rarely seen in YA fiction. And then of course there are the numerous Harry Potter and pop culture references scattered throughout the book; there are some genuine laugh out loud moments here to break up all the injustice and sadness and awful.
This book was also so unbelievably uncomfortable in all the right ways OMG. Some of the things written about racism and white people in this book instinctively made me bristle, but then I wouldn't be able to get them out of my head because you know what? They're true. They're so goddamned true. The author forced me as a reader to become introspective and take a good long hard look at myself, and made me more aware of important movements like #BlackLivesMatter and the problems of gang culture and gun violence in the US. Within the last couple of weeks, for example, there has been another mass shooting in Florida. Just like in The Hate U Give, teenagers are the ones who are speaking out and campaigning for change. I wonder if some of them read this book and were inspired by Starr to speak out and fight? Perhaps not, but I like to think so. She and Angie Thomas are certainly going to inspire a lot of young people either way.
In conclusion, I think this book was definitely worth the hype. It's going to be required reading on all curriculums and be recognised as a modern classic someday, I just know it. It's hard to believe this is a debut! I commend Angie Thomas for writing something so beautiful, powerful and relevant. Here is an author who's going places....more
I... I have no idea what to do with my life anymore now that this series is over.
I mean... what do I even read now? How do I go on? How do I life?
FYI,I... I have no idea what to do with my life anymore now that this series is over.
I mean... what do I even read now? How do I go on? How do I life?
FYI, 1 star docked purely because there were too many unnecessary POVs (e.g. Maxim, Emira, Alucard). All other aspects of the book were spectacular. This entire series has been automatically added to my Favourites list....more
A nice palette cleanser after the roller coaster of emotions I have been experiencing as a consequence of reading 3 highly immersive fantasy books on A nice palette cleanser after the roller coaster of emotions I have been experiencing as a consequence of reading 3 highly immersive fantasy books on the trot. Whilst very funny, light and sweet, my overriding criticism of The Rosie Project was that Don's lack of empathy and inability to process emotion meant that some of the more intense and revelatory scenes lost emotional impact. Typical that in my attempt to avoid emotion by reading this book I end up criticising the lack of it... ...more
So, so lovely, if a little slow. I thought Inspector Chopra was a great lead character (although his wife annoyed me abominably) and the crime story aSo, so lovely, if a little slow. I thought Inspector Chopra was a great lead character (although his wife annoyed me abominably) and the crime story and stakeout sequences were great. I'm not sure the inclusion of Ganesha worked or not as it did seem a little shoehorned in... but on the other hand he's a baby elephant and who doesn't love baby elephants?
A truly lovely cosy little crime novel about "an honest man in a dishonest city" that you'll absolutely fly through. Perfect holiday reading....more
A bit overly long and meticulous with a dubious ending, but the characterisation was wonderful, the plot interesting and it was really well-written, sA bit overly long and meticulous with a dubious ending, but the characterisation was wonderful, the plot interesting and it was really well-written, so I enjoyed it!...more
I absolutely loved this book. Crime isn't even what I would call 'my thing', but I just didn't want this book to end and I can't wait to read more of I absolutely loved this book. Crime isn't even what I would call 'my thing', but I just didn't want this book to end and I can't wait to read more of this author's stuff. Fortunately, there is a little downloadable novella that takes place before the events of this book featuring the same protagonist called 'Social Engineer' which is currently being given away for free... woot! It's on my (extremely long) list.
A wonderfully twisty, complex plot with lots of different threads and red herrings thrown in to keep the reader off the scent until the nail-bitingly intense closing chapters. All the characters are strong and brilliantly flawed, including the two leads: hacker Brody Taylor and Detective Inspector Jenny Price. I really liked their working relationship and how they interacted with one another to drive the story forward. The "deep web" factoids, case studies and social engineering examples were all really well-researched, clearly explained and always relevant to the story, so the reader never feels bogged down with too much information. Though the context of the dark web is interesting and a bit different for a crime novel, the main thing that struck me about the entire book was how intimately the author described London. Living and working in the City myself, I thought all the locations were described so accurately and with such perfect atmosphere; I've never seen it done so well before. I was also pleased to hear quite prominent mention of Dartford, where I was unfortunate enough to grow up - somewhat off the beaten track!
The writing is beautiful and wonderfully detailed, just shy of exhaustive to the point that had this work been traditionally published, I think an editor would have hacked out quite significant chunks, to the book's detriment. The devil is in the details as they say, and despite large amounts of exposition, Ian Sutherland has taken so much care over every single word that I was never bored. Also, despite this book being self-published, it has been so professionally produced and proof-read that you'd never know the difference. The author also tells me that he is writing a sequel presently due to drop early next year. I am so excited!
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thrilling, modern and clever read. The ideal summer page-turner....more
'Books like those of Bataille could not have been written except for that agonised re-appraisal of [prose narrative considered as an art form]... but 'Books like those of Bataille could not have been written except for that agonised re-appraisal of [prose narrative considered as an art form]... but lacking that context, they must prove unassailable for English and American readers - except as "mere" pornography, inexplicably fancy trash." - Susan Sontag, The Pornographic Imagination (1967)
It is not often that I finish reading a book and genuinely can think of nothing to say about it afterwards. Story of the Eye may have rendered me shocked and speechless, but it left me with plenty to think about; not least whether I'd ever be able to look at eggs in quite the same way again. After reading the (excellent) essay by Susan Sontag included in this edition, along with Bataille's confessional epilogue and various other opinion pieces (I even watched the music video for Venus As A Boy by Björk), I've come to the conclusion that I'm still not entirely sure what the hell I just read and am absolutely certain that I did not enjoy it, but I do appreciate its cultural significance and can even identify a little with the author's obsession with sex and its closeness to traumatic memories, infantilism and death, despite initially dismissing this work as 'fancy trash'. Though this book is without a doubt pornography, it is not titillating, but disgusting, repulsive and obscene. The aim of Simone and the unnamed male narrator is not necessarily to seek pleasure, but the pursuit of transgression in the most devious of sex acts, both moral and literal filth - the amount of urine in this book was disturbing.
Overall, whilst I did not necessarily enjoy this book, I did find it very interesting and it was certainly never boring. And Sontag's essay at the end really was a great read (Roland Barthes' less so). Now if you'll please excuse me, I'm in some serious need of brain bleach....more