There is a paradox in the new testament: in the four gospels (70-95 CE) Jesus is the christ, immortal, god's co-equal; in Paul's letters (50-55 CE) Jesus is a real person, but only outlined. Akenson states that, if you look closely enough, there may be sayings of the historical, real Jesus in Paul's letters; and that Paul and Jesus were both of a Pharisaic tradition, interpreting sacral laws and using allegory and a background in late second temple understanding of religion and the world around them.

This was a slow drama focusing on the lives of the characters around the camp/the Van Laar family. It's a mystery, but it's not the type of story that has big shocks or twists! It's more of a character study focus on the lives of women, with a small bit of mystery thrown in. You learn about Barbara Van Laar, her damaged mother, Alice, and her friend Tracy, and the camp director, T.J. And I was most interested in following Judyta, the only female investigator on the force. I loved it!

A very strong, very thematically coherent, very engaging story from start to finish. I was floored at how nicely the final scene totally brings together every single thread in the book and neatly wraps up the stories of the two core families. Not to mention - the characters are engaging and the prose is enjoyable. As a body of work this is one of the best books I can remember reading in some time!

This was definitely a page turner - I did not want to put it down. I wanted to know how she ended up with seven husbands! I ended just as entranced with Evelyn Hugo as her fans were. I wish I could track down the movies and articles written about her. I don't know if I like her as a person or not, but I find her fascinating. I wouldn't make many of the same choices as she did, but after hearing her tell her story, I understand her at least.

I connected a little less with Monique and her side of things - I didn't get why we had this framing device at all - but near it end, it all clicked into place. I ended up loving that part of the story as well.

The book was also just a great love story, and a great story of friendship. Her whole found family was amazing and lovely. And as a bisexual woman of color, Evelyn Hugo is an icon. It was so great to see a character actually use the word (several times!) and live her life as a bisexual person - we almost never get that nuanced representation. I found myself so sad for her that she had to hide so much of herself - her heritage, her family, her true feelings. But she also chose that life! What an interesting character. If I had known what it was about, I would have picked it. up sooner!

This novel feels like several stories stitched together without enough thread.

The strongest section is the first: a vivid, detailed account of Evelyn’s rise as a Hollywood starlet, told moment by moment with real dramatic power. But the book then shifts into a different mode, tracing her queer relationships in broad strokes, often through dialogue punctuated by abrupt time jumps (“and then six years passed.”). Major stretches of life are reduced to a few lines, leaving the later narrative feeling thin compared to the richness of the beginning.

Additional subplots add to the sense of imbalance. Evelyn’s struggles as a mother and the family’s sudden move to Spain receive comparatively little attention, despite the potential for depth. The framing narrator’s father is revealed late in the book to have been queer as well, but this revelation lands awkwardly, with zero groundwork and little payoff. These side stories sit alongside the main plot rather than reinforcing it, making the novel feel more scattered than layered.

The result is a book that starts with striking detail and intensity but loses focus as it widens its scope. Still, the brilliance of the Hollywood sections carries enough weight to make me want to give it four stars. A longer version of this book - something that truly tried to inhabit and explain Evelyn's post-starlet life, instead of boiling it into a Forest Gump collection of moments, might have been five stars.

This was great! It didn't meet my five star expectations, though it is admittedly hard to live up to all the hype that this one has received. I appreciated the satiric bits and the characterizations and there were some thought provoking elements. But parts of it were darker and more grim than I was expecting. A lot of terrible things happen! I also don't get the reviews calling this funny - there are some ironic bits, but it's not like "laugh out loud funny." I also don't feel great about the way the female characters were treated in this by the author, but that's neither here nor there.

Quite liked this. I would call it a decontextualization of the original - it shears the original of both its place in set time and its authors intent - and reimagines it with modern characters and cultural understanding. For the most part, except the dream sequences with philosophers, which were too much, it succeeds in its effort.

I went into this blind. The start had me a little worried - I didn't realize it was about suicide. I don't know if it covered that part super well (she seemed to get over her depression/ideologies all pretty quickly!), but it got a lot better for me after Phoebe actually met Lila. Once I saw where it was going, I also thought it was going to be too sappy or something, but I think all the drama, humor, and sentimentality were balanced well. I felt for Phoebe and loved that she found this goofy found family.

This is not high art. But it is an inventive take on the romance novel genre. The framing device - suicide - is mentioned as problematic by many reviewers. I grok that. But my rating is based on the book setting out to do a small thing, and in my opinion, nailing it.

I'm always a bit skeptical of books that receive nothing but hype - but this was great! It's long but I read it in one weekend because I couldn't put it down! The magic system was cool and the plot was thrilling - I loved the twist and turns. I loved following Vis around - he is compelling and charismatic and lovable, but also flawed. The supporting characters were also super well done. I also loved the scheming and how you never really knew who to trust. And the ending really made me want to pick up the next book immediately!

A very exciting book, never dull, exceptionally fascinating mystery/history of the world…. could have used one more editing pass to resolve some inconsistencies and repetitions.

Vis is the very special prince who is the very best at everything. He is the smartest kid ever, plays wizard chess like a champion, and he even has a special Disney princess animal companion, deus ex puppy, who routinely fights off zombies and powerful magic users. Not that Vis needs help! He routinely beats up everyone: brawlers with the strength of ten men, the biggest boy at his school, and beats the best dueler in the world (with a couple of hours of practice with the weird dueling weapon that he is forced to use). Oh, except for the one time when two ruffians beat him up, but even the very specialest plot armor fails some times.

This was great - not my favorite Austen, but a classic. Great villains - I particularly enjoyed hating Fanny Dashwood and her control over Mr. Dashwood. Great side characters. And I enjoyed the contrast between Elinor's sense and Marianne's strong opinions and emotions!

Loved this, has the most reference of social norms, interactions between different classes and classifications of gentility (something somewhat blurred in P&P).

I still liked this, and I think this might be her most technically well written of her books, but I personally enjoyed this the least of the six. It's as long as Emma, but it's just not as justified in its length. And there just isn't a cast of endearing characters. Fanny seems to be the only sensible, kind person while everyone else is terrible! Even Edmund. And even then, Fanny isn't a very fun character to follow. She's kind of a wet blanket. On the other hand, I get that we're supposed to find Mary immoral - and I am on Fanny's side - but she was a fun character. She actually kind of reminds me of Lizzy Bennet - only more insolent...! (Too bad she's a tactless, selfish liar.) The pacing of the book is also totally off. There's a decent set up and then it drags and then there's the play and then in drags and then some exciting stuff happens right at the end, super quickly! The ending is so abrupt!

Even with all her flaws, I can't help but love Emma. Yes, she's a shallow, stubborn, spoiled brat who meddles where she shouldn't - but her heart is in the right place and she eventually gets it. On reread, it hit me how Jane Fairfax is more similar to the typical Austen heroines, so I enjoyed getting that different perspective in Emma! The book can never rank as high as Pride and Prejudice for me, but it's still great. It has the social commentary and wit that I expect!

Even with all her flaws, I can't help but love Emma. Yes, she's a shallow, stubborn, spoiled brat who meddles where she shouldn't - but her heart is in the right place and she eventually gets it. On reread, it hit me how Jane Fairfax is more similar to the typical Austen heroines, so I enjoyed getting that different perspective in Emma! The book can never rank as high as Pride and Prejudice for me, but it's still great. It has the social commentary and wit that I expect!

I enjoyed this one. It felt like Jane Austen, but also it didn't? There's a weird vibe. But the wit and satire are still there! The book breaks the fourth wall and the narrator talks to us at times - and defends novel reading! Catherine even believes she's in her own gothic novel. She gets so into it that she started to annoy me near the end - but that's right when she gets some sense and grows out of it. She has a good heart, but most of the humor in the book comes from watching her get so many things wrong! The side characters are great - I loved Henry and Eleanor, while John and Isabella were fun to hate. I don't love it for the same reasons as I love other Austen novels - but I appreciate it for what it is.

One of the first classics I've read where I didn't already know the general plot/ending. I was sucked in. Even though I've read P&P many times, I haven't read any of her other novels. This one was just as witty.

One of the first classics I've read where I didn't already know the general plot/ending. I was sucked in. Even though I've read P&P many times, I haven't read any of her other novels. This one was just as witty.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

A favorite.

A favorite.

My second Ishiguro book. Immediately, I'm amazed at how different the writing is. He really nailed the voice of the butler--completely different from the voice of Kathy in Never Let Me Go. Everything in this book is subtle in a brilliant way. Subtly devastating. There is something so sad about the way Stevens could not figure out social cues--especially in those parts where he was agonizing about "wit" and "banter." Not what I expected at all, but gives me much to think about.

Read it again, listening to the audiobook this time. Still great, still devastating.

My second Ishiguro book. Immediately, I'm amazed at how different the writing is. He really nailed the voice of the butler--completely different from the voice of Kathy in Never Let Me Go. Everything in this book is subtle in a brilliant way. Subtly devastating. There is something so sad about the way Stevens could not figure out social cues--especially in those parts where he was agonizing about "wit" and "banter." Not what I expected at all, but gives me much to think about.

Read it again, listening to the audiobook this time. Still great, still devastating.

My second Ishiguro book. Immediately, I'm amazed at how different the writing is. He really nailed the voice of the butler--completely different from the voice of Kathy in Never Let Me Go. Everything in this book is subtle in a brilliant way. Subtly devastating. There is something so sad about the way Stevens could not figure out social cues--especially in those parts where he was agonizing about "wit" and "banter." Not what I expected at all, but gives me much to think about.

Read it again, listening to the audiobook this time. Still great, still devastating.

An irreverent retelling of Jesus's childhood through the eyes of his best friend Biff. The humor is juvenile and there are a ton of sexual themes and crude jokes that are very adolescent. Cringeworthy and excessive.

I loved this one! It's not my favorite of her books, but it's up there. I admit I really hate a couple of things like Miles did and almost want to dock it for that - but the rest of this was so great! The set up was goofy and fun and I really enjoyed reading about Daphne and Miles and the side plots like Daphne's friendship with Ashleigh and the relationship between Miles and Julia. Emily Henry's writing is always funny and relatable. And there are some truth bombs dropped here that I realize I need to work on in my own life.

Cute! Surprised the lead took Miles back after the last 10% shenanigans. Better communication! But a sweet read that accomplished what it set out to do.

Fantastic. WOT is back. This is Egwene's book. Her story has finally reached its highest point. She is finally the Amerlyn, and has finally bested Eliada just by being her best self. Things are happening quickly! Ahviendha is finally a wise one too. That story was spread out a little too long, but I always enjoy reading her POVs. This book has more foresaken: in traditional WOT form, Semerag was spanked. She escaped, but finally met her end. Grendal finally got blasted too. Tuon is officially empress. Some mild frustration in her conversations with Rand. Why can't they just reach a peace. Mat was the only misstep here, and his character definitely felt off. Too pessimistic, too much of a woman-hater. Verin was another highlight. I knew there was something off with her, but I knew she couldn't be evil. Her work was amazing. I knew there were black sisters, but 200 seems like a lot! Likewise, Sheriam surprised me. Finally, Rand is over his dreary self--he finally smiled! That ending on top of dragonmount--beautiful.

With The Gathering Storm (Book TWELVE of the Wheel of Time), Brandon Sanderson steps boldly into Robert Jordan's colossal shoes ... and the fit is noticeably different. And so here we are, in a familiar world, but with a new guide, and Sanderson explicitly says, in the introduction to the book, that he is going to tell us a story in his voice, not the emulated voice of Jordan. And so I think the most important thing to address in this review is authorship, and how the handing of the baton to Sanderson impacted my overall enjoyment of the book.

Let's start with the way of writing. Sanderson's prose is a departure from Jordan's style. I would describe Jordan's style as ornate, a baroque approach not just to details but with a long and drawn out sentence structure. By contrast, Sanderson is straightforward and uses modern terms like "chat" and "carbon" which stand out against the traditional fantasy backdrop of the Wheel of Time. This new vocabulary is more than a mere refresh; it signals a fundamental shift in the narrative voice.

It's not just new words. We see characters thinking about flowers and foodstuffs that they've never thought of before. We also see newly coined phrases, such as Suian’s shift from her typical "Fishguts!" to "By the black seas at midnight!" a phrase which not only feels out of character but inaccurately reflects her background. Sanderson's approach to this book is to introduce new elements ... and to do so without considering whether they fit in the existing narrative fabric.

And not just new words, new catchphrases, and new things. I want to posit that Sanderson did not fully grasp the culture of the world that Jordan was inventing. For example, in Jordan's books, Aes Sedai are seen by the common people as cloaked in distrust. But there's a scene halfway through the book where Nyneave heals a commoner, and is promptly surrounded by people who thank her and quite frankly simper at her. Where's the mistrust? We see something similar when General Gareth Bryne is Delved by Suian. Delving is a very typical Aes Sedai weave, often a precursor of Healing. But in Sanderson's book, Bryne has never been Delved before: "So this must be what delving feels like..." thinks a man who has spent his entire life fighting battles. The thought that a seasoned general and fighting man went his entire life without being delved strains belief.

All these differences aside, the most significant shift in the writing is the openness with which characters now discuss their inner turmoils. A fundamental part of Jordan's approach to writing the wheel of time is that characters are inherently reticent and secretive. It's not just the Forsaken (mistrustful of everyone) and the Aes Sedai (who rarely share their true goals with each other, much less the outside world). It is a rarity when characters share what they are truly thinking; often these moments are pivotal plot points, and the secretiveness ensnares characters to their detriment. Early in this book, Rand begins openly sharing his internal conflicts. Egwene also describes exactly what she wants to accomplish with the Aes Sedai at multiple points. This has the result of reducing the complexity of interpersonal relationships ... but also helps speed the book to its conclusion.

Finally, Sanderson seems to be really into characters who strive to understand themselves. I cannot recall Jordan ever engaging in existential exploration or introspection. Sanderson's Wheel of Time, by contrast, is full of characters who are confronting their identity, their purpose, and their values. Perhaps this is an artifact of Sanderson striving - in real time, on the written page - to understand the characters, and to demonstrate to us that he gets them. And I don't think that his take on the characters is wrong, per se. It's just that this is not how Jordan would have ever written the characters. (Much ado has been made of Sandersons' take on Mat; I think Sanderson wrote that character credibly and truthfully to Jordan's Mat, although it's a bit overdone).

Reflecting on these changes, I wonder if my awareness of the shift in authorship heightens my sensitivity to these alterations. Would I have been as critical if Jordan's name were alone on the cover? Perhaps. Certainly it's good to get out of "The Slump" of books 9-11. For all the changes, perhaps the biggest change in this book is that meaningful things happen, and they happen frequently. But while the book has definitely injected some much needed energy into the series, it also wrestles with the challenge presented by Sanderson full-heartedly embracing the opportunity to refresh Jordan's intricate world. Our new guide's hand, while steady, undeniably alters a world that I thought I knew well.

Concluding this review presents a genuine challenge: deciding whether to award this book three or four stars. On one hand, Sanderson’s fresh energy and significant plot advancements provide a much-needed revitalization following the series' earlier slow pace. And I am thankful for Sanderson's taking up of this burden and carrying the series forward. On the other hand, the changes in narrative style, the introduction of new words and things that have not existed in this world before, and inconsistencies in character behavior contribute to a sense of discontinuity. These issues are significant enough that they might warrant a more cautious three-star rating. Ultimately, the decision teeters on a fine balance between appreciation for Sanderson's contributions to the series and my reservations about the alterations to a beloved world, and a lament for a subtle magic that seems diminished by Jordan's passing.

Read this while in Florence - it was super interesting. It's crazy to think that the Duomo was built when and how it was. The author also drops all these little facts and asides about other things that make me think "I want a whole book about that!"

Read this while in Florence - it was super interesting. It's crazy to think that the Duomo was built when and how it was. The author also drops all these little facts and asides about other things that make me think "I want a whole book about that!"

A fascinating read. A good mix of descriptions of human intrigue, history and governance, the inventions and mechanics behind the architecture, and the day-to-day labors of building it. And ever short, to the point, clear prose.

Really "life-changing." Such a simple idea, but really helped me get rid of stuff I was holding onto out of guilt.

This book is so sweet and joyful. A second read through for me - and the impetus to get rid of another 5 bags of clothes that I was hanging on to for reasons other than enjoying wearing them.

This was cute but kind of pretentious. Is there only one way to love books? I liked the appreciation of books, but parts fell flat for me. But there's also some good quotes!

"A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis."

A book about books. Very short, very peculiar. Lots of little pithy aphorisms.

Having recently finished "the slog" in wheel of time, I was having a difficult time getting started on another 1000 page book (not to mention a spot of difficulty acclimating to Sanderson's voice in Gathering Storm, which is more casual than Jordan's) ... so I decided to take a light reading break by breezing through this 400 page ditty by Sanderson. It wasn't for me.

Spoilers follow.

Synopsis: A main character who is a total screw up in the real world is reborn in fantasy England, where his access to modern technology makes him a godlike being. All the men are either afraid of him or idolize him, and the only woman in the book who has significant speaking lines has, by the end of the book, fallen madly in love with him. It reads like a (well executed) teenager's fantasy.

The setting is at once both 1000 years in the future and 1000 years in the past. In the far future, the main character still uses social media and, of all things, websites. In the far past, characters are inconsistent in whether they understand that technology changes as time passes.

The main character is meant to a funny screwball, but I just found him boring. Other examples of humor in the book also fall flat: the book uses the phrase "What if I'm worried about doing a colonialism" and there's an in-world corporate D&I statement that references "the serious issues facing BIAHHIIPOC". These are cringe jokes that would be at home in some teenager's twitter feed.

There are three women characters in the entire book: One actually isn't a woman. One is a wife that has one line and then disappears. And finally, the one woman that has significant time in the book spends the entire book attracted to or in love with the main character. Perhaps most awful of all is the main character's relationship with his ex-girlfriend, who chose to let the main character believe she had died rather than talk about their relationship. Oh, and she was cheating on him the entire time they were together. But he still rescues her because he's a standout guy and after that never thinks of her again because he has a hot new medieval girlfriend.

Things happen in this book! Egwene has been captured by the white tower, but is "content with her situation." It's a pretty good few chapters from her POV. I enjoyed watching her slowly trickle away at Eliada's command of the tower. Plus she can still run the rebellion camp from dreamworld. Not much of a setback at all. Some revelations: Beonin was working for Eliada all along. Moridin is Ishamael. Asha'man and Aes Sedai are bonding each other. What else? Aviendha is sent back with the wise ones. Loial is married. Rand loses his hand. False Tuon. Perrin finally reunites with Faile (ugh). Elayne is officially queen. Really enjoyed Tuon's POV. And watching Tuon and Mat finally get hitched. And she's now the Empress. And Mat is a prince. Also, realized that Tuon can channel. Battles, dead people walking, letters from Moiraine. So much is finally happening!

Book 11 ends the "slog" of the Wheel of Time series, but still falls short of redeeming the lackluster pace of the preceding volumes. I am honestly surprised at how exhausted I am at this series, and even after a book where things happen (and quite a lot happens in Knife of Dreams!), I still feel a sense of trepidation about continuing the series.

I loved the battle scenes in this book! The confrontations, including Rand's showdown with the Forsaken Semirhage, Perrin's clash with the Shaido, and the climactic battle involving Mat and the Seanchan are among the book's highlights. These chapters are strong and have an intensity that have been missing from much of the series' recent installments.

I also really, really enjoyed the Loial and Seafolk POV chapters. Robert Jordan is such a good writer, and his world building was so darn impressive.

In contrast to these battles is yet another "rebel hall" scene. We saw a lot of these in the slog, and they exemplify Jordan's tendency to bog down narrative with a bewildering array of named characters, painstakingly detailing the order of arrivals, seating arrangements, and endless descriptions of glances exchanged and what those glances might mean. I hold fast to my description of Jordan as a great writer, but he could also create narrative bloat.

I have strong thoughts about three characters that get a lot of time in this book: Faile, Egwene, and Elayne.

This book cements my changing feelings about Faile. I now really appreciate her. Early in the series she was a spoiled brat of a young girl who treated Perrin like a child and slapped him(!). In this book we see her instead as strong leader, with thoughtful consideration for her followers, a stiff upper lip in the face of adversity, and her final confrontation with Galina. I enjoyed reading her chapters. I wonder if there was any hint of this better portrayal in the earlier books. I don't recall it and frankly don't have the desire to go back and read this series again. Maybe Jordan completely changed her character?

Egwene is also a standout character in this book, brilliantly navigating her captivity within the White Tower to undermine Elaida's rule, while continuing to lead the rebel tower. Again we see a character who has can respond to tough situations, displays resilience to punishment and pain, and has the ability to turn every disadvantage into an opportunity to take another step forward for her cause. Her growth from the innkeeper's daughter to a force of personality solidifies her as my favorite character at this point in the series.

On the other hand, this book cements my feeling that Elayne is the worst character in the series. Elayne continues a long line of questionable and/or laughable actions, including a reckless decision to ride into danger, resulting in her capture by the Black sisters. This is typical for Elayne, who demonstrates a pattern of poor judgment and irresponsibility. This pattern is highlighted by a moment where she is ready to relinquish her claim to the throne in the face of a single moment of mild adversity. This scene was utterly baffling given that she was literally raised to inherit, and has spent the past books working solely towards that cause, and also undermines the considerable sacrifices made by her followers throughout her quest for the throne. Rather than evolving as the book goes on, Elayne appears more and more to be disconnected from the qualities of leadership and resilience that should be core to her character. What a comparison with Faile and Egwene, two characters who were not raised to be the heir of a major kingdom!

What a ride. This trilogy is one of my new favorites! This one seemed more horrific and dark to me, but it still all comes together in a satisfying way. I really enjoyed following Helena Sedanka, and love her reflective thoughts and descriptions. She's grown a lot since the first book. We also see more complications -- good and bad -- from Konrad Vonvalt and there's more moral and legal dilemmas to ponder. We also got to see many of the side characters that I love. And Heinrich! What a great series.

A good wrap up, but not as satisfying as the earlier books. It moves too quickly and every chapter has its own “oh no, the end is nigh, wait! Literally deus ex machina!” moment. It strains credulity.

Not much really happens here. Perrin worrying over Faile. More Faile point of view (ugh). A lot of mundane stuff about Elayne running Caemlyn. She can't channel when she's pregnant (with twins). Egwene has aes sedai making cuendillar. They have no idea that the source was cleansed, but see a big 3 mile creator where shadar logoth was. Some stuff with Rand. Mat is with Luca in his circus traveling show. Egwene has been captured maybe? Idk, nothing much seemed to happen here. But I was expecting it.

Even with Jordan's excellent writing chops, this is a slog and a 2-star book.

Earlier in the series the author had focused his writing on rich descriptions of the world paired with putting his characters in close quarters and watching sparks fly. As the series enters its slog he leans ever more heavily into detailed descriptions of character-v-character psychology. By Crossroads of Twilight, this emphasis on the social dynamics has slowed the pace to a crawl, with the reader wading through descriptions of seating arrangements, and having to know who arrived first to an important meeting, and the subtlest of gestures that require a plot reference website to understand not just their significance but indeed who the gestures were intended for. The intense focus in this book on endless small interactions between the countless named characters stalls the story's momentum, and my interest stalls with it.

The circus scenes and the scenes with Egwene and the Sitters encapsulated my frustrations with this book. I wouldn't say I was close to quitting the book entirely ... but these scenes in particular were both a bore and chore.

Cadsuane continues a transition from a background character who was very thoughtless and who relished taking others down a peg. I'll be the first to note that I hated Cadsuane's open rudeness towards every other character (particularly other Aes Sedai!), but I feel like something important has been lost as she becomes more of an advisor to Rand than an agent on her own journey. She becomes a side character of a different sort, but one that is less interesting.

Each of the female leads who gets time in this book (Elayne, Faile, Egwene) are dealing with the same problem: they need to rally allies, cannot trust (to varying degrees) the people around them, and people do not take them seriously (for various reasons). Meanwhile, the male leads who get time in this book are taken very seriously (Rand, Perrin, Mat); their leadership never seriously questioned (even Mat by Tuon). An interesting juxtaposition.

The climax with Egwene's mission turning the harbor chains into cuendillar was a highlight for me. This moment felt like a payoff for the earlier setup and was the one instance where the narrative's slow build felt justified.

Aside from this last moment, Crossroads of Twilight felt less like a heroic journey and more like a test of patience, overshadowed throughout by the slowest pacing yet in a very long series.

This one wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Overall, not too much happened. There were some weird scenes, like Aviendha and Elayne "birth" scene. There's some cool stuff involving the start of engines and electricity. Sexy time with Rand and the three girls (not at once). They finally sorted all that out, and they're all bonded now. And Elayne may be pregnant? And ugh, more Perrin worrying over Faile and being annoyed with Berelain, and Faile...existing. On the other hand, Mat's back! We get some Seanchen viewpoints, daugter of the nine moons, and some more stuff with Tylin. The whole book was kind of just okay, but the ending was exciting. Nyneave and Rand paired up and cleansed the taint in an awesome, kind of confusing scene.

RJ’s world-building continues to impress. However, the scenery comes at a cost, as the book often feels overcrowded with visuals. The pacing in this book is frankly sluggish, marking the first time in the series where the reading feels more like a chore than a pleasure.

The portrayal of the Aes Sedai continues to undergo the a significant transformation that began perhaps two books ago. In earlier books they were depicted as near-flawless paragons of strength. Now they are revealed to be fraught with internal squabbles and emotional vulnerabilities, making them more human and relatable. This shift was and continues to abrupt, lacking the gradual introduction that might have lent it more believability. Again, they were too perfect in earlier books; the indication that they were not should have been telegraphed earlier in the series.

The weakest part of the book is my recurring critique of Jordan's storytelling: the depiction of interpersonal mistrust and the dynamics of power struggle. Early in the series, childish banter between genders hinted at deeper societal divides. Now, with a world expanded to include a broader array of factions, the execution of these themes still remains the same as the petty disputes between genders. This approach undermines the gravity of the legitimate grievances and societal critiques, making significant conflicts seem trivial rather than showdowns of ideology and will.

Not all is bad. Our first true look into Sea Folk culture provides a counterbalance to the Aes Sedai portrayal, hinting at the varied responses to authority and power within the series. We also get increased focus on the Seanchan monolithic culture, though their portrayal is too uniform and lacks the nuanced characterization found in other cultures.

Drug on a bit more than the other ones, and there was no big exciting incident at the end. There was no Mat. It mostly just felt like Aes Sedai plotting around and being catty. The Seanchan are back, and there were some cool moments with the gateways. There's a secret Morgase wandering around with Perrin. There's some cool stuff with the Aes Sedai in the white tower and the oath rod. But probably my least favorite of the series so far.

The first "slow" book in the series. Good thing there are only 6 and a half more to go.

An authoritative introduction to pre-internet computerized social networks. Well cited, giving the interested reader many jumping off points. The writing style is very very dry; I felt it became more and more essay format as the book progressed, until in the penultimate chapter the writer was using the essay format: introducing what they intended to say, elucidating each point, and then summarizing the points that were made.

Birthday gift. Finished on flight from DIA-MSP.

Like the last one, dragged on a bit. But I enjoyed the parts with the girls and the parts with Mat. Avienda got a chapter--interesting to see things from her POV. And finally someone talked to the girls re: how poorly they've been treating Mat. Overally, enjoyable. But it's getting harder to power straight through the books!

** spoiler alert ** This was the first book in the series where I noticed that the prose was getting much more detailed. I wonder if this would hold up to some kind of analysis.

Rand's storyline in this is so sad: he's going mad, convinces himself that he'll be okay and that he is on a roll (hard to do after Dumai Wells), and promptly gets himself hurt worse than ever.

Egwene really takes off in this book as Amyrlin. Love her storyline.

Honestly rather bored of the Ebou Dar storyline, but I enjoy seeing Nyn and Elayne progress.

This one is still really exciting, though it starts to drag in some places. Loved the development of Egwene--her training with the wise ones, dream walking, and of course becoming the Amyrlin seat. Gawyn is trash though, and I got tired of reading about her love for him. Nyneave heals Siuan and she and Elayne become full sisters, and they discover that the bowl exists. As always, loved Mat's point of view--especially when he stumbles across Salidar and meets the Amyrlin. Loved Aviendha and Elayne's reunion too--wish we got more of Aviendha because her perspective is so funny. Rand gets more angsty, and btw learns that Tigraine was his mother. He also gets put in a box, which doesn't help the angst. And of course the climax at Dumai's Wells is pretty epic.

This one is still really exciting, though it starts to drag in some places. Loved the development of Egwene--her training with the wise ones, dream walking, and of course becoming the Amyrlin seat. Gawyn is trash though, and I got tired of reading about her love for him. Nyneave heals Siuan and she and Elayne become full sisters, and they discover that the bowl exists. As always, loved Mat's point of view--especially when he stumbles across Salidar and meets the Amyrlin. Loved Aviendha and Elayne's reunion too--wish we got more of Aviendha because her perspective is so funny. Rand gets more angsty, and btw learns that Tigraine was his mother. He also gets put in a box, which doesn't help the angst. And of course the climax at Dumai's Wells is pretty epic.

Started off slow, but the ending was intense! Nynaeve was starting to irk me, and I didn't really care for the circus plot. No Perrin. Mat is getting awesome. The love plot with Rand and the three is kind of ridiculous. But lots of cool stuff with the forsaken.

Second time around, and I'm loving Nynaeve. She's funny and doesn't realize what a hypocrite she is, but she cares so much, and her scenes can be pretty funny. Plus she takes on Moghedien again. So much else happens. Lots more in the world of dreams. First appearance of dark hounds, I think. Mat meets Melindhra and has to kill her, which is a bummer. But he has some great scenes when he starts commanding battles, and kills Couladin. You get Rand and Aviendha hilariously getting together. (I wish we got more from her POV). Rand is dumb because he cannot kill Lanfear, but Moiraine gets an awesome death scene as she takes out Lanfear. And at least he gets to take out Rahvin. And we get more from our minor characters. Morgaise wakes up from her spell and starts planning something. Siuan, Leane and Min and Logain are chased by Gareth Bryne and later found out. Birgitte joins the cast. We get to see Salidar and the start of the rebel white tower. And we get the start of Rand's school for male channelers. Lots of stuff going on!

Started off slow, but the ending was intense! Nynaeve was starting to irk me, and I didn't really care for the circus plot. No Perrin. Mat is getting awesome. The love plot with Rand and the three is kind of ridiculous. But lots of cool stuff with the forsaken.

Second time around, and I'm loving Nynaeve. She's funny and doesn't realize what a hypocrite she is, but she cares so much, and her scenes can be pretty funny. Plus she takes on Moghedien again. So much else happens. Lots more in the world of dreams. First appearance of dark hounds, I think. Mat meets Melindhra and has to kill her, which is a bummer. But he has some great scenes when he starts commanding battles, and kills Couladin. You get Rand and Aviendha hilariously getting together. (I wish we got more from her POV). Rand is dumb because he cannot kill Lanfear, but Moiraine gets an awesome death scene as she takes out Lanfear. And at least he gets to take out Rahvin. And we get more from our minor characters. Morgaise wakes up from her spell and starts planning something. Siuan, Leane and Min and Logain are chased by Gareth Bryne and later found out. Birgitte joins the cast. We get to see Salidar and the start of the rebel white tower. And we get the start of Rand's school for male channelers. Lots of stuff going on!

The longest one yet! Got much more background on the Aiel and Aes Sedai. Started slow, but really picked up once they got out of Tear. Everyone split up--first time without everyone coming together at the end. And that ending!

Here we really get into the history of the Aiel. Rhuidean was pretty cool to read about--especially getting into the eyes of Rand's ancestors. Egwene starts her training with with Wise Ones, and so does Avienda (who has to shadow Rand haha). Although I can't stand Perrin, watching him take command of the Emond's Fielders was pretty great. We get the super girls in Tanchico and see them meet some more Seanchan (and foresaken!). And then Rand has a cool show down in front of the Aiel chiefs, and while some more scheming from our favorite crazy ex-girlfriend. Quite a ride.

The longest one yet! Got much more background on the Aiel and Aes Sedai. Started slow, but really picked up once they got out of Tear. Everyone split up--first time without everyone coming together at the end. And that ending!

Here we really get into the history of the Aiel. Rhuidean was pretty cool to read about--especially getting into the eyes of Rand's ancestors. Egwene starts her training with with Wise Ones, and so does Avienda (who has to shadow Rand haha). Although I can't stand Perrin, watching him take command of the Emond's Fielders was pretty great. We get the super girls in Tanchico and see them meet some more Seanchan (and foresaken!). And then Rand has a cool show down in front of the Aiel chiefs, and while some more scheming from our favorite crazy ex-girlfriend. Quite a ride.

The longest one yet! Got much more background on the Aiel and Aes Sedai. Started slow, but really picked up once they got out of Tear. Everyone split up--first time without everyone coming together at the end. And that ending!

Here we really get into the history of the Aiel. Rhuidean was pretty cool to read about--especially getting into the eyes of Rand's ancestors. Egwene starts her training with with Wise Ones, and so does Avienda (who has to shadow Rand haha). Although I can't stand Perrin, watching him take command of the Emond's Fielders was pretty great. We get the super girls in Tanchico and see them meet some more Seanchan (and foresaken!). And then Rand has a cool show down in front of the Aiel chiefs, and while some more scheming from our favorite crazy ex-girlfriend. Quite a ride.

This was not that well written. Despite being presented as the perspective of the individuals from ancient Egypt, the 24 characters had a definite western perspective on the events around them.

But I enjoyed the details! 2 stars for that.

Even better than the last one (except for all of the braid tugging). Another "hunt." Didn't see much of Rand here, but got more from the girls and the Aes Sedai. Mat was less annoying, where Perrin seemed to complain a lot more! There's a new girl following Perrin too... Still wish we had more of Moiraine. Got to see Tear though!

Even better than the last one (except for all of the braid tugging). Another "hunt." Didn't see much of Rand here, but got more from the girls and the Aes Sedai. Mat was less annoying, where Perrin seemed to complain a lot more! There's a new girl following Perrin too... Still wish we had more of Moiraine. Got to see Tear though!

Even better than the last one (except for all of the braid tugging). Another "hunt." Didn't see much of Rand here, but got more from the girls and the Aes Sedai. Mat was less annoying, where Perrin seemed to complain a lot more! There's a new girl following Perrin too... Still wish we had more of Moiraine. Got to see Tear though!

Better than the first one! Things are starting to happen. Really like the Aes Sedai school--wish we saw more of that (and more of Moiraine). Flicker scene was amazing! Ending was pretty cool.

You also get the introduction of Selene, the first meeting of Siuan, and the first glimpse of the Seanchan. It's also a bit heavier, with the whole Sul'dam/Damane episode. Catching a lot more on this readthrough.

Better than the first one! Things are starting to happen. Really like the Aes Sedai school--wish we saw more of that (and more of Moiraine). Flicker scene was amazing! Ending was pretty cool.

You also get the introduction of Selene, the first meeting of Siuan, and the first glimpse of the Seanchan. It's also a bit heavier, with the whole Sul'dam/Damane episode. Catching a lot more on this readthrough.

Better than the first one! Things are starting to happen. Really like the Aes Sedai school--wish we saw more of that (and more of Moiraine). Flicker scene was amazing! Ending was pretty cool.

You also get the introduction of Selene, the first meeting of Siuan, and the first glimpse of the Seanchan. It's also a bit heavier, with the whole Sul'dam/Damane episode. Catching a lot more on this readthrough.

Good. It was a lot like Lord of the Rings, but people tell me the other books go in a different direction. Despite the number of characters, they all feel real and different. Ending was cool, but quick!
Tried to read a few years ago, but couldn't get into it. (Edit: after finishing the series, glad I gave it another chance)

Good. It was a lot like Lord of the Rings, but people tell me the other books go in a different direction. Despite the number of characters, they all feel real and different. Ending was cool, but quick!
Tried to read a few years ago, but couldn't get into it. (Edit: after finishing the series, glad I gave it another chance)

Good. It was a lot like Lord of the Rings, but people tell me the other books go in a different direction. Despite the number of characters, they all feel real and different. Ending was cool, but quick!
Tried to read a few years ago, but couldn't get into it. (Edit: after finishing the series, glad I gave it another chance)

Good. It was a lot like Lord of the Rings, but people tell me the other books go in a different direction. Despite the number of characters, they all feel real and different. Ending was cool, but quick!
Tried to read a few years ago, but couldn't get into it. (Edit: after finishing the series, glad I gave it another chance)

There is so much good stuff in here, I may have to reread a couple of times. It's equal parts philosophy and self-help and there's so much here to think about. But basically, it says to live in the moment and acknowledge that you won't be able to do everything. I'll definitely be revisiting this one.

There’s a lot here. It’s a story set in 1800s Oxford about academia, privilege, and colonialism, with a bit of fantasy and magic (based on translation), and a revolution. It’s technically fantasy but the fantasy parts are very light. It kind of fails as a fantasy novel actually - it almost feels like you’re reading a non fiction history book at times. Still I loved all the conversations and musings on linguistics and translations and watching the theories on the magic system.
I admit I enjoyed the dark academia parts more than the revolution parts. It was hard to read at points even if it gave you things to think about. And Robin and his cohort are all so well developed.
It was also particularly interesting reading this while traveling through some countries that don’t have English as an official language. I’ve been thinking a lot about words and translations - so this came at a great time.

I liked this more than I thought I would. It's so entertaining - I read it in one sitting. And there's a lot to think about and dissect here. It's a funny, twisted look at the publishing industry, plagiarism, racism, and privilege. June is terrible, but part of you is rooting for her, and feels the anxiety she's going through (well, at least until she makes another terrible choice). A lot of it is obviously drawn from the author's own experiences - which is both a positive and a negative. There's maybe too much twitter discourse and maybe too much "meta" ness, which makes it hard to separate the character's voices from the author's. But it just sucked me in and was so easy to get through in a way her other books haven't. I wouldn't call it a thriller, but it has those vibes that make you want to turn the page and see what happens next!

After reading Babel, I can see that all the issues presented by that book only serve to make Yellowface an excellent satire. A very good read!

A thought-provoking read. I recommend it to someone who is interested in early christianity and has already read a variety of books on the matter. It would not be a good first read on this topic, as one of the arguments it makes is controversial. It is best to have a firm grasp of the shared understanding of a subject before entertaining ideas that are plausible but nonetheless not part of that shared understanding.

This is everything I want in a romance novel. Writing was funny, characters were great, banter was fantastic, conflicts were realistic and not all about ~miscommunication~. And I also really enjoyed the sibling relationship. Loved this one!

What a fucking good book. 5 stars for the laugh out loud writing, the believable and consistent characters (all of them), turning the third act conflict trope on its head. Job well done, Emily Henry.

This book centered around an awful person, but it was so enjoyable to read. It was so funny, but not because her voice was funny--but because she doesn't realize how hypocritical and ignorant she is. There's something so ridiculous about her attempt to drill Treasure Island down to the four "core values" - boldness, resolution, independence, and horn-blowing - and that's just the beginning. But it's a little scary that there are people out there this self-obsessed. Our main character obviously needs major help. This person fascinates me, though I hope never to meet her in real life.

What on god’s dying earth did I just read? A breathtakingly cringe laugh out loud in every chapter glorious mashup of modern failure to launch with the delusional protagonist from confederacy of dunces or hamsun’s hunger.

The back cover says this is "high fantasy and low stakes" and that doesn't lie. It's extremely low stakes. But I really enjoyed watching this found family come together over the building/opening of the coffee shop. There's not a lot to say about the book since it's only 250 pages and there's not a lot of plot or character development, but it was a cozy, quick, and pleasant read.

The named characters may be described differently but they all are written from one template. Everyone acts either effusive or uncertain, sometimes switching from paragraph to paragraph. There's zero character growth or progression (perhaps unfair, given that it's just 250 pages); the main character faces a major challenge 2/3 of the way through, gives up and is moody, and then is rescued by outside forces who have no reason to rescue her. And some of the descriptions - *particularly* in the beginning of the book, and waning as it progresses - are overdone. But it's not bad! A very pleasant read. We will buy the next book from the author.

I enjoyed this. I think the premise was more fun to think about than to actually read in execution, but it did a fine enough job. I wish I connected a bit more with the characters, but I guess that's half the point. It got a bit goofy in places, but it was a fun, quick read.

This is a hard rate. The book itself is very great, but not always technically good. The pace is rushed, and there are too many characters for the space the book took up - but isn't that an excellent reflection of the subject material? And yet, it was laugh out loud funny from beginning to end, and so heart warming, and altogether a fun, fun read. I wish the prose wasn't so abbreviated; if there had been more detail, and more moments for the story and the people in it to slow down and reflect back on the wild ride, I would have enjoyed it more.

Read again for the first time since I was a kid. Brought back a lot of memories, but ultimately, I didn't enjoy it as much as LOTR.

This was a lot of fun with some cool little twists along the way. The main character annoyed me just a little bit - and you're in his head the entire time - so it took a while for me to get into it. But as he kept remembering more, I had to find out what happened next and how he got there. There were some things that I had a hard time suspending my disbelief for though mainly how quickly he learned this musical language after making first contact! But I also don't see the whole world banding together to solve a problem like the sun getting dimmer and letting Stratt have authority to just blow past bureaucracy - even if it means the extinction of the human species... But maybe I'm too much of a pessimist?

A fast paced, light-hearted read. One of those rare books where I finished it and immediately read it again. Which is when I discovered all the telegraphing in the book! Job well done Weir.

A fast paced, light-hearted read. One of those rare books where I finished it and immediately read it again. Which is when I discovered all the telegraphing in the book! Job well done Weir.

I enjoyed this one. Most of it is a first person interview from Ava to a detective, but there's a fun little twist with the narration. Basically every character is a terrible person, but it's fun to read about. It's a quick read. I was just hoping for a bit more.

This was interesting. It's a memoir about working at an Amazon fulfillment center, told in the second person. I thought the style was unique and worked well (but I wouldn't have wanted to read it for the length of a longer book). I appreciate the voice and the observations she made throughout. The story itself is super depressing - though I'm sure a lot of us who have worked menial jobs can relate (even if the corporate mechanisms were not to the same scale as the Amazon fulfillment center). There's a lot to think about regarding capitalism. I don't use Amazon.com, but it makes me feel bad that I buy anything at all that has anything to do with any large company! But I also felt a little weird about reading it, since the whole premise is that she is just a temporary seasonal associate. She doesn't have to keep working this job, and she has an end date in sight.

It was great. Really captivating. It had heart, and I could not help but root for Watney. He was a great character, and with a different personality it would have been super depressing. Instead, I was rooting along with the rest of the fictional world. The side characters were also pretty great, and we saw more of them than I would have thought. Great story.

Just finished this gloriously funny, exceptionally interesting sciencey romp. I loved every last iota of it. But I'm docking the book a star because the main character is just too perfect. The author couldn't just make him a botanist and the best square foot gardener on the planet, he also had to be a can-fix-everything engineer, and the kind of person who just happens to know things like the average weight of a half-square-meter of basalt. It's too much.

This started off with a great set up and premise. But at some point the book starts to drag and I didn't really care by the end. Gracie struggles at the beginning in an interesting way, but then suddenly she has this amazing growth and is strong and confident and everything is easy for her. There's a couple of twists that I saw coming, and everything came together almost too well. Also, I didn't really care for the way that the creepy stuff with the boss was written. The romance was cute though.

** spoiler alert ** An unsatisfying, inconsistent, and ultimately boring take on the prince and the pauper. Interestingly I found the first third of the book to be an amazing read: the main character is an anxious wreck and this is so well written. I was so extremely excited to recommend this book based on the strength of the voice. And then... that character... disappears.

You see, at a third of the way through, the anxious main character has a moment where she fails utterly. The male lead shames her for it. And immediately the main character, up to this point an anxious wreck... decides that she can handle anything! And lo! Now she's perfect at everything! And the male lead, literally described as the sexiest man in the world, who has been up to this point completely cold and distant towards our main character... falls totally transparently in love with her! From this point on the book oscillates between mere hints of self doubt and complete wish fulfillment fiction at a tempo that defies belief. The book has lost not only its amazing anxious voice but also any sense of consistency.

It's not just the leads that are inconsistent. The background characters likewise are flit between roles as necessary to meet the needs of the main. You would assume that at least the early onset Alzheimer's mother would remain consistent, but no: after an entire book of saying barely anything at all, she suddenly drops paragraphs of exposition in the final act to reveal... exactly the truth bomb that the author has already bludgeoned us over the head with. I rolled my eyes right out of my head when I read that.

The final 70 pages were a slog to get through. It was very nearly a dnf; a rare thing for me. But I will give it 2 stars for that amazing anxious voice first third.

This was a fun read. I used to know a ton about dinosaurs as a kid, but it's all sort of drifted out of my head over time. This book was a good refresher. And we've learned many new things about dinosaurs in the last 30 years. He gives you an overview starting before dinosaurs roamed the planet (the Permian period) through the Triassic (split of Pangea), Jurassic, and the big mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. I enjoyed learning about the big dinos - T-rex, ect. But also learned about pre-dinosaurs, dino relatives, and dino biology.
He also goes into the scientists who made the discoveries as those are mentioned. Those sections were less interesting, but I did appreciate some of the references since he's around my age (and it's crazy to think that someone around my age has bene out there discovering new dinosaurs/things about dinosaurs!). But I liked hearing about the "bone wars" and discovery of the t-rex and the astroid/comet theory.

This book is 60% dinosaur facts, 40% personal history and anecdotes about various paleontologists. The parts about dinosaurs were engagingly written - I learned quite a bit, and enjoyed my time with these pages. The personal history and anecdotes fell flat; the book would have been better if it were 40% shorter.

This was fascinating. The first parts about the early development of humans was stronger than some of the later stuff - it started to drag a bit near the end. He talks about what sets Homo sapiens apart from other species, and goes into some history about how we developed cooking, language, working with strangers, agriculture, and later things like writing, religion, money, time, science, and technology. I wish he went into more detail on certain subjects, but I guess there's only so much you can do in one book! I would also have appreciated more sources for some of the theories the author has. Still, the book was very readable and interesting.

A fascinating take on every page. Yuval’s wild ride leaps ahead of the supporting literature to make one wild conclusion after another, which makes for a thrilling read. I enjoyed the mental exercise, and challenging my biases.

All that said, I would have appreciated more sourcing. Or for that matter, any sourcing. But that’s not the book the author was trying to write.

Quite excellent.

What an excellent, well sourced look back in time to the development of one of my favorite games. Five stars for the content. I am docking a star for the bizarre choice to insert pull quotes everywhere. it breaks up the flow of the narrative.

This was great. It was cute and it was actually funny! And was surprisingly vulnerable and touching. As a messy not-straight person with social anxiety who has major abandonment issues, I really felt for Luc here. And I had to love vegetarian lawyer Oliver (though I hated how he ate a bacon sandwich, but that’s neither here nor there!). Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and this one was well done - <spoiler> especially since they sort of gave up the charade when they realized it wasn’t necessary and they actually liked each other. I was also surprised that I wasn’t bored after the book continued on past the get together moment - there was still quite a bit left, but I wanted to keep reading.</spoiler> I normally hate when books drop tv shows or way too specific slang or things like Tumblr, but it worked for me here. I also loved how they’d have these conflicts come up that in another book would be super dramatic and take days and days to resolve - but on the whole, they would just deal with it like normal people here. It was great.

Outrageously good. The main characters felt so very true to themselves, likewise each and every member of the chorus. Sparkling, grade A, laugh out loud writing. A very real treat. I loved it.

It has interesting asides of the British paparazzi (surely they could not be so interested in such a not-even-e-list un-celebrity?) and the British nobility (are they all such oddities?). These felt very much like inventions on account of the absurdity. And yet they were written wholly believably, consistent throughout. I’d love to learn more about British culture so I could know if this were a chair autre or true to life.

This was hard to get into - there's a lot of names and nicknames and magic necromancer words throw at you right away. But also a lot of memes and modern slang and swearing and mentions of titty magazines. Interesting mix. Once I got my bearings, the story was fun. Gideon is kind of annoying though - in that she's witty in that Whedonesque/Marvel movie/doesn't take anything seriously kind of way (but more rated-r). The way she thinks and talks just makes me roll my eyes sometimes - there's even a "That's what she said." But she sort of grew on me by the end (much like she grew on Harrowhawk). There's some cool skeletons and magic and a decaying puzzle mystery mansion and a murder plot I guess, but there's just so many characters who all go by multiple names - I'm not sure I was invested enough in them by the time all the reveals started happening. Still I haven't read anything else quite like this.

The book terrific for what it is - a quick, easy to read love story. True, it had a bunch of clichés and overused tropes, but I was all here for it! I especially love the enemies to lovers romance, and this one is done very well. The book and the main characters were funny and sweet and sexy. The ending fell a little flat for me, but the rest was so good that it didn't ruin it for me. Some of the dialogue was confusing - often, there would be a paragraph break but the same character would continue talking, but that was my only real flaw with the thing. I devoured it very quickly.

I picked this up blindly, only knowing that this was a romance novel. This book is so so gay and so cute and fun! It's a fun trope - someone's will has the two characters inherit something where they're forced to be together (this time is a sex toy shop in Portland). There is a lot talk about sex toys and the like, which is a little much sometimes. The side characters fell a little flat, but Cade and Selena were great and had a fun "opposites attract" sapphic romance. But the ending was a little too contrived for me - I know just enough about the art world to feel really skeptical about it. Also I know I’m too old and boring because the number of late nights or sleepless nights had me feeling tired and stressed on their behalf. People need to sleep!

The beginning of this one was kind of rough, but it kept improving and the ending really brought it home. There was a little too much "she doesn't know how beautiful she is" for me, but it is a YA book so I'll forgive it. The world was also a bit more brutal than I was expecting with the torture and constant rape threats - but no more so than some other recent YA fantasy series. I probably would have liked this one even more if I had read it when it first came out. I've now seen a lot of these same things in several other YA fantasy novels: the empire/resistance plotline, love triangles (or a love square?), weird trials and characters forced to kill others in an arena due to a convoluted game by the rulers. But it was a fun ride with some fun twists. The chapters felt flat in the beginning, but by the end I really started to care about the characters - especially Elias, Helene, and Laia. Excited to know what happens next.

This was a recommendation. It was okay. The plot is basically Cruel Intentions or Dangerous Liaisons - but then the mom makes a deal and everything goes even worse for Juliana.

There's a lot of bad: The characters never felt real - especially the hero "Sin" Sinclair, who was a one dimensional "rake" until he suddenly is in love with Juliana and wants to get married. (But it's not like Juliana had any character development either.) The dialogue wasn't very good - very "fake antiquated" sounding and without any of the subtleness and banter I've come to love in historical romances. A lot of it was just anachronistic - where are the chaperones? Everyone just accepts that Juliana was sleeping with the hero? Wouldn't sending Juliana off with the gambler overnight be even worse than people finding out about their family's financial situation?

The book also just skips over the fun part where we normally watch the characters get to know each other and fall in love - all of a sudden it's just weeks later and we're told they've been together many times. I'd forgive all that if the spicy parts were fun but that was kind of lacking too - should have had a couple more scenes.

Still it was a short read and was entertaining enough.

I was pretty disappointed in this book because it seems like a lot of fantasy readers really love this one! But it really wasn't for me. There were some cool parts - I liked the world building and the magic system and I really liked the stuff about the Lord Ruler. But a lot of the character stuff and prose felt flat to me. Vin suffered real bad from "not like other girls" syndrome and also special snowflake supergirl who's the best at everything despite the least about of training. The love story didn't do anything for me - these two characters barely know each other and have met like 4 times and all of a sudden they're willing to risk their lives for each other? Especially when Vin was so slow to trust any of the other characters. They also set up this big heist that didn't really seem to go anywhere for me. The action scenes were pretty cool! But a lot of the other prose just plain wasn't very good. The dialogue was cringey, and Sanderson just over explains a lot of the reveals/twists. We got it with the hint! No need to bash your readers over the head with "did you get it?" If it wasn't for the main villain, this book would be one or two stars. I don't think I'll be continuing on with this series.

Braving Britannia summarizes the unique experience of the early years of Ultima Online, by and through the words of the developers and players who were there. Many of these stories have already been told - and I enjoyed seeing names of people that I have corresponded with! But the real value of this book is in seeing all these stories gathered together and combined into cohesive narratives. Highly recommended to those interested in early MMOs.

Liked it. We consumed the first 2/3 of it the weekend it came out, but it took a while to sit down and finished. It pretty much confirmed what most of us suspected was going on in the white house for the past year and some (shudder). If even 1/4 of it is true... it may even be worse than imagined.

The book does not posit a specific reason as to why the bronze age collapsed. Instead, it lists several factors that could have caused the collapse, and weighs the evidence supporting each. The theory of the book is that many, if not all, of these factors in combination caused a system collapse that led to the upheaval in the titular year. Along the way we get fascinating details such as letters sent between kings, palace intrigue recorded and left to history, and some thoughts on whether the devastation of Troy was part of this general systems collapse.

This was a very good book. But it really disturbed me because it hit a little too close to home. I remember barely getting by but being too proud/neurotic/full of doubt to ask for help. His mania became my mania and I couldn't stand it. But it touched on something really real here. I didn't enjoy reading it, but I won't forget about this one.