savage_book_review's reviews
264 reviews

This was my most anticipated adaptation in the series so far for many reasons. And as a result I found it the most disappointing one so far. It's not bad, not at all, but after so much build up there are a lot of elements that are left wanting. 

I'll come straight out with it. The resolution of the UST between Bryce and Hunt was hotter in the book. Everything in the GA just felt really one sided, with the voice actor for Bryce going for it and barely a peep out of Hunt. Very much a whimper rather than a 'roar' on his part! And yet conversely, I felt Hunt's voice actor portrayed the more heartfelt, romantic elements far better than Bryce; his alphahole protection drive really came across well, as did his soft and sweet side. 

I also feel like this is where the story as a whole loses its way a bit. By now, there are too many elements to keep an easy track of, and none of them seem to go into huge amounts of depth. As a result, I just don't care so much about the majority of the events. I do like all of the characters; again, this is where the audio does help, because I finally feel like I'm relating to them all properly. But what they're up to and their motives? Not so much. On this point, it clicked what my main issue is - a lot of the plot hinges on Danika's secrets. But there are so many, it starts yo come across as a bit of a crutch, like "oops, I've written myself into a corner. I know! I'll have the resolution be another secret Danika wad keeping!". 

And ah, the ending. I did wonder how they were going to deal with certain elements, but they did it fantastically well! But I totally forgot about the epilogue, which in the audio version really crashes the party! Those two chapters should have been the other way around IMO... 

I am really looking forward to the Flame and Shadow GA, but part one isn't out until December. And as much as I don't like leaving a series mid way through, I don't think I'd cope with switching back to the 'straight' audiobook. Ah well, plenty of other stuff to listen to between now and then!

Total honesty up front; I haven't quite been in the right headspace all the way through this book; whether due to a lack of sleep, feeling ill, in pain or just run down, I haven't been able to give it the full attention it deserves. However, despite that, I did find it an incredibly interesting read!

Famously, Queen Victoria is considered the 'grandmother of Europe' due to the strategic marriages she arranged for each of her nine children. This led to the majority of the ruling houses of Europe, including the Russian royal family, being related by blood or marriage. So, when war broke out, family was present on both sides. So why was no rescue of the Imperial Family even attempted by their allies, or indeed their 'enemies'? The third in a 'trilogy' of books on the subject of the last Tsar of Russia and his family (reviews for both of which I have posted previously), Rappaport turns her gaze here to the wider world and considers the plans, plots and problems faced by those who could have potentially intervened.

I will admit to being immediately daunted by the lengthy dramatis personae at the front of the book. There are of course the obvious names of the people concerned; the Imperial Family, various crowned heads and other well-known historical figures. But it's the number of 'back office' staff; diplomats, ambassadors, politicians and so on, that really gets confusing. Fortunately, the author has managed to include a little introduction to each person within the narrative, so it's not absolutely essential to read the list.

The narrative is written in a linear timeline, so you can follow the progression of the Imperial Family's fate from abdication to arrest and imprisonment, and the potential holes available for rescue missions to be affected. While there is a lot of crossover, given that the number of ways out were limited, the author has still taken the time to try and separate out each strand to make things easier to follow. However, this is where my brain fog got in the way - in many scenarios, it feels like you are reading the same plan over and over again, making it more difficult to keep on top of exactly who is claiming responsibility. It also doesn't help when certain individuals are implicated in multiple plots... 

What becomes more interesting though is the author's examination of the attitudes of the various royal families who could have offered aid, and the reasons why it was never forthcoming. Generally speaking, George V is the one blamed for the fact that they were not evacuated to the UK, but Rappaport considers this in far more detail. During the course of her research, she uncovered new sources of information which reshapes the story, and perhaps illustrates that blame could be apportioned in many more directions. Conversely, she shines a light on those that did attempt to secure the release of Nicholas and his family, whether by diplomatic means or via plans to rescue them. It's the hypocrisy of certain individuals that really sticks out to me, and that sense that the people who 'back up' the royals (I.e. private secretaries etc) are more concerned with protocol and maintaining the status quo than the royals themselves are! Something which, IMO, still occurs today. Throughout the correspondences and considerations of all those involved, it feels like they all forgot there were actual people waiting for their help - they act as if it was an actual crown they needed to rescue. 

As you can probably tell, the author has managed to infuse this non-fiction work with emotion and character, while reporting the facts as she finds them. It's written in a very clear style (despite the number of people involved) and I feel like I'd definitely get more out of this after a second read when my head is clearer. For now though, I'm content that I've read it and the fact that it looks at this story from an entirely different angle is fascinating.

The best and worst thing about this audio version is the relationship development between Bryce and Hunt. The narration makes it feel so much more 'real' than reading the physical book, and the pace of the audio really helps make things feel natural. Once again, Colleen Delaney as the narrator does a great job and really enhances the cast's performances. The downside is the UST. It's torturous! But really well played... so I guess it's not really a bad thing at all.

In the same way I don't really get the Chaol haters, I'm still a bit lost as to why people are so down on Tharion. No, he's not the greatest character SJM has ever come up with, but equally I don't think he's any worse than any of the other guys in this series. The performer manages to bring his attitude off the page and make the cheeky banter with Bryce good to listen to, and yet also carries the serious stuff pretty well. 

The biggest issue is the story itself. IMO, reading the first half of Sky and Breath is like playing 3D chess - characters all over the place, moves and countermoves and plays coming out of left-field and you can only really follow everything if you're a grand master. As with HOEAB, the graphic audio does help streamline things somewhat, but there's still an awful lot going on, without that much actually happening. 

Still looking forward to part 2 though!

As with all SJM books, the second half of the story has a lot more going on, which means there's plenty to keep you focused on here! This graphic audio version presents the twists and turns incredibly well, and makes things so much easier to follow than the physical book, but you do have to pay slightly more attention to this one; if you don't, it's still incredibly easy to lose the thread of the story. 

The fact that the characters are brought to life also means I feel more of a connection to them than I did previously. I'm still not as invested as I am with ACOTAR or TOG, but there is at least some feeling of sympathy for them there now. In particular, Hunt never particularly stood out for me as a male of the same calibre as SJM's other male leads, but the performance in this recording has given him a little bit more depth. At the moment, I think my favourite character is actually Lehabah! I'd also note that I prefer Gabriel Michaels' (I think that's the right actor) performance as Lucien - his Micah just feels a wee bit over-acted. His voice suits Fox Boy better!!

What I did find interesting was that I was drawn to keep listening to this one, especially when getting to the crux of matters. I intended to fall asleep listening last night... two hours later I was still awake, repeatedly renewing my sleep timer. And today I went back to work after listening on my lunch break, but kept the book going! This really did surprise me, given that I have previously been indifferent to this book. And I've already started book two! I think this in itself is a ringing endorsement! 

I'm a huge fan if graphic audios generally, and would love to see more audiobooks done this way!

It's safe to say that Crescent City is my least favourite series of the Maasverse, mainly because I like my magic with the sense that we're lost in the mists of time. That, and this is the most complex storyline; the number of characters and magical beings you're introduced to is insane, and it's really difficult to keep up with everything that's going on. At least, that was my impression when I read the book. Now I've listened to part one of the Graphic Audio, it makes a whole lot more sense! 

I really like the slower pace of the audio in this case; it certainly still keeps the story moving along and the narration definitely maintains engagement, but it doesn't have that same frenetic energy that makes your head explode when you're reading the physical book. The narrator (the same woman who narrates the ACOSF graphic audio) does a great job at bringing the story to life and the cast all fulfil their roles really well. No, there isn't any particular performance in here that has me mesmerised to the extent that certain performers in the ACOTAR audios do *cough* Jon Vertullo *cough*, but the performances are good and really capture the attitude of the characters. And I'm hoping that as the story progresses in Part 2, this will get even better. The one small criticism I have is that a lot of the male performers have very similar tones of voice, so when there's a group of them talking it can be a little difficult to tell who's who. 

Some of the problems I have with the story remain - cars, phones, guns; Lunathion is a modern metropolis and it just leaves me wondering what the point of the magic is. And the reasoning behind 'deputising' Bryce is paper-thin at best, which detracts from the plot as a whole. There's too much going on and just too much background 'noise' for a first book. I can imagine SJM's mind being full of this world and no doubt she can see it all in crystal clear detail, but on this occasion it's not been set down on paper with her usual skill.

I suspect that this story would play out best in a visual medium - the worldbuilding and breadth of beings would make this an absolute feast for the eyes. Given how much the graphic audio version has increased my enjoyment, I can only imagine what a movie might do. 

Keeping the momentum going; heading straight into Part 2!!

I'm very excited; my employers are sponsoring Tracy Chevalier as a headline author at a local literary festival later this month. As part of our involvement, the firm's book club (run by yours truly) get a meet and greet session with her and an opportunity to discuss her latest release! But I promise you, I'm reviewing this book in good faith and I genuinely do think it deserves the full five star treatment.

I did go into this book feeling a little apprehensive; the fact that it isn't my usual fare and I wouldn't necessarily have picked it up by choice alone was anxiety inducing! But, as with 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', I read the book in record time (less than 24 hours from start to finish) and found myself utterly transported, this time to Venice and the island of Mureno, and the story of Orsola Rosso and her glassmaking family. It is a beautifully written piece, juxtaposing the coarseness of family unafraid to speak their minds and stand their ground with the idyll of their little corner of the world, the wonder of the City of Water and the skill and dedication to which they offer their chosen craft. 

The first couple of paragraphs did throw me a bit; the author essentially breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to her reader, talking about time as a stone skimming across the Venitian water and how it flows differently there. The writing then reverts to third person and Orsola's story begins. It's only at the start of the second chapter, where it happens again, and then the third, where it happens again, that it becomes clear the author meant what she said. Orsola and those dear to her experience the passing of time differently; while a hundred years may pass on terrafirma, only a few years pass for them, and so somehow she and her family experience six centuries of history, right up to the present day. The world moves forward, as do they, but far more slowly - it's a gorgeous reflection of how traditional workmanship and the skills passed down through the generations is a way of keeping that history alive. 

There are incidental brushes with 'real' history - no spoilers, but you may be able to guess at least one of the cameo stars based purely on the setting. However, while they are entertaining and give the reader a touchstone to place themselves in time, they are just that; cameos. In this instance, I was glad the author stuck with her own character's story - while it may not be action-packed or full of suspense, it absolutely stands up for itself and I would have been disappointed if Orsola's story had been subsumed into the world of someone famous. In general terms I do like my books with a bit more going on in them, but I appreciate that this is the author's style and it definitely works.

Even the darker moments of plague, war and loss are beautifully rendered; the writing just fills every crevice of your soul whether you are following en event in great detail, or something is only touched upon briefly. It's not always comfortable; the shift in family dynamic when new spouses join the household isn't always the smoothest transition, either for the character or the reader, but simply because of that it feels grounded and reflective of reality. 

And oh, my goodness, the ending! If I cried at books I'd probably be bawling. It's certainly not the ending I was hoping for, but nevertheless it is totally inkeeping with the rest of the story, the premise and the emotiveness of the writing as a whole. 

I still can't say that I would be automatically drawn to this type of book moving forward, but after two pleasantly surprising experiences I'm certainly going to add more of Tracy Chevalier's books to my TBR pile. If you want a transporting and heartfelt read, seriously give this book a try.

The latest in a very, very long line of books I've read detailing the history of the Kings and Queens of England, I thought I'd give this a go as a more lighthearted and irreverent approach to one of my favourite subjects. I would preface my review with the fact that, while I don't dislike David Mitchell, I'm not the biggest fan of his style of comedy and I'd rather work my brain cells watching his wife present 'Only Connect'. Nevertheless, I thought his wit might suit the historical bent so was willing to give it a try.

It is very, very easy to hear the author speaking to you as you read; his voice in the writing is unmistakable. It's blunt, a little pessimistic and sweary in places, but equally there are a lot of tangents and anecdotes that lead you a bit astray. For that in itself, if you are a fan of his, you will likely love this. It is a refreshing take on the history; as he says, he's not a historian and so sees no need to try and remain objective. As a result, pretty much every ruler gets called out on their bulls**t, their failures are picked over and their triumphs are belittled. 

The issue I had with this style though is, overall, it doesn't feel like there's that much substance to the book. It's not meant to be a history tome, so I wasn't expecting detailed analysis, but there's also not enough comedy to set it squarely in the 'humour' section. I didn't get any 'laugh out loud' moments, and some of the pop culture references are already starting to age, so I'm not entirely sure it'll stand the test of time either. Perhaps I'm just missing the point because of my lack of sense of humour... Maybe if you really are starting out in exploring the topic, this might be a good book for you to begin with - it is clear in setting out the order and the broad brush events of each reign without being bogged down in minutiae, and is certainly an easier introduction to digest than some of the other published works of this type.

The book does focus on England rather than Britain, so don't be shocked when you're 90% of the way through the book and only reading about Henry VIII. On the upside, he does start his book pre-William the Conqueror, even going so far as to briefly discuss those rulers we can't even prove existed (or indeed are flat out myth - Arthur, looking at you). In fact, in the midst of what is generally quite a negative voice, I think he reflects most positively on Harold Godwinson, and his thoughts on the fact that the rulers pre-1066 don't get regnal numbers is a repeated lament throughout. 

It's not bad, it's just not me. So I'll be unhauling this one...

This is an amazing piece of writing, brought to life with a flawless performance by the narrator. I'll examine each in turn, but it just needs to be said right out of the gate that this is probably my favourite 'straight' audiobook (I.e. not graphic audio) of the year so far. Everything about it; character, imagery, vibes, all of it, is incredibly well done!

First, the writing. It follows the trend of taking a character traditionally seen as 'the bad guy'; in this case, Morgan Le Fay / Morgana of the Arthurian legends, and humanising her to shed light on her motives and the reasons why she is the way she is. She certainly isn't the evil sorceress in this version! It deftly weaves in elements of the well known tale - King Uther slaying her father and forcing her mother into marriage, for example - while also introducing new elements that feed into her development and make her the educated, strong willed, independent soul that was the antithesis of what a woman should have been at that time. The writer has produced an incredibly sympathetic, layered and nuanced character that the reader cannot help but side with through her trials, tribulations and triumphs. 

Each secondary character has also been meticulously crafted; there isn't a single person of import in here that doesn't feel real. I have to say, it's great to see Merlin in a different light - as much as I love the wizened old wise guy or the clotpole youngster, his having a bit of bite really works! Likewise the relationship between Morgan and her two ladies, Alice and Tressa, is beautifully done - it's heartfelt, genuine friendship with no bitchiness or power dynamics, just a deep and abiding care for each other. I adore Alice and Tressa's relationship development in the background - it's never a main focus, but the little glimpses you get are wonderful, and when the nature of their relationship is stated outright it somehow doesn't come as a surprise - it's just right.

The romantic element of the story again is wonderfully done. The pace is just right; while it feels like a slow burn, it's not actually that slow, but it still manages to give you everything you want  when watching two people fall in love. If I have one criticism, it's that there is a 'cliff-edge' moment where everything suddenly shifts out if no-where, which just doesn't match the flow of the rest of the narrative. As a result, you then spend the rest of the book preparing for another moment like it rather than living in the moment with the characters.

As for the narration... wow. Every word is perfectly pitched and lends an extra layer of intensity, emotion and general brilliance to the written word. The pace is spot on for the story - it is on the slower side, but it absolutely works. She manages to embody Morgan completely, and with only slight tonal changes (no silly accents or putting on voices) manages to bring to life the rest of the cast as well. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to and I actually think I got more out of the audiobook than I would if I had just read it myself. I would absolutely happily buy this, so the fact that it's currently included in the Audible Plus catalogue (as is the sequel, I think) astounds me!

Seriously, go listen/read. You won't regret it.

In all honesty, I was a little thrown by this second instalment of the War of Lost Hearts series. I enjoyed the story and continue to fall for Maxantarius, the brooding hero who's secretly a hopeless romantic optimist with a heartbreaker's smile, but there was a lot that felt quite disjointed in terms of the writing and character development throughout. It does come across very much as the bridging book between start and end - while it absolutely moves the overall story arc forward and drops some great plot points, it doesn't really have enough going for it to stand on its own merits.

My favourite part of this book is the continuing development of Max and Tisaanah's relationship. IMO, these are the scenes which showcase the writer at her best. There is a small amount of spice, but for the most part their blossoming romance is shown through moments of touching calm amongst the chaos. To see the cranky old man lighten up, smile and surrender to his feelings is beautiful, and makes him all the more lovable. And Tisannah's growing confidence is also well conveyed, complete with setbacks and strife that really add to her complexity as a character. 

A new character POV, that of Aefe, is introduced in this book with basically no warning, which is very disconcerting. Especially when it's not immediately obvious how this is going to tie in with the main narrative. However, overall I found this element if the book more interesting, and loved how it developed. There were a couple of twists and turns I did not see coming; it's certainly something of a rollercoaster! 

Otherwise, the book's pacing seemed a bit all over the place to me. I know a lot of books build up to an epic war that seems to be all over in five minutes flat, but this war really did feel like something of a damp squib. Part of that is explained by the characters' motivations, but equally it just feels like nothing hugely significance happens and it's over before it starts. Likewise, there are a lot of events and plot points that seem to happen without sufficient explanation or backstory, or that are resolved with minimal effort or effect on the plot - I'm hoping some of the threads will be picked up in book three, but for now it just leaves me scratching my head a little. It just leaves a lit of the secondary characters feeling a bit murky in terms of motivations.

The other thing I noticed is that there are a couple of plot devices recycled from the first book. While they remain effective as it's nice to see one character turning something back on another, at the same time it feels like the author may have reached the edges of the imagination.

It does end on a very good moment though, and I am certainly invested enough in the story to want to read book three ASAP!

The voices of Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon, Odysseyus, Ajax and all of the other heroes (or villains depending on your allegiances) of the Trojan War have echoed down the millenia into myth and legend. But what about those silent women, orphaned and widowed by a war they had no part in starting and forced into serving the men who took the lives of their loved ones? Briseis' name is well known, but her story? Well, for once, let the tale not be told by the victor, but the victim.

One day I'll find a Greek myth retelling I don't like. But today is not that day. This is beautifully written; lyrical, heartfelt, epic prose that runs over with emotion and buries its way into your consciousness. It's not poetry, but it is definitely poetic and so feels like it has almost perfect tone to complement the source material. There is something about the best authors writing these retellings (Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint to name but two); they all have their own style, but they all embody this same tone in their work. So as soon as I 'felt' it, I knew I was in for a good read!

The only caveat to this praise is that there are moments where speech sounds almost too modern. I understand that it's meant to be soldiers talking in their own rough and ready way, but there was something about certain turns of phrase that jolted me out of the serene state the rest of the writing put me in. I'm all for a good round of turning the air blue, but even the cursing felt out of place in certain moments. It all still works and doesn't ruin the story or the flow, but I think the rest of the story feels so authentic the modern parlance sticks out like a sore thumb.

Each character is wonderfully rendered; Briseis herself comes across as a strong, capable woman, utterly defeated by circumstances, resigned to her fate and yet still with an independent streak that means while she might bend, she won't break. Her interactions with Achilles manage to find that sweet spot, where he is neither slave master that sees her as nothing but chattel, nor the dashing romantic hero that she can't help but fall in love with. It's a fabulous rendering of their relationship. Patroclus does come across a little more as the sweet, shy boy who befriends the slaves rather than beats them, but it's a great contrast to the rest of the Greek warriors. While the nature of Achilles and Patroclus' relationship is never explicitly stated, the small illustrations of their love for one another, whether platonic or romantic, are just gorgeous. Once again, I found myself hoping that the author might just flip the myth on its head... and this in a book that's not meant to be as sympathetic to them!

The book also conveys the harsh realities of 10 years living in a war camp and the bloodiness of battle, without being overly graphic or sensationalist. It's atmospheric and not pleasant at times, but it's never difficult to read.

There is a dual POV set up, alternating chapters between Briseis in the first person, and Achilles in the third. Switching between first and third person is one of the writing devices I struggle with, and yet it STILL manages to flow and keep me engaged.

This book deserves its accolades and is one I would definitely recommend. Book two is on order at the library, so I'll look forward to continuing this series soon!