Tawny Man concludes with this epic quest to Ice Fire, and along the way there are betrayals, surprises, suspense, action, devasWow. This is brilliant.
Tawny Man concludes with this epic quest to Ice Fire, and along the way there are betrayals, surprises, suspense, action, devastation, sacrifice, and ultimately the final choice Fitz has to make to decide who he is, where his loyalties truly lie, and what he believes to be right. This is so epic. The stakes are so high. The stress I felt reading this was insane.
I cried at what this all had to cost, and I was well and truly scared and then devastated for long stretches, but this journey was so worth it. I've scarcely read a more satisfying conclusion.
At the beginning of this trilogy, I needed Fitz to face some demons. I needed him to discover his own heart's longings and loyalties. I needed him to break free of the insecurities that made him a tool for other men, and gosh dangit, I needed him to find a home with people who love him and know him fully.
I wasn't disappointed. This was so beautiful, and it feels well and truly earned. Hobb pulled no punches. She went all the way to the heart of the soul's wounds and the cost and time for healing; the real loss that comes with any journey toward wholeness. And the implications for the wider series are huge.
I cannot wait to read the Rain Wild Chronicles. ...more
This will be great fun for its target audience. This is like Dexter but make it spicey. Two serial killers who hunt actual bad serial killers, meet anThis will be great fun for its target audience. This is like Dexter but make it spicey. Two serial killers who hunt actual bad serial killers, meet and start a friendly competition since they're wildly attracted to each other. The plot is all about them admitting their feelings and going for it. Wild escapades in and out of the bedroom ensue and the climax is a life-threatening conflict of interest between their hobby and their relationship. For the dark romance reader, this will hit the spot.
I found it predictable and silly, with a fair bit of cringe. I am definitely not the target audience....more
In this retelling of Macbeth from the perspective of Lady Macbeth, Ava Reid explores the experience of a woman in a male-dominated political landscapeIn this retelling of Macbeth from the perspective of Lady Macbeth, Ava Reid explores the experience of a woman in a male-dominated political landscape, as she learns her own power and how she wants to use it. The setting is chilling and atmospheric, with a touch of Grimm fairytales about it, a signature of Reid's I've come to expect and love. Thematically, this author ties the power of beauty, persuasion, influence, and speech itself to the feminine, juxtaposing it with the toxic masculinity of domination, ownership, entitlement, violence, and bottomless ambition. Reid also plays with body horror and violence to explore themes of power, abuse, and the dark side of the feminine.
The result is a grown-up fairytale about a young bride, maneuvering around and under her husband, in her pursuit of autonomy, agency, power, and maybe even love. It's flaw for me is that it isn't subtle, lacking the complexity and nuance I prefer when tackling these kinds of themes. The plot itself is fairly straightforward, again, think fairytale. But what makes it a success for me is that it's fun to read. The setting work does so much heavy lifting, that the simplistic characters and plot don't offend. I have not read its reference work, but I'd wager it retelling is a LOOSE term here. "Inspired by, and taken in its own direction for its own purpose" is probably more accurate....more
Not since Royal Assassin has Hobb been this good with political intrigue, and it feels so good to be back in it! The Golden Fool is so engrossing as FNot since Royal Assassin has Hobb been this good with political intrigue, and it feels so good to be back in it! The Golden Fool is so engrossing as Fitz takes on the spy role at Buckkeep in the wake of Dutiful's betrothal. His skill and wit magics are tested and strained as a new coterie is formed. Crossovers from Liveship Traders are woven in, and Fitz finally confronts the identity and feelings of The Fool.
I was so moved by this book. Robin Hobb deftly explores love in all its forms, and identity outside accepted norms and conventions. What she does so tactfully is show implicitly how self-loathing is at the root of fear and judgment of others. Fitz fears what he cannot understand or define about The Fool, because he knows the fear of the unknown is distasteful to others. He is forever trying to make himself palatable to others. To find a sense of Pack and belonging among humans. The love he encounters he is so afraid to lose and so sure he doesn't deserve, that he rejects it or doesn't trust it. The Fool is such a metaphor for real, unconditional, and unlimited love. The love that sees our potential, demands our highest, but loves us despite all our wounds, in all the places we haven't healed yet. It is everything Fitz wants most but does not know how to receive.
Hobb also shows the complexity of parental love. As Fitz finds himself in mentor and trainer roles with the next generation, longing to help them and be near them, we see how he repeats his programming from Chade and Burrich. How he attempts to shield the younger generation from his life, his mistakes, and his burdens. Without having to state it explicitly, Hobb shows how unique each person is, and how the support and love they need is different. How parenting ourselves, and healing our wounds, is such a vital part of showing up for others in a supportive and loving way. Fitz's unresolved father issues, longings, guilt, bitterness, and unresolved/unprocessed loss...his basic denial of his own feelings, create barriers to his ability to be compassionate and intuitive with his charges.
Hobb's characters feel so real. The meta-plot she is driving toward at a steady pace has me completely hooked, and I cannot wait to see where she is taking all of this. Along the way, she delivers such authentic, poignant, and satisfying character arcs—rich with detail, awkwardness, failure, clumsiness, petulance, brilliance, heroism, pain and elation. I feel everything when I read. These characters' experiences are so emotionally impactful. Hobb is a master at characters.
This series is as good as it gets in contemporary fantasy.
This is the best installment in Sun Eater yet. The series is so solid, but it has lacked strong pacing and character investment for me so far. I'm waiThis is the best installment in Sun Eater yet. The series is so solid, but it has lacked strong pacing and character investment for me so far. I'm waiting for that emotional payoff. Demon in White serves up excellent action, alien tech, political maneuvering, emotional character moments, and brilliantly clever sci-fi elements that play with time in a brain-tickling way! I may have even shed a tear or two. The climax is dramatic and epic, and the more universal/spiritual implications are starting to feel real. These are the stakes I need! Hadrian is a fascinating character, and this war and its players have me hooked and intrigued. Overall, I'm excited for the series to make me cry. To make me care and lose sleep. I'm ready. Kingdoms of Death, here we come....more
Olivie Blake was born to write short stories! My God! These were so fun and witty. I was so invested and sucked into each tale and missive. I especialOlivie Blake was born to write short stories! My God! These were so fun and witty. I was so invested and sucked into each tale and missive. I especially loved Animation Games, and really everything from the Summer section. Autumn wasn't as strong, but I didn't dislike a single thing in this book.
I love having this collection. This is Olivie Blake having so much fun, and I was giggling and dancing while reading. So scrumptious!...more
The final book in the Atlas trilogy sets out to close the character arcs of the six initiates who joined the Alexandrian Society in the Atlas Six. As The final book in the Atlas trilogy sets out to close the character arcs of the six initiates who joined the Alexandrian Society in the Atlas Six. As they each struggle to find purpose and safety after the consequences of the Atlas Paradox, they each must face their own truths, and for some, it will be lethal.
Overall, the tone and themes of this story are somber. It's important to understand the author's intention and recognize this story was never meant to explain what was under the hood of the society. Nor was it a fairytale about superhero kids saving the world. It was always written as a cautionary tale about the allure of power, its destructive and isolating effects, its addictive qualities, and bottomless potential. With this in mind, the story absolutely delivers. It's a yearning, aching, gaping wound of exponential-to-limitless potential squandered and lost and massacred largely through self-sabotage. Nothing working against these kids could ever be as sinister as their own self-loathing, desperation, fear, and loneliness. And nothing but their love for each other had any shot in hell of healing them...even then it was a long shot.
The setting is brilliant as ever, and the dialogue and banter hit like never before. The endings are devastating and shocking, and the final pages leave you empty and hurting, because damn it all, you love these fucked up kids.
This trilogy is Olivie playing in the deep end, doing some cathartic work through her art, and exploring something real and brutal in a way only she can. It's not super commercial. It may not have mass appeal, but it was honestly and brilliantly done nonetheless. I continue to feel like her books are written for me....more
Hot damn! This was such a blast to read. Who knew Matthew McConaughey was so clever, articulate, witty, poetic, and wise? I should have known. This isHot damn! This was such a blast to read. Who knew Matthew McConaughey was so clever, articulate, witty, poetic, and wise? I should have known. This is a book about real people—flawed and hilarious, hurt and searching, lucky and brave. It's McConaughey's life story, but it's so much more than that.
I love how the book is delivered, and I love even more that it illustrates so many examples of how perspective changes everything. I love that McConaughey says in the very beginning that he's never felt like a victim, that the universe is conspiring for his happiness. Throughout the book, I marveled at the way—despite the struggles, hurt, and difficulty he experienced—he found silver linings, opportunities, and challenges to overcome.
I read this in a couple of sittings and came away feeling simultaneously convicted and inspired. I'm inspired to listen to my own intuition, to get clear so I can get brave, and live the story of my life in the most honest and beautiful way I can. I'm tempted to dance with the universe, flirt with possibility, and wonder about what can be instead of worrying about what isn't working.
This book is equal parts entertaining life story and inspirational guidebook for living. It's at once stoic and passionate. I loved every minute of it and highly recommend!...more
This is a really special debut. Structured as a series of short stories about the AI era in our near future, it is on the surface an interesting and cThis is a really special debut. Structured as a series of short stories about the AI era in our near future, it is on the surface an interesting and creative look at how Artificial Intelligence will impact the music industry, business, online dating, work, medicine, and identity. On a deeper level, these stories weave together and interact with each other to deliver some amazing twists and deeper themes. It is such a fresh format and an impressive execution. I was equal parts fascinated and moved.
The characters shift from short story to short story, but there are some repeat characters and cameos that make for fun easter egg connections. I was impressed by how well the characters were realized for the short story format and how invested I got in each arc. The plot arcs themselves were self-contained and effectively delivered positive and negative impacts on my perspective of AI. I was disturbed and excited at different points, and sometimes both at once. The setting is what was so speculative and interesting as it's our near future and current-tech-adjacent. All of the technical story building blocks felt sophisticated and polished. The narratives felt tight, and the meta-story and themes progressed as each short arc closed. I keep feeling so impressed with how seamlessly the overall narrative was coming through despite what could feel disjointed in a short-story format.
Thematically, this is poignant and tender. It's cautionary, but overall optimistic about humanity and its timeless values and greatest loves. As scary as the future can be, and as plausible as it seems that our humanity will be stripped away by machines and automation, there is evidence and great hope in the love humans have for each other, and the sacred familial bond that seems to transcend time, industry, and evolution....more
The third book in this trilogy starts off after a doozy of a cliffhanger in Hunger of the Gods, which had me turning pages as fast as I could right ouThe third book in this trilogy starts off after a doozy of a cliffhanger in Hunger of the Gods, which had me turning pages as fast as I could right out of the gate. I love how John Gwynne sets his books up to make the reader really desperate for certain things to play out. This foreshadowing coupled with breakneck action sequences, and heart-pounding battle sequences make his some of the best-paced fantasy books out there.
I really loved the character arc moments in this book. I cried multiple times as characters made pivotal choices and spoke necessary words at crucial convergence points. This saga at its heart is about family, blood and bloodsworn. These characters will go to war with gods for that family, fight to the death, and travel to the ends of the earth to honor the ones they've lost or save the ones still breathing. This story is about the oaths and loyalty that are greater than any made to king, country, or god. And John Gwynne delivers. He sticks the landing. And he does it against an epic backdrop of titan-sized dragons and wolves. Gwynne weaves mythology into this tale in such a way, that it feels like reading folklore.
I was so satisfied with this conclusion, and so grateful to have it. Such an accomplishment. Highly recommend this series!...more
Shadow of the Gods was solid so this could be EPIC. What a sensational follow-up to book one. I love how John Gwynne, keeps tension in multiple pointsShadow of the Gods was solid so this could be EPIC. What a sensational follow-up to book one. I love how John Gwynne, keeps tension in multiple points of view and maintains an emotional through-line. The world changes drastically in this second book, and the absolute havoc the squabbles of men and gods wage on these characters made for such fun reading.
Orka, Varg, and Elvar are all given even more depth in this book. As each of them grew in their roles and friendships and kept to their missions, I felt that much more invested. Gwynne plays with the weight of leadership, moral ambiguity, and the values of each character, which is fascinating. I'm honestly not sure all of them are on a noble path, but I relate to and understand each of them. I worry for their lives, but even more for their souls.
John Gwynne is a master of simple and strong themes. While his worlds are vast, his action savage, and his plots gripping, his stories always come down to the characters and who, not what, they are fighting for. These characters will move heaven and earth for the ones they love, the ones they choose. It is to them they swear their oaths and for them they make their sacrifices. It permeates setting and time. I'll always cry when we lose someone. I'll always sweat before a battle scene. Because I care. Because even though the battles are waged against gods and for homeland, for valiant goals and noble pursuits, at the end of the day I just want these characters to live. John Gwynne makes me believe in honor, truth, and courage. And I want the characters that model those values to win. ...more
It was so comforting to return to Fitz and the Six Duchies with this book. I felt unsatisfied and heartbroken at the end of Assassin's Quest. While I It was so comforting to return to Fitz and the Six Duchies with this book. I felt unsatisfied and heartbroken at the end of Assassin's Quest. While I understood the choices Fitz made, they were the result of trauma and loss. He did his best as he always does, but it all felt unresolved, and I was left wanting greater healing and integration for Fitz.
At the start of this book, I needed Fitz to reclaim a role and reconnect with humans again. I needed him to find a sense of worth and realize that his self-loathing impacts the ones he loves, and those who would love him. He needed to learn to recognize when he is being used, and to harness his power without fear and judgment.
I got everything I wanted and more from Fool's Errand. Fitz goes on a journey to find and rescue someone he loves. In the fray, he's caught up in the ambitions and schemes of the Old Blood and their response to persecution. He is forced to wrestle with his own magic, as he navigates his bond with an aging night eyes, and his relationship with the Fool, who is possessed yet again with great purpose for his catalyst.
The stakes feel high, while the themes and implications feel intimately personal. Robin Hobb has upped her game with pacing in this installment, introducing new and vivid characters, while revisiting her fascinating world and magic system from the Farseer trilogy.
This sucked me right back into Fitz's narrative, and I can't wait to see how he will evolve as the trilogy continues. The Realm of the Elderlings is a master piece and each book just feels like a total gift at this point....more
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