Book Reviews!
Apr. 3rd, 2021 11:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kiriel123Did some reviews of Netflix things I watched recently, I wanted to review some books I also read recently.
The Mystery of Miss Christie: 6/10
- This was one of my book club picks so wouldn't have chosen it on my own. It was a speculative retelling of what happened during the 11 days Agatha Christie went missing in the 1920s. Overall enjoyable, an easy read, but not a book I would go back to. I hated the husband (as we were no doubt meant to hate the husband), and got very Gone Girl vibes from it. It did spark a fun book club discussion, and I picked up Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None' from the library to read later.
Winter's Orbit: 7/10
- I never actually read this when it was a fic, though I saw it recced all over the place. Space arranged marriage for political reasons and a treaty waiting. It was overall a fun read, good characterizations, engaging plot, good scifi world building elements. It didn't quite click with me,so I wouldn't re-read it, but I did enjoy it.
Spin the Dawn and Unavel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim: 8/10
- I REALLY liked Spin the Dawn. I read it twice in a row. Basically the main girl Maia pretends to be a boy for various reasons and goes to court to compete in a dress sewing competition for the royal wedding. Lots of political intrigue. A mysterious and handsome court sorcerer. Unravel the Dusk was still a very good read, and I enjoyed the way it wrapped up the series but it did not have quite the enjoyment of Spin the Dawn. Still really liked it!
First Grave on the Right: 5/10
- Girl is a psychic medium who can see spirits and help the dead pass on, and has mysterious visions and orgasms from a sexy entity. This was a pick from a different book club, and it was fine. I made it through the book but I definitely rolled my eyes at multiple parts and did not enjoy the main romance at all. I wouldn't re-read it, or pick up any of the others in this series
The Thief/Queen of Attolia/King of Attolia/A Conspiracy of Kings/Thick as Thieves: 10/10
PERFECT SCORE BABY. Omg this series is so good, I highly rec it to everyone. Gen is MY BOY, Costisand Sohpos are baby, Irene is a GODDESS (but not an ACTUAL goddess), Helen is THE BEST. I don't know how to give a summary without spoilers, so I'll just say set in a world similar to ancient Greece where a lot of things happen. I of course had to re-read all of them because I just got Return of the Thief and can't wait to read it!
The Duke Who Didn't: 8/10
- Was in the mood for a good romance after watching Bridgerton on Netflix, and this hit the spot! Very fun read, Chloe was a firecracker, Jeremy really thought that no one knew who he was which even now cracks my shit up. I've always enjoyed Courtney Milan's romances and this was no exception
One of Us is Lying: 7/10
- Classic YA murder mystery with a normal cast of characters. Reminded me a bit of Get Even. Enjoyed it, even though I still don't know how I feel about the resolution and who the real "murderer" was.
A Deadly Education: hmmmm
- Not quite sure how to rate this one. The writing style was super engaging, and the worldbuilding/plot I also really enjoyed. But...some of the things about the book are...kind of racist? I don't know, I don't really feel comfortable recommending it because of certain elements. I recently read Uprooted and Spinning Silver both of which I really liked, also by Naomi Novik. This one is kind of...sitting in limbo for me at the moment.
Emerald Blaze: 10/10
God everything Ilona Andrews writes is amazing, and this is another hit. I love Catalina, and I'm so glad because I was really nervous about leaving behind Nevada as the main character from the original trilogy. But they hit the target every time.
An Unnatural Vice: 7/10
- Enjoyable read, good mystery and world building. I liked it but wouldn't read it again, but that's partly due to the setting I just don't enjoy Victorian London and I don't know why. I did pick up the next book of the series though, so we'll see where that goes.
Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho: 8/10
- I've heard this recommended for a while now, so thought I'd finally pick it up. I like the main character a lot, and enjoyed the magic world building here too. I don't think I'd re-read it, but Moon Over Soho (2nd book in the series) I enjoyed more than Rivers of London, so I can see myself getting more invested. I just picked up Whispers Underground and so far it's very engaging.
Know My Name: 9/10
- I couldn't finish it, it was too emotional, but Chanel Miller is a GREAT writer and I'm so glad she got to tell her story in her words. I am going to try and finish it at some point but I have to be mentally prepared for it
The Ghost Bride: 8/10
- I saw this was a show on Netflix and decided to pick up the book before watching the show. Really liked it! I'm not super familiar with Chinese mythology/afterlife beliefs but Yangsze Choo was great at explaining things without making is expository. It was creepy and engaging and I very much liked the ending.
The Invited: 6/10
- It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't have chosen to read it on my own. It was another book club pick. I think after reading some of the other ghost story mysteries I have recently this one just felt a bit flat. But it was a light read and the writing style went down very easily
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare: 6/10
- Why do I keep reading her writing?? Haven't I suffered enough? Am I just a glutton for punishment??? Anyway, the writing was easy to consume, the plot requires minimal thought, and it very much matches the style of all her other books.
Gideon the Ninth: 7/10
- This was a TOUGH first read. I actually read it three times. The first time I read it I didn't like it, but I kept seeing it recced so I read it a second time and found it much easier to digest. THEN Harrow the Ninth came out and I saw people screaming about how everything was a lie, so I read it a third time to remind myself what was up and now I have Harrow the Ninth and am READY.
This is How You Lose the Time War: 8/10
- It took me a second to get into the epistolary style but then I REALLY liked it. And wow the ending was SO GOOD.
There have been others I read but this feels like a good place to pause for now lol.
(also obviously I read Midnight Sun a bit ago but there are three posts dedicated to that one so it's not on here.)
The Mystery of Miss Christie: 6/10
- This was one of my book club picks so wouldn't have chosen it on my own. It was a speculative retelling of what happened during the 11 days Agatha Christie went missing in the 1920s. Overall enjoyable, an easy read, but not a book I would go back to. I hated the husband (as we were no doubt meant to hate the husband), and got very Gone Girl vibes from it. It did spark a fun book club discussion, and I picked up Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None' from the library to read later.
Winter's Orbit: 7/10
- I never actually read this when it was a fic, though I saw it recced all over the place. Space arranged marriage for political reasons and a treaty waiting. It was overall a fun read, good characterizations, engaging plot, good scifi world building elements. It didn't quite click with me,so I wouldn't re-read it, but I did enjoy it.
Spin the Dawn and Unavel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim: 8/10
- I REALLY liked Spin the Dawn. I read it twice in a row. Basically the main girl Maia pretends to be a boy for various reasons and goes to court to compete in a dress sewing competition for the royal wedding. Lots of political intrigue. A mysterious and handsome court sorcerer. Unravel the Dusk was still a very good read, and I enjoyed the way it wrapped up the series but it did not have quite the enjoyment of Spin the Dawn. Still really liked it!
First Grave on the Right: 5/10
- Girl is a psychic medium who can see spirits and help the dead pass on, and has mysterious visions and orgasms from a sexy entity. This was a pick from a different book club, and it was fine. I made it through the book but I definitely rolled my eyes at multiple parts and did not enjoy the main romance at all. I wouldn't re-read it, or pick up any of the others in this series
The Thief/Queen of Attolia/King of Attolia/A Conspiracy of Kings/Thick as Thieves: 10/10
PERFECT SCORE BABY. Omg this series is so good, I highly rec it to everyone. Gen is MY BOY, Costisand Sohpos are baby, Irene is a GODDESS (but not an ACTUAL goddess), Helen is THE BEST. I don't know how to give a summary without spoilers, so I'll just say set in a world similar to ancient Greece where a lot of things happen. I of course had to re-read all of them because I just got Return of the Thief and can't wait to read it!
The Duke Who Didn't: 8/10
- Was in the mood for a good romance after watching Bridgerton on Netflix, and this hit the spot! Very fun read, Chloe was a firecracker, Jeremy really thought that no one knew who he was which even now cracks my shit up. I've always enjoyed Courtney Milan's romances and this was no exception
One of Us is Lying: 7/10
- Classic YA murder mystery with a normal cast of characters. Reminded me a bit of Get Even. Enjoyed it, even though I still don't know how I feel about the resolution and who the real "murderer" was.
A Deadly Education: hmmmm
- Not quite sure how to rate this one. The writing style was super engaging, and the worldbuilding/plot I also really enjoyed. But...some of the things about the book are...kind of racist? I don't know, I don't really feel comfortable recommending it because of certain elements. I recently read Uprooted and Spinning Silver both of which I really liked, also by Naomi Novik. This one is kind of...sitting in limbo for me at the moment.
Emerald Blaze: 10/10
God everything Ilona Andrews writes is amazing, and this is another hit. I love Catalina, and I'm so glad because I was really nervous about leaving behind Nevada as the main character from the original trilogy. But they hit the target every time.
An Unnatural Vice: 7/10
- Enjoyable read, good mystery and world building. I liked it but wouldn't read it again, but that's partly due to the setting I just don't enjoy Victorian London and I don't know why. I did pick up the next book of the series though, so we'll see where that goes.
Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho: 8/10
- I've heard this recommended for a while now, so thought I'd finally pick it up. I like the main character a lot, and enjoyed the magic world building here too. I don't think I'd re-read it, but Moon Over Soho (2nd book in the series) I enjoyed more than Rivers of London, so I can see myself getting more invested. I just picked up Whispers Underground and so far it's very engaging.
Know My Name: 9/10
- I couldn't finish it, it was too emotional, but Chanel Miller is a GREAT writer and I'm so glad she got to tell her story in her words. I am going to try and finish it at some point but I have to be mentally prepared for it
The Ghost Bride: 8/10
- I saw this was a show on Netflix and decided to pick up the book before watching the show. Really liked it! I'm not super familiar with Chinese mythology/afterlife beliefs but Yangsze Choo was great at explaining things without making is expository. It was creepy and engaging and I very much liked the ending.
The Invited: 6/10
- It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't have chosen to read it on my own. It was another book club pick. I think after reading some of the other ghost story mysteries I have recently this one just felt a bit flat. But it was a light read and the writing style went down very easily
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare: 6/10
- Why do I keep reading her writing?? Haven't I suffered enough? Am I just a glutton for punishment??? Anyway, the writing was easy to consume, the plot requires minimal thought, and it very much matches the style of all her other books.
Gideon the Ninth: 7/10
- This was a TOUGH first read. I actually read it three times. The first time I read it I didn't like it, but I kept seeing it recced so I read it a second time and found it much easier to digest. THEN Harrow the Ninth came out and I saw people screaming about how everything was a lie, so I read it a third time to remind myself what was up and now I have Harrow the Ninth and am READY.
This is How You Lose the Time War: 8/10
- It took me a second to get into the epistolary style but then I REALLY liked it. And wow the ending was SO GOOD.
There have been others I read but this feels like a good place to pause for now lol.
(also obviously I read Midnight Sun a bit ago but there are three posts dedicated to that one so it's not on here.)
