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Pretty near everything I hoped for and waited for all those months. It is so wonderful when a book is what you hoped. Adam and Mercy and the whole cast were fantastic. As before, I just love spending time with them, but the plot and action here was engaging and well-paced, though at times I had trouble keeping up with what were the motives of the vampires involved.
So saddened by Peter's death. Poor Honey.
I liked all the call-backs to earlier events.
More Tad and Mercy. She regards him as a little brother. So, I would love to see more of their relationship. More of Zee and Tad, as well. What are Tad's powers as a half-fae?
Ben! Thankfully, there was a lot of Ben this time. Lovely to see him and see how much he cares about Kyle and a select few others now. Of course, I would still like to know more about how he feels toward Mercy now.
Very much looking forward to Night Broken, although I am not too excited to see the ex-wife back and causing trouble for Mercy. Seriously, doesn't the pack see that whatever Mercy's shortcomings, she is a vastly better person for Adam and for the pack than the ex-wife? Fools. Oh, and we get an anthology of short stories next year:)
Content warning: Adam and Mercy are married, but there are a few scenes containing sexuality/intimacy. You have been warned.
Always nice to see Andrea. And I love her and Kate's friendship. Good short story. The usual content warnings for this series apply.
I don't even know where to begin. Whoops, I guess I do.
First, what was the point of those strike-throughs???? To show what she believed to be true or not?
It started off fantastically and I was onboard, despite the annoyance of the strike-throughs. But eventually it got to a point where I could no longer even enjoy this story. I finished it, though, and headed off for book two.
I just did not buy Adam and Juliette. And the constant need for physical affirmation of their "love". And then add Warner into the mix. Argh.
Great concept, liked the characters. Loved the worldbuilding (at which Sanderson always excels) and the system of magic. Eager for a sequel.
The first book was inventive and its blend of Russian culture, the circus and magic was a blast. But the second and this (concluding?) volume did not hold up as well and failed to hook me back into the story.
Not as interesting as it sounded and it peters out after a while.
Amy just wants to the normal, ordinary one in her family that practices magic. It is not as interesting as it sounds. It is far more caught up in the romance than the magic or even the main mystery. (And the romance is nothing worth reading.)
Alas, because I liked the premise of the Goodnight family and the abilities. Unfortunately, the book never achieves anything special with it.
2 stars
Overall, a really well done conclusion to what has been one of the best fey/faery stories I have read published in the last ten years. A lovely British trilogy (although there is a prequel that is being published), with a classic feel (in the very best sense) amidst its modern setting.
Red/Rowan really gets to see the end of her quest, set to rest her worries and burdens, find her family and look to the future with happiness and safety. What more could I ask for?
We get to see all the important friends and supporting characters from prior books and see what becomes of them.
Sparrow! So much better than I had hoped.
I will be very glad to see what Michelle Harrison writes next!
Read Spring 2014
This zany, fun fairytales-retold series jumps right into it when May, a young girl from our modern world is plopped into the world where all the fairytales from movies and books took place. Her grandmother was just abducted by a Huntsman and her only option for aid is Jack, son of Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame. Jack who has no use for heroes and rescue missions or magic.
Of course, they collect a few more allies along the course of their quest to rescue May's grandmother and a whole lot more enemies.
And then, when they actually, finally manage to rescue May's grandmother, it is only to discover that she is the Evil Queen and they have now set free the worst enemy their world has.
Atmospheric and interesting this was most certainly. Also, just a tad lacking in spirit and character. It needed more verve and more meat to the villain and his interactions with our protagonists. Still, a nice change of pace and setting.
This lacked a certain something. Some of Kyra's choices just made no sense to me. I was not overly enthused by the contemporary voice. Still, it is a fluffy, easy-going read. The romance was light and it was nice to see Ariana and Kyra's friendship. The pig was cute.
Read this on the overseas trip. I really liked a few of the stories, all of which are basically the plots of her full-length novels, so you can get a good feel for her work and if you will like it from this without investing hours of time.
Read March 17-18, 2013
Another of Heyer's most enjoyable. Arabella is a fantastic heroine and the lead gentlemen is actually one of the least objectionable and most likable.
It would also be a very fun one to make into a film.
An amazing, thoughtful work. But dense in that it is circumlocutious and wraps around and around in a very philosophical manner as Father Neuhaus explores the meaning of the seven last phrases. He refuses to offer platitudes or simple answers. He searches for the truth, sometimes in places I would not have thought to even look.
It is beautiful in how the book showcases such love for the truth of who God is and what he has done. And ultimately what that means for each of us now.
It is brilliant and well worth the read.
In Veratatis Splendor, John Paul notes that we cannot always do the good that we would do, but those who live against the horizon of martyrdom can always not do what is evil. To live against the horizon of martyrdom is to have internalized the words of Jesus, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his own life?" The encyclical cites the examples of many martyrs in the Bible and in Christian history and appeals also to the moral widsom found in non-Christian traditions. "the words of the Latin poet Juvenal apply to all: 'Consider it the greatest of crimes to prefer survival to honor and out of love of physical life to lose the very reason for living.'
And I also liked all the historical and cultural notes. Such as:
After each reproach is the acclamation. It is called the Trisagion, the "thrice holy," and has played a prominent part in Eastern Orthodox liturgy since the fifth century. It was received into the Latin Rite only in the eleventh century, and then only for the veneration of the cross on Good Friday, precisely for the occasion when it might seem most inappropriate.
Holy is God!
Holy and mighty!
Holy immortal One, gave mercy on us!
Ancilla Trent is a gentlewoman who is now engaged as a governess to a very spoiled brat, Tiffany. When the wealthy and generally admired "Nonesuch" returns to his country home and fixes it up, they meet. Their romance is quiet and the requisite misunderstanding that keeps them apart is a pretty good one as they go.
Tiffany is treated with far more sympathy and kindness by Ancilla and the others than she deserved after her tantrums, escapades and the rest.
Overall, a bit more quiet and laidback than many, taking place almost entirely in the small country village and dealing with a small set of people.
I liked this fine, up to the point of two specific issues.
1) It is repulsive how men are allowed to be considered morally upright and also keep mistresses, have affairs, etc. It is regarded as justifiable. And yet a woman so much as spends an hour in the company of someone who is considered disgraced and she could be "ruined" forever. Seriously? Why is society so utterly blind?
2) If you are so sure this man is going to move on and find some new lady to seduce/use and thatt is why you are in such a hurry to enact your plan, why not just leave the man? I want to like Sylvester, but he is a cad and her opinion of him does not elevate mine. You expect him to move on. Why would you want to entrust yourself to him? What makes him trustworthy? Honorable? Argh. I just remember being really frustrated.