Most Recent 5 Star Read

Goodreads review: “Perfection.”

You’d think with a little bit of distance from this book there would be more to say, however, after thinking of this new series for my blog and then staring at the cover to the left for several minutes attempting to start this post, I had nothing.  Thus looking to Goodreads to get inspiration (and not getting any but also getting enough to write this paragraph…).

This book hit just right.  There was a main character dealing with a lot of the same anxieties that I am dealing with.  It’s a contemporary setting with magic, making it easy to get into and become invested in the story.  There’s humour which landed perfectly for me, as much humour does not.  There are several good and timely messages to be found within the pages. All the characters that surround the main character are unique and ones I wanted to learn more about.  All the parts of this story just worked for me, and therefore it was no surprise that it was a 5 star read.

This book centers on Linus, a grunt worker for the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth.  He’s the perfect employee who follows all the rules as he inspects orphanages where magical youth are sent to live to ensure they are also following the rules.  Linus is comfortable in this mundane life.  Then Extremely Upper Management sends him on an assignment to a secret island to inspect a special project orphanage run by the mysterious Arthur and home to several unique children.  One of which is the Antichrist.

Was the story the most unique or most surprising?  No.

Will it be for everyone?  No.

Have I already forgotten bits an pieces?  Yes.

Will I be reading this again?  Absolutely!

Written by T.J. Klune

Publisher: Tor Books

Published: 2020

Pages: 398 (hardcover)

Goodreads rating as of Aug-2020: 4.55

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade is a book the first got my interest due to the cover.  The cover designer hit every spot for me.  The green grass with the juxtaposing red text and flower accents which draws your eye to the blood-stained bag in the strong and slightly mysterious figure’s hand.  The washed-out vaguely medieval stairs and cathedral.  The stylized foliage…  All of it just works for me.  

Second, the title got to me.  I was curious. 

After that I heard a few BookTubers discuss the synopsis of the book, which convinced me not only to grab the audiobook but to start it immediately.  I went on to finish it quickly and bought a hardcover physical copy of the book.  

Almost immediately after finishing the book I wanted to re-read it.  Then I proceeded to stalk the website of the author to determine when I could expect the next one. 

It’s been several months since I read the book and I still have mixed feelings on it overall.  

I loved, loved, loved the first 3/4 of the book.  The main character is one I could root for, having morals and thoughts similar to mine and a profession I love to see in fantasy books.  His profession and up-bringing also informed a lot of his choices which is something that I appreciate in characters and world building.  His banter with other characters, though ridiculous at times, still hit me the right way.  The premise of the book was one I was instantly drawn too, because why would you just throw your hands up and give up if the chosen one died?  Why wouldn’t you just keep trying anyway, because it was on;y one man? 

It all just worked for me. 

But something happened in the last quarter to leave me feeling  disappointed and this book which was going to be my newest favourite, was suddenly…not.  It’s not something I can talk about without spoilers, so I won’t here, but there was a turn and suddenly all the things I loved about the book were overshadowed.  The book I loved so much I suddenly did not.  

So, do I recommend this book?  Yes, absolutely.  I will be reading the next one as even after the ending of the book I could see how the events that happened would add a complex layer to Aslo in the next book and if done right it could be really interesting to see how he handles it all.  However, instead of this being a must read fantasy book, it’s one were if you are interested definitely check it out and if you are not then there are many other books to read that will be your new favourite.

What was the last book you read that you thought was going to be your newest favourite, but in the end is was not?

Anticipated 2018 Releases

Late to the party, but it’s still 2018 so it still counts.  This list is going to attempt to be my most anticipated releases, and will likely be from mostly the beginning of the year, but such is the nature of things.

A Sword Named Truth (cover not yet final)

Two of these were found on last years list (linky) and two I have managed to read already!  Hopefully I can continue that trend and read more of my anticipated reads then I managed last year. 

2017 Book Awards

Just in time for the end of the awards season, here are my bookish winners, taken from the books I read in 2017 and excluding any re-reads.  

Best Actor aka Best Male Protagonist

Mark Watney (Any Weir)

Best Actress aka Best Female Protagonist

Rachel Chu (Kevin Kwan)

Best Cinematography aka Best Plot Twist

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov (not particularly twisty, but good plottage occurred in this book)

Best Costume Design aka Best Book cover

Scythe by Neal Shusterman and Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Best Supporting Actress and Actor aka Best M/F side character

Astrid Leong (Kevin Kwan)

Eliza’s Brothers (Francesca Zappia) and Khalid’s cousin (Renée Ahdieh)

Best Original screen play aka most unique world/setting

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Best Adapted screen play aka best book-to-movie adaption

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Best animated feature aka a book you want to see animated

Saga by Brain K Vaughn and Warcross by Marie Lu

Best director aka best new writer discovered

Kevin Kwan

Best short film aka best short story/novella

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Best visual effects aka best action

Warcross by Marie Lu (not overly action-y but would be great to see the visual effects of this in movie form)

Best documentary aka best historical fiction/non-fiction

Working Stiff by Judy Melinek

Best picture aka best book

Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Best and Worst

The best and the worst of the year.  These are the posts most people love to read, because ~drama~.  Here are my lists (for the record, I don’t include re-reads on my list of best or worst, and pick the best of a series if I read more than one):

Best (ranking approximate):

7. Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane 

6. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

5. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

4. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

3. Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 

2. Warcross by Marie Lu 

1. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

 

My best books will never all have 5 star ratings and 5 star books will often not appear on my list.  Why? Because my rating system is a mess and my favourites are more about my feeling and less about technical things.  I remove stars for things like major inconsistencies (*coughwarcrosscough*) but I still love them. 

Worst (rank definitive, novels only):

3. (Tie) The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern, EVE: The awakening by Jenna Moreci, Nerve by Jeanne Ryan, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson and Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

2. The Viral Storm: The dawn of a new pandemic age by Nathan Wolf

1. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

By novels only, I mean there were a handful of graphic novels I read for whatever reason that I don’t want to think about or list again. The 5 way tie I could not break because each book had something I absolutely loved about the book, but there was at least one thing that made them a 2 or 2.5 star read.  

First Line Fridays #9

How does one describe Artemis Fowl? Various psychiatrists have tried and failed. The main problem is Artemis’s own intelligence. He bamboozles every test thrown at him. He has puzzled the greatest medical minds and sent many of them gibbering to their own hospitals. There is no doubt that Artemis is a child prodigy. But why does someone of such brilliance dedicate himself to criminal activities? This is a question that can be answered by only one person. And he delights in not talking. Perhaps the best way to create an accurate picture of Artemis is to tell the by now famous account of his first villainous venture. I have put together this report from first-hand interviews with the victims, and as the tale unfolds you will realize that this was not easy. The story began several years ago, at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Artemis Fowl had devised a plan to restore his family’s fortune. A plan that could topple civilizations and plunge the planet into a cross-species war. He was twelve years old at the time …

Published: 2001

Publisher: Currently Disney Hyperion

Pages: 280

Genera: Middle Grade Fantasy

Series: First of at least 8, all currently out

 

First Line Fridays #8

“Let’s go fight the girls!”

Inda Algara-Vayir’s shout signalled the end of morning chores.  Broom handles clattered against the stable walls and buckets thumped down as the boys of Castle Tenthen whooped with joy.  Dawn had brought the first clear day of a late spring.  After winter’s bleakness, the sunlight shafting from the still-low northern sun cheered the castle’s people going about their work.

For the young, it meant the first war game  of the year.

Published: August 2006

Publisher: DAW

Pages: 576

Genera: Adult Fantasy

Series: First of 4, all of them out. 

 

First Line Fridays #7

“That is my decision.  We need not discuss it.” said the man at the desk.  He was already looking at a book.  His to children left the room, closing the door behind them. 

“He doesn’t want us around,” the boy muttered.  “He doesn’t care what we want.”

“We know that,” was the girl’s answer.  “He doesn’t care about anything, except his books and scrolls.”

The boy hit the wall.  “I don’t want to be a knight! I want to be a great sorcerer! I want to slay demons and walk with the gods -“

“Do you think I want to be a lady?” his sister asked.  ” ‘Walk slowly, Alanna,’ ” she said primly.  ” ‘Sit still, Alanna. Shoulders back, Alanna.’ As if that’s all I can do with myself!”  She paced the floor.  “There has to be another way.”

Published: 1983

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (also Scholastic, Simon Pulse and Random House)

Pages: 260 (most recent edition)

Genera: YA fantasy

Series: First of 4, all are out

 

First Line Fridays #6

“You’re a new one.”

The ‘new one’ – a boy of fifteen – paused inside the courtyard, mentally translating the words. 

“Yes, I am,” Vidanric Reselaeus said carefully in the language he’d been studying so hard since winter. 

The Remalnan boy and the Marloven men regarded on another. […]

To the Marloven the newcomer was obviously a foreigner.  […] You heard about people wearing lace, but this was the first time he’d actually seen it. 

Published: August 2008

Publisher: YA Angst

Pages: 480

Genera: YA Fantasy

Series: Prequel that should be read after Crown Duel

I’m due for a re-read of this one. 

 

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Expected Publication Date: February 6th 2018

Publisher: Random House Books

Pages: 480 (NOT ENOUGH)

Genera: YA Fantasy 

First of 3 

Arram. Varice. Ozorne. In the first book in the Numair Chronicles, three student mages are bound by fate . . . fated for trouble.

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.