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Merissa (11646 KP) created a post
Aug 3, 2020
Auburn (57 KP) rated The Last Hope (The Raging Ones, #2) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Into the Fire (Book Two of the Hel's Crucible Duology) in Books
May 9, 2019
Warrows (1 more)
creative world
hurry up and wait (2 more)
repeated information
Names can be confusing
Tipperton and Beau finally get some answers as the War of the Ban continues. This book does reference some of the previous books however you do not have to read those books first (unless it's part one of the Hel's Crucible duology). This duology is a great intro into the world of Mithgar. At times a little sad and graphic the descriptions are topnotch. The Elven names can be confusing at times Vandor and Vandar are two different Elves, usually Vandar is referenced as Silverleaf or Vandar Silverleaf which helps cut down on the confusion.
Merissa (11646 KP) rated For Atancia (The Durand Duology #2) in Books
Apr 15, 2023
This is the second book in the Durand Duology and, as such, continues on from the first so you will HAVE to read that one for this one to make any sense. That being said, this book is written mainly from the perspective of Matt (only one small bit from Atty) so it gives the whole thing a fresh feeling as you learn new things about the people you know.
There is constant action and 'happenings' going on as a whole but the relationship growing between Matt and Atty is a slow-burner and all the richer for that. New characters are introduced and you learn just how convoluted the Durand world can be, as family trees and relationships Durand-style are explained.
This book wraps up the Duology in a very satisfying way but I would still love to read more, both about this world, other characters who caught my eye, and of course, Matt and Atty. I'm really hoping that they are the 'Forever' couple in the Durand world and am imagining (and hoping) for a HEA for them, no matter how many bumps in the road.
Extremely well written with no grammatical errors that I found, this book - and this Duology - come highly recommended. Absolutely brilliant!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 12, 2015
There is constant action and 'happenings' going on as a whole but the relationship growing between Matt and Atty is a slow-burner and all the richer for that. New characters are introduced and you learn just how convoluted the Durand world can be, as family trees and relationships Durand-style are explained.
This book wraps up the Duology in a very satisfying way but I would still love to read more, both about this world, other characters who caught my eye, and of course, Matt and Atty. I'm really hoping that they are the 'Forever' couple in the Durand world and am imagining (and hoping) for a HEA for them, no matter how many bumps in the road.
Extremely well written with no grammatical errors that I found, this book - and this Duology - come highly recommended. Absolutely brilliant!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 12, 2015
Alice (117 KP) rated Muse of Nightmares in Books
Mar 3, 2021
OH BOYYYYY - I haven't got the words for this, how does one person's brain come up with this. This book has been sitting on my shelf ever since I read Strange 18 months ago and always kept putting it off because the sheer size of it terrified me (it still does) but I just can't fathom how incredible this duology is I just wanted to savour every last word. WHAT A MASTERPIECE
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated The Pirate's Wish (The Assassin's Curse, #2) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Well, according to the acknowledgement at the end of the book, there was originally one enormous book which was broken up into The Assassin's Curse and The Pirate's Wish. I think they should have been published as one volume, but I obviously don't work in the industry. I definitely recommend that you have both books on hand before starting th duology, though.
I'm quite pleased with how the plot threads were brought together, and the main character certainly developed well. The book passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, too.
I'm quite pleased with how the plot threads were brought together, and the main character certainly developed well. The book passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, too.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated The Hidden City (The House War, #1) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I love love love this book. If you haven't read anything else in this universe, you'll be just fine. I've read all the previous books, and plan to go back and re-read them as soon as this bit (duology? triloy? I don't know West's plans) is done.
The only thing that kept it from five stars was the repetitive nature of some characters' internal dialogues. I got the point right away, but I suppose some readers might need more. I don't know that anyone needs to be hit over the head with Rath, Jewel, and Duster's issues, though.
In any case, while huge, the book is well worth reading, and I am eager to read whatever comes next.
The only thing that kept it from five stars was the repetitive nature of some characters' internal dialogues. I got the point right away, but I suppose some readers might need more. I don't know that anyone needs to be hit over the head with Rath, Jewel, and Duster's issues, though.
In any case, while huge, the book is well worth reading, and I am eager to read whatever comes next.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Only Human (Themis Files #3) in Books
Feb 26, 2019
WOOF. I was so excited to read this book, after demolishing Waking Gods in one day. I'm glad this book was a little shorter than Waking Gods.
Honestly, not much happens during this novel. It goes back and forth with flashbacks to when the characters were on the other planet, and the modern world. I believe it was supposed to be a current sociopolitical situation; it was obvious and was definitely eye-roll inducing.
The actions of some of the characters made no logical sense. Eva was so annoying and childish, I really couldn't stand her and it damaged the book for me. While the last book ended on the cliffhanger, this book made me wish the trilogy was only a duology.
Honestly, not much happens during this novel. It goes back and forth with flashbacks to when the characters were on the other planet, and the modern world. I believe it was supposed to be a current sociopolitical situation; it was obvious and was definitely eye-roll inducing.
The actions of some of the characters made no logical sense. Eva was so annoying and childish, I really couldn't stand her and it damaged the book for me. While the last book ended on the cliffhanger, this book made me wish the trilogy was only a duology.
Jpb (34 KP) rated The Matrix Resurrections (2021) in Movies
Dec 23, 2021
Matrix is back
Every one loved the first film. Resurrections reminds us why. While not the revolution we would have loved, Resurrections does offer us fans of the franchise that what we were clamoring for more action after the disasterous duology of Reloaded and Revolutions a second chance. The action is a bit slower but the pacing is really smooth. There's plenty of call backs to the past films and some fun laughs about things people hated in the sequels.
Seeing Neo and Trinity back together is fun and exciting.
The third act is stellar action. While nothing tops the lobby shootout or anything, there's some fun "Whoa!" moments that make you go "Wow, the Matrix has risen up and no longer suck anymore!
Seeing Neo and Trinity back together is fun and exciting.
The third act is stellar action. While nothing tops the lobby shootout or anything, there's some fun "Whoa!" moments that make you go "Wow, the Matrix has risen up and no longer suck anymore!
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Six of Crows in Books
Jan 11, 2018
Amazing duology
Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are a duology set in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. Grisha being the magic users in her world. I haven't read the rest of the Grishaverse (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising) - but I will definitely be doing so, because Crows and Crooked Kingdom are AMAZING.
I was pretty surprised - normally books rotating between several viewpoints are confusing, but Bardugo handles the transitions seamlessly and unmistakably. I was never unsure of what character I was reading - each one really had their own unique voice. I also loved that she worked in an LGBT romance without it being in any way odd. No one in the novel found non-heterosexuality weird at all. It was treated just as matter of factly as opposite-sex romances, and I loved that.
Six of Crows opens on a gang being blackmailed into a job they don't want to do. I can totally see the gang has a D&D group - and the books definitely feel a bit like a D&D campaign, albeit one with a mostly experienced group and a very experienced DM.
You've got Kaz, the ringleader, who's an all-around great thief but a superb tactician.
Inej, the acrobat assassin.
Jesper, the marksman hiding his magic ability.
Wylan, the rich merchant's son on the outs with his father and fallen in with a bad crowd, and talented with demolitions.
Nina, the sexpot who wields magic, and has a love/hate relationship with Mathias, the barbarian who's spent his life hunting magic users but is irresistibly attracted to Nina. (I can see the DM telling these two to hash out a background that will let them co-exist, which they obviously did.)
Each character has a complex back story that influences most of their actions, and different relationships with other members of the gang that also affects how they react. Their back stories don't just explain their actions in the books, people and events from their backgrounds also show up to complicate matters in the present. The wheels-within-wheels of the plotline is EXACTLY what I love about good political fantasies. The world-building is superb, and Bardugo has given just as much thought to the seedy underbelly of her world as she has the magic and politics.
I really, really loved this duology, and I see now why people rave about this universe. It is VERY well deserved.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
I was pretty surprised - normally books rotating between several viewpoints are confusing, but Bardugo handles the transitions seamlessly and unmistakably. I was never unsure of what character I was reading - each one really had their own unique voice. I also loved that she worked in an LGBT romance without it being in any way odd. No one in the novel found non-heterosexuality weird at all. It was treated just as matter of factly as opposite-sex romances, and I loved that.
Six of Crows opens on a gang being blackmailed into a job they don't want to do. I can totally see the gang has a D&D group - and the books definitely feel a bit like a D&D campaign, albeit one with a mostly experienced group and a very experienced DM.
You've got Kaz, the ringleader, who's an all-around great thief but a superb tactician.
Inej, the acrobat assassin.
Jesper, the marksman hiding his magic ability.
Wylan, the rich merchant's son on the outs with his father and fallen in with a bad crowd, and talented with demolitions.
Nina, the sexpot who wields magic, and has a love/hate relationship with Mathias, the barbarian who's spent his life hunting magic users but is irresistibly attracted to Nina. (I can see the DM telling these two to hash out a background that will let them co-exist, which they obviously did.)
Each character has a complex back story that influences most of their actions, and different relationships with other members of the gang that also affects how they react. Their back stories don't just explain their actions in the books, people and events from their backgrounds also show up to complicate matters in the present. The wheels-within-wheels of the plotline is EXACTLY what I love about good political fantasies. The world-building is superb, and Bardugo has given just as much thought to the seedy underbelly of her world as she has the magic and politics.
I really, really loved this duology, and I see now why people rave about this universe. It is VERY well deserved.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com