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Only Human (Themis Files #3)
Only Human (Themis Files #3)
Sylvain Neuvel | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
4
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
2021 | Action, Sci-Fi
Love, action and nostalgia (0 more)
Slower than I had hoped (0 more)
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!
  
Six of Crows
Six of Crows
Leigh Bardugo | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.2 (45 Ratings)
Book Rating
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
  
Crooked Kingdom
Crooked Kingdom
Leigh Bardugo | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.1 (22 Ratings)
Book Rating
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
  
TH
The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch, #2)
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This whole series is glorious - I know book 1 gets some flack and mixed reviews - but I adored it - and this book is the perfect next book in the series - I totally thought this was a duology so I expected a conclusion the whole time I read this book - but it set it up so nicely for another book - I can't wait to find out what happens next. I want one of her "pets", literally I keep imagining how it would be to control something like that and it's so fascinating. I love Tea she's one of my favourite "strong ladies" that I have ever read. Although I keep getting Kalen and Kance mixed up in my head - it took me a while to figure out what was truly going on - I'm unsure why in my brain they got mixed up - I love Kalen - I love her band of people - I love the past/future whatever flashbacks/forwards and I just freaking love this series !!!!!!!!!!
  
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Umbertouched (Rosemarked, #2)
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
As the cover suggests this book is more about umbertouched and the ways to become so. Zivah and Dineas have escaped the capital but not the continent. This follows their progress back to their homeland and what happens afterwards. Can they still fit in and where is their place now.
I enjoyed the relationship between Zivah and Dineas and how that continued to develop. The stress of being back home and back to their old lives was well thought out. The fighting and battle was interesting as well. I liked how each part from the first book to the very last page of this intertwined. Dineas's split personality is well documented and the problems that came from losing his memories in the first are seen.
My only problem was the ending. Is this a duology or will there be a third. I feel like if it is only two there is missing a key wrap up at the end. It feels incomplete. I do not know if that is what the author is going for but I feel a bit underwhelmed.
  
CO
City of Night (The House War, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read it, but - GAH! I feel like I need to go back and read [b:The Hidden City|1385783|The Hidden City (The House War, #1)|Michelle Sagara West|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266788937s/1385783.jpg|1375829], then read it again, to be sure I got everything. I think I'll wait until [b:House Name|6121287|House Name (The House War, #3)|Michelle Sagara West|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279636477s/6121287.jpg|6299563] comes out, then read all three of them together. At that point, I'll probably be ready for a re-read of [b:The Sun Sword|153223|The Sun Sword (The Sun Sword, #6)|Michelle Sagara West|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266483918s/153223.jpg|147905] (really, the whole series) again. But of course, to do them justice, I should go back and read the Hunter duology, too. This is the problem with [a:Michelle Sagara West|6256|Michelle Sagara West|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg]! Her world is SO rich that it's difficult to find a good beginning place. But very well worth it, I promise!