Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 1 in Books
Jun 24, 2019
As it is episodic, there is no singe plot to really summarise. The main gist is Takashi Natsume seeing strange creatures - yokai - that nobody else can. After inheriting his deceased grandmother's strange notebook, he discovers that she had the same ability. Due to being such an outcast amidst her village, though, she takes her frustrations out on the yokai. Natsume's Book of Friends - the book Takashi inherited - is basically a collection of contracts signed by various yokai pledging their 'devotion' to her. Owning this book gives Takashi complete power over them, and naturally many of the yokai are eager to take it. Instead, Takashi sets out to return the names of all the yokai. He is accompanied by one yokai who he accidentally freed from a shrine, Nyanko Sensei - who, after being trapped inside a ceramic cat, usually takes the form of a cat. Takashi likes to remind him of this frequently (and Sensei is definitely not amused).
The episodes can each be read as a standalone, though they do connect in some ways. Takashi slowly begins to understand what he's doing, and the relationship between him and Nyanko Sensei develops somewhat. While most of Takashi's interactions are with yokai, there is one particular chapter in this novel where he meets another human who he can relate to. There is also a touching chapter - the final in the novel - where Takashi helps a yokai to meet the human that saved her in her past life.
The art is lovely and the relationship between Sensei and Takashi is really amusing. There isn't a huge amount of character development or depth due to the episodic nature of the novel, but Takashi is likeable and kind. I would definitely recommend it for a quick/light read, and I may have a look for the rest of the series. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
XPSView for iOS : Read XPS & OXPS documents and Export to PDF
Productivity and Business
App
***** Now on sale!!! Limited time offer. (Regular Price $9.99) ***** XPSView is intuitive...
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Trouble With Peace in Books
Sep 28, 2020
This is the second book in Abercrombie's second proper trilogy in the world of The First Law. I will admit to having issues with the first book, A Little Hatred, but they were mainly a result of the book building on from the previous trilogy (and the standalone books) but being a significant amount of time later. I had felt the characters had been left as "so-and-so's son/daughter" with minimal introduction otherwise.
Those issues are now long-forgotten, as in this book all characters receive enough attention to embed themselves and find their voices (no longer are Vick and Savine the same in my head, likewise Leo and Orso, although I have to admit that Clover and Broad still cross over in my mind).
The plot follows some gentle political and social manipulations, both in the capital Adua, and also in the North. Things quickly develop into a much stronger and very possible uprising against the throne, and more importantly against the corrupt financier and magician controlling the throne.
There are some truly superb action sequences in this book, where the action flows seamlessly from one character's PoV to another, almost as if watching a film, where the camera follows an arrow and watches the intended target until they stab at someone, who the camera then follows. This allows the action to unfold across both sides of the conflict and give the story from multiple angles. One of these scenes was one of the best told battle scenes I think I have ever read.
The plot is strong, the characters similarly, and the dialogue and narration is Abercrombie at his best. The crossing, double-crossing and triple-crossing is a joy to read. It is rare in a "grimdark" book to see one of the nastiest characters getting their comeuppance but at the end this is delivered in a fairly shocking manner.
This may just be Abercrombie's best book yet, in my humble opinion.
Let The Bad Times Rolls by The Offspring
Album
The Offspring is a punk rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. The band's current...
One Day (Nights, #9)
7.0
Rate It
Book
I will never tire of this man. Whatever he wants. Whenever he wants it. I will accept it all. All of...
Adult Contemporary Romance
Hush (Nights #8)
6.3
Rate It
Book
Tom Sutherland is an arrogant prick. There, I said it. Okay, so he’s also my assistant and I...
Adult Contemporary Romance
Game of Greed (Francis Scott-Wren Series Book 1)
Book
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed. Breathtaking...
crime thriller Swedish fiction Game of Greed Francis Scott-Wren
Break Me (Make or Break, #2)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Break Me is the second book in Amanda Heath’s Make or Break series. It can be read as a...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Ferns Decision ( Sisters of Hex Fern book 1) in Books
Feb 6, 2022
Kindle
Ferns Decision ( sisters of Hex Fern book 1)
By Bea Paige
Death is a lonely place, silent, or so everyone thinks... Fern is no stranger to death, or the singing that accompanies it. She has always known when a person is about to die, for the singing foretells it. Her mother passed it off as an oddity never to be discussed, so she learned to tune out the voices until they disappeared for good. Or so she thought. Then one day, as she fights to bring back a dying baby in the hospital where she works, Fern hears the familiar melody once more. Except this time the voice belongs to a man with ice-blue eyes and black angel wings. As the baby takes its final breath, the angel sings his last note. For this isn't an angel who gives life, it is one that takes it. One year has passed since that encounter, and just when Fern is beginning to believe it had all been an illusion, the angel returns, and this time he's not alone. For now there are three Angels of Death and Fern appears to be their next victim.Fern's Decision is the first book of Fern's trilogy and continues the Sisters of Hex story. Although this is the start of a standalone trilogy, to get a full picture of the overarching storyline you might wish to read Accacia's trilogy first.***TRIGGER WARNING - This book contains content that some may find triggering***
I loved the first set of Hex sister books so I was looking forward to this set. I wasn’t disappointed in the first book at all I really enjoyed it although the first few chapters were extremely hard to get through with it being so close to my own heart of losing my own baby a few time I cried thinking I need to push through. It was well handled and I’m glad I pushed through a good start to the new trilogy and sister. I would recommend but with a caution of possible trigger warning if you have lost a baby.