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ferociablejbear's reviews
259 reviews
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
More polished and fun than other LitRPGs I’ve read. Not a ton of depth, but great for short reading sessions while also being really pleasant to binge. Awesome popcorn action book.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Iconic tbh
The Will of the Many by James Islington
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My primary feeling upon finishing is disappointment. The first third of the book had me convinced that I was reading an all time classic. The world was interesting, the political/magic system had so much potential for commentary on our society, the central mystery around Caeror’s death was gripping. Everything about the book felt perfectly crafted — and then we went to the school.
From part 2 onward, the book felt aimless and downright pandering. It legitimately felt like Islington was just taking elements of the most popular fantasy series and shoehorning them into the book like his only goal was to produce a synopsis that was approved by an SEO committee.
Oh, you liked the school in Harry Potter? Well here’s a completely soulless one that won’t be developed and will distract from the central hook of the first third of the book.
You liked The Hunger Games? Well, here’s a really rushed version where nearly everything interesting or impactful happens off the page.
You like fantasy series? Well here’s a very interesting central mystery that could be used as the driving force behind a truly special standalone that is mostly ignored while other much less interesting things are introduced at a dizzying pace to justify additional books.
Seems like power fantasy is big nowadays, so here’s a protagonist who is almost comically adept at every aspect of this society.
You like heroic animals? Look no further.
Magic? It exists and is mysterious™️.
Maybe I’m cynical, but this book really felt like something special at the beginning, and I think it could’ve been an all-time great standalone. Instead, we got a book whose last two thirds are just a summary of recent fantasy’s most popular tropes and a vague promise that we’ll eventually get to the interesting stuff. What a shame.
From part 2 onward, the book felt aimless and downright pandering. It legitimately felt like Islington was just taking elements of the most popular fantasy series and shoehorning them into the book like his only goal was to produce a synopsis that was approved by an SEO committee.
Oh, you liked the school in Harry Potter? Well here’s a completely soulless one that won’t be developed and will distract from the central hook of the first third of the book.
You liked The Hunger Games? Well, here’s a really rushed version where nearly everything interesting or impactful happens off the page.
You like fantasy series? Well here’s a very interesting central mystery that could be used as the driving force behind a truly special standalone that is mostly ignored while other much less interesting things are introduced at a dizzying pace to justify additional books.
Seems like power fantasy is big nowadays, so here’s a protagonist who is almost comically adept at every aspect of this society.
You like heroic animals? Look no further.
Magic? It exists and is mysterious™️.
Maybe I’m cynical, but this book really felt like something special at the beginning, and I think it could’ve been an all-time great standalone. Instead, we got a book whose last two thirds are just a summary of recent fantasy’s most popular tropes and a vague promise that we’ll eventually get to the interesting stuff. What a shame.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s a relaxing, quick read. It doesn’t feel particularly consequential, but I suppose that’s not really the point. I don’t think the story will have a lasting impact on me, but it was a cozy couple of hours.
Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unferth
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Barn 8 took a little while to get going, but the back half was pretty engrossing. A story of enforcers turned to liberators. The story was informative and tended towards the satirical. I think if the book had leaned a little more into humor, it would’ve worked a little better for me. I’m not a huge fan of satire generally, though, so I’m not the best judge of what works for the genre. Still an above average book for me, and I’d heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a satire.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I didn’t love this. That probably says more about me than the book, though. Having enjoyed A Man Called Ove, I picked this up expecting similar vibes. The vibes were not similar to say the least. The book covers important topics, so I’m glad it’s found an audience, but it doesn’t really move the needle for me, personally.
Mongrel by Hanako Footman
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A gut punch of a novel where we follow three women as they attempt to construct semblances of lives and identities in the aftermath of violence enacted on them by husbands, friends, lovers, and fathers. Emotional, physical, and spiritual pieces are ripped from our protagonists and we follow them as they try to build something whole from what’s left behind.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was really uneven. I thought the setting was interesting. The world was filled with great ideas, but I wish the author would’ve let them breathe a little more. The role of the pawnshop in the world and the lore behind Shiikuin were really well-developed, but it would’ve been nice if some of the other professions and institutions they encounter on their journey were given the same treatment. I think the world building was a real strength, and it’s a shame we didn’t get more of it.
While the setting was generally positive, the plot, characterization, and romance all felt lacking. The pacing was pretty bad. Individual plotlines were often entirely contained within single chapters, and with sixty something chapters over fewer than 300 pages, almost none of the plots or scenarios felt consequential. The characters — especially the love interests — were not very interesting. I also can’t even begin to understand what motivates the romance, especially for Kei.
In short, I think this book probably would’ve been a lot more successful if the author had had more pages to work with. There are lots of interesting ideas here, and the pacing and characterization issues probably resolve themselves if we were able to spend more times inhabiting the world. There’s interesting stuff here, but it seems like we only got part of the story.
While the setting was generally positive, the plot, characterization, and romance all felt lacking. The pacing was pretty bad. Individual plotlines were often entirely contained within single chapters, and with sixty something chapters over fewer than 300 pages, almost none of the plots or scenarios felt consequential. The characters — especially the love interests — were not very interesting. I also can’t even begin to understand what motivates the romance, especially for Kei.
In short, I think this book probably would’ve been a lot more successful if the author had had more pages to work with. There are lots of interesting ideas here, and the pacing and characterization issues probably resolve themselves if we were able to spend more times inhabiting the world. There’s interesting stuff here, but it seems like we only got part of the story.
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
How do you turn such fascinating history into the single most boring piece of fiction I’ve ever read? Why is this so highly regarded? I’m so confused. The disconnect between my experience with this book and the praise it receives honestly makes me think maybe I’m not cut out for reading anymore. Truly baffling.