Graceling by Kristin Cashore I don’t expect much from YA fantasy, just a solid plot and a cute romance with some likeable characters. Bonus if the worldbuilding is good. This one almost delivered on my modest expectations, but fell apart at the end. The conceit of this book is that some people are born with …
Sep 12
Book Review: The Final Empire
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson This book represents what high fantasy aspires to. Extremely high stakes, good versus evil, magic and adventure and even a little bit of romance pack a very long (24 hour audiobook) first book in the series. I was hesitant to start it because of its length, but the weighty …
Aug 26
Book Review: Still Me
Still Me by Jojo Moyes Jojo Moyes is my go-to when I want to read (listen to) something amazing to get back my passion for stories. This is the third book in the Louisa Clark stories, the first of which involved her being hired to try to convince a paralyzed man not to kill himself. …
Aug 19
Book Review: Into the Water
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins This is a thriller/murder mystery by the author of The Girl on the Train. It’s similar in it subject matter and that it’s set in England, but it differs in that this one is much more strictly a murder mystery and less a clear-and-present-danger thriller. Also, it doesn’t have …
Jul 30
Book Review: My Absolute Darling
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent This is a book I expect to be thinking about for a long time. I’m rating it highly mostly because of its uniqueness, both in content and writing style. It has some flaws, but the strength of its main character and the lush descriptions made up for it. You …