So, I'm participating in this reading challenge, and hope to power through many galleys and a couple physical review copies too!!
~Saruuh
31 July 2015
ARC August!
The Waterborne Blade (ARC Review)
Published by: Angry Robot, May 5th 2015
Genre: Adult, High Fantasy
Pages: 512
Format: Ebook
The citadel has long been the stronghold of Highkell. All that is about to change because the traitor, Vasic, is marching on the capital. Against her better judgement, Queen Alwenna allows herself to be spirited away by one of the Crown's most trusted servants, safe from the clutches of the throne's would-be usurper.
Fleeing across country, she quickly comes to learn that her pampered existence has ill-equipped her for survival away from the comforts of the court. Alwenna must toughen up, and fast, if she is even to make it to a place of safety. But she has an even loftier aim - for after dreaming of her husband's impending death, Alwenna knows she must turn around and head back to Highkell to save the land she loves, and the husband who adores her, or die in the attempt.
But Vasic the traitor is waiting. And this was all just as he planned.
This book started off a little slow, but I liked the characters enough to read until it got better. The Waterborne Blade got kinda interesting when they reached the monastery (I forget the name now), when it was impossible to know who was on Alwenna's side and who was plotting to hand her over to the usurper King. But I lost interest in that after a while - which about sums up how I felt about all of this book. I enjoyed it (a lot in some parts, with the rituals and blood magic and action bits) but after a while I got bored and wanted to move onto something new. I suppose the slow pace kinda hindered my enjoyment a bit, but I still did really like certain parts.
I love Alwenna, and Weaver, and Drew. I think they're all great characters. I thought the threat/villain was pretty realistic, and scarier for it. And I liked the world, even if it didn't feel particularly unique. What was unique was the free merchants, and I'm still not entirely sure whether they're trustworthy or dodgy or looking out for Alwenna. I guess I'll find out in the next book. For me, this book was lacking magic - there were parts of it throughout, but I wanted more actual magic in the first half, wanted to learn more about Alwenna's water magic, but judging from the ending, the second book will more than make up for it!
An interesting high fantasy with great characters (but not enough magic!)
Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/world-building ★★★☆☆
29 July 2015
The October Faction, vol 1 (ARC Review)
Published by: IDW Publishing, August 11th 2015
Genre: Graphic Novels, Gothic, Supernatural, Thriller
Pages: 128
Format: Ebook
Source: IDW, via Netgalley
The creative team behind Monster & Madman would like to introduce you to the ongoing adventures of retired monster-hunter Frederick Allan and his family… which include a thrill-killer, a witch, and a warlock. Because sometimes crazy is the glue that binds a family together.
October Faction has probably my favourite art of every graphic novel I've ever read. It has everything else too - iconic characters, great plot, awesome monsters -but the art is just stunning, and for some reason I can't explain, I really, really love it. It's gritty and dark, sparse with its use of light, and I want to stare at every single panel for hours because there's always so much happening, even when there isn't plot-wise.
Once I sat down and found proper time to read this, I flew through it. There's something massively compelling about the characters, that I don't even know how to describe. They're interesting, and extraordinary while retaining a sense of being so human, so normal, doing things like school and working (and, admittedly, seeing ghosts and summoning nasty things in circles painted on their bedroom floors.) Everyone has a secret, or at least that's what it feels like. How they're drawn, and written, it just feels like every character is a great mystery, and it made me never want to stop reading.
I'm pissed the volume ended because I want to know the rest of their stories.
Characters ★★★★☆
Once I sat down and found proper time to read this, I flew through it. There's something massively compelling about the characters, that I don't even know how to describe. They're interesting, and extraordinary while retaining a sense of being so human, so normal, doing things like school and working (and, admittedly, seeing ghosts and summoning nasty things in circles painted on their bedroom floors.) Everyone has a secret, or at least that's what it feels like. How they're drawn, and written, it just feels like every character is a great mystery, and it made me never want to stop reading.
I'm pissed the volume ended because I want to know the rest of their stories.
Characters ★★★★☆
Art ★★★★★
13 July 2015
Reading round up (83)
Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.
Just a quick, lazy update this week because I'm finishing up writing a book, starting writing a new one, and getting read to go to London (Next week - so there'll be a belated update then, too!)
Here's what I read this week:
Just a quick, lazy update this week because I'm finishing up writing a book, starting writing a new one, and getting read to go to London (Next week - so there'll be a belated update then, too!)
Here's what I read this week:
