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All we can do is honour the lessons this brings, look honestly upon who we were and what we have done, and try to do better when the next sun rises: Reviewing House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope Trilogy) by Claire North

Hi everyone and happy holidays! With the hustle and bustle of everything, I haven’t been able to do much reading. I may be able to post one more book review before my annual favorites of the year post. It all just depends on my mood. Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Ithaca, the first book in this series. Now, let’s talk about House of Odysseus.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language, Spousal Abuse, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Penelope, the queen of the Ithaca, struggles to maintain her power over the suitors that continue to ravage her home. With little hope of her husband’s return, Penelope relies on her wit and cunning to keep her place on the throne. Her troubles, though, had only worsened when Elektra and Orestes turned up on her shores. Orestes is mad with guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and Elektra isgrieving her father Agamemnon and desperate to put her brother on the throne. Everything is thrown into further disarry when Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta, comes to Ithaca in search of his murderous niece and nephew. Helen, the woman who broke the world, is also here to annoy Penelope. With Ithaca thrown into turmoil, Penelope must fight for her rightful place with the help of some unlikely allies. The queen’s plight, though, has caught the eye of the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, who may give her a fighting chance.

Claire North continues to impress me with her ability to inhabit all of these characters and breathe life into them in a way that very few adapatations have in the past. This novel is part murder mystery, part family drama, and part re-telling. Its dynamic nature is what made it just as enjoyable as its predecessor. What I particularly appreciated about the novel was having Aphrodite as the narrator. Not to be a mythology nerd, but I always for Aphrodite to be one of the more underrated deities in the Greek pantheon. Her commentary about love and desire ties into the themes from the first book about women’s struggles in such a seemless way. Claire North does a fantastic job creating unique character voices that feel so rooted in reality in a strange way. With all of that being said, I am so excited to read the third book in this trilogy and I think that you should check this one out too.

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I rip out his tongue to stop the lies. I stab out his eyes to hide from his gaze. You will be free: Reviewing Shadows of Self (Book 5 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi everyone! Happy belated Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. I promise I wasn’t intentionally avoiding reading or writing in this blog. You all know how it is. Life happens. Stuff gets in the way. Motivation is lost. I’m back, though, and have plenty more reviews for you before the end of the year. I just picked a lot of long books to read, which is part of the reason why I have been slow to post. That, however, is the past. It’s time to revisit the Mistborn Saga once more. Let’s talk about Shadows of Self.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Disturbing Imagery

Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian is forced to give up his life as a lawman in the Roughs after forsaking his responsibilities as the lord of his house for too long. He hardly imagined that life in the city would be exciting, but an assassination attempt on a prominent governor proves Wax wrong. Soon, the city of Elendel is thrust into turmoil as riots break out among the workers, and churches are attacked. The culprit? An ancient being who may be sent by God himself. It’s up to Wax, Wayne, and their recently befriended constable Marasi to figure out what’s happening before the city of Elendel is destroyed by its own people.

Brandon Sanderson surprises me with every single book I read. Just as I think I’m hitting a lull or thinking that the plot is predictable, Sanderson provides me with literary whiplash. I say all this with love. As someone who is a fan of action and adventure, the Mistborn Saga continuously delivers with all of the best elements of a genre that is usually hard to encapsulate. Shadows of Self stands out because of how it connects back to the original Mistborn trilogy. Sanderson isn’t afraid to question his own texts and the motives of his characters. Most authors wouldn’t want to deconstruct their worlds or let their characters look too imperfect, but Sanderson isn’t afraid to change the rules without completely demolishing everything he created. It feels like a natural progression in the story. This particular entry in the saga was more like a mystery, but that is what I ended up enjoying about Shadows of Self. In case you couldn’t tell, I have been really enjoying this series, and I am going to continue to recommend it to all of you.

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Love is a patient, exasperated emotion, and she knew it well: Reviewing Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! Happy Fall! Well, it doesn’t feel like fall yet but that isn’t going to stop me from trying to participate in fall activities. I have my “spooky” book reviews coming soon and I know some of you are really looking forward to that. For now, I have some other things to talk about. This book will be my fifth review for a book by T. Kingfisher. I even have a sixth one ready to go. Feel free to check out my reviews of her other novels. Let’s talk about one of her latest: Swordheart.

Content Warning: Some Violence, Some Gore, Mild Sexual Content, Animal Death

Halla, a respectable widow, unexpectedly inherits her wealthy uncle’s estate. Unfortunately, she has to contend with her dead husband’s horrid family members who are determined to marry her off so they can have the estate. Halla decides the only sensible solution is to kill herself. The only tool she can find in her uncle’s estate that might do the trick is an ancient sword that was just laying around. When she unsheaths the sword, an immortal warrior named Sarkis appears and informs her that he is now her personal guard. Sarkis was not expecting his weilder to be a woman like Halla. He certainly wasn’t expecting to go on the run with her, fleeing from angry family members and murderous priests. As Sarkis and Hall grow closer, they must face dangers and figure out if there is a way to free him from the sword.

I’m going to be honest. I have often looked down upon “romantasy” as a genre because it always felt so formulaic and cliche. Leave it to T. Kingfisher to write a romantasy that I absolutely loved from beginning to end. The writing is earnest, humorous, and creative. I loved the world of this novel and the interesting fantasy elements. There were so many fun moments peppered throughout that made me smile. The romance, though, is the main feature of this novel and I loved every second of it. While there certainly were tropes, the novel didn’t rely on the tropes to make the romance happen. Sarkis and Halla had such great chemistry. I loved seeing them come closer together. I also loved that the relationship wasn’t perfect and they had to work through things to come together. They reminded me a lot of Wesley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. The main reason why I liked this book is because it was very reminiscent of works like The Princess Bride. The romance was lovely, the humor was great, and I loved the world of this novel. Go read Swordheart immediately because there is going to be a sequel next year.

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There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage: Reviewing Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m starting to transition into my “spooky” books for October, but I have a couple of others to finish before then. I’m not really going to ramble too much. Naomi Novik has been in my peripheral vision for a bit now, and this is my first experience with any of her novels. I also want to say thank you all so much for continuing to engage with my blog. It means more to me than you know. I hope you continue to read my posts whenever you’re feeling a little bored. With all of that being said, I’ll get to what you came to this post for. Let’s talk about Uprooted.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Sexual Content, Attempted Sexual Assault, Animal Death

Every ten years, a warlock who calls himself the Dragon comes to the village to pick a girl to take away. In exchange, he protects the village from the dangers that hide in the corrupted Wood. Agnieszka had never expected to be chosen by the Dragon. She and everyone expected Kasia to be chosen. The Dragon, however, chooses Agnieszka for reasons she cannot understand. Soon, she finds herself absorbed in the world of magic, court politics, and war. With no other choice, Agnieszka must fight against the evil Wood to save everyone she has ever loved.

I didn’t go in with any real expectations for this novel, and Uprooted exceeded my nonexistent expectations. Naomi Novik is insanely imaginative and well-written. This novel went places I didn’t expect it to go, and that made it all the more enjoyable. The book is so atmospheric, with classic fairy tale elements and interesting lore. There was also plenty of action. I was not expecting this novel to have any intense battle scenes, but there were some really cool scenes involving monsters and warlocks. I am going to cut this review a little short because I want to stay away from any spoilers. I highly encourage you to experience Uprooted for yourself. I will definitely read more Naomi Novik novels in the future.

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Hell is other people: Reviewing Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I could not be more excited to talk about this book with you. I’m sure many of you have heard the buzz around Katabasis and I am more than happy to give my take on it. If you want, you can check my review of Babel, another novel by R.F. Kuang. Let’s get to the point and talk about Katabasis.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Violence, Some Gore, Some Sexual Content, Grooming, Suicidal Ideation, Strong Language

Alice Law has sacrificed everything to become one of the leading minds in the field of Magick. With the help of her talented mentor, Professor Grimes, Alice has become one of the emerging stars in Cambridge University. Everything was going according to plan until Professor Grimes is killed in a magical accident. Alice, though, can’t let the man who can open every door for her rot in Hell. The only solution is to bring him back. She is not the only Grimes student with this idea. Peter Murdoch, her academic rival, convinces Alice to let him join her journey. Armed with nothing by chalk and academic texts, Alice and Peter must face the unknowable horrors of the afterlife and survive, lest they lose the one person who can write them a good reccomendation.

As I said before, there has been a lot of discourse circling around Katabasis and if its overly complicated or too academic. Here’s my consensus: what acutally happens in the novel is not complicated but the way the events are talked about is complicated. As someone who’s read a fair few academic articles and gotten a test of grad school, I understood what Kuang was “going for,” so to say. With that out of the way, I personally enjoyed Katabasis. It was dark, imaginative, and a little cheeky. Kuang’s take on the afterlife is visceral and strangely relatable. There is a quote that goes something like “hell is what you make it” and I think that perfecly sums up what Katabasis is going for. It’s as a much an analogy as it is a fun, dark fantasy with vivid and disturbing imagery. The more “academic” aspects of the novel don’t pull away from the tension of this dark journey. I thought the pacing was just a bit off at times, but that is honestly a minor complaint. Kuang goes out of her way to really flesh out her characters and make them so perfectly flawed. Alice is her own unique person, but she also serves as a mirror to anyone who is a bit hard on themselves. The other characters all felt three dimensional, even if they weren’t human or only appeared briefly. I appreciate Kuang’s attention to detail in her prose and her unflinching commentary on different social and political issues. With all of that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Katabasis and I think it is fully worth your time. (You might have to do some Googling while you’re reading but I think that’s the fun part).

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The gods demand their justice, but we suffer for it every time: Reviewing Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Hi everyone! It’s been a bit, but I haven’t forgotten this blog. I like to think of myself as a reliable and dutiful source of book reviews. If you think otherwise, I completely understand. Guess what? I have another Greek mythology-inspired book for you all! This is also not my first review of a Jennifer Saint book. Check out my review of Ariadne if you so desire. I hope, though, that you are interested in this review of Elektra.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Sexual Assault, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide

Helen of Sparta goes missing, and Greece goes to war. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenae and twin sister of Helen, is betrayed by her husband Agamemnon and quietly plots her revenge against the House of Atreus. Meanwhile, the Trojan princess Cassandra is cursed by the god Apollo and is plagued with visions of Troy’s fall. Elektra, the youngest daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, desperately wants her father to come home, but fears that her family curse will befall him once he sets foot in his home. Revenge, desperation, and love drive these women to do the unthinkable in the hopes of saving their families.

Elektra is a vivid, haunting, and unflinching look at three women who are often villainized or mocked in Greek mythology. Jennifer Saint allows her protagonists to be imperfect and scheming, while also being sympathetic and relatable. There is no right way to view these characters, and I think that is indicative of Jennifer Saint’s writing talents. I think it’s important to have female characters who are complex and, sometimes, cruel. It makes them all the more human. It is hard to read at times, but Jennifer Saint handles sensitive subjects with care. It is as grotesque as necessary. The writing is wonderful, and I actually really enjoyed the multiple POVs. It made the novel all the more dynamic and moving. I can’t recommend this book anymore. Elektra is a must-read for female-led novels and novels about Greek mythology.

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The measure of a person is not how much they have lived. It’s in how they make use of what life has shown them: Reviewing The Alloy of Law (Book 4 of the Mistborn Saga) by Brandon Sanderson

Hello everybody! How are you all doing? I hope you answered my silly rhetorical question while reading this. I am back (yet again) with another Brandon Sanderson book. Go ahead and check out my reviews of The Stormlight Archive and the first three books of The Mistborn Saga. It’s a lot, but it’s a good time I promise. With that being said, it’s time to talk about The Alloy of Law, the first book in the Wax and Wayne series.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Disturbing Imagery

Three hundred years ago, Vin, Kelsier, Elend and Sazed saved Scadrial and they live on trhough legends. Now, Scadrial is a flourishing city with steam powered locomotives and electricity. The outskirts of the city, known as the Roughs, are a lawless land where only those with magic have any hope of survival. Lord Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian is one of those. As a rare Twinborn, Wax has Allomancy and Feruchemy which allows him to Push on metals and control his weight. A tragedy, though, pulled him away from the life of a lawman. Just as Wax feels content with being a nobleman and politician, a gang of Allomancers go on a robbing spree and take several valuable hostages with them. With his city in danger, Wax finds himself drawn back into the life of a lawman once again.

The Allow of Law is a fun, fast-paced continuation of an already action-packed series. What I appreciated about this book was that it didn’t rely heavily on the previous trilogy but had enough references. This book was not as dark nor as centered on political drama as its predecessors. I appreciated the slight light-hardness because it didn’t detract from the excitement of the main plot. I enjoyed the new batch of characters in this book. They offered plenty of witty dialogue and just enough believability to the novel. Sanderson continues to dazzle me with his fascinating worlds and non-stop avalanche of interesting ideas. I am interested to see where this series goes and I would recommend that you join me in reading the Mistborn saga.

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He was mine to protect. Mine to adore. Mine to lose forever: Reviewing Sweet Obsession (Book 8 of the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! I hope you are all still doing well. I don’t intend to keep you waiting much longer for reviews. I’m going to keep cranking them out. I’m debating giving my review of Dune, or at least sharing my thoughts on it. I think “reviewing” such a widely regarded book is a little unnecessary, but I think some of you might be interested in knowing whether it is worth reading or not. That is a topic for a different day, though. If you’re interested, feel free to read my reviews of the previous books in the Dark Olympus series. Now, let’s talk about Sweet Obsession.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence, Discussions of Abuse

Olympus is officially under attack by Circe and her armada of ships. That, however, is the least of Icarus’ worries. He dared to take a chance and fell right into the hands of the enemy. He didn’t mess with just anyone, though. Icarus is now captive to Poseidon, whom he finds to be frustratingly handsome. Poseidon is just trying to keep his crew safe and stop Circe’s attack, but he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Icarus’ charm and mysteriousness. The two find themselves being drawn closer together as they are forced to cooperate to stop Circe. Poseidon and Icarus are forced to reexamine their relationship and decide if their allegiances lie with each other or with their respective legacies.

Sweet Obsession is Katee Robert doing what Katee Robert does best: providing fun drama and steamy romance that keeps me coming back for more. While I do enjoy Katee Robert’s Greek myth series, my only gripe is that this is the only one that isn’t based on any particular myth like the previous books. In Greek mythology, Poseidon and Icarus never interact unless you count Icarus falling into the sea. It’s a little bit of a stretch, but maybe Katee Robert was going for something with that. I digress. Sweet Obsession had my favorite romance by far, mostly because the dynamic was a bit unexpected. Katee Robert, though, continues to create surprisingly believable romances that aren’t just “insta-love” or one character basically falling in love because the plot says so. That is why it’s all the more satisfying when the relationships end up working out, regardless of the challenges. The obstacles don’t go away, but the characters actually work through them. In a world where a lot of “dark romance” means that the characters are weirdly abusive to each other, and that’s somehow deemed to be love, Katee Robert’s books are a breath of fresh air. That is what keeps me coming back. With that all being said, if you want some steamy scenes and juicy drama (without any of the icks), then I’m going to continue to recommend the Dark Olympus series.

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May you have the courage someday to walk away. And the wisdom to recognize that day when it arrives: Reviewing Wind and Truth (Book 5 of The Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi everyone! I apologize for my prolonged absence. This book was mostly that reason because I decided to buckle down and finish the darned thing. Before you read this review, feel free to check out my other reviews of Brandon Sanderson’s novels. I have started the second arc of the Mistborn Saga, and I am excited to review that one much sooner than later, along with a bunch of other books that I am already excited to talk about. Enough with my yammering. Let’s (finally) talk about Wind and Truth.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Intense Battle Scenes

In ten days, Dalinar Kholin must face the evil god Odium. While Dalinar does his best to prepare, Oduim’s forces continue to wreak havoc across the lands. Adolin Kholin fights in Azir, Sigzil holds the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah continues her negotiations in Thaylenah City. In Shinovar, Szeth seeks to break the hold of the Unmade of his homeland. Kaladin, accompanying Szeth, must continue to fight his inner darkness while facing off against an insane Herald named Ishar. In another world, Shallan is forced to face her past while Renarin and Rlain try to unlock the secrets of the Unmade. Navani hopes to find an advantage against Odium and stop him. In ten days, the fate of the cosmere will be decided once and for all.

Wow. This entry into The Stormlight Archive was the most intense and existential thus far. So much happened, and I feel like I haven’t processed the other four books in this series. With all of that being said, I am still deeply impressed with Brandon Sanderson’s intricate storytelling and his deep care for this particular story. Despite the sadder parts of the book, there was still an underlying message about the power of optimism and resiliency in the face of internal and external obstacles. The tragedy in this novel didn’t exist for the sake of tragedy, nor did the triumph exist because that is what a story should call for. It is rare to find such purposeful writing in a book series that is comprised mostly of intense battle scenes and an interesting magic system. In case you can’t tell, I am still very much enjoying this series. I was shocked, needless to say, when I learned that Mr. Sanderson has FIVE more books planned for The Stormlight Archive. I’m hooked on this series, and I think you should get yourself hooked too.

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Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it: Reviewing Assassin’s Apprentice (Book 1 of the Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your summer and surviving the heatwave. I still have an obscene amount of books to read and am reading more than my brain can handle at times. Still, I am having fun and enjoying everything so far. Summer just feels like the best time to read, but that is my humble opinion. I shall not ramble on when I haven’t posted here in quite some time. Let’s talk about Assassin’s Apprentice.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Descriptions of Graphic Injuries, Animal Death

Fitz is a young boy with no memory of his past. The only thing he knows is that he is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry. One day, he is presented to his grandfather King Shrewd, who decides he has use for the boy. He sends Fitz to be raised by Chivarly’s stable keeper until the boy comes of age. King Shrewd reveals to Fitz that he bears the Skill, a magical talent that only runs in royal blood. Fitz is sent to an eccentric tutor to hone his Skill and eventually become the king’s assassin. While Fitz is training, raiders start to lay siege upon the kingdom. Fitz is sent on a mission that will save the kingdom, but may be his last order from the king.

Assassin’s Apprentice was equal parts adventure, fantasy, and tragedy. Robin Hobb creates a steady narrative filled with political intrigue and fascinating world-building. The tension and tragedy of the novel make it all the more shocking and thrilling with each page. There were, admittedly, parts that dragged on a bit for me, but it wasn’t so slow-paced that I became annoyed or bored. If anything, it made me appreciate Hobb’s attention to detail as she balances her world-building and character development. All in all, Assassin’s Apprentice is an exciting high-fantasy novel that feels entirely unlike anything else.