#review books

[rapti-b]

Reclaim & Shine.

If asked for two words to describe the 13th novel in one of the best urban fantasy series I've read, these are the words I'd use.

Archangel's Sun picks up after the previous novel Archangel's War that saw the Cadre, ancient angels and vampires join forces to battle the evil Lijuan, Archangel of China (world politics alert!) It's the story of Hummingbird, aka Sharine, one of the most revered angels of Nalini's Guild Hunter world and Archangel Titus, the Archangel of Africa.

At once gentle and riveting, this particular novel is one that not only brims with life and hope, it presents a female protagonist unlike one seen before. But let's start from the beginning.

https://fromthecornertable.in/book-review-archangels-sun-guild-hunter-13/

#nalini singh #nalini singh books #nalini singh guild hunter #guild hunter #guild hunter series #books series #guild hunter series review #archangel #archangel's sun #archangel raphael #elena deveroux #raphael elena #archangel titus #hummingbird #book reviews #book blogger #book lover #review books

[think-and-write]

The main purposes of a book review are: to inform potential readers about the release of a new book, to give an overview of its plot, and to provide an assessment of the quality of the book.

Basically, the author of the review (reviewer) studies one or two literary works (books) and gives them an assessment, more often critical.

On average, a book review is 1000-1250 words.

The introductory part of a book review includes a summary of its plot and a general impression of the read.

At the same time, the summary of the book should not take more than ⅓ of the entire review. Try not to reveal the plot twists of the book, keep the intrigue and interest of the future reader.

The main part of the book review should consist of reasoning, arguments, impressions, highlighted ideas and concepts, trends, characteristics, and features of the book. Quotes may be included in the review but within reasonable limits. The most important thing is to convey the impression of the book in your own words.

#review #book review #review books #writing advice #writing tips

[thefolioarchives]

Reading of 2021, part IX

Or the post where I rant about how much I love T. Kingfisher, part I. Hope you're a big a fan as me!

49. The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

I put down The Hollow Places and immediately downloaded The Twisted Ones. Sometimes you just feel an affinity for an author that's so strong the only thing that's going to "appease" the need for more is… well… more. The Twisted Ones wasn’t as funny as Hollow Places, but my god does it really matter? There are a lot of similarities here as well, which I enjoy. Instead of a benevolent cat, we have a pure-hearted dog that will sniff out God if he's set on the trail. The voice of reason this time around is Foxy, the black lady living in a hippie commune down the street (Foxy is also hilarious and savvy and would "topple governments on Mars" by now if the CIA had given her a chance). The comforting but ultimately distant male presence is performed by the main character's, Melissa's/Mouse's, dad. There's also an evil "stepmom" (in HP I'd argue that Kara's mom filled this role) in the character of Mouse's dead grandmother; a real beast of a woman no one really liked and who was filled with this inherent hatred of everyone and everything. This charming lady is the reason for the plot, who is now deceased and has left behind a real hoarder home, complete with terrifying doll room, that Mouse has been asked to clear out. Eventually, Mouse comes upon her step-grandfather's bedroom (basically the only room in the house not balls to the walls with junk) and also a manuscript! There are things in the woods that her step-grandfather was scared of, that her grandmother somehow warded off against, and Mouse is literally in the middle of nowhere with a mobile phone that's on the fritz because of the latest software update. This is my kind of jam!

I'm in love with the way Kingfisher plays with fairy tale tropes and implements them into her horror narrative and it makes sense considering the fairy tales of old were actually terrifying (I will never not think about how the mermaid from the little mermaid felt like she was walking on knives or how the stepsisters in Cinderella chopped off their toes to fit into the glass slipper). But there are also generous nods to the horror genre itself and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT. I'm also a big fan of "horror in the woods" and think this might be my new favourite subgenre. Maybe this is what people call folk horror? It's also unputdownable and throughout the book I was filled with a desperate need to find out what happens next. There are twists and turns aplenty, some are more obvious than others, and I can't help but think that Kingfisher laid out some of these so obviously that unsuspecting readers would forget about other things that might hint at certain things… Either way my jaw dropped and then I started grinning. There's nothing like a book surprising you. I think it's also a narrative decision, in order to highlight some of the traits of the main character. Kingfisher writes about complicated people who have experienced grief and are left on rocky shores. But they're inherently good people who will help anyone who asks for it, which can often lead to sticky situations. Remember when Rihanna sang "all of my kindness is taken for weakness?" and I feel that applies here as well. This is sometimes the trouble with being "good". Things get ignored or downplayed and when you finally do get into serious trouble, it can be easy to dismiss it as "They deserved it". But in a world that focuses so often on the bad and the horrible, we should be celebrating these characters, cheering them on and rendering whatever aid we can, regardless of what trouble they find themselves in. If the intention is good, why must we argue with that?

50. Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher

I've sort of been saying that I'm dedicating October to horror literature only, but after discovering Kingfisher, I took the plunge into her fantasy series because I'm clearly obsessed with this author! A _true_ band of misfits are sent upon a "suicide mission" across a warring landscape to reach Anuket City in order to discover the secrets behind the two lost expeditions before them, but also to figure out how the enemy's Clockwork Boys work; 10 feet tall machines that double down as siege engines and killing machines. With the Clockwork Boys, the enemy is close to gaining the upper hand in the war and it's crucial that our heroes find anything that will help them repel their foes. There is also a mysterious plague ravaging the small folk, with people collapsing in the streets. These realities are seen through the eyes of Slate, the leader of expeditions, who smell rosemary if something's really important/magic/dangerous happening and is an expert in the world of fraudulence, and the recently de-knighted sir Cadigan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering a large member of the convent of the Sleeping God, whilst under demonic possession. We also have a sassy assassin and an ignorant young priest who refer to women as "the distaff sex". Again, I'm convinced that Kingfisher writes her books solely for my audience, because… This just has everything I've ever wanted from a fantasy novel, and then some! We have a bit of steampunk, we have a bit of plague narrative, we have some kind of religion I'm dying to know more about, we have an interesting Dowager Queen who's last desperate decision is to employ literal criminals to try to turn the tides of the war. There's a war, but we're not actually in the war if you know what I mean. There is also a bit of romance which I'm partial to because I really LOVE these characters. I just love it so much and I really can't deal with how much I enjoy it. I'm think I'm going to abandon my current reading list and read Kingfisher until I get bored/in need of a change and take it from there.

51. The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher

This is the second book in the Clocktaur War duology (but she still has other books set in this universe so calm yourself right down) and our heroes have made it to Anuket City. I've talked about it before in these posts but it bears repeating: I do love a good fictional city. The knowledge that we get about Anuket City is organic and it's not like we're given large infodumps on its history and people. Our heroes are not here for a history lesson, they're here to dismantle the patriarchy Clockwar Boys. And that is honestly fine with me. Things feel more natural this way. Now, I myself might have gone to the nearest tavern to have a chat with some of the locals to get a bit more of a lay of the land, but there is no time for that really, so drips is what you get. That isn't to say the drips aren't delicious, though. There are seedy underbellies, there is the insane and fabulous Artifice Quarter, there is the race of the badger-like Gnoles who are basically treated like vermin, amidst the sense that Anuket City is old and there are a lot of religions here. Not just The Dreaming God. On the page, this is a delicious fantasy heist-romp with added jealousies and romance, circling around themes of trust, friendship and loyalty.

#t kingfisher #the twisted ones #horror literature #horror fiction #reading of 2021 #reads of 2021 #booksbooksbooks #books #reading #review books #book review #good characters #fairy tale trope #fairy tales #fairy tale #folk horror #grief #family #cabin in the woods #the clockwork boys #fantasy literature #fantasy #fantasy fiction #romance #steampunk #plague #plague narrative #war #the wonder engine #fictional city

[nedlittle]

it drives me bonkers the way people don't know how to read classic books in context anymore. i just read a review of the picture of dorian gray that said "it pains me that the homosexual subtext is just that, a subtext, rather than a fully explored part of the narrative." and now i fully want to put my head through a table. first of all, we are so lucky in the 21st century to have an entire category of books that are able to loudly and lovingly declare their queerness that we've become blind to the idea that queerness can exist in a different language than our contemporary mode of communication. second it IS a fully explored part of the narrative! dorian gray IS a textually queer story, even removed from the context of its writing. it's the story of toxic queer relationships and attraction and dangerous scandals and the intertwining of late 19th century "uranianism" and misogyny. second of all, i'm sorry that oscar wilde didn't include 15k words of graphic gay sex with ao3-style tags in his 1890 novel that was literally used to convict him of indecent behaviour. get well soon, i guess...

#the picture of dorian gray #lit #this is a pointless text post #guess what i read for the first time in the year of our lord 2023 #and yes this is a real review on storygraph that i took a screenshot of. you people are so stupid god bless #girl he literally censored it himself did your edition have 0 introduction or background at all #greatest (s)hits #book discourse

[jjspina]

Goals for 2024! Happy New Year!

View On WordPress

#Books read and reviewed #goals for 2024 #Goals for the New Year #Happy New Year #new books coming in 2024 #review books #support fellow authors

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

25 Laws of power for women

Conceal your goals especially the ones that are appealing. Losing weight, reinventing yourself, marrying wealthy. Instead talk about your altruistic goals - to help children, invest in education, this will chase insecure people with vile intentions.

Do not give anyone your source of power: Was is a book that changed your life? a mentor? a movie? Never give up your secret to success. If forced to do say allude to God, the universe, the a random phenomenon

Use the patriarchy to your favor; we live in a world that is, only associate with men who have power, use that power for good.

Never appear too perfect but be selectively vulnerable when needed. Only share something that you will be comfortable saying. You might say “I forget my keys all the time,” “I don’t know how to perfectly park a car “. But never disclose something you are not comfortable with just because you are afraid of being perfect.

Maintain distance in relationships. Friends are the best and you need them. But if you feel that they are becoming too dependent, see them at your own will. But also the reverse could be the case. Your friend may keep a distance, and that is the way of life. You have got to move on from it.

Develop your own style that makes you unique, beautiful, and elegant. Avoid trying to fit in the crowd of people who claim to care less about their style yet have too many opinions about other women’s style

Avoid male friends at all cost, you will have male colleagues, male bosses, male acquaintances, business partners. Keep it that way. You do not want a Truman Capote divulging your secrets to the world. Do not keep a man who does not fit your standard.

You do not have to win at every game. Pick and choose what is best for you and leave room for others. And step down if you have attained that level of success, do not let the society do it for you.

Trust people but remember that we are all humans. So trust with discretion!

Confuse people with kindness; people are not always comfortable with beautiful and intelligent women. That power is too intimidating so confuse them by being genuinely generous, curious, kind, and passionate.

Keep your strong opinions to yourself.. if you support a movement, a way of life, do so silently.

We all have dirty laundry, wash them privately, don’t expose yourself. Remain silent when people try to attack you or shame you. Whatever is not confirmed is not true. You are the only one who knows all the truth about you.

Don’t attract pity or praise: People who pity you do not help you, in fact they might think that you are weak and could mock you at their annual gossipping meeting. And if you are doing things for the sake of praise you are wasting your time.

Choose yourself all the time; never put any one’s feelings above yours.

Trust your own intuition if you feel someone is being malicious towards you, giving you back handed compliments then you should let them go

Never speak bad of another woman. Do not lazy around gossipping. Keep your hands clean and your conscience clear.

Avoid women with low self esteem they will bring you down. For some reason they do not like seeing other women who are doing better than them

Be careful who you seek validation from. Not everyone needs to be pleased. If they are in no way capable of contributing to your life in the ways you prefer, then don’t ask them for their opinions or please them.

Do not compete with other women, if you do you are only putting them on a pedestal. You are making the the standard by which you measure your progress. If you do compete, begin digging your grave.

Do not give unsolicited advice, do not share the inner workings of your mind, If your mouth is very charitable you better start journaling.

Be well-rounded and interesting. It attracts people. It also keeps you busy because you are continually improving and learning. An idle mind is an easily subdued one.

Avoid women who want to live vicariously through you; they want to know who you know, shop where you shop, befriend who you befriend, wear what you wear.

Pay attention to the source of your discomfort; get rid of them. You tell them your dreams and they remind you of all your hindrances. They ask why are you dressed so fancy as though fancy isn’t subjective. They undermine you interests and goals. They will also be quick to bring you down because they are afraid of your potential.

Do not fear power or please power. When we see powerful people we try to hard to befriend them, to be close to them but you need to be comfortable without them. Don’t push yourself in the name of friendship, do not try too hard to be in their inner circle. Your independence of mind is the most important. Instead become a powerful woman, aloof to the presence of power but aware of its importance. Be an ingenious and intelligent and use your creativity to uplift yourself. When you do so it will be hard to ignore you. Even the powerful will become an ally.

Enjoy moments of solitude. Use that time to develop yourself, improve your body, learn new skills, create with your mind, read widely, become more elegant, then launch yourself.

Remember the most powerful women are the most intelligent. Inspired by Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power. Use at your discretion.

#self improvement #self love #growth #mindfulness #self development #beauty #education #self care #classy #self help #power #new books #booklover #book review #book quotes #books #biography #self control #self discipline #self worth #students #smart #emotions #emotional intelligence #self growth #discipline #get motivated #life goals #gratitude #femininity journey

[clonerightsagenda]

Spotted the word "blorbo" in The New York Times book review. Listen NYT romance reviewer, I really do not think your paper's audience is going to recognize that one

#maybe I'm wrong but I always figure it's the 80 year old ladies reading the nyt book review romance column

[myjetpack]

My Reading Year.

(My last @guardian Books cartoon for 2023)

#books #reading #books of 2023 #2023 #year in review #infographic

[fandom]

Books

Huge congrats to The Iliad. It's only taken 3,000 years. This list is brought to you by Tor Publishing Group, which you're probably familiar with, given what tops the list this year.

The Locked Tomb series +3 by Tamsyn Muir

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series -1 by Rick Riordan

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Six of Crows duology +3 by Leigh Bardugo

Dracula -3 by Bram Stoker

The Warrior Cats series -1 by Erin Hunter

A Song of Ice and Fire -1 by George R. R. Martin

The All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic

The Discworld series +7 by Terry Pratchett

A Court of Thorns and Roses series +3 by Sarah J. Maas

The Silmarillion -1 by J. R. R. Tolkien

Pride And Prejudice -3 by Jane Austen

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Raven Cycle series +3 by Maggie Stiefvater

The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Wings Of Fire +9 by Tui T. Sutherland

The Secret History -7 by Donna Tartt

The Trials of Apollo series -4 by Rick Riordan

The Iliad +10 by Homer

The Odyssey +24 by Homer

The Folk in the Air series -8 by Holly Black

The Animorphs series +5 by K. A. Applegate

The Stormlight Archive +8 by Brandon Sanderson

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Moby Dick +24 by Herman Melville

1984 +6 by George Orwell

Fables by Bill Willingham

The Diaries of Franz Kafka by Franz Kafka

The Song of Achilles -10 by Madeline Miller

The Last Hours series by Cassandra Clare

The Simon Snow series -10 by Rainbow Rowell

The Throne of Glass series +13 by Sarah J. Maas

Nimona by ND Stevenson

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard +6 by Rick Riordan

The Bell Jar -15 by Sylvia Plath

The Dreamer trilogy +6 by Maggie Stiefvater

The Shadowhunter Chronicles -15 by Cassandra Clare

The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

Captive Prince -1 by C. S. Pacat

The Twilight Saga -7 by Stephanie Meyer

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

The Deltora Quest series by Jennifer Rowe

Romeo and Juliet -8 by William Shakespeare

The Far Side by Gary Larson

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde +2 by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

The Picture of Dorian Gray -31 by Oscar Wilde

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

The number in italics indicates how many spots a title moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded titles weren’t on the list last year.

#year in review #books #tumblr2023

[dearly-befuddled]

Goodreads 1 star reviews complaining about how the book was trying to be "edgy". Babes you picked up a book about sci-fi necromancers with a cover of an aviator-wearing skull-painted lesbian and you weren't expecting to run into any edge lords or emos? That's not the book's fault, that's a skill issue

#with love #what the hell are you talking about #goodreads #gideon the ninth #gideon nav #harrowhark nonagesimus #book review #the comment section is always so funny #and so infuriating too #the locked tomb

[jasminewalkerauthor]

#book blog #bookish #bookworm #book review #books #book recommendations #booklovers #booklr #books and reading #ya books #writeblr #writers of tumblr #writing #fantasy books #creative writing #ya fantasy books #books & libraries #book quotes #writers block #writers #writing blog #writblr #tumblr writers #writer problems #writerblr #writers community #writers corner #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing community

[bookreviewcoffee]

Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they've got ambition, and they've got talent, as well as just beauty. I'm so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I'm so sick of it.

[Almost crying] 

 But I'm so lonely...

Jo March little women

#aesthetic #light academia #romantic academia #academia aesthetic #chaotic academia #classic academia #dark academia #dead poets society #book review #donna tartt #jo march #literature

[maccaccino]

where is my wife

Amazon review on this Morrow edition of "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett I found this morning that left me laughing in tears right from the title.

... Actually, in hindsight, having seen the ineffable divorce™️ of Season 2, the fact that the only thing left on the cover is his glass of wine makes me so sad. It's like Crowley, having now been through all that, has left his glass of wine in the bookshop and is refusing to come back since Aziraphale is gone. Muriel doesn't really want to touch what Crowley left in the hopes he will be back soon and maybe still want his glass of "whine", whatever that is. He seemed sad last time they saw him, so that's probably what they meant by "whine".

.... Wait a minute though, did Aziraphale write this review?!? "WHERE IS MY WIFE?" ?!?!?

Okay it's time to tag him, this has gone off the rails and so have I. @neil-gaiman please explain. Thank you. (Love your work, actually. But also... What is going on here.)

Update, not even 10 hours after I originally posted this: Neil himself liked the post. I'm freaking out a normal amount about it.

PS: here's a lil thank you post for all the notes I'm getting, holy hell!!!

#WHERE IS MY WIFE #good omens #good omens 2 #neil gaiman #terry pratchett #crowley #crowley is my wife #he left his wine of the table #aziraphale #aziracrow #crowley x aziraphale #aziraphale x crowley #on the table in the damn bookshop #aziraphale stop writing amazon book reviews and go see your wife for yourself in person

[mothermaggiexx]

“Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.” - George Orwell, 1984

#positivity #aesthetic #book blog #bookblr #bookish #reading #dark academia #writeblr #book review #soft moodboard #moodboard aesthetic #moodboard #current mood #light academia #light aesthetic #candles #romantic academia #soft academia #art academia #academia aesthetic #academia #literature #books & libraries #soft aesthetic #dark acadamia aesthetic

[definitelynotisabel]

rachel slander needs to stop. if i knew percy i would’ve shot my shot too

#you would too #they could never make me hate you #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #percy series #pjo #pjo series #annabeth chase #percy and annabeth #chb #books #bookish #booklr #book recommendations #books and reading #aaron warner #book review #currently reading #bookworm #she’s just like me fr #she’s just a girl

[nithata]

Review Buku - The Midnight Library

Setelah sekian lama, akhirnya aku membaca lagi 😬

Novel ini membuatku tertarik ketika membaca sinopsinya, karena membahas terkait penyesalan - penyesalan yang dialami dalam hidup ini, dimana penyesalan yang terus menumpuk itu membuat dan membangun diri kita menjadi orang yang selalu pesimis dan merasa tidak berharga.

Di buku ini bercerita, tentang seorang wanita bernama Nora Seed yang merasa hidupnya di penuhi penyesalan dan selalu merasa bahwa dirinya adalah pembawa bencana bagi kehidupan orang lain. Dan yang akhirnya membuat dirinya mengambil keputusan untuk mengakhiri hidupnya.

Namun diantara hidup dan matinya, dia terjebak di dalam sebuah perpustakan tengah malam, dimana dia diberi kesempatan untuk mencoba berbagai macam kehidupan untuk menemukan tujuan dan kebahagian dalam dirinya.

Dalam percobaan itu, dia menemukan banyak kegagalan dan merasa tidak ada kehidupan yang benar-benar pantas untuk dia singgahi atau tinggali. Tapi apakah Nora Seed akan menemukan kehidupan yang membuatnya bahagia setelah mencoba kehidupan seluruhnya? dan akankah dia menemukan apa arti tujuan dari munculnya perpustakaan tengah malam ini ?

*********

Buku The Midnight Library merupakan novel fantasi karya Matt Haig, penulis ternama asal Inggris. Buku dengan jumlah halaman 368 ini diterbitkan oleh Gramedia Pustaka Utama pada tahun 2020

#5cc #bentangpustaka #bookdragon #careerclass #review books