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bookish_benny's reviews
379 reviews
The Golden Cage by James Oswald
4.0
I have a Booktube channel! You can subscribe at Youtube.com/BensBlurb
So it took me almost a year to read this book because halfway through I got bored then distracted and then the magic of this book was almost lost forever...until January 2020.
You must understand that this is the 3rd book in a series of 5. It is the continuing story of a boy and a dragon and their fates intertwined.
For me this is an excellent young adult fantasy book. The magic system is well thought out and unique yet deep enough to be interesting and fun to see come to life.
The way Benfro and Errol interact with each is well developed. They are thrown together into situations where they need each other’s help thus forging a friendship that neither wanted initially but both depend upon.
For me the stand out relationship is that of Frecknock and Inquisitor Melyn. She fears him and he hates her but slowly they almost, like Benfro and Errol, rely on one another. He wants to use her but slowly she grows on him and her unnaturally unwavering loyalty.
I find my most interesting character to be Queen Beulah. A tyrant in her own right but with Clunn by her side she turns into an *almost* normal leader. I would have liked to see Clunn mentioning Errol even as an afterthought since they were brothers albeit step brothers but it’s as if he just forgot him.
The ending of the story is a huge cliff hanger and if I didn’t have tons of other books that needed reading, I would go out and buy #4 tomorrow. The set up for this story is huge. A stolen throne, a lost legacy and bitter rivalries and factions, devious men and tenacious royalty.
I just hope James Oswald writes more in the Twin Kingdoms!
So it took me almost a year to read this book because halfway through I got bored then distracted and then the magic of this book was almost lost forever...until January 2020.
You must understand that this is the 3rd book in a series of 5. It is the continuing story of a boy and a dragon and their fates intertwined.
For me this is an excellent young adult fantasy book. The magic system is well thought out and unique yet deep enough to be interesting and fun to see come to life.
The way Benfro and Errol interact with each is well developed. They are thrown together into situations where they need each other’s help thus forging a friendship that neither wanted initially but both depend upon.
For me the stand out relationship is that of Frecknock and Inquisitor Melyn. She fears him and he hates her but slowly they almost, like Benfro and Errol, rely on one another. He wants to use her but slowly she grows on him and her unnaturally unwavering loyalty.
I find my most interesting character to be Queen Beulah. A tyrant in her own right but with Clunn by her side she turns into an *almost* normal leader. I would have liked to see Clunn mentioning Errol even as an afterthought since they were brothers albeit step brothers but it’s as if he just forgot him.
The ending of the story is a huge cliff hanger and if I didn’t have tons of other books that needed reading, I would go out and buy #4 tomorrow. The set up for this story is huge. A stolen throne, a lost legacy and bitter rivalries and factions, devious men and tenacious royalty.
I just hope James Oswald writes more in the Twin Kingdoms!
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
3.0
I liked this book and it certainly leaned more towards the Police side of the story than the magical. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the others in the series but nevertheless it was a good Peter Grant novel.
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
4.0
A really good entry into the series that took me way too long to read. I would say I prefer the first book to this one, however, this one ends on a build up that puts the story into a wider arc - almost making the world for Peter Grant that much bigger.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
5.0
I have a Booktube channel! You can subscribe at Youtube.com/BensBlurb
I hadn't read a Schwab until now and I have had a Darker Shade of Magic on my shelf for well over 6 months now but hadn't felt the indulgence to read it.
Vicious is one of those books that is simple and well written but gritty and exciting enough for you to want to squeeze in a couple more pages every moment you get.
The characters are uniquely defined by their attributes and the change in them is easily portrayed through V's writing. That being said, the story is deep enough that you don't always see the twists coming and in it, [a:V.E. Schwab|7168230|V.E. Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511218938p2/7168230.jpg] has created a world which is awesome to live in (provided you don't get caught up in the crossfire).
If you've ever read the superhero books by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] (Calamity, Firefight etc) then you will love reading this book.
I hadn't read a Schwab until now and I have had a Darker Shade of Magic on my shelf for well over 6 months now but hadn't felt the indulgence to read it.
Vicious is one of those books that is simple and well written but gritty and exciting enough for you to want to squeeze in a couple more pages every moment you get.
The characters are uniquely defined by their attributes and the change in them is easily portrayed through V's writing. That being said, the story is deep enough that you don't always see the twists coming and in it, [a:V.E. Schwab|7168230|V.E. Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511218938p2/7168230.jpg] has created a world which is awesome to live in (provided you don't get caught up in the crossfire).
If you've ever read the superhero books by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] (Calamity, Firefight etc) then you will love reading this book.
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
4.0
I really liked this sequel. I think it starts off a little slow but then about halfway through it really ramps up which is awesome with Melissa's style of writing.
I am not the biggest fan of romance in books and while Melissa does touch on this subject via multiple main characters it doesn't draw away from the story and at times even enhances the stakes and perils the protagonist faces.
I am not the biggest fan of romance in books and while Melissa does touch on this subject via multiple main characters it doesn't draw away from the story and at times even enhances the stakes and perils the protagonist faces.