Scan barcode
btlitell's reviews
106 reviews
Season of Storms by Andrzej Sapkowski
5.0
This was an entertaining story. Chronologically, I think this takes place before The Last Wish but I can't tell if Sword of Destiny is before this or after. I'd have to review the timeline but that's neither here nor there.
There's some good quotes and moments in this one that felt very Witcher, and I'm all for that.
There's some good quotes and moments in this one that felt very Witcher, and I'm all for that.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
3.0
I was expecting a longer read and something...more than this actually was. I think stories referencing or retelling The Legend of Sleepy Hollow seem like they're more involved than this.
Not disappointed just overall underwhelmed.
Not disappointed just overall underwhelmed.
The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
5.0
Now that I've had a moment to reflect on this book (and the series overall), I've got some thoughts.
This book had so much going on, but I think it was done well. Could it have been two books? Perhaps, but it would have felt clunky at best. My experience with the Witcher started with the games, and it was great to see where some references from at least the third game originated in the books. This isn't to say that other references in the series weren't appreciated, but I have more played The Wild Hunt more than the other games. There are some moments that elicited really strong emotions as I was reading, and while I do need to get them out there, I'll mark things with spoilers.
1.) Vilgefortz is a raging assholeand I'm glad he died and at Geralt's hand no less. I can't express that sentiment enough. Fuck. Him.
2.)Regis was one of my favorite characters in Geralt's troupe of rag-tag misfits. He did NOT deserve the ending he received. Again, fuck Vilgefortz.
3.) Ciri was such a bad-ass in moments where it counted. I love the fight she had with Bonhart and how that prick thought he would pull one over on her but he still died. I was so happy about that moment. She deserved that win.
4.) Forest Gramps gave me such strong ick feelings. Was glad to see my gut reaction was right on that one. I didn't like that character but you're not supposed to. shudders
5.) Emhyr is a prick.Why the fuck does he want to have incest babies with his daughter?! That is all.
6.) I can't discuss emotional moments in this book without discussingGeralt getting run through by a trident while being the reluctant "one last time" hero in the middle of a fight that he didn't have to participate in. As they say though, Witchers don't die of old age in their beds. I didn't want to consider it happening but it still did.
I felt like this book had more action in it than some of the others, but there's also the same puppet masters behind the scenes stuff going on. And of course the nobility think they're pulling the strings but surprise the magicians are actually pulling their own strings in the background's background.
This was a great book, and I know it only furthered my love for the series and universe altogether. I feel sad that it's over, but that means I can go back and start again and pick up things that happened earlier that I may have forgotten or didn't notice.
This book had so much going on, but I think it was done well. Could it have been two books? Perhaps, but it would have felt clunky at best. My experience with the Witcher started with the games, and it was great to see where some references from at least the third game originated in the books. This isn't to say that other references in the series weren't appreciated, but I have more played The Wild Hunt more than the other games. There are some moments that elicited really strong emotions as I was reading, and while I do need to get them out there, I'll mark things with spoilers.
1.) Vilgefortz is a raging asshole
2.)
3.)
4.) Forest Gramps gave me such strong ick feelings. Was glad to see my gut reaction was right on that one. I didn't like that character but you're not supposed to. shudders
5.) Emhyr is a prick.
6.) I can't discuss emotional moments in this book without discussing
I felt like this book had more action in it than some of the others, but there's also the same puppet masters behind the scenes stuff going on. And of course the nobility think they're pulling the strings but surprise the magicians are actually pulling their own strings in the background's background.
This was a great book, and I know it only furthered my love for the series and universe altogether. I feel sad that it's over, but that means I can go back and start again and pick up things that happened earlier that I may have forgotten or didn't notice.
The Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison
This book is on many lists of "books about bipolar to read" and I figured I would see why that is. I feel I have said this a lot lately, but non-fiction is not my go-to reading material though I am glad I stepped out of my norms for this.
As someone who was diagnosed with Bipolar II but am uncertain if that diagnosis is accurate (maybe it's Bipolar I, it's hard to tell) and who has been dealing with a lot of brain bullying in recent weeks, this is a book that I think I needed to read. Hearing someone else describe their struggles with bipolar helps me see that others who were dealt similar cards in life are at least making it to the next round in the game of life and that I can to. The question of "what could I possibly have done to deserve this" still floats in my mind because, as I said earlier, my brain is a bully, but it's good to hear that I'm not alone. Like the author, I too wonder from time to time if I would remove this condition if I could, and while I do and have struggled to feel anything approaching normal, bipolar is part of who I am. Given 3 wishes from a genie, I would not wish this away.
If you know someone with bipolar and want to understand more about what may be going on internally, this book is worth the read. If you have bipolar, I would also recommend this book to you if only to hear of the struggles and victories of someone else.
I borrowed this from my library and will buy a physical copy to reference and annotate later.
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
"Do we risk making the world a blander, more homogenized place if we get rid of the genes for manic-depressive illness – an admittedly impossible complicated scientific problem? What are the risks to the risk takers, those restless individuals who join with others in society to propel the arts, business, politics, and science? Are manic-depressives, like spotted owls and clouded leopards, in danger of becoming an “endangered species”?" -Kay Jamison
This book is on many lists of "books about bipolar to read" and I figured I would see why that is. I feel I have said this a lot lately, but non-fiction is not my go-to reading material though I am glad I stepped out of my norms for this.
As someone who was diagnosed with Bipolar II but am uncertain if that diagnosis is accurate (maybe it's Bipolar I, it's hard to tell) and who has been dealing with a lot of brain bullying in recent weeks, this is a book that I think I needed to read. Hearing someone else describe their struggles with bipolar helps me see that others who were dealt similar cards in life are at least making it to the next round in the game of life and that I can to. The question of "what could I possibly have done to deserve this" still floats in my mind because, as I said earlier, my brain is a bully, but it's good to hear that I'm not alone. Like the author, I too wonder from time to time if I would remove this condition if I could, and while I do and have struggled to feel anything approaching normal, bipolar is part of who I am. Given 3 wishes from a genie, I would not wish this away.
If you know someone with bipolar and want to understand more about what may be going on internally, this book is worth the read. If you have bipolar, I would also recommend this book to you if only to hear of the struggles and victories of someone else.
I borrowed this from my library and will buy a physical copy to reference and annotate later.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 67%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 67%.
DNF @ 67% (end of chapter 35)
I really tried with this one. I heard from so many people that "it gets better just hang in there" and "it's not her best writing because she was so young when she wrote it" and all that. I kept hoping for whatever the "gets better" point to be to get here but it just never felt like it did.
Things I didn't like:
So much telling not so much showing (mostly around Celaena's fame and skills as "an assassin")
Character development
Repeated phrases throughout ("I'm an assassin!" being probably the hardest to ignore)
The champion tests felt either too "eh" or like there was a deus ex machina kind of solution where Celaena was perfectly unable to lose somehow.
There wasn't really enough tension going on even with the murders happening all over the place
Too much unbelievable stuff (the most famous assassin in the world but she's what 21, how often people snuck up on her, how everyone knew the name Celaena but no one knew what she looked like, etc.)
This I did like:
The fantasy setting felt interesting
Court politics (to a point, it gets very high school pretty easy)
A world where magic was banned and "killed off" (successfully or otherwise)
The concept of a "kingdom of assassins" struck me as neat and fairly original
Survival of the fittest style contest (could have been more but I liked the idea)
I really tried with this one. I heard from so many people that "it gets better just hang in there" and "it's not her best writing because she was so young when she wrote it" and all that. I kept hoping for whatever the "gets better" point to be to get here but it just never felt like it did.
Things I didn't like:
So much telling not so much showing (mostly around Celaena's fame and skills as "an assassin")
Character development
Repeated phrases throughout ("I'm an assassin!" being probably the hardest to ignore)
The champion tests felt either too "eh" or like there was a deus ex machina kind of solution where Celaena was perfectly unable to lose somehow.
There wasn't really enough tension going on even with the murders happening all over the place
Too much unbelievable stuff (the most famous assassin in the world but she's what 21, how often people snuck up on her, how everyone knew the name Celaena but no one knew what she looked like, etc.)
This I did like:
The fantasy setting felt interesting
Court politics (to a point, it gets very high school pretty easy)
A world where magic was banned and "killed off" (successfully or otherwise)
The concept of a "kingdom of assassins" struck me as neat and fairly original
Survival of the fittest style contest (could have been more but I liked the idea)
The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski
5.0
There was a lot that happened in this one. I'm really curious to see what all of this leads to.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
5.0
"Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures."
"It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills.”
“Some trees aren’t meant to sprout tender new branches, but to stand stoically on the forest floor, silently decaying.”
“No, the deal is never anyone’s fault. But you control the way you play.”
I went into this book blind and unsure what to expect. Not far into it, I wasn't sure I liked it, didn't think I actually would finish it. I had no expectation that I would be bawling at 1030pm while listening to this.
When Tova handed Cameron Erik's class ring and said his name, that's when my eyes exploded into tears
Could there have been more Marcellus time and maybe a bit less Cameron time? Sure. I would probably have enjoyed that more. As it stands though, the ratio of Cameron:Marcellus seems fitting.
I am at a loss for any other words. This book, while a slower burn at the start, was marvelous.
"It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills.”
“Some trees aren’t meant to sprout tender new branches, but to stand stoically on the forest floor, silently decaying.”
“No, the deal is never anyone’s fault. But you control the way you play.”
I went into this book blind and unsure what to expect. Not far into it, I wasn't sure I liked it, didn't think I actually would finish it. I had no expectation that I would be bawling at 1030pm while listening to this.
Could there have been more Marcellus time and maybe a bit less Cameron time? Sure. I would probably have enjoyed that more. As it stands though, the ratio of Cameron:Marcellus seems fitting.
I am at a loss for any other words. This book, while a slower burn at the start, was marvelous.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
5.0
I don't read non-fiction often (actually, I don't normally read non-fiction unless I'm forced to, and even then I will drag my feet doing so), but this book was wonderful. It was a beautiful mix between sarcastic remarks, heartbreaking stories, things that make me angry about life, and hopeful, true tales that help keep back the nihilistic gloom of overthinking, at least for now. If you follow John or Hank Green on social media or you have watched any of their content, you should enjoy this. It felt very much like John was sitting beside my desk telling me about things he likes and dislikes about life. Everything from diet Dr. Pepper to a hot dog place in Iceland to Hiroyuki Doi artwork.
This was my first John Green book, but it won't be my last.
This was my first John Green book, but it won't be my last.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
5.0
This was a nice read. I like that there wasn't the repetitive menu part like there was in Legends and Lattes which I probably only disliked because of the audio format. Also, in the overall fantasy sense, a bookshop makes a bit more aesthetic sense than a coffee shop so the overall setting felt more genre "appropriate", but that's splitting hairs honestly. It's nice to see Viv in action and not just in defense of her coffee shop. I also enjoy the idea of an orc warrior getting frustrated over physical therapy while also overdoing things repeatedly.
The characters felt as fleshed out in this story compared to Lattes, and I actually think I felt more connection/attachment to the characters in this story compared to the other. And who doesn't like a pug-like griffin cub?
The characters felt as fleshed out in this story compared to Lattes, and I actually think I felt more connection/attachment to the characters in this story compared to the other. And who doesn't like a pug-like griffin cub?
On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen
5.0
Here there be pirates (and other pirate-related clichés and turns of phrase)
A great read that involves a full cast of complex characters, an intriguing story arc that takes turns where you don’t entirely expect them, and a setting that forced its way onto my “if I could visit a fictional world” list. The characters are all well-rounded and the ones who play a more pivotal role in the book are certainly beyond memorable. The pacing is also steady throughout the book and many times I wanted to not set the book down and continue reading. I’m quite thankful that book two (From These Dark Depths) is already out so I can start reading that and continue the story.
Declan is at the very least a burnt cinnamon roll. It’s really hard not to feel sympathetic with him. He is a pirate, so I doubt he would enjoy being wrapped up in a blanket and swaddled until he feels better, but I think that’s what he might need honestly. Blanket burrito and some coffee or tea should fix him right up.
Aoife, while naïve and too trusting, grows on you as a reader. I wanted to be mad at her for trusting people too quickly, but I can’t blame her for that at all. Maybe some more experience in the real world will help her grow.
Tommy… I’m not sure what to say about him at this point.
Cait is greatly amusing for the little bit that we see of her. I want more of her in the next book(s) and I really hope we get that.
A great read that involves a full cast of complex characters, an intriguing story arc that takes turns where you don’t entirely expect them, and a setting that forced its way onto my “if I could visit a fictional world” list. The characters are all well-rounded and the ones who play a more pivotal role in the book are certainly beyond memorable. The pacing is also steady throughout the book and many times I wanted to not set the book down and continue reading. I’m quite thankful that book two (From These Dark Depths) is already out so I can start reading that and continue the story.
Declan is at the very least a burnt cinnamon roll. It’s really hard not to feel sympathetic with him. He is a pirate, so I doubt he would enjoy being wrapped up in a blanket and swaddled until he feels better, but I think that’s what he might need honestly. Blanket burrito and some coffee or tea should fix him right up.
Aoife, while naïve and too trusting, grows on you as a reader. I wanted to be mad at her for trusting people too quickly, but I can’t blame her for that at all. Maybe some more experience in the real world will help her grow.
Tommy… I’m not sure what to say about him at this point.
Cait is greatly amusing for the little bit that we see of her. I want more of her in the next book(s) and I really hope we get that.