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dragoninwinterfell's reviews
74 reviews
Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
I really tried with this book. I picked it up and restarted it so many times over months. I wanted it to cl8ck with me. But it didn't. The main couple had no rooting value whatsoever. I really wish the author had made me love them rather than starting out with mutual pining that wasn't earned.
Countess by Suzan Palumbo
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The summary for Countess sounds like it should be exactly my type of book. Suzan Palumbo's latest novel is a gender swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas set in space. The difficulty is that the book was far too short to do justice to the story being told. Everything feels rushed. Instead of following the character through the twists and turns, we get summaries of what's going on. What we got of the world building and characterization was good. I just wish it had been at least three times as long.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ida, in Trouble and in Love by Veronica Chambers
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ida, in Love and in Trouble by Veronica Chambers tells a fictionalized version of the life of Ida B. Wells, a ground breaking journalist, women's rights activist, and civil rights activist. Utilizing the historical figure's diary and historical record, Chambers breathes fresh life into Ida and the time period of progress and injustice she inhabited.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It checked off all my boxes as far as historical fiction goes. But it might not be for everyone. For starters, it's very slow and character driven rather than action packed. I would argue that there's not a firm plot. The reader follows Ida in her day to day concerns as she navigates the nearly impossible balance of being an educated black woman in the post-Civil War era with career and activism aspirations who also wants romance and marriage. While I like this quite a bit, the book wouldn't be for anyone interested in a faster paced work.
That said, I absolutely loved how the author balanced Ida's goals for her career and the progress she wanted to create for the Black community with her courtships and hobbies. She felt like a fully fleshed out person. I also found the complexities of how she is both admired and punished for her achievements fascinating. She's able to earn an income and make positive change through her positions as a teacher and a journalist, but a number of men don't want a career focused wife. She works and speaks out for the Black community and women, earning acknowledgements, yet many she's helping snub her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It checked off all my boxes as far as historical fiction goes. But it might not be for everyone. For starters, it's very slow and character driven rather than action packed. I would argue that there's not a firm plot. The reader follows Ida in her day to day concerns as she navigates the nearly impossible balance of being an educated black woman in the post-Civil War era with career and activism aspirations who also wants romance and marriage. While I like this quite a bit, the book wouldn't be for anyone interested in a faster paced work.
That said, I absolutely loved how the author balanced Ida's goals for her career and the progress she wanted to create for the Black community with her courtships and hobbies. She felt like a fully fleshed out person. I also found the complexities of how she is both admired and punished for her achievements fascinating. She's able to earn an income and make positive change through her positions as a teacher and a journalist, but a number of men don't want a career focused wife. She works and speaks out for the Black community and women, earning acknowledgements, yet many she's helping snub her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The intricately detailed world Robin McKinley created in The Blue Sword is one of the best I've read about. I just wished that the story and characters were aa well crafted. I think part of the difficulty I'm having is that this was clearly heavily influenced by conventional fantasy works of black and white morality with clear cut good and evil.
Harry Crewe is a young woman who was orphaned and doesn't fit in within her society. Other than Harry being a a woman, the story is a very simple chosen one plot. In some ways, it's simpler than the typical plot with that trope. It's hard to give even the barest details because not much happened, so nearly everything would be given away in a sentence. So, I'll say that Harry has only the barest personality and very little autonomy. She follows the plot she's been placed in without much thought. Something happens early on that's life changing where she simply accepts it and doesn't ask questions about why this was done to her. It was odd.
The villains were essentially non-existant. They're an unknown challenge that the heroine prepares for and that's it.
I did like the backstory and the world. It was very refreshing for a high fantasy story to have a heroine as the main figure of legend. The world building is was so engaging that I'll absolutely be checking out the prequel and other works set in this universe.
Harry Crewe is a young woman who was orphaned and doesn't fit in within her society. Other than Harry being a a woman, the story is a very simple chosen one plot. In some ways, it's simpler than the typical plot with that trope. It's hard to give even the barest details because not much happened, so nearly everything would be given away in a sentence. So, I'll say that Harry has only the barest personality and very little autonomy. She follows the plot she's been placed in without much thought. Something happens early on that's life changing where she simply accepts it and doesn't ask questions about why this was done to her. It was odd.
The villains were essentially non-existant. They're an unknown challenge that the heroine prepares for and that's it.
I did like the backstory and the world. It was very refreshing for a high fantasy story to have a heroine as the main figure of legend. The world building is was so engaging that I'll absolutely be checking out the prequel and other works set in this universe.
Godfrey's Crusade (The Griffin Legends, #1) by Mark Howard
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
With Godfrey's Crusade, Mark Hiward developed a very interesting and complex fantasy world. Unfortunately, the characters and story fell flat for me.
The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Greer Macallister presents a mystical interpretation of the life of American heiress Aimee Crocker in The Thirteenth Husband.
This fictionalized version of Aimee's story is told from the historical figure's perspective as she recounts her life to an unknown audience. Macallister gives her protagonist a witty, vivacious, and wry voice that gives such life to Aimee. It felt like I was being told a series of stories by a fascinating new friend who had a well-lived life, with a side of the supernatural. Aimee was an incredibly engaging character to follow.
The mean difficulty was that as complex and lovable as Aimee was, we barely got to know the characters who came in and out of her life. That makes sense given the narrative structure. This still ruined the enjoyment for me since the primary stakes were in what happened to the other characters because we know our protagonist got through well enough to tell her story.
For another issue, I do think that the title is a cheat. The author's not at the end gives a bit of historical context for it. But it's not enough to stop the title from being misleading since expectations are created that won't even be halfway filled.
Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This fictionalized version of Aimee's story is told from the historical figure's perspective as she recounts her life to an unknown audience. Macallister gives her protagonist a witty, vivacious, and wry voice that gives such life to Aimee. It felt like I was being told a series of stories by a fascinating new friend who had a well-lived life, with a side of the supernatural. Aimee was an incredibly engaging character to follow.
The mean difficulty was that as complex and lovable as Aimee was, we barely got to know the characters who came in and out of her life. That makes sense given the narrative structure. This still ruined the enjoyment for me since the primary stakes were in what happened to the other characters because we know our protagonist got through well enough to tell her story.
For another issue, I do think that the title is a cheat. The author's not at the end gives a bit of historical context for it. But it's not enough to stop the title from being misleading since expectations are created that won't even be halfway filled.
Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dark Harvest by Hazel Atkinson
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Dark Harvest by Hazel Atkinson is such an excellent concept. Re-imagining the stories of Sappho and women from Greek mythology and placing them in different time periods sounds fantastic. Some of the stories were very good, while others were tedious.
My favorites were Medea, Canace, and Helen. The complete re-imaginings of Medea and Canace were intricately detailed and engrossing. Helen's story is the only one set in the character's own time period, but Atkinson still managed to breathe fresh life into her character. I would have loved full length novels of each one of them. I also liked Phaedra, though that was too short.
The other stories were pretty boring. Penelope was a particular disappointment given it's lack of originality in the re-imagining (Penelope took the place of an actual historical figure) and the length just made it drag on without anything interesting happening. The other stories were pretty forgettable.
Sofia Engstrand's narration was excellent. Her rendition of each story was completely unique.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My favorites were Medea, Canace, and Helen. The complete re-imaginings of Medea and Canace were intricately detailed and engrossing. Helen's story is the only one set in the character's own time period, but Atkinson still managed to breathe fresh life into her character. I would have loved full length novels of each one of them. I also liked Phaedra, though that was too short.
The other stories were pretty boring. Penelope was a particular disappointment given it's lack of originality in the re-imagining (Penelope took the place of an actual historical figure) and the length just made it drag on without anything interesting happening. The other stories were pretty forgettable.
Sofia Engstrand's narration was excellent. Her rendition of each story was completely unique.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Medusa by Nataly Gruender
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Nataly Gruender's Medusa sits in an interesting space of covering dark topics like sexual assault and victim blaming while also having an almost cozy feel to the narrative, as strange as that sounds.
The story centers on Medusa, a mortal woman born to minor gods, who became collateral damage in a fued between Athena and Poseidon. While serving as a priestess in the temple of the goddess of wisdom, Medusa is raped by the sea god. Since Athena can't punish her uncle, Poseidon, without starting a war between the hods, Medusa is used as a scapegoat. While Athena's victim blaming of Medusa is given additional complexity and motivation, it is not excused. While this is good, there was one point where it became a little preachy. The point was rightly made and made and made multiple times one particular scene. That could have been brought back a little.
While the assault Medusa survives is treated with the appropriate amount of severity, she is also depicted developing friendships, engaging in a romance, healing her relationships with some of her sisters, and bonding with her new head of snakes. Particularly sweet were the scenes between Medusa and one of her nephews. But over it all, looms the prophecy of her doom due to the curse Athena forced on her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story centers on Medusa, a mortal woman born to minor gods, who became collateral damage in a fued between Athena and Poseidon. While serving as a priestess in the temple of the goddess of wisdom, Medusa is raped by the sea god. Since Athena can't punish her uncle, Poseidon, without starting a war between the hods, Medusa is used as a scapegoat. While Athena's victim blaming of Medusa is given additional complexity and motivation, it is not excused. While this is good, there was one point where it became a little preachy. The point was rightly made and made and made multiple times one particular scene. That could have been brought back a little.
While the assault Medusa survives is treated with the appropriate amount of severity, she is also depicted developing friendships, engaging in a romance, healing her relationships with some of her sisters, and bonding with her new head of snakes. Particularly sweet were the scenes between Medusa and one of her nephews. But over it all, looms the prophecy of her doom due to the curse Athena forced on her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Heir of Venus by Laura Shepperson
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I've loved Greek and Roman mythology since I was a kid, so this boom in retellings is giving me all the content I've always dreamed of and then some.
The Heir of Venus tells the stories of Lavinia, Creusa, and Dido -- mythical figures who play supporting roles in the story of Aeneas. So, already, these are very rare perspectives. I love the way the novel shifts back and forth between the three women detailing their backgrounds, struggles, aspirations, and personalities. Each point of view was compelling in its own right and played off of each other very well. My only difficulty as far as the characters go is that I wasn't particularly attached to any of them and I didn't feel as though I got a full character arc for any of the three.
TW: Suicide. There are multiple suicides in this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like those moments were narratively earned nor given the seriousness they deserved. More time should have been spent on building up the motivations and the fallout of those moments.
Overall, I gave this a three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Shepperson, and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Heir of Venus tells the stories of Lavinia, Creusa, and Dido -- mythical figures who play supporting roles in the story of Aeneas. So, already, these are very rare perspectives. I love the way the novel shifts back and forth between the three women detailing their backgrounds, struggles, aspirations, and personalities. Each point of view was compelling in its own right and played off of each other very well. My only difficulty as far as the characters go is that I wasn't particularly attached to any of them and I didn't feel as though I got a full character arc for any of the three.
TW: Suicide. There are multiple suicides in this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like those moments were narratively earned nor given the seriousness they deserved. More time should have been spent on building up the motivations and the fallout of those moments.
Overall, I gave this a three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Shepperson, and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hera by Jennifer Saint
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jennifer Saint's Hera is everything I've ever wanted in a Greek mythology retelling. The gods, including the titular protagonists, are depicted as relatably flawed and messy, but on a massive scale. This is one of the few retellings I have found that seemed to capture the complexity, grandeur, and dysfunction of the Olympian gods.
While many are tired of Greek and Roman mythology retellings, I would argue that this book was an incredibly fresh take on the trend as the novel is told from the perspective of Hera, the common villain in many of the myths. Saint brings Hera to life beautifully, honoring the classic works she was included in while also giving her added dimensions. Rather than white washing the character's actions, Saint gives additional motivations to Hera's choices. Rather than being the one-dimensional jealous wife and wicked stepmother, she is a woman forced into a role she never wanted only to be humiliated again and again. Striking out at her husband and brother only leads to her own failure. So she aims her attacks at easier and more innocent targets: Zeus' illegitimate children and the women he assaults or seduces. Seeing Hera depicted as a heroine in the war against the Titans, a victim of assault and oppression, a vengeful wronged wife who terrorizes women and children, a protector of women, a champion of heroes, etc. all at once was so refreshing.
In addition to Hera's excellent characterization, I also loved how the other female characters were handled. There's a tendency to depicted women as either helpless or all powerful with very little middle ground. Either depiction is reductive, in my opinion since both types leave out complexity and humanity. That's not the case here as even the side characters have layers to them. All of the female characters are unique with their own strengths and challenges. Their relationships with Hera are just as complex as they can be mentors, rivals, friends, enemies, and allies, some of them fluctuating between the roles depending on the circumstances of the moment.
My only complaint about the novel is that we didn't get very much of Hera's life before and during the war against the Titans. Seeing that would have given a firm picture of what Hera was forced to give up while bring forced into the role of wife. That wasn't enough to ruin the book for me though.
I'm rating this a solid five stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While many are tired of Greek and Roman mythology retellings, I would argue that this book was an incredibly fresh take on the trend as the novel is told from the perspective of Hera, the common villain in many of the myths. Saint brings Hera to life beautifully, honoring the classic works she was included in while also giving her added dimensions. Rather than white washing the character's actions, Saint gives additional motivations to Hera's choices. Rather than being the one-dimensional jealous wife and wicked stepmother, she is a woman forced into a role she never wanted only to be humiliated again and again. Striking out at her husband and brother only leads to her own failure. So she aims her attacks at easier and more innocent targets: Zeus' illegitimate children and the women he assaults or seduces. Seeing Hera depicted as a heroine in the war against the Titans, a victim of assault and oppression, a vengeful wronged wife who terrorizes women and children, a protector of women, a champion of heroes, etc. all at once was so refreshing.
In addition to Hera's excellent characterization, I also loved how the other female characters were handled. There's a tendency to depicted women as either helpless or all powerful with very little middle ground. Either depiction is reductive, in my opinion since both types leave out complexity and humanity. That's not the case here as even the side characters have layers to them. All of the female characters are unique with their own strengths and challenges. Their relationships with Hera are just as complex as they can be mentors, rivals, friends, enemies, and allies, some of them fluctuating between the roles depending on the circumstances of the moment.
My only complaint about the novel is that we didn't get very much of Hera's life before and during the war against the Titans. Seeing that would have given a firm picture of what Hera was forced to give up while bring forced into the role of wife. That wasn't enough to ruin the book for me though.
I'm rating this a solid five stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.