ethantheent's reviews
34 reviews

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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

5.0

I don’t even know what words I could use to describe Secret History that could accurately describe what it’s like to read and experience the book. Truly a must read in every sense of the word, and going in blind made the experience even more tense and engaging.

I will say that until I actually had the book in hand I always assumed it was called The Secret History of Donna Tartt so it was rather a shock to learn Tartt was the author. 

The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Samantha Shannon has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors, because of the way she intricately builds her worlds and inhabits every corner making it feel so alive it becomes its own character, and The Mask Falling is no different. 

I’d like to give special attention to the way Shannon writes Paige’s experiences with the trauma and PTSD from the end of The Song Rising because it all feels so real and terrifying. The memories sneak up on us just as much as they do Paige and the way Shannon chooses to explore them… wow. I haven’t read anything like it. 

I can see why Shannon feels like this is where she hit her stride, there’s so much confidence now in her writing compared to the other Bone Seasons. Can’t wait to read the revised editions in May, and then begin the agonising wait for TBS5 

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Despite the shorter length, this is no less exciting, or tense than the other Bone Season entries. Shannon continues to surprise me with her writing and world building, despite already being obsessed with it. What an ending to the book!

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have never met a man that is more down bad for a woman than Percy Jackson is for Annabeth Chase. 

Percabeth is the greatest love story ever told!

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Although I prefer the setting of Oxford to the streets of London, this book managed to take me by surprise and really make me fall in love with the more clairvoyant side of the universe rather than the reph/ bone season side. A really fun read, I’m so in love with Shannon’s writing she makes the world so engaging, and although she hates writing action scenes I think the scrimmage was done superbly. What a twist at the end. Can’t wait to start The Song Rising after Chalice of the Gods. 

The Bone Season: Tenth Anniversary Edition by Samantha Shannon, Samantha Shannon

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It’s a bit of a struggle at the start, Shannon throws so many new words at you that it’s hard to keep track of what each one means (especially the different voyant classifications) even with the inclusion of a glossary. 

However, like with the Roots of Chaos series, Shannon’s world building and character work is so wonderful to read that it’s easy to get adjusted to this new world. I’m in love with Shannon’s style, and although it doesn’t beat the Roots of Chaos for me, I still had the best time reading this. 

Now I have to debate if I can wait for 2024 to read the revised sequels or if I should just dive in now 

The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

The Children of Hurin has always been my favourite of Tolkiens lost tales. An intricate deep dive into the inescapability (is that a word) of fate or doom as Tolkien likes to call it.

A surprisingly mature and heavy story, that’s more reminiscent of Game of Thrones than the The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings 

Spoiler

I was shocked that there was the whole incest situation with Túrin and Niënor

Absolutely loved getting to experience this story again, and it always astounds me just how wonderfully written the world of Middle-Earth is. I will never get tired of being in this world. 

I think i’m also going to get a Children of Hurin based tattoo at some point. I really want to include the quote 

túrin turambar turún ambartanen

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-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

Incredibly cool dragons, a very good world to be put into and the sexual tension is off the charts! Absolutely devoured this 

Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beren and Luthien was one of my favourite chapters of the Silmarillion, so I was very excited to get to learn more about the construction of the story and read the Lay of Leithian in it’s original prose form. It’s truly one of the best love stories ever told. 

HOWEVER nothing broke my heart more than the way Tolkien describes Edith’s passing in a letter to Christopher Tolkien:

But the story has gone crooked, and I am left, and I cannot plead before the inexorable Mandos.

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

More dragons.