etherealiz's reviews
137 reviews

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is how you write a compelling sequel. The Song Rising regives life to the series, and even if it is one of the shortest installment yet in the saga, it is so full of plot, sweet moments and just overall greatness. Especially great antagonists, and a very well thought-out plot overall, which is always something Shannon excels at. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I cannot wait to continue on with Paige's journey. She is such a strong, kindhearted main character without ever being boring or just forgetable which I do admire. This book cements the fact that this saga is well on its way to become a favorite of mine. 
The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

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adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Everything Samantha Shannon writes, I fell in love with, no question asked. The Mime Order didn't captivate me in the way the Bone Season did, but it is a great sequel to an almost-perfect rewritten novel. What's so exciting about the Bone Season's universe as a whole is that Shannon is full of ideas, and new ways to reinvent the "dystopian" genre, this book is as much a fantasy, as it is sci-fi or dystopian. I adore the magic system, the way it flows, Shannon's a master at creating world and at weaving them together. Special mention for Arcturus and Paige's relationship which I adore with all my heart, they are a pleasure to read about, especially because there is angst without toxicity (unless other certain fae-obssessed writers, anyway). On my way to pick up the third installment!
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Very poetic writing, it felt like an experience, and I think it is quite literally what the mystery / horror genre is all about. I liked the exploration of love, and how it evolved and unfolded between the two characters, it's nice to learn and read about an already forged couple, gives a different perspective to the story. Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed by the "horror" aspect of it all, it was interesting but I wished the book had given us more, in general. 
The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim

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adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A nice story with a good world building, I just felt it lacked substance in the sense that the characters were lovable but lacked depth imo. Just a disclaimer, this book is YA in a very classical way (not in the sense that the plot is something that has already been done over and over again), the characters are very teen-like and the story always keeps this light-hearted feeling that is usually a given in ya fantasy : the stakes are never, in truth, that high. But it was well-written (and well read), and makes for a great YA book that explores a different culture / mythology which is always a good start. 
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As always, a strong read. Loved it just as much as any others in the series, cannot seem to get why it is everyone's favorite out of the 5. But as always, a very fun read that feeds into the nostalgia without disappointing. 
The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

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dark reflective sad medium-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 tragic start of this review is that I'd had written a very lengthy and heartfelt review that got deleted, so this will be shorter. 
I absolutely adored this book, it ended the trilogy on a beautiful note and I'm deeply sadden by the wave of hate it got. I do think it appeals to a certain brand of reader, and it can feel a bit unsatisfactory to others (maybe those who came in looking for a happy ending for starters)
The author said on multiple occasions that this trilogy came from a place of rage, I felt it & I think this book kind of summarize that bitterness that comes after raging against something you cannot change. How characters ends isn't satisfactory, it sometimes doesn't seem fair. But weirdly enough, I like it. 
This trilogy followed me through three years of reading and I still feel like it was written specifically for the kind of reader I am. It will always holds a very special place in my heart, even thought I very rarely recommend it to others : as I said before, it focuses on relationships whilst holding a bit of plot as a way to move forward. A 6-person love story is and was a big task to tackle and I think Blake did a beautiful job at fleshing out characters and making them likeable,
losing one was always inevitable and by the beginning of the 3rd book, I knew whomever it was, it was gonna hurt like a bitch : and it did.

Anyways, great ending to a great trilogy. Can't wait to revisit it in a few years
The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

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challenging dark 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

4.25

Enjoyed this way more the second time I read it. It is a filler, but in a way that it could somehow stand on its own. I think this trilogy tends to go deep into theories, thoughts, very academic of sorts which can feel very pretentious, however that's my vibe, I like it. The thing with The Atlas Six is I like the vibe and tone so much that I don't really care much for what's happening, I'm still enjoying it. This sequel solidified some characters, gave meaning to new : Libby's character arc, Belen (
Can't believe she's dead, she actually added so much value to this book
). Something was definitely missing from the first book, I can't pinpoint why, but if you like Olivie's writing style, you'll like this book. I'm kind of terrified for The Atlas Complex now (give me Tristan and Libby, that's all I ask)
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

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adventurous sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book helped me like Thalia a bit more than I used to. It's a strong continuation to the series, I'd say it's the saddest one so far,
Zoe's death kills me everytime, although I do think Bianca's death comes a little too quickly to be as emotional but still
. Percy's a great main character, he is the strength of this series as a whole, it's kind of rare for mains characters to be as loveable as he is and I think my attachment to the series stems from him / that as well. Very entertaining and quick read as always. 
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

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adventurous funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A strong sequel, still far from my favorite of the series, everything feels so rushed, maybe because of how short it is. Still a really fun read in a fascinating world. Tyson is the best part of this book by far. 
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is how you do a children's book just right. I had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed the Lightning Thief when I was younger and I kind of feared the enjoyment would never be the same while reading it way past its target age range, but how good was it still!! The story's fun, and I love how monsters have adapted to the modern world, Percy's narration also remains really funny. I can happily that it has been and will always be a very fun, quick read when you need a bit of comfort&magic in your life. Instead of writing this I could have just amplified that Annabeth Chase will always have my heart and left it at that tbh.