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megsbookishtwins's reviews
1178 reviews
Nightstrider: A Mesmerizing Epic Dark Fantasy by Sophia Slade
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
content warnings: blood, violence, torture, child death, gore, abuse, rape threat, sexual assault, misogyny
rep: queer characters
You know what? This had so much potential. so much. I adored the potential of the world - a waking world & a dreaming world. One world is inhabited by humans, the other by dreams and nightmares. Weavers also exist & they can move between these worlds and they are tasked with protecting the boundary that separates these worlds. Nightstrider features 4 POVs & if I am honest, I think the novel suffered because of it and Slade was not quite successful in fleshing out each characters or their relationships - they were rushed & lacked the depth that I expect in a fantasy novel. I did like each characters but I just felt like they could have been more, more nuanced, more complex, and more depth to them. The worldbuilding was okay, but it took way too long to really understand how the two worlds worked & merged. The plot was enjoyable, fast paced, but lacked the high stakes & tension that I was hoping for. The romance also lacked any real tension or angst that I enjoy. It isn't a bad fantasy novel in the slightest, just a bit meh. Also, something that I almost always hate in fantasy is the constant rape threat that hangs over our female characters & I feel like it was used to distinguish between the 'good' men and the 'bad' men which just felt... distasteful. maybe i'll continue with the series, maybe I won't.
content warnings: blood, violence, torture, child death, gore, abuse, rape threat, sexual assault, misogyny
rep: queer characters
You know what? This had so much potential. so much. I adored the potential of the world - a waking world & a dreaming world. One world is inhabited by humans, the other by dreams and nightmares. Weavers also exist & they can move between these worlds and they are tasked with protecting the boundary that separates these worlds. Nightstrider features 4 POVs & if I am honest, I think the novel suffered because of it and Slade was not quite successful in fleshing out each characters or their relationships - they were rushed & lacked the depth that I expect in a fantasy novel. I did like each characters but I just felt like they could have been more, more nuanced, more complex, and more depth to them. The worldbuilding was okay, but it took way too long to really understand how the two worlds worked & merged. The plot was enjoyable, fast paced, but lacked the high stakes & tension that I was hoping for. The romance also lacked any real tension or angst that I enjoy. It isn't a bad fantasy novel in the slightest, just a bit meh. Also, something that I almost always hate in fantasy is the constant rape threat that hangs over our female characters & I feel like it was used to distinguish between the 'good' men and the 'bad' men which just felt... distasteful. maybe i'll continue with the series, maybe I won't.
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
4.0
I remember reading this when I was a child, and I remember I loved it!
so I think i'm going to give it a re-read!
so I think i'm going to give it a re-read!
Which People's War?: National Identity and Citizenship in Wartime Britain 1939-1945 by Sonya O. Rose
4.0
Riders by Veronica Rossi
I read a preview from NetGalley and it's safe to say I am really disappointed.
The concept of the four horsemen being reincarnated sounded really good and original. However I don't think it was executed very well and that spark just wasn't there, not in what I've read anyway.
Also, I really was not a fan of the protagonist, Gideon, and I don't like his narrative. It just failed to draw me in or keep my attention.
Unfortunately, I probably won't be getting this when it's released.
The concept of the four horsemen being reincarnated sounded really good and original. However I don't think it was executed very well and that spark just wasn't there, not in what I've read anyway.
Also, I really was not a fan of the protagonist, Gideon, and I don't like his narrative. It just failed to draw me in or keep my attention.
Unfortunately, I probably won't be getting this when it's released.