ros_lanta's reviews
579 reviews
Prince and Bodyguard by Tavia Lark
3.75
I had a good time with this book. The main characters were instantly compelling and I felt the chemistry. There was some interesting worldbuilding although I would have liked more focus on this. I felt there were a lot of potentially interesting things more touched on than properly explored, for example the prince's relationship with his adoptive brothers or his feelings about the biological parents who gave him up.
Overall I enjoyed the book and read it in a single sitting. I probably will read the next book in the series when it comes out.
Overall I enjoyed the book and read it in a single sitting. I probably will read the next book in the series when it comes out.
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
3.5
Empire of Sand is a plot-focused fantasy romance with plenty of interesting worldbuilding. It's a very fast read, I started it in the afternoon and had it finished by early the following morning.
Overall it was a decent book but I didn't love it. I think the main problem is that I didn't really connect to the characters or get invested in the romance. I do know other people who love this book so I know this disconnection isn't true for every reader.
Content warning for
Overall it was a decent book but I didn't love it. I think the main problem is that I didn't really connect to the characters or get invested in the romance. I do know other people who love this book so I know this disconnection isn't true for every reader.
Content warning for
Spoiler
a rape scene in this book, albeit one in which the two people are both forced into it against their will.
The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons
4.25
I really enjoyed this. I definitely don't think it's as good as The Ruin of Kings, but it has a compelling plot and interesting and complex characters.
The format of the book mirrors book one, with dual main narrators and a third using footnotes, but they are three different characters. You do have to suspend disbelief with this gimmick, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also love the way each chapter begins with a totally different and usually very amusing one-liner about the events at the end of the previous book.
Most of the events of this book happen simultaneously with book one, so I'm very much looking forward to book three which I presume will serve as the sequel to both. I'm really hoping this series will turn out to be a favourite.
The format of the book mirrors book one, with dual main narrators and a third using footnotes, but they are three different characters. You do have to suspend disbelief with this gimmick, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also love the way each chapter begins with a totally different and usually very amusing one-liner about the events at the end of the previous book.
Most of the events of this book happen simultaneously with book one, so I'm very much looking forward to book three which I presume will serve as the sequel to both. I'm really hoping this series will turn out to be a favourite.
Charmed: A Thousand Deaths by Erica Schultz
3.25
This is the first Charmed comic I've read that isn't set after the finale, and unfortunately it was somewhat underwhelming. I enjoyed it, but only to the extent that I normally enjoy even the forgettable episodes of Charmed (which has been a favourite show since I was a teenager).
It says on the back cover that this is set within season 4 of the show, but the continuity is all over the place - for example, Paige has her red hair from season 5, and is working as a whitelighter with charges which she doesn't start to do until season 7.
Overall this is a moderately entertaining way to spend half an hour or so, but nobody is very likely to call it a favourite.
It says on the back cover that this is set within season 4 of the show, but the continuity is all over the place - for example, Paige has her red hair from season 5, and is working as a whitelighter with charges which she doesn't start to do until season 7.
Overall this is a moderately entertaining way to spend half an hour or so, but nobody is very likely to call it a favourite.
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
4.5
I'm still fairly new to reading Agatha Christie novels, but of the ones I have read I've found that I tend to like the Poirot novels best, and The ABC Murders is no exception. I really enjoyed this.
It's an example of the type of very logic-based mystery I prefer, and Christie excels at, where the clues are all there but you don't really see them until the final reveal. I didn't see the reveal coming but as soon as it happened it made total sense to me and was a very satisfying ending.
It's an example of the type of very logic-based mystery I prefer, and Christie excels at, where the clues are all there but you don't really see them until the final reveal. I didn't see the reveal coming but as soon as it happened it made total sense to me and was a very satisfying ending.
Beyond by Mercedes Lackey
4.0
I enjoyed Beyond. It was a fast paced, gripping story, albeit without the emotional impact of certain other books in the Valdemar series.
This is the first book in the Founding of Valdemar trilogy, and so tells events which are broadly already known from books set hundreds of years later (albeit it is not the earliest book in the chronology). It does feel somewhat different from later books, partly due to the absence of the Companions. The worldbuilding of the Empire seems to be to be in fairly broad strokes, befitting a place that you know from the very beginning the intention is to leave entirely.
I probably wouldn't recommend this as a place to begin with Valdemar. A new reader would have the advantage of not knowing what would happen, but there might not be enough holding their interest to convince them to read further in the series. There also probably isn't enough explanation of the magic system for someone unfamiliar with it.
For an existing reader though I think this a decent book, not earth-shattering but it pulled me nicely out of a near-slump and I'm happy with that.
This is the first book in the Founding of Valdemar trilogy, and so tells events which are broadly already known from books set hundreds of years later (albeit it is not the earliest book in the chronology). It does feel somewhat different from later books, partly due to the absence of the Companions. The worldbuilding of the Empire seems to be to be in fairly broad strokes, befitting a place that you know from the very beginning the intention is to leave entirely.
I probably wouldn't recommend this as a place to begin with Valdemar. A new reader would have the advantage of not knowing what would happen, but there might not be enough holding their interest to convince them to read further in the series. There also probably isn't enough explanation of the magic system for someone unfamiliar with it.
For an existing reader though I think this a decent book, not earth-shattering but it pulled me nicely out of a near-slump and I'm happy with that.
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
3.25
There was one point of view in this book that I really enjoyed and that's Jovis. I adored Mephi, and his growing bond with Jovis was a joy to read.
Unfortunately the several other perspectives just didn't interest me very much. There were some decent chapters here and there, but most of the time I was just waiting to get back to Jovis. It didn't help that the multiple POVs are all sprung on you near the start of the book, so I didn't have time to really care about one before leaving it for another.
I didn't dislike the book, I just overall found it underwhelming, especially when I know so many people who love it.
Unfortunately the several other perspectives just didn't interest me very much. There were some decent chapters here and there, but most of the time I was just waiting to get back to Jovis. It didn't help that the multiple POVs are all sprung on you near the start of the book, so I didn't have time to really care about one before leaving it for another.
I didn't dislike the book, I just overall found it underwhelming, especially when I know so many people who love it.