4.75 stars rounded UP to 5 stars! What a lovely, wonderful treat! A book this amazing is so rare! I loved it so very much! Check out my full review he4.75 stars rounded UP to 5 stars! What a lovely, wonderful treat! A book this amazing is so rare! I loved it so very much! Check out my full review here...more
TRIGGER WARNINGS: blood, gore, violence, war, genocide, casual mention of rape
*sobs in djinnistani* I NEED THE SEQUEL!!! I have a thousand (and one) questions that I need answered right now!
I absolutely loved this book. As in, I didn't think I'd find my favorite book of 2017 and a new all-time favorite so close to the end of the year but wow...
Let me start by saying that The City of Brass is not always an easy book to love, thematically speaking. I'd say that the book's wholehearted disregard of any sort of black-and-white thinking when it comes to right and wrong, to good and evil, place it solidly in the New Adult category over the YA category. This is a story about war. About one that has gone on so long that, though neither side remembers the beginning correctly, both sides believe they are in the right and are doing the noble thing. And Chakraborty never leans toward favoring one side above the other, choosing instead to allow readers to see how tangled the webs of conflict are.
Character wise, The City of Brass is also a complex tale, one which showcases humanity and all of its flaws over perfect heroes and heroines. This was perhaps one of the only books that I can ever say (so far) that I have seen the main players more as people with layered, complex lives than as characters playing out roles in a story. I can't say that I liked the characters in that awe-inspired, reverent way in which we tend to hold up heroes, but I felt I understood them. For instance, it would be easy to see Nahri and self-serving, but one must come to terms with the fact tat she is more self-preserving, a product of her rough upbringing--and when you recognize that, it becomes easier to respect her. She is perhaps not the hero readers desire, but she's the one we've gotten and who are we to shun a hero who has offered themselves. Similarly, it would be easy to write off Ali as pious and too black-and-white in his thinking--until one recognizes his youth and his good heart and his passion. The only one who I found truly difficult to get on board with was Dara. But I assume we'll learn all of his story in time.
I have so much more to say, but I'm going to leave it at that right now, because everything inside me is incoherently whirling around in a frenzy of OH-MY-GOD-I-FVCKING-LOVE-THIS-BOOK!!! I'll try to get a better review up in time, but for now just know that this book is so, so, soooo worth your time....more
try as i might, i can't think of one thing wrong with this book. i loved it! the story and the writing absolutely shine, as flawless and beautiful as try as i might, i can't think of one thing wrong with this book. i loved it! the story and the writing absolutely shine, as flawless and beautiful as xifeng desires to be. a magnificent debut proving that dao is a force to be reckoned with! 5/5 stars and i can't wait to see where the story goes next! TRIGGER WARNINGS APPLY FOR: child abuse, physical abuse, violence and gore...more
This review was originally posted onn The Bookkeepers' Secrets Buckle up, y’all, cause this is gonna be a long one!
Ah, conflicting emotions, how you tThis review was originally posted onn The Bookkeepers' Secrets Buckle up, y’all, cause this is gonna be a long one!
Ah, conflicting emotions, how you torture me! This book was so, so, soooooo good but also so, so, soooooo problematic….
Let’s start with the good. The good thing is that I loved Wintersong so much that it’s a new all-time fave of mine! Rich, dark, and seductively magical, Wintersong dazzles. Everything about the book pulls the reader in and immerses them in a darkly enchanting tale. Wintersong reads like a modern fairytale.
First off, Jae-Jones’s writing is absolutely luscious. She manages to write in a style that is beautiful and enchanting, yet succinct. In this way, she allows readers to experience the magic of her world without swallowing them in description and losing the storyline. And, my gosh, is this world immersive. Jae-Jones’s writing and world just completely surrounds you, flowing from the page to make you feel as if you’re right there with the characters!
Jae-Jones’s gorgeous writing works hand in hand with the world building to create a full experience for the reader. Wintersong takes place in Bavaria in about the 18th century. But this is not quite the Bavaria you might know. Jae-Jones’s Bavaria is ripe with magic and enchantment. Magical creatures mingle with humans, playing tricks and capriciously “granting” wishes. And beneath the human world lies the dark goblin underworld, where nothing is quite as it seems. I loved how Jae-Jones wove in whispers of folklore to create the feeling that this world was ancient. She slowly, succinctly sets up the history via Liesl’s superstitious grandmother and then weaves in new elements of the world through Liesl, who is experiencing magic for the first…er, well, actually the second time. Everything about the world leaps from the page, painting pictures before your eyes and wrapping you in its arms.
The story isn’t just immersive in its world alone but in its plot as well, which is absolutely enthralling. Wintersong almost hummed with the vibrations of the story, whirling in a slow, yet enchanting waltz. I lost myself in the viscous melody of Liesl’s story. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next, what new secret Liesl was going to discover. I found myself looking for clues even in the ordinary moments and frantically turning the pages to find out more!
So now that I’ve gushed enough, I’m gonna move on to the elements of Wintersong that I disliked. I’m gonna start with a relatively tiny issue that I’ve heard about from other readers/reviewers that I didn’t experience too much myself. So, as I mentioned, music plays an integral role in Wnitersong. Unfortunately, in weaving music into the story, Jae-Jones used a lot of complex musical terminology. I generally was able to follow along because I’ve studied music all of my life, but I’ve heard from others who aren’t musicians that it was very confusing because they couldn’t understand the jargon. So that’s just something to be aware of.
Okay, so let’s get to what I think is a more pressing problem which is: Liesl. I couldn’t relate to Liesl at all. She was so gosh dang selfish. Everything–everything–she did was purely out of self interest. Not only that, but she was also so judgmental and envious and self-pitying and, honestly, whiny. All the freaking time! She can’t go a chapter without somehow mentioning how every other woman is so beautiful, but (in her opinion) their beauty makes them shallow and how she’s so plain, but has depth that beautiful women don’t, so people should pity her because no one will ever be interested in her because she’s plain and on and on and on and on…That narrative got tiring real fast and left me feeling like, “Girl, the reason no one likes you isn’t because you’re plain, it’s because you’re bitter af.”
Which brings me to to the downright problematic elements of Wintersong. Liesl’s bad attitude plays straight into the first problematic element of Wintersong, which was the demonization of beautiful women. I’m not about girl hate. And I don’t think anyone else should be about it either. I get that the author wanted to hammer in that Liesl is plain and insecure, but she could’ve easily done so without tearing down other women.
But the “girl hate” isn’t where the problematic content ended. Oh no. That was only the beginning, my friends. Liesl goes on to have a troubling romance with The Goblin King. My issue with the romance lies in that Liesl enters it almost entirely out of her deep desire to be desired. Not because she’s falling in love. Because she is desperate to feel wanted and she feels The Goblin King can satisfy that desire. Now, I’m not a psychologist or a relationship counselor or anything, but that to me seems like a really unhealthy reason to enter into a relationship. In America, we have a saying that goes something like, “you gotta love yourself before you can love someone else.” I wish Liesl could have learned that lesson.
And if you thought the issues would stop there, you’d be wrong. The romance becomes even more problematic due to the fact that Liesl wants to have sex because she wants to “find herself” and in this narrative, her wish comes true–only after Liesl and The Goblin King have sex does Liesl “find” herself and her music and begin to love herself. Ummm??? I’m sorry, but what kind of message do you think that sends young women??? Because it seems to say to me something like, “your value and worth comes only from having sex with a man,” as well as “you need a man to help you discover your value.”
To top it all off, the anti-feminism doesn’t limit itself to females, but also extends itself into the realm of perpetuating masculinity stereotypes. After Liesl and The Goblin King have sex for the first time, The Goblin King cries and the next morning Liesl’s all “I felt shame at having seen him during this embarrassing moment of vulnerability and emotional nakedness.” She gives off the vibe that it’s shameful and embarrassing for men to cry or be vulnerable.
So, I know I’ve listed a lot of things that I found problematic, but I really did love Wintersong. If you’re willing to look past the…less positive…elements of the book, I think you’ll find a darkly magical and intriguing read. Bottom line for me, personally, is that I really loved it and I’m desperate to get my hands on the sequel–especially after that dreadfully heartrending end! I’m so happy to hear that the sequel is a direct sequel and not a companion and I honestly can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on it!...more
what can i say other than wow? i don't usually go for mystery/thriller/horror or historical fiction, so i'm astounded to say that i've fallen completewhat can i say other than wow? i don't usually go for mystery/thriller/horror or historical fiction, so i'm astounded to say that i've fallen completely in love with this series! i mean--why didn't y'all tell me this book was so good?!?!! if you're on the fence about this one, then take it from someone who put off reading it for waaaaaaaay too long: you need to pick this book up ASAP! it's got: -a mixed race (indian/white) female protagonist who's interested in a STEM field -wonderful feminism -a love interest who's absolutely to die for (no pun intended) -deliciously intelligent banter -a ghastly murder mystery involving the world's most famous serial killer himself, jack the ripper -twists and turns galore absolutely bloody brilliant! i can't wait to begin the sequel! 5/5 stars...more
i cannot even begin to express my love for this book. unique, eloquent, and astonishing, wolf by wolf wows in every element! i need the sequel, yesteri cannot even begin to express my love for this book. unique, eloquent, and astonishing, wolf by wolf wows in every element! i need the sequel, yesterday!...more
this book was gorgeous and just solidified ahdieh's standing in my mind as a master storyteller and writer. i did have to take off one star because ththis book was gorgeous and just solidified ahdieh's standing in my mind as a master storyteller and writer. i did have to take off one star because the beginning was a little slow, but once the middle hit things really sped up. but all in all, the writing was incredible, the story was great, and i just loved it all. it was bittersweet ending this series but i know ahdieh will go on to write something great yet again. [image]...more
I'M SO HEARTBROKEN AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETIME IN 2018 TO GET THE SEQUEL????!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!! NOTES: -This book broke my heart into a millioI'M SO HEARTBROKEN AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETIME IN 2018 TO GET THE SEQUEL????!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!! NOTES: -This book broke my heart into a million pieces in so many ways -Elias is my precious son!!! -Helene is my darling! -Laia gets waaaaaaay more credit than she deserves at the end -I jumped ship from Elaia and I'm now fully on board the Helias ship! (view spoiler)[-That being said, I'm pretty sure Helias is not going to sail and it absolutely breaks my heart(hide spoiler)] (view spoiler)[-I can't wait to see Helene get her revenge on Marcus and The Commandant--it's gonna be glorious(hide spoiler)] (view spoiler)[-#BringBackEliasFromBeingTheSoulCatcher (hide spoiler)]...more
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