Challenge Review: The Historian

My #dymocks52challenge book 27/38, for week 41.

Title: The Historian
Author: Elizabeth Kostova
Published: 14/6/05
First appearance in 101: 2010 (#63)
Years in 101: 2
2019 101 ranking: -
Rating: 4 stars

Why I chose this book:
The Historian has been sitting unloved on my shelf for several years, so this was a good excuse to finally pick it up. Another one whose size intimidated me. It hasn't made the 101 since 2013 but since I already had it on my shelf it made the cut for my challenge.

Thoughts:
It was a real tough slog to get through it but in the end I did enjoy it! The timeline jumped around a lot and there were stories within stories which did get a little tedious, but the extensive information on Dracula and the hunt for his tomb was absolutely fascinating. I'm pleased I finally got through it.

You can read my full review on Goodreads here.


Verdict: Was it worthy?

This one is too time consuming for fair-weather booklovers but rich in detail with a unique writing style. It's probably a bit too heavy for the 101, but it has a lot of merit. It's definitely the kind of book that will leave a lasting impression.

Review: Godsgrave

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well that was FKING AMAZING.

It's like ... Spartacus only Spartacus is a lady assassin who fights dirty with a sassy cat made of shadow as a sidekick.

✓ Blood
✓ Murder
✓ Scheming
✓ Sex
✓ Sass
✓ Mayhem
✓ Brutal fight scenes
✓ Dramatic deaths
✓ Monsters
✓ Secrets and Mystery
✓ Familiar faces
✓ New enemies
✓ ...

Okay look my list is getting too long but the point is this book is full of goodness.

Why no 5th star? Took me a bit to get back into Mia's story because we had to make new friends but she was in transit for a slow minute with none. Also because the gladiator lifestyle is not entirely unique. (But I really fkn loved it anyway.)

We've gone in a different direction from Nevernight but Mia is still kicking a whole lotta ass so just sit back and enjoy the ride, folks.

Also, I appreciate all Mia's new friends.

Sid > Ash I'M JUST SAYING.

Bring on Darkdawn

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Review: The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was just as much fun as the first one, with a fresh batch of monsters in an entirely new setting.

The first one focused a lot on the gods, where this one is MONSTERS GALORE at sea which was totally fine by me. Here there's focus on re-telling a very specific hero journey: anyone heard of Odysseus? The beauty of this series is that while it's re-telling things, it's also referencing the original stories. It's the polite thing to do, really! Also, lover of The Odyssey over here.

There's also the fun intervention from gods and the like, plus our trusty sidekicks with a new friend along for the ride this time.

I love the way this series takes the old gods and myths and brings them into a modern setting, with respect to the old legends. If you're familiar with the Greek myths, you'll get a kick out of trying to identify who the newcomers are before Percy figures it out.

Plus there's the same non-stop action and variety that made the first one so entertaining. The story moves at an exciting pace, making this an easy, fun read.

It's actually a pretty addictive series so I'm glad I bought the box set of this one! I'll be on to the third pretty soon, I imagine!

Highly recommend, but make sure you read the first book first, to avoid some pretty massive spoilers cropping up in this one.

My review for The Lightning Thief is HERE.

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Review: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic, fresh, modern take on the trials of the gods, featuring a sassy teen on his own quest.

What's not to love?

Percy's a troubled teen, so I was attached pretty early on. His dedication to his mum and his friends is admirable, but he's still not afraid to stand up to bullies.

Then he's thrown into this world of gods and monsters and honestly, he adjusts pretty well. So then we're just left with the action of his quest and the puzzle of what has caused all the drama.

Confession: I saw the movie first. I actually really enjoyed it. As is common, the book was much richer in detail, and while the movie spoiled a few twists for me there was a decent diversion that I normally would have seen coming but didn't because it wasn't in the movie.

I found I was able to picture the characters and monsters really well, but there was still plenty that didn't make the visual cut that I still really envisioned.

The action is non-stop and a lot of fun, and the rag-tag team of heroes works well together. Plus there's the added bonus of Greek myths reworked which makes things really fascinating.

I found it to be more detailed than I was expecting of a middle-grade book and I'm very much looking forward to continuing the series!

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Review: Salvation Lost

Salvation Lost by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent continuation of a richly woven, sci-fi adventure!

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first book of the series, Salvation.

Man, this series really is a lot of fun. I never expected to enjoy sci-fi this much, so I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read it!

Plot: The Invasion is here. Our ragtag band of heroes are trying to figure out how to save the world in the face of a threat that's got some pretty mad technology in their corner. The enemy has been stealthy so far but now that their plans are known, it's GAME ON. A thousand years in the future, Dellian and gang are also preparing for their war against the enemy. It's about to get hectic.

SO MUCH FUN.

Firstly, the variety of characters and storylines really makes this series for me. A lot of the science goes over my head (I'm always here for the explosions and stuff though, of course) but getting to know all these characters and the dilemmas they face makes it a really fun ride. There's the main crew trying to save the world: Yuri, Callum, Kandara, Alik, Jessica ... these guys are an entertaining bunch, and the way they interact is fantastic - like a family that fights ALL THE TIME but will still give their lives for one another. There's plenty of sass and swearing to keep things spicy, even in the face of the certain doom of humanity. Plus, hello, they are resisting, despite the overwhelming odds, and that fighting human spirit is something I definitely connect with.

Then you've got Yirella and Dellian and all the others in the future playing their own war games. Oh hey, more science stuff I only semi-understand. To be fair, though, I'm already struggling with today's technology. Again, though, it doesn't hugely matter because the resulting chaos is easy enough to understand and there is plenty of chaos. Plus the sneaky references to the original invasion are a lot of fun. It happened a thousand years ago, but you only read about it a chapter ago. Love that.

This book also follows Ollie, Tronde, and their 'Legion' - a bunch of criminals unexpectedly playing their own part in the invasion of their planet. These guys were fun to know. It's not all heroes and villains here. They add a real human element to the story, and it's interesting to see how their story connects with the others.

I think that's a really big draw of this book - you've got several separate storylines, but they all connect somehow. Everything is relative, even over space and time. That fighting spirit is present, too. Everyone has something they're fighting for.

There's also a neat variety to the action - it's not all shooting things in space. There is depth and cleverness to the action and it's not all about big, messy explosions.

Add to all this the mission of the invading species and there's plenty here to wrap your head around.

I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on - there's so much to it, and it never gets boring. Because of the setting and the overwhelming power of the enemy, it's pretty hard to predict anything so there are plenty of surprises along the way.

Another wild ride, equally as thrilling as the first book and definitely has me impatient for the conclusion! Sci-fi fans will love it, and if you're not big on sci-fi but have considered giving the genre a go, this is a great series to start with.

With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC

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Review: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you're not appreciating this book after a few pages in, I'd recommend putting it back on the shelf for a while before attempting to read it. It's heavy spiritual stuff, so you'll have to be in the right frame of mind to fully appreciate the content, and if you're not this will appear condescending and far-fetched. I imagine those who are of a strict religion may also struggle, as this book transforms long-standing religious ideas for its own benefit; your ego will want to protect the religious ideas you've held to so vigorously. That's kind of what the book is about.

The title is fairly self-explanatory: it's all about living in the present moment. It's written in question/answer format so a lot of your own questions when reading may be directly addressed. All bases are covered, but without an open mind it's going to be hard to grasp. I found it incredibly profound early on, when it asked, 'what problems do you have this very moment?' It makes you realise how much of your life is lived in your past or future. As Dumas wrote: we are always in a hurry to be happy. The truth is, very few of us stop and feel the very moment we're living. We're too busy planning for happiness or reflecting on the pain in our past. We need to start living in the Now.

Because of the depth of the explanations, it can seem a little tedious and repetitive at times, and you may need to work through it slowly. It's pointless reading it if you're disagreeing or simply not taking anything in. You need to be open enough to allow your mind to travel the path set out in this book. I've been doing a lot of meditation lately, and I found myself reading passages and looking forward to meditating on its ideas. There's so much for the reader to consider, and it needs to be digested slowly for full effect.

I'm always thrown by the God-speak, as I'm not at all religious myself, but even then I could see it was the ego at work. It is challenging to question my own beliefs but necessary, I think. You need to be willing to open your mind to these ideas or you'll be missing the point. If you find yourself frustrated with ideas in this book, you're practising the very behaviour you're being warned about. Quite intriguing how that works!

In short, this book is about ignoring the voice in your head, feeling your soul within your body, and living in the present moment. Appreciate that you are more than your physical body, and that we are all linked by the energy that flows through our beings. It's actually quite beautiful, if you stop to picture it.

I'd certainly recommend it for anyone looking to further their spiritual journey, but keep it on the shelf until your mind is open and you are ready to accept its ideas willingly. If you don't appreciate the content, it's a wasted read.

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Challenge Review: Crazy Rich Asians

My #dymocks52challenge book 26/38, for week 40.

Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Published: 11/6/13
First appearance in 101: 2019 (#38)
Years in 101: 1
2019 101 ranking: #38
Rating: 3 stars

Why I chose this book:
This one came to attention with the recent release of the film, and I'd say the film release is the reason this book made it into this year's 101. The previews suggested a light, funny read, so I picked it as a fun addition to the list.

Thoughts:
Disappointingly bland and stuffed full of way too many details about food, clothes and genealogy. Plus Nick is kind of an idiot. A lot of it went way over my head, and while I enjoyed the drama there was a lot of other superfluous detail to wade through, making the end result a bit of a chore.

You can read my full review on Goodreads here.


Verdict: Was it worthy?
I notice that a film release will always give a book extra credit, and I suspect the film is responsible for this 2013 release making it on the 2019 Top 101. The book itself was far too dense and dull to feature in its own right, but a film takes away the work of picturing people, places and food so you can identify with the story more. Once the film fades from minds, we're unlikely to see this book on the list again.

Review: The Girl in Red

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

UM??

Sequel please??!

I have so many questions. I get it, but I still have questions.

Plot: Red is travelling through the forest, trying to get to grandma's house. Unfortunately, there are wolves in the wood that intend her harm. Yes, even in a post-apocalyptic world where people are dying from a mysterious Cough with gruesome consequences, there are still wolfish men looking to prey on weak, defenceless girls.

'Red didn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she wasn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she was a woman alone in the woods.'

Well, well, well. Perhaps not so defenceless.

This was pretty familiar as far as post-apocalyptic stories go - the long, tedious journey through scrub (roads are dangerous) avoiding the military (they have dumb ideas that are just going to get everyone killed) and not trusting strangers (everyone for themselves). The scavenging for food and supplies, living off canned everything and sleeping rough with rare yet timely reprieves, the permeating fear of catching what everyone else has.

But here's what makes all the difference: Red. She's smart and savvy and has seen enough movies and read enough books to know all the things you should never do in a zombie apocalypse. So she has everything planned and will be doing everything she can to stay alive so that she can get to grandma's place, where it's safe.

The story flicks back and forth between 'Before' and 'After', and there's plenty of action in each storyline. There are a lot of questions that need answering but this book seems determined to ignore that in favour of the trials and tribulations of Red's quest.

Like many, I picked this book up after enjoying Alice, and while it wasn't quite as riveting, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Her gory descriptions are a particular joy, and the distinct lack of zombies was a blessing because they are my absolute least favourite kind of monster.

However the ending is a little rushed and leads to more questions than answers, so don't expect any long scientific explanations or satisfying conclusions.

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