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cryosphinx's reviews
173 reviews
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
4.5
What is Dinnaman putting in these books that make them so addictive?
I feel like this is where the series is starting to hit it's stride with being more character development than plot. A lot happens in this book, the trains are confusing but as Dinniman himself says, you just got to vibe with it. This is also the book where I learned that I don't need to know every detail of the rules, Dinnaman does a good job of re-explaining when it's relevant.
But Jeff Hays. Mr. Jeff Hays. Mr Hays. 100% the best part of this book is his narration. By Book 3, you're hooked and even while the trains may be the main hamper to this book.
I feel like this is where the series is starting to hit it's stride with being more character development than plot. A lot happens in this book, the trains are confusing but as Dinniman himself says, you just got to vibe with it. This is also the book where I learned that I don't need to know every detail of the rules, Dinnaman does a good job of re-explaining when it's relevant.
But Jeff Hays. Mr. Jeff Hays. Mr Hays. 100% the best part of this book is his narration. By Book 3, you're hooked and even while the trains may be the main hamper to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
System Collapse by Martha Wells
emotional
funny
slow-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
I'm 50/50 on this book. It was very slow at the beginning but really hits it's stride and becomes very action packed and edge of your seat but it takes a bit to get there. And because this follows Network Effect timewise, having Fugitive Telemetry between, I was so confused at the beginning and had to put it down an dread a summary of Network Effect. I feel like some of the Murderbot-ART interactions are the best of the series, and this is definitively one of the more 'Oh no, I'm feeling emotions' of the series, so more character development for our beloved Murderbot. But the main 'thing that happens to Murderbot's emotions' didn't really get dealt with by the end, I'm hopeful that's what the next book will solve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've had this on my TBR for awhile but decided to read it after it won the Hugo (for whatever that's worth nowadays...)
At first, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, I didn't know much about it other than it was space opera adjacent and the book premise from the cover. The main character, Kyr, was super frustrating and she was horrible to the point that I was NOT rooting for her. But after a bit you realize that's definitely what the intent was. Tesh wants you to be uncomfortable and see through the eyes of this person who has such strong beliefs. It twists the story on it's head about half way through and I was hooked.
The world building is good, it's emotional, and deals with a lot of big issues and is jammed packed. It's well executed, the redemption arc is one for the ages. I wish there had been a little more at the end to really bring the whole thing together. It kind of wraps up and ends quickily.
At first, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, I didn't know much about it other than it was space opera adjacent and the book premise from the cover. The main character, Kyr, was super frustrating and she was horrible to the point that I was NOT rooting for her. But after a bit you realize that's definitely what the intent was. Tesh wants you to be uncomfortable and see through the eyes of this person who has such strong beliefs. It twists the story on it's head about half way through and I was hooked.
The world building is good, it's emotional, and deals with a lot of big issues and is jammed packed. It's well executed, the redemption arc is one for the ages. I wish there had been a little more at the end to really bring the whole thing together. It kind of wraps up and ends quickily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
I read online somewhere that some people say this is the weakest, and maybe I get it. The bulk here has more world building, but it also gets darker and more grim. I also think some of the audiobook had has improvements over the previous one. For example, the text chats now have a lil' sound. The AI has gotten more sassy. It's overall going in the right direction to kepe me intrigued with additional characters, additional RPG elements, additional 'God damn it Donuts!'
Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Sometimes you need a trashy fantasy romance novel that you don't have to think a lot for. This does the trick. And sometimes you need a novel with 4 princes because someone wrote it. If it' snot obvious in other reviews, this is 100% Beauty and the Beast, painfully obvious. The writing isn't spectacular, but I also ate it up in 3 days. There's a lot of stuff that I think it's being predicted a bit too obviously but hey, I'm not here for an intellectual time, I'm here for a good time.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've caught snippets of my husband listening to the audiobook. Then after awhile, he was insisting on making me listen to it. Maybe an excuse for him to re-listen to it? I kept thinking no, I don't like LitRPGs, they're silly, I play games but why would I want to read them? But after seeing Daniel Green's review, I resigned myself and told my husband to put it on.
Well, one utterance of "God damn it Donut" and yeah, I'm a fan.
It's funny, serious, unserious, deep, comical, all these things. And Jeff Hayes definitely makes it. It's not a true GraphicAudio in that there's no music, sound effects, and multiple narratoes but Hayes does an amazing job at doing different voices.
Well, one utterance of "God damn it Donut" and yeah, I'm a fan.
It's funny, serious, unserious, deep, comical, all these things. And Jeff Hayes definitely makes it. It's not a true GraphicAudio in that there's no music, sound effects, and multiple narratoes but Hayes does an amazing job at doing different voices.
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One of those times where I like the sequel more. I think this is also showing me that I like duologies, as with triologies sometimes I need a short palette cleanser in between but I wanted to jump straight to Book 2. There's a lot more action, and I do love the rescue mission. My one big gripe is that it just ends abruptly I know there's other books in the series, but I wanted a bit more closure and time with Aren and Lara not in war time.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
I think most people were probably introduced to Jensen through these books, but I read A Fate Inked in Blood first. I still had a good idea of her writing style and that I liked it. The world building was so good I didn't even realize there wasn't even any magic system at play but the world was still rich. I really loved how much more pollical intrigue there was, and while the romance was there it wasn't a HEAVY romantasy I'd say, the politics of everything was definitely at the forefront. The end was sort of predictable in that I can't imagine it ending any other way. It was still heart breaking though. Lara and Aren are definitely highlights in their own right.
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I was somewhat let down by this. I think some of the magic of the first book got lost. The magic type writers and Iris and Roman's letters made the first novel so lovely and heartwarming, but it's like Ross had to try and force a way to keep the letters going in the second book.
There is luckily more world building in terms of the gods, and what they're doing and what their deal is, but it's still lacking somehow. The shift went from romantic fantasy to fantasy with subplot. I do still love Iris and Roman though and they were still themselves at the end of the day which helped keep my interest. And maybe because I don't read a lot of YA and I forgetbut the death of Dacre by Iris seemed like Ross had to pick someone to off him and pointed at Iris. It also happened too quickly.
There is luckily more world building in terms of the gods, and what they're doing and what their deal is, but it's still lacking somehow. The shift went from romantic fantasy to fantasy with subplot. I do still love Iris and Roman though and they were still themselves at the end of the day which helped keep my interest. And maybe because I don't read a lot of YA and I forget
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
I listened tot he audiobook , which really benefits and helps the book. But I only listened to it when on road trips so maybe my opinion of the overall book suffers from taking so long to finish it. I do love how diverse the whole cast is, and the ending was satisfying and every plot, twist, turn, hardship comes together. Mattias dying maybe should have hit me harder but I got it spoiled for me. I also said to my husband, who was listening with me, that somebody had to die, and it really couldn't be any of the others. I was more sad for Nina :( I do love the character arcs, and how their past shaped them, and how Bardugo includes the stories and how they've relevant to the tasks at hand. I did enjoy the series, but not sure if I loved it enough to read the other Grishaverse novels as it seems like the magic for me as the Crows themselves, and not the universe.