savage_book_review's reviews
265 reviews

I am a sucker for a Hades and Persephone retelling, so when I saw this one in all of its sprayed edge, bright pink glory it was basically a guaranteed impulse buy. And oh goodness was it totally worth it!

On the surface, this hits a lot of the standard devices for the Hades and Persephone retellings; Hades is grumpy and incredibly hot, but has a softer side that only comes out for her. Persephone has a bit of an attitude and is determined to claim her own agency away from her mother, and ends up with a divine best friend who is just as good a pal to Hades and ribs him mercilessly about his change in demeanour. Throw in Cerberus as the biggest good puppy dog that ever existed and you're golden. This in itself makes the book enjoyable as you know what you're getting and it allows you to just sink into the story and relax. But equally, this one just hits a little different. 

It's the first YA retelling I've read in a while, so although there is definitely sexual tension and the joy of their coming together *ahem*, it's not the main focus of the story, nor is it explicit. I really enjoyed the shift in focus on to their developing relationship from host and unwanted guest to friends and then to more, with particular scenes really making it feel like their eventual romance has a properly solid foundation (even if it does take places over a relatively short space of time). 

This book does a great job at weaving the traditional narrative with 21st century sensibilities. It has a lot to say about the stereotypical gender roles and the imbalance of power between the sexes, and while this theme is absolutely front and centre throughout, it's done in a way that doesn't feel preachy - it helps build Persephone into a really strong character and makes you want to cheer for her throughout. Likewise, Hades' insistence that he has to hide part of himself for fear of not being seen as a 'real man' by the other Gods is immensely powerful and made me feel so much frustration for him! The sharp contrast between the infantilisation of Kore by her parents and the support offered to her by Hades is brilliantly handled, with the added bonus that while he will stand by her side and fight with her, he allows her the room to fight her own battles too.

It's also got a great comedy edge to it. Some of the images and scenes are so incongruous with what you expect the King and Queen of the Underworld yo act like - the two of of them playing a drinking game at Zeus and Demeter's expense while sprawled on the floor in the base of their Palace is just so 'normal', and it totally works! The personification of the River Styx is a perfect sidekick, the attitude of Tempest is spot on (although I wish we could have had more of her), and the flirtatious insults bandied by both Hades and Persephone give the whole thing a real lift. Equally though, I loved the more serious tone of the ending, which I think is a masterstroke of a twist on the original tale. 

I think the only aspect of this book which I didn't 100% enjoy was the character of Hecate. Now, that may be because I've grown used to seeing her in the 'best friend' role in the 'Touch of Darkness' series by Scarlett St Clair, but hers was the only character which I didn't feel had a purpose. She's there as temptation to travel down a darker path, sure, but the interactions with her and Persephone just felt surplus to requirements as the didn't seem to end up going anywhere.

Would absolutely recommend this one!

The calm before the storm. Although objectively this is not the best book in the series, I think it's my favourite precisely because it's predominantly about the characters rather than the significantly progressing the plot of the series. And the audio version of confirms this. 

I would love to be able to devour this audio in a single sitting, as I think I'd enjoy it even more without the interruptions, picking it up mostly felt like I was sliding back into something relatively relaxing. However, I think this one will properly fly when it gets the graphic audio treatment. 

Of course, the massive draw of this book is the introduction of Rowan Whitethorn. Now, IMO he doesn't reach Bat Boy levels of sexiness until later on in the series, but he's by far the most interesting character in this whole series and this book gives him a great foundation. Elizabeth Evans does a great job bringing him to life (as she does with all of the characters), but he is the one character that I think does need a proper voice actor to do him justice. 

The biggest shift in my perception of these books that has come about due to listening to the audios is I've realised just how fleeting the characters' feelings seem to be about their relationship partners. When I read the physical books, because I read quickly it comes across fairly naturally, but where the audiobooks are slower it's really hammered home the immaturity here. Four books in, and Celaena is on man number four. Dorian is on girl two with more to come, Chaol is a bit behind but about to get going... and it's not like they're painted as teenage crushes or casual relationships either - the feelings always seem to be all-consuming, end game feelings. It's 100% just an observation, not a criticism, because they story and the characters work, but it's just something I can't necessarily relate to.

The other thing I love about this book is that I can picture the majority of scenes in my head with absolute clarity - certainly more than in any of the other books. I still see Abraxos as Toothless, but that just makes it cuter! I see Maeve as Miranda Richardson's Queen Mab from 'Merlin' (the Sam Neill version from the 90s), and the image of her surrounded by her cadre of warrior Fae is crystal clear. I think the gentler pace allows the scenes to build more completely and immerse the reader more fully, and then the slower speed of the audios and the wonderful narration boosts the effect even further.

The fictionalised story of Mary Queen of Scots, this book follows her literally from birth to death. It gives a fascinating insight into this much maligned monarch and those who surrounded her; friends, lovers and enemies alike, and gives you a sense of the person behind the portrait.

This book basically sums up why I enjoy historical fiction based on the lives of real people. The intricate details included in this novel show just how thorough the author's research was, and the story is better than many straight biographies at imparting information about the events of her reign and life. In addition though, the characters are brought to life and given tangible traits, personalities and emotions, making them more real than any dry textbook could ever hope to. Even those characters who play only minor roles are well fleshed out. Likewise, the reader lives through the events with the characters, making them far easier to digest and understand. The thoughts and conversations may be the author's own creations, but everything feels completely plausible.

In this case, I learned a lot more about John Knox than I ever knew or understood before (and that's despite David Tennant playing him in the recent Mary Queen of Scots film!). I've always had a rough grasp on the sides of the English reformation and the split between Catholics and Protestants, but for some reason the Scottish equivalent has always felt more complex. So to see the firebrand brought to life, to read the words of his sermons and to get a feel for his particular brand of faith was very helpful. I can't say I liked him as a character, but I guess that was the point!

The book does a fantastic job at romanticising the relationship between Mary and her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, which is traditionally understood to have been more of a forced union (in more ways than one). I have to admit, I did really enjoy this aspect of the story and, despite knowing what happens (to her at least), was hoping right to the end that they'd get to see eachother one last time, or at least exchange one last touchingly beautiful letter. I had no idea about his ending, and I'm definitely going to research the truth as I really hope there was some poetic licence taken in this version! Their relationship is beautifully built upon throughout the course of the book and it feels like a proper love story. It does certainly give the reader pause for thought as to what actually might have transpired between them and hope that she might have been allowed a little bit of happiness in her otherwise quite cruel life, but at the same time a small part of me does wonder whether it's right that a person generally considered to be a killer and a r*pist has been portrayed as a dashing, tragic, romantic hero. 

The biggest issue I have with this book is the pacing. While the story is continually moving forward, some parts fly by and others drag on and on and on. By about the mid way point, I was finding it hard to keep track of the ever expanding cast of characters and the nuances of the story, and only when we reached the events at Kirk O'Field could I finally confidently place myself in space and time for the rest of the novel. But then the long years spent in English captivity are dispensed with in the last quarter of the book, which seems ludicrous when you consider that she spent more time in captivity than she did in Scotland! I appreciate that captivity means limited things to describe, and the author has done a good job at keeping this section from descending into dullness, but the pacing and devices used to skip through time just don't quite chime with the rest of the book. 

This, combined with the sheer length, dampened my enthusiasm for the work as I progressed. I wanted to keep reading, but I wasn't drawn to pick the book back up and found it hard to muster any energy to keep plodding through.In this case , as much as I did like the book I just can't see myself rereading it.

Funnily enough, while I was reading this one I found a copy of the same author's book on Elizabeth I, so I'm quite interested to see whether she actually ties her two works together with shared scenes. Definitely want to read all of her other works too, but clearly she doesn't know how to write a short book! They're all huge!

Where I read the series in the 'purist' order last time, I've chosen to listen to the audiobooks in the 'romantic' order to see what affect that has on the emotional impact of Assassin's Blade. Indeed, this is the order endorsed by SJM herself! 

First and foremost, this is the best of the audios so far. I think the fact that the book is comprised of a series of novellas makes it that much more listenable as, while there are important plot points throughout, each individual story contains reminders of key moments. You're therefore less likely to miss things, but equally the reminders don't disrupt the flow of the current tale. As previously, I do think this is partially dependent on the speed at which you listen, but at the same time because we're looking at short stories there's also less opportunity for a lull in the action, which keeps you focused and the story moving.

There are also moments in this one that 'hit' better with the audiobook, particularly in the last novella. The narrator has a great grasp of exactly where pauses are required for dramatic effect, where the voice needs to be louder or quieter and so on. That being said, it did feel like she was perhaps starting to run out of different voices by the end of the book - just a few too many characters are sounding similar to other works of hers. 

This time around, I was able to pick up on  few nice little Easter Eggs within the stories that I didn't see before. For that reason alone, I can understand why this perhaps shouldn't be read first (even though the events occur before Throne of Glass). Likewise, I think for a first time reader, the emotional gut punch of this book would be better felt reading it after 'Crown of Midnight'. However, although it did forge a deeper connection to Sam for me, for my own personal enjoyment of the series I think I'm better off putting it up front. But then I'm not sure I'd have picked up on the Easter Eggs if I had listened to it first! It's a tough one to call!

Late to the party again, I know... but I got there eventually! And I can TOTALLY understand the hype! 

There are elements in here from all of your favourite fantasy/dystopian future series - Divergent, Red Queen, The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, Crescent City, Throne of Glass etc etc etc, so it's like slipping into something comfortable and familiar. But at the same time, it's completely its own thing, standing on its own merits and taking you on a fantastic trip into the writer's own little corner of fantasy land.

I have to admit I wasn't 100% sure I was going to enjoy it (that, plus the fact I wanted to wait until it came out in paperback is the reason it took me a while to read it), as I was uncertain about the dragon element in particular. They lead me more towards high fantasy, which I don't enjoy quite as much. However, I am very pleased to have my worries proven as unfounded; the dragons are amazing! I like the fact that they're characters in their own right and, of course, the way the relationships grow between dragon and rider is fantastically done. 

Our main character, Violet, does fit within the usual mould of this sort of series; your unlikely hero who must go through tough times to get physically and mentally stronger whilst being exposed to both expected and unforeseen dangers. However, I do like the fact that the author has given Violet a physical reason for her weakness, as I understand it based somewhat on her own experiences; she's not just a girl that's fallen on hard times and had to learn to survive in ways which just so happen to give her the skills she needs. And more importantly, her perceived weakness isn't just forgotten or fixed - there are gentle reminders of it throughout, she and those around her find ways to adapt things that don't quite work, and in a couple of places it turns into an asset. She does perhaps come across as a little bit immature for her 20 years, but generally she's a likeable character that you're happy to accompany through the story.

As for Xaden and Dain, they are both immediately recognisable fantasy men; you'll start out rooting for the good guy, but then the shadow daddy appears with his brooding and bad boy attitude and you know exactly where we're headed. I can't say that I'm as enthralled by Xaden as I am with the Bat Boys (no wings of his own for one thing!), but I am only one book into this series so there's hope for me yet! 

I am totally sold on the series though, and will absolutely be getting the graphic audios of this from Audible! Now I just need my library to get its systems back online so I can order Iron Flame...

As with my 'Throne of Glass' listen, I do think I got more out of the physical book (which I have reviewed previously) - my reading pace means I can work my way through the plot quickly and keep things moving, but listening at a predetermined speed means this feels a lot slower. This one is also a LOT of worldbuilding and set up for the main story arc, and this early on there are a lot of unanswered questions, which also drags the narrative down.

I'll say it now; I don't really get all the shade people throw at Chaol. No, he isn't my favourite character, but I get the sense that he genuinely just wants to do the right thing for his country, himself and his friends. He may not always achieve the desired result, but it's not him being malicious, it's just how he's wired. The audiobook for me only reinforces this view. 

I appreciate that the 'reveal' in this doesn't come as a surprise to me as this was a reread, but if it was I think I'd have had a bigger reaction to it by reading the physical book. The narration is as good as ever, but there's just something about this section that falls a bit flat for me - it doesn't give me that heightened heartbeat or that build up and crash of a wave that should come from a big moment. 

In accordance with SJM's instructions, Assassin's Blade is up next.

The myth of Medusa is beautifully retold in this book by Natalie Haynes, turning the focus from the 'hero' Perseus to the woman with the deadly gaze. Abandoned by her divine parents and victimised over and over again through no fault of her own, this book poses the question of just who really is the monster in this tale?

The book is written from the point of view of several different characters (much like 'A Thousand Ships'), utilising both third and first person perspectives. And yet the book still flows really well and keeps you immersed. I particularly liked the chapters that 'break the fourth wall' and address the reader directly - you can definitely sense the author's own attitude and comedic prowess coming through in those pages. 

Equally though, because of the constant shifting in perspectives it doesn't always feel like you're getting the depth you want; it is very much skimming the surface. The chapters are also quite short, so it is a lot of bouncing around - the story is linear, but it's hard to tell how much time is passing between chapters, sometimes due to the author's own phrasing. For example, we know that Perseus has two months to retrieve the head of a Gorgon and return home to save his mother from an unwanted marriage. But at one point, the author includes the line (paraphrasing) 'she could have been married and had three kids by now!' And yet he manages to return home with a day to spare? I know that time is immaterial to Gods and this is illustrated throughout, but there's just something about the way it's written that muddies the waters a bit for me.

I've been listening to Natalie Haynes a lot recently - both her audio version of 'A Thousand Ships' and her Radio 4 show 'Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics' on Spotify, so I feel like I'm getting a good grasp of the way she expresses herself. As a result, it was very easy to 'hear' her reading the words in my head and this gave the book an extra lift.

While I knew the story of Medusa, I didn't know the wider story of Perseus and how he came to pursue her nearly as well, so this was something of a reintroduction to me. Overall, while this book is about Medusa, the author very cleverly balances the other strands of the tale, both human and divine. If you aren't familiar with the story, there are a couple of moments earlier on which do throw the reader and make you wonder how a mortal queen with vanity issues links into the story, but everything weaves together seamlessly and all is revealed as you progress. However, this does also raise a criticism - there's just not quite enough Medusa for me! 

This books also highlights some of the 'problems' with Greek myths generally. How many times must a mortal woman be punished for being the victim of a God forcing himself upon her? I love the stories of Ancient Greece, always have, but I don't think it's ever come across to me so starkly that the men (human and Gods) aren't always quite as heroic or divine as they might seem, and how vindictive the Goddesses can be, even when it should be obvious to all that they're taking their anger out on the wrong person. This is one of the reasons I love these feminist retellings though; some of the women involved absolutely deserve to be seen in a different light! 

Clever, different and a good read.

I only knew Cleopatra Selene existed because of one fictional book I read years ago by Michelle Moran, which shares this book's title. The daughter of Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony, because of a distinct lack of source material so often she, her twin brother Alexander Helios and their younger brother Ptolemy are erased or ignored from the narrative, so it was great to come across this book on KU which sorts through the fragments we know to try and provide a biography of the woman who went from Egyptian princess to Roman prisoner, before becoming a queen in her own right.

The majority of the book talks around the subject of Cleopatra Selene's life by describing the wider world, family ties and so on rather than focusing directly on the subject. However, where this would usually really bug me, the author does such a good job of setting expectations at the outset that I felt like I was reading a cohesive narrative throughout. Little may be known about her directly, but I feel like I got to know her better through the world she lived in via this work. 

It's not a particularly heavy work either, which really helps. Yes, there are moments where perhaps it feels like we've strayed a bit too far from the story, and moments where I found it difficult to follow and my eyes glazed over a bit, but generally speaking it's clear, concise and an engaging read. 

It doesn't spend too long dwelling on the ifs, buts and maybes, which also helps the flow. There is some exploration of different possibilities for some major moments i.e. what happened to Alexander and Ptolemy and the date of her own passing, but again these are dealt with in a very straightforward style that doesn't tangle you up in different theories. The book certainly doesn't claim to be the definitive authority, but it is written  in such a way that you feel like you've gotten reliable, well thought out answers that still leave room for alternative arguments.

I think the biggest disappointment for me is that the substantive content ended 65% of the way through the book. The rest was footnotes, images and so on. Now, I appreciate that scholarly works requires these things, but for such a short book that does seem rather excessive. I think I'd have been more annoyed if I'd bought a copy because that's essentially a third of the book that most people will skim at best. But equally, again, this does illustrate just how tight the narrative is.

I get the feeling I'll be revisiting Michelle Moran's fictional version of this story again before roo long, as well as some of the other novels mentioned in here too!

Formerly published as 'The King's Grave', this book explores the events that led to the discovery of the grave of Richard III in a social services car park back in 2012 alongside the historical narrative of his life, reign and subsequent demonisation by the Tudors, Shakespeare and others. 

This really is a book of two halves for me. The chapters alternate between the two strands, and each have their own merits. The story of Langley's reasons for initiating the project are far from what you would expect. Her reporting of the process from inception to discovery is candid, concise and has a good balance between the objective facts of what happened and her subjective emotional attachment to the story. The detail is there, but it's not so heavily laden with archaeological technobabble or the minutiae of every layer of earth and discovery to make it a slog to read thorough. 

To start with, the historical side has a very similar tone and provides a great insight into the life of this fifteenth century King. However, this aspect does start to get a little bogged down in trying to refute the Shakespearian caricature and on a few occasions it was easy to lose the thread of the point the author was making. The overall picture is very well told, but the writing style just doesn't have quite the same level of engagement for me. I will say that there are also a good number of points and phrases that are repeated, which started to grate on my nerves. 

This version of the book was republished to tie in with the recent film made about the discovery. As a result, I am a little disappointed that there wasn't any update made to this edition, reflecting back on the time that has passed and dealing with the reinterment of Richard's remains. At the time the book was initially published, there was still a Court battle going on over the matter and, while it was clearly resolved, I would have liked to have seen the authors' thoughts on the results of the case and their involvement in his reburial. Feels like they missed a trick!

Overall, I think I got more out of the TV documentary about the dig than I did the book, and I already have a fairly good knowledge of the Wars of the Roses and the reigns of Edward IV, Henry VI and Richard III, so I didn't necessarily need the history lesson either. If you're just coming to this period of history, this book is probably a good starting point though.

Since I've listened to the ACOTAR graphic audios three times since January (no, I haven't cheated and counted them as rereads...they're just my comfort books now), I figured it would probably be a good idea to switch it up and listen to the TOG audios. No graphic audios of these yet (although they are coming), so it's just the standard audiobooks read by the voice of the Maasverse, Elizabeth Evans.

I really do like the story of Throne of Glass; yes, it is relatively predictable and doesn't quite give you the full depth of the 'Life or death competiton' trope, but it's an easily digestible narrative with interesting characters and clear scope for more, which is perfectly acceptable for the opening salvo in a series. I just think it's unfortunate that  this was initially pitched as a YA series - it works, but it just feels like something is missing... it needs the extra grit, darkness and detail to bring out its full potential. 

As always, Elizabeth Evans' narration is very good - her range of voices for each character is fab; she is almost a one woman full cast! Although there are a few voices she uses that are just a bit too similar to those used in the Crescent City audios, so there were moments where I had to remind myself which Fae world I was inhabiting!

The main issue I have with this audio is pacing. I know a lot of people listen to their audios at quicker-than-normal speeds, but I just can't do it. I might be a speed reader, but I'm not a speed-listener! The upside is that I get to be fully immersed in the world. The downside is that it makes even the most pacy books feel a bit drawn out. In this case, I found the story dragged on just a leetle bit too long for my liking. I think this book suits my reading pace better, and I certainly got more out of the visual. 

But I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the series in this format. And then again in Graphic Audio format when they get her! SJM may as well have direct access to my bank account at this point...