JK

I look in the mirror as an author but reflected there is myself as an editor. In that editor's hand is a mirror, and reflected there is the editor as an author. In that author's hand is a mirror...

What do it think?


I think I'd do this book no justice by trying to review it. Instead I'll just point anyone to Vollman's afterword if they are interested in the book, that man knows what he is talking about.

Knowing your life is a real bitch.

I'm not really sure what to think of this one. It started out with a lot of promise but it went nowhere. There was an incredible premise and so, so much to work with but instead we're given tedious background of the fictional science and every day interactions. Maybe I need to read it a second time, maybe I missed something.

Often great detail and an immerse world are a good thing, it'll draw you into the story and characters far more than a world with the barest glimpse of it's edges. There are times, though, when there can be too much of the world. I feel this book is a prime example of that. Mieville has gone to such great lengths driving home just how repulsive and harsh this city is, you are reminded over and over and over again that it is not a nice place. The problem is, you are reminded of this up until the very end of the book, the VERY end. I just feel like this really hindered the book, the detail of the city itself overshadows the actual story and characters. Instead of reading about what kind of dumps there are and the cranes that move around trash, I'd rather have read more about the nature of The Council or the value of the Garuda way of life. Something more philosophical rather than mundane would have been fabulous.


Also, there were a few happenings that just did not make sense in this. One, why did regular jailers have keys to unlock the moths in the first place? For such a dangerous creature, you wouldn't let simpletons carry around keys - ESPECIALLY into the cell when the damn things can control you. Second, why didn't the Weaver just make a giant web and pop in and out with it to catch the moths? You'd think at some point a giant, super intelligent spider would think to use a web to catch a moth. Let's regress to basic nature for one moment, please. These weren't the only two instances, but they are two that would have had a huge impact on the story. These things should have been explained rather than just left out to move the story.







Also, also, fuck the word pugnacious.

There is a tremendous difference between a bad book and a book that just isn't for you. This isn't a bad book. For a younger audience I think this would be very appealing.

Undecided right now.

Aye, Ishmael, aye.

Proust is certainly a master of language and he's got some very, very bright ideas.... But damn was this one boring as hell.

I'm not sure Proust is for me.

Meh.

I'll admit, the reason I wanted to read this was because I shaw the same last name of the author. Normally dystopian fantasy isn't really my cup of tea. Though now that I think about it, I haven't read much in the genre. So without further ado...


There was potential here for a good story, but there was just no spark of life in this thing. These characters have appeared numerous times throughout a vast number of books and that's not necessairly a bad thing, but in this case it was. There was nothing to set them apart from any other cookie cutter character. I think that's ultimately the biggest fault because really, this isn't a plot story, this is a character story. The titular character, Three, is your run of the mill loner who would normally live for only himself, but for nothing other than the sake of the plot he devotes himself so thoroughly to the mother and son. There is never a moment to justify this, never a scene to make you feel as though there is really a connection between them. Everything is so forced between Three and the mother and son. Especially the ending, it's eye roll worthy. The mother, Cass, and son, Wren, offer nothing to the story either. They are simply a means to... I don't know what. The story is about them, but because they are so poorly developed they don't even accomplish telling a story. Bad guys are all cliched cookies as well. I feel there is no reason to go into that again. (flat characters that is)

The worldbuilding was faiirly nonexistant as well. It's nothing complicated to get, but a bit more detail would have been very welcomed. Especially concerning these Weir creatures that everyone is so damned terrified by. They are just kind of there and that's it. Some kind of expose could have been given, to give the reader an insight as to what the characters are feeling when they encounter them. It's just all around lacking.


I have to admit too, that I skimmed a lot of pages in this one. So much of the book is devoted to walking or crouching in an alley or what have you. It becomes very repetitive and mind numbing to read about these characters walking around or running.



Ultimately, I just couldn't get into his. Flat as hell charcters, no worldbuilding, and repetitive writing just dosen't work.


I did get this ARC from Angry Robot for an honest review, I'm just sorry it couldn't be a posistive one this time.

Not sure about this quite yet.

I don't even know how to go about reviewing this book, well, I do, but I'm no wordsmith so I'll muck it all up. Here goes anyway!


I'm 26, or about to be, and I've never been in love and I don't believe I ever will be. Hazards of being a scoially inept hermit after all. I've never had such a connection with someone that I feel a terrible loss when not with them. I've never felt so absolutely safe in who I was because I was with someone. I've never felt a rage or jealousy over someone not being with me. I haven't whiled away the hours content with just being in the presence of that special person. And so much more. An infinite number of ways more have I never been affected by love.

Except with Hayes' In Love.

It's such a short tale and told in such a simple, honest way, but it conveys all the meaning, all the ups and downs of love that I feel as though maybe I do know what it means, what it feels, to be in love. The story is told so convincingly with such a minimalist voice that I can't help but feel this way. And who knows, I am probably so wrong on this, but I didn't feel that way after finising In Love.



I have to thank NYRB for providing me with a free ARC to read as I would never have bought this myself. Now, I do plan on buying a copy of this, it's something I can see myself going back to on more than one ocassion.

What a man Pushkin was.


What's most startling about Pushkin and this collection is how modern and relatable the stories are -both in theme and language- ... you wouldn't think in this day and age of silly technology that a guy from 19th century Russia would be so open to connection.

ARC from NetGalley.


This was another great addition to the series, but it was not without its weaknesses. I enjoyed the overall plot, but not the execution. Sam's job this time around was to eliminate The Brethren and from the get-go this seemed awesome. It really seemed like this would be a time to explore his character and the dangers of the job, but the rushed episodic nature of this story left me wanting more. I wanted to really see some kind of consequence for what happened, but each time the story just jumped to the next 'mission.' I feel like this would have worked better if this was an overarching plot for a few books, maybe not in a row but overall. Alas, that isn't happening. Too often anymore authors rush a story instead of letting it slowly grow.

I really wish a couple of these villains (heh, villains) could have stuck around longer because Holm really knows what he is doing when he creates them, but again, everyhing is so rushed you get the barest glimpse of them.

So yeah, I didn't like the pacing but I still enjoyed the heck out of Holm's imagination, the characters, and the overall style of the writing. I liked that events and charcters from previous books were present, that gives the overall series some cohesiveness.


I am happy with where the story left off, even if it seems too soon, I am definitely eager to read the next book in the series to see exactly where Sam will end up. I'll also add thst even though I've been given the chance to read this early, and for free, that I will still buy a copy when it is released. I enjoyed it that much.

Repetitious at times, but a good start to a series.