Kireth

A stirring collection of short stories. Thanks to the Amsterdam Academy Book Club for recommending this one. So it turns out The Moth is actually a verbal storytelling institute, started in America but travels globally. Because we were reading this book, the AMS ABC went as a group to the Mezrab in Amsterdam which was one of the best experiences of the city for me. Opened me up to a whole new group of people and socialising that I didn't know existed beforehand.

Back to All These Wonders, I enjoyed pretty much every single story. There's a lot to cover but I'll briefly say this: the human condition is vast but relatable, and with the right framing anyone can empathise and understand your story.

Favourite stories TBC

Pleasantly surprised by this one. A lot of online chatter placed the Frugal Wizard at the bottom of Sanderson's four (soon to be five) Secret Projects. Perhaps these low expectations aided me, as I found myself on the disappointed end of Tress after all the online praise. In Frugal Wizard I found a character with a somewhat relatable voice, a world with a fun history to unpack, and most importantly themes around the cumulative effect of an individual's wins or losses in life. This last part directly feeds into a lot of the self-development and psychological content I enjoy reading on the non-fiction side of things.

Coming back to the world and story, this is Jason Bourne meets Medieval England but with some futuristic high tech gear. The unravelling of our lead character's past at times became a bit farcical, but overall placed him in a good position to build meaningful relationships in his present situation with the boastful skop Sefawynn and thegn Ealstan. The artwork was fun, the chapter headings and blue text within chapters were genuinely cool, and the interludes regarding the actual handbook were entertaining whilst accomplishing smart worldbuilding.

Perhaps I really enjoyed this because it was so separate to the Cosmere, and felt like Sanderson just having fun as a writer.

A whimsical adventure that surprisingly carries a lot of character heart. I finally dive into the Secret Projects from Brandon Sanderson over 2 years since their announcement, and over a year since they were released. A few things stand out to me from this first project: this is a much lighter Sanderson novel than I am accustomed to. Compared to Mistborn and especially the Stormlight Archive, I feel that this world was very much designed for a one-off novel and story.

This doesn't discredit the worldbuilding at all! Lumar is a wonderful location, with a truly otherwordly feel due to the oceans of spores dropping from twelve moons. Sanderson's cited inspiration of a proactive female twist upon The Princess Bride can be felt, and TotES has all the trappings of a classic fantasy adventure novel. There's a prince, sorceress, talking rats and even a dragon. Alongside Sanderson's trademark magic that is treated like a science, in the form of Sprouters and spores.

The narration was hilarious, as Hoid goes from cameo to full-blown storyteller in this story. This means there's fun references to the rest of the Cosmere. Some of the magic of Lumar is lost by this interconnectivity, and the modern technological references sprinkled throughout. It also however means there's an element of meta-fiction, which surprisingly adds to the emotional depth of the novel. Whilst Hoid is trapped in a comical state during the novel, Tress undergoes deep character growth and I found myself really going through the journey with her in a surprisingly emotional manner. This is really her novel (with the Dougs), but Hoid drops gems in his narration, some of which are in the quotes below.

There's also an unexpected link to Dawnshard, in that this mostly becomes a novel set on the seas. The story felt light and plot points seemed to whizz by, but this was also a result of shorter chapters and Parts 1-4 being much shorter than Parts 5 and 6. I will say my interest grew greatly after the first act, and the ending was a typical Sanderlanche with some "smack your face" reveals that had me smiling. I loved the simple Chapter titles, and the artwork was fantastic with the cover and endpapers in particular being stunning. Yet I can't help but feel that this was a fun interlude for Sanderson, not the meat of his more developed stories, and it's not just due to the pagecount. With how he was able to write these novels in secret, I am expecting similar depths from the coming 3 novels (plus 1 that was completed after the others, and is yet to be released).

Sanderson said he wrote this for his wife, and I feel now that Hoid is the closest character to the author himself - a worldly and well-traveled thinker, humorous but deeply empathetic, and with a perchant for telling captivating stories. It also made me think of Thom the gleeman from the Wheel of Time series. I look forward to seeing where the next Secret Projects take me, and the stunning visuals they provide.

Far future of the Cosmere and we get some interesting clues as to what is happening on the other "main" worlds. Dusk is a great protagonist, it is nice to have a more quiet one compared to the talkative others Sanderson is accustomed to giving us. There's a lot in here despite the page count, maintenance of cultures and traditions, passing down skills and preparing for a technological future. Interesting aviary characters too...

Honestly a let down. Perhaps it was the art style but this reboot of the Teen Titans seemed to take what made the team - a fun, young group coming together from different backgrounds - and rush this story to have all their backstories interconnected and become the reason they instantly meet up.

The strange parental focus and a rush of scene to scene with no consequence or context didn't work for me.

WHY: Continuing my Clone Wars TV show full chronological experience and coming off the back of [b:Dark Disciple 23277298 Dark Disciple (Star Wars) Christie Golden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419965425l/23277298.SY75.jpg 44980862], Son of Dathomir is the final stop before the much-hyped Siege of Mandalore ending arc.STORY: Whilst it initially seemed intriguing to follow Lord Maul's perspective at a critical gap in his timeline (between his S5 capture by Palpatine and S7 return to power with the Shadow Collective), the graphic novel instead contained leaps from action set-piece to action set-piece. With Maul's Mandalorian forces quickly freeing him and Dooku giving chase, the plot unfolded to become a tactical game between the incorporeal Mother Talzin and Darth Sidious fighting for revenge and dominance of Separatist forces. Grevious, crime bosses and Jedi masters Obi-Wan, Tuplee, Windu and Secura all make brief appearances as well. ART & WRITING: The art was great, with tight and expansive action panels covering space battles and saber duels. Some faces were a bit rough, but for the most part there was enough detail on the page. The writing really did feel like a compressed 4-episode TV show arc, with stripped dialogue and a focus on action. The typical comic book stylistic features of speech bubbles and sound effects worked well here.WHO: Again, this companion piece is really for the die-hard Clone Wars fans. Although it is more accessible than any of the other accompanying material simply due to its format, it doesn't make much sense if you haven't watched the show all the way through and fails to deliver any new insight on the character of Maul or the Clone Wars conflict.

A short but effective story set in a new Cosmere world. Silence Montaine is different to other Sanderson protagonists purely based on demographics (older woman taking care of young ones), but she shares the witty and capable traits that are known in his writing. This is definitely a physically darker setting than the worlds we know, but doesn't become full-blown horror - just high personal stakes.

I love how Sanderson still finds a way to introduce a twist at the end, and how it usually revolves around character relationships. Silver is going to be really important in the Cosmere isn't it?

Now this lived up to the hype of the Stormlight Archives. Beyond it's epic scope, Words of Radiance had powerful character moments and ticked along at a far better pace than its predecessor. In fact, this book felt like the exciting second half of one large story.

Read my full review with beautiful artwork and my favourite moments at my website here.

A kind of return to the classic quests and mostly historical setting of the series following the dark third entry. Whereas the last book was quite focused in its plot, this one had a few storylines running concurrently, diverging and converging whenever appropriate. Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson, Nico, Clarisse, the other campers and supporting Gods each have their own journeys. However instead of a mess, Riordan weaves a mesmerising story that's all about an individual's deeds and the impacts created by them. In a way that reminds me of the Avengers movies, there's something satisfying about seeing these characters after short periods of time and witnessing their interactions and growth, especially now the reader is really attached to them. Teenage romance was also a theme of this book, but didn't overtake the story and development which I appreciated. As usual, the humour was great, and the mystery really led to a “smack-yourself-in-the-forehead” kind of revelation which was entertaining. And I will never forget that cliffhanger ending for the finale.

The whole opening was brilliant - a slowburn approach to CHERUB, building Dante's life and family then reminding the readers of how agents are initiated on campus. It was a smart retrospective way to incorporate the character. Unfortunately, the book seems to drag as it goes on, with James, ‘John' and Laurens' infiltration of the biker gang becoming increasingly unexciting. The return of white-shirt McEwan was interesting, his character is dangerously fun and he is given something of an arc. The third act of the story really shines, with James lost in exciting chaos reminiscent of that in this entries predecessor ‘The General', and a renewed focus in Dante's revenge plot. Overall, although the agents are definitely growing older and behaving like it, there's a feeling that this book was holding itself back as we see its unexpected mission result.

Not necessarily my typical book, but that's what I love about book clubs and recommendations from others. Lucy by the Sea is an elliptical novel seated firmly in the mind of a just-past-middle-aged white female writer.

This had some surprising white people perspectives - the privilege of being able to tune out of troubling current affairs and having multiple spouses and extended family through multiple marriages. Despite these, Lucy did come from poverty and spends much of the novel connecting with, labelling and trying to understand others.

The time period of being set during the pandemic in Maine, USA allows for an interesting dissection of relatively recent events. There's COVID itself and all the anxiety, masks, lethargy and vaccinations surrounding it; the US presidential struggles and increasing political divide in the country; and human connection in a world of distancing and zooms.

I did enjoy this read, particularly the range of insights offered through the perspective being so close to Lucy and her memories. Will continue to venture outside my typical reading content.

Lessons in Chemistry is lighthearted in its tone, but sharp in its critiquing of the treatment of women in 1960s America. Initially I found myself off-put by the manner in which author Garmus seemed to be inserting herself into the book's setting and time period; I believed her to be a modern young feminist asserting her own experiences onto another space. However, I was amazed to realise that the author is in her 60s, and this is her debut novel to boot!

The reason I thought Garmus was so young is due to the aloof and youthful voice of Zott. Our protagonist is clearly an intelligent person, yet remains muddled in some social situations. I thought every scene involving a pencil was brilliant, and the way she was unafraid to take the fight to every level of an institution, whether university or commercial television.

Another fun read that I may not have picked out of a bookshelf, all thanks to the Amsterdam Academy Book Club.

Honestly a let down. Perhaps it was the art style but this reboot of the Teen Titans seemed to take what made the team - a fun, young group coming together from different backgrounds - and rush this story to have all their backstories interconnected and become the reason they instantly meet up.

The strange parental focus and a rush of scene to scene with no consequence or context didn't work for me.

A somewhat substantial short story showing Rat and then later Andy helping British Intelligence invade the really cool-sounding Dark Sun nuclear organisation. This is everything you think of when you first hear about CHERUB - the kids befriend the children of a nuclear parts engineer, and at a sleepover carry out mission objectives. As Rat/ Greg enjoys the last-day-of-school and gets involved in some combat to help his target, Andy's gruelling punishment reminds readers of the details regarding CHERUB's training course. What was interesting was seeing the range of technology used, including marked drinks as sedatives, sleep gas, lock guns and all the computer software (keystroke loggers, file backups and CAD!). It all seems typical until a twist, and this makes for some exciting pages and an absurdly funny ending.

Absolutely awesome read. Fantastic exploration and summation of Matt Murdock's world following his death, with nearly every important character brought to the fold. The plot of a reporter seeking the meaning of his final word is directly inspired by Citizen Kane, and is highly effective at providing an everyday man's view on the dark, gritty side of New York City and the Daredevil whilst actually fleshing out Ben Urich in his pursuit of the truth. The art is absolutely gorgeous, not in its colour or even drawings but in the composition and layout of each panel and page, lending weight to some gob-smacking page-turns. And the tight story actually works, makes sense and provides great resolutions and setups of the future. Makes me excited to read Bendis's earlier Daredevil works.

The 90s art took some getting used to, but actually fits the idea really well. I liked the Alice in Wonderland references each issue, and the idea of an alternate Central City was cool, especially when it focused on the Rogues whilst pulling in other classic Flash characters. However, Barry's unheroic, random anger and the odd medieval setting for the finale reduced this book from a character/ location exploration to your average comic. Definitely read though if you're curious about Flash's world.

Hmm... a story about Hal Jordan imprisoned without his Green Lantern ring and having to get out? Sounds cool wait now the story has quickly moved on to him breaking international laws governing the locations a hero can now respond to, even more intriguing... and he's being hunted by the son of Abin Sur for revenge?! Unfortunately these cool ideas are buried under a smogasboard of b and c-level characters who just crowd the plot hunting Hal down. I thought this book would really delve into Hal's character, addressing who he is without the ring and how his cockiness/ arrogance could backfire or have consequences, but when all was said and done this was an average entertaining comic book.

Great premise, Falcon returning to his roots, passively stopping gang wars and healing racial tensions in urban America... then blam some mystic monsters come in. Honestly, for all the good stuff about who Sam Wilson is without the Captain America or even Falcon title, there was a whole lot of supernatural nonsense which didn't feel like it fit with this character or story. Doctor Voodoo was cool, Sam's sidekick Patriot was alright, Blade and Misty were great but felt contrived and their story served as a strange afterthought. The art as well varied from great to average, which didn't help.

Another satisfying entry in the CHERUB series that brings supporting character Dana to the forefront and introduces Rat, who really interested me. Although it is advertised as a cult story, the beginning has a significant (and admittedly cool) reconnaisance side-mission for information, and the following cult section is sandwiched by an explosive finale that again lifted the sloggish sections. I appreciate how Muchamore seems to be writing the books in an unpredictable fashion, with each story's structure being different than previous ones in order to keep a sense of surprise. Also, he tracks side and background characters well, providing great moments of payoff for series readers.

The premise of Kyle getting all 7 rings could've been explored further, but it was nice to at least see 1 representative from each Corps arrive to investigate. At times, the art absolutely floored me - especially in space - and the action was done quite well, with colours splashing across the page. Unfortunately, the story kind of lets itself down towards the end, and there wasn't much thematic value - something along the lines of the entire emotional spectrum being needed etc could have been explored.

Interesting villain for Wolverine, and I found the team-up with Nick Fury entertaining, especially the look-in to SHIELD. I liked how the story covered different parts of Wolverine's character as well, the loner, the berserker and the Samurai, which I appreciated. The plot itself was decent and well-paced, with a cliffhanger ending.

A good adaptation of a classic but slow and revolutionary at the time but now visually outdated movie. The narration over the story, posing the questions of gods, machines and destiny really added some depth to scenes from the film, and the visuals seemed to ‘punch' at the right time, showing off characters like Tron especially. Overall, the plot moves quick and is over before you know it, but for fans or future viewers of the 2010 film TRON: Legacy, this book provides a condensed update and intro into the world of the original.