Steve

Maybe a 3.5 if I’m being generous? While the story is intriguing, the execution is muddy. It is never really clear what anybody’s motivations are, and the on-the-brink-of-collapse world-building is depressing. It feels like the author had a goal in mind, but I could never work out what that was (something about refugees and colonialist attitudes?). The authors also had a very odd turn of phrase when it comes to similes; they sound poetically original, but fall apart if you think about them too long...

This is probably my favorite series in all of fantasy, although I am still processing the conclusion to the pentalogy. The book manages to explain most of the mysteries and tie up the majority of the threads, creating a satisfying conclusion, while still managing to set up the next series by ending on a cliffhanger—or perhaps not quite a cliff, but certainly a steep incline. Granted, while reading, you may find yourself constantly asking, "Does it really need to be this long?"—but the payoff in the end is always worth it.

This is likely one of the earliest examples of cozy fantasy. The stakes are deliberately low, with little to no real peril. The plot revolves around a suspected theft at a fair, sparking an investigation that unfolds alongside an exploration of the characters’ relationships. A touch of magic weaves through the narrative, adding to its charm. The author aptly describes the setting as a “Gentle World,” perfectly capturing the book’s essence. If you’re in search of something truly cozy, this book is a great choice.

This is a good reimagining of Harry Potter that stands out for its convincingly different cultural setting. While some may object to the comparison—arguing that shared tropes are inevitable—the story mirrors too many key beats from HP to feel entirely coincidental. That said, this is less a critique and more an observation, as the distinctive setting and cultural influences lend the narrative its own unique identity. However, these parallels can occasionally feel a bit distracting.

One aspect that gave me pause was the handling of violence. As in Binti, the consequences of violence and death seem surprisingly minimal, leaving little in the way of lasting impact. This feels especially incongruous given that, in the UK, the book has been retitled and marketed with a younger audience in mind—an odd choice, as the content and themes seem better suited to an older readership.

Overall, this is a solid fantasy and a quick read, though very much part of a continuing series, so don’t expect a neatly wrapped conclusion. While it has its merits, I am not sure if I’m compelled to continue with the series.

This is another tale which sticks closely to true accounts of actual events, which does mean there is more intrigue than action, as our heroes act more as observers than as key players. Having said that, the American backdrop is refreshingly different, and the crucial action scenes are all as well-rendered as ever.

The narrative strikes a satisfying balance, offering enough depth to engage without becoming overwhelming. A self-aware tone humorously highlights the absurdities of Greek myth, making the gods' juvenile and petulant behaviors more palatable, and the tangled web of incestuous relationships easier to follow. Naturally, with Stephen Fry narrating, the audiobook beautifully captures the author's avuncular charm, adding warmth and wit to the experience.

Another stirring tale of life on the high seas. A bit less Stephen Maturin in this one but also, curiously, a little less Jack Aubrey, since this is closely mapped to real-life events around Mauritius in 1809. With Jack's temporary promotion to Commodore placing him at the top of the local command structure, he is less directly involved in the action, acting more as an observer. Not that the story really suffers from this, although it does mean that it often falls to others get involved in the thick of it. There is also an interesting minor sub-plot about the possible mental tolls of life in the navy, which makes an unusual diversion.

If the first book was "let's see if I can write a stirring, nautical story" and the second book was "maybe I should pad out the world so I can write a series", this one is "let's bring it all together and really pull the stops out!".

HMS Surprise has the perfect combination of nautical, martial and personal, with a globe roaming narrative and just enough personal drama to full the gaps. As with the previous books, I am enjoying that the stories are largely focused on Stephen Maturin, who is by the far the more interesting character. Jack Aubrey has his place, but outside of the battles he does give off a "boys messing about in boats" vibe.

So, onwards to the next book...

That was…depressing. I’m not really sure if there was meant to be an overarching theme, but it was a pretty nihilistic one if there was. There is certainly a lot of striking imagery, which is why I am not rating this lower, but I cannot really relate to whatever the author ia trying to say (maybe something about being at the mercy of fate/other people’s desires?).

This trilogy has firmly secured its place among my favorite fantasy series. It's a true tour de force, with a plot that seamlessly carries the reader from one book to the next. The integration of every plot point into the overarching story is impressive, with seemingly minor events paying off across the entire arc. The pacing of the reveals is particularly well-executed, with details and explanations woven throughout all three books, rather than relying on the typical climactic reveal at the end.

If there's any critique to be made, it would be the extensive cast of characters, which can occasionally make it challenging to keep track of everyone (though it does contribute to the richly detailed world). Additionally, as the characters' fortunes ebb and flow across different times and places, it can sometimes be difficult to remember who possesses which powers at any given moment.

Nevertheless, a testament to the story's strength is the author's confident decision to drop an entire plotline, as explained in an end-note, without leaving the reader feeling that something was missing. The intersection of the omitted plotline could have felt like a deus ex machina, but its absence only highlights the robustness of the remaining narrative.

I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of this author's works.

This is how you finish a trilogy: setup the story and characters in the first two books and then concentrate on wrapping up the plot for the finale. As with the first two books, a strong feature is the way the characters develop over the course of the story, however this doesn’t get in the way of action. I’d say this was Sanderson-esque in its conclusion, but that is not really fair as Hobb published first. Having not been overly wowed by the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders trilogy has given me a new found appreciation for Robin Hobb.

As with the first book, an intriguing tale, with an interesting bunch of characters. Admittedly, some of the character development doesn’t quite ring true (I’m sure it was stated at some point, but I can’t for the life of me work out how old Seldon is supposed to be; he seems to be anywhere between 5 and 15) and, as with the first book, there are some events that seem a little too convenient (convenient earthquakes always annoy me). But, overall, the story kept me involved and I am looking forward to the completion of the trilogy.

A solid continuation of Shards of Honor. While the first felt like a series of short stories, detailing the developing relationship between the main protagonists, Barrayar is a more traditional beginning/middle/end story. I have not yet read any of the other books in the Vorkosigan Saga, however this introduction did make me intrigued to see how things develop from here.

This was interesting, with what felt like a unique take on the space opera genre (the slightly more mature main characters were a nice touch). While most of the prose was very good, with a nice turn of phrase, there was the occasional rushed scene that felt a little "boy's own", although not enough to detract from the overall story. In summary, very good and I am curious about the next in the series (and indeed, the wider series).

Two mediocre stories, joined by the interstitial gimmick of injecting the author from the “real” thread into the fantasy thread. I’ve generously bumped this up to 4 stars, for the effort, but to be honest there is not much beyond the main gimmick. Both story threads are very slight, with a whole lot of hand-waving and loose ends, not much in the way of real threat, and the fantasy romance feels very underwritten. At least the story moves fairly quickly.

Given that this appears to be generally highly rated on Goodreads, I’m guessing I’ve wandered into an unfamiliar genre or fandom and so am missing something.

Update: I’ve just noticed that they compare this to Terry Pratchett in the blurb, which such an egregiously unwarranted comparison I have downgraded this to 3 stars. Do not be fooled; the closest this gets to Pratchett is the junk mail that he found on his doormat in the mornings.

In which Patrick O'Brian starts with a hard swerve into Jane Austen territory, which took some getting used to. It does finally get back into the more familiar Life On The High Seas, but it had me concerned for a while. It appears O'Brian decided that he needed to expand his world-building to setup the ongoing series, so I'm going with it. As the series progresses, this is beginning to feel more like the story of Stephen Maturin, which I am perfectly happy about because frankly he has the far more interesting character development and storyline. Jack Aubrey, on the other hand, feels more like a big kid who just loves messing about on boats. Looking forward to the next one...

The first half is a little tropey, but does at least play around with The Chosen One trope by making them an asshole. Things pick up considerably when the story escapes the confines of the "school", and there is a very good, hard-left turn when the twist kicks in. Afterwards, it plays around with things in an interesting way, but does somewhat fall back into its credulity-stretching, tropey ways towards the end. Good in a lot of places; just OK in others.

A bizarre story. The first 50% is basically like watching someone play an RPG, which could get a little boring but fortunately things pick-up when it becomes clear that there ia more to the story than a simple dungeon crawl. I initially thought I was one-and-done, but now I am actually looking forward to the next book…