While this is part of one of my favorite ongoing series, this installation was a little meh; 3.75 stars. The problem I think was that this story was focused on too many potential threats, as opposed to one big one. There’s internal problems in the Library (politics and doctrinal differences mostly, but also some likely hidden agenda from an unknown in the upper echelons), Alberich is back (Librarian gone bad final boss type), Irene is still on probation and getting unpleasant job assignments, something’s wrong […]
Eyeballs, cats, and tiger spirit monks, and a whole lot of kung-fu
This book reminded me in some ways of The Ghost Bride, but it’s also the total opposite in other ways. Both novels have a feisty heroine, but The Girl with Ghost Eye’s Li-lin is a lot more self-sufficient and less maiden in distress than Li Lan. Li-lin is a martial artist who has the ability to see supernatural creatures, and she’s also the daughter of the head of a priesthood specializing in protecting people from evil spirits in late 19th century San Francisco’s Chinatown. She […]
A tale of three cities
In the world of V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy, in which this is the first book, there are parallel worlds. There used to be gateways between them, but now only the magical Antari (identified by having one normal and one fully black eyeball) are able to travel through to the various worlds, using their blood and magical ability. Young Kell, fostered with the royal family in Red London is one of these Antari. In each of the four worlds, there is a London, the geographical […]
If Patrick Rothfuss says so and it has talking cats, it must be good
I have never read Jim Butcher before, and I’ve had mixed luck with things that Patrick Rothfuss recommends. I decided to take a chance with The Aeronaut’s Windlass, and I liked a lot about this book. It has a good story, an interesting world, some relatable characters, and the possibility to be a really good fantasy series. But the more I think about it, the more I start seeing a lot of little problems that add up. The general narrative is action-based, with political intrigue, […]