R. F. Kuang: The Poppy War

Hi everyone

The Poppy War is the first book in The Poppy War series by R. F. Kuang. Despite not finishing Kuang’s Babel, the strong reviews on Goodreads convinced me to give this one a chance. 
I read it on my e-reader.

"When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.
But surprises aren’t always good.
Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .
Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late."

This was an okay read for me, but it never fully gripped me.

The first half, where Rin is at the academy, felt like I was reading a run-of-the-mill, generic YA book. Rin gets into the prestigious academy and (of course) gets bullied once there; this part was incredibly boring and very predictable. It didn’t hold my attention, and I struggled to stay engaged (or even awake to be honest). I’m not sure whether the shift in tone for the second half was Kuang’s intention, but the second part worked much better for me.

The second half gets much more brutal and dark, and I enjoyed this more (which is weird to say about violence, but you know what I mean). These scenes were very well done. This half of the book gave me chills while reading. The haunting scenes were truly unforgettable.

Despite the darker tone and compelling moments, the book never really gripped me. I could easily put it aside every time I read a part. I didn’t feel engaged or curious about what would happen next. I was actually a bit bored, and that’s strange in a book that’s so gory at times.
In general, I felt the world-building was too minimal and too heavily copied from history. And some things from history should not be used as entertainment. While you can frame this as shining a light on the consequences of war and its victims, this felt more like amusement.
As the book went on, Rin’s decisions became absolutely incomprehensible. It was hard to connect with her when her actions felt so inconsistent or illogical.

Have you read The Poppy War? Did you enjoy it more than I did, or did you feel the same way? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Dean Koontz: Devoted

Hi everyone

As a fan of Stephen King’s work, it’s strange that this is only my second book by Dean Koontz. I have no idea why I haven’t read more of his works, but I think it’s time to rectify that. 
I read this on my e-reader.

"Woody Bookman hasn’t spoken a word in his eleven years of life. Not when his father died in a freak accident. Not when his mother, Megan, tells him she loves him. For Megan, keeping her boy safe and happy is what matters. But Woody believes a monstrous evil was behind his father’s death and now threatens him and his mother. And he’s not alone in his thoughts. An ally unknown to him is listening.
A uniquely gifted dog with a heart as golden as his breed, Kipp is devoted beyond reason to people. When he hears the boy who communicates like he does, without speaking, Kipp knows he needs to find him before it’s too late.
Woody’s fearful suspicions are taking shape. A man driven by a malicious evil has set a depraved plan into motion. And he’s coming after Woody and his mother. The reasons are primal. His powers are growing. And he’s not alone. Only a force greater than evil can stop what’s coming next."

I enjoyed this so much! The story is very entertaining, gripping, and engaging. It’s fast-paced and thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The characters are a bit superficial and very clearly all good or all bad, but that’s expected from these kinds of novels, so I’m not complaining. Lee Shacket creeped me out and I was actually dreading reading from his POV because he was such a freaky, scary, disturbing, and unnerving creature.

The end is a bit too sweet, too neat, and perfect for my liking. While I appreciated the resolution, it lacked the complexity that might have made it feel more authentic or satisfying.

Despite the simplistic characters and too perfect ending, this book was a wild, enjoyable ride. It’s made me eager to explore more of Koontz’s work; maybe I’ve been missing out!

Have you read this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Is there another of Dean Koontz's books you would recommend?

Happy reading!
Helena 

Ilona Andrews: Magic Gifts

Hi everyone

Magic Gifts is a novella in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. This story is set between Magic Slays and Magic Rises. I read this on my e-reader. 

"Dinner date after a hard workday should be heavenly. Of course, dates between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels don’t always go as planned. Undead run amok, heads are chopped off, lawyers are deployed with extreme prejudice, and drunk vikings call people out."

As a novella, Magic Gifts didn’t quite work for me. I truly feel this should have been a full-length novel. The story started out great; we love these characters, the world, the magic, and the creatures. The plot was fun and entertaining, but when I reached the two-thirds mark, everything went too fast.
It felt as though the authors suddenly realized they were writing a novella but had too much going on, so they had to cram everything into the last 40 pages. The pacing suffered, and the story ended up feeling rushed and incomplete.

Despite its flaws, Magic Gifts added a lot to the overall universe Ilona Andrews created. The world-building, character dynamics, and magical lore are all as compelling as ever. I enjoyed it a lot; it was just too rushed to fully appreciate.

Have you read Magic Gifts? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena
 

Jim Butcher: Cursor's Fury

Hi everyone

Cursor's Fury is the third book in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. I read this on my e-reader.

"When the ambitious and ruthless High Lord of Kalare enters into a dangerous alliance with the Canim, bestial enemies of Alera, and treachery destroys the Aleran army's command structure, an inexperienced, young Tavi of Calderon finds himself leading a poorly equipped legion that is the only force standing between the Canim horde and Alera's future."

While the Codex Alera series is nothing groundbreaking, it is an entertaining read. However, Cursor’s Fury suffers from being way too long. The events in these pages could have been condensed by at least 200 pages. Even the battles felt drawn out, and the whole book dragged its feet. So, while Jim Butcher’s writing is engaging and entertaining, the story itself felt slow and tedious.

Tavi has finally grown up in this installment. He’s done with the constant whining, and I’m so glad for that change. His growth is expected and well-executed, but it still feels unbelievable how he’s always the one coming up with clever plans to save the day, and how they always work out perfectly. It stretches credibility a bit too far for my taste.

Getting the backstory of Isana and Fade was wonderful, and I really loved the way their story is unfolding; except for Isana healing Fade for over a month while she could have saved thousands of soldiers just outside her door. Very questionable decision. I am done with reading about the amount of sex Bernard and Amara are having and their infertility issues. Both topics are mentioned far too many times, and they add little to the story.
Kitai was more palatable in this book. She’s less of a presence in the story, so her sense of superiority was less aggravating. However, her "bonding" with Tavi still makes no sense to me. It feels forced and unearned.

I’m questioning whether to continue this series. While there are moments I enjoy, the pacing issues and repetitive elements are starting to weigh on me.
Have you read the Codex Alera series? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Terry Pratchett: The Last Hero

Hi everyone

The Last Hero is the 27th book in The Discworld series by the inimitable Terry Pratchett. I think was my third time reading this one.

"It stars the legendary Cohen the Barbarian, a legend in his own lifetime. Cohen can remember when a hero didn't have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation, and when people didn't tell you off for killing dragons. But he can't always remember, these days, where he put his teeth...
So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends - and they're very old friends - Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance.
That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time." 

This book is pure comedy gold. The story is more of a novella than a full-length novel, but it gets fleshed out by the stunning, artful, amazing illustrations by Paul Kidby. They elevate this to an incredible reading experience.

Every Discworld book adds depth to the world, and The Last Hero is no exception. Both the art and the written words contribute to the richness of this universe; the world gets expanded, and the characters gain even more depth with every book in this series.

Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde are truly amazing characters, and they create hilarious, laugh-out-loud situations. I love their interactions, their old-age "wisdoms", their stubbornness, and their heroism. And, as always, every time Leonard da Quirm is part of the cast, you know you’re in for a treat. Rincewind isn't my favorite character but because he wasn't the main focus of this book; I really did enjoy his scenes. 

It was marvelous to explore more of Discworld and see other countries and people. Pratchett’s world-building is unmatched, and The Last Hero only adds extra layers of depth and humor to the series.

Have you read The Last Hero? Did you love it as much as I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: July 2026

Hi everyone

July has flown by, and I can’t believe we’re already halfway through our children’s summer vacation. The last week of July we spent at home, with some small trips, some tinkering around the house and garden, lots of playing, puzzeling and reading. And now we’re on holiday! With both our daughters celebrating their birthdays in August, we have a lot of fun lined up so plenty of reasons to enjoy our time together.

I read a lot in July, so here’s the list of books I finished:

- Stephen Baxter & Alastair Reynolds: The Medusa Chronicles  

- Robin Hobb: Blood of Dragons 

- Richard Osman: The Thursday Murder Club 

- Toshikazu Kawaguchi: Before the Coffee gets Cold  

- Sue Johnson: Hold Me Tight

- James S. A. Corey: Memory's Legion 

- Neil Gaiman: Norse Mythology  

- Jen Williams: The Poison Song

- Rivers Solomon: The Deep

And I had to DNF one book: 

- Richard Matheson: Hell House

I’d love to hear from you: How was your July in books? Did you discover a new favorite, or did you struggle to finish anything? Let me know; I’m always excited to hear your recommendations and thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena