Emma Donoghue: Akin

Hi everyone

I finished my fourth novel by Emma Donoghue; Akin. I read this on my e-reader. 

"Noah is only days away from his first trip back to Nice since he was a child when a social worker calls looking for a temporary home for Michael, his eleven-year-old great-nephew. Though he has never met the boy, he gets talked into taking him along to France.
This odd couple, suffering from jet lag and culture shock, argue about everything from steak haché to screen time, and the trip is looking like a disaster. But as Michael's sharp eye and ease with tech help Noah unearth troubling details about their family’s past, both come to grasp the risks that loved ones take for one another, and find they are more akin than they knew.
Written with all the tenderness and psychological intensity that made Room a huge bestseller, Akin is a funny, heart-wrenching tale of an old man and a young boy who unpick their painful stories and embark on writing a new one together."

This was also a mixed reading experience for me.

The setup of Noah fostering Michael is really ridiculous. Things might be different in America, but here in Belgium? I really can’t see this happening the way it did in the novel. In just a couple of days, 80-year-old Noah meets Michael, is approved to foster him, meets the mother in prison, and is allowed to travel to another continent with him; AND all tickets and reservations just work out. Absurd.

The way Noah talks is so cringe. He’s like a walking tourist guide in a country he realistically shouldn’t remember a thing about because he left when he was four. Who has so many detailed memories from their toddler years? No one. And then, for someone who’s so clever and knows so many utterly boring things, he’s not very smart when it comes to solving the mystery. Instead, it’s eleven-year-old Michael who doesn’t read like an eleven-year-old. I can’t imagine an American boy of that age not knowing you shouldn’t joke about gun violence in public. Both characters felt very unrealistic.
And the constant "teaching" was so boring to read! It felt like I was reading a textbook.

I enjoyed the mystery in this novel. It was too easily solved, and I guessed long before the end, but it was a good way of opening up a conversation about the Second World War. I very much liked the discussion about collaborators and the resistance, and Le Réseau Marcel; something we actually learned about in school.

Akin had some interesting moments, but the unrealistic setup and flat characters made it hard to fully enjoy. Still, the historical mystery was a highlight for me.

Have you read Akin? 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

Katherine Arden: The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Hi everyone 

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is the second book I’ve read by Katherine Arden. I read this on my e-reader.

"January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.
As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely."

This book really went half and half for me.

Similarly to my experience with The Bear and the Nightingale, I never felt a real curiosity or need to keep reading; it was easy to put aside and do something else. However, Laura’s POV was the half that worked for me, while Freddie’s didn’t.
Laura was an amazing main character. She has professional pride, compassion, and a genuine caring for others, and she felt realistic. I could easily imagine her as a real person in a very trying time. She just gets on with it, and I love a non-dramatic female heroine.

I loved the setting. Reading about my own country (Belgium), places I’ve been to, grave sites and battle sites I’ve visited, and a time in our history that left a huge mark on the world was incredibly immersive. I loved how Katherine Arden doesn’t paint the soldiers as heroes but as real people; scared, mad, vulnerable, and sometimes cowardly. She wrote those scenes amazingly well, and I felt like I was right there beside them. It’s a very atmospheric book, and the historical elements like the nursing practices were true to the time, which I greatly appreciated.

While the setting was amazing, I really didn’t like the plot. It felt very underdeveloped. I think this whole novel would have worked better as a historical novel, so without the ghosts and supernatural elements. It was exactly these elements, mostly in Freddie’s chapters, that I disliked the most. And once Freddie left the battlefield, and thus the supernatural elements were introduced, his chapters became utterly boring and quite pointless.

The ending was overly sweet. There was no need for both Laura and Freddie to end up in a relationship. It felt too fairy-tale-like and unnecessary. The story itself wasn’t focused on romance, which is exactly why it felt so out of place at the end.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts had so much potential, but the supernatural elements and underdeveloped plot held it back. Still, Laura’s character and the historical setting made it worth the read.

Have you read The Warm Hands of Ghosts? 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

Bill Watterson: The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

Hi everyone

This was my third time reading through the entire Calvin and Hobbes collection by Bill Watterson; all 1456 pages of it! Given its length and the fact that I’m not always in the mood for comics, it took me a few months to finish. This is such an amazing collection to own, and I got it as a gift from my husband quite a few years ago.

"Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this New York Times best-selling edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek." 

I had so much fun reading this collection. There were moments I got tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. My 8-year-old daughter found it so hilarious that I was laughing so much that we went to the library to borrow one of Bill Watterson’s books in Dutch so she could try them out too. And the best part? She enjoyed them too! When an 8-year-old and a 37-year-old can enjoy the same thing, that speaks volumes. Of course, we both see and understand things differently, but that’s exactly what makes it so much fun to reread them.

Obviously, not every comic is amazing, hilarious, feelgood or philosophical. Some are rather boring or feel flat to me. But it’s still a great collection nonetheless, and I will definitely read it again.

Have you read Calvin and Hobbes? Did you love it as much as I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Richard Swan: The Justice of Kings

Hi everyone

The Justice of Kings is the first book in the Empire of the Wolf series by Richard Swan.
This book was a gift from my parents some time ago.

"The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the imperial throne.
Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his clerk and protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the empire.
When the pair investigate the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt and Helena must make a choice: will they abandon the laws they've sworn to uphold in order to protect the empire?"

I didn’t really enjoy this book.

My biggest problem was the constant foreshadowing of bad things to come; things getting worse, danger lurking around every corner. It’s on almost every page, and I hate it when authors do that. Richard Swan might think he’s creating tension or a sense of anticipation, but for me, he’s only creating aggravation.

Second, the book was rather boring. I’m not a huge fan of murder mysteries, but I do enjoy them from time to time. The issue here wasn’t the genre; it was the writing and conversations, which were bland and unengaging. Swan goes on and on about the legal stuff, and while the idea of a traveling justice system is intriguing and fresh, it slows the story down too much. There’s not much going on, the plot gets chopped into pieces, and the characters go back and forth without progress. The book is way too long for the story it tells.

Third, I despised Helena’s insta-love story and how immature she was. She meets this boy, they fall in love, say "I love you", imagine spending their lives together, and talk about marrying and having children; all in maybe four meetings? I fully expected her to throw multiple temper tantrums throughout the book. All she does is fall in love, cry, feel hurt, and be angry. For someone who is supposed to be a rough street child, she acts like a spoiled, weak, unskilled weasel.
And what’s going on between Vonvalt and Helena? Sexual tension gets hinted at, love gets hinted at, but also a father-daughter bond. What is it? I sure hope it’s the last one, because if it’s not… yikes.

The Justice of Kings is about Konrad Vonvalt, but it’s written from the POV of Helena Sedanka (which was weird for me, reading my own name in a book!). I thought that was an excellent idea because Konrad’s POV would have been too dry and boring, so reading from Helena’s perspective was a great solution.
I also enjoyed the world and the magic. Both are minimal but really well written and interesting enough to keep me reading. I love fantasy novels where characters travel around and meet different people, and this book delivered that.
The idea of a system of judges who travel around to all the small towns was a great concept; something I never thought about in other books. It’s fresh and intriguing to see how justice would be administered in such a world.

The Justice of Kings had some great ideas, but the execution fell flat for me. The foreshadowing, bland writing, and Helena’s immaturity made it hard to enjoy.

Have you read The Justice of Kings? 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 

Ilona Andrews: Magic Slays

Hi everyone

Magic Slays is the fifth book in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I read this on my e-reader, though I’d love to own a physical copy of the series; if only I could find all the books in print!

"Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price ..."

I can’t really put my finger on why this book didn’t grip me as much as the previous ones. I enjoyed my time reading it, but I never felt compelled to keep going.
Magic Slays is just as fun, entertaining, action-packed, and fast-paced as ever; it just felt a bit off.

I thought there was too much going on mythology-wise. The addition of Baba Yaga on top of everything else felt a bit gimmicky to me.
I’m also not sure if I’ll enjoy the relationship between Curran and Kate now that they’re actually in a relationship. If they keep second-guessing each other, setting rock-hard boundaries, and then breaking them, it might get frustrating rather than romantic.

Still, Magic Slays was a solid entry in the series. It didn’t blow me away, but it kept me entertained. Have you read Magic Slays? Did you feel the same way, or did it grip you more than it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Stephen Aryan: The Warrior

Hi everyone

The Warrior is the second and the last book in the Quest for Heroes duology by Stephen Aryan. 
I got my book from Bol.

"Bound, by duty and responsibility, Kell is King only in name. Trapped in a loveless marriage, he leaves affairs of state to his wife, Sigrid. When his old friend, Willow, turns up asking him to go on a journey to her homeland he can't wait to leave.
The Malice, a malevolent poison that alters everything it infects, runs rampant across Willow's homeland. Desperate to find a cure her cousin, Ravvi, is willing to try a dark ritual which could damn her people forever. Journeying to a distant land, Kell and his companions must stop Ravvi before it's too late. While Kell is away Reverend Mother Britak's plans come to a head. Queen Sigrid must find a way to protect her family and her nation, but against such a ruthless opponent, something has to give..." 

While I really enjoyed The Coward (the first book in the series) The Warrior was nowhere near as good.

First, the premise was good, but it wasn’t clearly worked out. There were so many questionable things happening, so many strange decisions made just to move the plot forward, and so many things left unexplained. It was also a surprisingly sad book, which I didn’t see coming.

Second, Willow’s character, her background, her culture, her people, and her world were barely expanded upon, even though she’s one of the maincharacters in this book. We learn a bit more about her people, but not much, and this was one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book. I was really looking forward to diving deeper into their way of life, but it never happened. That was a real letdown.

Kell and Willow’s journey was actually quite boring. There’s endless talk about The Malice, incessant instances of characters losing themselves to it, and a few action scenes in between. I loved the action scenes, but they were too few and far between.
Odd was such an interesting character, but just like Willow, we don’t really get to know him. What is The Hunger exactly (an infection, an alien, something else?)? Where does it come from? Can it be cured? We don’t know. Odd felt like a strange addition to this cast, as if he didn’t belong in this story but would work much better in a totally different series.

Lastly, the pacing was off. Kell’s story was much too slow, Sigrid’s story was too fast, and the ending came kind of out of nowhere. Within 15 pages, everything is over, and everyone is miraculously at the right place at the right time. It felt rushed and unsatisfying.

The main reason I kept reading was Stephen Aryan’s writing. His prose is very easy to read; engaging, accessible, and enjoyable. There’s not too much drama, which I always appreciate. No endless whining or romantic mooning, just straightforward, compelling storytelling.
I also really liked Sigrid’s journey and growth. Her struggles with the people of The Faith and the arising questions about where this religion is going were really well done. Her story felt a bit rushed to be fully believable, but it was still one of the highlights of the book.

All in all, The Warrior is not a bad book, but it felt like a missed opportunity.

Have you read The Warrior? 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 

Wrap Up: May 2026

Hi everyone

May is my favorite month of the year. There’s lots of sunshine, warmer weather (but not too hot for a walk), and flowers and greenery everywhere, so what’s not to love? 

Here’s what I finished this month:

- Lara Taveirne: De kinderen van Calais

- Rebecca Yarros: Fourth Wing

- Shauna Lawless: The Words of Kings and Prophets 

- John Scalzi: Redshirts

- Harriet Muncaster: Isabella Maan gaat logeren

- Kristin Hannah: The Great Alone

- Gareth Brown: The Book of Doors

- Ben Aaronovitch: Tales from the Folly 

Sadly, I did not finish two books:

- Ferdia Lennon: Glorious Exploits

- Ken Liu: The Grace of Kings 

Did you read any of these? Loved them, hated them, or somewhere in between? Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena  

Ben Aaronovitch: Tales from the Folly

Hi everyone

Tales from the Folly is a collection of short stories set in the world of Rivers of London. I received my copy as a gift from my parents, and it even has Ben Aaronovitch’s signature!

"Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. Tales from the Folly is a carefully curated collection that gathers together previously published stories and brand new tales in the same place for the first time.
Each tale features a new introduction from the author, filled with insight and anecdote offering the reader a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must read for any Rivers of London fan.
Join Peter, Nightingale, Abigail, Agent Reynolds and Tobias Winter for a series of perfectly portioned tales. Discover what’s haunting a lonely motorway service station, who still wanders the shelves of a popular London bookshop, and what exactly happened to the River Lugg…"

This collection of short stories was okay, but nothing special, to be honest.

In my opinion, short stories aren’t Aaronovitch’s strongest suit, and you can definitely tell these are his first attempts at the format. They lack the humor, flair, and atmosphere we’ve come to love and expect from his full-length Peter Grant novels. The setting is as wonderful as ever, the characters are lovely and the magic is great. But they don't shine in this collection.
The stories just cut off. They stop abruptly, and every time, I was left feeling like I was missing something. There’s no satisfying resolution or proper closure, just a sudden end that leaves you wanting more.

In short, Tales from the Folly is an enjoyable collection that adds extra background to some of the Rivers of London characters. But if you’re looking for the same depth, wit, and charm as the main series, you might find this a bit lacking. 

Have you read Tales from the Folly? 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 

Gareth Brown: The Book of Doors

Hi everyone

The Book of Doors is Gareth Browns debut novel. I read this on my e-reader. 
The premise is intriguing, but unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me.

"In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It's a book—an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door. 
What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of traveling to anywhere they want. 
But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals—individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses. 
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons—a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all... 
Because some doors should never be opened." 

First, the writing style; or more specifically, how Gareth Brown writes women. He falls into the classic trap of having his "heroine" stare into a mirror and describe herself, including unnecessary details like her breast size and everything she supposedly hates about her appearance. I hate when authors do this. What do her breasts have to do with the story? Why does the other woman feel disgusting for eating carbs? There are so many strange, unnecessary comments that pulled me out of the story.
And then there’s Cassies trip to the past. She ages 10 years, and suddenly she’s in her thirties, complaining about being old, grey, and sagging. Please. As someone who actually is in her thirties, I can tell you; this is not how it works and it's insulting. And how is it possible to live somewhere for 10 years without a job, an identity, or any kind of life? What did she do all day? Why didn’t she take up boxing or learn a skill that might help her survive? It made no sense.

I didn’t care for any of the characters. They were all one-dimensional, lacking proper motivations, and without much background or growth. I couldn’t care less whether someone lived or died.

Some (okay, a lot) of the choices the characters made were just plain stupid. Sending a cold-hearted killer back in time instead of just killing him? Absolutely asinine, especially in a book where time travel exists. And did they really think the villain wouldn’t notice her books were gone? It felt like the characters were making decisions just to move the plot forward or in a certain way, not because it made any logical sense.
I would have loved to find out more about the other magical books. What were they capable of? How did they come to belong to someone? The concept was so cool, but it was barely explored. It felt like a wasted opportunity.

And finally, finding out why the villain became the bad one was a really strange decision. I like that we got some background, but not this background. It made the "heroes" seem just as bad, and I really don’t understand Brown’s reasoning here. It undermined the moral clarity of the story.

The Book of Doors had so much potential with such an intriguing premise, but it fell short in almost every way. The writing, characters, and plot choices were frustrating, and the worldbuilding was underdeveloped. It’s a shame, because the premise is so interesting.

Have you read The Book of Doors? Did you enjoy it more than I did, or did you struggle with the same issues? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Kristin Hannah: The Great Alone

Hi everyone

I just finished The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. It was a New Year’s gift from my parents, who traditionally give us one or two books to celebrate the start of a new year. A tradition I wholeheartedly stand behind!

"Alaska, 1974
Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes the impulsive decision to move his wife and daughter north where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. Thirteen-year-old Leni, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, has little choice but to go along, daring to hope this new land promises her family a better future.
In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own."

This book was a mix of highs and lows for me.

I fell in love with the setting. Alaska, the small towns, the homesteads, the magnificent nature; it was all absolutely gorgeous. Kristin Hannah has a real talent for creating a story with characters you want to know better and a way of life that feels both foreign and fascinating. I loved how she brought it all to life, and the atmosphere was captivating.
I really enjoyed reading about their lives; the homesteading, the school life, the isolation, and the struggle to survive the winters. It was immersive and compelling.
The love story was fine. It wasn’t overly dramatic or over the top, and I loved that they were friends first. Their love felt natural and earned.

The first half of the book was amazing. But after that, it really went downhill.

The mother-daughter relationship amid the domestic abuse felt wrong. Hannah portrays Leni and Cora as having this perfect, almost telepathic connection, where they intuitively understand each other’s thoughts and feelings. But that doesn’t ring true for me. This is clearly a co-dependent relationship, especially from Cora’s perspective. Cora always puts her husband and her own desires before Leni, and as Leni grows up, she never expresses anger or resentment toward her mother for not leaving her father, even when others are clearly willing to help them. Instead, Cora makes Leni responsible for the abuse, telling her to be careful and not selfish or he will become agressive.
I found Ernt believable; his PTSD, the abuse stemming from it, and Cora’s decision to stay with him felt realistic for the time period. We know so much more about PTSD and therapy now, but back then, options were limited. That said, I wish we’d gotten more insight into his mind; his struggles, his thoughts, his demons.

The part after the accident felt off. I couldn’t understand why Leni would cut off all contact with Matthew’s family after writing him letters every week for years. She could have stayed in touch with his father or sister. No contact at all just doesn’t fit with her character before the accident. I get that they feared being tracked, but I’m sure Hannah could have found a way for Leni to stay connected without risking her safety.
And the part after Cora’s death was way too dramatic and overstuffed with events. The lovely, slow pace of the first half gave way to a few chapters that were too fast, too chaotic, and too much.

The medical stuff was laughable. As someone with a background in midwifery, I couldn’t overlook the glaring mistakes: pulling out your own IV with no bleeding, no nurses in sight in the ICU, no badge required to enter the ICU? My inner midwife was screaming.

I have an 8-year-old daughter at home, and she doesn’t act or talk like MJ. MJ sounds and acts like a much younger child (reading by sounding out words, not reacting when his mom talks about killing her dad, his way of playing). It didn’t feel authentic at all.

Lastly, every bad thing that could happen, did happen in this book. Kristin Hannah piles on the tragedy, and it gets old quickly. There was no need for so much misery and catastrophe. In fact, I think the story of the abuse and the setting would have been more impactful if it had been a bit more realistic in its scope. The story went downhill after the accident, and by that point, I was done with all the bad decisions, accidents, and disasters.

The Great Alone had so much potential, and the first half was incredible. But the second half really let me down. It’s still a beautifully written, atmospheric novel, but it could have been so much more.

Have you read The Great Alone? Did you love it, or did you struggle with the same issues I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Should I read anything else by Kristin Hannah?

Happy reading!
Helena 

John Scalzi: Redshirts

Hi everyone

After Old Man’s War didn’t quite click with me, I decided to give John Scalzi another chance. I picked up Redshirts; his most popular novel on Goodreads (after Old Man’s War) and read it on my e-reader. 
John Scalzi is hilarious over on Bluesky so go check him out!

"Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory.
Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that:
(1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces
(2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations
(3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.
Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives. "

This book was a lot of fun. It’s not deep, and it doesn’t try to be (at first) it’s a lighthearted, entertaining space adventure packed with hilarious interactions, absurd situations, and just a dash of philosophy. It honestly made me laugh out loud, and there aren’t many writers who can pull that off (Terry Pratchett, of course, is one of them).
The writing is smooth and engaging, making it hard to put down. The story flows effortlessly, and the humor and wit keep you hooked. It’s the kind of book you pick up for a quick chapter and end up reading for hours because it’s just so entertaining.

My only real complaint is the codas at the end. They added nothing to my enjoyment, in fact, they detracted from it. I understand Scalzi was trying to make the book more thought-provoking, but the shift in style was so jarring that it didn’t work for me. The main story was so strong and hilarious that the codas felt unnecessary and out of place.

Have you read Redshirts? Did you enjoy the codas, or did you feel the same way I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Shauna Lawless: The Words of Kings and Prophets

Hi everyone

The Words of Kings and Prophets is the second book in the Gael Song Trilogy by Shauna Lawless. My husband gifted it to me for my birthday because he saw how much I loved the first book, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men. And let me tell you; this one was just as incredible. 

"Ireland, 1000 AD. Gormflaith is unhappily married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and although a queen she struggles with her limited position. As an immortal Fomorian with the secret gift of magic, Gormflaith has a burning to find and destroy the hidden fortress of her sworn enemies, the Descendants, who seek to kill her kind at all costs. She begins to use her magical powers, and discovers she is more skilled than she ever realised... but can she control what she will become?
Meanwhile Fódla, the Descendants' healer, mourns her banished sister but clings to life as the guardian of her young nephew. She seeks a place of safety for them both, but he has secrets of his own that could threaten everything – and Fódla must do all in her power to keep him hidden away from those who would use him for evil.
When a mysterious man comes to King Brian's court, his presence could spell disaster or deliverance for both Gormflaith and Fódla – and for Ireland herself. For he is Tomas, an ambitious immortal with few scruples – and he will do anything to see his plans become reality. Soon, mortals and immortals alike are drawn towards a bitter conflict that could decide the future of Ireland and all her people."

I loved this book.

Just like the first book, this story isn’t non-stop action with a super-fast plot or a hundred things happening at once. Instead, we get a thoroughly thought-out, highly character-driven narrative with wonderful worldbuilding and a rich history. The characters are especially outstanding; every single one of them feels like a unique person, with their own thoughts, feelings, and motivations. They’re never just there to serve the plot or as a means to an end.
I especially loved how Lawless wrote Fódla’s growth and agency. The way she realizes and acts on her own thoughts, feelings, and suspicions; instead of being held back by others’ plans for her; was so satisfying. She’s come a long way since the first book.
Gormflaith, on the other hand, is devilish, ruthless, and cunning, yet Lawless writes her in a way that lets you understand her actions and feelings. That’s the mark of a truly skilled writer. Every time one of her chapters started, I dreaded reading from her POV because I hate her so much, but within a few sentences, I was fully engaged again. She’s a complex, morally gray character and truly deserving of her role as a main character.

I felt the tension in my body every time characters crossed paths in this book. The anticipation of what could be revealed, the possible reactions; Shauna Lawless builds suspense like a master. There are twists and turns throughout, and I never felt bored or able to predict what would happen next.
This book was so hard to put down, and I’m so excited to read the third book in the Gael Song Trilogy very soon!

Shauna Lawless writes love stories the way I love to read them: slow, profound, and real. Not obsessed with physical attraction, not overly flowery or nauseatingly dramatic. After reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Words of Kings and Prophets felt like a breath of fresh air.

Have you read The Words of Kings and Prophets? Did you love it as much as I did, or did you have a different experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Rebecca Yarros: Fourth Wing

Hi everyone

Fourth Wing; the first book in The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, has been everywhere lately. Even though I’m always skeptical of hyped books, I like to try them for myself and see if the buzz is justified. So, I decided to read it on my e-reader.

"Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. 
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans; they incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet with every day that passes, the war outside grows deadlier; the kingdom's protective wards are failing; and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret." 

This book is marketed as New Adult (ages 18–29), but I’d argue it feels more like Young Adult (ages 12–18) in terms of story, language, and characters (except for the sex scenes, which push it into the NA category).
But here’s the thing: this book is just… not good.

First, the plot feels like a copy-paste of Divergent, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games. I didn’t find anything original here. There are so many questionable plotlines that pulled me out of the story: Why train the children of traitors to be competent soldiers? What kind of stupid decision is that?
How convenient that Violet has a super rare signet and bonds with two super special dragons; something never heard of before. And of course, one of those dragons is bonded to Xaden, because of course it is. I hate when characters are just “the chosen one” or “the special one”, it feels lazy and unearned.
Violet is supposed to have a weak, brittle body due to chronic pain, but she somehow accomplishes all these physical challenges without much issue. I appreciate that Rebecca Yarros included a character with chronic pain, but it’s only mentioned in passing; never explored in a way that shows how it actually complicates her life and movements. This isn’t how you raise awareness for disability; it’s how you use it as a superficial trait.

Second, the writing is inconsistent both in style and timeline and there’s absolutely no worldbuilding.
The characters are one-dimensional and read like teenagers. They’re also complete copies of characters from other books (Divergent, A Court of Thorns and Roses). And from the moment Violet meets Xaden, you already know exactly how this will play out. There’s never a surprise in this book.
I did like the dragons and their dialogue, though that was one bright spot in an otherwise frustrating read.

And lastly, the book hyperfocuses on Violet’s physical and sexual attraction to Xaden. Every page, she’s thinking about him, yearning for his touch, his body, his breath. It’s honestly nauseating. And from the start, there’s this weird sexual tension triangle with Dain added to the mix. If this is typical for Romantasy novels, then the genre is not for me, because I hated this.

Have you read Fourth Wing? Did you love it, or did you feel the same way I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena