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diary_of_a_hobbit's reviews
25 reviews
The Hobbit: or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I think it's safe to say that The Hobbit is my comfort read. People who know me well enough know that I absolutely adore Middle-Earth, so it's no wonder that this little book is at the top of my favourite list.
It's so cosy and always makes me yearn for a hobbit-hole of my own. The story itself is very engaging and really makes me feel immersed in it, as if I'm too part of the Company and share their defeats and triumphs.
Moreover, there are so many lessons to be learnt from this tale, and so many wonderful quotes to be found throughout.
Really recommend this to anyone who would like to give Tolkien a try but feels intimidated by the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as to any fan of fantasy books.
It's so cosy and always makes me yearn for a hobbit-hole of my own. The story itself is very engaging and really makes me feel immersed in it, as if I'm too part of the Company and share their defeats and triumphs.
Moreover, there are so many lessons to be learnt from this tale, and so many wonderful quotes to be found throughout.
Really recommend this to anyone who would like to give Tolkien a try but feels intimidated by the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as to any fan of fantasy books.
The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I found The Lives of Saints to be a very quick and enjoyable read. I am happy to have had the opportunity to dive even further into the Grishaverse, and learn more about it through the stories of various Saints that the people of that fantasy world revere.
I also really love all the beautiful illustrations. The cover as well as the format gave me an old book vibe, if that makes sense, and I liked that aspect.
Sadly, this book didn't leave as much of a mark on me as The Language of Thorns did. Moreover, I found the writing to be much drier and a bit repetitive at times.
Overall, I do recommend this book if you would like to explore more of the Grishaverse.
CW: violence, death.
I also really love all the beautiful illustrations. The cover as well as the format gave me an old book vibe, if that makes sense, and I liked that aspect.
Sadly, this book didn't leave as much of a mark on me as The Language of Thorns did. Moreover, I found the writing to be much drier and a bit repetitive at times.
Overall, I do recommend this book if you would like to explore more of the Grishaverse.
CW: violence, death.
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There it is. She did it again. Leigh Bardugo carved my heart out of my chest and tore it apart in the most beautiful way.
The Language of Thorns is an anthology of six short stories; six fairytales from the Grishaverse. Through them, the reader travels through places that seem achingly familiar if they've read the Shadow and Bone trilogy and/or the two spin-off duologies. However, they are no less enthralling if this fantasy world is entirely new to you as no context from the series is needed in order to enjoy this wonderful collection.
As someone who's always been fascinated by myths and folklore, I found this book very well-crafted and extremely immersive. I simply couldn't put it down!
If you, like me, are drawn to legends and fairytales, this book may be exactly what you are searching for.
CW: violence, death.
The Language of Thorns is an anthology of six short stories; six fairytales from the Grishaverse. Through them, the reader travels through places that seem achingly familiar if they've read the Shadow and Bone trilogy and/or the two spin-off duologies. However, they are no less enthralling if this fantasy world is entirely new to you as no context from the series is needed in order to enjoy this wonderful collection.
As someone who's always been fascinated by myths and folklore, I found this book very well-crafted and extremely immersive. I simply couldn't put it down!
If you, like me, are drawn to legends and fairytales, this book may be exactly what you are searching for.
CW: violence, death.
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't often read graphic novels, but this one totally blew me away.
I've read quite a few of Bardugo's works in the past two years, and while the Grisha trilogy has disappointed me at times, I absolutely love the Darkling as a character. He actually happens to be one of the most well crafted villains I've ever encountered in a book.
Demon in the Wood is a sort of origin story that explores the Darkling's past and gives us more context about who he is as a person as well as what played a role in shaping him into who he has become when we meet him in Shadow and Bone.
Personally, I found this book both tragic but also light-hearted at times.
I would also like to praise Dani Pendergast for the stunning illustrations that brought the characters to life and helped me get immersed into the Grishaverse.
All in all, if you are a fan of the Darkling, I highly recommend getting your hands on Demon in the Wood.
CW: violence, death of an animal.
I've read quite a few of Bardugo's works in the past two years, and while the Grisha trilogy has disappointed me at times, I absolutely love the Darkling as a character. He actually happens to be one of the most well crafted villains I've ever encountered in a book.
Demon in the Wood is a sort of origin story that explores the Darkling's past and gives us more context about who he is as a person as well as what played a role in shaping him into who he has become when we meet him in Shadow and Bone.
Personally, I found this book both tragic but also light-hearted at times.
I would also like to praise Dani Pendergast for the stunning illustrations that brought the characters to life and helped me get immersed into the Grishaverse.
All in all, if you are a fan of the Darkling, I highly recommend getting your hands on Demon in the Wood.
CW: violence, death of an animal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Gilgamesh: A New English Version by Anonymous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
I think this is the first book in a long while that I've read that didn't make me feel any particular emotion. It was interesting enough, but it didn't leave a mark on me.
Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This book is one of my absolute favourites! I've reread it multiple times over the years and each time I am as fascinated as the first.
Puck of Pook's Hill is a series of short stories that are set in different periods of English history. They are narrated to two siblings, Dan and Una, by either Puck, an elf, or a guest that he magically plucks out of history.
So this book literally combines two things that I love: history and fantasy, and does it in a very beautiful way.
If you are interested in the history of England and love fantasy, I highly recommend Puck of Pook's Hill.
There is also a sequel called Rewards and Fairies that is also amazing.
[Note: I read this book in Russian (that particular edition was translated by Grigory Kruzhkov)].
Puck of Pook's Hill is a series of short stories that are set in different periods of English history. They are narrated to two siblings, Dan and Una, by either Puck, an elf, or a guest that he magically plucks out of history.
So this book literally combines two things that I love: history and fantasy, and does it in a very beautiful way.
If you are interested in the history of England and love fantasy, I highly recommend Puck of Pook's Hill.
There is also a sequel called Rewards and Fairies that is also amazing.
[Note: I read this book in Russian (that particular edition was translated by Grigory Kruzhkov)].
Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
After finishing the Six of Crows duology, I wanted to read something light and short so Tales from the Perilous Realm seemed like the perfect fit. And it totally didn't disappoint!
It's just such a charming little book and I really enjoyed reading it for the most part. The only part that didn't click for me were some of the poems from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil but those were few and they were mostly in the beginning/middle.
If you want to explore Tolkien's works but are hesitant to give The Lord of the Rings trilogy a try, I suggest starting with this as it is much shorter and less intimidating. Or alternatively, you could try reading The Hobbit as it is also not lengthy.
[Note: The edition that I read didn't include Roverandom.]
It's just such a charming little book and I really enjoyed reading it for the most part. The only part that didn't click for me were some of the poems from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil but those were few and they were mostly in the beginning/middle.
If you want to explore Tolkien's works but are hesitant to give The Lord of the Rings trilogy a try, I suggest starting with this as it is much shorter and less intimidating. Or alternatively, you could try reading The Hobbit as it is also not lengthy.
[Note: The edition that I read didn't include Roverandom.]
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book cradled my heart and then tore it apart in the best way possible. It hurts so much, but that's because I absolutely loved the characters.
Throughout this duology, I could really sense the improvement in writing compared to the Shadow and Bone trilogy and I would like to applaud Leigh Bardugo for writing this masterpiece. Both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are quite thick and yet I managed to finish both in about a month which, for me, is great progress considering that I am generally a slow reader. Once I started, I was instantly glued to the pages and I would have probably finished a lot sooner if I wasn't constantly occupied with other tasks.
Aside from loving the prose, I also felt really connected to the characters, each in their own way. I cheered with them when they came out victorious after a fight and worried for them when things went wrong.
Crooked Kingdom made me laugh, hold my breath when the protagonists were in danger and want to tear my heart out at times.
I am incredibly sad that this adventure is over and that even if I reread this gem of a book, it won't feel the same way. Who knows though, maybe Leigh Bardugo will write a third Six of Crows book someday, afterall.
But for now, new journeys await and King of Scars duology is calling my name.
CW: violence, swearing & torture
Throughout this duology, I could really sense the improvement in writing compared to the Shadow and Bone trilogy and I would like to applaud Leigh Bardugo for writing this masterpiece. Both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are quite thick and yet I managed to finish both in about a month which, for me, is great progress considering that I am generally a slow reader. Once I started, I was instantly glued to the pages and I would have probably finished a lot sooner if I wasn't constantly occupied with other tasks.
Aside from loving the prose, I also felt really connected to the characters, each in their own way. I cheered with them when they came out victorious after a fight and worried for them when things went wrong.
Crooked Kingdom made me laugh, hold my breath when the protagonists were in danger and want to tear my heart out at times.
I am incredibly sad that this adventure is over and that even if I reread this gem of a book, it won't feel the same way. Who knows though, maybe Leigh Bardugo will write a third Six of Crows book someday, afterall.
But for now, new journeys await and King of Scars duology is calling my name.
CW: violence, swearing & torture
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Torture
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
What a thrilling ride this book has been! I am generally quite a slow reader but I finished it in a little bit over a week and considering that it's quite chunky, I think it's a good indicator of just how much I enjoyed this book.
I knew almost nothing of the plot before plunging into Six of Crows because I miraculously managed to dodge spoilers over the years and I am so glad about that because the less you know beforehand, the better you'll enjoy the journey.
I've read the Shadow and Bone series before starting Six of Crows, and while I did enjoy it too, I did find quite a few faults with it, especially regarding writing and world-building. So it was amazing to see just how much the author's writing improved. That also contributed to the improvement of world-building (at least in my opinion) since unlike Shadow and Bone, we didn't see it from one character's point of view. The story is told from a third person's perspective but each chapter focuses on a single character's point of view, a style that I like a lot.
Speaking of the characters, it was very enjoyable to see each of their individual stories unfold because that's precisely what gave depth to their development.
All in all, this book had me glued to the pages from start to finish and I couldn't get enough of it. I didn't get bored by a single part of it, which is a rare occurrence for me.
I actually felt sad when I finished it earlier today because it was such an adventure, but it's not over yet as the sequel is still waiting on my shelf.
Definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, heists, well-written characters and gripping plots.
CW: violence (it was quite graphic at times), swearing & torture
I knew almost nothing of the plot before plunging into Six of Crows because I miraculously managed to dodge spoilers over the years and I am so glad about that because the less you know beforehand, the better you'll enjoy the journey.
I've read the Shadow and Bone series before starting Six of Crows, and while I did enjoy it too, I did find quite a few faults with it, especially regarding writing and world-building. So it was amazing to see just how much the author's writing improved. That also contributed to the improvement of world-building (at least in my opinion) since unlike Shadow and Bone, we didn't see it from one character's point of view. The story is told from a third person's perspective but each chapter focuses on a single character's point of view, a style that I like a lot.
Speaking of the characters, it was very enjoyable to see each of their individual stories unfold because that's precisely what gave depth to their development.
All in all, this book had me glued to the pages from start to finish and I couldn't get enough of it. I didn't get bored by a single part of it, which is a rare occurrence for me.
I actually felt sad when I finished it earlier today because it was such an adventure, but it's not over yet as the sequel is still waiting on my shelf.
Definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, heists, well-written characters and gripping plots.
CW: violence (it was quite graphic at times), swearing & torture
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Torture
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Oh my gosh, where do I start? This book really took me by surprise. After the absolute disaster that was Siege and Storm, I totally didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. There are definitely things about it that I think should have been done differently, but overall I thought that it was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
I must admit that I don't really like the protagonist, Alina, even if there were a few instances when I started to warm up to her. But I felt that out of the three books, I liked her the most in this one.
On the other hand, I found the antagonist's plot line very interesting to follow as he's one of the most well-crafted villains that I've encountered.
The world-building in this series was generally not done very well and eventhough Ruin and Rising did answer some of the remaining questions, there are still loads more left. And as I've mentioned in my review of Shadow and Bone, I really wish that the author did more research into Russian culture as it would have helped in this aspect.
Another thing that I would like to mention is that I think that narrating the story from a first person perspective was a bad move as it really hindered the development of the world.
As for the book itself, it was quite fast-paced in my opinion (especially compared to the previous book in the trilogy which was very slow) and filled with action. I also loved the fact that there was a sort of quest and journey involved which is one of my favourite tropes. The ending was quite bittersweet but I can see why the author choose to end the book that way.
I am actually kind of sad that this journey has ended for me but I still have two other duologies to read that are set in the same universe so hopefully I'll be back to the Grishaverse soon! Until next time!!
CW: violence, mention of rape, death of characters
I must admit that I don't really like the protagonist, Alina, even if there were a few instances when I started to warm up to her. But I felt that out of the three books, I liked her the most in this one.
On the other hand, I found the antagonist's plot line very interesting to follow as he's one of the most well-crafted villains that I've encountered.
The world-building in this series was generally not done very well and eventhough Ruin and Rising did answer some of the remaining questions, there are still loads more left. And as I've mentioned in my review of Shadow and Bone, I really wish that the author did more research into Russian culture as it would have helped in this aspect.
Another thing that I would like to mention is that I think that narrating the story from a first person perspective was a bad move as it really hindered the development of the world.
As for the book itself, it was quite fast-paced in my opinion (especially compared to the previous book in the trilogy which was very slow) and filled with action. I also loved the fact that there was a sort of quest and journey involved which is one of my favourite tropes. The ending was quite bittersweet but I can see why the author choose to end the book that way.
I am actually kind of sad that this journey has ended for me but I still have two other duologies to read that are set in the same universe so hopefully I'll be back to the Grishaverse soon! Until next time!!
CW: violence, mention of rape, death of characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Rape