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frootlupo's reviews
250 reviews
Skysworn by Will Wight
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cradle is starting to get its bearings as a series. This third instalment didn’t take me in directions I was expecting, but as usual was a fun ride.
As the series continues to introduce new characters, Wight does a decent job keeping the focus on our three main heroes.
Overall the books continue to be short and sweet - but more and more the books are feeling less like their own narratives and more like continuations in a larger story.
As the series continues to introduce new characters, Wight does a decent job keeping the focus on our three main heroes.
Overall the books continue to be short and sweet - but more and more the books are feeling less like their own narratives and more like continuations in a larger story.
Blackflame by Will Wight
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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? No
4.25
Cradle is starting to get its bearings as a series. This third instalment didn’t take me in directions I was expecting, but as usual was a fun ride.
As the series continues to introduce new characters, Wight does a decent job keeping the focus on our three main heroes.
Overall the books continue to be short and sweet - but more and more the books are feeling less like their own narratives and more like continuations in a larger story.
As the series continues to introduce new characters, Wight does a decent job keeping the focus on our three main heroes.
Overall the books continue to be short and sweet - but more and more the books are feeling less like their own narratives and more like continuations in a larger story.
Soulsmith by Will Wight
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.75
Soulsmith didn't have quite the momentum or intrigue of the first book, instead feeling more like an obligatory stepping stone to bigger and better adventures. We spend a long time expanding the world building - which while necessary and helpful, is not always the most engaging. However, the introduction of a key new character brought a ton of charm and mystery, which helped the second half of the book tremendously.
Further, Wight still has me deeply rooting for our protagonist and his expanding companions. Watching him grow and develop his powers is addicting and keeps me coming back - stirring up an impatience that drives me to keep reading (even when I probably should be doing other things).
Overall it was certainly still enjoyable, it just felt more like a bridging narrative than its own complete story.
Further, Wight still has me deeply rooting for our protagonist and his expanding companions. Watching him grow and develop his powers is addicting and keeps me coming back - stirring up an impatience that drives me to keep reading (even when I probably should be doing other things).
Overall it was certainly still enjoyable, it just felt more like a bridging narrative than its own complete story.
Unsouled by Will Wight
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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? No
4.5
Fun and fast paced - a solid, tidy little adventure with more than a few glimpses at a MUCH larger world.
Who doesn't love a plucky, clever underdog? Unsouled is a super quick and enjoyable adventure that quickly has you rooting for our protagonist. I found myself devouring this book much quicker, and caring for our character far deeper, than I thought I would!
I was very impressed at how Wight was able to hint toward a massive universe and create a tremendous amount of intrigue for the far future of the series, while also creating very real stakes that we care about for our much weaker protagonist. I'm super excited to see where this series will go, but also care deeply about our current adventures.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Unsouled, and I'm already planning on jumping into the next in the series!
Who doesn't love a plucky, clever underdog? Unsouled is a super quick and enjoyable adventure that quickly has you rooting for our protagonist. I found myself devouring this book much quicker, and caring for our character far deeper, than I thought I would!
I was very impressed at how Wight was able to hint toward a massive universe and create a tremendous amount of intrigue for the far future of the series, while also creating very real stakes that we care about for our much weaker protagonist. I'm super excited to see where this series will go, but also care deeply about our current adventures.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Unsouled, and I'm already planning on jumping into the next in the series!
The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A much much stronger finish to this trilogy than the first two instalments. This series ended with a grace and skill that surprised me.
This final book was filled to the brim with strong character moments as well as satisfying conclusions. While fairly breakneck at places, Kay slows down in the most emotional of moments to ensure you really get to sit with feelings of loss or triumph (and often both).
There were some moments I felt could have hit even harder if they had been set up better in earlier books - but I can’t judge this book for the failings of earlier ones - and the skill and success of those arcs, even with only spanning this book, is a testament to the growth of Kay’s skill during the writing of this trilogy.
I really didn’t love the second book, and was hesitant to jump into this one so quickly, but overall I’m quite glad I did.
This final book was filled to the brim with strong character moments as well as satisfying conclusions. While fairly breakneck at places, Kay slows down in the most emotional of moments to ensure you really get to sit with feelings of loss or triumph (and often both).
There were some moments I felt could have hit even harder if they had been set up better in earlier books - but I can’t judge this book for the failings of earlier ones - and the skill and success of those arcs, even with only spanning this book, is a testament to the growth of Kay’s skill during the writing of this trilogy.
I really didn’t love the second book, and was hesitant to jump into this one so quickly, but overall I’m quite glad I did.
Timeslayers by Colin Sephton
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Timeslayers is an ambitious leap that doesn't stick the landing.
I received a free ARC to review of Timeslayers. Sephton clearly has a strong interest towards deep world building and it shows in his work. I think for this novel, however, less would have been much much more. Timeslayers at times feels less like a cohesive story and more of a whirlwind tour through an immense universe that Sephton has certainly spent a great deal of time developing.
There are moments of beautiful prose throughout, but they crowded out by clunky dialogue, heavy exposition, confusing jumps in POV, and an uncomfortably overt Male Gaze-y approach to literally every female character in the book.
Overall I think Sephton has potential for solid creative writing, I just think a stronger focus on writing and reviewing vs worldbuilding is deeply needed.
I received a free ARC to review of Timeslayers. Sephton clearly has a strong interest towards deep world building and it shows in his work. I think for this novel, however, less would have been much much more. Timeslayers at times feels less like a cohesive story and more of a whirlwind tour through an immense universe that Sephton has certainly spent a great deal of time developing.
There are moments of beautiful prose throughout, but they crowded out by clunky dialogue, heavy exposition, confusing jumps in POV, and an uncomfortably overt Male Gaze-y approach to literally every female character in the book.
Overall I think Sephton has potential for solid creative writing, I just think a stronger focus on writing and reviewing vs worldbuilding is deeply needed.
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
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
4.25
What could have been a heavy handed approach to a straightforward racial injustice analog, was instead propelled forward by surprisingly nuanced character work.
At the top of this book I felt like I could pretty-much predict the entire path of the book. While not every twist was super shocking, I was very surprised by how much nuance and growth was instilled into the characters. Our main POV characters consistently resisted being pigeonholed and none of them landed exactly where I predicted. Even many supporting character had their own nuance and arcs (except our golden retriever best boy - but I'm not going to complain about a bit of consistent sunshine).
The world-building was interesting and quite compelling at points, but did suffer a bit from glossary fatigue when trying to remember all the different titles and names of cities and neighbourhoods and police forces and so on.
Overall, Chan impressed me enough that I'll be coming back for the sequel when it comes out.
At the top of this book I felt like I could pretty-much predict the entire path of the book. While not every twist was super shocking, I was very surprised by how much nuance and growth was instilled into the characters. Our main POV characters consistently resisted being pigeonholed and none of them landed exactly where I predicted. Even many supporting character had their own nuance and arcs (except our golden retriever best boy - but I'm not going to complain about a bit of consistent sunshine).
The world-building was interesting and quite compelling at points, but did suffer a bit from glossary fatigue when trying to remember all the different titles and names of cities and neighbourhoods and police forces and so on.
Overall, Chan impressed me enough that I'll be coming back for the sequel when it comes out.
The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
While certainly containing more of Kay’s illustrious worldbuilding - this one definitely suffered from middle-book syndrome
The stakes never seemed as high, and many threads were either cut very short or purposefully left hanging - which doesn’t leave a very satisfying feeling
Also, while thankfully not graphic, the second half of the book was weirdly and needlessly sexual - it either came out of nowhere, which was jarring, or had it awkwardly built into the worldbuilding which was just super weird
The stakes never seemed as high, and many threads were either cut very short or purposefully left hanging - which doesn’t leave a very satisfying feeling
Also, while thankfully not graphic, the second half of the book was weirdly and needlessly sexual - it either came out of nowhere, which was jarring, or had it awkwardly built into the worldbuilding which was just super weird
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Kay’s prose is beautiful, if not his most refined - with a wonderfully evocative world and soft magic system to back it up. The world really does feel brimming with magic and mysteries just waiting to be discovered!
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Called to Preach: Fulfilling the High Calling of Expository Preaching by Steven J. Lawson
informative
fast-paced
2.75
There are better preaching books out there. There’s some theology I’d disagree with which affected my opinion a tiny bit, but mostly I just found that the vast majority of the book was him just saying the same ideas over and over again with slightly different words.
Though to be fair, despite my grievances, there were some sections of great wisdom in there.
Overall it’s the kind of book that benefits from getting someone else to read it and give you highlights vs just reading it yourself. For instance, chapter 3 and maybe chapter 5 will give you most of the best parts of the book for a fraction of the time - so I’d probably just focus on those.
Though to be fair, despite my grievances, there were some sections of great wisdom in there.
Overall it’s the kind of book that benefits from getting someone else to read it and give you highlights vs just reading it yourself. For instance, chapter 3 and maybe chapter 5 will give you most of the best parts of the book for a fraction of the time - so I’d probably just focus on those.