jimmyjams's reviews
189 reviews

The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

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3.5

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

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adventurous dark mysterious relaxing medium-paced

4.0

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I enjoyed the first 3 books, but this one fell a little flat for me. It was an entertaining enough read for the most part, but it felt like a popcorn book.

There was very little character development aside from Wayne, and even then it seemed like it was just because he was being killed off.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

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adventurous mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book. At first I was turned off by the Aztec-inspired words, but I got over it. I really liked the characters and would like to read more of them. I would not describe this book as typical sci fi. There’s much more focus on diplomatic interactions and politics than there is on hard science. Imperialism and cultural assimilation are strong themes. 

I did feel like the main character was not very much in control of her situation and was kind of being taken along for the ride. I suppose that’s more real though.  
Dune by Frank Herbert

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

I enjoyed Dune. I had seen the new movie beforehand, so most of the first half of the book wasn’t new, but it was still enjoyable to read. This book is truly epic. 

As fantasy stories go I wouldn’t necessarily call the book slow-paced, but I do feel like a lot of action was crammed into the last 100 pages or so. I would have liked to see the battle with the emperor a little more drawn out. The characters also aren’t the most relatable. I found those who followed Paul and the Duke Leto, like Gurney, Idaho, and Stilgar to be the most likable characters. Maybe he was kept intentionally mysterious, but the emperor also wasn’t much of a character. I would have liked to see more of him earlier.
Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I love this book. Everyone should read it, and everyone should practice yoga.