naimar's reviews
132 reviews

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

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adventurous dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I didn’t like this as much as blood over bright haven. i thought the plot structure was interesting but i felt like the end was just things happening one after the other without much flow.
The Epic of Gilgamesh by Unknown

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3.5

It’s still the Epic of Gilgamesh but I liked this edition more. It felt more historical because of the way it was translated with gaps to represent places where the original tablets are damaged.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

This review was of an early access copy through netgalley. 

This was an incredible book. There were so many things I loved about it. The story follows the first woman highmage and her assistant, a man belonging to the Kwen, a race that is oppressed within the city of Tiran. Both these characters, Sciona and Thomil, are very compelling. Getting into Sciona’s shoes and feeling what she was feeling happened seamlessly for me while reading because the book really draws you into her head. The magic system is very scientific and refreshing to read about. I also loved the real-world applicable commentary in the book. It tackles the idea of layers of oppression, colonization, and revolution very well. For people who liked books like Babel by R.F Kuang, this has a similar feel in its  commentary on colonial power. The prose was often unexpectedly beautiful, there would be scenes or thoughts characters were having and then one line would suddenly slam into me with its emotional impact. It was also a page turner and I finished it very quickly. 
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Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains by Bethany Brookshire

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challenging funny informative reflective

4.5

This was the best nonfiction book I’ve read this year. The structure of the book made it very engaging, going from interesting stories to broader scientific research about different animals. It was both informative/thought provoking and fun to read. 
A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

I think romantasy and romance in general is just not my genre. I tried, really tried to find a book I might like: this one ticked all the boxes on the surface. It’s queer, it handles themes of fighting against oppression, it has a strong main character. But I just didn’t like it. Fated mates/soulmates is heavily featured in this book, and I don’t like that trope at all. In addition, the writing felt very simple. Other than the sex scenes, this could’ve been a young adult book. The author was trying to get at some complex themes, but Calla’s change in ideology just came so easily that it felt unrealistic. 
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

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

2.0

My main thought after finishing this book was just: huh? The ending was confusing. I understand the themes it was trying to get at, about aging and change and whatnot, but the narrative didn’t click with me. Overall there was too many characters to keep track of and I had a hard time remembering how everything connected together. 
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

Wow, I really enjoyed this book. Much more than I initially thought I would. I decided to read this mainly because I had heard it connected to the Stormlight Archives, but it is a wonderful book in its own right. The characters were my favorite part, and it had a very dramatic plot with a lot of twisting and turning. I do wish the main opposition group had been more fleshed out. I hope a sequel comes out eventually! 
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous mysterious fast-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? Yes

3.75

This book was enjoyable, though I didn’t like it as much as the original mistborn trilogy. It’s fast paced and funny at times. I liked a lot of the side characters, especially Wayne. However, there isn’t much political intrigue, and Wax as a character just doesn’t feel as compelling as Vin was. I am going to keep reading the series, since the mystery has hooked me, but it’s definitely not my favorite sanderson. 
Eldest by Christopher Paolini

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

2.5

I really wanted to enjoy rereading this series, but it just didn’t live up to what I remembered. The writing is just clunky, there’s very little transition between scenes and it doesn’t flow very well. Also, I had forgotten how uncomfortable Eragon and Arya’s relationship makes me.
I understand that Eragon is going through a coming of age, having his first crush.. but he crosses a line with Arya over and over. I just feel like he should’ve learned his lesson earlier? It felt like a repeated endless cycle of him liking her and her very graciously turning him down. It doesn’t feel like a love story for the ages it just feels weird.
I have always loved the worldbuilding of the series, and to an extent I still do, but I’ve always wished the Urgals were more developed. I appreciated the bit at the end where Eragon realizes his own prejudices against the Urgals are unfair, I just would’ve liked to get to spend more time in Urgal society. Especially since the books spend a lot of time in Dwarf and Elf societies. My favorite characters were always the side characters even when I was younger (Saphira, Nasuada, Roran, Elva, Murtagh), but Eragon as a character has never been my favorite. And he continues not to be. I think I will take a break in my reread of this series or just skip rereading and read the Murtagh book.
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed this book a lot as a “summer read”. Although it deals with topics of colonization, it didn’t feel super heavy. I thought the different explorations of what it means to be diaspora, to be Chinese American, was very interesting and well-done. The actual heist parts were a bit underwhelming.