December was the month of dragging myself out of a long reading slump... and I managed to read four novels and one graphic novel! It was a pretty good reading month overall. Onto the books!
The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin
Book One of the Dreamblood Duology
4 out of 5 stars.
I'll have a full review up for this book soon, but I must say... The Killing Moon and its sequel were my favorite reads of December, and possibly my favorites for the past few months. Jemisin creates a really interesting world in The Dreamblood Duology, and has filled it with realistic characters and heartbreaking stories. The Killing Moon focuses on themes of power, corruption and love. It was absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend for fantasy readers looking for a new world that doesn't follow the terribly typical Western Medieval template haunting the fantasy genre.
I'll have a full review up for this book soon, but I must say... The Killing Moon and its sequel were my favorite reads of December, and possibly my favorites for the past few months. Jemisin creates a really interesting world in The Dreamblood Duology, and has filled it with realistic characters and heartbreaking stories. The Killing Moon focuses on themes of power, corruption and love. It was absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend for fantasy readers looking for a new world that doesn't follow the terribly typical Western Medieval template haunting the fantasy genre.
3 out of 5 stars.
I've done a full review of this graphic novel if you'd like to check it out! Sovereign is a fantasy graphic novel that follows multiple characters during the time of a Convergence - an event that strengthens the power of the magic-bearers in this world and the daemons of the Unreal. The art style wasn't my favorite and I had a hard time connecting with the characters as we were forced to jump around too much and the volume itself doesn't offer enough time with the characters to make up for these jumps. I don't think it was that memorable, and I'm not sure I'll continue with future volumes... but it was entertaining enough in the moment.
I've done a full review of this graphic novel if you'd like to check it out! Sovereign is a fantasy graphic novel that follows multiple characters during the time of a Convergence - an event that strengthens the power of the magic-bearers in this world and the daemons of the Unreal. The art style wasn't my favorite and I had a hard time connecting with the characters as we were forced to jump around too much and the volume itself doesn't offer enough time with the characters to make up for these jumps. I don't think it was that memorable, and I'm not sure I'll continue with future volumes... but it was entertaining enough in the moment.
The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin
Book Two of the Dreamblood Duology
4 out of 5 stars.
Like I said with The Killing Moon, this was one of my favorite books of December. While this has quite a different feel from The Killing Moon - taking place ten years after the events of the first novel and following new characters - I loved it just as much. I'd definitely recommend picking up this second book in the duology if you pick up the first. The experience of reading them is very different, but ultimately very rewarding! I will say though, as a warning (skip this if you are afraid of vague spoilers), there are mentions of sexual assault/rape in this book so if you can't bear to read about it, you may be wise to stay away from this one. I do think it was handled well enough, however. Jemisin isn't clumsy about it at all.
Like I said with The Killing Moon, this was one of my favorite books of December. While this has quite a different feel from The Killing Moon - taking place ten years after the events of the first novel and following new characters - I loved it just as much. I'd definitely recommend picking up this second book in the duology if you pick up the first. The experience of reading them is very different, but ultimately very rewarding! I will say though, as a warning (skip this if you are afraid of vague spoilers), there are mentions of sexual assault/rape in this book so if you can't bear to read about it, you may be wise to stay away from this one. I do think it was handled well enough, however. Jemisin isn't clumsy about it at all.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
3 out of 5 stars.
Good Omens was one of those books that has been on my shelf for ages because everyone seems to love it. I finally decided to pick it up and was underwhelmed. While the humor was great, it didn't flow well enough with the story and it seemed one of the two, humor or plot, had to be sacrificed every now and again for the other to survive. It seemed to balance both well in the beginning, but everything took an odd turn and it just felt a bit messy for the rest of the novel. I still enjoyed it, but I was a bit let down that I didn't like it as much as everyone else does.
Good Omens was one of those books that has been on my shelf for ages because everyone seems to love it. I finally decided to pick it up and was underwhelmed. While the humor was great, it didn't flow well enough with the story and it seemed one of the two, humor or plot, had to be sacrificed every now and again for the other to survive. It seemed to balance both well in the beginning, but everything took an odd turn and it just felt a bit messy for the rest of the novel. I still enjoyed it, but I was a bit let down that I didn't like it as much as everyone else does.
City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
4 out of 5 stars.
I was highly anticipating City of Stairs after hearing so many trusted folk raving about it. Luckily, unlike with Good Omens, I wasn't disappointed! This standalone fantasy novel does an impeccable job at worldbuilding - I'm not sure how Bennett managed to sneak so much information past me while I was reading. The cast of characters is intriguing, the magic and religion are mysterious, and once it gets going the plot never seems to slow down. I did have some issues with it, and didn't connect with this as much as I did with the previously mentioned Dreamblood Duology, but definitely an entertaining read.
I was highly anticipating City of Stairs after hearing so many trusted folk raving about it. Luckily, unlike with Good Omens, I wasn't disappointed! This standalone fantasy novel does an impeccable job at worldbuilding - I'm not sure how Bennett managed to sneak so much information past me while I was reading. The cast of characters is intriguing, the magic and religion are mysterious, and once it gets going the plot never seems to slow down. I did have some issues with it, and didn't connect with this as much as I did with the previously mentioned Dreamblood Duology, but definitely an entertaining read.
What did you read in December?
Enchantology is run by Paige Firth, a 21-year-old lover of SFF. Here you'll find book reviews and other bookish goodness...
I'm not familiar with these books but The Shadowed Sun looks very interesting, and let's not forget about that really beautiful cover! You read a great amount of books in December. Was December a good reading month for you? During the month of December, I finished and read the Divergent series, which I'm totally in love with now.
ReplyDeleteAlex @ The Book's Buzz