Review: The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really interesting take on a well known story, The Song of Achilles tells the tale of Achilles from the perspective of his best friend and love Patroclus.

The cadence that it is written in can be a bit difficult to get into, however does echo the tone of the Greek classics. It's also helpful, but not necessary to have some kind of basic knowledge of Greek myths, gods, and epics to really understand what it going on in the larger story.

The love story between the two main characters is a little difficult to deal with as you know what's going to happen in the end and it's like watching a train coming down the tracks towards them and you can't do anything about it. Their love is desperate and deep, both their strength and greatest weakness.

I really liked getting to known more about Patroclus, and the discussion of what really makes a person the greatest and worthy of fame and honor. The book and story is pretty intense so I suggest having something lighter at had to take breaks with.

View all my reviews

Review: One True Pairing

One True Pairing by Cathy Yardley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored 'Level Up' when I read it so was very excited for Yardley's next book in the Fandom Hearts series. And although 'One True Pairing' is good, it didn't seem to have quite the same spark of humor as 'Level Up did.

Hailey is a very interesting character, in the line of the kickass-but insecure in love trope. We don't get to see much in the way of the group of friends that was introduced in 'Level Up' outside of Hailey's interactions with her sisters, of which there aren't that many. There is a lot of talk about the fandom world, but not as much in-depth interaction with it like in 'Level Up,' although I did enjoy the almost constant asides about how great the Supernatural fandom is. Carry on with that my wayward son.
In that vain, I would have liked a bit more out of the Jake Reese character. I'm glad that both characters acknowledged that the whole instalust/love thing is eyebrow raising, and thus their almost constant knee-jerk reactions to things between each other got a bit irritating as one is supposed to see at least Hailey as a somewhat level-headed practical person. I can only assume her loss of these traits were via Jake's magic wang or something. Also, why at no point did Jake call and talk to his mom? His father is a jackass and I couldn't help but feel that Jake should have at some point called and talked to his mother about everything that was going on. If there is one thing that Supernatural should have taught him it's that lack of communication and honesty with family will end with a field trip to Hell. Ain't nobody got snacks for that.

Still, the book was fun, you find yourself cheering for them and enjoying the wink and nod to all the fandoms, but I did find myself hoping that one of the other friends might stick their head in to shake things up a bit. There is quite a bit of set-up for the next books that I imagine will be forthcoming, so there is some comfort in that.

View all my reviews

Review: Miss Buncle's Book

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Barbara Buncle writes a book based on her social circle and wackiness follows.

A delightful little read, sort of if P.G. Wodehouse and Georgette Heyer had a late night cream tea and decided to write something together. The egos of some of the characters who think that the book is about them to start with, and their convoluted reasoning about how they both are and aren't the characters is both amusing and disturbing.

It really underlines the saying 'the meek shall inherit the earth,' because it's always the quite ones.

View all my reviews

Review: A Gentleman For All Seasons

A Gentleman For All Seasons by Shana Galen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bright anthology collection that happens over a year in one village with some connecting characters.

Kate Noble's "A Madness in Spring," starts the collection off with a classic 'oh my lord, you are so irritating!' to 'fine, I'll marry you,' story. As with most of Noble's work there is a thread of humor through the whole story. The relationship of Belinda and Adam had been built on misunderstandings and social expectations to the point that they can't seem to see each other through their history. A history that is different to both of them. Luckily the Gages move into town for the season and the young Miss Gage needs a hobby after her convalescences and smashing her friend's heads together and yelling 'now kiss!' seem to fit the bill.

Shana Galen's 'The Summer of Wine and Scandal' is both a very nice love story but also a bit of a downer. it's nice that writers are now trying to be more truthful about how women were treated during the era, and a very traumatic story is handled quite well in this story line. I did find myself cheering at the end.

Theresa Romain's 'Those Autumn Nights' is another story that talks about how a woman had so little agency during the Regency. Although it still gets a bit into the area of how starting out with the truth is always a good idea.

Vanessa Kelly's 'The season for Loving,' Miss Gage-matchmaker gets hers. Did you think that you would be able to get through a whole historical anthology without at least one Highlander? Well keep looking because it isn't this one. Fergus Haddon suffers from the curse of the kilted cinnamon bun. He just wants what's best for everyone he cares about, he just doesn't bother to find out what that actually is, which seems to be a common problem with most men in this anthology. Luckily Miss Gage ain't got time for that.

View all my reviews

Review: The Unyielding

The Unyielding by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third in the Call of Crows series, Laurenston has really out done herself with The Unyielding.

Following the story of Erin, who up to this point I had found a bit wearing and irritating much like all those around her seem to, I found myself really liking her within the first third pages which is a damn quick turn around for a character.

With the threat of Ragnarök on the Clan's doorstep we find out that there is not much that the clans as a whole can do outside of hold the line. Erin turns out to be the million to one chance to everyone's irritation, maybe no one else more so than the Raven Stieg's who has been historically singled out by Erin to irritate because he is so damn fun to bother.

And he is terribly fun. And there is a goat that I defy you not to love, and the return of Brodie Hawaii the world's most helpful pitbull. Nidhogg also shows up, it's grand.

If you liked the first two books you will enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

Review: Austenland

Austenland by Shannon Hale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I read this after having seen the movie, yes I know, I'm a horrible person.
That confession out of the way, there was actually enough difference between the book and the movie to keep me engaged throughout the reading.

I actually wish that they had done the start of the movie more like that start of the book, Jane not being a Colin Firth obsessed modern-day spinster. Also having her rediscovering her joy in painting while on vacation and deciding to change for herself and not for any of the guys was much more interesting.

Long story short, even if you've seen the movie the book is worth a read, and the humor still shine through.

View all my reviews

Review: Rogue Desire: A Romance Anthology

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.