@yaenntz@wyrms.de Yeah, a lot of the Murderbot stories are novellas and not novels, so this one sticks out a bit for being longer, doesn't it?
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I mostly read (and listen to) books via Libby and my local library. For that, I referred a lot to Goodreads for reviews of books I might want to read next. I hope to use Bookwyrm for recommendations and reviews now. I read different genres: fantasy, sci-fi, mystery and a little romance from time to time.
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LilithElina replied to Jensi 🏴🚩 • he/him's status
@yaenntz@wyrms.de Yeah, a lot of the Murderbot stories are novellas and not novels, so this one sticks out a bit for being longer, doesn't it?
LilithElina started reading Witch King by Martha Wells
One review on here says it's overwhelming/confusing as an audiobook. I hope I'll be able to follow it anyway.
One review on here says it's overwhelming/confusing as an audiobook. I hope I'll be able to follow it anyway.
LilithElina reviewed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Enjoyed this a lot
5 stars
I'm not sure how much of my joy in this was caused by Julia Whelan reading the story so wonderfully, but the story itself was also great. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is very creative fantasy and parts of the ending definitely made me cry. Yes, I agree with JFernly@bookwyrm.social about Addie's character arc being stagnant and a slightly different ending for her could have been more fitting. Additionally, in the middle the whole story felt a little stagnant as well, and I was getting impatient to get to see how it ends. Overall I loved the book, though, and I'm contemplating getting a copy to read as well, so I'm still.giving five stars.
I'm not sure how much of my joy in this was caused by Julia Whelan reading the story so wonderfully, but the story itself was also great. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is very creative fantasy and parts of the ending definitely made me cry. Yes, I agree with JFernly@bookwyrm.social about Addie's character arc being stagnant and a slightly different ending for her could have been more fitting. Additionally, in the middle the whole story felt a little stagnant as well, and I was getting impatient to get to see how it ends. Overall I loved the book, though, and I'm contemplating getting a copy to read as well, so I'm still.giving five stars.
LilithElina finished reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a 2020 fantasy fiction standalone novel written by American author V.E. Schwab. It …
LilithElina commented on The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
I'm starting to have favourite readers of audiobooks, it seems, and Julia Whelan is definitely among them. Her voice and intonation are superb in my ears.
I'm starting to have favourite readers of audiobooks, it seems, and Julia Whelan is definitely among them. Her voice and intonation are superb in my ears.
LilithElina started reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
LilithElina reviewed How To Seal Your Own Fate (Castle Knoll Files, #2)
It was a struggle
2 stars
I struggled a lot to read this book, it just didn't manage to keep my attention. As the last chapter came up, I was actually annoyed, because everything already seemed to be resolved and I didn't want to read another chapter.
My main problem was that the main character/narrator is so lost, the story just seemed to meander randomly. Like it was as much without purpose as the narrator herself. That it's a first person point of view doesn't help. The second first person POV included in the book in diary form was also a struggle this time. I remember enjoying the two different storylines and styles in the first book, but here I couldn't relate to anyone.
I struggled a lot to read this book, it just didn't manage to keep my attention. As the last chapter came up, I was actually annoyed, because everything already seemed to be resolved and I didn't want to read another chapter.
My main problem was that the main character/narrator is so lost, the story just seemed to meander randomly. Like it was as much without purpose as the narrator herself. That it's a first person point of view doesn't help. The second first person POV included in the book in diary form was also a struggle this time. I remember enjoying the two different storylines and styles in the first book, but here I couldn't relate to anyone.
LilithElina finished reading How To Seal Your Own Fate (Castle Knoll Files, #2)

How To Seal Your Own Fate (Castle Knoll Files, #2)
Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane crosses her …
LilithElina reviewed Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Great work with the audiobook
5 stars
Content warning Minor spoilers ahead
I enjoyed reading the book a while ago and now finally listened to the Audible audio version. I think they did a great job with Rocky's speech and I was a little impressed when the narrator tried to include Eridian speech in the final chapter/epilogue.
The story is, like any Andy Weir book, very sciency. It's also pretty white male dominated, which could be a little annoying. On the other hand, a white male author trying to write a different character can be awkward, so I don't mind.
LilithElina finished reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission–and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will …
LilithElina started reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
New world, old acquaintances
3 stars
Content warning Minor spoilers ahead
After listening to "The Secret Society of Very Irregular Witches" I was really surprised that this book uses a completely different magical setting, both in organisation of witches and in the workings of magic itself. Props for creativity. What surprisingly was the same was the male lead - the white guy with Scottish accent working in a library and lovingly taking care of a child who isn't his own. The other similarity between the books was even more irksome - I don't like it when people just drop dead for no apparent reason. I get that it's not relevant for the story, but I still find it irritating. Unlike others whose reviews I read, I wasn't upset about the result of the final showdown. The thing itself was weird - try to get a high stakes witches duel going in a cozy story, it's not easy - but the loss of magic in the end made sense to me. Yes, it was terribly sad, but there was so much talk about balance before, what sense would it have made for Sera to be by far the most powerful witch alone? Since I mentioned it in my review of the Secret Society: the sex scene was better this time, they even used condoms. Not being able to focus on an important mission because they're both dressed nicely? That one was a little disappointing. Grown-ups should have more self control.
Cozy with weak points
3 stars
Overall, I liked the cozyness of the story, and Samara MacLaren's voice was great to listen to. I liked the world building, the idea that all witches are orphans and have to be alone, more or less, and the way the magic itself works. I also didn't see the main twist coming, at all. The second one was easy to see, though. What I didn't like was the sex scene. For one thing, it wasn't well told. For another, it always irritates me when the characters in a story go straight from nothing to sex without once talking about protection, be it from pregnancy or STDs. I'm pretty sure both are a possibility in this book's world and should be addressed no matter how badly desire suddenly struck the people involved.
Overall, I liked the cozyness of the story, and Samara MacLaren's voice was great to listen to. I liked the world building, the idea that all witches are orphans and have to be alone, more or less, and the way the magic itself works. I also didn't see the main twist coming, at all. The second one was easy to see, though. What I didn't like was the sex scene. For one thing, it wasn't well told. For another, it always irritates me when the characters in a story go straight from nothing to sex without once talking about protection, be it from pregnancy or STDs. I'm pretty sure both are a possibility in this book's world and should be addressed no matter how badly desire suddenly struck the people involved.





