Welcome back fellow bibliophiles!
It has been incredibly nice to devote so much time to reading in the last few weeks. Even if I haven’t had the mental capacity to do much else. It has helped improve my mood as we stare down month nine of social isolation. While I go into the office daily, being able to sit and read has felt like such a luxury.
One a side note, it was wonderful seeing my local library back up and running. Even if it doesn’t look the same, libraries are such a central part of a community, and seeing people checking out books is a little spark of joy in the current climate. As much as I hate that my state will again go into protracted lock down, for that brief moment there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
I’ve been on an heroine kick lately; desperately seeking authors and adventures as I wander in escapist mode. Not all adventures are created equal however.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
I impatiently waited for this book through my library for months. With the recommendation of numerous friends, I caved and simply bought the series instead. I devoured the first four books of this series in less than a week. To be fair, I had some time off work, and not a whole lot of plans.
I found the primary characters rich and vibrant, but Maas also does not sugarcoat their flaws. Of which, there were a fair few. But, characters without any flaws are boring anyway. Even secondary characters had a surprising amount of depth, or hints of depth, and fit into the general world like puzzle pieces.
Maas did a great job building a world that was fun, mysterious and continually moving forward. The narrative was evenly paced and I didn’t find myself longing to skip paragraphs. (Which is always a plus when you have splurged on a new series, sight unseen). While I would not describe the story arc as surprising, I enjoyed it from one moment to the next. That being said, Maas like many YA authors, naturally fell into the trap of archetypes that have become standard in the last few years. The heroine goes through a mini existential crisis in the second and third books, where she tried to “disappear” into her own melancholy. There was also the inevitable love triangle (or love-square) with its own emotional trials and eye rolls. I am thrilled to report that the oh-so-familiar tropes do not last too long.
Do to the short amount of time that I finished four books, I have decided to take a short break before starting the fifth novel. I eagerly look forward to diving back into the world after the new year though!
The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
Full disclosure, this was a reread. I have read the Tower and Hive series multiple times, although its been at least ten years since I picked up this volume last. I am very picky about my Anne McCaffrey. Many of her novels hold little interest for me. I enjoy the Dragonrider’s of Pern series, but can only handing diving into the world in small doses.
The Rowan is the first novel in this series, although there are two prequels in the series now as well. I found a sense of relief in the nostalgia provided in a familiar world. McCaffrey has a distinct writing style, one that is extended throughout many of her novels. Unfortunately, this writing style also includes widely fluctuating narratives that transition between action and description frequently. Luckily, these transitions are very smooth, although periods where the author world-builds and includes descriptions can feel very long. I find her descriptive stages similar to Tolkien.
The prequels Pegasus to Ride and Pegasus in Flight provide a great deal of background information for the reader. If it is your first experience with this world, it is beneficial to start with the prequels but not necessary.
The Secret Chapter by Genevieve Cogman
If you have read previous reviews on this blog, you will find yourself familiar with some aspects of the Invisible Library story line. My last foray into this series was the Mortal World. While I continue to enjoy the books, my review was unfortunately not all sunshine and rainbows. With this installment, I felt that Cogman had managed to steer her world-ship back on course.
By now, the toll of previous adventures is beginning to show on some of the more established characters. While still witty and entertaining, the characters have begun to take on the scarred, more pragmatic tones of more experience. As more world details are revealed, I find that I am enjoying delving into the personal histories of different characters as the series continues. The narrative felt more in tune with the first and second novels. The focus balanced the narrative with a deep dive into the character’s personal histories. It answered questions but also left a plethora of breadcrumbs to explore in the next novel.
Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas by Laura Sook Duncombe
The attempted introduction of a non-fiction book into my heroine reading list. While I appreciate the sentiment exhibited by Duncombe in writing this book, weeks later all I can remember is “meh”. Resources on female pirates is beyond spotty and there is a tenuous relationship between historians and pirates in general.
Basically, if you have never read research or other works on female pirates, give this book a shot. Duncombe hits on all the big figures, and a few lesser known individuals. But, there are no surprises and personally I wouldn’t consider the book a primary source. Duncombes narrative just sits on the surface of resources that are available on the topic. In addition, her personal bias is clearly indicated throughout her narrative. I found it distracting enough that I gave up on the book a few times in frustration.
Treat the book like Wikipedia. Read the information, make a few notes that jump out at you, and then search for other legitimate sources.
Toil & Tomes 