Nataliya’s review of A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1) > Likes and Comments
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I wonder if Deborah would have allowed her work to be excerpted or shared if it was a positive review. Hmmm...
A sample was all I could handle of this book. Good on you for being able to make it through it and providing this excellent review.
Danielle wrote: "I wonder if Deborah would have allowed her work to be excerpted or shared if it was a positive review. Hmmm..."
I find her action strange, and the negative publicity for the book in the reviews here is the only think I can think of. The attitude in removing book quotes really irks me. I understand preventing unauthorized free copies of your book from circulating, but limiting quotes? That's an overreaction, and an action that at least for me does not help in the slightest with liking the material from this author.
JK wrote: "A sample was all I could handle of this book. Good on you for being able to make it through it and providing this excellent review."
It took me a while, actually. I hate leaving books unfinished, and I made a resolution to finish slogging through this book no matter what.
It seems oddly passive aggressive to me for Goodreads to both agree to the takedown (which is nonsense, of course) and to actually post it for all to see.
Sesana wrote: "It seems oddly passive aggressive to me for Goodreads to both agree to the takedown (which is nonsense, of course) and to actually post it for all to see."
I think they did it on purpose, to underscore the ridiculousness of such request for something as innocuous as sharing quotes.
LOL on the "interspecies yoga" and the prospects of a vampire baseball. Yet a friend of mine published a werewolf baseball tale (Tartabull's Throw).
Michael wrote: "LOL on the "interspecies yoga" and the prospects of a vampire baseball. Yet a friend of mine published a werewolf baseball tale (Tartabull's Throw)."
Werewolf baseball? Hmmmmm. Well, actually, anything baseball sounds a bit funny to me as my a Eastern European self has skipped the baseball appreciation part of American cultural assimilation.
But yoga - awesome pastime, but the inter species long descriptions of it sound nothing but boringly ridiculous.
I love reading your reviews! Your reviews are often more entertaining than the books being reviewed.
"Could have been worse, I suppose; it could have been vampire baseball." so funny! I still snort and shake my head, thinking about vampire baseball.
Thanks, Kathleen, Melanie and Henry!
Well, that just came off of my to-read list. Thanks for the great review!
Silly me, I didn't learn--I read book 2 too. It's even worse.
Sheila wrote: "Silly me, I didn't learn--I read book 2 too. It's even worse."
Thanks for the warning! I will stay away from it at all costs ;)
Lauren wrote: "Well, that just came off of my to-read list. Thanks for the great review!"
You are welcome. Now you have the time to read something better than this :)
Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less than I do after reading Discovery.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less ..."
It sounds like she's afraid that making samples of her work public will lead to losing sales.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less ..."
I agree. Quotes are good for promotion, whereas strict takedown notices - at least for me - do not inspire a slightest desire to read the book in question. It just seems unfriendly and hostile.
Sesana wrote: "It sounds like she's afraid that making samples of her work public will lead to losing sales."
But these are not samples, they are simply quotes. If anything, you'd think a well-chosen quote can help quite a bit to spark the interest in a book; that certainly has happened to me before.
Awesome review Nataliya! Thanks for alerting us about this book! I don't think I want to check this book out!
Ronyell wrote: "Awesome review Nataliya! Thanks for alerting us about this book! I don't think I want to check this book out!"
Thanks, Ronyell. This really wasn't a good book - sadly, as I really wanted to like it, but I just could not.
I'm one of the people that liked this book, and I'm sorry that it didn't work for you. I understand and respect the points you're making, but I still loved the book.
You complain about padding when it's almost the whole point of reading the book. Maybe you can find a poster with the cover art because without the generous supply of superfluous detail that is all that is left.
Nataliya wrote: "But these are not samples, they are simply quotes. If anything, you'd think a well-chosen quote can help quite a bit to spark the interest in a book; that certainly has happened to me before. "
Of course, if you can find one. I think she's just that insecure about her work.
Nan wrote: "I'm one of the people that liked this book, and I'm sorry that it didn't work for you. I understand and respect the points you're making, but I still loved the book."
I read your review, and you describe why you loved this book very eloquently. It seems that the parts that made you love it were not enough to overcome my dislike. That's what so interesting about works of literature - how some of them can speak so much to some while alienating others.
Powerispower wrote: "You complain about padding when it's almost the whole point of reading the book. Maybe you can find a poster with the cover art because without the generous supply of superfluous detail that is all..."
I adamantly disagree. Padding is not the point of reading a book; it is what certain, often inexperienced, writers do before they learn the value of crisp and relevant detail as opposed to heaps of needless fluff.
I couldn't agree more with this review. I couldn't even finish the thing. In fact, after reading it and rereading my own (in which I completely neglected the astonishing number of words devoted to lengthy interspecies yoga sessions), I'm left wondering why on earth I gave it two stars instead of just one...
Nataliya wrote: I read your review, and you describe why you loved this book very eloquently. It seems that the parts that made you love it were not enough to overcome my dislike. That's what so interesting about works of literature - how some of them can speak so much to some while alienating others."
Oh, I agree. I wish sometimes that more people enjoyed the books I love, but I know that not everything I love will work for other people. I'm a recovering academic. I topped out at Ph.D. candidate and, having stopped work on my diss almost two years ago, I haven't been able to return to reading literary criticism yet. I know that my academic interest in 19th-century fiction and the Gothic shaped my response to this book.
As boring as I know it sometimes was, the thing that I really liked most about it was the way she wrote about academic life--the drive to research, the plodding work for conference papers, the joy of working with primary texts that you have not yet read . . . I understand all of that. I miss it sometimes, so it was nice to go back and see that life fictionalized (with vampires).
My books mercilessly rejected the intruder.
Natilya, I adore you.
terrible book! and so boring.
Nan wrote: "As boring as I know it sometimes was, the thing that I really liked most about it was the way she wrote about academic life--the drive to research, the plodding work for conference papers, the joy of working with primary texts that you have not yet read . . . I understand all of that."
The way you write about it, it sounds quite amazing. Had the entire book been about research and not clumsy vampire romance, I think I would have enjoyed it much more.
mark wrote: "My books mercilessly rejected the intruder.
Natilya, I adore you.
terrible book! and so boring."
Haha, thanks, Mark!
Love the review. I've never seen or heard about something like that with an author and quotes before either. Odd
Great review Nataliya. Congratulations for finishing the book. I struggle to make it half way and then gave up.
Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm jealous of your price tag, though -- mine cost FIVE dollars. >:D
N- wow - I keep seeing this book too and I love books about witches and tv shows (this season of American Horror- wow!) -- I hope you will have a chance to take a look at my new novel -- BEFORE MY EYES - and give it an indepth critique, though hopefully a more positive one!! Caroline
Sarah wrote: "Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm jealous of your price tag, though -- mine cost FIVE dollars. >:D"
Hah, at least it seems that I got to suffer through this boring piece of nonsense for a bargain price ;)
Nataliya wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm j..."
Try living in Australia - mine cost $20...
Katie wrote: "Try living in Australia - mine cost $20..."
That's way more money than this book is worth :(
Have this sitting on my 'maybe' shelf gathering dust where it's now likely to remain for posterity. Great review:)
Florence (Lefty) wrote: "Have this sitting on my 'maybe' shelf gathering dust where it's now likely to remain for posterity. Great review:)"
Thanks!
Agree most wholeheartedly. I also got pissy when she left the whole Ashmole tangent floating in the ether. It was a major plotline at the beginning and just seemed to disappear. Just awful.
I love your reviews!! I always look for your name everytime i want to read something to see if you have reviewed it or not:)
Bernie wrote: "I love your reviews!! I always look for your name everytime i want to read something to see if you have reviewed it or not:)"
Thanks, Bernie!
Copyright-laws allow quoting small amounts of someone's work. I was thinking I might read this but now that I see the authors behavior I will never read one of her books. Period. (For that reason alone)
I agree with your take on the Diana character. I gave the book 3 stars after I started on the second installment of this trilogy, which is much more interesting and readable. The downside to the second book is that Matthew and Diana begin having sex, thankfully there are no detailed accounts! I think the story is tolerable and many of the other characters are quite likable. It's just a shame Diana has to be the main character. Thanks for your review.
"unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest" Bwahaha! So very true!
Meg wrote: ""unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest" Bwahaha! So very true!"
I find it perplexing why all such books are absolutely obsessed with describing the smells of male characters. Pheromones, yeah I get it. But in real life I'd like to think that all of those love interests would be quite disturbed realizing that they are constantly being sniffed. Ew.
Thanks for writing everything I was thinking while I read it. It was especially disappointing because of the good start and I was expecting something new and interesting. It's ridiculous how many fantasy authors feel the need to include a romance and how it becomes the focus of the story.
The SNIFFING! Oh, the sniffing. Yes, you nailed it.
Before my brain explodes with distaste, here is a brief list of things that are NOT sexy or attractive: stalking, kidnapping, drugging an unsuspecting person, patronizing, condescension, snobbery, uncontrollable anger, murderous tendencies, codependency, and neverending smug name-dropping.
Here is a brief list of things that do not have to happen when heroine falls in love: helplessness, fully surrendering control, dramatic drop in intelligence, sudden childishness, unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest, need to be constantly rescued, codependency, and propensity for irrational acts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is exactly what needed to be said about this book.
I completely agree with you! The vampire's extreme mood swings should have been enough to deter our so-called smart heroine, but all they seem to do is intrigue her :/
Ugh, I'm only about a quarter of the way through with this one; I thought the story would be starting any second!! At least I got mine from the library and kept my two bucks :)
And I was taken in by the beautiful cover, too.
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Danielle
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Feb 01, 2014 03:45PM
I wonder if Deborah would have allowed her work to be excerpted or shared if it was a positive review. Hmmm...
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A sample was all I could handle of this book. Good on you for being able to make it through it and providing this excellent review.
Danielle wrote: "I wonder if Deborah would have allowed her work to be excerpted or shared if it was a positive review. Hmmm..."I find her action strange, and the negative publicity for the book in the reviews here is the only think I can think of. The attitude in removing book quotes really irks me. I understand preventing unauthorized free copies of your book from circulating, but limiting quotes? That's an overreaction, and an action that at least for me does not help in the slightest with liking the material from this author.
JK wrote: "A sample was all I could handle of this book. Good on you for being able to make it through it and providing this excellent review."
It took me a while, actually. I hate leaving books unfinished, and I made a resolution to finish slogging through this book no matter what.
It seems oddly passive aggressive to me for Goodreads to both agree to the takedown (which is nonsense, of course) and to actually post it for all to see.
Sesana wrote: "It seems oddly passive aggressive to me for Goodreads to both agree to the takedown (which is nonsense, of course) and to actually post it for all to see."I think they did it on purpose, to underscore the ridiculousness of such request for something as innocuous as sharing quotes.
LOL on the "interspecies yoga" and the prospects of a vampire baseball. Yet a friend of mine published a werewolf baseball tale (Tartabull's Throw).
Michael wrote: "LOL on the "interspecies yoga" and the prospects of a vampire baseball. Yet a friend of mine published a werewolf baseball tale (Tartabull's Throw)."Werewolf baseball? Hmmmmm. Well, actually, anything baseball sounds a bit funny to me as my a Eastern European self has skipped the baseball appreciation part of American cultural assimilation.
But yoga - awesome pastime, but the inter species long descriptions of it sound nothing but boringly ridiculous.
I love reading your reviews! Your reviews are often more entertaining than the books being reviewed.
"Could have been worse, I suppose; it could have been vampire baseball." so funny! I still snort and shake my head, thinking about vampire baseball.
Thanks, Kathleen, Melanie and Henry!
Well, that just came off of my to-read list. Thanks for the great review!
Silly me, I didn't learn--I read book 2 too. It's even worse.
Sheila wrote: "Silly me, I didn't learn--I read book 2 too. It's even worse."Thanks for the warning! I will stay away from it at all costs ;)
Lauren wrote: "Well, that just came off of my to-read list. Thanks for the great review!"
You are welcome. Now you have the time to read something better than this :)
Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less than I do after reading Discovery.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less ..."It sounds like she's afraid that making samples of her work public will lead to losing sales.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "Wow, that's the first time I've seen an author NOT wanting more promotion, especially as people usually only 'like' quotes, not comment on them. Strange, really. If it's true, I like her even less ..."I agree. Quotes are good for promotion, whereas strict takedown notices - at least for me - do not inspire a slightest desire to read the book in question. It just seems unfriendly and hostile.
Sesana wrote: "It sounds like she's afraid that making samples of her work public will lead to losing sales."
But these are not samples, they are simply quotes. If anything, you'd think a well-chosen quote can help quite a bit to spark the interest in a book; that certainly has happened to me before.
Awesome review Nataliya! Thanks for alerting us about this book! I don't think I want to check this book out!
Ronyell wrote: "Awesome review Nataliya! Thanks for alerting us about this book! I don't think I want to check this book out!"Thanks, Ronyell. This really wasn't a good book - sadly, as I really wanted to like it, but I just could not.
I'm one of the people that liked this book, and I'm sorry that it didn't work for you. I understand and respect the points you're making, but I still loved the book.
You complain about padding when it's almost the whole point of reading the book. Maybe you can find a poster with the cover art because without the generous supply of superfluous detail that is all that is left.
Nataliya wrote: "But these are not samples, they are simply quotes. If anything, you'd think a well-chosen quote can help quite a bit to spark the interest in a book; that certainly has happened to me before. "Of course, if you can find one. I think she's just that insecure about her work.
Nan wrote: "I'm one of the people that liked this book, and I'm sorry that it didn't work for you. I understand and respect the points you're making, but I still loved the book."I read your review, and you describe why you loved this book very eloquently. It seems that the parts that made you love it were not enough to overcome my dislike. That's what so interesting about works of literature - how some of them can speak so much to some while alienating others.
Powerispower wrote: "You complain about padding when it's almost the whole point of reading the book. Maybe you can find a poster with the cover art because without the generous supply of superfluous detail that is all..."I adamantly disagree. Padding is not the point of reading a book; it is what certain, often inexperienced, writers do before they learn the value of crisp and relevant detail as opposed to heaps of needless fluff.
I couldn't agree more with this review. I couldn't even finish the thing. In fact, after reading it and rereading my own (in which I completely neglected the astonishing number of words devoted to lengthy interspecies yoga sessions), I'm left wondering why on earth I gave it two stars instead of just one...
Nataliya wrote: I read your review, and you describe why you loved this book very eloquently. It seems that the parts that made you love it were not enough to overcome my dislike. That's what so interesting about works of literature - how some of them can speak so much to some while alienating others."Oh, I agree. I wish sometimes that more people enjoyed the books I love, but I know that not everything I love will work for other people. I'm a recovering academic. I topped out at Ph.D. candidate and, having stopped work on my diss almost two years ago, I haven't been able to return to reading literary criticism yet. I know that my academic interest in 19th-century fiction and the Gothic shaped my response to this book.
As boring as I know it sometimes was, the thing that I really liked most about it was the way she wrote about academic life--the drive to research, the plodding work for conference papers, the joy of working with primary texts that you have not yet read . . . I understand all of that. I miss it sometimes, so it was nice to go back and see that life fictionalized (with vampires).
My books mercilessly rejected the intruder.Natilya, I adore you.
terrible book! and so boring.
Nan wrote: "As boring as I know it sometimes was, the thing that I really liked most about it was the way she wrote about academic life--the drive to research, the plodding work for conference papers, the joy of working with primary texts that you have not yet read . . . I understand all of that."The way you write about it, it sounds quite amazing. Had the entire book been about research and not clumsy vampire romance, I think I would have enjoyed it much more.
mark wrote: "My books mercilessly rejected the intruder.
Natilya, I adore you.
terrible book! and so boring."
Haha, thanks, Mark!
Love the review. I've never seen or heard about something like that with an author and quotes before either. Odd
Great review Nataliya. Congratulations for finishing the book. I struggle to make it half way and then gave up.
Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm jealous of your price tag, though -- mine cost FIVE dollars. >:D
N- wow - I keep seeing this book too and I love books about witches and tv shows (this season of American Horror- wow!) -- I hope you will have a chance to take a look at my new novel -- BEFORE MY EYES - and give it an indepth critique, though hopefully a more positive one!! Caroline
Sarah wrote: "Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm jealous of your price tag, though -- mine cost FIVE dollars. >:D"Hah, at least it seems that I got to suffer through this boring piece of nonsense for a bargain price ;)
Nataliya wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Awesome review. Your critiques are spot-on. I too was suckered into buying this because of the pretty cover & nifty premise, then couldn't believe the uninspired slog within. I'm j..."Try living in Australia - mine cost $20...
Katie wrote: "Try living in Australia - mine cost $20..."That's way more money than this book is worth :(
Have this sitting on my 'maybe' shelf gathering dust where it's now likely to remain for posterity. Great review:)
Florence (Lefty) wrote: "Have this sitting on my 'maybe' shelf gathering dust where it's now likely to remain for posterity. Great review:)"Thanks!
Agree most wholeheartedly. I also got pissy when she left the whole Ashmole tangent floating in the ether. It was a major plotline at the beginning and just seemed to disappear. Just awful.
I love your reviews!! I always look for your name everytime i want to read something to see if you have reviewed it or not:)
Bernie wrote: "I love your reviews!! I always look for your name everytime i want to read something to see if you have reviewed it or not:)"Thanks, Bernie!
Copyright-laws allow quoting small amounts of someone's work. I was thinking I might read this but now that I see the authors behavior I will never read one of her books. Period. (For that reason alone)
I agree with your take on the Diana character. I gave the book 3 stars after I started on the second installment of this trilogy, which is much more interesting and readable. The downside to the second book is that Matthew and Diana begin having sex, thankfully there are no detailed accounts! I think the story is tolerable and many of the other characters are quite likable. It's just a shame Diana has to be the main character. Thanks for your review.
"unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest" Bwahaha! So very true!
Meg wrote: ""unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest" Bwahaha! So very true!"I find it perplexing why all such books are absolutely obsessed with describing the smells of male characters. Pheromones, yeah I get it. But in real life I'd like to think that all of those love interests would be quite disturbed realizing that they are constantly being sniffed. Ew.
Thanks for writing everything I was thinking while I read it. It was especially disappointing because of the good start and I was expecting something new and interesting. It's ridiculous how many fantasy authors feel the need to include a romance and how it becomes the focus of the story.
The SNIFFING! Oh, the sniffing. Yes, you nailed it.
Before my brain explodes with distaste, here is a brief list of things that are NOT sexy or attractive: stalking, kidnapping, drugging an unsuspecting person, patronizing, condescension, snobbery, uncontrollable anger, murderous tendencies, codependency, and neverending smug name-dropping.Here is a brief list of things that do not have to happen when heroine falls in love: helplessness, fully surrendering control, dramatic drop in intelligence, sudden childishness, unexplained neverending sniffing of the male love interest, need to be constantly rescued, codependency, and propensity for irrational acts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is exactly what needed to be said about this book.
I completely agree with you! The vampire's extreme mood swings should have been enough to deter our so-called smart heroine, but all they seem to do is intrigue her :/Ugh, I'm only about a quarter of the way through with this one; I thought the story would be starting any second!! At least I got mine from the library and kept my two bucks :)
And I was taken in by the beautiful cover, too.
