Jen > Recent Status Updates

This is brutal.

This is the final test for Alex, and the consequence for not embracing and utilizing what she has learned. Not from all the Yale lore and minutia, but from people and experiences.

I love this both for the message at its core, and the hope it represents. This is a dark series but there’s something bright and wholesome within it.

Oh my god, this is the best series I’ve ever read. It’s like it was perfectly crafted to make me obsessed with it.

This is one of those rare books that I could fly through, but I really don’t want it to end. I’m going to be so sad to say goodbye to these characters.

Why has it taken me so long to start this book? Glad I’m rectifying it now, though.

This is a clever and unique spin on some typical tropes (so far), but I don’t think it’s anything like A Deadly Education and might let readers down who expect that. Not to mention miss out on the correct intended audience. Tho—I wouldn’t be reading it without that comparison so what do I know?

I don’t think I’m alone in this, but… I’d kill Trace before we stepped out the door. Or tell Grace it’s obvious someone will do it and ask if she wants to go it alone without him. Cause he’s causing someone to die not long after they leave. It’s obvious.

I recently read a critique on a book that said something like, “you need to be saying something new or showing character movement if you keep repeating things in a book.” This author could have used that advice. There is nothing new in the constant rehashing of this particular trauma in her life.

I was loving this book, but I’m sorry, this first attempt at their goal is stupid. Like, what? What is going on?

I really don’t care for the second storyline. Adding in Southern California as a setting kind of ruins the vibe. But I get the purpose, at least.

The first reveal I didn’t see coming, but I suspect very few are surprised by the second reveal.

This is moving too slow for me, and to make matters worse, it’s heavily implied this is based on a trope I hate (it would be a spoiler to include it here). I think it’s not for me.

The second year isn’t hooking me like the first one.

The writing isn’t great, but I expected that. I feel like we should be further along, though.

“So, was Egypt black? Most of the people asking this question today are Africans … who would like to claim early Egypt accomplishments for themselves…”
No. EMPHATICALLY no. Most people TODAY who are concerned with this are aggressively white nationalists. How can you even print that?? Are you stupid, William?

So much of the criticism of RF Kuang’s Poppy War series should also be directed at Ken Liu. If she’s guilty, so is he.

I (on the other hand) think it’s perfectly normal to be inspired by history, but at least Kuang’s version wasn’t this boring.

I can’t believe how good this book is. I’m rereading for the third time and it’s just as entertaining and delightful as the first time. Naomi Novik is a genius of monumental talent.

The audiobook narrated by William Dufris is awful. I don’t know how this was published.

This books starts out as a semi-normal (if random gut-punches of racism is normal, and it might have been in the time it was written) mystery of a jewel heist. And then, at around 25%, it takes a hard turn into complete batshittery.

A monologue of nonsense. What is going on.

This is the second time I’ve tried to read this book, and at this point I have to accept it just isn’t doing it for me.

This author is so creepy when he talks about female slaves. Is it necessary to talk about how people would use them for sex in every paragraph? And the tone that he makes these comments lightens what should be a grave and serious subject.

I cannot believe this is how this ends.

The events that just happened were easily the weakest of the whole book. It honestly made me doubt the ability for the writers to wrap this story up satisfactorily. One of the main character’s actions, or response to some damming information, is unbelievable and only added because the authors wanted this response for another character. When you can see puppet strings the book loses its magic.

I think I’ve figured out a few things, though, if I’m right, these things were almost pointed out with a neon sign. Still, I like when the author gives clues to have the reader piece it together rather than all plausible twists and turns that surprise.

I guessed this would happen, but it is such a gut punch even so. Ugh. I would rage and become a tyrant.

I’m going back and forth between ebook and audio. This narrator is terrible, but I can’t knit a sweater and read an ebook at the same time, so it’ll have to do.

I’m not in the mood for this now.