Q > Recent Status Updates

40 pages left. I’m overwhelmed by my adoration of Emerence and the friendship of the two women. I lover her for her contractions, her fierce independence, quiet devotion, and deep compassion for the damaged and broken, whether it being animals or people. I love all of her, including her occasional scornful outbursts and brutal honesty. My love for the character made this part feel like have my feelings whipsawed.

I feel that I have to stop reading just so I won’t lose the companionship of Emerence anytime soon. I love her so much that I wish to have a friend like that. Whose voice I would never get tired of hearing.

Just finished book 1 of Isle of Emberdark. The premise has the similar sense of wonder like in other Sanderson’s book - promise of vast world building (cosseted), rich lores, and unique magic systems. I’m lukewarm on Dusk. The stoic silent character and his relationship with the adventurous and bold Vathi seems somewhat cliche. So 4 stars so far and will see how book II is like with Starling as main character.

How is it possible that I’m having one of the best literary experience with this book? I thought after Ishiguro it would be hard to find a book that would give me the same kind of emotional depth, and yet here I am, so taken by this Hungarian cleaning lady that I’m so charmed, obsessed, and moved to tears time to time.

Reading Isle of Emberdark reminds me of the first time I read Brandon Sanderson’s book Misborn. The unique magic system, the smooth world building that does not overwhelm me with all the info dump at the beginning but slowly pulls me in, and the characters that are so vivid and full that I can see them jumping off the page.