kureha > Recent Status Updates

Meh. I’m having a hard time suspending my disbelief. The writing is nothing special—and I mean both style and craft. Flimsy world-building. Flat characters. Insurmountable odds (but you know they’ll get over them because...plot reasons).

I’m liking this less and less. Pity. It started with a lot of promise. :/

“It was his presence that conjured the brilliant peacock shades of the late-season monsoon sky. It was his aura that withered sun-ripe mangos and ushered in the lush winter fruits of custard apple and singhora chestnuts. And it was his stride that adorned the Kalidas Mountains with coronets of snow clouds.”

Wow, purple much? And they don’t even make sense.

This book is just not doing it for me. The prose is sometimes pretty, but more often than not confusing.

Another narrator (female) who pauses at weird places (like after the names). I like the male narrator, though. Pleasant voice, almost musical.

As for the story itself, the names of the peoples are a bit silly. As if each people is defined by only one type of occupation (Martials, Mariners, Scholars, etc.). Also, the villain is one-dimensionally evil. The plot does hold my interest, though, so there’s that.

Sumptuous prose, though some pet phrases like “she cut her eyes” stand out. (Apparently, “to cut eyes at something” means “to glare at it.”) The audiobook narrator has an annoying habit of halting every three or four words.

What gorgeous prose. I am in awe.

What a snorefest. :|

Machiavelli is as entertaining as I expected him to be. :D

Little Tybalt is adorable. I like seeing his affection for Nurse Angelica (and hers for him), hinted in Shakespeare’s, explored here. In all the other pastiches I’ve read, he’s more often than not the bad guy.

Finally making some headway with this book. :D

“Val Jeanval”? A reference to Jean Valjean of Les Misérables? Tee hee.

First kiss in the entire series! :O And Gustav, of all people.

For some reason, this book leaves me feeling drained.

I just want to be done and over with, but I’m a frustratingly slow reader.

Calling it now: Cole and Mira are endgame.

That said, I won’t be too disappointed if I turn out to be wrong. I hope.

Whee, Don Pedro and Sir Benedick! :D

So, I’m reading fan fiction pastiches of Romeo and Juliet, and in both Benvolio and Rosaline are paired up. Does that mean I ship them?

The writing is rather clunky and awkward. But I’m giving it a chance because I like murder mysteries and historical fiction. Besides, the new BBC show gives me a hankering for more of the musketeers. Though I suppose I could just reread Dumas. Heh.

I have a new ship! :O

I've forgotten how easy it is to get sucked into the story. :D

What to read now? (Please ignore the fact that I have 19 books in my currently-reading shelf.)

Why is finishing a book you loved so depressing? :(

Wonderful, wonderful world-building. ♥

I’m really liking this. I like all the PoV characters, but Dominic is just ♥.