Catching up with book backlog
Here's another batch of reading comments from my backlog. If I continue doing these in small batches, maybe someday I'll finally catch up.
40. Kristin Cashore: Graceling
Some people in Katsa's world have gifts (or curses, however you want to see it) that make them exceptional in something. Someone might be able to communicate with animals, someone might be really good at gardening, etc. Katsa's gift is killing. And her uncle the king uses her as his personal thug, because of that Grace.
But that is not all she is, even though some people can't see past her Grace to the person behind. She has formed an underground network of people who want to help people caught in the troubles and whims between the various kings.
Then one day her uncle just pushes her too far and she is banished from his kingdom. She has to redefine her identity and her place in the world. And this isn't helped at all by her growing attraction to Prince Po who becomes her travelling companion. She met Po during one of her missions and they quickly became friends.
The wonderful thing about Po is that he accepts her as she is. He isn't pushing her to become something else, and also helps her in finding out who she really is.
This is a story of growing up and accepting yourself, but it also has love and adventure in a wonderfully vivid world that is being threatened from an unexpected source, by a Grace that is extremely dangerous.
I really loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on Cashore's next novel, Fire.
43. Ann Aguirre: Blue Diablo
Corine Solomon is a handler, i.e. she can see an object's past and sometimes even it's future. Her gift doesn't come without a cost, thoug, since she received her gift as a child when her mother died in a fire. As a result, she has to relive that fire and gets actual burns whenever she uses her gift.
She used to be in a partnership and relationship with a guy named Chance, whose extraordinary good luck gave him that nickname. Only drawback is that even though he's lucky, people around him are at risk of getting hurt while he can get away without a scratch.
After one bad case too may, Corine left him and her former life and moved across the border to Mexico where she found some peace and quiet. The story really begins when one day Chance comes to find her and asks for help in finding his mother who has disappeared. Corine was very close to Chance's mother, so she reluctantly decides to help him.
During the journey, they come across a network of supernaturally gifted people and Corine starts to learn more about her powers and other gifts that people can have. Which is very useful, since the opposition is using magic and sendings and whatnot against them.
This was an entertaining book and only gave a small glimpse into the world of witches and demons and gifts that is hidden under our every day world. I would be interested in reading more books in the series based on the first volume.
44. SoHee Park: Goong - The Royal Palace, vol. 5
Every time I read a new volume of this this manhwa, a get interested in the similarities and the differences it has with the dorama that was based on it. Chae-Kyung keeps getting more and more unhappy in the palace, especially when Prince Yul's mother takes it upon her to make her as miserable as possible.
Shin is falling for her, but he's trying to keep his distance, since he fears his own emotions and how they would affect his plans of escaping the cold and empty palace life. There are also forces scheming against him, trying to discredit him and to destroy his public image. This was a nice addition to the story.
49. Eugie Foster: Returning My Sister's Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice
This is a collection stories that use Asian (Korean, Chinese, Japanese) folkloreas their inspiration. The stories vary from whimsical and amusing light tales to more horrific ghost stories. I very much enjoyed this collection.
52. Sandra Brown: Harhaluoti [Ricochet]
This is a Romantic suspense where the wife of a judge believes her life is in danger. From her husband, no less. She goes with her suspicions to a cop who has an antagonistic attitude towards the judge, but he doesn't believe her at all. Things aren't helped by the strong attraction between the judge's wife and the cop. Then one day the woman disappears... I thought it okay light Summer reading, nothing too memorable but entertaining enough.
9 books to go now...
40. Kristin Cashore: Graceling
Some people in Katsa's world have gifts (or curses, however you want to see it) that make them exceptional in something. Someone might be able to communicate with animals, someone might be really good at gardening, etc. Katsa's gift is killing. And her uncle the king uses her as his personal thug, because of that Grace.
But that is not all she is, even though some people can't see past her Grace to the person behind. She has formed an underground network of people who want to help people caught in the troubles and whims between the various kings.
Then one day her uncle just pushes her too far and she is banished from his kingdom. She has to redefine her identity and her place in the world. And this isn't helped at all by her growing attraction to Prince Po who becomes her travelling companion. She met Po during one of her missions and they quickly became friends.
The wonderful thing about Po is that he accepts her as she is. He isn't pushing her to become something else, and also helps her in finding out who she really is.
This is a story of growing up and accepting yourself, but it also has love and adventure in a wonderfully vivid world that is being threatened from an unexpected source, by a Grace that is extremely dangerous.
I really loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on Cashore's next novel, Fire.
43. Ann Aguirre: Blue Diablo
Corine Solomon is a handler, i.e. she can see an object's past and sometimes even it's future. Her gift doesn't come without a cost, thoug, since she received her gift as a child when her mother died in a fire. As a result, she has to relive that fire and gets actual burns whenever she uses her gift.
She used to be in a partnership and relationship with a guy named Chance, whose extraordinary good luck gave him that nickname. Only drawback is that even though he's lucky, people around him are at risk of getting hurt while he can get away without a scratch.
After one bad case too may, Corine left him and her former life and moved across the border to Mexico where she found some peace and quiet. The story really begins when one day Chance comes to find her and asks for help in finding his mother who has disappeared. Corine was very close to Chance's mother, so she reluctantly decides to help him.
During the journey, they come across a network of supernaturally gifted people and Corine starts to learn more about her powers and other gifts that people can have. Which is very useful, since the opposition is using magic and sendings and whatnot against them.
This was an entertaining book and only gave a small glimpse into the world of witches and demons and gifts that is hidden under our every day world. I would be interested in reading more books in the series based on the first volume.
44. SoHee Park: Goong - The Royal Palace, vol. 5
Every time I read a new volume of this this manhwa, a get interested in the similarities and the differences it has with the dorama that was based on it. Chae-Kyung keeps getting more and more unhappy in the palace, especially when Prince Yul's mother takes it upon her to make her as miserable as possible.
Shin is falling for her, but he's trying to keep his distance, since he fears his own emotions and how they would affect his plans of escaping the cold and empty palace life. There are also forces scheming against him, trying to discredit him and to destroy his public image. This was a nice addition to the story.
49. Eugie Foster: Returning My Sister's Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice
This is a collection stories that use Asian (Korean, Chinese, Japanese) folkloreas their inspiration. The stories vary from whimsical and amusing light tales to more horrific ghost stories. I very much enjoyed this collection.
52. Sandra Brown: Harhaluoti [Ricochet]
This is a Romantic suspense where the wife of a judge believes her life is in danger. From her husband, no less. She goes with her suspicions to a cop who has an antagonistic attitude towards the judge, but he doesn't believe her at all. Things aren't helped by the strong attraction between the judge's wife and the cop. Then one day the woman disappears... I thought it okay light Summer reading, nothing too memorable but entertaining enough.
9 books to go now...