Because Jo Walton is rapidly becoming one of my favourite writers, and because I loved this book, and because this is a new book and I think people should buy it, here is my review of it, all on its own, immediately I've finished the book ( Read more... )

Posted about my love for The Dark is Rising for the Three Weeks for DW event on
( Read more... )

I've been pondering this since I did my Robin Hood module, last semester. My lecturer talked about Robin Hood stories and King Arthur stories as opposed -- never popular at the same time, rarely appearing in the same text. King Arthur stories are generally popular when there is a perceived need for order. Robin Hood stories are generally popular ( Read more... )

Fandom: The Dark is Rising
For: lil_1337's Christmas present
Quality: Barely checked
Characters: Will, Rhys
Notes: Because this is late, a proof it's coming. ♥

( Reaching up to the sun )

Fandom: The Dark is Rising
For: Someone's Christmas present
Quality: Barely checked
Characters: Will, Bran

( A little echo )

It has been a very, very long time since I posted any recs. I have fandom hopped since then! Since I have so very very many bookmarked since that time, I'm going to try and be selective, but it's still likely to be a long list. It's funny, there are also a lot of fics I've bookmarked that definitely have their flaws, but that I love for something ( Read more... )

In this last book, everything comes together. All the characters, all the plots and threads, all the separate pieces of mythology. Again, it's a beautiful book, and again, as always, there is some amazing characterisation. The things that catch my eye especially in this book are the initial awe/resentment of Bran from the Drews, Gwion's loyalty to ( Read more... )

The Grey King is possibly my favourite book of this sequence -- and I swear that's not only because it's set in my home country. It's a lovely, lovely book. This is the most layered of the books, I think -- by which I mean this is the book that has the most to offer for people of all ages. There are the more open and obvious emotions of Bran -- ( Read more... )

I'm probably becoming repetitive with my reviews of this sequence. Parts of this book, especially the descriptions, are just glorious and perfect. I think of it as the book that focuses more on Jane, too, which is always interesting as she's the only real key female character. It also contains one of my favourite scenes/images from the sequence: ( Read more... )

I suspect that the books of this sequence are among the most beautiful I've read. I get that feeling especially with this book. The tone here has changed already from the Blyton-esque kids-on-a-great-adventure of the first book, and the character is different accordingly. It's almost a bildungsroman, for all that we only see less than a month of an ( Read more... )