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See tagged statuses in the local BookWyrm community

reviewed Le Conte de l’Assassin by Jean-Philippe Jaworski (Le chevalier aux épines, #2)

Jean-Philippe Jaworski: Le Conte de l’Assassin (Paperback, Français language, Les Moutons Électriques)

Le grand retour du tueur à gages Don Benvenuto

Au cours du tournoi de Lyndinas, …

L'intrigue s'épaissie

Comme son titre l'indique, c'est le retour de l'assassin que vous adorez destester ou inversement c'est selon. Ce livre vient eclairer en parralele le 1er volet des aventures en Bromael. On prend les memes et on recommence mais rien de redondant je vous rassure ! Ce nouveau point de vu va vous faire voir les choses différemments. Et c'est bien la l'un des points fort du roman. Bien joué à l'auteur qui soigne ses transitions pour m'avoir fait finir son livre alors que je ne pouvais plus remttre Benvenuto en peinture. Plus jamais je ne voulais rentrer dans les pensées de cette raclure de bidet ciudalienne. Mais voila, 500 pages plus tard on me surprend de nouveau à lui temoigner de la compassion. Hate de lire la suite

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About intimacy, but has none

A platform for describing love in its many forms, but neglects intimacy with the reader. Shows a remarkable ability to capture the ineffable aspects of an encounter, but too often gets lost in obtuseness.

Reading time 17 days, 20 pages/day

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reviewed The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (The Poppy War, #1)

R.F. Kuang: The Poppy War (Hardcover, 2018, Harper Voyager)

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired …

Turns disturbingly dark without warning

A reimagining of China & Japan, with shamans & gods for interest, and war crimes & genocide for a horrifying reality check. Misleadingly begins with standard 'orphan goes to hero school' trope, but turns disturbingly dark without warning.

Reading time 6 days, 88 pages/day

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The Wind in the Willows is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, …

Berlin 1920 Two babies are born. Two brothers. United and indivisible, sharing everything. Twins in …

Flat as a brick wall.

Brothers in a Jewish family strive to protect their loved ones from the increasing horrors of Nazi Germany. Boringly one-dimensional portrayal of Nazis - they're evil brutes, I get it. Distinct lack of emotional connection considering intensity of subject matter. Flat as a brick wall.

Reading time 7 days, 89 pages/day

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reviewed Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan: Cosmos (1980, Random House)

This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew …

Arkady Martine: A Desolation Called Peace (Hardcover, 2021, Tor Books)

An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with …

Unclear motivations & prose

Disappointing sequel despite potential. Some dubious premises (surely a galactic empire would have first contact specialists?). Unclear motivations & prose: I rarely understood why particular choices were being made. Also an annoying inconsistency: internally, characters were flailing haplessly, but in actuality they were exceedingly competent.

Reading time 6 days, 80 pages/day

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Edward Snowden: Permanent Record (Paperback, 2020, Picador)

Edward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass …

Serious gumption

I also grew up in a government town in the early days of home computers & the internet. Perhaps if I had stumbled across hacking I'd have ended up in a similar role to him, though I doubt I'd have his gumption to expose the gross overreach of the security services. Their capability was (and remains) alarming.

Reading time 9 days, 37 pages/day

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E-Book Extras: ONE: Behind the Novel: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn; TWO: The …

Not as good as the TV show

Books are typically more complex & nuanced than their screen adaptations, but not this one! Lacks the tension, glamour & variety. Passable fluff.

Reading time 4 days, 110 pages/day

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