Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
Consumption Medium: audio book
This is one of my favourite books I've last in the past few years. It's a bit of an undertaking, having more than a thousand pages, but it is WELL worth it! The book is a historical-fiction / fantasy about magic coming back to England. It captures a magical vibe that few other books can. Simply put the magic feels real.
JS & mr. N was recommended to me by my sister, who in turn, heard about in a live stream. The streamer described it as "a replacement for Harry Potter". In many ways they were right, but this description did give me the wrong impression of the book, as the first third (?) of it centers Mr. Norrel, an old, conservative and wealthy (/negative) magician.
As mentioned before, the plot is about magic returning to England. Though magic was still studied by theoretical magicians, no one has seen any real practicing magician in centuries, not since the Raven King, the greatest magician and king of Northern England, disappeared. That is until Mr. Norrel decided to make himself know to the world in an attempt to bring back magic. Well, bring it back in the ways he sees fit.
The book takes place in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and as such, the Napoleonic war has a very substantive effect on the characters and the world itself.
My only problem with this book is how in a certain part it is a bit Islamophobic, either that or perhaps the character itself was being biggoted and it was criticism...
I cannot recommend this book enough! Even though it's quite hefty, you'll end up reading (or in my case, listening to) it nonstop!
My Rating:
The Locked Tomb Trilogy
by Tamsyn Muir
Consumption Medium: audio book
I'm lumping all of these together as I am writing having lsitened to the first book years ago and the third, a few months back.
Though I my memory may be hazy about the specifics, Gideon the Ninth is one of my faveourite books ever! The magic system is wonderful, the diaologue is great and at ponits extremely funny, and fight scenes are like watching anime in my mind! If you like Space but medieval coded, sword-fights and a slow-burning mystery, you will LOVE this book!
Harrow the Ninth is a direct continuation of the first book, starting a few weeks (months?) after the first one ended. I recommend reading them in close proximity or you WILL be gaslit (no I will give no further context, this is a spoiler free zone!)
Nona the Ninth differs to the others by having a protagonist who isn't angy (gideon) or depressed (harrow). Also there's a six-legged dog, so you HAVE to read it! Also there's an organization called Blood Of Eden, so like, if you aren't here for the lesbians, or the doggy, you might as well come for the edge™
Very enjoyable books and I can't wait for the next one to come out!
My Rating:
Umriss
by Unknown & The Andrew Cunningham community
Consumption Medium: yt livestream
In the wake of the release of DELTARUNE Chapters 3+4, we as a community have forgotten our holy ways. We have been destracted from the one true path that is Susly, and so the fate of this world grows darker, yet darker.
Umriss, meaning "outline" in German was a pre chapter 2 DELTARUNE fanfic, protagonizes and aged up Berdly, who despite having few lines in the first chapter, was so faithfully rendered to the page that I suspect that, much like the Snapewives of yore, that Berdly Himself, via possession or other means, wrote the the book. In this truest of timelines, Berdly ends up married to Susie, while Kris (who is misgendered) is married to Noelle (they have a child named Chara (also misgendered) which leaves us with in a very weird position regarding Human/Monster biology).
If thou wishes to read the holy scripture, be warned: Strange Smut including but not limited to weird beak kissing lies ahead. And if thou dost not wish to be tainted by such things, thou canst also watch the Reading Bizarre DELTARUNE Fanfiction" livestreame.
This peak fiction, The One True Book, was found by the great prophet Andrew Cunningham, who then spread the gift of Umriss to the world. Originally found in pastebin, the story finishes abruptly in a tension-filled dinner. Not wanting for this holy text to go to waste, Cunningham mobilized his community to finish it.
Once the deed was done, all 15 endings were read on stream, so that the community may decide the ending to this epic. The one true ending, Obris by IrenaReena, was picked and so the story of Umriss came to a close.
But another was soon to begin...
My Rating:
Howl's Moving Castle
by Diana Wynn Jones
Consumption Medium: audio book
I enjoyed howls moving castle (book) way more than howls moving castle (film)
Lower the pitchforks commoners! I have my reasons!
I can't deny that visually and musically the anime is stunning, of course it's a ghibli movie. I could clearly remember the scenes being described exactly as the anime had shown, though this is limited to the scenes that weren't cut or changed. I think the film's script is a bit confusing and it doesn't quite leave me satisfied by the end.
I'm sure that's somewhat intentional. I won't pretend I know more than actual honest-to-God script writers.
I'm just saying that the books seems to tie more loose ends. I think at least I haven't watched howls moving castle in a while.
Book Howl is actually Welsh. Like literally. And it's very cool seeing medieval people dealing with tvs and cars.
Also calcifer's very different in the anime but I can't stop imagining the anime version!! I tried, but alas movie calcifer is much cuter
My Rating:
The Wayferers Series
by Becky Chambers
Consumption Medium: audio book
I got really invested in this serires and listened to all of the books in a matter of weeks. Since I posted my opinions as I had them on tumblr, I'll copy them here.
November 3rd 2025, before finishing the first book, The long way to a small angry planet
I just started listening to the long way to a small angry planet
here are my first impressions of the characters:
(Btw I'm poking fun but I am enjoying the book!)
Rosemary: Disney Princess learns how the poors™ live
Ashby: Dunno too much. Captain...
Dr Chef: THE MVP BESTEST AT ALL THINGS (I head-cannon him with french accent because chef)
Jenks: Halfling Bard
Kizzy: Undiagnosed ADHD
Corbin: Undiagnosed Autism (I like the guy, I feel a sort of kinship, too bad he's a space racist)
Sissix: Cool older cousin
Ohan: Diet mentat
Lovey: Tied with Dr. Chef in first place. I have a soft spot for robots in love.
Also this is the review that got me over the fence in starting to listen: (image)
I don't get how Rich (I'm shocked its not white) guilt is true. To my knowledge humans aren't the hegemonic species.
Also though I don't think the book portrays humans as the most aggressive species (as far as I know ATM) but I do agree that the comment about all human games being about conquest is a bit reductionist and Eurocentric. I think that Humans are Space orcs does a much better job on that respect.
November 9th 2025, after finishing book 2, A closed and common orbit
I started listening to the wayfarers series a week ago. I have now just finished listening to the second book.
I think I'm hooked.
I don't think this has ever happened to me to such an extent with a book before. Granted, audiobooks are easier to get through quickly, but the point still stands.
I don't know if I should pace myself or just give in and get the third book already!
Send help
I mean...
The pacing, marvelous
The characters, relatable
The world building, fun
What more can a [insert gender] ask for??
The only thing that I dislike, well maybe disagree with, is the pervasive capitalist realism. Not to go full on fully automated luxury space gay communism but like... Come on guys thinking that selfishness is so integral to human (well, sentient specie's) nature is a bit bleak
Also I'm not very used to xe/xer pronouns... Is that like a 2010s thing?
Reblog by tumblr user karin-gespenst:
#becky chambers #Definitely go on with the next book #And if you haven't read her Monk and Robot series go read it too #And to be taught if fortunate
November 16th 2025, after finishing book 3, Record of a spaceborn few
Perhaps I've judged you too harshly, wayfarers.
I was made to eat my words about capitalist realism after reading A record of a space born few.
This book might be my favorite one yet out the series.
I really love the society the exitans have built, though the annoying Marxist leninist in me can't stop complaining on the back of my mind.
To my knowledge at least, when we say classless moneyless stateless society we don't really mean bartering systems, though I can't really fault a fiction book for being idealistic
THATS THE WHOLE POINT!!
But the other aspects of exitan society are fascinatingly well crafted! The Monopoly that the martians have over media and its consequences are really interesting plus the gradual loss of ensk, or rather the code blending that happens is really well pulled off. you can compare it to languages like Catalan or Irish.
All in all. Great book. Great series. I live for this.
November 9tn 2025, before finishing the fourth and last book, The galaxy, and the ground within
Speaker is based and says nothing but absolute truth.
Absolute
|_0_|
Literature
And that's all she wrote.
I REALLY recommend this series to all fellow woke mobsters and scifi enthusiasts alike. The books are very character focused and the drama doesn't feel forced or unnecessary. Unlike that awful comment implies, Becky Chambers really did deserve all of those awards!!
btw, if you're gonna listen to the audiobooks, listen to the ones narrated by Patricia Rodriguez
My Rating:
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Consumption Medium: audio book
Piranesi, much like the other Susanna Clarke book I've read listened to is FUCKING GREAT!! The book glues you in and it doesn't let go until you've finished it. The worst part of my commute was arriving and having to turn the audiobook off.
The book is arguably unfiction, having the actual text being the extensive journals that the protagonists makes. It takes place in a liminal and statue filled house. I won't go say anything else to avoid spoilers. Just go read it, it's like 300 pages at most... I think...
Form my tumblr: If no one makes an arg about Piranesi, I will
My Rating:
by
Consumption Medium: yt livestream
In the wake of the release of DELTARUNE Chapters 3+4, we as a community have forgotten our holy ways. We have been destracted from the one true path that is Susly, and so the fate of this world grows darker, yet darker.
.
.
.
.
My Rating:
by
!
.
.
My Rating: