Sunday, April 29, 2012

Review: Graceling


Graceling
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



My goodness, I need to get away from YA fantasy with the female heroine who has special powers. It was a good read, but I've been reading FAR too much of that genre lately and I couldn't properly appreciate the world, characters, and plot, when they blended into those of [a:Maria V. Snyder|445303|Maria V. Snyder|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224476079p2/445303.jpg], [a:Tamora Pierce|8596|Tamora Pierce|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209044273p2/8596.jpg], and [a:Sharon Shinn|28544|Sharon Shinn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1218995575p2/28544.jpg].
I look forward to reading more by this author in a couple months or a year, when I'll be in that mood again. For what it was, it was spot-on lovely, and I do love that genre, I just went a bit overboard of late.



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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Review: Inside


Inside
Inside by Maria V. Snyder

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It reminded me strongly of [b:Pegasus in Flight|61963|Pegasus in Flight|Anne McCaffrey|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1198185176s/61963.jpg|2970290], with the main character slipping about the service ducts and the oppressive regime keeping the underclass in small, crowded conditions.
I think I need to take a break from [a:Maria V. Snyder|445303|Maria V. Snyder|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224476079p2/445303.jpg]; I really enjoy her work but it is starting to feel like it's all the same book. In this book/duet the reluctant heroine reminded me very strongly of [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326003698s/2767052.jpg|2792775] trilogy, possibly because of the scifi futuristic setting which is a departure from the other books I've read by Snyder, and partly because Trella has to deal with the consequences of leading the people she's stirred to rebellion after the rebellion is over, which reminds me very much of the issues Katniss finds herself facing in [b:Mockingjay|7260188|Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1294615552s/7260188.jpg|8812783]. That's not why I need to take a break. I love the reluctant heroine -- she's a sympathetic and realistic character. I need to take a break because I'm sick of the same love story over and over and OVER again. I would have enjoyed this world much more if the author had simply avoided romance altogether instead of bringing in the stranger who initially alienates the protagonist and eventually wins her heart. It's not a bad story, every now and then. Additionally, I'm finding a few of Snyder's word choices annoying (e.g., the use of "equaled" in awkward sentences) and some of the grammatical flaws are easier to overlook when it's an audiobook, which this wasn't (e.g., starting sentences with "Although," when it doesn't make sense). Fun stuff, and I look forward to the next Touch book, but it's time for a break! I also think I've now read all the published work by Snyder, so it's a good thing I'm taking a breather.



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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Review: Touch of Power


Touch of Power
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Really fun read. This is the firs time I've read any of the author's work on paper (instead of listening to the audiobooks) and I took the opportunity to blow through at top speed. I love her world-building, and this was the first novel in a new setting - and I'm now stuck waiting for the next one to come out.
Again, strong female protagonist who has terribly difficult and complicated decisions to make. I'm getting a little sick of the lead male characters in this author's work, but I love the supporting casts.
Once more, what seems like it could be run-of-the-mill fantasy actually turns out to have compelling plot on top of the fascinating world the author creates. I recommend this book (and others by [a:Maria V. Snyder|445303|Maria V. Snyder|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224476079p2/445303.jpg]) to fans of [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326003698s/2767052.jpg|2792775] looking for similarly engaging reads.



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