I had a realization recently, looking at my blog. It appears as though I've finally reviewed enough books that they're not all visible under the "popular tags" list anymore.
SO I decided to be helpful and make a master list of the reviews on the site.
(Also, because I was asked: necro-commenting is perfectly okay. I'm always happy to discuss older reviews/books with folk! (Same for Scales!))
( There be reviews below )
Review Master List
Sticky: Jun. 23rd, 2021 06:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Yendi - Chapter Five
Aug. 23rd, 2025 03:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So yeah, I didn't exactly plan taking a week off, but things got a bit busy for me. Back now though!
Last time, we got some retroactive insight into Vlad's motivation in the previously published book! And we got to see more of Vlad as a boss. It's interesting!
( what makes an anti-hero vs. a villain protagonist? I feel like this series is an interesting one to examine with that in mind... )
Last time, we got some retroactive insight into Vlad's motivation in the previously published book! And we got to see more of Vlad as a boss. It's interesting!
( what makes an anti-hero vs. a villain protagonist? I feel like this series is an interesting one to examine with that in mind... )
(no subject)
Aug. 22nd, 2025 03:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Things got hectic again and I ended up accidently taking a week off! Oops!
But happily, Scales has my back and has just posted another Eragon review. :-)
Enjoy!
But happily, Scales has my back and has just posted another Eragon review. :-)
Enjoy!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Chapter Twenty-Seven | Table of Contents | Chapter Twenty-Eight (Part II)
Fumurti: A good day, everyone, and welcome back to Eragon! Last time, Eragon learned to read and write within a week, and much interesting stuff unfortunately went ignored. For the reader post:
( Planning? Of course not! )
A Cast of Corbies - Chapter Eleven
Aug. 16th, 2025 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time, the book kind of remembered there was an over-arching plot? Sort of. I suppose it's a mild complaint, compared to certain other issues (*cough*Magpie*cough*) but I can't help but a little cheated.
( In a surprising development, the rant continues below )
( In a surprising development, the rant continues below )
In Sylvan Shadows - Chapter Nine
Aug. 13th, 2025 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time, Salvatore has apparently decided that we're not supposed to dislike Elbereth. Ergo, Cadderly now has mixed feelings about a guy who has displayed no positive traits what so ever and has basically spent the entire book bullying him.
Yay.
( I could get behind this if Elbereth were at least an entertaining bully, but he is not... )
Yay.
( I could get behind this if Elbereth were at least an entertaining bully, but he is not... )
Yendi - Chapter Four
Aug. 10th, 2025 07:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time we saw Jhereg politics at its most quintessential: a very pleasant and cordial meeting in which everyone appeared to reach a happy compromise that was actually meant and received as a declaration of war! Eek!
( I said this before, but the power dynamics in this series are really rather fascinating )
( I said this before, but the power dynamics in this series are really rather fascinating )
A Cast Of Corbies - Chapter Ten
Aug. 5th, 2025 07:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Out of misplaced optimism, I checked how long I have left in this book. There are twenty-two chapters, which means I'm not quite halfway.
I swear I do not remember twelve chapters more of plot, so that could be an ominous sign. I suppose there's always a chance that one or more of those chapters will involve Magpie realizing that a tragic backstory is not really an excuse to be horrible and attempt to be anything other than a dark cloud on an otherwise serviceable story.
But I'm not holding out a lot of hope.
( I feel a little guilty grouping her in with characters like Jaxom, since she hasn't really done anything other than be dislikeable, but man do I dislike her... )
I swear I do not remember twelve chapters more of plot, so that could be an ominous sign. I suppose there's always a chance that one or more of those chapters will involve Magpie realizing that a tragic backstory is not really an excuse to be horrible and attempt to be anything other than a dark cloud on an otherwise serviceable story.
But I'm not holding out a lot of hope.
( I feel a little guilty grouping her in with characters like Jaxom, since she hasn't really done anything other than be dislikeable, but man do I dislike her... )
Yendi - Chapter Three
Jul. 29th, 2025 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Wait, is this review actually going up three days after my last one instead of being delayed god knows how long?
...it's probably a fluke but I'm going to enjoy it.
Anyway, last time, Vlad was setting up a meet with the guy who appears to be threatening his territory. Let's see where this goes!
( I predict violence, to be honest )
...it's probably a fluke but I'm going to enjoy it.
Anyway, last time, Vlad was setting up a meet with the guy who appears to be threatening his territory. Let's see where this goes!
( I predict violence, to be honest )
A Cast of Corbies - Chapter Nine
Jul. 26th, 2025 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
And we're back! Sorry for the break. I had family visiting and work was a bit hectic. :-)
So anyway, when we left off, the theater was having some minor, though understandably nerve-wracking issues, while street preachers are getting more aggressive. In this setting, that's rarely a good sign. Also Magpie continues to irk, but when does she not?
( I'm still not sure the story wouldn't work just as well without that particular character... )
So anyway, when we left off, the theater was having some minor, though understandably nerve-wracking issues, while street preachers are getting more aggressive. In this setting, that's rarely a good sign. Also Magpie continues to irk, but when does she not?
( I'm still not sure the story wouldn't work just as well without that particular character... )
(no subject)
Jul. 21st, 2025 12:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
This is irresponsible of me, but I'm actually taking a week off from reviews. The next one should be up on Saturday.
(Edited to reflect laziness, sorry! It was a heck of a week. :-))
(Edited to reflect laziness, sorry! It was a heck of a week. :-))
In Sylvan Shadows - Chapter Seven
Jul. 17th, 2025 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Whoa, it's been two weeks since my last review of this book. I don't really have an excuse. Work's been really hectic lately.
I am definitely going to try to get back to a more regular pace with these reviews though.
So anyway, last time...Elbereth is a dick. I feel like I can summarize most chapters that way. I'm also not a big fan of the idea that Cadderly wanting to show mercy to an Orog is a sign of his unaddressed trauma and not, you know, just being a decent human being.
To be fair, wanting monsters to be seen as more than monsters in a D&D novel might be an "asking for a milkshake from home depot" thing...
( Elbereth still sucks though )
I am definitely going to try to get back to a more regular pace with these reviews though.
So anyway, last time...Elbereth is a dick. I feel like I can summarize most chapters that way. I'm also not a big fan of the idea that Cadderly wanting to show mercy to an Orog is a sign of his unaddressed trauma and not, you know, just being a decent human being.
To be fair, wanting monsters to be seen as more than monsters in a D&D novel might be an "asking for a milkshake from home depot" thing...
( Elbereth still sucks though )
Yendi - Chapter Two
Jul. 12th, 2025 11:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time, we got to meet slightly younger Vlad Taltos. He's a bit of a misogynistic git, to be honest, but the advantage of a prequel is that we can have confidence that he's going to improve.
Admittedly, this might be denial, but I already have to deal with fucking Elbereth and Magpie in my other books. Let me delude myself into thinking I'll have ONE book where I don't want to throttle a lead character.
( I ask for so little, you know that... )
Admittedly, this might be denial, but I already have to deal with fucking Elbereth and Magpie in my other books. Let me delude myself into thinking I'll have ONE book where I don't want to throttle a lead character.
( I ask for so little, you know that... )
A Cast of Corbies - Chapter Eight
Jul. 6th, 2025 12:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time, Ms. Lackey and Ms. Sherman decided that the solution to having a truly dislikable lead character was not to have her decide to improve her behavior or anything, but rather, have a random side character spill her tragic backstory to the hero so as to convince him he's being unfair to her.
I'm not actually sure how Raven is supposed to "be fair" to Magpie, beyond what he's already been doing. He's credited her with having a better head for business than he does, named her "business director" of the group even. But I guess he's supposed to just let her be in charge of everything? Not call her out for being a dick when she's obviously being a dick?
It'd be one thing if the conflict were genuinely two-sided. I've seen examples of that in novels and while it's not a dynamic that I particularly care for, I can see the appeal. But I genuinely don't see what Raven could or should be doing different here.
( Aside from running the fuck away. )
I'm not actually sure how Raven is supposed to "be fair" to Magpie, beyond what he's already been doing. He's credited her with having a better head for business than he does, named her "business director" of the group even. But I guess he's supposed to just let her be in charge of everything? Not call her out for being a dick when she's obviously being a dick?
It'd be one thing if the conflict were genuinely two-sided. I've seen examples of that in novels and while it's not a dynamic that I particularly care for, I can see the appeal. But I genuinely don't see what Raven could or should be doing different here.
( Aside from running the fuck away. )
In Sylvan Shadows - Chapter Six
Jul. 2nd, 2025 09:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I swear I will start doing these on a regular schedule again. One day.
Anyway, last time, Elbereth was Elbereth and I wanted to hit him with a brick. I'm going to guess that's going to continue this time too. But we'll see.
( I want to write a crossover hate-ship fic with Elbereth and Magpie from Cast of Corbies because they're both just awful... )
Anyway, last time, Elbereth was Elbereth and I wanted to hit him with a brick. I'm going to guess that's going to continue this time too. But we'll see.
( I want to write a crossover hate-ship fic with Elbereth and Magpie from Cast of Corbies because they're both just awful... )
Yendi - Introduction and Chapter One
Jun. 29th, 2025 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So a while back, I was soliciting recommendations for my next book choice and Yendi came up!
Yendi is the second book in the Vlad Taltos series, however it actually takes place BEFORE the first book, Jhereg. I'd mentioned in my introduction to that book that the publication order of the series is interesting idiosyncratic that way.
It does make sense though. If you look at the closest thing to a narrative throughline for the series, the third book, Teckla, takes place not long after Jhereg, and if I recall correctly, a very big part of that book is about the complicated relationship between Vlad and his wife, Cawti.
Yendi, therefore, is the story of how Vlad met his wife. And also a glimpse at an (even) younger Vlad navigating Dragaeran politics as an Easterner. It probably works best to look at it as a big flashback in the overall story. But a fun one, if I'm remembering correctly.
( I do need one book where I don't hate a major character... )
Yendi is the second book in the Vlad Taltos series, however it actually takes place BEFORE the first book, Jhereg. I'd mentioned in my introduction to that book that the publication order of the series is interesting idiosyncratic that way.
It does make sense though. If you look at the closest thing to a narrative throughline for the series, the third book, Teckla, takes place not long after Jhereg, and if I recall correctly, a very big part of that book is about the complicated relationship between Vlad and his wife, Cawti.
Yendi, therefore, is the story of how Vlad met his wife. And also a glimpse at an (even) younger Vlad navigating Dragaeran politics as an Easterner. It probably works best to look at it as a big flashback in the overall story. But a fun one, if I'm remembering correctly.
( I do need one book where I don't hate a major character... )
(no subject)
Jun. 26th, 2025 07:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Sorry, this has been a really busy week. My reviews will likely resume on Saturday or Sunday.
A Cast of Corbies - Chapter Seven
Jun. 21st, 2025 10:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I sometimes think this book is making me into a misogynist. Oh well. Maybe things will improve.
( Or maybe we'll just get minor side characters shilling our lead in lieu of any kind of character improvement... )
( Or maybe we'll just get minor side characters shilling our lead in lieu of any kind of character improvement... )
In Sylvan Shadows - Chapter Five
Jun. 16th, 2025 07:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So last time, we saw why it sucks to be a goblin, I guess. Also, the elf leader seems to be deliberately incompetent so that we like Elbereth better.
I feel like it'd be easier just to make Elbereth slightly less of a dick. But there you go.
( I am fully capable of disliking both men. I have layers )
I feel like it'd be easier just to make Elbereth slightly less of a dick. But there you go.
( I am fully capable of disliking both men. I have layers )