PLUM DUFF by Victoria Goddard 4.75 stars
Long(and short) term readers of the blog will either know from a long series of in-jokes or that post I just made about starting anywhere in a series being good for you that, well, I think starting anywhere in a series can be really good for you. Not on a moral level or anything, just as an exercise in connecting the dots and making your brain work doubletime on reading comprehension.
I don't recommend starting Greenwing & Dart with Plum Duff. Not because it isn't perfectly understandable, but more because much of it is less plotty and more charactery and I don't think you'll be very invested without prior investment in the characters. I, obviously, was invested.
THE SAINT OF THE BOOKSTORE by Victoria Goddard 4 stars
Well listen. I am kind of undermining my points about series reading, but it's whatever. Extremely short. Kinda want to know more about the nuns. Enjoyed seeing Jemis from other PoVs. Roald needs to remember that he and Jemis both have two hands. Short story aside from Greenwing & Dart.
CLARY SAGE by Victoria Goddard 5 stars
Do I just perpetually like noble/royal characters named Hal? Seems possible. HE'S TRYING SO HARD YOU GUYS. Short story aside from Greenwing & Dart. This one you COULD just start with!
THE BRIDE OF THE BLUE WIND by Victoria Goddard 5 stars
Do you like fairytale vibes. Do you like bluebeard retellings specifically. Do you like sisters. Do you like sisters going 'now hang on a sec we were fine with our sister being chosen as the bride of a god until we learned she's become unhappy in the marriage'. If you don't idk why you're on my blog, but if you do, welcome! This is for you and me specifically. "He sired a god." "Perhaps you mothered one."
BLOOD MOON by Britney S Lewis 1 star
Do you like Twilight by Stephenie Meyer? If so, you will not want to read this book because it is beat for beat Twilight. I mean that. I mean like. Near copying. Do you NOT like Twilight by Stephenie Meyer? If so, you will not want to read this book. Because it is Twilight (with like. One twist that did make @wizardheart83 shriek for a hot second but then it walked back the twist)
And to the author's credit(?) she is aware of that because she has as part of her marketing strategy called it bad Twilight fanfiction. Sometimes the dove really is dead, y'all. Sometimes you really shouldn't eat it. Or whatever.
THE CITY IN GLASS by Nghi Vo 4.75 stars
As usual with Nghi Vo's books this feels written entirely for me. The ending was just kind of anticlimactic.
SIR ORFEO (translated) by JRR Tolkien 3 stars
Okay listen. ...I like the musical versions better.
