#but there is a distinct reason why people like Juliet more than Kate and it IS misogyny

[aroceu]

no like kate austen wanted to save her mom by killing her dad and when her mom found out she considered it such a betrayal that she wanted her own daughter in jail for it so all kate could do was run and have a bunch of relationships she could never truly be honest in and yet she tried to trust and love people the whole time anyway until she got scared and ran away but even on the island she was paying attention and kind and helped claire during her pregnancy and afterward she noticed that sun reacted to what she said that she deduced that sun knew english before sun even told her she always wanted to help and keep everyone alive even when she didn't have to she ditched jack when she realized that he was bad for her son and as soon as she realized that she was overprotective of aaron only for herself she made it her mission to get claire back. and the vast majority of lost fans just dismiss her as annoying because she's not a girlboss like juliet

[ladyherenya]

Books read in January

A couple of times this month a book I wanted was on the shelves at my local library. I didn’t have to put a hold on it, I could just go and find it on the shelf myself. Something I used to do all the time and rarely do these days. I usually just visit the library to return things and collect my holds.

This was a month of: books which I liked but might have loved had they been different; books I’d like more if I were twelve; and books I found really engrossing in spite of elements that aren’t my cup of tea; plus audiobooks chosen because they were available and the ones I had on hold were not.

Reread: The Gate of Ivory by Doris Egan, Troubled Waters and Royal Airs by Sharon Shinn.

Still reading: Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett.

Next up: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

(Longer reviews and ratings are on LibraryThing. And also Dreamwidth.)

The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells (narrated by Derek Perkins): A complicated and compelling mystery, with characters who try to conceal just how deeply they care about justice and each other. Nicholas Valiarde wants revenge on the man responsible for orchestrating the wrongful arrest and execution of Nicholas’s foster-father on charges of necromancy. But, with the final goal in sight, he and his team uncover disturbing evidence that someone in the city is practising necromancy. I took a long time to feel properly invested and I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on the characters’ emotions (so much potential!) But this still is an excellent story.

The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty: The companion to The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone. In Spindrift, there’s a rivalry between the children from the orphanage and from the boarding school. But when their town becomes the frontlines of the Whispering Wars, they have to set their private war aside and work together. I spent half the book thinking I would enjoy it much more if I were 12, or at least if I remembered The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures in greater detail. But I warmed to the characters, and Moriarty has a satisfying way of making minor details turn out to be unexpectedly important. Also, there are dragons.

Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tan: This is about interactions between animals and people in a city landscape. Each story focuses on a different animal and is accompanied by gorgeous full-page illustrations. The stories are fantastical and poignant -- strange, surreal, sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes melancholy and sometimes hopeful. There was something I liked about nearly all of these tales, even the ones which were a bit too bleak. I loved the illustrations, or I was intrigued by the ideas, or I thought the message was an important one to make so powerfully. I also appreciated the variety of this collection. Memorable and recommended.

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster (narrated by Steven Crossley): Lucy Honeychurch and her cousin Charlotte are visiting Florence when they meet Mr Emerson and his son. Later in England, when they encounter the Emersons again, they both have private reasons for wanting to avoid them. I was delighted by much of this; it is astutely observant and gently humorous. Much ado is made over a kiss, which is baffling from a modern perspective, but reflects attitudes common at the time and Forster is intentionally showing that his characters are being a bit ridiculous. I would be even more enthusiastic if the final chapters had not diminished Lucy’s agency.

Transcription by Kate Atkinson: In 1940, eighteen year old Juliet Armstrong is working for MI5. Ten years later she is working for the BBC when she confronted with reminders of the past. This is an interesting portrayal of wartime, and post-wartime, experiences which builds into a tense mystery. I liked the prose, and Juliet’s observations, and the way references to Shakespeare, to music, and to the films Juliet sees, are incorporated. But I didn’t quite like how it all ends -- I found it oddly unsatisfying, for all the puzzle pieces fit together cleverly. Maybe it’s just that espionage thrillers are not for me?

The Star of the Deltora Quartet by Emily Rodda: Britta is travelling with her rivals for the Trader Rosalyn Apprenticeship. These books definitely fall into the category of books I’d like more if I were twelve or so, but they are eventful and quick to read. Rodda’s landscapes are full of dangers and her cultures are distinct and unusual, even if they lack nuance and complexity. Britta’s trading in Two Moons and The Towers of Illica does not have the results she had planned, but she discovers unexpected treasure, friendship and information about her father’s past. I wasn’t expecting to be quite so interested in where her journey takes her next.

I was expecting there to be some sort of twist in The Hungry Isle but was still surprised by what those twists were. I wish there had been a stronger explanation for why something wasn’t revealed earlier -- the way it unfolded made sense, but it pushed Britta into a less active role, which is an odd choice for a protagonist as a story approaches its final climax. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying ending.

Jeweled Fire by Sharon Shinn: Princess Corene defies her father and secretly accepts an invitation to visit Malinqua. The empress is looking for prospective brides for her nephews, and Corene is looking for a place where she can belong. To her surprise, she discovers friendships and uncovers murder. I really enjoyed this. There’s mystery and danger and a gentle romance -- Shinn is good at relationships between people who like to talk to each other. I now understand why Corene can be difficult, and I enjoyed watching her grow. And I was pleased to discover that the secondary POV character (a spy) stars in the sequel.

Unquiet Land by Sharon Shinn:  Leah returns to Welce after five years in Malinqua as a spy and sets up a shop in the capital where she will meet foreign visitors. This is darker, more tense -- and a bit more problematic -- than the previous books. Yet it’s my favourite. I liked Leah, with her complicated emotions about returning home and about motherhood, and her cautious romance. This is a largely positive story about being part of a family and working out your place in the world. Leah finds herself surrounded by people who are friendly and supportive; they don’t judge her for having run away.  

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black (narrated by Renée Raudman): Val, feeling betrayed by the people she loves, misses the last train home and falls in with a group of teenagers who live in New York’s subway tunnels and run errands for faeries. This is little darker and grittier than I’d prefer, and I had to skip over some descriptions around taking drugs. But I was surprised by how much I wanted to keep reading! I cared about Val. I liked Black’s prose, the hints of Beauty and the Beast and the way friendships are important. I appreciated that this doesn’t glamourise running away from home or addiction.

The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop (narrated by the author and a full cast): Ten year old William is given a model castle with a silver knight as a goodbye present from his nanny-housekeeper. When he finds out about the enchantment on the silver knight, he comes up with a plan to stop Mrs Phillips from leaving. I can see how this story would appeal to a kid. But I’m not one anymore and if I’m reading about characters who are much younger than me, I want more humour, quirkiness and vivid scenery. This fantasy world is fairly straightforward. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just not what I was looking for.

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne: I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Darcy Barrett, tough and possessive, who is working on a renovation with her brother’s childhood best friend, Tom Valeska. What hooked me was Darcy’s complicated relationships (with being a twin, with romance and with her childhood nickname, “Princess”), the intensity of her loneliness and her longing, and the way she cares about Tom. There are some things I thought were glossed over or resolved too easily and a few details which prevented me from liking this story more. But I enjoyed reading this.