Hello and welcome to the first batch of mini-reviews of 2021! Two of my big goals this year are catch up with some series and don’t fall so behind on reviews, so I’ll be reviewing the sequels I read as mini-review posts.
The Heartforger by Rin Chupeco
The sequel to The Bone Witch
I enjoyed this one, I liked the story itself more than the previous one, but I don’t get along well with the two timelines thing in audiobook. I think what I like most was that there was a lot happening in the present time, so overall it felt like things moving forward very fast. The plot kept thickening, and the contrast between past and present did a great job at keeping me constantly thinking BUT WHAT WENT WRONG??? There was a lot of payoff for things from book one, and the end was a lot less cliff-hangery, so I think this was a very successful sequel.
One last thing. I cannot take a hint. We know from the end of book 1 about a certain romantic pairing. In book 2 we see that in the present timeline. But still, in the past timeline, when it finally happened I was all :surprised-pikachu:
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
The sequel to The Tombs of Atuan
It took me over a month to read this 100-page book. I loved it, I did, I just always ended up reading just a few pages at a time, and then after I got about midway I just didn’t want it to be over. I dunno it was weird.
My favorite thing about this one is that we get to see so much of Earthsea. It harkens back to A Wizard of Earthsea with a lot of time on a boat, but this time that also involves meeting a lot of the different people and cultures. That was fascinating and it was the first time I really got the sense of the scale of this world. And the dragons, I fucking love dragons. It was a sort of bittersweet way to explore, because things aren’t going well in Earthsea, and that’s what Spparowhawk and his young companion are investigating and trying to fix.
I really liked Arren, the new young person we meet here. He has a great personal journey and a nice singing voice.
The theme of balance between life and death was very central and I liked how that was done. Especially how death was creepy but not frightening.
I also wrong down a quote that made me laugh out loud:
“… we have a story about the boy whose school-master was a stone”
“Aye … What did he learn?”
“Not to ask questions”
I also reviewed The Tombs of Atuan
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Sequel to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
This was just so cute and sweet from the beginning. I’m all for Chambers’ stories and how they have people being supportive and considerate. Which is not to say they don’t have conflicts, but it’s because they mean well. No Assholes Here (well there might have been some of the in the previous book). These are characters I like spending time with, and love that found family goodness.
This book has two points of view, one character in the present and one from the past. I really enjoyed Jane 23’s story from the past. Even though it’s a lot tougher than the other story, knowing where it would lead made it hopeful, her character was great.
A minor thing, I thought it was interesting that in this version of the future people aren’t always connected to not-the-internet. I feel like most books I’ve read have taken a different approach. Also there are moving tattoos which sound amazing. And generally would love to visit the place where most of the story takes places, it sounds like a lot of fun, great parties, awesome drinks, nice people.
I also reviewed The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet