For a book that essentially sets the scene for the rest of the series, ‘The Fifth Season’ was surprisingly gripping!
Similar read: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
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THE FIFTH SEASON by N. K. Jemisin
Science Fiction
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INTO THE SUNKEN CITY by Dinesh Thiru
Despite being easy to follow and incorporating vivid descriptions that smoothly brought the world and events of this story to life, I did not find the simple writing style particularly engaging. I also struggled with the constant information dumps used to deliver the world-building, though the creative and believable world was impressive.
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THE BLOOD TRIALS by N. E. Davenport
Despite some information dumps, I was utterly impressed by the detailed world that is established and infused with a creative mix of sci-fi and magic. Besides this, the casual writing style was easy to follow and filled with sufficient details and descriptions to bring the characters and story to life.
November 2023 Monthly Spotlight
Every year, I am surprised by the cold wind and dark evenings as winter approaches here in the UK. Even more baffling is that some parts of the world are experiencing summer and high temperatures right now! The good news is that whatever the weather you are experiencing, there are new releases for that season this month! Here are a few to check out:
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MALICE by John Gwynne
I completely adored the descriptive writing style with its simple, vivid prose. Multiple points of view (POVs) are also neatly used to introduce the world’s rich history, mystical creatures and political landscape. However, I initially struggled with the constantly shifting POVs and information dumps, though these gradually became less jarring as the story progressed.
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STAR BRINGER by Tracy Wolff and Nina Croft
As someone who doesn’t read much sci-fi, I was glad that the writing style was simple and easy to understand. Enough details are provided to bring the story to life, and multiple points of view (POVs) give the full scope of what key characters encounter and their emotions. Only the worldbuilding made this aspect of the story underwhelming, as it is presented in information dumps at the start and then poorly developed over the course of the story.
September 2023 Monthly Spotlight
I cannot believe we are already in the last third of the year, and the summer season is over! Thankfully, we have the beauty of Autumn and many exciting new books to look forward to. Which new releases are you most excited about? Here are a few that drew my attention:
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GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir
The descriptive writing style is made even more engaging through a quirky and witty third-person narrative from Gideon’s point of view. Not only was the sarcastic, easygoing humour so entertaining that I was constantly laughing, but it also made Gideon’s character relatable and easy to like. While I also loved the captivating world, I craved a deeper exploration of the Houses and magic system.
