Reading Anniversaries & First-in-a-Series — April Edition

I know I am way behind schedule but I have been really busy what with switching jobs, earning money, and losing an important my mamujan (maternal uncle) to Parkinson’s! Please bear with me…

2014

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

So, this is weird. I didn’t have many good reads during the past Aprils. Hopefully, that will change in the future. This book stood out because I read it while still following the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. The husband-wife duo seemed to write a book that made me like the main leads again — even if I didn’t fall in love with them the way I did with Kate & Curran and still haven’t!

 

The Year-God’s Daughter by Rebecca Lochlann

I read this book in instalments-I don’t why, though. I mean it captured my interest completely and I actually cringed at Aridela’s every childish mistake which means I actually felt something for the character. However, I still took my time finishing it.

None of the male characters seemed even remotely likable and Aridela’s feelings for them would seem odd, if not for the importance she (and the rest of that world) puts on dreams, portents and “religion”.

Really liked the descriptions of places and the rituals were done beautifully, as was the portrayal of the contrast between Crete and the places who deified males.

If you like being immersed in other cultures through amazing writing, this is the book for you!

2013

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Witty characters, a female protagonist, Victorian sensibilities, and impossible situations, this book should have been an instant favorite of mine. It wasn’t! Maybe, it didn’t capture my interest because I read it after finishing The Parasol Protectorate series. It could also be a lack of hilarious courtship between the protags that made it less interesting. Whatever it was, I am glad I continued because the subsequent books are better.

 

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

It has been 5 years since I read this book, so I don’t remember much. What did remain behind was the authentic display of the life of a soldier. It was that and not the story that made me go out and buy the omnibus edition. And it won’t be anything else that will get me to read the graphic novel version either!

P.S. I reviewed the prequel here and the second in the series (via infographic– it has skulls in it, so you might wanna check it out) here.

 

 

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

When I read this book, I felt as if I’d read something that had shades of both Wilde and Dahl. I still feel the same about the subsequent books in this series. There is nonsensical fun and razor-sharp wit that makes me want to keep reading. They aren’t overly long either, so that is another plus. Of course, the protagonist being female and used to fighting her own battles doesn’t detract the reader from its beauty. If I remember correctly, this one featured a villain who had no ulterior motives — he only wanted to destroy the world!

More praises here and here

 

For the books read in 2017 and 2018, you know where to go…