After reading her first book (Game Changer) and the preview of Heated Rivalry, Rachel Reid is now an auto-buy for me. And, boy oh boy, this book did NOT disappoint. I pre-ordered it, downloaded it at midnight of the release date, and finished it within 24 hours. And now, less than a week later, I can already imagine re-reading it. This book ticked all the boxes of what I look for in a book/author (see the end of this review for what I’m looking for, or not, in a book); I loved it and was sad when it ended. I’m hoping there will be many more books to this series (and hopefully Ryan Price, the ginger enforcer, is up next)…I’ll be waiting with bated breath and my finger on the ‘pre-order’ button.I have to start by saying that Reid’s writing is wonderful. The book flows well and is easy to read. Her writing is descriptive without being excessively so, it’s humorous at times, and it’s VERY well edited. I don’t think I noticed a single typo in either of her two books and the only editing “flaw” I noticed was in the preview for Heated Rivalry (at the end of Game Changer), the date is Oct. 2017 but when the same scene takes place in the prologue of this book, the date is Oct. 2016.As to the book itself, per the description you can see it’s an MM romance novel taking place in the world of professional hockey. You don’t have to know anything about hockey to enjoy the book, you just have to love two gorgeous, competitive guys, with muscles for days, falling in love. The story follows the journey of two on-ice rivals, beginning with junior hockey championships through several years – and Stanley Cup championships – into their pro careers. Russian Ilya Rozanov (briefly introduced in Game Changer) is cocky and loves pushing Shane’s buttons, but he’s still a sweetheart. Canadian Shane Hollander is really adorable and that stereotypical “nice” Canadian, but he’s still driven to beat Ilya on the ice. Both characters were well-balanced and their vulnerabilities felt authentic and fit with their back stories.A few other things I enjoyed: there is some racial diversity in the book – Shane is biracial (Japanese/white) and there are a few other secondary characters who were POC. I enjoyed the process of self-discovery around Shane’s sexuality and past sexual experiences; I thought this aspect was really well done. And the sex scenes…sizzling hot. I also liked that the book is told from a dual POV.One final thing to note for those who care – because the characters technically aren’t in a “relationship” until late in the book and the book spans 9 years, there is mention of them sleeping with other people. IMO, this isn’t cheating – and it’s not an issue for either character – but for those who may not like this, be forewarned.=====================A general note about my reviews in case you’re looking for similar books. I work in the mental health field IRL and reading is a way to decompress, so (generally) I will purposely choose books that deal with “lighter” subject matter. I favor books that deal with characters growing and resolving their personal/relationship difficulties and getting their HEA.**What I look for in a book: first and foremost, strong writing and editing (I hate typos!); racially diverse characters and/or secondary characters; stories about self-discovery, overcoming difficult childhoods or other obstacles but not crushing angst; stories and characters that are “realistic enough” (i.e. I doubt half the players on a hockey team are gay IRL, but for the sake of a well-written series, I can roll with it); well-written sex scenes; dual POV in the storytelling.**Themes I generally don’t care for: “daddy” relationships (unless done really well); sub/dom stories; insta-love; sci-fi/fantasy; mpreg; shifters; lots of kink; GFY (again, unless done really well); kidnapping or bodyguard stories; crazy/violent/stalker exes; MCs with severe mental health issues, severe trauma, or substance abuse/addiction

Heated Rivalry follows the relationship between the Montreal Voyagers Shane Hollander and his arch-rival Boston Bears Ilya Rozanov. The rivalry between their two teams is nearly a century old; and the rivalry between the two up and coming young athletes is really played up by the press. Shane and Ilya first meet at 17 when they are both eligible for the NHL entry draft and already considered to be the number one and two overall picks. They do start off as enemies to a degree, or at least rivals. Shane is a sweet, good-natured kid who just wants to be sportsmanlike and friendly. His first conversation with the more jaded, “bad boy” Russian Ilya, has him confiding in his parents afterwards, that Ilya is “kind of a jerk”.The attraction between the two is almost instantaneous but nothing happens for a couple of years. And then the hook ups begin. Shadowy, secretive hook ups that no one can ever find out about. For the longest time it’s just all about sex between the more experienced bisexual “rock star” Rozanov and the somewhat inexperienced, realizing he might just be gay “good boy” Hollander. From hook up to hook up, there’s decent banter and the on-page sex is not blow your socks off, but it’s realistic and well done. If you look for it, it’s clear early on that their attraction to each other is more than just physical and you can see the emotional connection building. Shane and Ilya can see it….and then they freak out…because sex is one thing, but they can’t actually like each other….or God Forbid….the other L-word. They’re supposed to hate each other. They’re respective careers sort of…depend on it.Heated Rivalry unfolds over 10 years. Shane and Ilya date and have sex with other people. They met at 17, they both need life experiences. They both need to grow up. But their connection remains a constant through the years and it matures as do they. When they finally do accept their feelings for each other and realize they need to find a way to have a real – if not completely public – personal relationship – they unfortunately turn into complete saps. Seriously. They make up for almost 10 years of never explicitly stating their feelings with near constant “I love you”s. Although it was kind of sweet as well; and it was only the last 15%. Shane coming out to his parents, not just about his orientation but about his real relationship with his “arch-rival” was a combination of funny and heartwarming. Shane’s Mom was a character – wish we could have seen more of her. All in all a decent hockey romance.

????????????’???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????’???????? ????????????????:✻ Toxic lesbian vampires across centuries✻ Gothic atmosphere that seeps into your bones✻ VE Schwab at her most devastating✻ Stories that leave you questioning how to exist????????????????: deliberately paced with moments of explosive intensity???????????????????????????? ????????????????????: lush, atmospheric, absolutely stunning????????????????/????????????????????????ℎ????????????: gothic hunger meets seductive rage???????????????? ????????????????????????????????????: three timelines weaving one devastating story???????????????????????????? ∞ stars (yes, infinity)????ℎ????????????ℎ????????: my top read of 2025, no competition????????, ????????????’???? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????…I need to start by saying: this book broke me in the most beautiful way possible. When I finished it, I literally forgot how to exist. VE Schwab has crafted something so devastatingly perfect that I’m still picking up the pieces of my soul.Schwab’s decision to center vampirism around women and hunger rather than traditional romance tropes is absolutely genius. These aren’t your typical vampire love interests…these are women who are hungry for everything: freedom, power, revenge, authenticity. The toxic elements aren’t just compelling; they’re essential to understanding what it means to transform from prey into predator.The three time periods initially had me worried about pacing, but Schwab weaves them together so masterfully that each era reveals new layers of the central story. The gothic atmosphere is strongest in the earlier periods, but the modern timeline maintains that sense of looming dread through Alice’s quest for answers. Each woman’s story shows how hunger manifests differently across centuries, but the core truth remains the same.What absolutely destroyed me (in the best way) was watching these transformations unfold. Without spoiling anything, the moments of turning, both literal and metaphorical, are written with such visceral intensity that I had to put the book down and collect myself multiple times. Schwab doesn’t shy away from the violence or the rage, and the result is both beautiful and terrifying.The relationships feel authentic and complex, never falling into sanitized representation. These are messy, dangerous, consuming connections. This isn’t about finding your soulmate; it’s about finding yourself when you’re willing to burn everything else down.Schwab’s writing here reminds me more of “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” than her fantasy series. It’s lush, atmospheric, and so beautifully crafted that I found myself rereading sentences just to savor them. The pacing moves between exploratory, character-driven moments and explosive action sequences, creating a rhythm that mirrors the women’s own transformations.I cannot stress enough how much this book consumed me. It’s vampires wrapped in gothic beauty, with characters who will haunt you long after you close the cover.Fair warning: if you prefer fast-paced action throughout, this might not be for you. But if you want to be devoured by a story about women who refuse to be anything other than hungry, this book will change you.I’m still processing how to exist in a world where this story exists. Absolutely magnificent.—— original thoughts from when I had just finished ——I will be back momentarily when all my thoughts have jumbled back into place to actually write this. For now, I have momentarily forgotten how to exist or think or breathe.

This had so much character development and was a slow burn with not too much spice. The story was actually good. I just wish the ending was a little different. Definitely nice to have the different walks of life story

From V.E. Schwab, I have come to expect a great story, complicated yet sympathetic and ultimately likable characters, and magic.I expect to uncover darkness bubbling beneath a pretty human shell, but it’s always balanced by goodness, whether in the form of a protagonist or magical beings.That’s not what was in this book.Oh there were complicated characters, sure. But they weren’t sympathetic, or relatable, or redemptive. Not one of the main characters was likable, starting with Maria/Sabine. I thought maybe Lottie would be worth rooting for, but she disappointed me. And Alice…she was so boring and predictable, at least, until the last few pages and by then I just didn’t care. It’s hard to get through a book without a character or story line to invest in. There was no balance between the good and evil, and I think that’s what I found so annoying.I wasn’t interested in the outcome of any of the character’s story arcs – I just wanted them to shut up or say/do something interesting.However, it’s a testament to the strength of the author’s talent for wordplay that I was able to finish the book. I find her writing compelling, even if the story line was a bit boring.I can’t recommend it – but I won’t tell you to not give it a shot. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Listen, if you’re a woman who loves women and you like the feeling of ache and loss behind your ribs read this. Schwab does a great job going about grief in this multi-century long tale. Grief of lives left behind, of plans undone, of losing yourself. It’s a lesbian vampire story of, arguably four people, arguably three depending on your definition of a person. I am a bit sad about how it ended, and not just from the story standpoint. The way there is this entire story where the reader trusts a main character for it to be ripped out beneath you. Was it all a lie? Who was the monster truly? Was it everyone? Perhaps, it was. I’d like to know what becomes of Alice after it all. Does the same happen to her? Are they all destined to become so selfish? Schwab is a wonderful writer, truly, it was easy to get lost in the storytelling. Great background and world building. Not too detailed, but detailed enough that I didn’t have to wonder where things were or how things felt. Depending on your feelings about sex scenes they’re okay. I don’t mind detail, personally, but there’s a certain way to go about it without being incredibly crass. Schwab just dips into that. I think she could easily go the distance there if she wanted to, but this book is far from smut so it’s definitely not warranted. Such scenes were more icing to an already quite lovely cake. Give it a read, for sure. I definitely suggest it to anyone trying to expand their WlW library, such as myself. Just be a little ready to be a little heartbroken by the ending.

I listened to the audiobook while reading along and found myself laughing quite a few times! Jasmine Mas did such a good job blending mythology, banter, and heart. I loved getting more depth to Alexis’s story and seeing how everything came together for her. Even though the series isn’t over, this book felt really satisfying. I can’t wait to see what happens next with the rest of the crew!

I really enjoyed Blood of Hercules due to the banter, the hysterical inner monologue and the slow burn/stalking by Team Professors. I enjoyed Bonds of Hercules but not as much. What I enjoyed:1. Slow burn–enjoyed that the book was about the characters/plot and did not devolve into multiple and overly long s3x scenes as some romantasys tend to do. Instead there seemed to be the right amount of spice and in places that moved the story along.2. Loved the growth of Alexis and how her powers slowly evolved.3. The relationship between Alexis and Nyx4. The surprise introduction of a new character5. The love interests that Alexis had in the endWhat didn’t work so well for me:1. There seemed to be inconsistencies in the story, such as other people understanding the Sirens’ language and there was one scene which seemed to suggest that Charlie was still not talking and was signing with Alexis (which didn’t make sense when their signing ability was supposedly a surprise to Archilles).2. The 4 MMC seemed to be lost at times, not as scary/strong and, well, maybe even a bit pathetic at times.3. The different POVs were not unique enough and seemed like they were all the same voice, especially the two female POVs.All in all, I enjoy Jasmine Mas’ books and will keep reading them. Hoping the next book in this series goes back to the magical qualities of the first book.

I am obsessed with this female Hercules and her sidekick Nyx in the Villians of Lore series by Jasmine MasSo I read blood of Hercules multiple times and I just finished Bonds of Hercules for the first time last night.I love that this story has Greek mythology and Greek gods in it but in a modern time. It was such a fun spin on the Hercules retelling.Not to mention we have this ongoing Professors vs Mentors and I am here for it!!I can’t wait for the next book to come out!Read this if you like♡Hilarious sidekick♡Banter and funny internal monolog♡Fighting to the death♡Marriage trickery♡Lots of snark!♡Bada$$ female who doesn’t give up.I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for the next one to be out!Overall ☆☆☆☆/5Spice ★★.5/5Audio ☆☆☆☆☆/5

I throughly have enjoyed this series. This is the second book, and I found myself syaying up late every night this week to see what happens next. The villian was a little predictable, but it dis not take away from the story. We learn more about characters back stories, and enter the arena.Absolutely love the commentary from Nyx and was proud of her in the arena. She was my favorite character on this book.Definitely will be adding this book to my trophy shelf!

There were a lot of fun elements but it feels like a lot of plot points were dropped. It was fast paced and there were some cool fight scenes. I also liked the development of the protectors and how the fmc interacted with them. The banter between the fmc and some of the other characters was also really fun. However it seemed at the end of the last book, we were going to a meek mannered turned vengeful fmc, but it didn’t seem like she changed much. It seemed like she would get more powers and super strength as she had the ability to harm her powerful professors turned husbands with just her thoughts, but it seemed like she just avoided them for a bit and that was the end of her revenge. The emergence of some of her darker and more magnetic personality traits as her character and motivations started to get more complex at the end of book 1 didn’t develop as much as I thought it would either. There also seemed to be major character changes with the professors. They seemed like they were becoming more unhinged about the fmc and they were also originally very attracted to the darker parts of the fmc and her power, but they seemed to become much calmer suddenly and their motivations changed. Some of it is understandable as their relationship with the fmc changes, but those darker and more integral parts of their characters disappears. Also things about her like her ability to speak to certain animals (not all?) doesn’t seem like a big deal now and not delved into further. The fmc also never really exhibits or further develops the Herculean strength from her namesake she started showing in the first book. Her brother’s story and reason for being there never came up and he started to feel unnecessary. Also the most disappointing to me were the mentors. They were built up so it became apparent that they were starting to get obsessed with the fmc and we started getting their pov as mmc’s. They seemed like they would get closer to fmc, especially with fmc’s ability to use sign language, but then they tried to forcer her hand and then just gave up on the fmc. They seem wishy washy now at the end of book two and abandoned the fmc in more ways then one and are less interesting because of it. The next book seems like it will be focused on a different fmc with the mentors who suddenly become obsessed with her so we won’t get the payoff now for all those plot points from before as the plot focus changed. So overall some good things and you can tell I did enjoy it overall as I am already finished with it and am writing a review the day after release ???? but there were a few things that were disappointing to me especially since I really enjoyed first book.

This book, had me loling like constantly. The plot was so well written, the main character is so down to earth, her bestie is freaking hilarious, and the romance is deadly addicting. Banter + slow burn + no one can touch her she’s mine = a really good time. Will recommend to all of my romantasy book girlies.

I don’t normally read any YA and hardly NA, but this one really grabbed my attention. A lot of the reviews were hating on the book for being trashy and awful characters and writing, but I think most did not understand the type of book. This book was meant to be a dark humor making fun of the YA/NA tropes while writing a greek fantasy retelling. Once you understand that, the story grabs you really quickly and you set aside all the expectations and start to find the humor in it. You start to see how ridiculous it is.Let’s break it down…Shy virgin main character abused by insane step parents, poor, starving living in a cardboard box with said young brother who she wants to save and pet, then finding out she is special and being sent to do life and death trials in said academy, where she meets possible evil love interest, and where all men are piece of sh**s, who want to hurt and break her but probably end up loving her? Where have we all heard this?? EVERY SINGLE YA & NA, book plot lol. So yes, it’s literally not a book meant to be serious.With that being said, I think the story is fine and I do enjoy greek mythology so was curious to see what she did with it. The writing was so simple and easy to get sucked into and I like that a lot because this book was in no way award winning amazing ????????‍♀️ it was just pure entertainment for me.I did love Nyx the snake, she was hands down my favorite.All the men were straight trash ????4⭐️ because I actually enjoyed it a lot and did what it was meant to do ????. I will be looking forward to the next book.I don’t normally read any YA and hardly NA, but this one really grabbed my attention. A lot of the reviews were hating on the book for being trashy and awful characters and writing, but I think most did not understand the type of book. This book was meant to be a dark humor making fun of the YA/NA tropes while writing a greek fantasy retelling. Once you understand that, the story grabs you really quickly and you set aside all the expectations and start to find the humor in it. You start to see how ridiculous it is.Let’s break it down…Shy virgin main character abused by insane step parents, poor, starving living in a cardboard box with said young brother who she wants to save and pet, then finding out she is special and being sent to do life and death trials in said academy, where she meets possible evil love interest, and where all men are piece of sh**s, who want to hurt and break her but probably end up loving her? Where have we all heard this?? EVERY SINGLE YA & NA, book plot lol. So yes, it’s literally not a book meant to be serious.With that being said, I think the story is fine and I do enjoy greek mythology so was curious to see what she did with it. The writing was so simple and easy to get sucked into and I like that a lot because this book was in no way award winning amazing ????????‍♀️ it was just pure entertainment for me.I did love Nyx the snake, she was hands down my favorite.All the men were straight trash ????4⭐️ because I actually enjoyed it a lot and did what it was meant to do ????. I will be looking forward to the next book.

I really enjoyed this book! The internal monolog and conversations with Nyx were hilarious. I would say though the switch in behavior and feelings was very sudden for her mentors at the end, it would have been nice if them warming up to her and having feelings for her were a little more obvious and done more gradually. In the next book I’m really hoping we see the MMCs fall in love with her on page and us as readers can see all those little moments. I feel like I know the MFC very well and she’s awesome but I want to know the MMCs more personality and feelings wise and see it. If I dont see these more in book 2, honestly, I would still be happy because this one was so entertaining and I really love the world the author made, a very unique but familiar twist on Greek mythology that was very well done and refreshing. Also major kudos for a very well balanced MFC, her strength/powers emerging from her timid but trying her best to be brave personality and how that transition is being paced and the reasons for her growth in each chapter was well done.

Note: The book ends on a soft cliffhanger, rating fairly low on my trauma scale (3/5) because it’s more in the nature of unfinished business than a true life threatening situation. Don’t worry, if you’re like me and hate epic cliffhangers, this is tolerable and worth it for the good read.It’s a world where the immortal Spartans are revered as the Greek gods they once were, and where monstrous titans attack when they feel like it.Alexis Hert is a student trying her best to qualify for a scholarship, having grown up in an abusive home until she and her foster brother are made homeless. That’s why it’s such a surprise to find herself outed as an offspring of one of the gods, and forced to participate in the Crucible- a test of endurance, strength, and danger; because not all of the participants survive.This was a fantastic book, with a post-apocalyptic setting, and some intriguing characters. The title of the book is actually a bit spoiler-ish, since for much of the book Alexis truly knows nothing (except mathematics). Despite the darkness that prevails throughout the book, Alexis herself is rather amusing, her conversations with her best friend (and invisible, monster snake) Nyx had me chuckling out loud, while the sidebar remarks always made me smile.There are four male main characters, and we see a few chapters and scenes from their POV scattered through the book, and they are all morally gray in nature (I would say some more than others, but truth be told I’m pretty sure they’re all equal in that respect).The world itself is intriguing, and rather brutal in its setting, although we really don’t learn a whole lot about it simply because our heroine is existing outside of it (deliberately). That being said, I think my favourite scene is actually the bonus one that should definitely be read after the book.This is an engrossing read, with a truly fascinating setting and cast, and I’m honestly looking forward to reading the rest of Alexis’s story, and seeing where we head next on her journey.An enjoyable treat for fans of darker romantasy, morally grey heroes, and Greek myth retellings.

TJ Klune had me captivated in the first chapter. The way Linus grows in each chapter with the children is told in such a way that you think you are there with them. And the relationship between Arthur’s Parnassus and Linus Baker grows as well. Read the first book in a week and am half way done this one already. TJ Klune is an amazingly good writer and his books are difficult to put down. Can not wait to start all of the others I have purchased.Definitely a great read and definitely worth reading both books.

I enjoyed the first book so much, I decided to read the sequel. While it had many good parts, I feel like it was a bit too much. I had a difficult time getting through it. Still love the characters and the premise, just felt that the first book was far better.

???? 102/100 (2024 Reading Goal)???? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????✍️ ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????: Story,???????? ????????????????????: Introduction, Acknowledgements⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️???????????????? ???? ????????????????????:All the same characters from the previous book + new ones, created family, story from Arthur’s perspective, queer representation, humor, perseverance, love???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????(????):“I won’t lie to you. The road ahead will not be smooth. No matter what I—we say, there will always be those who refuse to accept the truth. They surround themselves with like-minded people, and it creates an echo chamber that’s nigh on impossible to escape. A feedback loop that never ends.”“But I believe the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is our voices. And I am going to use my voice for you, and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder.”“That’s the funny thing about those in power. They underestimate everyone beneath them, even knowing their secrets are heard by someone.”“You have to trust me. Trust us. We may be kids, but we’re your kids, Dad. You made us all believe we could do anything. Now you have to trust us to do that.”“Hope is the thing with feathers, yes, and hope is the thing with fire.”????????????????????????:This story, at its heart, is a love letter to the trans community. Yes, it’s a continuation from ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????, but there’s a beautiful and powerful message embedded in every single page. TJ Klune has something to say about the hate he sees towards transgender peoples, and he is shouting at the people in the back.It’s like a dream returning to Marsyas Island; these characters have felt like family to me and I loved getting to visit the inhabitants once again! There’s a magical child that has been in hiding, and Arthur and Linus want to be David’s forever home. But David has had a very difficult life and trust will not come easy.Besides working on making David feel safe and integrating him into their family, the adults on Marsyas Island also have to contend with the new director of DICOMY. Jeanine Rowder has made it her mission to ruin Arthur’s reputation as well as remove the children from his and Linus‘s care. Miss Rowder immediately appoints a new case manager to report the goings on on the island in the hopes it will be Arthur’s undoing.With all these adults going around, making decisions, they forgot to ask the people who this would impact the most, they forgot to remember that there are seven individuals who want to have a say in their life-the children. And the children are tired of being left out of the conversation. The children are going to take matters into their own hands and speak in voice so loud, they will no longer be ignored.This book made me laugh, this book made me cry, and this book paints such a clear picture of where we are failing our children and where we need to start listening. Hate is not inherent, it is learned, and the adults in the room need to start doing a heck of a lot better if we want to see a world that is inclusive and accepting of all.Daniel Henning is an incredible narrator, giving each and every child their own voice, identifying each, and every adult in the story. If you listen to the audiobook, there are some fun surprises with how the story is told. Definitely a must listen! TJ Klune also narrates the introduction and the acknowledgments and his voice is incredibly powerful.

Never have I read a story with as much honesty and reality as with this author. TJ Klune captures the emotional reality of our real world, placing it in a place of dreams and hopes. The thread of LGBTQ+ representation is beautiful weaved into the characters and prose in such a natural way, it instills a hope for real-world conversations to be had and silent voices to be heard.

The House in the Cerulean Seais one of my favorite novels. It feels like coming home, like being loved, like being seen and I think it’s such an important novel to read for anyone. I’ve read it twice and will probably continue to go back to it my whole life.Somewhere Beyond the Seadid not hit home for me as much. It felt sort of rushed, a lot of the humor felt forced. The message was still important, but it was more or less the same thing we learned in THITCS, just more drawn out. I feel like TJ Klune was so focused on being anti-JKR and continuing his success that the story we could have gotten would have been way different.That said, it’s not like I won’t recommend SBTS. While it was sort of the same message, there were different nuances to it that I think is important for anyone willing to change their perspective. We see a side of Arthur, Linus and all of the children that really make it a decent sequel, but I had much higher hopes following how well received THITCS was. If TJ Klune writes a third novel in this series (and I genuinely hope he doesn’t; we should leave it on the slight uphill it ended on) I hope it’s wildly different from what SBTS gave us.

“The House in the Cerulean Sea” is one of my favorite books. It was wonderful. Since I love the book so much, I was undecided about reading ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’. What if it was a bad sequel? Well, thankfully it wasn’t. However, it was not as amazing as its predecessor.We have so many characters returning. Arthur Parnassus and Linus Baker are now an item and are in the process of adopting those amazing magical children. Also, a new child is coming to live with them. He is a Yeti who enjoys theater and who makes you want to protect him.We also have the “Department In Charge of Magical Youth” sending a new investigator to Marsyas Island to evaluate if Arthur Parnassus can continue keeping the kids around. DICOMY believes Arthur wants to keep the kids and plans to use them to take over the world.I listened to the audiobook, which I thought was narrated fabulously. I love all the children (especially Luci), and every time they were present, they just made me happy.So why not a five? I thought the conflict’s resolution was just too easy and too perfect.Would I read another book with these characters? Absolutely!!Cliffhanger: No4/5 Fangs

This can be a bit challenging to read due to its vocabulary and references in farsi, however the story is wonderfully human.

I will dispense with describing the plot of Martyr! – that’s been done enough in other reviews and the novel’s publicity communications. To get directly to its net effect…Overall, I found this work very enjoyable, having begun it with no particular expectations and little knowledge of the storyline. HOWEVER, I consumed it as an AUDIOBOOK. Throughout its 10+ hours I wondered if it would be as compelling if I were reading it – indeed, I suspected that certain parts might be outright boring in script form. From what I am seeing in other reviews, I believe those wonderings are borne out. The vocal narration was outstanding. Crucially, it took care of what appears to be the most frequent criticism of the book’s multiple POV structure: that, in script, all the characters sounded alike. Narrator Arian Moyayed did a remarkable job of bringing the various players to life and imparting unique personalities/voices to each. To those who rated Martyr! one or two stars, I’d say, well, horses for courses. To the three star raters, I’d say you should have listened to the audio – it might have hit you as a four, or maybe even five.As for other critique points…One, be alerted that Martyr! does not really have a “plot” as such. Like much literary fiction, it is character driven and philosophical point driven. Two, in a couple instances, the “point” being made has little or nothing to do with what is otherwise happening with the main character’s life – and it gets a bit soap-boxy. Three, readers/listeners might detect an interesting compare/contrast between the narrative of this protagonist’s substance addiction experiences and those of the protagonist in Barabara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead”. Lastly, I’ve seen that some folks expected more humor based on the book’s promotion; I saw none of that promotion so I didn’t expect it, and for me the amount of humor was just right.As with all books, this one has its flaws. But if you are a literary fiction fan this is a very good book. I would speculatively rate it a solid three-stars in its written form, and highly recommend it in audio.

Rarely enough to keep the experience special does the right book hit you at the right time and it feels like magic.Martyr! was both foreign and familiar, cringe and comfort, fantastical and realistic, and reading it is a memorable moment in time.It’s an immigrant story, a generational family trauma, a college novel, an addict survival tale, a LBGTQ+ struggle, and country and city mouse journey, while wrestling with politics, art, love, poetry, writing, creating, mental and emotional health, dreaming, and magical realism. It’s got NYC and Brooklyn! It’s got everything you could ask for and more that you’d never think of asking it.My advice and while I’ll refrain from sharing any plot or thoughts on that ending, is to just open it up and start reading… let it take you somewhere.It brought back coming of age feelings that I haven’t experience on paper since Leaving The Atocha Station by Ben Lerner and is already a book I’m buying for others, pressing it into their hands, saying give yourself over to this, trust this book, and it will reward you with riches – then come talk to me about it.It’s a book you want to read again right after finishing it. It’s that special gift, that rare book, that you’ve already seen everywhere yet still manages to live up to and earn its hype. Read it.

Beautiful writing poetic prose literary fiction but only read because a book club assigned it don’t regret reading but didn’t leave me with much

Good politics. Story is forced. Self-indulgent many beautiful and poetic passages. Climax is a surprise but denouement with resolution of anger not entirely believable.

Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel, Martyr!, is a profound exploration of identity, grief, and the search for meaning. The narrative centers on Cyrus Shams, a queer Iranian American poet grappling with sobriety, depression, and the haunting legacy of his parents’ deaths. Akbar’s poetic background enriches the prose, infusing it with lyrical beauty and depth.The novel delves into complex themes such as addiction, spirituality, and the immigrant experience, offering a nuanced portrayal of Cyrus’s internal and external struggles. Akbar’s writing is both evocative and accessible, seamlessly blending elements of magical realism with stark reality. The incorporation of multiple perspectives and forms, including dream sequences and found texts, creates a richly layered narrative that is both innovative and compelling.An excellent read.

I enjoyed the series. Knowing that books often share more detail that a movie or series can’t convey, I was drawn to the book. I wanted to learn and laugh more about (retired) Sgt. Cope and the people around him during a time before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.Because I love the experience of immersive reading, especially when the narrator is good, I bought the Audible book as well.I love that the author found humor in moments of internal and external stress. It kept the book lighthearted and a fond remembrance of his past experiences. There are laugh out loud moments. For me, it was a nice switch-up from other books I read (and love) which are dark in premise and character.For those of you that are expecting this book to be a written mirror image of the series Boots, it’s not. The series is a creative template of the book, an adaptation. Where the book is a memoir, the TV show is not. Yes, there are moments that really happened though aome of the character’s names have changed, and there are moments in the show that are not a part of the author’s memoir but serve the story’s narrative, and candidly the show brought more gravitas to the pain and anguish of hiding one’s true self. That said, the spirit and pace of both the book and the show are the same, even a moment when Recruit Cope is remembering his journey in a flashback moment. In that sense (and more), you’ll enjoy this book if you enjoyed the series.I recommend reading and/or listening to this book. It’s a treat.

Squid here. Every veteran has a batch of special memories. And among them are two days in particular: Your first day of boot camp and graduation day. The author captures those two special days and everything in-between with great care, emotion and laugh out-loud story-telling.Veteran or not, pick this one up, and you’ll have a hard time putting it down.

I actually purchased this book by accident and thought all well I’ll read it.Much to my surprise I couldn’t stop reading it!I have a nephew who served as a marine, and now I understand what he may have went thru during training.God Bless anyone who has served this country!

It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I found it interesting and satisfying to read. I grew up in this same era, and I almost enlisted. This book makes me wonder if maybe I should’ve.

I bought “The Pink Marine” because I’d heard the author, Mr. Greg Cope White speak at a Webinar. He wasn’t even talking about his book. With his hair brushed back and his reading glasses on he looked stunning! He looked like Michael Douglas when Michael Douglas was young and handsome – “Streets of San Francisco” handsome. Mr. White appeared kind and funny, yet serious and smart. All of that to say, he seemed comfortable in his own skin without for a moment seeming smug. I couldn’t help but aspire to professionally follow in his footsteps. But how? I don’t have anything in common with Mr. White at all, I thought… I know that this should have nothing to do with anything, but I mention it because I NEVER in a million years imagined that there was a time when he had such deep feelings of insecurity when he was younger… And then I found it! His insecurities are just like mine! Sure, I’m not a gay man, but underneath it all, we’re more alike than I ever could have imagined. Emotions don’t have a gender. Emotions aren’t gay or straight. I bought this book because I admired the author. I finished this book feeling inspired. Somehow, I feel heard without speaking and that anything is possible. I think that you hope to feel something like that when you buy a “self-help” book, but this book did more for me than any “self-help” book ever could. It made me feel like, I’m not alone and White overcame, so maybe I can too! It’s really something when a book about someone else can help you to understand and feel better about yourself = AMAZING!!!

Like to read based on true story

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went through bootcamp in 1984 as a straight female. Regardless, this book, his experiences, resound deeply with me.I can smell Parris Island again and have relived my boot camp.If you’ve never been, this is one of the most accurate accountings I have ever read. If you have been, this will definitely bring back all the emotions.Once. Always.

A gay man’s journey through the minefield of Marine boot camp… why am I not surprised that he is now involved in the minefield called show business. A nice easy read

When Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was published, the book club group I was facilitating at the time wondered if the author would be able to make the transition from poet to full-fledged novelist—because the first novel flew primarily on the wings of poetry.His second novel—The Emperor of Gladness— does seem to lack the poetry of his first book. Nevertheless, it is poignant and powerful—and it is at its very best when the author explores the profound and touching relationship between the central protagonist Hai and the demented old woman Grazina. Grazina is, in fact, the glue that holds this book together. And yet, the novel’s other characters who live in the fast-food world of Home Market, are just as significant in their own way and connect powerfully to the mood, tone and themes of the author’s book.The novel does seem pretty dismal, and I was reminded again and again of its epigraph from Act 4, scene 3 of Hamlet: the true emperor of the world is the worm. “We fat ourselves for maggots.”So, the world is a wasteland of sorts in which, in the end, the American Dream ends most logically in a nursing home or in a dumpster where we sit contemplating stars in the night sky that we can neither reach nor comprehend. Where is the beauty in our lives? “What good is beauty if nobody wins?” The lies we tell ourselves and one another. The delusions we use to cope with trauma, with the brutality of war and the senseless slaughter of humans and animals. The numbing realities of our existences. It is all pretty grim.But the writing is breathtaking, and many of the scenes in this novel are unforgettable and brilliant, including a pill-popping Hai (as “Sgt. Pepper”) sitting in a bathtub with the demented Grazina as they take a midnight ride in a “jeep” that sweeps them across war-torn Europe on their way to the battlefields of Gettysburg. And the final section of the novel (Spring) is so powerfully imagined and rendered that the last pages of the book might leave you in tears.What are we? Who are we supposed to be? Do we ever rise above the level of our own mediocrity? What happens now? The Emperor of Gladness provides much food for thought, and I can only continue to admire its sensitive and intuitive author who is so very young and yet writes with such compassion and wisdom.

The writing is wonderful. Story was a little off track at times.

I have bought ‘The Emperor of Gladness”, after watching Ocean Vuong’d interview on Oprah Winfrey’s award show plus a couple of other rich interviews. Ocean is a poet of great talent. His generous character is attractive and his 1940’s quote of Simone Weil that ‘Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” is telling about himself.However, I have difficulty reading Ocean’s novel. Almost every sentence of “The Emperor” is overloaded with poetic imagery. Reading this novel feels like trying to cross a room floor filled with flowerpots of all shapes and height standing everywhere, which you keep hitting at every step. I was tired after three chapters.Ocean Vuong still has a way to go before his prose reaches the powerful clarity and poetry that flows with the narrative and moves the reader forward of novels of Korean writer Han Kang, who won the Nobel this year.

Hai is a dangerously depressed, suicidal addict who’s come to the river to end it all. He stands on a bridge overlooking the water, wondering what it’ll be like, the end. How long until his body will wash up on shore and whether he’ll finally know peace.He’s stopped though when he hears a woman calling to him over the rushing water. She asks him not to jump, saying that if he kills himself on her doorstep, it’ll be very inconvenient. Not knowing what else to do, Hai climbs down off the bridge and joins the woman for a cup of tea. Her name is Grazina and she’s a refugee from Lithuania back in WWII.It’s obvious that her mind is drifting a bit but Hai finds himself drawn to her, her positivity, her insights and she’s drawn to him. An unlikely but genuine and deep friendship blooms and the narrative follows Hai as he tries to navigate a new life, a new job, new friends and trying to care for Grazina as her condition worsens.This was a heartfelt, deeply moving and sometimes depressing but beautiful book.

Originally posted on my blog at https://rantandraveaboutbooks.com/2016/07/29/the-song-of-achilles-fate-fury-and-friendship-make-for-a-rave-review/First, I think it’s important to mention that The Iliad is my favorite book, so my connection to the characters and this story is much deeper than most. I read The Iliad in 2001 and have since been obsessed with all things Greek mythology as well as anything related to the Trojan War. I’ve read The Iliad a total of six times in its entirety, so when I read The Song of Achilles, a work of historical fiction based on the book, I was completely blow away. I can’t remember the last time I stared at the last page of a novel and felt that satisfied.I recently wrote a post about The Iliad if you want to learn more about the original and the modern-day spin I added to it. We read The Song of Achilles as our Book of the Month for Hype or Like Friday, a Goodreads group I co-created with Britt and Larkin, and I’m looking forward to reading the reviews. If you’re a member of the group or have reviewed this book in the past, feel free to share the link to your review in the comments.I often switch up my review style, and I’ve decided to break the novel into 5 categories: Writing, Characters, Plot, Historical Accuracy, and Themes.Note: If you haven’t read The Iliad or are unaware of the history/mythology surrounding the Trojan War, then consider this your warning that there are major spoilers below that explain both The Iliad and The Song of Achilles in great detail.The Writing…Madeline Miller’s prose is so beautiful I was instantly drawn into this novel from the first page. It’s really brilliant, and that’s a word I’ve only used to describe Stephen King’s prose, so that actually means something to me in terms of quality. I’m impressed with very few authors’ writing style, which made this book unputdownable for me.I didn’t realize until after I read the novel that Miller studied and teaches classic literature, and it really shines through. The Song of Achilles is so well written I couldn’t believe this was her first novel. I avoided this one for a while because I was afraid it couldn’t live up to my favorite book. I never thought a re-telling could do Homer justice, but this book knocked it out of the park.The Characters…Choosing Patroclus as the narrator of this story was a BRILLIANT idea! My first thought was how can Patroclus narrate from first person POV when his death is what drives Achilles to kill Hector in a fit of rage, knowing it will lead to his own death? I don’t think this counts as a spoiler considering The Iliad is over three thousand years old and most people know the story of Achilles by now. And that’s not even the most important aspect of this book.I’ve always loved Patroclus and Achilles together. They are The Iliad, at least they are for me. Homer never mentions they’re lovers in his work, but some historians believe the reason Achilles was so distraught over Patroclus’ death was because they were in a relationship. His pain would’ve been real whether they were friends or lovers. Who wouldn’t mourn the loss of their best friend, someone they grew up with? But that’s the spin Miller takes on my favorite classic that really intrigued me.My other favorite character is Briseis, who we later meet during the Trojan War when King Agamemnon holds her captive. The Iliad starts off with Achilles fighting with Agamemnon over Briseis. It plays out almost the same but a bit different in this book. Regardless of the representation, we still get the same gist that the trio spent years living together, which is another part of The Iliad and this book I really liked.“She is in Agamemnon’s custody, but she is Achilles’ prize still. To violate her is a violation of Achilles himself, the gravest insult to his honor. Achilles could kill him for it, and even Menelaus would call it fair.”Achilles is such a tough, strong-willed character that overpowers Patroclus’ more sensitive side, but the two of them work so well together. When Achilles is about to go off the rails, it’s always Patroclus that can rein him in.The Plot…Patroclus was a prince, exiled and sent to live at King Peleus’ court. Achilles’ father wasn’t keen on Patroclus and Achilles’ friendship because he was no longer a prince, but Achilles chose him and that was all that mattered. Everyone listened to what the prince said, and when Achilles speaks in the book, I really felt the power behind his words. His arrogance and air of entitlement can be an issue with some readers, but I see his character from a completely different perspective than most.I like that Miller starts off with Patroclus at age five, drawing you into the world of Achilles, the handsome demi-god with skills that would’ve made every Greek jealous except Patroclus. He admired Achilles, loved him from a distance for years until one day they kissed and the rest is history.When Helen of Sparta, later known as Helen of Troy, is allegedly kidnapped and taken to Troy this prompts Achilles’ need to fight. In The Iliad, Aphrodite promises Paris, Prince of Troy, a beautiful woman, and Helen was considered one of the most beautiful women of that time. This is not shown in the novel, but I thought I’d mention it to give you some context. The entire war and story is set in motion by Helen and Paris’ relationship that angers her husband Menelaus, who convinces his brother King Agamemnon to go to war.“Yet this beautiful spear had been fashioned not in bitterness, but love. Its shape would fit no one’s hand but Achilles’, and its heft could suit no one’s strength but his. And though the point was keen and deadly, the wood itself slipped under our fingers like the slender oiled strut of a lyre.”Slight Confession: I shed a few tears at Patroclus’ death. I cry every time I read The Iliad because it’s so powerful and emotionally draining to read and feel Achilles’ pain over his friend, and in this story, his lover. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I will say that I absolutely loved the conclusion to Patroclus and Achilles’ story.The Historical Accuracy…Everything from Odysseus’ search for Achilles in a foreign court to the divine intervention from the gods was completely accurate. We see Apollo help Paris shoot the arrow that leads to Achilles’ death. He tells him that Achilles might be part god but he’s also man and even gods can be killed. I was afraid this book would take liberties with history. I was thoroughly pleased that did not happen here. While some things were not exactly the same, it was spot on for the most part, which made me smile every time I read another part that lived up to what I’d hoped. I had so many expectations before I opened the book on my Kindle, and I’m thrilled that I can Rave over The Song of Achilles for all the right reasons.The Themes…There are five recurring themes in The Iliad that are also presented in this novel.Achilles knows his destiny is to be the best fighter to ever live, and when his mother Thetis, a sea goddess, tells him he will die if he goes to Troy, he chooses fame and glory over homecoming. He was raised with the assumption he would be the greatest warrior the Greeks had ever seen. While this is true, his pride is a problem that starts to wear on the Greek companies in Troy after Achilles is unable to come to a truce with Agamemnon.The last of her fire was gone; only marble remained. “It is true. But there is more, and worse that he has not said.” The words came tonelessly, as a statue would speak them. “If you go to Troy, you will never return. You will die a young man there.” Achilles’ face went pale. “It is certain?” This is what all mortals ask first, in disbelief, shock, fear. Is there no exception for me? “It is certain.”We see homecoming after the war in the Odyssey with Odysseus, but fate is determined by the Fates themselves, the spinners of life and death. Achilles’ mother pleads with the gods to save her son, but his fate was already set and unavoidable.Odysseus inclines his head. “True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” He spread his broad hands. “We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows?” He smiles. “Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you.”Another important theme is the concept of honor. Achilles goes to Troy because he knows it’s the honorable thing to do. He also fights with Agamemnon over Briseis because he believes that the king is a dishonorable man and by taking his war prize, who later becomes his friend, he’s showing Achilles a lack of respect and therefore has not earned his in return.The Wrath of Achilles is the most notable theme of The Iliad. His anger for Agamemnon is present from the beginning of the book until the bitter end, and his anger over Patroclus’ death only intensifies that fury that he’s waited to unleash. He tears through Trojans like they’re nothing, ripping apart their best fighters until he finally gets the chance to make Hector, Prince of Troy and best of the Trojans, suffer for what he did to his friend.Hector’s eyes are wide, but he will run no longer. He says, “Grant me this. Give my body to my family, when you have killed me.”Achilles makes a sound like choking. “There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” His spearpoint flies in a dark whirlwind, bright as the evening-star, to catch the hollow at Hector’s throat.The one thing I really liked about The Iliad is that we saw a great deal of Hector. We saw very little of Hector in The Song of Achilles, and I suppose that’s because of the first person narration by Patroclus. There’s so many wonderful quotes I would’ve loved to have read from The Iliad that perfectly capture the words spoken between Hector and Achilles. Hector and Achilles are such a great match for each other because they both want the fame and glory that comes with death, and I really liked Hector in The Iliad. I only wish I would’ve seen more of him in this story.This may either tie or beat Red Rising for the longest review I’ve ever written. I hope this all makes sense and doesn’t come off as a Greek lit fangirl ramble.

I must confess I could never read Homer’s poems. That kind of writing has always felt just out of reach for me. Most of what I know about Greek mythology comes from summaries, retellings, and stories like this one. But it’s fine, because The Song of Achilles didn’t require me to know the Iliad, it just demanded my heart, my soul, and every last tear in my body.This is a retelling of the Trojan War, but more than that, it’s the story of Achilles, told through the eyes of Patroclus. We follow them from awkward adolescence to hard-earned glory to inevitable tragedy. And even though I knew how it would end, even though history has been shouting it at us for centuries, it didn’t stop me from falling headfirst in love with both of them, and wishing—hysterically, desperately, irrationally—for a different ending.I still begged the story to choose mercy. It did not.This book didn’t just break me, it unmade me. It left me in pieces. Soaked me in vinegar. Burned me. And it didn’t even have the decency to put me back together again. It will haunt me for a long time—and I’m grateful for it.Because this kind of suffering, this beautifully written, soul-destroying agony is a privilege.5 ⭐️ and a piece of my heart I’ll never get back.

4.5. There’s some changes and exclusions I find questionable (or outright didn’t like), but overall I really enjoyed this and Miller’s writing style.

When I was in high school (mid 80’s) Greek mythology (Iliad/Odyssey) was required reading. I tortured myself for hours attempting to understand the heavily worded passages filled with war and death. So, when my book club member picked “The Song of Achilles”, I read the summary and feared that it would be difficult to start, never-mind finish. And while I love to read, this didn’t seem like a book I would have selected or enjoyed. Yes, I like movies like “300” and “Gladiator”, and TV shows like “Spartacus”, but was I really ready to voluntarily enter the world of the Trojan war? Guess what? I did and I really, really liked it. The language was not difficult to understand, and the novel was not so heavily worded that I had to reread the passages over and over. The writing was simple (of course I stumbled over some of the names) and filled with new and inventive plot possibilities. But the most interesting thing about this story is how the story is told. We see the rise and fall of Achilles, through the eyes of his companion/lover, Patroclus.Exiled Prince, Patroclus, meets Achilles when he is sent to live with King Peleus. Achilles is the son of Peleus and the Sea Nymph, Thetis. Achilles is confident, handsome, fearless, not to mention destined for great things. Clumsy, awkward and shy, Patroclus is everything that Achilles is not. So, when Achilles picks Patroclus as his companion, everyone is shocked and dismayed. Soon we are allowed to follow their growing relationship from young boys to grown men, and from friends to lovers.Eventually, they are sent to train with Chiron (half horse/half man/Centaur) until Achilles (commanded by his mother) is sent into hiding (as a woman) in another kingdom. There he secretly marries the princess and sires a child. Patroclus finds him and they are dispatched to fight in the war (Paris has taken Helen to Troy and won’t return her). This is Achilles’ opportunity to show and prove his greatness. They toll for 10 years (even overcoming a plague) outside the gates of Troy. And then, following an affront to his reputation (the greedy King Agamemnon attempted to claim one of his possessions, Briseis, who he only saved to appease Patroclus), Achilles refuses to fight until he gets an apology, although this will mean several of his people will die. Without their greatest warrior, they are doomed. Patroclus tries to reason with Achilles but to no avail. So, in an attempt to make things better (amongst the men), restore Achilles reputation and help win the war, Patroclus sets out on a fool’s errand to attack the gates of Troy. Unfortunately, he is killed by Hector (Achilles arch enemy). Grieving (and dealing with a lot of guilt), Achilles sets out to avenge Patroclus’ death. He will stop at nothing until he gets his revenge by killing Hector. And while he achieves his goals, he too is killed (by Paris, with the help of Apollo).What I liked:1. While you may think that Achilles is the hero or what the story is about, it is really about Patroclus, who loved him unconditionally regardless of his flaws. Yes, Achilles was beautiful, musically talented (lyre) and a skilled warrior, but he was also aloof and at times difficult. And while Patroclus saw his shortcomings, he loved him in spite of them. Eventually even giving his life to make sure that Achilles remained whole.2. The dynamic between Achilles, his mother (Thetis) and Patroclus. While Thetis never thought Patroclus was good enough for her son and never understood their love, it is his telling their life stories and their mutual love that in the end softened her outer shell (ok, kind-of). She came to understand that Patroclus loved her son.3. Briseis’ story. Her words of love to Patroclus and her willingness to stay with him forever, even if that meant sharing him with Achilles was simply beautiful. Not to mention, in the end she died on her own terms, refusing to be claimed (by Agamemnon) or enslaved again.4. Achilles’ rage. I could imagine what Achilles was feeling as he circled the gates of Troy dragging Hector’s body behind him. I understood his grief and sympathized when he refused to give Priam his son, Hector’s remains. And I could visualize Achilles leaning over and caring for Patroclus’ remains, hoping that he would awaken or be resurrected.5. Achilles’ death. It was beautifully written. “He turns his head a little, as if to watch it come. He closes his eyes and feels its point push through his skin, parting thick muscle, warming its way past the interlacing fingers of his ribs.” Once he avenged the death of the person he loved, he had nothing really to live for. He did not want to live in a world without his soulmate.I am undecided about:1. The hasty conclusion. I would have liked to really see more of Pyrrhus’ reign. I did find it ironic that unlike Achilles (who was reared by his mortal father and Chiron), his son, Pyrrhus was allowed to grow and develop under Thetis. She believed that Achilles humanness made him vulnerable, so I was curious to see did this opportunity to raise another version of Achilles make a difference. Pyrrhus, while a great warrior and strategist, was cold, entitled, selfish and mean. The opposite of Achilles, who while aloof, was able to love, and yet they both had the same fate. Neither was fated to live forever. Ironically, Achilles’ son died for the same affront (claiming or taking a woman) that caused Achilles to stop fighting.In conclusion, I only touched on a few things from the book in this review. But be assured, there is a lot that made this a fascinating read. There was romance, treachery, war, passion (because there is a difference between romance and passion), tragedy and good old Greek mythology. What else do you need? 4.5 stars

Some books are read and easily forgotten. This one will stick with me for a long time. The characters are powerful, the writing is impressive, and Theo’s fall through life is heart-wrenching. It all starts with a single, random, destructive event that will shape Theo’s entire life.”It happened in New York, April 10th, fourteen years ago. (Even my hand balks at the date; I had to push to write it down, just to keep the pen moving on the paper. It used to be a perfectly ordinary day but now it sticks up on the calendar like a rusty nail.)”I talk in some detail about the plot points here. If you don’t want to be spoiled at all, just get it and start reading, it’s a great book.The explosion and Theo’s escape is brilliantly written. Tartt captures Theo’s confusion, disorientation and desperation with great realism. Theo’s interaction with Welty, and witness of his death had me entranced. Tartt managed to evoke deep empathy and connection with this man, essentially a stranger, by sharing the intensely personal final moments of his life.And so begins Theo’s fall. It seems to be arrested fairly quickly as the Barbours step in, but soon takes a turn for the worse as his father appears on the scene. The sequence of callous actions taken by Theo’s father to sell his dead wife’s possessions, Theo’s failure to fight to keep his new and beautiful friendship with Hobie, and Mrs. Barbour’s seeming failure to raise objections to Larry Decker’s obvious unsuitability as a parent make for a chilling and depressing turn in the story.Theo moves into Larry and Xandra’s huge empty house in a failed Vegas housing development, befriends misfit Boris, and begins his drug habit.”It seemed like the kind of room where a call girl or a stewardess would be murdered on television.”I found this incredibly hard to read, there’s something deeply disturbing about witnessing a promising young life slide inexorably towards disaster. There reached a point when 14 year old Theo was having a thanksgiving dinner of stolen potato chips and vodka, getting drunk and watching the Macy’s Thankgiving Parade with Boris, that I began to despair of there being any good news or a chance for Theo to turn his life around. Theo and Boris’ drug experimentation felt rather Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on a number of occasions.””Of course,” said Boris, looking less and less like a person every moment, and more like some degraded piece of silver nitrate stock from the 1920s, light shining behind him from some hidden source.”Eventually there’s another big change that at least gets him out of Vegas, but his life begins to be ruled by the stolen painting, particularly his fear of discovery and jail-time for the theft. He’s so afraid of Hobie discovering the painting that he only leaves the house in his company and spends most of his time indoors scarcely leaving his room. Any hope I had that getting out of Vegas would set him back on the right track is soon crushed.His trauma over the death of his mother, and years of mistreatment and neglect by his father have left him isolated and unable to relate to his peers, even when he does get back to something like normal schooling:”They lived at home with their parents; they worried about things like grade curves and Itailian Abroad and summer internships at the UN; the freaked out if you lit a cigarette in front of them; they were earnest, well-meaning, undamaged, clueless.”For a large part of the novel I found myself floundering around, desperately hoping for the hint of a happy resolution: that Theo and Pippa will be able to make a relationship out of two broken pieces, that Theo could make it as a legitimate antiques dealer. While this deep emotional connection is the sign of a great novel, it was also intensely depressing and made for some difficult reading.When Theo takes his international trip I felt like the person watching the horror movie yelling out “Don’t go in there! Turn around!”, it was so obviously a terrible idea. Having said that, I thought the ending was decent, there’s some resolution, but not too happy as to be out of character with the rest of the novel.My main regret is that the details of art forgery and the international art-crime underground weren’t explored more, perhaps through Boris’ point of view. The glimpses we got from Theo were fascinating:”Short of black light or lab analysis, much of Hobie’s fudging wasn’t visible to the naked eye; and though he had a lot of serious collectors coming in, he also had plenty of people who would never know, for instance, that no such thing as a Queen Anne cheval glass was ever made.”A very impressive novel. 4.5 stars.Read more of my reviews at g-readinglist.blogspot.comEdit: added a spoiler warning.

Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” is a richly textured story of beauty in the midst of overwhelming trauma. Underlying the story like a literary desktop background is Carel Fabritius’s 1654 painting of the same title that carries the main character, Theo, through a life story that begins in horrific tragedy and careens from struggle to struggle while holding out a sustaining hope that somehow Theo will overcome his great loss.Tartt is a gifted writer who captures the essence of her characters in a true to life way that brings to mind Salinger’s Franny and Zooey (which is actually mentioned in the novel). Goldfinch is a long story, some 775 pages, but Theo’s unvarnished perspective and drive to reach outside his world of tragedy to the realm of artistic perfection as embodied in the painting keeps the reader clinging to the hope that Theo will overcome.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an important plank at the story’s base. Those who struggle with this awful malady will closely identify with Theo. One of the more compelling aspects of the story is the undercurrent of the constant, muted inner turmoil mingled with artistic beauty, a struggle Tartt masterfully conveys.The story begins with an explosion at a New York art museum where Theo and his mother have stopped to kill time before a meeting at school that Theo is dreading. Theo survives the blast, but his mother dies and Theo’s life is thrust into chaos.Before the explosion Theo’s mother points out the first painting she ever really loved, The Goldfinch. While she fondly describes her fascination with the picture and tells Theo the story behind it, Theo’s attention is simultaneously drawn to a girl around his age and an old man accompanying her. The girl has a sparkle that fascinates him as much as the artwork his mother is describing. The old man is equally enchanting and Theo is drawn to them as much as the Goldfinch. It turns out the 1654 painting was created the last year of the artist’s life. The artist died that year in an explosion from a gunpowder factory, but the painting survived.As Theo and his mother head toward the museum gift shop, she decides to take one last look at another favorite painting and tells Theo to meet her in the shop. As mom heads off, Theo takes the moment to introduce himself to the sparkling girl and the mystical old man. He never gets the chance as an explosion rips through the museum. Theo’s next conscious image is rubble and chaos. The old man is there dying. He tells Theo to take the Goldfinch painting with him along with a ring with a message to “ring the green bell” at an address in New York.Theo somehow manages to wend his way through the destruction and carnage and extricate himself from the museum. Separated from his mother he heads home, the agreed emergency rendezvous place. He learns of his mother’s death from strangers. Theo’s life from this point becomes a patchwork of survival and providence undercut by the constant drumming that any moment his life could crash and burn while he protects and clings to The Goldfinch.The story spans approximately 12 years where Theo continually battles with drugs and alcohol to quiet the traumatic rumble of his past that continually keeps him on the edge as if a pending disaster waits around every corner. The constant drug use is troubling, so much so I wanted to put the book down a few times. But Tartt deftly keeps flickers of hope alive despite Theo’s inexorable binges.Despite the trauma of Theo’s existence, Tartt skillfully weaves beauty among the chaos that enfolds him. Enter Hobie, the antique restorer. Hobie is the proprietor at the New York address given to Theo by the dying old man at the museum. Hobie rises above the other fascinating, but very flawed characters as an oasis of peace and protection and the best hope for Theo’s personal restoration. Hobie also provides connection with the sparkling girl from the museum who remains at the center of Theo’s soul through the story.Theo’s heart is captured by the young girl, Pippa. Pippa, like the Goldfinch, is Theo’s inspiration to live and love but dwells on the rim of the story that continually tantalizes Theo. She is uncapturable in her closeness, like a letter that brings intimacy, but never the in-flesh communion.The art of the story is the metaphor of The Goldfinch as Theo’s anchor to sanity. The Goldfinch is the connection to the life of love he remembers with his mother that is gone but holds Theo together in the hope of a future that will restore that loving cohesiveness. But even this anchor is not what it seems.There is also the overarching sense of providence keeping Theo’s head above water and his heart from despair. References to God are scant and unremarkable through the story, yet time after time, Theo is lifted from despair by the hand of Providence. Theo’s needs are met, at times miraculously and at other times with gentle poignancy. In the rubble of the museum there is the old man who gives Theo direction, there is the painting itself, and there is Theo’s survival. There is Hobie and Pippa and at the center of it all the stoic and defiant Goldfinch, tethered to his perch but very much alive with hope despite his confined existence.The author has a sense of a world greater than the one we inhabit, one where beauty and meaning are more than fleeting moments in a setting of despair. Yet she, like the Goldfinch, is shackled to a reality of tragedy from which she cannot break free. There is no God in Tartt’s story, but there is the unceasing hint of a realm of beauty. She tells us in the many ways Theo’s despair is muted by people like Hobie and Pippa and the devotion of his best friend, Boris. Yet she holds back from offering a shining salvation. She says, “But [The Goldfinch] has also taught me that we can speak to each other across time. And I feel I have something very serious and urgent to say to you, my non-existent reader, and I feel I should say it as urgently as if I were standing in the room with you. That life— whatever else it is— is short. That fate is cruel but maybe not random. That Nature (meaning Death) always wins but that doesn’t mean we have to bow and grovel to it.”