Refreshingly well balanced with good characters and story structure
923366
Every zombie story has it's own twist. Some work and some really zing the mind. This one Zings the mind and gets the reader thinking beyond survival, beyond bad people taking over etc. Not to say there aren't bad people in this story but these bad people are more believable, I think.
1658832
Five stars and well earned! I read this book in the kindle edition and finished it in one sitting. It was well written with a clear strong narrative voice and with a near perfect blend of detail, inner/out thoughts and dialogue that brought the reader into the developing mystery/thriller/romance in a well paced and very enjoyable manner. The plot has been well summarized in many other reviews so I will merely add that I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy good writing and well thought out, balanced narrative. Good show!
2868706
Well written. Some unique concepts. Relatable characters. Good amount of action/story balance.
3315815
Although it does suffer from some pacing issues (a great start, a bit of a slog, a fantastic middle, and a rushed finale), this delivered on everything it promised. The storytelling was strong, and the world-building both deep and thorough. This isn't grimdark in any sense, but it is a realistic world where people have needs, where they get hurt, and where they need the escape of illicit pleasures.

It's become increasingly rare to find admirable, likeable protagonists in the genre, so it was refreshing to find them here. Smith's characters are largely what you would expect from a more traditional fantasy novel, with heroes who are (mostly) good and villains who are (mostly) bad. They're not perfect, so don't worry about clich&eacute;s, but their flaws are subtle and reasonable. As for the magical element and the mythology, it's really exciting. At this point in my reading, I thought I'd seen just about everything in fantasy, but there are some cool twists and surprises here that make for a fun read.

I have to be honest. I like my epic fantasies to be big and deep. I like a heavy page counts, long chapters, and a large cast of characters. I want to get so immersed in the tale that I'm surprised at how much time has passed between looking up from the last chapter. This delivered.
2955326
I'll admit that when I read the prologue, I was wondering whether this was going to be the book I was expecting.  Turns out, it was all I was expecting and then some!

This was, for me at least, a refreshing and unique plot line.  The characters were all wonderfully three dimensional, and the interweaving of the various character threads was written with the confidence of an author who knew how to drive his story forward, without losing the reader in the complexity of the explanations.

The pacing was good and I particularly enjoyed the incremental ramping up of the tension as the story progressed.

If I had one niggle, it was the ease with which others simply accepted Min's gift,  But that is me being picky, and it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment of the story overall.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
857321
After a few recent disappointments, it was so refreshing to read a book like this. The language was so lovely and I adore how new words are constructed. Listen to this  when they had found flipper-footing they began to gallop toward me, as sheep hurry over their snowy field to a fresh-dropped hay bale, or pigs cross a sty at the clink of a slop bucket. Flipper-footing. I have a new favourite word.

I had before never ventured into the realm of selkie fantasy fiction, but Im glad to start here. Lanagan really captured the silent heartbreak of tearing these seal-women from the sea, the injustice and the cruelty of it. Although frankly, by the end of this book, I wouldve quite happy to stand around with Miskaella and Trudle and watch the men stay miserable. Having stolen wives for at least two generations (my math is probably not up to snuff), I thought they deserved all the misery they got. (But maybe Im just being very uncharitable.)

The book certainly did a good job of illustrating what an unhealthy love looks like, because none of these marriages, save that of Dominicks mam and dad, were healthy. Misskaella enchanted the men and trapped the women; the men could not look beyond themselves enough to set their wives free; the seal-women loved their husbands but loved the sea more.

The seal-wives were extremely docile for much of the book; stealing their skins seemed to sap them of the spirit to protest their circumstances. That was frustrating, especially since only Daniel seemed to have the guts to release them. However, the seal-women found strength enough to do what was needed to escape and protect their children.

I also appreciate the glimmer of hope there at the end, with Lory and Daniel's second meeting, him smiling. While slightly contrived, it was refreshing, like two souls breaking out of the shadows of the last generation. And Trudle I didn't expect to ever like her, but the final chapter from her perspective was so moving. I was happy that she was content as the island revived around her, that she discovered the last of Misskaellas secrets.

All in all, a lovely read and one Im proud to have on my bookshelf.
3743451
The Gravity of Birds was a refreshing read, after a string of disappointing books. Well done to the author on her first novel. Not perfect, by any means (is any book really perfect)? But honest, and for the most part, full of thoughtfully crafted and interesting characters. The story has the kind of movement I appreciate, as much internal movement on the part of key characters as there is movement in time and plot. This is the kind of book I want to go back and read again soon, and one I'll be recommending to friends.
2292131
I didn't want this book to end, in part because it was lovely and in part because I felt I was just starting to get to know the characters. While there were a couple of things that bothered me, I still gave this a 5-star (4.5 if that were an option) rating because I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the characters were surprisingly well-rendered (more on that below).

*No Spoilers*

One of the common complaints about this book is that there are just "too many characters!" which I admit makes me chuckle a little bit. Yes, there are effectively ten main characters of this story: four parents and six children (though they are adults for much of the book). Because the families become blended, it can get confusing to remember which child belongs to which biological parents and siblings. However, it really isn't THAT difficult to set it straight in your mind, especially if you know this going into it. Write it on a post-it and stick it to the inside the cover if you need to; it's really that simple. My point is, please don't let such a triviality keep you from experiencing this story.

The other chief complaint is that the story jumps around too much, across time and between different points of view. When I first started this book I was disappointed by this and almost didn't continue reading it--that first 2-3 chapters have a very jarring structure and you aren't sure where exactly you are in the story. I'm not sure if this is intentional on behalf of the author or just oversight, but thankfully as the story continues it becomes much, much easier to follow along. I actually came to love the format in the second half of the book, as I figured out more of the storyline and grew more attached to the characters. However, if you are a reader that simply does not like stories that jump around through time and perspective, this probably isn't the story for you.

The other thing I heard from readers was that the characters weren't developed enough or that they didn't connect to the characters or couldn't "root for them." I disagree. One of the beautiful things about Patchett's writing is she can tell you everything you need to know about a character in very few words and she doesn't waste your attention by fleshing out every detail. She lets you in on what the characters are feeling only when it is necessary. I found each of the characters in this story unique in all the ways they needed to be. You find out more about some characters than others. I found myself most attached to the point of view of Franny, who is the character with whom we spend the most time. I would have gladly read a novel solely from Franny's perspective, though that would have resulted in an entirely different book. The characters of this story are very human. They aren't overly flawed or overly virtuous; they're just people. I didn't need any other reason to "root for them" than that. They each have to deal with the chaos of their lives, and they do so imperfectly.

Though Patchett doesn't spell everything out for you (which I love her for), there is a subtle theme of forgiveness/redemption in this story that I found beautiful and a little heartbreaking. The members of these two families don't live in perfect harmony, but they also don't harbor any dramatic grudges, which I found refreshing. I would have gladly read another 300 pages of this story.
4041390
This is a fantasy that has great balance of world-building, romance and character development.  With intrigue, mystery and bright flashes of humor, it's a story that keeps the pages turning. The story starts with a bang and the pace move along well throughout.  The characters all feel different and unique, with some amazingly descriptive scenes that have me thinking about the book long after I finished reading.

Overall the plot is well developed, with a few good surprises along the way and I can't wait for the sequel.
I'd recommend for readers 12+ and not just girls.  I'm handing it off to my 13 year old boy, too!
2503691
It's amazing how immersive a perfectly balanced, exciting new fantasy can be.  And it's wonderful when you can find a book like that.  Uprooted was that book for me, and it was an absolute delight - not because it was always happy, or particularly funny (although it can be, with a wry humor), but because the characters had real depth and growth, the world-building was visceral and descriptive, as were the magic elements which were described in a visual way that I found very appealing.  I also felt even more caught up in the world because it was so unclear from the beginning what kind of story this was going to be.  The plot summary just barely touches on the real and complex plot, and that element of mystery to what you are in for when you first start this book, helped draw me completely into the narrative.

Agnieszka was an extremely well written and vivid heroine.  She's strong, but a bit of a klutz and of course very uncomfortable in the surroundings she finds herself in with the Dragon.  But gradually her personality makes an impression on the Dragon's taciturnity and it was beautiful to see how much she grows throughout the course of the story.  This aspect was a major reason why I loved the book so much - it's truly a wondrous and inspiring coming of age tale for Agnieszka.  And she feels so different from the heroines I've been reading about lately.  She feels like an old soul, and I really identified with that.  Agnieszka also has a strong friendship with Kasia, but it is a realistic one, as some issues they have with each other is explored, but it only served to strengthen their friendship and it also made them completely believable as characters.

The story has many exciting plot twists and some nail-biting action scenes that made it intensely readable.  The action does not just take place at the Dragon's castle, so that there is a very solid sense of the whole world of the novel by the end of the story.  And I loved that at the different stages of the story the author introduces new characters who are just as strong and memorable as the ones we have grown to love from the beginning.

The romance is not a strong part of the plot - and seeing as the beginning has some similarities to Beauty and the Beast, I found that surprising.  But the romance aspect is there in the background, and is a wonderful part of the story because it is not the major focus.  I was much more intrigued by the world-building and the trials Agnieszka had to face, so it felt very fitting that the story revolved around that.  Although I did really love the Dragon, and wouldn't have minded knowing more about him!

I think this was literally a perfect book.  It's hard to find any fault with such flawless storytelling and characters.  It's one of my new absolute favorites, and while I feel like the story ended in a way that felt complete and satisfactory, there is a part of me that wishes there was more to read, because living in the world of this book was amazing!
963939
I really enjoyed this book, well-written and well-developed characters. In fact the story and writing were good enough to make me over look a personal pet-peeve that pops up early in the story (which is pretty impressive, most often I'll quit the book, I'm not patient that way).

What I really like is the way the author balances fun characters with good relationships. The relationships don't become angsty or annoying or worse cringe-worthy.

Really looking forward to more from the author.
4904809
I picked up the Draculata Nest by John Hundley on the recommendation of a friend.  I had never read a novel in this genre and was skeptical, but I found myself drawn in by the story and its characters.  There is a nice balance between detail and action, allowing richly conceived characters to move this well developed story along at a pace that kept me absorbed throughout.  There was also a nice balance between the mystical and the mundane.  This ignited my imagination while keeping the characters very relatable.  I especially enjoyed Clifford Craine, the unlikely and likable werewolf protagonist, and Roland Trudeau, a powerful, self-serving vampire and a brilliant strategist.  Overall, this was a very entertaining read.  I look forward to reading books 2 and 3 in the Red Wolf Saga.
145746
I enjoyed the author's previous novels and happily embraced this one, expecting a largely lighthearted tale with more character development than the average book in that genre.  Now, it was truly that, but the plot was very well-constructed, the setting was vivid, and the connection among the tale of mystery, treasure and love felt balanced.
2015294
I am a science fiction aficionado and I like to always try new authors off the beaten path. I came upon this novel based on the recommendation of a friend, and I was very pleasantly surprised. For one thing, the book reads very easily and is very well paced, almost like a screenplay (in fact, I can see this book being easily adapted into a movie). At the same time, there is a good balance of character building and action. While character building is important, sometimes one reads books where that part goes on forever, resulting in pretty lengthy introductions.
But the real nice part is that this novel is not purely about hard science fiction: it is about a common human drama of divided loyalties and identity search that resonate with current themes in our global world.
The book is very well worth reading as a standalone novel, but I sure hope there will be a sequel so that we get to know what happens to Max (and Janine).
2740135
I found this book to be a truly refreshing read. It breaks free from so many of the bindings that modern fantasy suffers from and takes the reader back to what first drew them to reading good fantasy in the first place. This is a journey to another time and place and Kvothe is a fascinating hero. The style and tale continually hint at a much larger and more detailed world and story than that which can be contained in this book. I for one hope that when the trilogy is complete, there are still stories left untold and mysteries in the world that Kvothe and the other characters inhabit. "The Name of the Wind" was everything I was looking for and more. I read a number of reviews and had my hopes high and it was so nice to have my expectations exceeded by a book for the first time in a long time.

To compare this to any other story or Rothfuss to any other author I've read would be cliche, at best.  Like the best stories, it combines a number of elements that are familiar and that's okay as long as, the story you are reading reminds you of these others but, doesn't suffer through the comparison. "The Name of the Wind" doesn't suffer from comparing it to some of the greats in fantasy.

I found the dialogue incredibly clever and at times genuinely hilarious. The character development was tremendous and the story was told in the finest fashion. It leaves the reader wanting more as it goes along and savoring every page as it nears its conclusion. Really, good story telling at its finest and one of the very best that I've read in a long, long time. I can't wait for "Wise Man's Fear" because Day One will be a tough one to follow!
7028
I picked this  book up on a fluke in the library, just randomly browsing and choosing books based on their covers (just to prove that old cliche wrong and kill some time between appointments). I was pleasantly surprised by this random choice.

Being something of a self-proclaimed fantasy dabbler, I had plenty of other novels in this genre to compare this story to and I was pleased to find that, while it stuck true to the theme of the fantasy vein, it didn't rely on the old stock characters and plots as much as others. There are no elves or dwarves or magic swords or rings like you find in so much other fantasy that's nothing more than blatant Tolkien-rip-off.

Instead, McGarry has given us a very interesting and strong (but not "she-male" quality) female character to lead us through this story that's more about discovery and understanding than gaining absolute power.

But don't worry, there's still plenty of plotting and "ruling the world" to keep you interested.

While there's a little bit of fluff here (meaning things that could have been eliminated without losing much of the plot) it was all very entertaining and the whole thing was quite enthralling by the middle of the story. There are a lot of characters to attempt to keep straight (though, for the most part, you can forget many of them without much guilt since the main characters are so striking and memorable as to not be forgotten).

The theory of three (or multiples of three) being needed for success in McGarry's version of sorcery is a nice, new twist on an old theme and keeps it fresh for the reader. In other words, you're not sitting there, reading it and going "God, this plot AGAIN??" which, unfortunately, seems to happen all too often in fantasy.

Liath is a character that's quite easy to relate to. Even though the chances are good none of us reading this are mages, we've all had the struggle for ascertaining truth amid a huge, confusing mess of people and "leaders" claiming to be right and figuring out our place in the world. This is Liath's main fight and it's interesting and completely believable. Hats off to Ms. McGarry for her abilities here. None of the other characters are *quite* as well developed, but they've got dimension and life that's their own and since they're memorable to me a few weeks after reading this, I think they're well enough developed as to be considered "good." They also avoid (for the most part, anyway) that whole "stock character" label. As in, somewhat original and not just a slight variation on something someone else has already done. Not ALL, mind you, but most.

The world-building is not extravagant, but nicely done. It's a soft, gentle hand that guides us through this realm that's so like our own, but just different enough to be fun. It's not grandiose and it's obvious the writer has much higher ambtions than just making a cool place for boring characters to live. The focus isn't on the setting, but it's given such fine attention as to be considered almost perfect as far as I'm concerned.

So, the whole review in one sentence?

Excellent showcase of originality, fun, and talent by a writer in a genre that's overpopulated with a "been there, done that" theme.

It's definitely worth the read, especially if you've been bored with what's on the bookshelves lately. Highly recommended to lifetime readers of fantasy, or those who are just starting to cut their literary teeth on the stuff.
3802361
I read a lot of science fiction but have become dissallusioned by much of the newer releases. However I found Mr. Ruggiero's book to be a refreshing return to storybased science fiction and a rejection of high tech based stories. For those of you who want to get to know your characters and feel what they feel, then you won't want to miss this one. It's simply a good story!