Days of Shattered Faith

 Hello Bookworms,

Finally I found a time to read Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This book was waiting for my attention since last year. I have it from Netgalley and honestly I'm ashamed with so long delay...

I have no idea how to write about this book... It's dark, dense, complex, not easy to read (for me) to be honest.

We have Angilly - Palleseen Resident in Usmai capital Alkhalend, Dekamran - Usmai prince, second son of current ruler, other members of royal family of Usmai, Loret - new aide to Angilly (who she really is?), duels (not legal), succession crisis, necromantic engineering, people with different (mostly colliding) agendas and more.

I wrote about Angilly in my post about Lives of Bitter Rain (check if you are interested).

Book as a whole is interesting and I bet great read for fans of complex, darkish fantasy, but... I enjoyed more previous one House of Open Wounds.

3-3.5 star from me here.

Books from Polish authors

 Hello Bookworms,

Today few titles from authors from my home country.

Siec. Ostatni bastion SS by Boguslaw Woloszanski - this one is actually book 2 of Twierdza Szyfrow, spy/war story written by well known historian in Poland. Book is touching mysteries around places in Silesia region connected with Hitler and Nazis and stolen treasures and is authors idea (historically based fiction) what could happened in Silesia near the end of the WW2 in 1945.

Solid read for me.

Wyprawa book 1 of Zelazny Kruk trilogy by Rafal Debski is a fantasy for teens with Evah - teen boy, son of a hunter who after death of his father and abduction of his mother and a girl he is in love with decides to find out who Zelazny Kruk is and to kill him. His mission is not easy as first he needs to leave his little sister behind, then find out any information which help him find his target. He's meeting friends and foes and unfortunately became a victim of betrayal.

Nice read if I can say.

Faceci w gumofilcach written by Andrzej Pilipiuk is a compilation of short stories with one of my favorite characters - Jakub Wedrowycz. Jakub is old alcoholic, moonshine maker, exorcist and generally interesting persona. Some people has a curious opinion - 'if Terry Pratchett was born in Poland, Wedrowycz could be created by him'. Who knows.. maybe LOL! I enjoyed reading it (book 10 with Jakub's adventures). One more is waiting for me (my partner is reading it currently). 

That's all for today :)

The Witchlands part 2

 Hiya Bookworms,

Today about Windwitch and Sightwitch by Susan Dennard.

Both books received 4 stars from me as solid reads. What we can find there?

In Windwitch we're shadowing Merik (Windwitch, Prince of Nubrevna) who is believed by everybody to be dead in his 'mission' to prove his sister is behind the attack, which turning to be eye-opening for him.

His threadbrother Kullen is showing up to be alive as well and on wrong side (he is a Fury) and Merik set off with Cam and Ryber (last Sightwitch) to find out a way to rescue Kullen from what's happened to him.

Meanwhile Safi (Truthwitch) and Vaness (Ironwitch and Empress of Marstock) barely escape with their lives from shipwreck to be captured by Hell-Bard (Caden) and his brigands.

Aeduan (Bloodwitch) teams up with Iseult (Weaverwitch), then rescues Owl (child, powerful Earthwitch) who were captured by Purists.

As black characters here we have Purist Priest Corland (Cursewitch), who teams up with Raider King (Aeduan's father), and Esme (Puppeteer and powerful Weaverwitch) who also work for Raider King.

In Sightwitch we finding out story of life of Ryber and how she met and fall for Kullen and also who really Kullen is. This book is written in little bit different way, we actually are reading diary with fair amount of maps and pictures which is kinda refreshing.

I did enjoy both books and hope I'll enjoy next one too.

Did you read them? What's your thoughts?

The Fair Botanists

 Hello Bookworms,

Today my thoughts about The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan. 

 

The Fair Botanists is my first meeting with writing of Sara Sheridan. I do like historical fiction novels and I love Edinburgh and Royal Botanical Gardens there, so having it in the background of the story was extra nice bit for me.

In the story we are mostly shadowing Elizabeth Rocheid, young widow, botanic illustrator, who came to her late husband family mansion in Edinburgh to live with his aunt Clementine. Other character who's life we coming to know is Belle Brodie, illegitimate child of duke, strong character, passionate botanist, perfume maker and a courtesan.

Story of these two women is build up around moving Botanic Gardens in 1820s from Holyrood Palace to their current place, blooming of Agave Americana and visit of king George III in Edinburgh.

This book is enjoyable read for anyone who likes historical background, strong girls, bit of crime (not very serious) and good love story in one.

For me - solid 4 stars. Definitely will keep my eyes open for other books by Sara Sheridan.

Babel

Hiya Bookworms,

During the weekend I finished reading Babel by R. F. Kuang. 

I can say this was interesting book to read, you can find in here bit of history (pre - opium wars China, English colonial politics, few historical personas), alchemy (silver bars made for certain/also military use), rebellion, plus bunch of teenagers/young people placed in the middle of all this.

Robin, Rami, Victoire and Letty are trying figured out who they are, why they are really in Oxford, if things they do or supposed to do are moral, ethical... As three of them are foreigners on British soil they are worried about their homelands.

Book is described as sort of critic of imperialism and colonialism. Possibly, but thinking this book is only this... is 'going easy way'. I think Babel is more, because is making us stop and think and want to know more about what actually happened in 1830s.

For me it is solid 4 stars read. 

Did you read it? What's your opinion about it?