Rustypuppy

Just finished reading Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Was going to wait until tomorrow to write this up, but I don’t feel my feelings will change on it, so might as well do this now.

Interesting characters, top notch world building (as all of Sanderson’s books have), and some amazing writing in terms of style, phrasing, metaphor, simile, concepts, insights, etc. etc. etc.

I liked the story, figured out one reveal right before it happens (which is always fun), and for over half the book, assumed it was one I would keep to re-read again later.

But …. I thought this was wholly Tress’ story, similar to Garth Nix’ Frogkisser! or The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente.

It is. And it’s not.

It’s also about Hoid, a character that appears in some form in all of Sanderson’s books, especially those that deal with the Cosmere. If you’ve read those books, Hoid is probably a fun addition, all the asides and reference something comforting and familiar and inside joke fun, especially since he seems to be in a situation unlike ever before.

If you haven’t, it feels like sitting at a table of decades old friends who keep talking about things they’ve shared that make no sense unless you were there. Which I wasn’t.

Part of all the Hoidness is that it is him telling the story …. which my reader brain accepted and wanted to keep turning the page, but my writer brain had a problem with because it’s kind of Greek Chorus but more personal and how would Hoid know about what Tress’ father did since he wasn’t there? But maybe that’s just an aspect of Hoid you are assumed to know because you know Hoid?

Anyway, it really bothers me right now. I might try a re-read in a few years and have no problem with Hoid at all.

I do think the writing is wonderful and if you like modern tellings of fairytale themes like the Princess Bride, you’d probably like this book.

#tressoftheemeraldsea #brandonsanderson #fairytale #fantasy #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/VL7kv0xFINnOYkIf.jpg

I picked this up a month ago, then got distracted by the 5 Heartstriker books and Argylle, but once I started it, I finished it in 3 days: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

This is one of those books that is written as fantasy to be able to comment on reality, and while the subtext isn’t that sub in some places, it was secondary to the great, well-defined characters for me.

Written in a close POV, you follow Linus, a worker a the Department in Charge of Magical Youth in his investigation and evaluation of a unique orphanage in the system that is classified due to the extreme magical nature of the children kept there. It’s a story of found family and growth and seeing individuals as they are instead of how others have told you they should be.

It is a stand alone novel, with a sequel coming out in September 2025 called Somewhere Beyond the Sea, that, from the blurb, takes place very soon after the events in this book.

#bookstr #books #reading #tjklune #fantasy #magic #children #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/1sBUfqfMxmnFDgzR.jpg

Last Dragon Standing, last (5th) book in Rachel Aaron’s Heartstriker series.

Good ending to a good series.

Even being aware of the theme and having a solid guess how it would likely end, there were still surprises - good surprises, not “where the hell did that come from?!” surprises, which is one of the reasons I keep reading Aaron’s books: the worlds and magic systems she creates have rules and they don’t get broken for dramatic or plot reasons; the fun is seeing how they are interpreted and used by the various characters in pursuit of their (often conflicting) goals.

#rachelaaron #urbanfantasy #dragons #heartstrikers #bookstr #book #fiction #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/zlwXJeJbBqNtSOuE.jpg

Dragon of a Different Color by Rachel Aaron, #4 in the Heartstriker series.

Nice follow up to the plot threads of book 3 (No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished). New dragons, various characters level up, Big Picture gets Bigger, and something that makes utter sense given the rules of the world but was still a shocker.

Really liked Marci’s journey through this book, though since her and Julius spend most of the novel apart from each other, every chapter alternates POV …. which means for most of the middle I just skip chapters to follow a single POV. 😬

Also this cover is soooo reminiscent of Mary GrandPré’s original illustrations for the Harry Potter books because there’s a freaking spoiler in it that means nothing to you until you’ve read the story. 🤣

On to the last book, whose cover proves this whole thing has always been about Bob. 😉

#rachelaaron #urbanfantasy #dragons #heartstrikers #bookstr #book #fiction #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/Q7Ky8.jpg

No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished, Book 3 in Rachel Aaron’s Heartstriker series.

Damn, things are leveling up now, which you expect in Book 3 of a 5 book series. There’s a good balance of keeping up with the major players involved, though that does mean alternating chapters of POV when they go off in different directions.

I really enjoy the various levels of magic power: humans, dragons, animal spirits, environment spirits, and stuff that’s obviously waaaay more powerful but hasn’t been fulling explained yet.

Aaron does a good job of keeping things relative to each other, so you do believe this human can punch above her weight and (as frustrating as the main nice dragon can be), there’s enough motivation and reasons for the other characters to do what they in reaction to his efforts and actions. One mystery isn’t that mysterious and the reader should be able to figure it out even though he doesn’t.

I don’t think this book, and the next two, will be as impactful if you don’t start at the beginning.

On to the next one. 👍🐉

#rachelaaron #urbanfantasy #dragons #heartstrikers #bookstr #book #fiction #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/LeL58.jpg

One Good Dragon Deserves Another, book 2 of 5 in the Heartstriker series by Rachel Aaron.

Self-contained plot, though I think it would be easier to follow if you’d read the first one. Also has an end-of-the-book blowup that adds a new crises that seem will resonate through the rest of the books.

I like what the author does with the seers (dragons that know the future and manipulate anyone and everyone to get the outcome they prefer) and spirits (sentient magic). Part of the joy of reading genre for me is experiencing these other worlds that authors create.

As an author, I enjoy the craft of the book:

• showing the reader things the characters don’t know to increase tension
• having the characters know something that is completely hidden from the reader until the reveal
• keeping some things from the reader and the characters, but with enough bits scattered around that, when looking back, all the parts were there before the final puzzle image was revealed.

Going on to the third book. 👍 🐉

#rachelaaron #urbanfantasy #dragons #heartstrikers #rustypuppyreads #bookstr #book #fiction https://i.nostr.build/Q7VEX.jpg

Finished Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron. Fun urban fantasy in a near future where magic has come back to the world (especially Detroit). Dragons are real and very scheming. Human mages have different schools of magic use.

This is the first book, and while it does come to a conclusion, something big has been set in motion. There are 5 books total (and an interview with Mother of the Heartstriker Dragons), all of which are out, which is why I started this series - not a fan of year or longer waits for a story I’m enjoying.

I loved her Eli Monpress books, and these have a similar feel, though more urban than fantasy world.

Starting the next book tonight. 🐉

#rachelaaron #urbanfantasy #dragons #heartstrikers #rustypuppyreads #bookstr https://i.nostr.build/Vw0Zv.jpg

Finished reading the second Whimbrel House book, Heir of Uncertain Magic, by Charlie N. Holmberg. It’s been a while since I read the first book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, so it took a bit to get back into it, as the events happen right after each other.

Enjoyable, light read. Mystery (situational, not murder), bit of romance. Magic in the late 1800s in Massachusetts but not “witches” - this is a unique magic system with various traits inherited by bloodline, though the majority of those with magical ability are low level.

Just like the previous book, Heir is a complete story, though there are threads of more adventures to come.

And looking at the cover just now on upload, I again appreciate how much a good artist and art director can imbue of the story in their cover illustration - that scarf is so frigging important!

#bookstr #book #magic #magicalrealism #charlienholmberg #rustypuppyreads https://i.nostr.build/POa26.jpg