I love hearing all your opinions-controversial or not! I can totally understand your criticisms of The Sword of Kaigen. It does focus on marital conflict, which you could argue is not often explored in fantasy. The ending is clunky. I won’t say the clunky parts get a pass because it’s an indie book, but I stand behind thinking the good parts of that book are better than much traditionally published fantasy these days. You’ve made me very curious about My Husband!
@@JAKandtheBookStack I should've warned you about the ending. I didn't like the ending either, but I was forgiving understanding that this was intended to be a series the author decided to forgo.
Honestly love and appreciate you so much for not being swayed by the hype and sharing all your honest opinions!! I am sorry that EotD and The Sword of Kaigen were such disappointments for you, though I definitely think you have some very fair critiques ☺ And I totally agree with you on War for the Lost Hearts, that had soooo much missed potential!! Consider me completely sold on My Husband btw, I love the sound of that messiness 🤩 My faves of June were Requiem for a Star by U.G. Gutman (novella), Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver and A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall 🥰
Eek I hope you enjoy My Husband, there’s so much pressure now! I’ve had Leather and Lark on my radar, along with book 1, and I need to check out your other two fav reads! I’m so disappointed in Sword of Kaigen, I am Still heated about it 😝
I haven't read Sword of Kaigen, but honestly, I can understand your disappointment! It sounds like those are similar issues I'd have. I always love hearing peoples' divisive opinions 😂yess so glad you enjoyed Nothing to See Here! I pictured Jack-Jack as well while reading that ahah.
Maybe going into it with better expectations might help? But truly I would have been fine skipping it. Definitely the most disappointing of the year for me 😣
aw no, i‘m so sorry the sword of kaigen disappointed you! it‘s one of my favorite books, but i totally see why it wouldn‘t work for everyone. i‘ve actually always been confused as to why it‘s such a big hit on booktube because it definitely has its problems! especially the ending as you said. i’m still so sad the author abandoned this world! crossing my fingers july will be a better reading month for you!! xx
It had so much potential!! As the pages were dwindling I was like… why are we introducing a new magic… but as I mentioned Misaki was amazing and I really enjoyed her evolution
Thanks! Even though there were lots in the 'dislike' category, I am so glad that I read them, so I feel accomplished. I hope you enjoy My Husband, I will be on the edge of my seat until I hear how you like it!
Well, wait a second while I go find the comment where I said you would certainly like Sword of Kaigen and delete it real quick... Joking aside, I agree with all your criticism! I loved the book, but I was so used to a different kind of endings that I also kept expecting something more in the last pages. I remember in particular being shocked by the fate of (trying to keep it spoiler-free) a certain baby girl born in tragic circumstances, because I was expecting something more complex and bittersweet, more classic-fantasy-ending. In a way I think it fits with the theme of the book, that the ending is uncertain and melancholic and so many things can't be fixed anymore. I recently tried Pimsleur to brush up on my Persian, which I mostly forgot after university. I loved it! I was not used to that method of language learning, but I found it so instinctive! It definitely helped to have already some knowledge since there are sounds in Persian that are not used at all in English or Italian (my native language), but for the rest it was amazing! I promised myself to do the whole course once a year from now on, we'll see if I can keep up with it!
Yes! The plot line introduced about the 6 year old gone missing is what I’m irritated about - that whole magical element was introduced but never explored. And then I felt we were working towards an uprising that never happened, but I can be a bit more forgiving in that because not all tragedy results in taking down the government. Ooh this might be a sign to do Pimsleaur again! I had heard of his method before with the repetition, as I use it with my flashcards, but this audio version is incredibly effective! It really exposes me to the language. Any other tips for language learning?
I forgot about the sequel to Squeak...too bad it was so bad lol dang June's reading was not it for you this has to be the biggest 'books I disliked" section you've had. Hopefully July is going better. Your hatred of the writing style of EotD always is entertaining because it's just interesting because I don't have that issue in any way. Oooh shots fired on Sword of Kaigen, I still haven't read it, but now I am concerned because we align usually on our hatred of trauma porn.
How could you FORGET about the squeakuel???? It was strange... it is the same timeline as the ending of book 1, but from a new character POV. You're right I think June was a record for books I disliked, which is a bummer... I will be curious what you think of Sword of Kaigen, I would love to have a spoiler talk with you about since we do have similar views of trauma porn. It did have some great elements in the FMC, so my feelings are conflicting.
Ohhhh nooooo you didn't like What the River Knows!!! I get it though, the fmc is very immature. 😅 I think if you went in expecting fantasy youd definitely woulda been disappointed. It's more historical fiction with minor magical realism.
I agree with it being historical fiction with a touch of magical realism. Maybe more accurate expectations will help me in book 2, because I do need to see how it goes. There was a bit of a cliff hanger at the end!
I love hearing all your opinions-controversial or not! I can totally understand your criticisms of The Sword of Kaigen. It does focus on marital conflict, which you could argue is not often explored in fantasy. The ending is clunky. I won’t say the clunky parts get a pass because it’s an indie book, but I stand behind thinking the good parts of that book are better than much traditionally published fantasy these days. You’ve made me very curious about My Husband!
I absolutely loved the evolution of the marriage, I thought it added such depth to Misaki. Such potential.... I feel offended with how it ended 😂
@@JAKandtheBookStack I should've warned you about the ending. I didn't like the ending either, but I was forgiving understanding that this was intended to be a series the author decided to forgo.
Honestly love and appreciate you so much for not being swayed by the hype and sharing all your honest opinions!! I am sorry that EotD and The Sword of Kaigen were such disappointments for you, though I definitely think you have some very fair critiques ☺
And I totally agree with you on War for the Lost Hearts, that had soooo much missed potential!!
Consider me completely sold on My Husband btw, I love the sound of that messiness 🤩
My faves of June were Requiem for a Star by U.G. Gutman (novella), Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver and A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall 🥰
Eek I hope you enjoy My Husband, there’s so much pressure now! I’ve had Leather and Lark on my radar, along with book 1, and I need to check out your other two fav reads! I’m so disappointed in Sword of Kaigen, I am Still heated about it 😝
I haven't read Sword of Kaigen, but honestly, I can understand your disappointment! It sounds like those are similar issues I'd have. I always love hearing peoples' divisive opinions 😂yess so glad you enjoyed Nothing to See Here! I pictured Jack-Jack as well while reading that ahah.
Maybe going into it with better expectations might help? But truly I would have been fine skipping it. Definitely the most disappointing of the year for me 😣
aw no, i‘m so sorry the sword of kaigen disappointed you! it‘s one of my favorite books, but i totally see why it wouldn‘t work for everyone. i‘ve actually always been confused as to why it‘s such a big hit on booktube because it definitely has its problems! especially the ending as you said. i’m still so sad the author abandoned this world! crossing my fingers july will be a better reading month for you!! xx
It had so much potential!! As the pages were dwindling I was like… why are we introducing a new magic… but as I mentioned Misaki was amazing and I really enjoyed her evolution
Dang, that's a hot take on Sword of Kaigen (I own it, but haven't read it yet). The clown romance book synopsis made me laugh while working from home
Haha I had to re film that review so many times because I kept giggling 🤭 points for creativity I suppose!
Hope July is a better reading month. I definitely wanna pick up my husband
Thanks! Even though there were lots in the 'dislike' category, I am so glad that I read them, so I feel accomplished. I hope you enjoy My Husband, I will be on the edge of my seat until I hear how you like it!
Well, wait a second while I go find the comment where I said you would certainly like Sword of Kaigen and delete it real quick... Joking aside, I agree with all your criticism! I loved the book, but I was so used to a different kind of endings that I also kept expecting something more in the last pages.
I remember in particular being shocked by the fate of (trying to keep it spoiler-free) a certain baby girl born in tragic circumstances, because I was expecting something more complex and bittersweet, more classic-fantasy-ending. In a way I think it fits with the theme of the book, that the ending is uncertain and melancholic and so many things can't be fixed anymore.
I recently tried Pimsleur to brush up on my Persian, which I mostly forgot after university. I loved it! I was not used to that method of language learning, but I found it so instinctive! It definitely helped to have already some knowledge since there are sounds in Persian that are not used at all in English or Italian (my native language), but for the rest it was amazing! I promised myself to do the whole course once a year from now on, we'll see if I can keep up with it!
Yes! The plot line introduced about the 6 year old gone missing is what I’m irritated about - that whole magical element was introduced but never explored. And then I felt we were working towards an uprising that never happened, but I can be a bit more forgiving in that because not all tragedy results in taking down the government.
Ooh this might be a sign to do Pimsleaur again! I had heard of his method before with the repetition, as I use it with my flashcards, but this audio version is incredibly effective! It really exposes me to the language. Any other tips for language learning?
I forgot about the sequel to Squeak...too bad it was so bad lol dang June's reading was not it for you this has to be the biggest 'books I disliked" section you've had. Hopefully July is going better. Your hatred of the writing style of EotD always is entertaining because it's just interesting because I don't have that issue in any way. Oooh shots fired on Sword of Kaigen, I still haven't read it, but now I am concerned because we align usually on our hatred of trauma porn.
How could you FORGET about the squeakuel???? It was strange... it is the same timeline as the ending of book 1, but from a new character POV. You're right I think June was a record for books I disliked, which is a bummer... I will be curious what you think of Sword of Kaigen, I would love to have a spoiler talk with you about since we do have similar views of trauma porn. It did have some great elements in the FMC, so my feelings are conflicting.
Ohhhh nooooo you didn't like What the River Knows!!! I get it though, the fmc is very immature. 😅 I think if you went in expecting fantasy youd definitely woulda been disappointed. It's more historical fiction with minor magical realism.
I agree with it being historical fiction with a touch of magical realism. Maybe more accurate expectations will help me in book 2, because I do need to see how it goes. There was a bit of a cliff hanger at the end!
I don't love entertainment in the tragedy of others...this line reminds me of some humans ...
I just don't get the entertainment of it all!
@@JAKandtheBookStack you are angel...that only one 🙂