*appreciation Book reviews don't always do well in views, but I'm glad to still be seeing them. Authenticity doesn't come cheap.

I can't wait for you to continue with the Memoirs. You have so many great moments to read through! Book 3 is very good, Book 4 is perfection and Book 5 is mindblowing.

Raybearer was one of my favourite books I read this year. The world drew me in and I adored all the moment's in the children's palace. I loved seeing depictions of all the different forms of love.

Love Raybearer and thank you for the well articulated review. Completely agree with all your points. I hope you enjoy the sequel more than I did. Love your book reviews so much!

I'd love a spoiler filled chat for the Lady Trent Memoirs when you're done!!

So glad to see you continuing Lady Trent. I picked up the first 2 hardcovers after your first review 📚🐉

I have very similar thoughts to yours about “Raybearer”. Good book but not a new favorite. “Natural history of Dragons” has a very unique concept... and I like both science and Jane Austen...

You can definitely look forward to the third book in the series of A Natural History of Dragons. Oh, and the reveals to come. I'd love to be able to experience that again

Okay, you’ve convinced me to read a natural history of dragons! I’m always looking for something that’s reminiscent of Jane Austen:)

I read Raybearer after Dominic Noble recommended it, and it's a great book! :D Such a cool and immersive world! I'm making my way through the sequel right now, but I'm not far enough in to know if it holds up. It seems promising so far, though!

@PaintedBB

2 жыл бұрын

Same here! Dominic convinced me to read Raybearer and I love it! The sequel is just as good (so far, I'm about halfway through)

I read A Natural History of Dragons based on your review and enjoyed it. I plan to keep reading the series.

Raybear has been on my TBR for such a long time. Maybe I should just read it now.

@colecates5554

2 жыл бұрын

Doooooo it

I loved both of these books! I want a spoiler discussion of Raybearer and Redemptor after you read both! And I'm looking forward to a spoiler discussion after you read all of the Lady Trent Memoirs (I think you'll be happy about the level of dragon involvement as you go along, especially Book 5...so GOOD!). So glad you're reading these!

I loved A Natural History of Dragons, and can’t wait to continue with the series. No idea when I’ll get to them, but I’m very excited to continue with it. -T

You have convinced me to try the Natural History of Dragons book! It gave me an idea for a video I would love to see you do- “if you like this Classic, read this book” since you recommend the series for Jane Austen fans 😊

I love your new bookshelf arrangement!!

Heyo! Victorian history nerd here! The main character of A History of Dragons is actually in a setting almost 30 to 40 years after that of Jane Austen's novels settings. Lady Trent mentions that electricity and the telephone were both introduced in her current timeline. Which is about the Edwardian era. Making her a Victorian lady for sure. Around the industrial revolution/civil war period. So young lady Trent probably takes place in around 1840s-1850s and older lady Trent about 1880s-1900s Jane Austen's novels usually take place around Jane Austen's time, which was the Regency period. Right before the industrial era, and right after the Georgian era. So about around 1900s-1910s.

Me looking at the BookShelf and see that Stormlight Archive is not at its place(Panic.) All Sanderson books are together(Calm). Really this new setup is good, especially when Cytonic comes and add to it.

Your book reviews are wonderful, and I've found if you love a book, I will too. I was put off of fantasy for sometime, because I grew so tired of "battle books," and "shield walls." The genre is so much broader than I guessed. Currently enjoying Fonda Lee's Jade trilogy very much. Your hard work is much appreciated.

Pre-modern lady scientist studying dragons, with social commentary? How have I not heard of these books before?! That sounds like EXACTLY my kind of thing.

Great reviews Merphy.

I really enjoyed Raybearer and it’s sequel Redemptor as well I loved the plot, the writing style, the world building and just how ✨magical✨ and immersive it felt, I loved Tarisai, and I loved reading about her strained and complicated relationship with her mother. I do however think it could’ve benefited from being a bit longer or having more POVs just so we could actually see that deep connection and relationship development on the page. Because their love and loyalty for one another is such an integral part of the story and i felt like I didn’t really buy into it that much, i didn’t really feel it that much (with the exception of maybe her relationship with Dayo or Sanjeet) because so much of it happens off-page. I enjoyed it nonetheless and I hope Jordan Ifueko writes more books in the Raybearer universe bc it’s such an interesting world I want to explore more of.

Ohh you make me so happy that I suggested something that got you hooked 😌😆🤣❤️❤️😘

I see dragon. I click. Simple as.

@Ambrosius_durante

2 жыл бұрын

A man of culture, I’d expect no less from Son Goku

@cumgod547

2 жыл бұрын

Didn't know Goku could read

@garyvarkey9546

2 жыл бұрын

@@cumgod547 stop the blasphamy

I am almost done with In the Labyrinth of Drakes (the 4th book in the Lady Trent memoirs) and it just gets better with every book, there is also more and more dragons with every sequel!

As always love your reviews! Another book added to the list to read! I was curious though, you had reviewed city of brass a couple years back and I haven’t seen another review for the rest of the series so I was wondering if you were planning on continuing the series?

I have just bought the first YA fantasy book of my life. I am here for some guidance.

You might be interested to know that Netflix are now planning a Raybearer TV series. Viola Davis / Danai Gurira/ Lupita Nyong'o should be first choices for being cast as The Lady

@mitchierainbow7353

2 жыл бұрын

I would love to see Lupita as The Lady😁

I loved Raybearer so much!

I've just started reading A natural history of dragons!

@chasepavlas2118

2 жыл бұрын

Can you give me a simple opinion on the book everything I see online is so 50/50

@bethanygreenwood8259

2 жыл бұрын

@@chasepavlas2118 I've literally only read a couple of pages! But I will come back and say more once I've read more 🙂

They both sounds very interesting!

* Potential Spoilers * * * * * * * The Tropic of Serpents was a surprisingly hard-hitting book for me. I read/listened to it when I was going through some bad postnatal depression and the section where they essentially have an intervention and get her to think about her relationships with those closest to her and process her emotions really hit home. It helped me reflect on some of my own feelings and give myself a little self care. I'm a massive fan of the series by Tropics is probably my favourite one for that reason alone.

You nailed the pros and cons of Raybearer here i think!

Read Raybearer and really enjoyed it! Hoping to read the sequel ASAP! :)

Have you read The Mask of Mirrors yet - by M A Carrick - really Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms writing together? I LOVED that book - it was complex, but such amazing world-building and amazing characters!

Thanks.

Wow ur bookshelf looks completely different!

Having read Raybearwr 3 times now, and being part of the way through book 2. I can say 1) it's better on a second read and they's saying something. And 2) some questions do get answered pretty on in book 2 but now I have new different questions.

You seem so 'Elaine' today I love it!!

I read a Natural History of Dragons after your review of it! It was my first time reading a Memoir style book. I did enjoy the unique idea if the book, it just didn't jive well with me as a reader however! But I'm curious to hear what you think as you continue the series!

I honestly thought your Jane Austen collection was a hot take on the Eye of Sauron this entire time... it's been like a year watching!

I can't wait to read "natural history of dragons" and its sequel., after I finish "the Priory of the orange tree" Thank you for making these reviews

First to Rule an African Fantasy Kingdom ;)

i feel like you'll really enjoy the ninth rain by Jen williams

Have you read the 3rd Marie Brennan book yet: Voyage of the Basilisk? We've just finished it and would love to hear your review!

It's a minor nitpick and probably nobody else cares, but I was really thrown by the apparent placement of Jane Austen's writings in _the Renaissance Era(!)_ during the review of the first book. That's a couple of centuries off - and pretty important centuries too, spanning the Age of Discovery, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. More commonly, Austen is described as an author of the _Regency Period,_ which was very different (especially socially).

This is a random question but are all your books for the lady trent series the same size? And if yes, where did you buy it because amazon failed me and gave me different publishers and different sizes and I cried.

@thiadesg

2 жыл бұрын

You must have a mix of the UK paperbacks (Titan books) and the US paperbacks (Tor). The US ones are slightly taller but the 5th book hasn't been published in that edition yet, to my great chagrin because that is the edition I have (I had to buy the hardcover of book 5 and it annoys me greatly). It makes me want to cry too.

@merphynapier42

2 жыл бұрын

no 😭 books one and two are different sizes

@theonlyslagathor

2 жыл бұрын

@@merphynapier42 Q.Q

The Memoirs of Lady Trent seems like an interesting series! I have the first one on my TBR. I see there are 6 books in the series. Does the first one work well as a standalone?

@MythicalNine

2 жыл бұрын

The first one does well as a standalone! It doesn't end on a cliffhanger or anything like that, so it feels satisfying, yet also leaves you with a faint curiosity for the next books

@thejustinwestra

2 жыл бұрын

@@MythicalNine Thank you! I’m the type of person who has to continue on with a series even if I’m not loving it just because I don’t like loose ends/cliffhangers.

@MythicalNine

2 жыл бұрын

@@thejustinwestra I know what you mean! Luckily in this series each book follows a different expedition, and then sort of build upon each other in a way. Like, there's a thread through it all and you should read them in order, but none of them feel like they end "in the middle of things" if that makes sense

Not gonna lie, really weired hearing your name mentioned in a book. It's an experience I never thought I'd have.

I just finished the sequel to raybearer this week. I enjoyed it, but a bit less so than the first book.

When are starting 'Memories of Ice'?

Hey read some David Baldacci books.

Please review Artemis by Andy Wier.

Hey, i wanna commit to a high fantasy series. Recommend me something.

@songweretson1513

2 жыл бұрын

She has an entire channel of book reviews. You can go find something in there. But don't be rude and demanding about it.

@lonebazif1982

2 жыл бұрын

@@songweretson1513 Sorry, i didn't mean to be rude, it was a request.

@arthurbriand2175

2 жыл бұрын

Runelords it's great

Still feels rather borrowed from the rain wild chronicles from Robin Hobb

I added raybearer to my TBR(it's an excel file that's absurdly large if anyone is wondering) the moment I saw it was West African influenced. But my general disdain for YA has kept me away. Maybe it's time.

This book is awesome: kzread.info/dash/bejne/rGl2q8GHncy-oLw.html