October Wrap-Up || 2015 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Adriana reviews several books she read in October, including "The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden," "Blue Exorcist," "Swordspoint," "Ancillary Mercy," "Carry On," and "Wytches."

Key Insights

• 🖤 "The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden" lacked the whimsical air typically found in middle-grade novels.
• 💙 "Blue Exorcist" might be better appreciated as an anime rather than the manga series.
• ❓ "Swordspoint" delves into the dynamics between nobility and commoners in a fantasy setting.
• 🇫🇮 "Ancillary Mercy" is a satisfying conclusion to a Sci-Fi trilogy with the theme of marginalized characters regaining agency.
• 🌍 "Carry On" suffers from fragmented storytelling and an underdeveloped world.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is "The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden" about?

"The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden" is a middle-grade novel about a boy named Thomas who comes across his own body while grave robbing. Adriana wanted to like the book but found it lacked the whimsical air typically found in middle-grade novels.

Q: What did Adriana think about the first three volumes of "Blue Exorcist"?

Adriana didn't feel as invested in the "Blue Exorcist" manga series as she had hoped. She found intriguing elements, like the dynamic between the two brothers and the exorcist cram school, but thinks the series might translate better as an anime.

Q: What is "Swordspoint" about?

"Swordspoint" is a fantasy of manners book about a swordsman named Richard St. Vier who does dirty work for the nobility. Adriana found the examination of the dynamics between nobility and commoners fascinating.

Q: How did Adriana feel about the final book in the Sci-Fi trilogy, "Ancillary Mercy"?

Adriana thought "Ancillary Mercy" was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, highlighting the theme of marginalized characters regaining agency. She praised the trilogy for its overall excellence.

Q: What did Adriana think about "Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell?

Adriana had mixed feelings about "Carry On." She found the story fragmented with multiple plotlines competing for attention and the world feeling underdeveloped.

Q: What is "Wytches" about?

"Wytches" is a creepy and intense graphic novel about a town where people can pledge someone to the wytches, who will grant them a wish in exchange. Adriana found it to be a great read that kept her on the edge of her seat.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Adriana reads "The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden" but found it lacked the whimsical air typically found in middle-grade novels.

• She read the first three volumes of "Blue Exorcist" but didn't feel as invested in the series as she had hoped, considering exploring the anime adaptation.

• "Swordspoint" was a satisfying fantasy of manners book that examined the dynamics between nobility and commoners.

• The final book in the Sci-Fi trilogy, "Ancillary Mercy," was a satisfying conclusion with the theme of marginalized characters regaining agency.

• Adriana had mixed feelings about "Carry On," finding the world underdeveloped and the story fragmented with competing plotlines.

• "Wytches" was a creepy and intense graphic novel that kept Adriana on the edge of her seat.