Hello guys! Welcome once again to a new Mark This Book Monday to start the week in the best way possible... with books!
The book I'm gonna be starting the week with was published quite a while back and had been in my TBR list for quite a while, but like all books that had been there a while, I didn't have it very present. Then after Debby from SnugglyOranges talked about reading it for her book club I thought that since I was in a total fantasy kick and this one had dragons... I just had to read it NOW!
This one finally counts towards my 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, that is actually the one that I've been doing rather worse at!
Eon by Alison Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eon was one of those books that had been in my TBR list for quite a while but for one reason or another I kept postponing it. But recently some bloggers had been highly recommending it again and I was very much in the mood to read fantasy, so I grabbed me a copy!
And am I happy that I did! This is an absolutely epic book with amazing world building, political plotting and amazing main and secondary characters. And did I mention that there are dragons?? Dragons!!
This is a fairly long book (it passes the 500 pages) but it never for a moment feels long! Once I started reading I didn't want to limit myself to a pair of chapters and wanted to continue reading. The world the author has created is captivating, full of its own mythology and rich in details that strangely enough never felt overwhelming. There were no descriptions or pieces of information or world building that felt like info dumping to me. I couldn't get enough of this world, its mythology or its details. It's based on China & Japan in ancient times, but I think they author spin it on her own way to create a world unique enough.
Eon is a fantastic character, drowning in fear and lies but always trying to find a way to survive. From having to hide who she is to embracing it, the journey is one full of tears, blood and strange chemicals. Deception has become her way of life since her master discovered her potential, and once it realizes (to an extent) she finds herself with more enemies that she could ever imagine. And the mysteries surrounding her are even more twisted that she could ever imagine.
There are a lot of secondary characters, and all of them quite well developed, even the villains aren't exactly black & white, Lord Ido being a rather complex character with quite a twist by the end of the book. My favourites have to be Lady Dela, Chart and Ryko. Each of this characters are not appreciated by their society, within varied degrees. Chart has severe physical deformities that make people think he's also equally deficient in his mental faculties, but nothing farther from the truth. Lady Dela is a Contraire with a body that doesn't match the soul and that chooses to live as a woman and despite being respected in the Palace by the Emperor's authority, behind closed doors the opinions of the court can differ. And Ryko is an elite soldier and an eunuch, and despite his military progress, his origins also count against him.
With this ragtag band of allies and very powerful enemies, Eon has to wade the political waters of an Empire with a sick Emperor and his brother that cannot wait to take the power for himself and the magical & also political waters of the Dragoneyes and their council. Magic is extremely important in this world, to keep the Empire running smoothly, the people safe and the Emperor unchallenged. But once alliances start mixing magic with politics, everything goes to hell in a handbasket!
Just... wow, I tumble myself into words with how fantastic this book is and I'm really not making it any justice! It's a brilliant book, go read it now! VERY MUCH DESERVED 5 STARS!
View all my reviews
The book I'm gonna be starting the week with was published quite a while back and had been in my TBR list for quite a while, but like all books that had been there a while, I didn't have it very present. Then after Debby from SnugglyOranges talked about reading it for her book club I thought that since I was in a total fantasy kick and this one had dragons... I just had to read it NOW!
This one finally counts towards my 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, that is actually the one that I've been doing rather worse at!
Eon by Alison GoodmanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eon was one of those books that had been in my TBR list for quite a while but for one reason or another I kept postponing it. But recently some bloggers had been highly recommending it again and I was very much in the mood to read fantasy, so I grabbed me a copy!
And am I happy that I did! This is an absolutely epic book with amazing world building, political plotting and amazing main and secondary characters. And did I mention that there are dragons?? Dragons!!
This is a fairly long book (it passes the 500 pages) but it never for a moment feels long! Once I started reading I didn't want to limit myself to a pair of chapters and wanted to continue reading. The world the author has created is captivating, full of its own mythology and rich in details that strangely enough never felt overwhelming. There were no descriptions or pieces of information or world building that felt like info dumping to me. I couldn't get enough of this world, its mythology or its details. It's based on China & Japan in ancient times, but I think they author spin it on her own way to create a world unique enough.
Eon is a fantastic character, drowning in fear and lies but always trying to find a way to survive. From having to hide who she is to embracing it, the journey is one full of tears, blood and strange chemicals. Deception has become her way of life since her master discovered her potential, and once it realizes (to an extent) she finds herself with more enemies that she could ever imagine. And the mysteries surrounding her are even more twisted that she could ever imagine.
There are a lot of secondary characters, and all of them quite well developed, even the villains aren't exactly black & white, Lord Ido being a rather complex character with quite a twist by the end of the book. My favourites have to be Lady Dela, Chart and Ryko. Each of this characters are not appreciated by their society, within varied degrees. Chart has severe physical deformities that make people think he's also equally deficient in his mental faculties, but nothing farther from the truth. Lady Dela is a Contraire with a body that doesn't match the soul and that chooses to live as a woman and despite being respected in the Palace by the Emperor's authority, behind closed doors the opinions of the court can differ. And Ryko is an elite soldier and an eunuch, and despite his military progress, his origins also count against him.
With this ragtag band of allies and very powerful enemies, Eon has to wade the political waters of an Empire with a sick Emperor and his brother that cannot wait to take the power for himself and the magical & also political waters of the Dragoneyes and their council. Magic is extremely important in this world, to keep the Empire running smoothly, the people safe and the Emperor unchallenged. But once alliances start mixing magic with politics, everything goes to hell in a handbasket!
Just... wow, I tumble myself into words with how fantastic this book is and I'm really not making it any justice! It's a brilliant book, go read it now! VERY MUCH DESERVED 5 STARS!
View all my reviews
How have I not read this book yet Pili? IT HAS DRAGONS!!!!! I can't resist a book with dragons:) I'm on a huge fantasy kick lately too, so I think I need to make sure this series finds its way on to my TBR list. I love books with really well developed secondary characters, and villains who aren't as black and white as they might initially seem. SO EXCITED to read:) Gorgeous review my friend!
ReplyDeleteYES!! Dragons!! Go read it now, Jenny!
DeleteI had serious issues writing this review because all I wanted to do was gush about it and have all the flails!
I know a lot of people have loved this. I'm not such a dragon/fantasy fan, but I might try this!
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
It was a fantastic book, Jen, with a lot of social commentary in the setting, fantasy or not, there was also a lot of diversity in it too!
DeleteYay for diversity! I've seen the sequel of this book at the library, but I'm pretty sure that this one was taken out. I'll have to go out and get it at the bookstore! I love dragon reads so much but don't like too much fantasy at the same time. This one sounds like it will be perfect! Amazing review!
ReplyDeleteDragons, really what else is there!? You really need to give this one a try!!
DeleteYay! So glad you liked this, Pili! I can't wait for Goodman's next book, but hey, at least she finally has one listed. For years--NOTHING, but now . . . now it's back to pins-and-needles waiting. There are worse things ;) Lovely review! You make me want to read it again, but no time, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm now reading Eona and you've made me happy since the author will be putting out another book!!
DeleteAnd I know what you mean, re-reading feels like such a luxury we cannot afford anymore!!
I have never eve heard of this book, but your high rating is making me very curious!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
It really was a fantastic book, Kate! It's a shame is quite so unknown!
DeleteI just love it when a book that I've been procrastinating reading turns out to be absolutely spectacular. I'm on a bit of a dragon kick right now too, so thanks for the recommendation. Eon wasn't on my TBR pile, but it is now!
ReplyDeleteI really hope you'll like it, Carmel! I had been procastinating reading this one for a while, but once I started it I felt like kicking myself for not having read it before!
DeleteEeeks it has dragons and a kick butt heroine and everything! :3
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing worse then when a book is quite long and it feels even longer. I am so glad this did not happen to you with this one. I am still putting this off at the moment as I have the whole Eragon boxed set to be read. I don't want to overload on dragons too much this summer!
Thanks for sharing & great review! :3 xxx
Alex @ The Shelf Diaries
I DNFed Brisingr... and I still want to give it a try again, but it was just boooring for me! Eon never once felt boring or long Alex, so I highly recommend it!
DeleteAnd dragons are too cool, even overloading on them won't be too bad! ;)
Oh my God! Now I want to read this book even more! I love that kick *ass cover!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Pili!
Yes, Lis! Read it! It's a fantastic book!
DeleteWow Pili, truly an awesome review for an awesome book! I love how each character is highly complex and there's a twist too. Also the setting of chinese & japanese mythology would be truly amazing for me. I have had this on my shelf for a while, just need to pick it up too!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jeann! I do hope you'll get to it soon, it was a brilliant book!
DeleteSo glad that you enjoyed this one, Pili! I loved it - but I read both books so long ago! I remember loving the first book, and literally hungering for the second book (it hadn't come out yet). Pre-blogging days! :D
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, lady!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I was pretty glad that I had Eona right next to me to start right away!
DeleteThank you Alyssa!
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this one Pili. The Eon duology is one of my all time favourite series and I'm glad that I can share their epicness with you. Lady Dela and Ryoko were also two of my favourites. Believe it or not I also kind of like ( or am fascinated with) Lord Ido; he is just so evil... :)
ReplyDelete-Mari
Lord Ido is indeed a supremely fascinating character, and definitely a villain with quite a few shades of gray! I cannot wait to read more about Lady Dela and Ryoko and of course Eona!!
DeleteDRAGONS?! I keep seeing this book around, Pili, but I don't know why I've never picked it up before! Plus, it has well-developed characters…fantastic. MUST READ! Lovely review :)
ReplyDeleteIt really is a must read, Melissa! It's so complex and so fascinating but never too confusing! It's the kind of long book that doesn't feel long while you read!
DeleteI loved Eon. I'm so happy that you loved it as much and had finally crossed it out of your TBR list. I'd say you should definitely read Eona because it's even better. Lovely review, Pili! :)
ReplyDeleteOooh, Eona is even better? I just started it as soon as I finished Eon and then had to set it aside for a bit to return to my review list, but I will be getting back to it soon!
DeleteI read Eon SO LONG AGO! I can't even remember how I felt about it except that I tried and failed to read eona lol. I mean it wasn't bad, I just found books I wanted to read even more ;P
ReplyDeleteI will be reading Eona a few chapters each day before bed, to pace myself. That way I can read it while also reading other books that are screaming at me on the TBR!
DeleteIt is strange, I hadn't heard about this book at all and then I have read about it three times in the last couple of days. I think it is my sign that I should read it. The five star rating kind of pushes me in that direction, too! Plus dragons, yeah!
ReplyDeleteI think so too! It's a great book and yeeeah, DRAGONS!!
DeleteIt's been a while since I read this book, so I don't remember much, but I loved it too :D So happy you loved it. Sigh. Wasn't it just AWESOME? Ack. I need to re-read it soon :) Amazing review sweetie. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carina! And yes, it is one of those books awesome enough to want to re-read!!
Delete