Page-turning mystery where past and present collide. Ann Cleeves is skilled at jumping between multiple viewpoints, while keeping a few main characterPage-turning mystery where past and present collide. Ann Cleeves is skilled at jumping between multiple viewpoints, while keeping a few main characters....more
Another delightful Scalzi sci-fi romp, in which the main character inherits a villain empire from an estranged uncle. Hilarious and I loved the role pAnother delightful Scalzi sci-fi romp, in which the main character inherits a villain empire from an estranged uncle. Hilarious and I loved the role played by the cats....more
While I have read quite a few Elizabeth Peters novels, this is my first Jacqueline Kirby mystery. It's a rather short book, and a fast read, and it's While I have read quite a few Elizabeth Peters novels, this is my first Jacqueline Kirby mystery. It's a rather short book, and a fast read, and it's fascinating because it's told from the perspective of a non-detective character. It keeps the suspense high because someone is trying to kill the main character, and because she doesn't know all the details of the investigation. The narrator is partly a Watson to Kirby's Holmes, but it also have very much of a modern thriller feel because of the pacing and the threat against her person....more
I've read and reread Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mystery series, but I've never read anything else by her. So I decided to expand my Elizabeth PeI've read and reread Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mystery series, but I've never read anything else by her. So I decided to expand my Elizabeth Peters experience and read her first Vicky Bliss novel, Borrower of the Night. It did not disappoint. I was riveted to the page. It had everything I love in a mystery novel--fascinating characters, amazing character voice, twists and turns, villains and friends, a very cool setting, and lots of interesting history that informs the present.
This book was a contemporary mystery novel when it was published, but reads a historical mystery novel today. Part of the mystery is in the present day, but a lot of the mystery they are solving is from hundreds of years before....more
Mike Chen's science fiction has big concepts yet always manages to feel very personal. Most of the book is spent with two characters, a villain and a Mike Chen's science fiction has big concepts yet always manages to feel very personal. Most of the book is spent with two characters, a villain and a superhero who find they may need to work together. Thought-provoking and compelling....more
This is one of my new favorites from Brandon Sanderson. The main character is paraplegic, and that's a part of her life and experience, and she ALSO gThis is one of my new favorites from Brandon Sanderson. The main character is paraplegic, and that's a part of her life and experience, and she ALSO gets to be a fantasy hero and go on a quest and do amazing things. The whole thing was brilliant....more
This book was a strong conclusion to the series, and masterfully wove together a satisfying, thrilling ending for each of the many viewpoint characterThis book was a strong conclusion to the series, and masterfully wove together a satisfying, thrilling ending for each of the many viewpoint characters. I really liked how problems and misunderstandings that often take characters an entire book to resolve were resolved quickly, because the characters actually talked to each other, which gave more space for them to go through other challenges together with higher stakes....more
A stunning fantasy novel about a woman trying to find herself, her purpose, her family as she opens doors between worlds.
What I loved most: the characA stunning fantasy novel about a woman trying to find herself, her purpose, her family as she opens doors between worlds.
What I loved most: the characters, the musings on the nature of books and the power of words, the incredible worldbuilding, the connections to history and mythology, the twists and turns of the plot. Actually, I loved the whole thing.
From the first page, we enter the story through the lens of an unconfident yet eloquent first person narration, through the voice of a woman named January who insists on telling own story, even when that requires backtracking, meandering, and multiple attempts. The narrator's confidence in her own storytelling grows as the story progresses and we see both the choices she makes and her reflection on them.
There is magic and wonder and pain and loss. One of the characters defines beauty as "a kind of vital, ferocious burning at a soul's center that ignites everything it touches." By that definition, the book is the best kind of beautiful.
The story explores the oppressiveness of colonialism and empire, the false claims of Progress and Industry, and the impossibility and undesirability of a world or person fixed. It's a story of becoming, of being willing to move beyond our confines and make a difference....more
White tells the story of a fierce, independent Guinevere who acts as a hero for Camelot at a time when civilization itself risks falling. I highly recWhite tells the story of a fierce, independent Guinevere who acts as a hero for Camelot at a time when civilization itself risks falling. I highly recommend! Read my full review on The Exponent....more
I decided to read this book because I loved The Martian. And I kept reading this book, and ultimately finished it, because I loved The Martian.
The ploI decided to read this book because I loved The Martian. And I kept reading this book, and ultimately finished it, because I loved The Martian.
The plot worked really well, and was really a multi-tier moon heist, with all sorts of fun space limitation and possibilities.
I didn't connect with the main character until about page 100, when I started fearing for her life. And even by the end, I'm not sure I liked the character, even though I liked her a lot more than I did at the start of the book. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the "bad girl" type.
I liked the multi-culturalness of the novel. It seems like Weir may be setting this book up for a sequel....more
The premise of this book is ridiculous, and that is why it is so brilliant and hilarious. A smart dog's body is injured and past saving, and so is a dThe premise of this book is ridiculous, and that is why it is so brilliant and hilarious. A smart dog's body is injured and past saving, and so is a dumb-but-strong police officer's head, so a doctor combines the dog's head and the police man's body to create... Dog Man.
The incidents in the book often border on the absurd as Dog Man tries to deal with superior officers and face off with his cat nemesis.
It's in graphic novel form, and it also has movie flip pages where you flip a page back and forth to create an animation that goes with the story.
I'd categorize this as an early chapter book--you can read it to your kids, or a first to third grader should be able to read it to themselves.
This is the first Brandon Sanderson book that it has taken me more than two days to read.
Of course, it comes in at 1250 pages.
Reading this book felt This is the first Brandon Sanderson book that it has taken me more than two days to read.
Of course, it comes in at 1250 pages.
Reading this book felt like binge reading an entire series. There's so much that happens here, so many arcs, so much worldbuilding. It's absolutely brilliant and heartwrenching and inspiring, and I really feel like I need to read it a second time to catch anything I might've missed.
However, it's going to have to wait a bit until I can read it a second time.
If you haven't read Brandon Sanderson before, I recommend starting either with the Mistborn series or the Steelheart series....more
Since I've read most of the things in this collection already, I'm specifically reviewing the new Lift novella.
The first chapter didn't really work foSince I've read most of the things in this collection already, I'm specifically reviewing the new Lift novella.
The first chapter didn't really work for me--it felt like a rehash of what we saw in the previous book, and was more or less all the things I didn't like about the character.
But then the novella got into the main conflict--and it really worked for me. It made me love Lift and her way of seeing the world. It provided great context for what was happening in the world, and moved the overall series plot forward. It made me want to spend much more time with her. So--it was a win. Well worth my read and purchase.
While I love Brandon Sanderson's novels, I've mostly ignored the connections between them and the overall Cosmere--it doesn't particularly interest me. However, the essays at the start of each section were interesting and offered clues to the bigger picture, and made me a bit more interested in the underlying, connecting story....more
Excellent second (and final) book in the series. It's filled with new struggles and opportunities for the characters, and several of them experience mExcellent second (and final) book in the series. It's filled with new struggles and opportunities for the characters, and several of them experience major character arcs. The damsel in distress trope is wielded well, and she does as much to save herself as anyone does to save her. I also like the realization, which is sometimes absent in YA, that people must make real sacrifices, and not everyone can get exactly what they want all the time. Once again, Bardugo does a great job diving even more deeply into character back stories and motivations. I really should read these books a second time just to study her writing technique....more
I love fantasy heist novels, and I wish there were more of this genre. The only thing more fun than breaking-in-and-stealing from bad guys is doing soI love fantasy heist novels, and I wish there were more of this genre. The only thing more fun than breaking-in-and-stealing from bad guys is doing so with a touch of magical help. I've heard people raving about this book for quite some time, and the hype is well deserved.
While the heist is awesome, what really carries this novel is the characters. Each person is broken in some way, and they are not just doing the impossible heist for the money, but for some deeper, sympathetic reason. It's a nice, cross-cultural mix of characters, and, ultimately, the magic can't save the day--it's about the characters' choices, their sacrifices, and whether or not they can overcome their inner demons. There are also some nicely woven romantic sub-plots, and great twists and turns throughout the novel.
Leigh Bardugo has written another series in the same story world, but you definitely don't need to read it in order to read this book.
And a few spoilery thoughts, that are partially notes for myself: (view spoiler)[-I love how she sets up that Jesper is a magic user without even alluding to it, by having the characters wonder why Jesper gets to go on the trip. -Kaz can be very unlikable, yet his POV and Inej's descriptions of him, and love for him, make him likable. -I like how Inej's past in the menagerie does not define her, and while it's something she has to overcome, it's not the most interesting thing about her. -I hope, in the sequel, that Kaz can change so he and Inej can have a relationship. -Another hope for the sequel: Inej better not just be a damsel in distress. I don't think Bardugo will do that though--I think Inej can be an active character even though she has been captured. (hide spoiler)]...more
I found this book hilarious, but that might be because of how much of Jules Verne I have read. The book riffs off of Robinson Crusoe, both celebratingI found this book hilarious, but that might be because of how much of Jules Verne I have read. The book riffs off of Robinson Crusoe, both celebrating and poking fun of both that classic work of literature and Verne's own novels. (Also, I never quite made it through the unabridged version of Robinson Crusoe, so that may have contributed to my pleasure.)
Basically, the heir to a great fortune would rather take a trip around the world than settle down, so his uncle has him shipwrecked on an island and forces Crusoe-esque adventures upon him. Godfrey Morgan has no idea that the shipwreck was planned, and it's funny as he both has horrible things happen to him, and things that conveniently help him survive. One of the alternate titles of the novel is "School for Crusoes."
What I find particularly amusing is that all the best quotes from the novel--the profound thoughts on traveling and life--come from the professor, who is a terrible traveler and would not survive a day on his own.
The depictions of race and racial superiority made me uncomfortable, and while Verne is partly a product of his time, to me he's also making a commentary on his time's views. (They have to save a black man from cannibals and then the man helps them survive.)
I like some of the twists at the end, and, as always, Verne neatly wraps everything up...more
Another excellent fantasy-mystery novel by Bennett, with plenty of magic, action, and intrigue. This book is the second in a series, but it has its owAnother excellent fantasy-mystery novel by Bennett, with plenty of magic, action, and intrigue. This book is the second in a series, but it has its own viewpoint character, and it could probably stand alone.
What I love the most about the book is the main character. She's an older woman, missing an arm, put in a position outside of her comfort zone. She is assertive, profane, and haunted by her past. She makes mistakes. Yet despite her stumbles, she excels and I found myself rooting for her on every page.
Bennett is not afraid to make his characters sacrifice, to hit the reader with real loss. There are things people do that cannot be undone, costs that must be paid. There are terrible things in both the past and the present of the novel, yet to me they make the hope that shines through even brighter.
I love the intersection of the fantasy genre and the mystery genre. My two favorite things, both done extraordinary well, in the same book. It's little wonder I love it....more
An excellent ending for the Reckoner's series, filled with action, cool magic, exciting new characters, and plenty of twists and turns. I like how DavAn excellent ending for the Reckoner's series, filled with action, cool magic, exciting new characters, and plenty of twists and turns. I like how David learns to be a leader in this book. And I love the moving city, constantly collapsing and rebuilding. ...more
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