Very much the story of the movie, but somewhat more serious. For example, Nora was clearly concerned about Nick's drinking Very much the story of the movie, but somewhat more serious. For example, Nora was clearly concerned about Nick's drinking ...more
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway program, in return for an unbiased review.
I have very mixed feelingsDisclosure: I received a free copy of this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway program, in return for an unbiased review.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It has an interesting setting, original metaphysics, and a really fascinating supernatural evil. In my opinion, though, it suffers from a lack of editing.
I was distracted by some authorial choices, which, I suspect, were made to make the work more appealing to a wide audience. For instance - the protagonist, a peasant boy of 14, in an impoverished vaguely medieval setting - insists on helping his parents rather than 'running and playing' with the other teen aged medieval peasants What kind of economy would extend childhood so long in such a setting? There are many modern day agricultural societies where this would be unusual, so what is the point of this? It's distracting and, ultimately, not a plot point.
Likewise, there's a villainous queen who is described (by the narrator, not a character) as having come to power through whoring, and who has managed to isolate the king and cut him off from all power this way. Not only is this a totally misogynistic trope (which lessened my sympathy for the author), it also is NOT reflected in the text. The queen is much more conventionally murderous, which is more interesting, and makes more sense in the way the story plays out. I suspect the author didn't realize how the situation made his 'good' king less sympathetic - as a reader I found him really weak and annoying.
The characterization is weak. One character, who ages from 14-16 years old in the text, is described as having come amazingly far in sophistication and self expression, yet her dialogue doesn't seem to change noticeably. In fact, it's really hard to distinguish one character from another in terms of how they speak. Again and again characters are described as having this or that personality trait, but there's nothing in their speech or actions which lead me as a reader to conclude any such thing.
Again, this is a good, enjoyable read, with the potential to become really strong with some editing and re-writing. I might pick up some later works of this author, but I think I'll give this particular trilogy a miss....more
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is furry, kinky smut. If that sounds like something you will like, then youI received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is furry, kinky smut. If that sounds like something you will like, then you will like this book. (...and, yes, I like this book) 3 1/2 stars.
Because this appears to be a self published ebook only I will clarify.
It is written in English. By someone who is completely fluent and even takes enjoyment in the language. The book has clearly been proofread. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are all there. No shoddiness to get in the way of the furry, kinky smuttiness.
Not much of a plot either, but I don't know why you'd expect one. It is exactly what it says on the tin. Enjoy!...more
Full disclosure, I received a free, Kindle copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I was encouraged to write an unbiased review.
This is a very shorFull disclosure, I received a free, Kindle copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I was encouraged to write an unbiased review.
This is a very short book, and, honestly, it reads more like the introductory section of a novel than a full story. It even ends on a cliffhanger (...and, yes, I do want to see where it's going). Honestly, this piece is short enough that I wasn't clear on the sub-genre of speculative fiction until it was already done.
It relies a bit too much on exposition (an omniscient narrator telling us that the protagonist is unaware of his own privilege is a bit distracting) I would prefer the author who allows me to draw my own conclusions about the characters, especially in a story as short as this one.
Having said that, this looks to be the beginning of a great ride. ...more
I received a free Kindle copy of this book through Goodreads. I was encouraged to write a review. 3.5 stars.
Content warning: this book deals with chiI received a free Kindle copy of this book through Goodreads. I was encouraged to write a review. 3.5 stars.
Content warning: this book deals with child suicide
It's a hard read, and I found myself getting much angrier at Yehiel (the father and PoV character) than at Rachel (the daughter and protagonist). I was also mystified at the Rabbis pronouncement at the end. Being in pain might drive someone to do evil (like, for example, committing suicide) but that's not the same as being evil, or unworthy of love. Maybe that was the point?...more
Full disclosure, I received a free Kindle copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway, in which I was encouraged to write an unbiased review.
This 'book'Full disclosure, I received a free Kindle copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway, in which I was encouraged to write an unbiased review.
This 'book' is short story length, and appears to be self published. The production values are good (excellent grammar and punctuation. The CG cover and illustrations pushed my rating from a 2 to a 3).
The story, even if fleshed out, feels very familiar. Aliens come to Earth during the medieval period and are labeled as monsters by ignorant locals. This is where, typically, hilarity would ensue. It never quite does.
There is some social commentary, the aliens have a very modern point of view and the locals (naturally) have a rather warlike one. There is some discussion in which their differences are discussed, and there are named characters with consistent points of view, but every character has the same voice.
There are no female characters (the queen is mentioned, but never given voice).
There are some genre issues as well. The aliens speak English, if there's some sort of a 'universal translator' it's never mentioned. Not a major issue, but jarring. There's FTL travel and communication, with no acknowledgement that the reader would expect otherwise. This, and the language issue makes me wonder why the author didn't have time travelers rather than aliens, because it doesn't add anything.
I think the author has potential, but I'm not sure that this story does. Concentrate on characterization and take some of the commentary out of quotes....more
The books have fully found their rhythm. As always, the motives are weak, and the story is about the detectives rather than the crime. StillAcceptable
The books have fully found their rhythm. As always, the motives are weak, and the story is about the detectives rather than the crime. Still, it's a fun next installment....more
Full disclosure. I received a free, unsolicited ebook copy of this book by the author through Goodreads. He requested that I review it. I finally (3 rFull disclosure. I received a free, unsolicited ebook copy of this book by the author through Goodreads. He requested that I review it. I finally (3 rears later) read the book.
First of all, it's laugh out loud funny.
Secondly - go read John's review of his own book. He's definitely bragging. I'm woke as fuck, and wasn't offended at all. (pedantic: TG is not the same as gay, and not the same as ascended drag queen - other than that, no complaints).
The book is full of horrible, messed up, broken human beings. More farcical than satirical. If a woman wrote it she'd be called a man-hater, because the cis-male characters are definitely more messed up than anyone else (but they're all pretty non-functional).
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this eBook as a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a quirky collection of short stories. Some I found very good andFull disclosure: I received a free copy of this eBook as a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a quirky collection of short stories. Some I found very good and thought provoking, some left me completely flat, many made me uncomfortable... There are stories about fatherhood, stories about fiction as hard core propaganda, many about gender roles, and one about the Grapes of Wrath.
I particularly enjoyed the first and last story. ...more
Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a really complex, multilayered stoDisclosure - I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a really complex, multilayered story. It's a little bit allegory, a little bit science fiction story, and a little bit fantasy. It certainly reminds one of Watership Down, except that humans are not the threat - at least not directly. It's set in a world destroyed by climate change and/or some sort of pandemic, and the animals (at least the mammals and birds) have, apparently, all gained sentience and a shared language and culture.
There is something happening which is causing animals to move into the territory, something which is causing food shortages for predators 'up the stone stair', but the real change which drives the story is a single rabbit. She is OCD, and asexual, and fights back against the predators. There is cultural awareness, amongst the rabbits, that they need predation to keep their numbers down, but Anastasia has decided that she has the right to fight back, and she develops the tools to do so. And allies.
It gets complicated, and immersive. A really good read....more
Full disclosure - I wona free Kindle copy of this as a Goodreads Giveaway.
If this one was more my genre I probably would have given it 5 stars (war stFull disclosure - I wona free Kindle copy of this as a Goodreads Giveaway.
If this one was more my genre I probably would have given it 5 stars (war stories are not my 'thing') - HOWEVER...
AMAZING world building. My kindle version opened to the first page of text, so I didn't realize there were maps of the fantasy world, but there are plenty of them, and they are obviously labors of love. As far as I know this is an original world, not a story set in an anime or manga universe, but it feels like it has years of dedicated background to it(if I'm wrong, please let me know the source, I'd love to explore more). There is LOTS - weird psychic beings spontaneously manifesting from children, and being able to interface with giant mecha. Kaiju, genetically engineered to fight mecha. Strange waterspouts connecting parts of the ocean thousands of kilometers apart. Ancient technology left over when the entire surface of the planet was flooded. What a fantastic techno fantasy setting.
It's a first book, and seems to be self published. It could probably have used a little editing (minor grammatical errors crop up occasionally).
I will definitely be following the author, and would love to return to this world. ...more
Full disclosure - I received a free, Kindle formatted, copy as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
This certainly feels like a first book. It's told in 1st pFull disclosure - I received a free, Kindle formatted, copy as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
This certainly feels like a first book. It's told in 1st person present tense. The world is alien, and although somewhat detailed, we never get a good picture of what it's like. The alienness of the people is only hinted at very briefly - descriptions at the beginning of the book, and the fact that blood is blue at the end. The dialogue is a bit clunky and it actually fails the Bechdel test.
These are flaws, certainly, but I think they can be improved upon. The world is interesting, and the protagonist is annoying in all the ways that suit a teenaged protagonist. Characters do develop and grow throughout the story. I think the world of Tarawin is worth revisiting....more
Full disclosure: I won a free, Kindle, copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The giveaway was not contingent upon rating or reviewing the book.
IFull disclosure: I won a free, Kindle, copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The giveaway was not contingent upon rating or reviewing the book.
It's always fun to have another take on time travel. This one is all about the little stories, family dramas and, in a weird way, lost dogs.
Although I'm not sure of the premise (or the character's conviction) that it's ethical to use time travel to change small events but not big ones (to save a 60 year old's life, but not a 20 year old's, for example), but it's an interesting question to explore. Definitely one which leads to interesting questions and discussions....more
Full disclosure - I won a Kindle version of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Enjoyable urban fantasy. The metaphysics are unique, and seem to be coFull disclosure - I won a Kindle version of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Enjoyable urban fantasy. The metaphysics are unique, and seem to be consistent and logical. There are some questions I have about the word building (why do humans seem to have the most political/legal power considering how most of them have NO magical power, when all the other races have some...) but there is a reveal late in the book which seems to shed some light on it. I'll have to mull it over a bit to see if it holds up, but it certainly might.
I hope to come back to this series some day. It's a really good start!...more
An interesting an quick read. The history of the island is fascinating, and the fall out from the expedition engrossing. The story of the exploration An interesting an quick read. The history of the island is fascinating, and the fall out from the expedition engrossing. The story of the exploration itself is the least interesting part of the story, and it's still very readable. ...more
**spoiler alert** Full disclosure, I won a copy of the Kindle edition of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Spoilers - this book is a work of Apocalyp**spoiler alert** Full disclosure, I won a copy of the Kindle edition of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Spoilers - this book is a work of Apocalyptic fiction writing in 2019-2020. The blurb doesn't mention the Apocalypse, and the nature of the coming apocalypse is not revealed until midway through the book, so I consider it a spoiler. Reading this book in 2021 it's early fairly early on where things are going, and that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the read. Some readers would find the work blasphemous.
I was expecting something much lighter, given the blurb mentioned above. There is definitely humor in the book, (and tension and drama), but it's not a comic work. There's plenty of tension from the beginning (the fate of a missing child takes up the first section). The characters are believable and relatable.
A lovely collection of folk tales - as always it's hard to filter out the sensibilities of the modern author, but it's nice to get some of the simple A lovely collection of folk tales - as always it's hard to filter out the sensibilities of the modern author, but it's nice to get some of the simple stories....more
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