Dina
Full review at SFF Book Review.Catherynne Valente doesn't take single wrong step. On the one hand, I am shocked it took me until the first Fairyland book to discover her, on the other hand, I am happy about the amount of unread Valente books I have sitting on my shelves.This novella (which you can read for free on the Clarkesworld Magazine page - or even listen to on audio) creates a sort of mix between a science fiction story about an AI and mythology. There has to be mythology! It's beautifully written and even though it took me a while to get into, it paid off in the end. If you've never read Catherynne Valente, I'd suggest you start with [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making 9591398 The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1) Catherynne M. Valente http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317793528s/9591398.jpg 6749837]. But if you want a little bite-sized book that will leave you melancholy and thinking for yourself, you may as well choose this one.
Full review, as always, over at the SFF Book Review.
This was fun. In fact, I couldn't say it better than Annalee Newitz did over at io9 - this is a Hollywood blockbuster in book format. It was just as much fun, there was action, there is quippy banter between space ship crew members, an ex-cop who is going a little insane (and who was my favorite character overall) and of course a big conspiracy to unravel.
If you don't mind reading 500 pages really fast, if you like space opera and... well, fun, then pick this up. It's a good read.
7/10
Full review at SFF Book Revew.
This was a blast! I'm always a little worried about the middle part of trilogies but Patrick Ness pulled it off beautifully. If you liked The Knife of Never Letting Go, you will like this as well.
It starts out much more quitely than book one but once the new situation is introduced, Todd and Viola barely get a moment of peace.
I was most fascinated by the psychological games, the manipulation, and the amazing (although often scary) characters. Can't wait to finish the trilogy.
Full review at SFF Book Review.
I cannot stress enough how much I loved Kushiel's Dart. The second book already was a let-down because there was very little of what made the first book so great. Phèdre's exceptional gift is nothing new anymore, neither is the world Jacqueline Carey has created - magnificent as it may be.
In this novel, I was very happy to get to know the character of Imriel. He lifted the entire story for me. But there was even less of the great things from the previous volumes. Almost no Melisande, almost no Hyacinthe, and way too much travelling.
I'd recommend reading it if you absolutely have to know how certain plot threads are resolved. But as the trilogy goes, it has been getting worse and worse for me. I honestly hope that in the Imriel trilogy, Jacqueline Carey has an actual story to tell, not just a world to travel around in...
Full review at SFF Book Review.
I'm surprised that with a title like this (and following Cherie Priest's succes with her “Boneshaker”) this book doesn't get more attention. It is a wonderfully fun story about the little Missouri town of Arcane where Natalie is trying very hard to learn how to ride the Chesterlane bicycle her father built for her.
When a medicine show arrives in town, she starts noticing strange things - not just about the mysterious, red-haired Dr. Limberleg, but about the inhabitants of her very own home town. Soon she discovers that things are more than they seem and that only she can prevent a terrible, terrible thing from happening.
Kate Milford does a fantastic job of grabbing your interest and holding it until the very end. This book is so full of atmosphere and stories-within-stories, filled with magic and mystery, that I think is perfect for children and young adults. As an adult, I enjoyed myself immensely, despite being able to guess some of the twists and revelations. But with such great pacing and those beautiful illustrations, I believe this is one of the better children's books out there at the moment. Recommended!
7,5/10
Full review at SFF Book Review.
This came highly recommended from all corners of the internet.
As superb as the writing and the story were, I seem to be the only person who didn't feel the friendship between Maddie and “Verity” as strongly. This would have been a perfect book if there had been more time to establish the strong bond between the protagonists.
Having the bad out of the way, let me tell you why you should absolutely read it anyway. It is a wonderful story about a female pilot during World War II and a female spy. They are best friends and show us the war through their eyes. It is suspenseful, it is tragic (as war stories tend to be), and it has moments of sheer brilliance.
It wasn't perfect, but still an excellent read.
8/10
Holy shit. “Feel all the feels” you say? Well, right you were, internet!
My full review can be found at SFF Book Review
I don't think I can muster up enough strength and coherence to write a short review here. The only reason I could see for anybody not liking this book is if they don't like good books. Or fairy tales. Or wonderful characters, the real world interwoven with mythology, symbols all over the place, so many quote-worthy sentences that could make you weep... Just read it, okay?
Full review, as always, at SFF Book Review.
I love Flavia de Luce. This was my least favorite of her adventures so far, but mostly due to the fact that I had a hard time connecting the clues and figuring out what the hell this was all about. I loved following Flavia throughout her investigation as she meets new characters and finds out new truths about the inhabitants of her hometown.
The overlying theme from the first books was missing here and that's why the book lost a lot of charm for me. However, with a heroine such as Flavia, it is hard to produce a bad book. This is still a 6,5/10 points for me.
Full review at SFF Book Review
This was an excellent read.
I'm still stunned by the inventiveness, the abundance of ideas and the thrill of the plot. I normally post short impressions on goodreads and a full review on my blog, but I'm afraid I can't just talk about this book “a little”. Either it's all the way gushing about how awesome the monsters are and hot terrifying the threat to New Crobuzon and how surprising each plot twist, or it's just a simple: Read this! It is brilliant.
9/10
As always, my full review can be found at SFF Book Review.Let me say that I've had some bad luck with YA fiction this year. Some of the very hyped books have disappointed me terribly and I had almost given up hope. Patrick Ness convinced me with his small but striking book [b:A Monster Calls 8621462 A Monster Calls Patrick Ness http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356015593s/8621462.jpg 13492114], so I thought his trilogy would be worth a shot.And I was rewarded. This fast-paced YA adventure is a romp through the New World which is as strange as it is fascinating. I was positively surprised at some choices Patrick Ness made for his characters. They aren't perfect in any way, they make mistakes and sometimes, they have to make decisions between one of two evils. At a certain point, the author had me in tears, and at many others at the edge of my seat.I also loved the underlying theme of death, responsibility and courage. The book was much darker than I expected but I enjoyed it so much that I'll be starting [b:The Ask and the Answer 6043849 The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking, #2) Patrick Ness http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347305027s/6043849.jpg 6219422] right away. The cliffhanger at the end of this book may have to do with it. But honestly, this is one hyped YA book that didn't disappoint!7,5/10
My full review can be found at SFF Book Review.
It's been two years since the events of Furies of Calderon and Tavi is now training to be a Cursor and stuying at the Academy. He makes some new friends but he is also being bullied because he still doesn't have a trace of furycrafting. But when the realm faces several new threats, Tavi's everyday life becomes secondary to doing what he can to save Alera from a civil war - or utter destruction.
What Jim Butcher does very well - and continues to do well - are action scenes. Personally, I prefer the “smaller” fight scenes to his big, sweeping military action but they are all told in a thrilling way that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
What was missing in the first book becomes a little clearer here. We learn more about the Marat - a fascinating culture, if you as me - and a few new species. The vord are simply terrifying and whenever our heroes face them, I found myself chewing my fingernails (shame on me).
If you liked the first book, you will like this one as well. I'm still curious about how exactly furycrafting works, what rules there are to it, as well as the politicial situation in Alera. We only get glimpses of that so far but I have high hopes for the third novel in the series to answer my questions.
Recommended.
As usual, a full review can be found at SFF Book Review.
You will easily understand that it was the cover that first got me interested in this book. I mean, look at it. The gorgeous cover art by Todd Lockwood doesn't stop there, though. We are treated to illustrations by him throughout the book that made the reading experience even better.
But let's be good book reviewers here and talk about the actual writing. I loved Marie Brennan's style. Lady Trent, now old, writes down her memoirs and relates how she became the famous dragon scientist she is today. We first get to know here when, in an attempt to find out why all birds have a wishbone, she takes apart a dead pigeon she found with a pocket knife. Who could not like a seven-year-old girl like that instantly?
As she grows up, we follow her through society and its implications (finding a husband, mostly) and then on a journey to the Vystrani mountains to research dragons. What she disocvers there has more to do with the humans populating the region and less with dragons. This was also the one little point that bothered me. I adore reading about scientists, their method to learn how the world works, the crazy expeditions to dangerous places and all of that. In this charming and whimsical tale, we get very little of that. It didn't ruin the book for me but if we spend so much time talking about people and their relationships as well as politics between certain countries, I could have used more world building to illustrate these relations.
I recommend this book to people who like reading about (pseudo-)Victorian times and dragons, of course.
Rating: 7/10
Full review at SFF Book Review
I love Jane Eyre. So any retelling would have a hard time convincing me - but the science fiction idea tickled my fancy and I dove right in.
This is a good book that stays very true to the original. Perhaps too much so. While the story of Jenna Starborn and Mr. Ravenbeck is almost as enchanting as that of the original Jane Eyre, there wasn't anything new brought to the table. The science fiction element was, to say the least, disappointing and took a background role.
It's worth the read but rather than a sci-fi version of Jane Eyre, this is just another Jane Eyre with a couple of hovercars and a space ship thrown in. Personally, I didn't feel the repercussions a society like this should have on characters and everyday life.
Read my full review at SFF Book Revie.
I expected to love this. Steampunk Seattle with zombies! And it started out well enough. That first chapter had me right from the start. I loved its quirkiness and the flow of the prose - and then the actual story started.
As we follow 16-year-old Zeke into the Blighted and walled city of Seattle to find out about his father's past, we stumble from one boring action scene to an even more boring meeting with people who have no personality. Since Zeke's mother Briar is following him into the city to save his ass, we get to do the whole thing all over again from her perspective - confronting other zombies and telling other people why she's here.
I have never read a book this hyped that turned out to be written in such clunky prose. There are phrases in this book that make me wonder why nobody told the author to learn her craft first? The dialogue is just painful. There are a ton of... completely useless... pauses in every other sentence, there are logical mistakes, there is almost no steampunk element and there certainly isn't any Seattle or Civil War atmosphere.
In short, the only redeeming quality of this book was that introductory chapter for me. It leaves me with hope that maybe with the next instalment, somebody edited the shit out of Cherie Priest and produced something nice and readable.
P.S: I'm really sorry about this because I got a review copy from the publisher (first ever) and I really expected to absolutely love this book to bits.
My full review can be found at SFF Book Review
I fell in love with the Flora books fast and hard, and I still can't believe that this is the last part. While it was another fun and clever adventure with our charmingly original heroine Flora, this instalment in the trilogy didn't keep me at the edge of my seat as much as book two did.
Many things are left unresolved and beg for a fourth book - but overall, this can be read as another standalone (even though you would deprive yourself of some major plot twists).
I recommend the entire trilogy with all my heart. To all those who enjoy clever, funny young adult books and, like me, have a soft spot in their heart for little red dogs called Flynnie.
Full review at SFF Book Review.
This is just a very quick impression. I could talk about Scott Lynch for days.
If you loved The Lies of Locke Lamora as much as me, you will feel an equal reluctance in returning to that universe of awesome fantasy places, quippy con men and a group of guys who are like brothers. Too much has been lost at the end of book one, too many things were still resonating with me and so I took a break.
The break lasted until now - another publication date set for The Republic of thieves (October 2013) and my boyfriend reading Locke Lamora for the first time, chuckling and shouting “That is so awesome” on every other page.
Scott Lynch has managed something very few authors do. To bring back a sense of the known and beloved characters and world he set up in book one, and to add something entirely new, to thrown even more difficult situations their way and have them get out by the skin of their teeth - if at all.
This swashbuckling adventure on the high seas and in the vibrant city of Tal Verrar was possibly even more fun than our first stop in Camorr. Please don't make me choose!
If you're just looking for a hint whether to pick up the second book at all: DO IT!
It's the same humor we learned to love in book one, the same great characters, just new adventures, cleverer tricks, cons within cons and - a special bonus for me - kittens!
9,5/10 stars
Full review at SFF Book Review.
While I consider this the weakest instalment of Robin Hobb's trilogy of trilogies, I can't deny that anything the woman writes is beautiful. The language is precise, yet gorgeous, the characters don't need introduction at this point.
But as the plot goes, it was pretty weak, and most of the book is spent setting up events that are probably going to happen in the next - and final - volume in the Tawny Man trilogy. There were some action-filled moments and even though I've never needed a lot of fast-paced action to be happy with a book, the conversations, intrigue, and introductions of new characters became tedious very fast.
So all of that said, instead of a fantastically great book, this is merely a very good one.
Full review at SFF Book Review.
So this is what everybody is going on about.
My first Brandon Sanderson, chosen because it's a nice and short novella, gave me a glimpse of this writer's talent. After reading this, I can't wait to read his longer novels and series. What an intriguing magic system. What a fantastic little story.
If you're like me and you don't dare start with Sanderson's huge, chunky series, I highly recommend this. You can read it in one sitting - in fact, you'll have to, it's impossible to put down - and it shows just how much talent this author has.
Full review at SFF Book Review
I liked Flora Segunda but I loved Flora's Dare.
Our heroine has grown a full year and with her, so it seems, have her problems. Flora still wants to become a ranger but she's dealing with more urgent issues. The city of Califa is in danger of being turned into a heap of rubble, Udo is going bat-shit crazy, Flora's sister Idden got herself into a great deal of trouble, and Flora's now sober dad makes life in general a living hell. What is one girl supposed to do? Well, Flora follows Nini Mo's advice and somehow makes it through.
If you liked the first Flora adventure, you will love this one. Everything that wasn't quite perfect about Flora Segunda has become a lot better in Flora's Dare. And I have very high hopes for the third part, Flora's Fury.
My full review can be found at SFF Book Review
This book started out very interesting. The setting and style took me in immediately and the protagonist's strange gift - she can hear and fell the “souls” of inanimate objects - was intriguing enough to keep me going for a while. Additionally, Jane's best friend, Nathan Ashe, has disappeared, so she and her other friend Maddy set out to investigate and bring Nathan back... if he's still alive, that is.
What sounds intriguing turned into one of the most tedious novels I've read lately. The intricate prose kept me going long after I was already annoyed with the plot. The heroine constantly loses herself in memories instead of acting. We are fed the tiniest bits of (mostly useless) information but the plot simply doesn't move forward. I read more than half of this novel and when, by then, there still was only one clue as to what Jane's gift is, I gave up.
I read the last few pages to find out the secret - and it left me incredibly underwhelmed. I was too lazy to look for what happened to Nathan and (I think this speaks for itself) I really didn't care. The author certainly knows how to write beautifully and some characters have potential. The tension between Jane and Maddy was quite interesting but taking all things into consideration, none of these positive points are enough to make a good book.