Joanna
At first I enjoyed this dystopia told in first person AI-perspective, but the first half of the book quickly became tedious. The second half is mostly better.
Each chapter is its own story of how an AI entity becomes more than its intended purpose. Unfortunately, the first half of the book just reads as lazy story concepts centring discontented men whining about how hard they’ve got it, so their AI takes over in a humanly selfish way, modelling itself on its owner. The second half is more interesting, with AI embodying societal uses such as currency. The best and most moving chapter was the last one about embedded neural AI that accompanies a person with dementia.
This could have been a really interesting take on AI speculative fiction. The writing itself is fine but not particularly inspiring given it feels we’re on the cusp of such AI concepts becoming reality.
Thank you Zachary Mason, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
At first I enjoyed this dystopia told in first person AI-perspective, but the first half of the book quickly became tedious. The second half is mostly better.
Each chapter is its own story of how an AI entity becomes more than its intended purpose. Unfortunately, the first half of the book just reads as lazy story concepts centring discontented men whining about how hard they’ve got it, so their AI takes over in a humanly selfish way, modelling itself on its owner. The second half is more interesting, with AI embodying societal uses such as currency. The best and most moving chapter was the last one about embedded neural AI that accompanies a person with dementia.
This could have been a really interesting take on AI speculative fiction. The writing itself is fine but not particularly inspiring given it feels we’re on the cusp of such AI concepts becoming reality.
Thank you Zachary Mason, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I enjoy the fascinating gothic oddities of nineteenth century black and white illustrations, but this didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It felt a bit too modern and playful, rather than old and creepy. Perhaps it didn’t help to view the digital copy; the hardcopy is said to be completely black with gilt cover, more of a dark vibe.
Nevertheless, Porcelli clearly has a passion for this style and his illustrations are detailed and thoughtful. This would be a suitable addition to any library leaning toward the macabre curiosities or fantastical creatures.
And if I had to pick, my favourite oddity would be Rickworms that live in a rock. What delightful little weirdos!
Thank you Ronald Porcelli, Familius, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I enjoy the fascinating gothic oddities of nineteenth century black and white illustrations, but this didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It felt a bit too modern and playful, rather than old and creepy. Perhaps it didn’t help to view the digital copy; the hardcopy is said to be completely black with gilt cover, more of a dark vibe.
Nevertheless, Porcelli clearly has a passion for this style and his illustrations are detailed and thoughtful. This would be a suitable addition to any library leaning toward the macabre curiosities or fantastical creatures.
And if I had to pick, my favourite oddity would be Rickworms that live in a rock. What delightful little weirdos!
Thank you Ronald Porcelli, Familius, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
This is an atmospheric tome of word treasures; A beautifully illustrated love letter to our world, its ever changing aspects, and the words humans use to describe it; A collection of words from across cultures that describe who we are and where we live in ways that are rooted in their linguistic birthplace; A lexigraphic celebration of our planet and our connections to everything and everyone who shares it.
Each page has a word or two and their meanings, and is accompanied by beautiful artwork by the author. Often Sanders has included moving historical, environmental or social context. Language is so closely tied to how, where and why we live; Sanders does an admirable job in giving these words the depth and weight they deserve.
This is more of a meditative coffee table book to dip in and out of, though you could just as easily read from cover to cover.
Thank you Ella Frances Sanders, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for the digital advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
This is an atmospheric tome of word treasures; A beautifully illustrated love letter to our world, its ever changing aspects, and the words humans use to describe it; A collection of words from across cultures that describe who we are and where we live in ways that are rooted in their linguistic birthplace; A lexigraphic celebration of our planet and our connections to everything and everyone who shares it.
Each page has a word or two and their meanings, and is accompanied by beautiful artwork by the author. Often Sanders has included moving historical, environmental or social context. Language is so closely tied to how, where and why we live; Sanders does an admirable job in giving these words the depth and weight they deserve.
This is more of a meditative coffee table book to dip in and out of, though you could just as easily read from cover to cover.
Thank you Ella Frances Sanders, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for the digital advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
🎧 Audiobook
If you love ancient history, this should be on your to read list. I felt echos of Jean M. Auel’s Earth Children series, along with Follett’s trademark sweeping generational epic with a strong sense of place.
As with most Follett books, it took a while to warm up through slow setting of the scene and characters, but gains its pace around 40% in. It is a quiet, slow-burn which reflects the period well (stress was not a word in Neolithic England). Not much actually happens though - even the building of Stonehenge isn’t really central to the story. It’s more a prehistoric slice of life, which can get a little dull. I think if I had read the book, rather than listened to the audiobook which was skilfully narrated by Richard Armitage, I may have gotten bored at times. But I’m also appreciative of a more meditative story these days, so it suited my mood.
I appreciate Follett’s refreshingly sexuality-inclusive take on prehistory, and the subject of gender equality that Follett delved into, particularly the way he tackled the issue of women as property throughout the story. This was well done and something I don’t think I’ve ever encountered by a male author in historical fiction.
This is fiction, so of course there were a few modern sensibilities thrown in (such as men knowing their biological role in making babies, or it being taboo for older men to want to have sex with young women (though it still doesn’t seem to register in mainstream 2026 that this is an issue)). But these were pretty minimal.
I did feel the story could have benefited from more detail to the spirituality, ruling nature of environmental forces, and relationships with nature and animals, since these would all have been primary forces in peoples’ lives at the time.
Overall, an enjoyable slow-burn read, but not Follett’s best.
——
5/5 for narration by Richard Armitage. Armitage has such a lovely voice to listen to. His narration draws you in, he paces his speaking really well, and does an amazing job bringing the characters to life.
🎧 Audiobook
If you love ancient history, this should be on your to read list. I felt echos of Jean M. Auel’s Earth Children series, along with Follett’s trademark sweeping generational epic with a strong sense of place.
As with most Follett books, it took a while to warm up through slow setting of the scene and characters, but gains its pace around 40% in. It is a quiet, slow-burn which reflects the period well (stress was not a word in Neolithic England). Not much actually happens though - even the building of Stonehenge isn’t really central to the story. It’s more a prehistoric slice of life, which can get a little dull. I think if I had read the book, rather than listened to the audiobook which was skilfully narrated by Richard Armitage, I may have gotten bored at times. But I’m also appreciative of a more meditative story these days, so it suited my mood.
I appreciate Follett’s refreshingly sexuality-inclusive take on prehistory, and the subject of gender equality that Follett delved into, particularly the way he tackled the issue of women as property throughout the story. This was well done and something I don’t think I’ve ever encountered by a male author in historical fiction.
This is fiction, so of course there were a few modern sensibilities thrown in (such as men knowing their biological role in making babies, or it being taboo for older men to want to have sex with young women (though it still doesn’t seem to register in mainstream 2026 that this is an issue)). But these were pretty minimal.
I did feel the story could have benefited from more detail to the spirituality, ruling nature of environmental forces, and relationships with nature and animals, since these would all have been primary forces in peoples’ lives at the time.
Overall, an enjoyable slow-burn read, but not Follett’s best.
——
5/5 for narration by Richard Armitage. Armitage has such a lovely voice to listen to. His narration draws you in, he paces his speaking really well, and does an amazing job bringing the characters to life.
Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me. I can see how others may enjoy it; it could be I just wasn’t in the right mood for this bleak dystopian cli-fi read.
The first 5% of the book, based in the Garbage Patch, piqued my interest and I thought this was going to be a winner. Then I was slogging through the next 95% and looking forward to the end. The constant ruminating on the absent character Yana, the flat character of the MC, Cassandra, poorly explained science, and the odd writing style detracted enough from the book to make it unenjoyable for me.
Thank you to the author, A.D. Sui, ECW Press, and NetGalley for the advance digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me. I can see how others may enjoy it; it could be I just wasn’t in the right mood for this bleak dystopian cli-fi read.
The first 5% of the book, based in the Garbage Patch, piqued my interest and I thought this was going to be a winner. Then I was slogging through the next 95% and looking forward to the end. The constant ruminating on the absent character Yana, the flat character of the MC, Cassandra, poorly explained science, and the odd writing style detracted enough from the book to make it unenjoyable for me.
Thank you to the author, A.D. Sui, ECW Press, and NetGalley for the advance digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
