The Speculative Shelf
I had tried reading this novella when it came out a few years ago, but gave up after a few pages. Oddly, I was immediately hooked upon a second attempt. Murderbot, the blunt but endearing protagonist, is such an engaging storyteller and it narrates a very compelling mystery on an unfamiliar planet. And, in a rare feat for a novella, author Martha Wells world-builds, creates characters with depth, and tells a fully-fleshed out story in ~150 pages. I'm looking forward to further exploring Murderbot's world and psyche in the subsequent novellas and the upcoming full-length novel coming later this year.
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The protagonist makes it very clear right off the bat – he's unlikable...and that's by design. Of course, his self-deprecation, supposed misdeeds, and biting wit make him lovable, nonetheless. This is a short and sharp story that turns in several unexpected directions. For instance, I was not expecting the casting of a giant bronze horse statue to become such a central plot point! Ultimately, I enjoyed this novella for its brevity and its distinct voice.
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Much like the previous Thrawn novel, this one never really hooked me in any meaningful way. The first book in the trilogy chronicled Thrawn's rise up the ranks in the Empire and that narrative momentum was stalled in the second and third books. Though, I was happy to have Thrawn and Eli Vanto back together matching wits and seeing the Chiss Ascendency in action gives me hope for the prequel trilogy that is coming in 2020. Either way, I'm glad to have read this series, even if I was let down by the final two books. Thrawn is a great character and I'd be interested in seeing more of him, either in Star Wars Rebels or in Zahn's non-canonical Star Wars books.
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I will spare everyone an attempted plot summary as Dead Astronauts cannot be tidily synopsized. Just know that it features a messianic blue fox, a giant immortal fish, and human-ish characters seeking to end the reign of an evil organization across multiple dimensions...I think.
I had been frustrated by Borne's lack of penetrability, so I recalibrated my expectations before reading this one. That was the right move. This book is trippy, oftentimes incoherent, but all sorts of enthralling. There is an apt quote in the earlygoing which references “things that could pull a mind apart if examined up close.” That was a good encapsulation of this book for me – you'll lose your mind if you get bogged down trying to parse every tiny detail. Let the words and passages wash over you. The writing itself is quite mesmerizing with VanderMeer spinning some real poetry on each page.
Dead Astronauts is certainly not for everyone, and I don't even think it's for me, but I did like it? Maybe? Perhaps it's just fun to see what oddities VanderMeer can think up and bring to life. Not to mention, this may be the best book cover I've laid eyes on. I wasn't sure that I was going to read this, but the dust jacket really sold me.
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This was a big step down from the first book in the series. Although it was fun to see Thrawn and Darth Vader team up, their story arc was less than riveting. For me, knowing the fates of established characters (Vader, not Thrawn) drains the story of any real stakes. Similarly, the Thrawn/Anakin/Padme story that parallels the present day narrative did not land for me and I felt myself rushing through it just so I could get back to Thrawn/Vader, which I also quickly lost interest in. So then I was rushing through both timelines just so I could finish the book and move on to the sequel, which has better reviews and features the welcome return of Eli Vanto, who I sorely missed here.
I had a difficult time connecting with Jeff VanderMeer's Borne, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novella set in the same world. The Strange Bird herself is an odd amalgamation – part bird, part human, part machine, part other. She's sentient and self-aware, but ultimately disoriented. Her understanding of the world is fragmented, much like the composition of her body.
The way VanderMeer describes bird flight in the story is evocative and beautiful. His love and appreciation for birds and their characteristics is obvious (check out his Twitter feed for further confirmation).
Overall, The Strange Bird is a moving and haunting story that reignited my interest in this world in anticipation of Borne's pseudo-sequel, Dead Astronauts, next on my to-read list.
http://spikegelato.com/2019/12/11/review-the-strange-bird
I'm always impressed by authors who can write genius characters well. I hadn't read anything by Timothy Zahn before this, but it's clear he has Thrawn's personality down pat. I'm enjoying how blurry the lines of Good vs. Evil are when it comes to Thrawn and his actions. His military decisions usually benefit humanity and minimize casualties, but it's unclear whether that's intentional or just the most prudent action for the time and place. I suspect these decisions will increase in complexity as he continues to rise the ranks in the Imperial Navy.
At times, it felt like there was a certain inevitability and repetitiveness to his advancement up the command chain, but that provided a nice juxtaposition to the stagnation of Ensign Eli Vanto's career. I was less enthralled by the secondary storyline, but things came together nicely in the end and I'm excited to continue on with this series.
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Elizabeth Barnabus, our intrepid adventurer, having made it to the Free States of America, is pursued, caught, and eventually escapes the custody of Gas-Lit Empire agents. She flees to a kingdom in Oregon, where a power-hungry monarch has plans for eastward conquest. Only a grand illusion and an assist from a long-lost ally can save her skin and keep the world from falling into ruin.
This is the sixth and final(?) adventure for Elizabeth and these books have been really enjoyable. This specific trilogy has improved with each subsequent installment, with each book exploring a new frontier and story type. Book 1 was a seafaring tale, Book 2 a revenge story, and Book 3 now deals with court intrigue and politics. While I'm less interested in the world-altering events that Elizabeth continues to be mixed up with, her personal journey is the hook that keeps me coming back for more. The smaller moments of this book that deal with Elizabeth finding her identity, her family, and her real place in the world are exceedingly well done.
In all, this is a satisfying conclusion to a six-book, two-trilogy saga that has been supremely entertaining and well-told by an author with a wonderful flair for storytelling.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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My knowledge of the Star Wars canon outside of the films is extremely limited. The dawn of Disney+ and the excellent debut of The Mandalorian have sparked my interest to see what else was out there in this faraway galaxy... I've never read any fan fiction or media tie-in novels, so it was a bit of an adjustment to read new stories about established characters like the Jedis Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Author Claudia Gray does some excellent character work in this novel – she adds depth to existing characters while introducing several new characters to the story. Each individual is given agency, clear motivations, and satisfying arcs across the board. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic Gray establishes between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Their seemingly incompatible personality traits and frequent head-butting paired with their respect and mutual admiration for one another made for a nicely nuanced portrayal of master and apprentice.
I had a few minor quibbles about the use of modern day language disrupting my immersion and some dragging in the middle of the book, but all in all I found this to be an engaging and enjoyable interplanetary adventure story.
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What a wonderful adventure! This was my first experience with R.J. Barker's work and I came away quite impressed with his skill as a storyteller. He drops us into the fully-formed world of the Hundred Isles, a sea-dominated region that's peppered with small islands. Two warring territories, each equipped with extremely valuable ships made from ancient dragon bones, are stuck in constant and endless conflict. When the first dragon in generations is sighted, the race is on to be the first to track it down.
Barker's prose is rich but rough and perfectly suited for a seafaring tale. You can taste the ocean spray and feel the sway of the ships as they traverse the angry seas. The world is filled with unique flora and fauna, but the setting still feels familiar and accessible.
The book also features really satisfying character work, most notably through the main characters Joron and Lucky Meas and the cultivation of their relationship with each other and with the rest of their crew. The connection that is forged between Joron and the Gullaime, the ship's enigmatic, bird-like “windtalker,” is particularly touching. I hope we see more of the Gullaime in future books because the page (and I) lit up whenever it would appear.
Generally, I like to finish books quickly so I can move on to the next thing in my stack, but it was really gratifying to spend extra time with such a well-crafted novel. Even the artwork on the chapter headings is meticulously crafted and beautiful.
All in all, this is a superb start to an exciting new series. The worldbuilding, the prose, the character development, and the story beats are all top-notch. I'm already anxiously anticipating book two. In the meantime, I'm going to jump back and give Barker's Wounded Kingdom trilogy a try to see if that is also to my liking.
4.5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Alexandra Rowland's A Conspiracy of Truths took me by surprise in 2018. I deemed it an “unexpectedly delightful story featuring a wonderfully eccentric narrator named Chant.” I was just as surprised, in this follow-up book, to see Chant left by the wayside in favor of a story focusing on Ylfing, Chant's former apprentice. Ylfing is now a wayward soul, untethered, searching for purchase in a new city, having left his name, his master, and his personal connections behind. In many ways, his experience is mirroring that of the reader. Without the anchor of Chant and his splendid narration, we're left to pick up the pieces along with Ylfing.
It's a bold choice to change gears so drastically from one book to the next, but it pays off well. The overarching plot about a mysterious flower serves as a backdrop to the real story of Ylfing's personal growth. The book itself is “written” by Ylfing in a manuscript format with a bevy of footnote comments by an opinionated newcomer who slowly comes into focus.
In the end, this book is charming, heartening, and well worth your time. It feels like Rowland is just getting started here. She's an exciting, fresh voice in fantasy and I'm excited to see what yarn she spins next.
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My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 out of 5 stars
The hype surrounding this book has been building for several months now – I was lucky enough to land an ARC and do believe the buzz is warranted. The writing is beautiful and lush. The story is sad and sweet in equal measure. The world is captivating and I truly felt transported back in time. January is a well-drawn character, full of life and verve and nuance. She was a wonderful window into this fantastical world.
The way the first half of the novel is structured kept me from getting into the flow of the story until the second half, but the payoff of that structure is worthwhile. This, coupled with some uneven pacing and a few unearned twists, kept me from going above 4 stars. Nevertheless, if you enjoy Seanan McGuire's ongoing Wayward Children series (with the whimsy turned down a bit) or other portal fantasy stories then you'll have a marvelous time with January and her Ten Thousand Doors.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A dynamic “what if” novel that builds and builds as the unintended consequences of messing with memories threaten to unmake the world.
I was worried that the mind bending nature of the story would be too hard to follow, but Crouch doles out the complexity slowly and never piles on too much quantum theory at once. I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed my time with it. It's quickly paced and features well-drawn, sympathetic characters. My main quibble is that the ending did not live up to the great buildup that came before it.
With back-to-back sharp, page-turning sci-fi thrillers, Blake Crouch has certainly found a genre sweet spot for his writing talents. If you liked Recursion, definitely check out Crouch's Dark Matter or Elan Mastai's All Our Wrong Todays for something similar with a lighter touch.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
Sin Eater shook me from the book rut I'd been in for months. I was struggling, in particular, with Book #2s in series that could not recapture the magic of their predecessors. Although I wasn't as enthralled with this one as I was with Aching God, I still flew through it and enjoyed the ride.
Shel introduces several new characters for Auric's team and although the stakes are higher this time around, the story is not able to inject an appropriate level of urgency into the proceedings. Adventure/questing elements from the first book seem dampened this time around and the new POVs prove a bit flat.
Luckily, the worldbuilding remains strong, the writing flows nicely, and the ending is satisfying enough to leave me excited for what's to come in the third and final book in the trilogy.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A compact folktale about a mysterious man living deep in a magical forest. Author Emily Tesh immediately immerses you in her vivid world full of fae and foliage. The story, the writing, and the characters are all solid and I mostly enjoyed my time spent in Greenhollow Wood...although I'm not sure I'd want to return there for future adventures.
3.75 out of 5 stars
I spent the first few months of 2019 reading Guy Gavriel Kay's early works (for the first time) as a primer to this book's release. I polished off his first six novels and thought I was ready to dive in here until I saw the world map that features “Sarantium” quite prominently – I closed the booked and jumped back and read Kay's Sarantine Mosaic as final preparation. I'm glad I did, because that duology enhanced my understanding of this world and there are several callbacks within Brightness to the events in those books. Here, Kay is exploring the ripples of time, how small actions have an impact on the world at large and how our memory of the past shapes our understanding of our future.
Much like Kay's previous work, A Brightness Long Ago is beautifully composed, emotionally engaging, and it features compelling characters with depth. I really loved being introduced to minor, seemingly inconsequential characters who, once they had played their part in this specific narrative, have the remainder of their lives described to us and how consequential they end up being in their own right.
As much as I enjoy Kay's writing, I hit a wall about midway through here and really limped my way to the end over several weeks. Whether a result of my own disjointed pacing or the book's, I was never quite hooked. That kept it from full 4-star territory, but I will gladly continue on with GGK's oeuvre.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Coming off the great Sailing to Sarantium, I was let down by part two of this duology. This book expands on several story threads and introduces new characters that I struggled to invest in. I would have been perfectly satisfied with a book solely focused on Crispin and the construction of his grand mosaic. Kay pushes the story well beyond the reaches of Crispin's plight and, in doing so, created a story that feels uneven, unwieldy, and mostly uninteresting to me. It is still beautifully written and ambitious, so I certainly do not regret finishing it, but it falls towards the bottom of what I've read from GGK so far.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
This first installment of the Sarantine Mosaic is wondrous, wonderful, and features some of the most beautiful passages that I've read yet from Guy Gavriel Kay.
The spirituality of the world and the exquisite mosaics that Kay describes are sights to behold. I'm fully invested in Crispin, his mosaic masterwork, the political web he's fallen into, and the underlying mystical “half-world” that is nipping at his heels. The pacing of the overall story is uneven, but this is a great first half of a larger mosaic.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
25 questions. Pass, you're granted citizenship. Fail, you get a one-way ticket out of town.
Sylvain Neuvel follows up his excellent Themis Files series with this twisted, fast-paced, and thought-provoking dystopian novella. Much like Themis Files, Neuvel employs an unconventional storytelling structure to engage the reader and make the best use of his sharp, sense-of-urgency writing style. There's an added element of reader participation here, as you're left to wonder how you would respond to the events of “the test” as the questions suddenly go off the rails. It's a tight page-turner that really works.
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3.25 out of 5 stars
A ghoul named Rat, a man degenerating into stone, and an orphan thief with a mysterious gift work together to uncover a dark conspiracy in an ancient city filled with tunnels, monsters, and dangerous gods.
Author Gareth Hanrahan has built an undeniably cool world that crackles with dark energy. The monsters that patrol and infest the city of Guerdon are human enough to be comprehensible, but grotesque enough to be creepy and unnerving. The architecture of the city itself is imaginative and fun to explore, with layers upon layers built atop the haunted past they've tried to bury.
I had a difficult time connecting with Hanrahan's writing style, which felt a bit stiff and difficult to lose myself in. The book never sucked me in the way I wanted it to, but the concept and tone were enticing enough to keep me going. I'll be intrigued to see where the sequel goes after The Gutter Prayer's game-changing final act.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
In this third installment of The Books of Babel series, author Josiah Bancroft shakes up the narrative structure yet again and we're presented with three distinct, non-concurrent storylines that all take place over the same period of time. This doesn't push the overall story forward very far, but it provides us with sustained and worthwhile time with several wonderful characters.
Bancroft could write a kitchen appliance manual and I'd happily read it. The fact that he's built such a wondrous world and a story that makes such perfect use of his unique voice and style makes it all the better. The witticisms, turns of phrase, vivid images, fully drawn characters, and the magnificent setting all coalesce into something truly remarkable.
In my review of Arm of the Sphinx, I concluded that this series “has the makings of a modern fantasy classic.” Well, makings have been made. This series is a modern fantasy classic.
Come the Hod King.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A fertility epidemic (slowly) wiped out 99.9999% of the world's population. The remaining survivors are scattered around the globe. Griz lives on a small, Scottish island with several family members and two dogs. When one of the dogs is stolen by a mysterious visitor, Griz sets off across the sea and barren landscape to bring the dog back home.
C.A. Fletcher paints a vivid picture of an abandoned, post-apocalyptic world, but this is a tough book to rate. I did not find Griz's story to be compelling...at all...until the final 10% of the book. It was a quick read and that excellent last section made the uninteresting journey somewhat worthwhile. I did appreciate that Fletcher's choice of narration style is part of the story and even pays off in the final pages.
If you like this book, there are a few genre-similar books that I also enjoyed: The Wolf Road, The Fireman, The Dog Stars, and Station Eleven.
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3.75 out of 5 stars
As I continue to work my way through Guy Gavriel Kay's work, I've arrived at The Lions of Al-Rassan, a book that many consider to be Kay's best work. It certainly has the swiftest pacing of any of his books (that I've read so far). He deftly moves his characters around the map, while their allegiances shift and swirl and their cultures clash. It was a bit dizzying trying to piece together who was siding with whom at one point or another and sometimes the characters motivations didn't always make sense to me. This made it difficult for me to connect with the main players. In the end, it was a solid story about complex heroes and compelling cultures. It was not my favorite GGK book, but I had a good time with it.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
After Tigana and now A Song for Arbonne, it is clear that Guy Gavriel Kay can weave a complete, satisfying story in one standalone book. This novel is a beautiful tale of love and loss in the land of Arbonne. Kay's character development and worldbuilding are outstanding and his lyrical prose is a perfect match for a sweeping story of troubadours amid a unique medieval world.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
Atlas 2 hurtles away from Earth, leaving a broken planet in its rearview mirror. Passenger Dee knows that those responsible for the mass genocide they left behind are on board as well, but who are they and how can she punish them?
Emma Newman's writing continues to be very smooth and easy to read. She explores Dee's complex emotional state quite effectively and I was invested in her journey. Her VR-like “mersive” environments were incredibly vivid and fun to read, as well.
The story itself, although dealing with big events and themes, is a little too straightforward and its perspective is so fixed on one character that I felt like I was reading about a ship of twenty people instead of the thousands that are supposedly on board. Because of this, some of the big moments lack the impact that they should have had.
Luckily, Newman writes killer endings and this book was no exception to that trend. I wasn't as intrigued by the buildup to the finale, but Newman certainly left me wanting more by the ending. I really hope there will be more Planetfall novels in the future as this continues to be a wonderful series with countless story threads left to explore!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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