Easily one of the best books I've read this year, possibly also one of the best since 2022 ended. I appreciate how Bujold transformed the relationshipEasily one of the best books I've read this year, possibly also one of the best since 2022 ended. I appreciate how Bujold transformed the relationship between Cordelia and Aral and gave great backstory for the rest of the Vorkoskigan saga. I also appreciate how Bujold hit topics head-on and didn't just use them as small devices but really tried to address them from multiple angles. I'll never get over that passage I highlighted (and added in one of the updates) about the state of women's healthcare. I suspect I'll be thinking about this one for a long time....more
I really enjoyed this book - I stayed up late finishing it. While there was THAT difficult scene, I was able to get through it. And it's interesting tI really enjoyed this book - I stayed up late finishing it. While there was THAT difficult scene, I was able to get through it. And it's interesting that the book deals with it head-on and all the things that come from it. I really like Cordelia and Aral. I immediately bought Barrayar and fell asleep reading it....more
Sword & Laser's March pick, in theory a laser, but with a lot of Asian mythology and stuff that seemed fantasy. Sure there were mechs but also a dreamSword & Laser's March pick, in theory a laser, but with a lot of Asian mythology and stuff that seemed fantasy. Sure there were mechs but also a dream world and using chi in many ways like magic. I thought I saw where this book was going but the very end caught me off guard. There was a bunch in the middle that my eyes glazed over for, honestly. It was....not my favorite book. Luckily it was short....more
I like Murderbot, but this one was a bit less interesting for me. Someone from the S&L community summed it up best, to paraphrase... (view spoiler)[MuI like Murderbot, but this one was a bit less interesting for me. Someone from the S&L community summed it up best, to paraphrase... (view spoiler)[Murderbot being cocky is more interesting than Murderbot being very unsure of himself (hide spoiler)]. I still enjoyed it, but it took longer to get through, my mind wandered more, and clearly I rated it lower than most of the others. It was an experiment, it seemed, and while it was fine, I hope the next one is a bit different....more
3.5 which I'll round up to 4. A fine mystery I suppose though it didn't necessarily need the sci-fi elements. Though that said I'm interested in the w3.5 which I'll round up to 4. A fine mystery I suppose though it didn't necessarily need the sci-fi elements. Though that said I'm interested in the world, so I may read the next book in the series when it comes out. I also felt vibes of A Study in Cyborgs and The Neuromorph, though there I feel like the sci-fi made a bit more sense. ...more
Nope. I could deal with the things on the planet, in theory, but the narrator couldn't keep my attention and I wasn't interested enough to read with mNope. I could deal with the things on the planet, in theory, but the narrator couldn't keep my attention and I wasn't interested enough to read with my eyes. Maybe one day I will. I doubt it, but it's possible....more
This book surprised me. I went in with very low expectations because "space opera" isn't usually my thing. And WOW. I just got sucked in. I loved the This book surprised me. I went in with very low expectations because "space opera" isn't usually my thing. And WOW. I just got sucked in. I loved the characters and the flashbacks for each to get their stories and see how their past impacted the things going on in the "present" in the book. I don't usually like character stories but this one had plot in each story and it all went to the main plot. I couldn't stop reading until I literally fell asleep on my Kindle, and when I finished, I stayed up WAAAAY past my bedtime because I couldn't stop. I could have done with less "dead dad" stuff which seems to be common (or maybe I've noticed it more since I lost my dad) in these kinds of stories. I am annoyed at myself, though, that (view spoiler)[I didn't see Shaan's role coming until it was revealed. I feel like the breadcrumbs were there and I missed them (hide spoiler)].
The audiobook wasn't great, so I read almost all of this with my eyes....more
To paraphrase the movie, "The Princess Bride," I found this more enjoyable while skipping the kissing parts. I just didn't need to listen to narrationTo paraphrase the movie, "The Princess Bride," I found this more enjoyable while skipping the kissing parts. I just didn't need to listen to narration of steamy scenes. Other than those parts, the book was a fun little sci fi book that sets itself up well to be the first in a series. There never really felt like there was real trouble for the team or any real conflict but it was fun to see the spaceship and see how a certain theft was done. I'm glad that S&L picked it to get me exposure to the book (it's certainly not one I'd have ever found or read on my own) but I don't think I'll continue with the series....more
Calling this science fiction book since a lot of it is in space with space things. Definitely a trippy book to read as Putin seems to be trying to revCalling this science fiction book since a lot of it is in space with space things. Definitely a trippy book to read as Putin seems to be trying to revive the USSR (as opposed to reading it when it was first released, when he wasn't trying to annex parts of Ukraine). It struck me that most of the issues arose in this book because of people assuming the worst about others. Probably a valid feeling at the time. I enjoyed this book. You might too!...more
I thought the book started a little slow but by the time I got into it, I was staying up past my bedtime to read. I started the book in audio but founI thought the book started a little slow but by the time I got into it, I was staying up past my bedtime to read. I started the book in audio but found that reading with my eyes worked better. If I had two minor niggles, one is that the book started a little slow and the other is that (view spoiler)[I wish we had learned about Gaffney's duplicity differently than just seeing Gaffney be duplicitous (hide spoiler)]. If it had been a little faster start, I probably would have rated it 5 stars. I had no expectations going in and loved the characters and the mystery. It never felt predictable....more
I really enjoyed this final (for now) installment of Murderbot. This time, Murderbot finds itself in the middle of a murder mystery, and has to help pI really enjoyed this final (for now) installment of Murderbot. This time, Murderbot finds itself in the middle of a murder mystery, and has to help people on Preservation Station figure out whodunnit. I definitely enjoyed the book and look forward to more Murderbot in the future....more
Probably more of a 3.5 star book but I rounded up. Murderbot, I think, works best in the shorter novella form, but I still enjoyed the book. It didn'tProbably more of a 3.5 star book but I rounded up. Murderbot, I think, works best in the shorter novella form, but I still enjoyed the book. It didn't have the quick pace I usually expect from the stories, and suffered from what someone in Sword & Laser called a "saggy middle" but it was still a fun romp with Murderbot and ART....more
I don't know what about this book didn't seem to click as well for me as others did, it felt like it took a lot longer to finish and a lot longer to sI don't know what about this book didn't seem to click as well for me as others did, it felt like it took a lot longer to finish and a lot longer to stay un-distracted. I suspect life events going on in my world contributed to that, but even still. I may end up re-reading this one at some point. Or not. I suspect that some of it may be that Murderbot was less snarky in this book, instead actually seeming to do its job of trying to protect its charges from actual hostiles. I am going to move onto the short story that follows it, Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory....more
I saw the "twist" coming pretty early on but I still enjoyed getting there. If anything it may have taken a little too long to wrap up after that. ButI saw the "twist" coming pretty early on but I still enjoyed getting there. If anything it may have taken a little too long to wrap up after that. But even then, I've been enjoying these stories and jumped right into the next one....more
Hahaha ART. I love ART. I also enjoyed the ideas about other robots wanting more than just their programmed existence. A good second novella and enjoyHahaha ART. I love ART. I also enjoyed the ideas about other robots wanting more than just their programmed existence. A good second novella and enjoyable to listen to. Not so many details you need to be fully focused but a fun romp....more
Cute book about a bot that was designed for certain tasks but has broken the rules. I breezed through it and plan to keep going in the series. Though Cute book about a bot that was designed for certain tasks but has broken the rules. I breezed through it and plan to keep going in the series. Though I will say the end surprised me a little. I look forward to seeing where it goes......more
This book introduced two main characters, one who was in the first book (the other if they were, they were a side character). I really enjoyed the twoThis book introduced two main characters, one who was in the first book (the other if they were, they were a side character). I really enjoyed the two stories and how the storyline from the past informs the actions for the present day story. I also thought it was fascinating how much of the book was about consent. I thought it kind of dragged a little toward the end but I would definitely recommend the book to others. I am intrigued to see how (if) the characters from the first book meet up with these characters....more
Honestly this might have been a 3.5* book but I rounded up. The book felt a lot like Stargate SG-1 (for all the obvious reasons) crossed with one or tHonestly this might have been a 3.5* book but I rounded up. The book felt a lot like Stargate SG-1 (for all the obvious reasons) crossed with one or two Star Trek episodes crossed with some creature feature from the 60's ish?
I was interested as the book started and got through, but then "the" thing happened (view spoiler)[Bob came through the gate severely messed up (hide spoiler)] and from there, I couldn't put the book down, even though I was kind of grossed out by the horror aspects....more
It was fine. I actually liked that it wasn't all video games this time and the bigger story was arguably more compelling than RP1, but it felt too lonIt was fine. I actually liked that it wasn't all video games this time and the bigger story was arguably more compelling than RP1, but it felt too long. I like how the quests in this book were more pop culture. Unfortunately I wish that they were pop culture references that were interesting. I never got into Bowie or Prince. I really haven't watched too many John Hughes movies. The part with the J. R. R. Tolkien part was fine but I know nothing about The Silmarillion, so I feel like a Hobbit or Lord of the Rings reference would have been more widely appreciated. The Prince section in particular felt interminable. And the intro, about just how stupid Z is, took too long, too. (view spoiler)[I also felt like there was a lost opportunity with Lo and the Low Five. They were definitely not used enough. (hide spoiler)]...more
Probably a 3.5-star book but as GR doesn't do half-stars, I'm rounding down. I enjoyed this book well enough when I was reading it, but I didn't find Probably a 3.5-star book but as GR doesn't do half-stars, I'm rounding down. I enjoyed this book well enough when I was reading it, but I didn't find myself yearning to see what would happen next when I wasn't reading it. Though it was the first in a series, I think I'm ok stopping after the first book. I was happy that it ended in a logical place without leaving too much open/hanging. I liked Fergus Ferguson and the Vonns. I saw a picture (via The Sword and Laser book club group) of what the world was...it wasn't really what I expected. But that's ok because it didn't actually matter much. But if i had to get out of a space predicament, I think I'd want Fergus by my side....more
terpkristin
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