The Mirror of Beasts is the sequel to the Silver in the Bone duology, a young adult Arthurian Legend retelling. After giving the first book 4 stars anThe Mirror of Beasts is the sequel to the Silver in the Bone duology, a young adult Arthurian Legend retelling. After giving the first book 4 stars and being left with so many questions, I was really excited for book 2.
This was a fantastic conclusion to Tamsin's story. It was very fast-paced, captivating, and thrilling. The Mirror of Beasts continues right where book 1 left off and has beautiful depictions of female friendships and family. The rivals-to-lovers romance makes a reappearance and compliments the story. Bracken's characters are fantastic - with realistic strengths and weaknesses and genuine interactions that readers will find relatable. Paired with the higher stakes adventure, the characters and world were immersive and engaging. I really enjoyed the many plot twists, and the way Arthurian legend is woven throughout this duology.
The Mirror of Beasts was such a fun read, and I highly recommend giving this duology a try. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The Secret History of Sharks by Professor John Long was a fascinating read. As indicated in the title, this is primarily a review of the paleo historyThe Secret History of Sharks by Professor John Long was a fascinating read. As indicated in the title, this is primarily a review of the paleo history of sharks, from their first appearance in the Devonian Period to the rise of modern sharks.
I love how this is broken down. Readers are taken on a journey of discovery of prehistoric sharks and their evolution, described by time period and pivotal points in evolution or especially impactful paleontological discoveries. Also highlighted are major geographical events and extinction events, as well as the mention of other prehistoric species during the time period. After this 465-million-year journey, we explore modern sharks and especially the impacts that humanity and climate change have on the species.
Each chapter contains subsections, with a short section at the end of each that briefly wraps up what we have learned and introduces the next focus, time period, or species. The artwork and photographs are fantastic, and I particularly love the diagrams included. There is a lot of information presented here, so it can feel dense at times, but the author does a fantastic job of keeping the reader engaged.
The author utilizes his own discoveries and experiences in the field, but also refers to the discoveries and accomplishments of many other paleontologists and shark experts with background information to explain who they are.
The Secret History of Sharks is now definitely one of my favorite paleo nonfiction books of all time, and I highly recommend it to any reader interested in sharks or paleontology. 5 stars - excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
The Mercy of Gods is my first S.A. Corey book. I have been wanting to dive into the Expanse but the length of the seriOkay, wow. This was fantastic.
The Mercy of Gods is my first S.A. Corey book. I have been wanting to dive into the Expanse but the length of the series is intimidating so I have been procrastinating. I haven't watched the show either, as I plan to read the series first.
Set in the far future where humanity lives on another planet called Anjiin and has forgotten their origins, this first book in The Captive's War trilogy explores a devastating first contact with aliens known as the Carryx. The humans of Anjiin don't stand a chance, and a specific selection are taken to serve the Carryx.
First, the aliens in this book are actually terrifying. S.A. Corey's vivid descriptions made the shock and horror that these humans experience feel so real and relatable. The human characters are flawed and struggling to reconcile with meeting aliens for the first time. Their reactions and feelings are realistic and understandable, even when you know they're making terrible decisions. While there is still plenty of action, the book focuses on how humans react to dire situations and the drive for survival. The biochemical science aspect was interesting, and the technobabble was minimal.
The Mercy of Gods is definitely one of my favorite reads this year and is a possible new all-time favorite. I cannot wait for the next book. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The Book of Elsewhere is a science fiction novel inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books.
As in BRZRKR, we follow "B" - a demigod who cannot dThe Book of Elsewhere is a science fiction novel inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books.
As in BRZRKR, we follow "B" - a demigod who cannot die, currently working with a government secret task force while searching for answers to his existence. While we also follow the 2 government agents working alongside B, The Book of Elsewhere is less character-driven and focuses more on the mystery of B's godlike abilities and how it is related to another soldier who miraculously comes back to life.
I would classify The Book of Elsewhere as 'weird science fiction' and a military thriller. There are horror aspects as well. I really enjoyed some of B's flashbacks throughout history. This is written in a very unique style, and each character's differences are portrayed in how their POV or reflection is written. There are sometimes long paragraphs of reflection that can contain run-on sentences (meant to emphasize the stream of conscious thinking). I believe the writing style is the most challenging aspect of this novel. It was difficult to read and understand at first, but I was surprised with how quickly I adapted to it. I was hooked on the mystery and found myself wanting answers as much as B.
The story, told from our main character POV's, with interlude-style flashbacks from various characters, is fast-paced and thrilling, with poetic prose that reflects on the meaning of life and death. I would recommend this for weird sci fi and military thriller fans, and of course, fans of the comic books. I really enjoyed my time reading The Book of Elsewhere and gave it 3.75 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC. ...more
The Gods Below is the first book in a new epic fantasy trilogy by Andrea Stewart. It has multiple narrators, complex characters, and incredible world-The Gods Below is the first book in a new epic fantasy trilogy by Andrea Stewart. It has multiple narrators, complex characters, and incredible world-building. I mean, absolutely-incredible-5-stars-world-building. I especially enjoyed seeing how these characters slowly begin to unravel their world's secrets and start to question what they've been taught.
We follow 4 different POVs in The Gods Below. These characters are flawed, each of them struggling with something different. While I did like that the characters felt real, they were also incredibly frustrating. I was still rooting for them, but I hope the next 2 books reflect more character growth.
One of the POVs we follow is Hakara, who is separated from her sister and spends the next 10 years trying to find a way back to her. The world, destroyed by humans, has a failing climate that cannot support the remaining survivors. It is said that in an effort to fix this, a human called Tolemne ventured underground to ask a boon from the god, Kluehnn. Kluehnn shattered the world and began to restore the climate in sections. Part of the agreement was that half of humanity would be altered, and the other half consumed. The unaltered sections pay a tithe to Kluehnn in the form of god gems while awaiting their turn at restoration.
This is a very solid start to a trilogy, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Stewart takes the story. 4.5 stars. There are also cute cats. And a grumpy tough guy who loves them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Yuval Noah Harari, the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow is back. This time, the focus is on Yuval Noah Harari, the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow is back. This time, the focus is on the history of information networks and its impacts on humanity.
I really enjoyed Sapiens, but still need to read Homo Deus. As with Sapiens, the author covers different historical events as supporting examples of information networks at work, and this is still my favorite part. Yuval Noah Harari adds a different perspective to these historical events and I always learn something new about history.
Nexus is a fascinating look at the history of information networks, the wonderful and terrible ways it's been used, and how humanity is facing new challenges with AI. It's thought-provoking and definitely had me saying, "Huh. I hadn't thought about it like that" more than once.
"The only constant of history is change."
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Alien Earths explores the science behind the search for life on other planets. This was a fascinating read and I loved how it was written. This is verAlien Earths explores the science behind the search for life on other planets. This was a fascinating read and I loved how it was written. This is very beginner friendly and a solid foundation of astronomy isn't required to understand the topics. Dr. Kaltenegger uses simple descriptions and analogies, and breaks down the scientific explanations very well, as if I was in her class and also engaged in the discussion.
Each chapter, while lengthy, is broken down by subchapters exploring the various factors used in the search - such as, what exactly is life? While I have always loved astronomy and am not a beginner to the subject, I learned a lot from this. It made me think more about how we define life, the conditions necessary for life, and all of the scientific processes that are explored when considering what alien planets could hold life.
While this book is more of a summary on the science behind planet hunting, I really enjoyed that she approached all topics based on facts and not hypothetical topics. She breaks down the search for alien Earths by reflecting on what we already know about the universe, our solar system, and Earth - and how we use this information to look for habitable planets. I was never bored; each topic was fascinating and I loved her sense of humor.
4.5 stars - Dr. Kaltenegger's contributions to the field are awe inspiring and I would love to read more from her. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Wow. Lost Ark Dreaming was just fantastic, and I didn't want it to end.
This post-apocalyptic dystopia novella takes place in the future, where survivoWow. Lost Ark Dreaming was just fantastic, and I didn't want it to end.
This post-apocalyptic dystopia novella takes place in the future, where survivors of rising water levels live inside five partially submerged towers known as 'the Fingers'. We follow three of these survivors whose world is turned upside down one day with the truth about these towers and the ocean-dwelling dangers surrounding it.
"In the silence that ensconced them all, Yekini experienced a true moment of the sublime, her mind racing upon contemplating the vastness of the ocean, the malleability of species, the inadequacy of the concept of humanity, the endless possibilities of being."
This short novella pulled off impressive world-building, West African mythology, and a dystopian tale, to convey a powerful message about climate change and humanity. I was hooked from the start and will be thinking about Lost Ark Dreaming for some time. 4.5 stars - I highly recommend to fans of the dystopia and post-apocalyptic genres.
Side note: I can't believe I haven't read anything by this author before and am really looking forward to trying his fantasy series in the future. (I'm also very much hoping for more sci fi like this novella!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
This entire novel is written in epistolary fashion, and I wish I had known that before starting it. This just didn’t work for me.
The academic dialogueThis entire novel is written in epistolary fashion, and I wish I had known that before starting it. This just didn’t work for me.
The academic dialogue was charming at first, but quickly got old when everyone speaks the same way and you’re reading letter after letter from various characters to other characters. I found myself invested in the world, but not these characters. There is a mystery about a tragedy and the world itself that teases you from the start, and I found this to be my only motivation to continue. Thankfully, you do get some answers, which is where the book picked up for me.
I was also seeing this advertised as fantasy, but it really felt more like science fiction (which I love, if I’m correct in some of my theories). In the end, I’m still not sure which genre it is, or if it’s both.
A Letter to the Luminous Deep was a well-written novel, and I know many people who would still enjoy it as more of a character study. 2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Fiasco follows bounty hunter Cyn Khaw, who also happens to be Generosity from Calamity, the first book in this series. I was so excited for her story,Fiasco follows bounty hunter Cyn Khaw, who also happens to be Generosity from Calamity, the first book in this series. I was so excited for her story, and it did not disappoint. I loved her character and learning that there's much more to this unsuspecting cultist. Cyn, who actually has a deadly reputation, takes on a bounty with the crew of the Calamity to search for a notorious kidnapper which added a bit of mystery to this sci fi thriller. There's also a bit of spice that picks up between Cyn and Micah, the medic on the Calamity, that we started to see in book 1. Everything was so well done here - from the mystery to the character growth to the romance.
I had a lot of fun reading Calamity, and I loved Fiasco even more. This is such a fun space opera with great characters and just the right level of sci fi. Fiasco is one of those fast-paced reads that are so much fun, I tend to devour them in a couple of days. I love the characters, the unique planets, and different space stations so much, this series has quickly become one of my favorite space operas.
I don't think reading Calamity is a requirement, as Fiasco works well as a standalone, but I would recommend it for more background information on The Families and the crew of the Calamity. Plus, it's just a good read.
4.5 stars, I am so excited for book 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a novella about Eveen, an undead assassin with no memory of her prior life, now sworn to a god and her unbreakable vowsThe Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a novella about Eveen, an undead assassin with no memory of her prior life, now sworn to a god and her unbreakable vows. When Eveen is tasked with a job that sparks a memory, she realizes she has been set up and has just one night to unravel the mystery.
"Magic," the thaumaturgist said. "It imitates life, seeking symmetry out of randomness."
It's incredible that this is only a novella - it really did not feel like one. P. Djèlí Clark delivers a fleshed-out world, fun characters, and a dangerous mystery all in 224 pages. It's fast-paced with a lot of action. I would love to see more of this world.
4.5 stars rounded up. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a fun, fast-paced fantasy novella with an intriguing world and mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The Bound Worlds is the third and final book in The Devoured Worlds trilogy by Megan E. O'Keefe. And it was a fantastic conclusion. I really enjoyed tThe Bound Worlds is the third and final book in The Devoured Worlds trilogy by Megan E. O'Keefe. And it was a fantastic conclusion. I really enjoyed the first book, but the second was a little disappointing - it felt a little messy and all over the place. A tiny bit of that feeling lingers in the beginning of book 3, but once I hit 40% I had trouble putting it down. This was definitely more fast-paced than the last book.
One thing I really enjoy about this series are the science fiction themes - there are SO many interesting ones addressed. We have aliens, time travel (not a lot - thankfully), astronomy, geology, and neurology. The Bound Worlds just continues to expand on these themes.
I loved these characters and had so much fun following their journey. I love how the author maintains a sense of danger and true risk in a future where a person's neural 'map' can just be reuploaded into a new 'print'. And I admit, I was sobbing by the end of it.
If you like a fast-paced science fiction/space opera with excellent characters, high risks, and a lot of action - this series is for you. 4.75 stars - loved it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC!
S.A. Barnes has done it again. I loved her first novel, Dead Silence, but enjoyed GhosThank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC!
S.A. Barnes has done it again. I loved her first novel, Dead Silence, but enjoyed Ghost Station even more. Now THIS is how sci fi horror is done.
We follow Dr. Ophelia Bray, a psychologist assigned to a small exploration crew on an abandoned planet. There is a mystery about the crew, a mystery about the planet, and a mystery about Dr. Bray herself. For the first 30% or so, I found her character just as annoying as the MC in Dead Silence and I was worried this would be more of a psychological horror instead of sci fi. I'm so glad it wasn't, and that it was very much sci fi. As she did in Dead Silence, Barnes sets the perfect creepy atmosphere in Ghost Station that had me refusing to read at night. The character development is excellent too. It was a gripping story and I only wish I had more to read.
4.5 stars - the ending felt a little abrupt and I wish we had more answers. At this point, S.A. Barnes is an instant read for me and I cannot wait to see what's next....more
Robot has an existential crisis when his human master is found mysteriously murdered, so he goes on an adventure. And boy, is it an adventure. ThroughRobot has an existential crisis when his human master is found mysteriously murdered, so he goes on an adventure. And boy, is it an adventure. Through this robot's perspective, we discover an almost post-apocalyptic dystopian world and begin a search to find out where it all went wrong.
"The induction had waxed long on the topic of robots and other automated helpmates replacing human labor but he hadn't realized that, back in the past, humans had worked so hard to live like robots."
The humor in Service Model is very similar to Tchaikovsky's 'One Day All This Will Be Yours' - satirical, a little dark. I loved it, and found myself laughing out loud quite often. While the pacing can be slow at times, it felt right for the story and isn't a negative. I listened to the audiobook, and as usual, loved Tchaikovsky's fantastic narration.
"He was a robot put out of work by automation."
Hilarious with underlying heartfelt moments, all while determining what it means to be a robot in this destroyed world, I had a lot of fun reading Service Model and highly recommend it - 4.25 stars. Also, I absolutely love the cover.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review....more
The translation of the original Godzilla novellas is everything I hoped for and more.
As a lifelong Godzilla fan, I had a blast reading these novellasThe translation of the original Godzilla novellas is everything I hoped for and more.
As a lifelong Godzilla fan, I had a blast reading these novellas. The first, Godzilla, was definitely a 5 star read- bringing me back to the original film. Fans will hear both the iconic roar and theme as Godzilla rises out of the ocean. There were moments that brought chills, and I had to really appreciate the classic sci fi horror that Shigeru Kayama depicts with Godzilla. In this first novella, which is very similar to the film, the focus is on science and what terrible things humans can create with their actions.
The second novella, Godzilla Raids Again, is much shorter and more action-packed (also closely following the second film), and more of a 4 star read as it lacked the science fiction themes from the first. However, the second novella introduces the idea of multiple, different, kaijū and the destructive monster battles that result.
I particularly enjoyed the Afterword that Jeffrey Angles included. It was fantastic and extremely informative. He makes sure to address Shigeru Kayama's original message for Godzilla, and America's actions during the hydrogen bomb testing that heavily influenced it. I really appreciated the history he included here, the translation explanations, and the added notes from Shigeru Kayama's original writing.
As a Godzilla fan, this is a must read. Classic science fiction fans will definitely enjoy these novellas, as well as readers interested in translated Japanese literature. A huge thank you to Jeffrey Angles, for an incredible job in translating these novellas for the fans. I am very much looking forward to my preorder copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and The University of Minnesota Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Two Twisted Crowns was fast paced from the start and never let up. I devoured this sequel as quickly as I did the first. And oh, was this sequel just Two Twisted Crowns was fast paced from the start and never let up. I devoured this sequel as quickly as I did the first. And oh, was this sequel just beautiful.
I don't want to say too much, as that would include spoilers for the first book, but the dark horror setting of Blunder and its magic continues in this sequel- a perfect read for the spooky season. Where the first book sets up the world and magic system, this sequel focuses on the characters. Questions are answered and we learn more about our main characters- all of them.
I highly recommend this duology for the unique magic system and the loveable characters. You'll be cheering them on the whole time. This was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and I loved it. I can't wait to read more from Rachel Gillig. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
If you enjoyed the world of Cyberpunk 2077, I would recommend this book.
I played the game on release and loved it, but that was almost 3 years ago so If you enjoyed the world of Cyberpunk 2077, I would recommend this book.
I played the game on release and loved it, but that was almost 3 years ago so I was very rusty on the lore. With that being said, the first half was a struggle to get through. If you have no previous knowledge of Cyberpunk, I'm not sure how much you would enjoy this book as there are no introductions or descriptions.
I'm not exactly sure when this book takes place- before or after the events of the game? There are some appearances by characters we know, as well as the gangs and corporations of Night City. The various netrunner monologues regarding the Blackwall, the Relic, and several themes we experience in the game were the most interesting parts of this book.
The characters themselves are mediocre - there are too many of them that it fell short of making me care for them. To increase the heist feel, it is told from alternating point of views and is very difficult to follow. Even after I adjusted to the writing style, it took a while for me to understand the POV we were seeing. Regarding the heist itself - it's messy. But that is typical of Cyberpunk. Another thing typical of Cyberpunk - bleak outcomes (so don't expect a happy ending). I was really hoping that a couple points might hint at things to come in the Phantom Liberty DLC releasing so soon after this, but I didn't get the impression that any of it will be (which is a shame, because some of those ideas regarding Arasaka's Relic were giving me high hopes).
Overall, this is a fun read for fans of the game and world. Heist fans will also have a great time, if they can look past the alternating point of views. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
This was such a cute paranormal romance, and a fast read. The tropes featured are exactly what you get, including the miscommunication break up, and iThis was such a cute paranormal romance, and a fast read. The tropes featured are exactly what you get, including the miscommunication break up, and it was the perfect light read. Loved the familiars too!
I was a little disappointed with the deviations made to vampires and that it was a bit too fluffy for me, but I would still recommend this book for an easy and fun read.
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