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
Really, all I could think about was Mordin Solus from Mass Effect saying, "Turian based on dextro-amino acids. Human ingestI read this. I had to know.
Really, all I could think about was Mordin Solus from Mass Effect saying, "Turian based on dextro-amino acids. Human ingestion of tissue could provoke allergic reactions. Anaphylactic shock possible. So don't, ah, ingest."
In all seriousness, this was a fun and short read that had more plot than I expected. ...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
While I really enjoyed the new alien threat in A Desolation Called Peace, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as I had A Memory Called Empire. Still, IWhile I really enjoyed the new alien threat in A Desolation Called Peace, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as I had A Memory Called Empire. Still, I loved being back in Teixcalaan.
My dislikes: There is less action and more politics. I found the multiple, shifting POVs mid-chapter to be disorienting.
My likes: Everything with the aliens. The technology introduced and explored further.
4 stars, I'm so glad I finished this duology. ...more
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