I love New Orleans, so a steampunk novella set in an alternate-universe New Orleans was right up my alley! Such a short book, but Clark packed SO MUCHI love New Orleans, so a steampunk novella set in an alternate-universe New Orleans was right up my alley! Such a short book, but Clark packed SO MUCH into these one hundred pages. Creeper has a solid narrative voice, and despite the many, many characters, the plot moves smoothly and confidently along. I would love to see more set in this universe (especially more of Creeper's adventures), because holy CATS does the worldbuilding imply fascinating future stories. ...more
I'm an unapologetic King fan, so I'm surprised (especially with my love of books about writing!) that it took me this long to read.
It's a thoughtful,I'm an unapologetic King fan, so I'm surprised (especially with my love of books about writing!) that it took me this long to read.
It's a thoughtful, honest, and clear look at writing, told with King's typical open prose. I know he's never going to be adored by the literary elite (and to be fair, he's never going to be a fan of theirs; there are certainly some shots taken at overly self-conscious poets in this book, though it's more gentle ribbing than anything else, and King definitely doesn't shy away from mocking himself when it's called for) -- but he isn't a writer of experimental prose, or someone particularly interested in writing a ground-breaking, language-straining piece of metafiction. As he says, over and over, he just wants to tell stories, so that's what he does.
On Writing is typically disarming and fun to read, but I appreciate that King took the time to break down the editing process for a section of 1408, and then explain all the changes and WHY he chose to make them. The best way to learn is by doing, but it's so useful to get a look at someone else's process.
I appreciate the overall sense that King is using this book to say, "Writing is hard work, and often terrifying, and there is no promise of a reward, but I am in your corner if you choose to try". That means a lot -- just as much as all the advice and examples do. ...more
Like I said in my review of the first book in this series, sometimes a book that relies on every trope in the, well, book, is just what you need -- esLike I said in my review of the first book in this series, sometimes a book that relies on every trope in the, well, book, is just what you need -- especially if it's done well! ...more
A solid, entertaining fantasy romance with some hints of Greek mythology and a heroine who coasts, at times, along the edge of being Not Like Other GiA solid, entertaining fantasy romance with some hints of Greek mythology and a heroine who coasts, at times, along the edge of being Not Like Other Girls, but who luckily avoids it.
Nothing is too out-of-the-ordinary here, but the author has a good grasp of the tropes she's working with and so the story hums along at a nice clip. I appreciate that the main character has friends and interests outside of the romance (which has a lovely slow burn!), and that she's capable in a lot of different ways. Her insecurities and trauma definitely leave her flawed, which I also appreciate.
The male lead is kind of your generic "hot powerful masculine guy", but he's well-executed and appealing, so I can't complain! Like I said before, just because something relies on tropes doesn't mean it's bad! Tropes are tools!
I did notice, in other reviews of this book, that a lot of readers took issues with how consent is handled here; I think the concerns are valid, but I think there's a point being missed: both Cat and Griffin are being manipulated by the gods to reach a certain end, so how much consent do either of them have in their relationship? If they're fated by the gods to be lovers, then how can either of them really consent?
It's a thorny issue that isn't really dealt with in the story, except when Cat is frustrated about a given situation, but I do think it's valuable that Cat expresses clear desire and reluctance in her internal monologue, and that she has reasons (which she eventually tells Griffin) for resisting him. Is it handled gracefully? Not always, especially given that this is essentially an abduction romance, but the consent here is a big grey area, on varying levels, for both characters (definitely weighted toward Cat).
But also -- this is escapist romance. I'm not here looking for something that hits one hundred percent perfect communication and consent at all times, though I understand why some readers are uncomfortable with how these things are portrayed. Enthusiastic consent IS given, before they have sex, and in this context, that's all I really expect of my romances.
Not everyone has to feel the same way, but I found that it worked perfectly for this book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest! ...more
What a dense, vivid novel; it took me till now to get around to reading Hilary Mantel's work, and what an experience it was. I definitely had to take What a dense, vivid novel; it took me till now to get around to reading Hilary Mantel's work, and what an experience it was. I definitely had to take breaks as I read, because so much happened even as nothing happened -- we move through the inner spaces of Cromwell's mind, around the things he hasn't yet admitted to himself, or perhaps refuses to, even more than the physical world; he retreads the same ground, alights upon the same memories, moves with complete inevitability.
The rhythm of the prose gets into your head, much the way Angela Carter's does; you overuse semicolons and construct list upon list, you price what you're wearing by the yard as often as Cromwell does. The world of 1500s England feels both incredibly alive and almost totally alien, especially in the rarefied, cutthroat atmosphere of the court. I pity and fear Anne Boleyn, and Henry is...well, he's Henry VIII. Mantel's portrayal is amused and also distantly sympathetic, but he's still Henry.
Definitely a case of "if the elements came together a bit more cohesively, this would have been a knockout book". Not that it's bad as it is, but veryDefinitely a case of "if the elements came together a bit more cohesively, this would have been a knockout book". Not that it's bad as it is, but very little of the story was given time to breathe. Maybe the author was trying to hit a specific word count, but it felt like a lot was taken out, and so the entire story suffered as a result.
I'm always weak for people ending up in their favorite books, somehow, and the added twist of the book's universe turning into a Lovecraftian nightmare was a great twist. The friendship of the main characters was very sweet, and the romances had promise...but I wish there'd been more of everything. A sequel would be interesting, just to expand on everything set up here (and to make the last few pages pay off in a more satisfying way). ...more
Look, it's Murderbot, I'm going to love it. The energy here is high -- and there's a LOT of action/plot to get through (and emotions; sorry, MurderbotLook, it's Murderbot, I'm going to love it. The energy here is high -- and there's a LOT of action/plot to get through (and emotions; sorry, Murderbot, but you're having a lot of them), so keeping the energy up is a testament to Wells's talent. This definitely feels like a step into a new section of the Murderbot series, and I'm so excited to see what comes next! ...more
It's almost magical, reading "the canticle of the wolves" in its proper context, rather than on a thousand Tumblr aesthetic post (which I reblog, ofteIt's almost magical, reading "the canticle of the wolves" in its proper context, rather than on a thousand Tumblr aesthetic post (which I reblog, often; it must be said). But then everything Angela Carter writes is magical -- not to mention lush, sensual, greedily overblown and bursting with ripeness. Once her writing gets into your head, it never leaves; these dark retellings may not be your cup of tea, but the great beating heart of her work can't be denied.
My personal favorite from this collection is "The Erl-King", but every story has its moments of glory, and they're all wicked, sordid, lusty fun....more
As much as this didn't land the way I hoped it would, there really aren't any other authors out there translating the feel of a slasher movie into t As much as this didn't land the way I hoped it would, there really aren't any other authors out there translating the feel of a slasher movie into the written word the way SGJ does. It's a solid, quick read, with his unique narrative voice -- I just wanted a bit MORE out of it....more
A taut, merciless story that isn't quite as much about the who or how as it is about the why, and how we get there. And for a book that isn't very lonA taut, merciless story that isn't quite as much about the who or how as it is about the why, and how we get there. And for a book that isn't very long, Tokarczuk fits in absolutely massive themes: man's relationship to the natural world, is there such a thing as justice, what is owed the dead.
Not an easy read, for many reasons, but a beautiful, heartbreaking one. ...more
Seeing this on my Kindle was such a delight! I thought it wasn't being released until December.
This is a great continuation of where the first book lSeeing this on my Kindle was such a delight! I thought it wasn't being released until December.
This is a great continuation of where the first book left off -- Vor and Faraine at odds, the darkness around Mythanar deepening -- and the stakes are accordingly raised. I really liked how Faraine, while remaining a non-combatant, was able to find her strength and commit to helping the trolde, even as she's their semi-prisoner.
Vor's ambivalence and longing for Faraine are so well done, too; he has EXCELLENT reason to be furious and resentful, because Faraine was part of a manipulation (however unwillingly), and his coming to terms with that betrayal and his growing love are just SO delicious. I love a man who pines and doubts himself, what can I say?
There's a lot of great duty vs love conflict here, and the writing is clear and easily-immersive as always. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, but I'm always VERY worried about the cost that Vor and Faraine will have to pay, after their decisions at the end of the book......more
Apparently this is my year to read mermaid-based fiction! This is the fourth or fifth book so far that I've read, and I'm sure there are more in my fuApparently this is my year to read mermaid-based fiction! This is the fourth or fifth book so far that I've read, and I'm sure there are more in my future.
Fathomless Depths is an interesting take on a human-mermaid -- or in this can, merman -- romance. Celeste and Fugan are instantly attracted to each other, but luckily in their world there doesn't seem to be much prejudice surrounding interspecies romance, so they're free to explore their growing interest without being hounded or ostracized. There are still obstacles, but it's a very sweet beginning, and it was refreshing to have the romance be so straightforward.
The plot itself has a nice shift -- the initial situation that brings Celeste and Fugan together is actually resolved quite quickly, but the big conflict of the novel takes over around the 40% mark. I don't want to spoil it, since it was a bit unexpected and I think it's better to go in blind, but it added a good bit of tension to Celeste and Fugan's relationship.
Magic has an odd place in this universe; I'm used to seeing it as something people strive for, or are able to use innately, which definitely holds true here -- but it has an enormous price, and so the ways of using it safely are few and far between. A nice touch, for sure!
I wish the romance had been given a bit more direct focus; it felt a bit sudden that Celeste and Fugan jumped from "hey let's give this a try" to "I love you", but it's only because I enjoyed them that I wanted to see more, rather than have timeskips over large parts of their relationship. A small quibble, to be sure!
The climactic sea battle is pretty darn awesome -- a true swashbuckling adventure, in the best possible way. And the ending is set up for many more stories in this universe, including more about Celeste and Fugan, who had something very interesting teased about their relationship and magic. I hope the author decides to explore that more in later books! ...more
A taut, energetic novel that pulls absolutely no punches. The almost-apocalyptic city center of Toronto is beautifully rendered -- dangerous, vivid, aA taut, energetic novel that pulls absolutely no punches. The almost-apocalyptic city center of Toronto is beautifully rendered -- dangerous, vivid, and bursting with a community struggling to be self-sufficient after being abandoned by those with money and power. I can't believe this book is almost twenty years old, because it feels like it's speaking to our current moment, and how the lives of those in marginalized communities (especially Brown and Black lives) are devalued, used, and manipulated.
Really, this book accomplishes so much in spite of its fairly short length; we have Ti-Jeanne's struggles with new motherhood, how torn she is over her continuing feelings for Tony, her complicated family relationships, how hard it is just to survive day-to-day, and the magical legacy that keeps calling out for her -- let alone the challenges she has to face when the organ traffickers strike close to home.
Such a big, thoughtful, unflinching novel. ...more
I read...a lot of human/monster romance. Aliens, vampires, dragon-shifters, demons, GIVE ME ALL OF IT (strangely, I can't remember ever reading a romaI read...a lot of human/monster romance. Aliens, vampires, dragon-shifters, demons, GIVE ME ALL OF IT (strangely, I can't remember ever reading a romance with werewolves, so I guess I missed the zeitgeist on that!). But -- for most of the straight romances, the monster is the man, not the woman, which meant I was really excited to check out Called to the Deep, since Lorelei is the monster!
Well, for a given value of monster.
It's a very tidy, competently-written book -- I'm impressed at how well the author was able to create the setting, and how warm all of the character interactions felt. The actual plot is slow to start, the monster aspects only kicking in around the 40% mark, which may be a turn-off to some readers. I'm not sure if the slow start was deliberate, but it does give plenty of time for us to get to know the characters and to get invested in their lives. Even the minor characters are given a few moments to stand out and gain individuality -- a very nice touch!
I wish the book had leaned more into the horror aspects of what having a siren around means; granted that's not the point of this book, but Lorelei...craves human flesh. That's a big deal!
(view spoiler)[And I have to say...I sympathize with Carrie, even though she's obnoxious and entitled and invasive: Lorelei literally ate part of her, while she was driven mad with her cravings, and now she's permanently disabled, on top of traumatized. I wish more time had been given to exploring how messed-up that would leave both Carrie and Lorelei (who just ate! Part of a person!).
Additionally, I feel like the fact that...they captured a sapient creature to essentially keep captive and experiment on -- though the narration makes it clear they're doing it to figure out what's making the sirens crave human flesh as much as general research -- is glossed over. Again, not what the book is about, and Lorelei has some real reservations, but I hope it's explored a bit more in the next book. (hide spoiler)]
It's a solid, fun book, and a quick read with some interesting themes! ...more
Apparently I'm on a rereading kick, which is not the worst thing when the weather turns chilly here in New England!
I 3.5 stars, rounding up to four.
Apparently I'm on a rereading kick, which is not the worst thing when the weather turns chilly here in New England!
I remember picking this book up on a whim many, many years ago -- probably right when it was first published -- and adoring its vision, while being disappointed at how empty the characters felt, and how the most interesting, emotionally evocative (to me, that is -- it's all subjective!) plot threads dissolved before they were fully developed. That impression hasn't changed, years later, but I'm still in awe of what Bear was trying to accomplish. He tends more toward hard scifi (such as in The Way series), and here it feels like he was aiming for a more new-weird/soft scifi approach. A reach, an ambitious one, but not totally successful.
I'm not trying to tear Bear apart; this book is full of fascinating ideas, and absolutely stunning images (the Necklace Worlds of the Shen, the Kalpa itself) -- they just aren't given enough room to fully breathe, and none of the characters are formed enough to make them feel real. The love story at the crux of the novel is barely a whisper or implication, and the climax of the plot feels rushed and like it comes out of nowhere. Still, the vision is strong enough to overcome most of these issues, and other readers may not feel them as strongly as I did.
An inspiring, if flawed take, on the end of history. ...more
Such an odd, flourishing book; I hadn't read it in years but suddenly had a craving, and now here I am.
It's not an easy book -- "opaque" is the best Such an odd, flourishing book; I hadn't read it in years but suddenly had a craving, and now here I am.
It's not an easy book -- "opaque" is the best word I have to describe it -- but that's where it gains a lot of its power. We glimpse the worlds that came before this one, the tawdry, callous reality the characters inhabit, and we see familiar shapes and figures, but the Washington DC where the story takes place is a lush, overgrown nightmare straight out of Bosch, with its viral rains, the beast-men slouching through the woods, and the hungry flowers lurking along every path.
This is one of those formative texts for me, that said "hey, if you commit, you can do whatever you want with a story", and it teaches me something new every time I come back to it. The use of archaic or obscure language sticks out even more on a reread -- I want to ask Elizabeth Hand if she was inspired by Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, which plays with language in much the same way, and also crosses back and forth between science fiction and fantasy as it dallies at the end of the world -- but that just adds to the book's atmosphere. This is not our world. It belongs to the dead.
Such a beautiful, sharp-toothed homage to the silver screen! I haven't read any of Vo's work before, but this was so engaging and gorgeous that I'll dSuch a beautiful, sharp-toothed homage to the silver screen! I haven't read any of Vo's work before, but this was so engaging and gorgeous that I'll definitely be checking out the rest of her books!
It dances so gracefully along multiple lines -- racism in Hollywood, homophobia in Hollywood, the price of fame, what you'll do to succeed and what you leave behind in the process -- all while blending fantasy and horror with a particularly deft touch. It reminds me, very powerfully, of Clive Barker's Coldheart Canyon, which also deals with -- well, the deals one has to make in order to reach the top, to be the most admired, the most beautiful, the most immortal. Siren Queen is a tighter narrative, the worst of its horror implied (and therefore all the more terrifying), but both books wrestle with similar themes.
The characters, however briefly they show up, are vivid and so very alive on the page; Luli, of course, stands out most of all, both for her determination and her willingness to pay the price of not bowing to what the studio wants. She charts her own course, and though she becomes a monster along the way, it's by her choice, and it becomes her glory.
Okay then, THIS was quite a pleasant surprise! I scooped it up after seeing an ad on Instagram (I am not immune to marketing), 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Okay then, THIS was quite a pleasant surprise! I scooped it up after seeing an ad on Instagram (I am not immune to marketing), because I can never get enough fey/human romances, and what a treat!
Faraine and Vor are excellent characters individually, with compelling story arcs outside of the romance, which then deepens the actual arc when it arrives. As the oldest princess -- but one who's useless in her father's eyes for various reasons -- Faraine is resigned to a quiet life shut away from the world, and as a king with a precarious position and threats encroaching on all sides, Vor will do anything to protect his kingdom.
It helps that they're both GOOD people, doing their best to be kind and to care for those they love, so we root for them from the beginning.
There are tantalizing bits of worldbuilding throughout -- I'm a bit confused about the opening attack, but that's mainly because I started reading when I was tired, so on a reread I'll pick up what I need -- and the different layers of magic and social customs make each culture feel unique. I am REALLY fascinated by the horrors Vor's people are experiencing -- a disease turning them to actual living stone, monsters crawling out of the depths of the earth, possession?! FANTASTIC.
I also really loved Faraine's relationship with the other women in her life. All too often in romance novels, I hit this weird internalized misogyny and it just completely ruins the experience for me. Here, however, Faraine has warm (if distant, for plot reasons) relationships with her sisters, and a complex relationship with Lady Lyria that adds a lot of depth to both characters. It's just nice to see a romance heroine have positive relationships outside of her love story.
The writing itself is very clear and readable. That's not faint praise at all -- it means I was able to slip easily into the world, and see everything in an almost cinematic way. The tension between Faraine and Vor is a delicious slowburn, with legitimate obstacles in its path, and the cliffhanger ending left me desperate to know what's coming next.
And the next book isn't out till December! ARGH. It's an instant pre-order for me, though!...more
A solid little romance novella, which -- while short on characterization -- still had some really strong elements!
1. Love that there's a female frienA solid little romance novella, which -- while short on characterization -- still had some really strong elements!
1. Love that there's a female friendship that has no shades of jealousy or competition; obviously it's not the focus of the novel, but it's nice to see Wren and Ava supporting each other, laughing, and checking in to make sure the other is safe/having fun.
2. Consent!! All over the place! Wren gets into some intense sexual situations but it was a pleasant surprise to see her asking for what she wanted (encouraged to do so!), given the option at all times to call a pause or a total halt (again, encouraged to do so!), and to initiate sexual contact. I did find it a bit ridiculous that the smut was stopped so everyone could pull out their STI test results (not joking), but I do appreciate that there WAS a discussion about what everyone was comfortable with.
3. I missed that this book was tagged as LGBTQIA, so when the guys got intimate with each other, it was a bit of a surprise, but it made total sense (you're telling me, that in all the reverse harem romance novels in the world, the dudes NEVER had sex with each other?). They were affectionate, comfortable, and sweet, while also indulging their various kinks. I also appreciated that Wren saw it happening, went "oh that's hot", and moved on. Ava being into women, and it being treated as just as normal and unremarkable as Wren being into dudes, was a good touch.
That said, it is fairly standard romance (the dudes have a DARK PAST, they are PROTECTORS, Wren is either giggling or crying in most of her scenes), and Wren's ex is a caricature. I know it's escapism, so I just rolled my eyes with a smile and kept reading.
It's candy for my brain, but well-written and fun. Delicious! ...more
It's interesting how little actually happens in this novel, in terms of large, evocative events. Certainly there's a lot of introspection, a lot of chIt's interesting how little actually happens in this novel, in terms of large, evocative events. Certainly there's a lot of introspection, a lot of character study, but really it's just people talking to each other, and thinking about what they said, and then thinking about each other. As quiet as it is, there's a clear momentum to the book, and it ended up being a very quick read for me.
The writing itself is quite good; I expected to get tripped up by the lack of quotation marks (I have to admit, these stylistic choices that show up in litfic often just annoy me; style over substance, form over function, etc), but the story flowed so naturally I stopped noticing them after a while. There are some BANGER lines throughout, though the majority of the story is very sparse, more cinematic than anything else. I have to wonder -- was that a conscious choice? To make it as cinematic and clear as possible?
In any case, it's a fine novel, and a thoughtful one. ...more
Bethany Bee
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