This is a pretty quick and engaging read. The writing flows nicely, making it easy to breeze through. I really liked the beginning, and the premise, bThis is a pretty quick and engaging read. The writing flows nicely, making it easy to breeze through. I really liked the beginning, and the premise, but later on the plot lost me. I couldn’t really connect with the main character either. Entertaining, but not James’ best work. I much preferred The Quiet at the End of the World....more
I read The Test by Sylvain Neuvel while walking from the library to the cinema. I felt dizzy by the end because I barely looked up and suddenly the flI read The Test by Sylvain Neuvel while walking from the library to the cinema. I felt dizzy by the end because I barely looked up and suddenly the floor was moving. Sorry to the people who had to dodge around me, but once I'd started I couldn't stop reading.
This is a quick read, only a 100 pages. It’s a thought-provoking look at a dystopian UK complete with appalling immigration policies. (Well, more appalling.)
This novella feels a bit like watching a Black Mirror episode, only worse. If that’s your sort of thing, you’ll like it....more
Claire North is undeniably clever. Her concepts are always intriguing, and her premises so very unique. North's novels often make me, a wanna3.5 Stars
Claire North is undeniably clever. Her concepts are always intriguing, and her premises so very unique. North's novels often make me, a wannabe writer, think, "How did she come up with that?" and "Why can't I come up with something as clever as that?"
Despite that, I have to admit that North's books don't always work for me. While The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is one of my favourite books, I did not finish The End of the Day. I loved the premise, but didn't gel with the execution. I'm not mad about that. It happens.
The Sudden Appearance of Hope, a story about a woman who has a rare condition that makes her instantly forgettable to everyone she meets, ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the author's comments on politics and social issues, and I especially loved the way she criticises social media in this book, but the pacing is slow in places, and the story never managed to fully grip me.
Overall, it's definitely an enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of North, and while I didn't love it, I still found it to be an interesting and worthwhile read....more
I really enjoyed the beginning. "Here is the boy, drowning." A fantastic first sentence. I was pulled right into the story. Unfortunately Mo2.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the beginning. "Here is the boy, drowning." A fantastic first sentence. I was pulled right into the story. Unfortunately More Than This is far too long for what it offers, and I quickly grew bored as the storyline plodded along.
The mystery strung me along, but the reveals felt unsatisfying, and in the end there weren't enough answers for me to do more than blink, mildly confused and mostly frustrated.
Yes, I can see the themes Ness explores in this YA novel, and they're certainly interesting, but while I don't mind an open ending, More Than This just didn't work for me.
Overall, it's a well-written, slightly quirky and definitely bizarre science fiction (and dystopian) novel with a lovely message at its core. If you like Ness' writing, give this one a try....more
Solid popcorn fun. The time travel is a bit wonky, the prose mediocre, and the characters quite flat, but Lost in Time is a quick, fairly enjoyable reSolid popcorn fun. The time travel is a bit wonky, the prose mediocre, and the characters quite flat, but Lost in Time is a quick, fairly enjoyable read with short and snappy chapters....more
The Outside offers some great ideas that I found innovative and clever. Especially that the gods and angels have ascended from quantum comput3.5 stars
The Outside offers some great ideas that I found innovative and clever. Especially that the gods and angels have ascended from quantum computers and achieved sentience. (Actually, The Outside made me want to read more 'the gods are actually AI' books!)
I found the writing clunky in places, and never really connected with the characters, although I very much enjoyed seeing the story unfold through the eyes of a neurodiverse protagonist.
I would recommend The Outside to anyone who finds the blurb interesting, but it wasn't a book that I ended up loving....more
Hm. Olivia and hyped books, rarely do they go well together, and yet I keep picking them up.
I enjoyed Wranglestone but didn't love it despite the postHm. Olivia and hyped books, rarely do they go well together, and yet I keep picking them up.
I enjoyed Wranglestone but didn't love it despite the post-apocalyptic setting and the queer romance.
A strong opening paired with a great premise. A gripping voice, written in accessible prose. But the rest felt rushed and unfinished. The world-building is shaky at best. The romance is too swift, and the characters are minimally developed, one-dimensional at times.
An entertaining read for sure but nothing more....more
There's something about St. John Mandel's books that just works for me. Her writing is both riveting and inspiring and somehow feels comforting.
In SeaThere's something about St. John Mandel's books that just works for me. Her writing is both riveting and inspiring and somehow feels comforting.
In Sea of Tranquillity, she takes us on a trip through time and space and, typical for Mandel, leaps back and forth, but I never felt lost. The time travel is done in a realistic way and feels plausible throughout.
The characters are incredibly well-developed, and every plotline left a lasting impact on me.
Brilliant on paper, and I'd hoped I would enjoy this as much as Dark Matter. Unfortunately, I didn't love it.
The positive: Recursion is fast-paced, anBrilliant on paper, and I'd hoped I would enjoy this as much as Dark Matter. Unfortunately, I didn't love it.
The positive: Recursion is fast-paced, and I quite literally couldn't put it down. I love stories about time travel and alternative timelines, and boy there are a lot of alternative timelines in this book.
Why it didn't work for me: I didn't care as much for the love story as I probably should have, and after a while lost interest in trying to keep up with the convoluted and repetitive timelines....more
Lately I've found it hard to read. Have you seen the world? Bring me a tub of ice cream and let me weep.
Books require focus, a lot more than mindlesslLately I've found it hard to read. Have you seen the world? Bring me a tub of ice cream and let me weep.
Books require focus, a lot more than mindlessly watching Netflix (or worse TikTok), and at the same time they allow the mind to wander (unlike video games.)
I've opened dozens of books in 2022, read a few paragraphs, closed them again.
Along came Scalzi. Finally. I'm not kidding when I say I was really bloody grateful for this book!
I ended up reading the Kaiju Preservation Society in one afternoon. I didn't want to put it down. It was far too much fun. It made me forget about the world, my responsibilities, and I felt like a little kid watching a Godzilla movie at the cinema.
That's all you really need to know.
With his newest book Scalzi offers a vibrant world, dialogue filled with impeccable humour, giant beasts, alternate dimensions, and pages filled with light-hearted fun. The plot moves at a break-neck pace, the characters are authentic and likeable, and the villain is a total prick.
Overall, the Kaiju Preservation Society is silly entertainment much like a popcorn movie but in book-form. Filled with cultural references, and served with a dollop of genuine humour, this read is sure to bring some joy to a rainy afternoon....more
I received this book from the publisher in return for a review. All my reviews are honest!
Every Sky a Grave was my first read by Jay Posey, and I realI received this book from the publisher in return for a review. All my reviews are honest!
Every Sky a Grave was my first read by Jay Posey, and I really enjoyed it, despite the rather slow middle.
Posey is an incredibly skilled wordsmith. In fact, the prose is what I liked most about The Ascendance Series. It's descriptive and at times, it was like reading poetry. It's obvious that every word is chosen with care.
The Deep Language is such a clever idea. As a reader, the fact that language is essentially unlimited power in this world won me over.
Overall, the world building is intricate and creative, reminding me of the epic scope in Alastair Reynold's work (especially House of Suns). While Posey took great care in developing his setting throughout the first book, the world building takes a backseat in the second book. Every Star A Song is much more fast-paced - there is no slow middle - and almost the entire book is filled with action instead.
It definitely makes for an easier read.
The protagonist, Elyth, is a smart, knowledgeable and curious woman. She's intelligent and I quickly found myself rooting for her. She's fiercely independent, loyal at first but grows into her own during the first book.
In Every Star A Song, Elyth has to give up some of her independence and work together with a team to solve the mystery of the planet that has appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The supporting cast is made up of intriguing characters, and I enjoyed the dynamics among the rather uneasy companions.
I recommend The Ascendance Series to all science fiction fans who don't mind a touch of fantasy in their books....more
The Psychology of Time Travel plays around with (mostly) ethical questions surrounding time travel. It's an incredibly innovative take on the whole suThe Psychology of Time Travel plays around with (mostly) ethical questions surrounding time travel. It's an incredibly innovative take on the whole subject. What does time travel do to a person's mind? Does it change you? Will it affect your future? Your past? Can it make you ill or trigger a disorder?
It's a fascinating read with unique world building. Parts of it worked for me, others didn't. Overall, it never really came together for me, and I didn't connect with the characters or their relationships, but I did enjoy the experience of pondering all these questions, and I especially liked how Mascarenhas explored them through the lens of psychology....more
Look at that cover. Look at that precious fluffy tiger watching over its charge.
I must admit, I squealed when I received this book. The 3.5 - 4 Stars.
Look at that cover. Look at that precious fluffy tiger watching over its charge.
I must admit, I squealed when I received this book. The idea of Pounce, the nannybot, who has to decide whether to join the apocalypse or join the robot revolution made my heart melt.
Day Zero is told from the perspective of Pounce, an artificial intelligence. It reminded me somewhat of Rex, the bio-engineered dog in Tchaikovsky's Dogs of War.
It's a fast-paced action-filled science fiction novel and just like Dogs of War, it raises many philosophical and ethical questions: what makes us human? What's the meaning of free will? Is Pounce protecting Ezra because he genuinely wants to do so or is it his programming?
Loyalty is another important theme. At the centre of this story stands the relationship between Ezra and Pounce. The bond between these two characters is what makes this story truly stand out. Pounce's prime directive is to protect his charge, and he will do anything to keep Ezra safe.
Day Zero is a a short read and the language is fairly simple, making it appropriate for a teenage audience as well, and I recommend it to anyone who finds the premise enticing....more
Tchaikovsky is one of my 'will read anything written by them' authors, but I already know th3.5 - 4 Stars.
Received through Netgalley; thoughts my own.
Tchaikovsky is one of my 'will read anything written by them' authors, but I already know that I'll have to read this one a second time, and I'm hoping that I might even be able to give it 4 or 5 stars the second time around.
I didn't quite click with Shards of Earth, and I'm not sure if it's because I wasn't 100% in the mood for science fiction or if I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. I failed to emotionally connect to this book in the way I usually do with Tchaikovsky's characters.
I requested this book because 'ancient enemy' and 'old artefacts' are two of my favourite science fiction tropes. Then the cover, of course, I'm always a bit shallow.
Shards of Earth opens with a bang: Space. A invulnerable enemy. A war.
As usual, two of the major themes in Tchaikovsky's Shards of Earth are prejudice and conflict amongst different factions, and the need to come together and work together in order to defeat the current problem.
Tchaikovsky is great at both developing diverse and interesting characters as well as entire worlds and species. Idris is old, and he's tired because he doesn't sleep. Once crucial as an asset during the war, he's now a navigator. Solace is my favourite character in this book. She's basically a space Amazon. The entire crew is made up of interesting characters, but don't get too attached...
Despite its length, Shards of Earth is an addictive and easy read, well, easy once the groundwork is laid. The world is rather difficult to navigate at first, but the pacing is on point and before you know it, the pages are beginning to fly by.
Overall, Shards of Earth is a beautiful space opera with a meticulously detailed world filled with Tchaikovsky's vast imagination. The writing is straightforward, and the characters are a group to root for.
"Louise Carey's dystopian future is chillingly plausible." - Claire North.
That's the blurb on the cover, and Claire North is one of my favourite autho"Louise Carey's dystopian future is chillingly plausible." - Claire North.
That's the blurb on the cover, and Claire North is one of my favourite authors, which is why I wanted to review a copy of Inscape. As always I thank the publisher, Gollancz, for the opportunity.
This is Louise Carey's first solo book, and I must say, I hope she'll write more.
I wasn't sold at first. Especially the main character, Tanta, rubbed me the wrong way, mostly because it felt like she was incredibly meek and submissive. Her reaction to her mentor's praise made me cringe. I didn't think she could carry the story.
Turns out, this is all part of the plot. I can't say more without revealing too much, but I enjoyed Tanta's development a lot. Carey digs deep into developmental psychology, and the story is utterly fascinating because of that aspect alone.
The book deals with important themes such as loyalty and, more importantly, how to manipulate and abuse said loyalty in a world where corporations and money matter more than anything else. "You care about them, but they don't care about you."
But Inscape isn't just about Tatana, it's a page-turning cyberpunk thriller, painting a horrific future. Carey's prose is smooth and reads well. Despite a future dominated by tech, the author uses neither technobabble nor infodumps. The reader's knowledge develops alongside Tatana's, each page revealing another piece of the puzzle.
I really liked this book. The pacing is somewhat slower in the first half but quickly picks up, and the story is immersive with excellent action scenes, and I recommend Inscape to fans of Deus Ex and Cyberpunk, and books like Gibson's Neuromancer....more
This is the sequel to one of my favourite books: the brilliant and impactful Dogs of War. If you haven't read Dogs of War, what are you even doing herThis is the sequel to one of my favourite books: the brilliant and impactful Dogs of War. If you haven't read Dogs of War, what are you even doing here? Rectify that. Now. Yes, Bear Head stands on its own, but Dogs of War is so good it cannot be missed.
Now, Bear Head didn't quite work for me. It did for my gf though. She loved it.
My issue was mainly Trump. Warner Thompson is an antagonist that is so clearly modelled after Trump (and not subtly so) that I hated reading about him. That's probably not the book's fault. Definitely not the author's. Emotionally, Bear Head came at the wrong time for me.
The plot didn't wow me either. Although on paper it sounds great. Set decades after Dogs of War, Jimmy, a construction worker on Mars, smuggles and stores data in his head as a side-job (the things we do when we need money), but this time the data starts talking to him. At the same time, back on Earth, the book follows the story of Carole, a personal assistant for Warner Thompson.
Once again, Tchaikovsky explores a plethora of ethical questions surrounding bio-engineering and alterations of the mind/brain.
I received a copy from Netgalley and have been struggling with how to rate this book ever since. Maybe now that Trump is slowly fading from my memory, I should give this book a second read....more
I only read The Kif Strike Back because the previous book basically ended on a cliffhanger, and I wanted to finish the series.
Overall, it's a solid anI only read The Kif Strike Back because the previous book basically ended on a cliffhanger, and I wanted to finish the series.
Overall, it's a solid and enjoyable series, and I liked Cherryh's truly alien aliens. Emotionally, I failed to connect with the characters, and I never really cared for the outcome of the plot.
I will definitely pick up the Foreigner series even though Chanur ended up being not much more than a solid three star read....more
I'm a huge fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky, and he's one of my "will buy anything they've written" authors, but this one was just not for me. It's not bad, I'm a huge fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky, and he's one of my "will buy anything they've written" authors, but this one was just not for me. It's not bad, just didn't wow me, and I barely remember reading it, which is unusual for a Tchaikovsky book....more
The Pride of Chanur is my first Cherryh and I must say, I enjoyed myself a lot. I'm most impressed by Cherryh's aliens and their societies. They're trThe Pride of Chanur is my first Cherryh and I must say, I enjoyed myself a lot. I'm most impressed by Cherryh's aliens and their societies. They're truly alien, and have been rendered with care.
The Pride of Chanur combines space opera with hard science fiction and focuses on the ramification of first contact.
Female characters take centre stage, and Cherryh's prose flows beautifully.
Overall, I'd say this is a 3.5 stars, and I'm very interested in reading her Foreigner series after this one....more
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