Guess what? I've finally watched season one of The Expanse.* You know, about the same time as I finished book four of the series. Which was, like all its predecessors, a really enjoyable ride.
Book Review: The Tiger's Daughter
I saw a lot of buzz for this one, especially as it centered on a f/f relationship set in an Asian-inspired setting. Such things are rare in fantasy, so I decided to have a go. The results were...mixed.
Book Review: It Devours!
If you enjoy strange stories and stories with a bizarre, sometimes absurdist sense of humor, you'd better be listening to the Welcome to Night Vale podcast. And if podcasts aren't your thing, then you had better be reading the books.
Book Review: Words of Radiance
I've been putting Words of Radiance off because I wanted to get closer to the release of Oathbringer, the third Stormlight Archive book which released in November. Also it's huge and rather intimidating. But I finally read it in October and discovered that I enjoyed it much more than The Way of Kings.
Book Review: Provenence
This one kinda snuck up on me, seeing how I only recently finished the Imperial Radch series. I was able to go almost directly into Provenance, which is set in the same universe although not in the Radch itself. It's a very different animal, but it still bears Leckie's indelible stamp.
Book Review: An Unkindness of Magicians
The Harry Potter books were how I realized I love fantasy, and Lev Grossman's The Magicians remains one of my favorite novels to this day, a grown-up version that was released while I was in college. So the blurb of An Unkindness of Magicians was immediately appealing to me.
Book Review: Ancillary Mercy
So Ancillary Mercy did...not quite go where I was expecting. But I still loved it, and it's an excellent conclusion to a strong, memorable series.
Policy for Soliciting Book Reviews
I am currently open to receiving solicited advance reading copies (ARCs) and review copies of book. My preferred genres are science fiction and fantasy, though I will read almost anything with a speculative element. Please do not contact me for thrillers, mysteries, romance, etc. unless the book contains a speculative element.
Book Review: Dark Run
When you find yourself consistently picking up the same book every time you browse the shelves at your bookstore, eventually you buy it. This is the rule of the universe that I've just made up, and also why I ended up purchasing Dark Run, a fun space opera romp.
Book Review: Ancillary Sword
Ancillary Sword is one of those rare books that's very different from its predecessor and yet still an utterly enjoyable sequel - in fact, I think I might've enjoyed it more than Ancillary Justice.
Book Review: Godsgrave
Fun story: in a roundabout way, I managed to acquire a copy of Godsgrave before its release. A friend from college also reviews books (though in a more official capacity for an actual publication), and she received a review copy in the mail. She decided to give this away to any of her friends who wanted it. Flash forward a week, and a lovely signed edition of Godsgrave showed up in my mail.
Book Review: The Wall of Storms
This week, we're revisiting the islands of Dara and Ken Liu's Dandelion Dynasty series, because I finally tracked down a copy of The Wall of Storms.
Book Review: The Stone Sky
I missed posting a review last week because I knew I wanted to review The Stone Sky next. But I've been struggling to find the right words to express how I feel about this book. What follows will inevitably be inadequate, but I'm going to try. I think this book should be taught in schools across America.
Book Review: Ancillary Justice
Man, this year and last year have really re-ignited my love of science fiction. Prior to last year, it'd been years since I read any new scifi other than Dune books. But lately I've been fortunate to read books like Ancillary Justice.
Book Review: The Unholy Consult
UGH CLIFFHANGERS THOUGH. I don't normally do this because I like to respect people who haven't read the books yet, but this review is going to have to be spoilery to properly discuss the events of The Unholy Consult. So fair warning: here be spoilers!
Book Review: Winter Tide
I'm a big fan of the Lovecraftian mythos; I enjoy the overarching theme of outsiders and ethereal beings and creeping horrors that would consume our planet. But Lovecraft's work is loaded with racism and sexism, so reading his stories can be a revolting experience at times. Enter Winter Tide, a lovely take on the Lovecraftian mythos from the point of view of the "monsters" which tackles that racism and sexism head-on.
Book Review: Abaddon's Gate
Onward, friends! I'm continuing to make my way through the world of The Expanse, and that means I recently finished book three, Abaddon's Gate - a welcome shift toward a larger world.
Book Review: The Management Style of the Supreme Beings
I last read Tom Holt several years ago, when a few of his novels were published in omnibuses. I enjoyed them, but they didn't strike me as anything exceptional, so he fell off my radar. But when I saw The Management Style of the Supreme Beings in the store and found myself laughing at its ridiculously on-point cover (even before I read the blurb), I knew I had to read it.
The 2017 Hugo Award Nominees
The Hugos are almost here! This year for the first time, I made a point of reading all the nominees for Best Novel. They're a pretty impressive bunch, running the gamut from insanely ambitious science fiction to beautiful, nuanced character studies to expansive and detailed worlds.
Book Review: All the Birds in the Sky
Normally I wouldn't pick up a book like All the Birds in the Sky. Witches aren't normally my cup of tea, nor are contemporary fantasies. But I was hell-bent on reading all the Hugo Award nominees this year (AND this book won the Nebula and Locus awards already), so I rolled the dice and bought it.