Tag: book review
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Review: Silver Shark (Kinsmen #2) by Ilona Andrews
I enjoyed this Kinsmen tale much more than the first. While this book is a romance, it certainly doesn’t start out feeling that way. I’d even argue that this is a solid science-fiction story that just happens to include romantic elements as part of the plot. The world-building regarding Claire’s…
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Review: Midnight Riot (Rivers of London #1) by Ben Aaronovitch
I devoured this book so quickly, because it had me so absorbed, that I only took one note on my phone about it. “Great example of environment as character.” London itself comes alive in this combination urban fantasy and police procedural that the city is as much a character as…
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Review: Consequence (Dark Tyrant #2) by C.R. Langille
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased a hardcopy version of this book for full price. This book picks up immediately after the events of Canyon Shadows, but is easily read as a stand-alone. It immediately grabbed me and sucked me in, with events that are all…
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Review: Honor Reclaimed (HORNET #2) by Tonya Burrows
Disclaimer: I am acquaintances with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. With so many characters introduced in the first HORNET book, I was a bit bummed to realize that the hero of the second installment of this fun series was a brand-new teammate. However, Seth is…
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Review: Altered States of the Union edited by Glenn Hauman
Disclaimer: I am friends with some of the authors in this anthology; however, I purchased the hardcopy version of this book for full price. This was a fun collection of different story-telling styles that explored how events might have been altered in the history of the United States of America.…
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Review: Sapphire (Jewels Cafe #2) by Eva Delaney
I think this series is definitely less on the serious side and more on the absurdly ridiculous spectrum of the fantasy genre. Once again, this “reverse harem” actually means over-the-top and unbelievable wish fulfillment rather than real relationships. I honestly would have enjoyed this more without the sex, if it…
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Review: Amber (Jewels Cafe #1) by Mia Harlan
I checked out this series because I saw it recommended in another author’s mailing list. I’ve previously enjoyed other reverse harem series, so why not? It turns out I enjoy the conflict and drama that can accompany polyamorous relationships rather than the wish-fulfillment/escapism of one girl with a handful of…
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Review: Seasons (Tales of Valdemar #13) edited by Mercedes Lackey
Seasonal celebrations were the theme of this collection of tales set in the fantasy world of Valdemar, which acted less as glue holding the collection together and more as an awkward way to pretend all of these stories belonged together. Especially in the cases of the “continuing” stories that feature…
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Review: A Delicate Deception (Regency Impostors #3) by Cat Sebastian
As an author who experiences chronic anxiety, I identified perhaps too well with the character of Amelia in this Regency romance story. In her place, I’d happily retreat to the countryside and abandon all my triggers, but I also sympathized with her desire to stay part of her loved ones’…
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Review: Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Immortals After Dark #4) by Kresley Cole
I keep really enjoying these books and then knocking a star off my rating because the heroes REALLY need to learn about consent and boundaries. Coming to this paranormal romance series as a “modern” romance reader definitely makes certain scenes more cringe-worthy than sexy, but Cole continues to suck me…
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Review: SEAL of Honor (HORNET #1) by Tonya Burrows
Disclaimer: I am acquaintances with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. As a military spouse, I never really saw the appeal of romance fiction featuring a military (or former military) hero. I know too much about the realities of military life to have any desire to…
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Review: Navigating the Stars (Sentinels of the Galaxy #1) by Maria V. Snyder
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The premise of this book is an interesting conceit that reminds the reader that once Earth reaches the stars, it will be all of Earth that goes. This book still felt very “Western” despite the…
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Review: The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander
This story is an example of true alternate history done right. It’s a combination of events and conceits that shouldn’t work together, but absolutely do because of the talent of the author. It’s also a great example of how non-chronological storytelling is occasionally essential. I could have done with a…
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Review: The Armored Saint (Sacred Throne #1) by Myke Cole
I got pretty burned out on reading epic fantasy once I started paying attention to diversity within the pages, so I’m always thrilled to find an offering in the genre that bucks stereotype. Add a dash of steampunk and I’m hooked. Its easy to draw “Joan of Arc” comparisons to…
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Review: Thieves’ Honor (Wizards of London #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. I devoured this book so quickly, and with such enjoyment, that I forgot to take any notes for my review! Brinkley’s debut novel features romance, magic, and mystery set in historical London. She weaves together…
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Review: The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
I made it through the first quarter of this book before I realized that not much had really happened. Well, lots of things had “happened,” just not much of a plot. But I was intrigued by the world-building, so I decided to sit back and enjoy the story as more…
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Review: Wild Seed (Patternnist #1) by Octavia E. Butler
I devoured this novel on a travel day, starting in Baltimore and ending in Indianapolis. I enjoyed many separate elements of this book, from the two very different main characters and their interactions to the historical and scientific elements. Doro and Anyanwu are fantastic foils to each other. While their…
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Review: Strange Dogs (The Expanse #6.5) by James S.A. Corey
This novella is a beautiful vignette about early life on Laconia. It doesn’t answer many greater questions about the ecosystem of this world due to the limited point-of-view of the main character. But it answers quieter questions about how Duerte came to power and how he imposed his views on…
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Review: Wolfromance (Reluctant Necromancer #3) by Kaye Draper
I understand that authors are always warned not to “info-dump” to their readers, that they should include the information the reader needs to know naturally through the story. But there’s a downside to that, when so many things are going on that everyone EXCEPT the main character knows about. At…
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Review: Enlightened (Enlightenment #3) by Joanna Chambers
The finale to this trilogy does an excellent job of concluding plot threads from previous books on multiple levels. David and Murdo have grown as people and grown closer together, but some roadblocks (internal and external) still stand in the way of their happily every after. When both of them…