An avid sci-fi and fantasy reader who sometimes does historical fiction or even mainstream.
You might notice that most of my reviews are 5 stars. That's because if I start reading a book that doesn't engage me, I stop reading it. Life is too short. I've realized that it's not fair to review a book I haven't read and nobody really needs to hear why I didn't get into a book especially when they might like it.
My goals with reviews are to be brief and give other potential readers an idea of why they might like the book. I leave it to the marketing people and other reviewers to describe the plots.
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This was kind of like a light episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have some logical issues with the ending, but I guess the answer would be "it's magic".
This was kind of like a light episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have some logical issues with the ending, but I guess the answer would be "it's magic".
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed …
If you're into the Narnia books, [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians #1)|Lev Grossman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313772941s/6101718.jpg|6278977], [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making|9591398|The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1)|Catherynne M. Valente|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179691s/9591398.jpg|6749837], [b:Wildwood|10431447|Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #1)|Colin Meloy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393683769s/10431447.jpg|12905469] or any of the other stories of children who find themselves in magical lands, this is a must read.
This story is also thought provoking on living with abuse.
If you're into the Narnia books, [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians #1)|Lev Grossman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313772941s/6101718.jpg|6278977], [b:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making|9591398|The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1)|Catherynne M. Valente|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179691s/9591398.jpg|6749837], [b:Wildwood|10431447|Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #1)|Colin Meloy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393683769s/10431447.jpg|12905469] or any of the other stories of children who find themselves in magical lands, this is a must read.
This story is also thought provoking on living with abuse.
"New Arcadia is a city-sized oil rig off the coast of the Canadian Maritimes, now …
I really like Madeline Ashby's books and was hooked on this one from the first page.
For some reason, I thought this one was a sequel to [b:vN|13033939|vN (The Machine Dynasty, #1)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327673811s/13033939.jpg|18197447] and [b:iD|16127258|iD (The Machine Dynasty, #2)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362599589s/16127258.jpg|21951359], but it is not.
There are no talking rodents, but how much I liked the main character made up for that.
Oh, and bonus, it has Newfoundlanders. I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi with Newfs.
I really like Madeline Ashby's books and was hooked on this one from the first page.
For some reason, I thought this one was a sequel to [b:vN|13033939|vN (The Machine Dynasty, #1)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327673811s/13033939.jpg|18197447] and [b:iD|16127258|iD (The Machine Dynasty, #2)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362599589s/16127258.jpg|21951359], but it is not.
There are no talking rodents, but how much I liked the main character made up for that.
Oh, and bonus, it has Newfoundlanders. I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi with Newfs.
"New Arcadia is a city-sized oil rig off the coast of the Canadian Maritimes, now …
I really like Madeline Ashby's books and was hooked on this one from the first page.
For some reason, I thought this one was a sequel to [b:vN|13033939|vN (The Machine Dynasty, #1)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327673811s/13033939.jpg|18197447] and [b:iD|16127258|iD (The Machine Dynasty, #2)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362599589s/16127258.jpg|21951359], but it is not.
There are no talking rodents, but how much I liked the main character made up for that.
Oh, and bonus, it has Newfoundlanders. I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi with Newfs.
I really like Madeline Ashby's books and was hooked on this one from the first page.
For some reason, I thought this one was a sequel to [b:vN|13033939|vN (The Machine Dynasty, #1)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327673811s/13033939.jpg|18197447] and [b:iD|16127258|iD (The Machine Dynasty, #2)|Madeline Ashby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362599589s/16127258.jpg|21951359], but it is not.
There are no talking rodents, but how much I liked the main character made up for that.
Oh, and bonus, it has Newfoundlanders. I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi with Newfs.
A good adventure.
But it does lose a rating star because the talking cat is seriously under-utilized.
I fear there will be a long wait for the next volume in the series. It is good that I am patient.
I didn't enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed books in other series by Garth Nix, but it went quickly and I like his other stuff so much that I'll read the next one.
No talking animals of any kind so far.
If you haven't tried Nix, I recommend starting with:
- [b:Sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293655399s/518848.jpg|3312237],
- [b:Mister Monday|47613|Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #1)|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298425074s/47613.jpg|1243291], or
- [b:Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Three Adventures|12479311|Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Three Adventures|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328658168s/12479311.jpg|17463822]
I didn't enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed books in other series by Garth Nix, but it went quickly and I like his other stuff so much that I'll read the next one.
No talking animals of any kind so far.
If you haven't tried Nix, I recommend starting with:
- [b:Sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293655399s/518848.jpg|3312237],
- [b:Mister Monday|47613|Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #1)|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298425074s/47613.jpg|1243291], or
- [b:Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Three Adventures|12479311|Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Three Adventures|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328658168s/12479311.jpg|17463822]
For me, a totally fun read about a princess who does not want to be rescued from a dragon.
If you like mean, nasty dragons, there are some in this book, but the dragon that owns the princess is really pretty nice. So this might not be for you.
No talking rats, but maybe in the sequel?
A retelling of "Snow White" set in the "gritty gun-slinging west." Her parents were a …
Ms Valente writes beautifully. I love her Fairyland books.
But this story is bleak and that's not what I'm looking for.
Ms Valente writes beautifully. I love her Fairyland books.
But this story is bleak and that's not what I'm looking for.
"Reminiscent of the edgy, offbeat humor of Chris Moore and Matt Ruff, the first entry …
Magical beings, but no talking cats or talking rodents.
Still, kind of fun.
Reminiscent of [a:Christopher Moore|16218|Christopher Moore|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1460399391p2/16218.jpg].
"The Laundry Files' 'fast-paced blend of espionage thrills, mundane office comedy and Lovecraftian horror' (SFX) continues as Hugo Award-winning author …
"Reminiscent of the edgy, offbeat humor of Chris Moore and Matt Ruff, the first entry …
Magical beings, but no talking cats or talking rodents.
Still, kind of fun.
Reminiscent of [a:Christopher Moore|16218|Christopher Moore|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1460399391p2/16218.jpg].
"Steampunk novel set in Seattle in the late 19th century--an era when the town was …
I'm usually a little put off by westerns and a little put off by steam punk, but I really enjoyed this. I hope Ms Bear chooses to tell us more about the life of Karen Memery.
I'm usually a little put off by westerns and a little put off by steam punk, but I really enjoyed this. I hope Ms Bear chooses to tell us more about the life of Karen Memery.
I'm usually a little put off by westerns and a little put off by steam punk, but I really enjoyed this. I hope Ms Bear chooses to tell us more about the life of Karen Memery.
I'm usually a little put off by westerns and a little put off by steam punk, but I really enjoyed this. I hope Ms Bear chooses to tell us more about the life of Karen Memery.
Prue McKeel's life is ordinary. At least until her baby brother is abducted by a …
I've been reading some fine books lately, but I've been thinking I really need something with a talking cat or talking rat.
This book gives us a magical forest with talking coyotes early on and then talking birds.
But I was thinking about giving up on it, when, bam, there's a talking rat!
Lifted the story right up. And the sample at the end indicates the talking rat is in the sequel, [b:Under Wildwood|10353049|Under Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #2)|Colin Meloy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334331844s/10353049.jpg|15255958]. So I'll be reading that soon.
I've been reading some fine books lately, but I've been thinking I really need something with a talking cat or talking rat.
This book gives us a magical forest with talking coyotes early on and then talking birds.
But I was thinking about giving up on it, when, bam, there's a talking rat!
Lifted the story right up. And the sample at the end indicates the talking rat is in the sequel, [b:Under Wildwood|10353049|Under Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #2)|Colin Meloy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334331844s/10353049.jpg|15255958]. So I'll be reading that soon.
A psychology expert offers a tool kit for thinking more clearly and making better decisions, …
No talking cats or talking rats.
In fact, no story at all.
It's non-fiction! Essays to help us think better and make better decisions. Stuff about cognitive biases and understanding statistics.
No need to follow math.
I mostly read it because I felt like sometimes I should try to improve myself a bit. Maybe I did. But one of the critical lessons is that we all have cognitive biases and think that they only affect other people.
No talking cats or talking rats.
In fact, no story at all.
It's non-fiction! Essays to help us think better and make better decisions. Stuff about cognitive biases and understanding statistics.
No need to follow math.
I mostly read it because I felt like sometimes I should try to improve myself a bit. Maybe I did. But one of the critical lessons is that we all have cognitive biases and think that they only affect other people.
