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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Ben Aaronovitch: Foxglove Summer (2014)
When two young girls go missing in rural Herefordshire, police constable and wizard-in-training Peter Grant is sent out of London …
Emma Donoghue is a guaranteed good read.
What set this one apart for me is
- it had the type of characters you don't see many stories about, and
- the two main characters aren't that nice, but you wind up liking them anyway.
I was almost inclined not to read this because the fairyland our human heroine is navigating is not a fun place to be.
But this is a good story.
"Iron Druid Atticus O'Sullivan, hero of Kevin Hearne's epic New York Times bestselling urban fantasy …
Have I mentioned the talking dog in this series? We get a second talking dog!
The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But …
It is great to be back in the world of the First Law Trilogy.
There's a good chance that everything is going to turn out awful. But I think I'll at least try book #2.
It's sad that this series is finished. But it is a satisfying ending.
Kind of like what would happen if Jack Reacher wound up in an urban fantasy problem.
A satisfying fast-paced sci-fi action story.
If Mr. Morgan chooses to write more stories in this world, I'll be there for them.
If you like fantasy that is so bleak it makes Game of Thrones seem cheerful, this is for you.
"Iron Druid Atticus O'Sullivan, hero of Kevin Hearne's epic New York Times bestselling urban fantasy …
Have I mentioned the talking dog in this series? We get a second talking dog!
Good goofy fun and set in the world of high pressure modern kitchens without anyone as annoying as that Ramsay guy.
In the distant future, Surplus arrives in China dressed as a Mongolian shaman, leading a …
I love Darger and Surplus.
If you like a weird post-post-apocalyptic future like out Gene Wolfe's [b:The Shadow of the Torturer|60211|The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun, #1)|Gene Wolfe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329650008l/60211.SX50.jpg|762497], and you like lovable rogue conmen, you have to read Swanwick's Darger and Surplus stories.
A fun read where you can feel confident that some surprises are in store but nothing truly awful will happen.
This was fun.
If you enjoy gentle humour, fantasy, and foreign culture, the chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, are rewarding.
But I have to admit that I was sad to learn that Barry Hughart had intended to write seven books, not only three, in the series, but had a falling out with his publishers. And now he's gone, so we'll never get more.
If you're a Yoon Ha Lee fan, you don't need my review to know you have to read this.
If you're a fan of modern science fiction, you have to read Yoon Ha Lee and you should probably start with [b:Ninefox Gambit|26118426|Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446557461l/26118426.SY75.jpg|46065520].