Review: A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe

A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun read! A space opera with great (and growing) characters, magic, missing artifacts and powerful bad guys. Definitely reading book 2.

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Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version read by Simon Vance.

Boy, is the title ever appropriate. All the threads come together and we see more clearly just how everything fits together. Elisabeth grows and evolves, the plot threads come together well, and the book was a satisfactory finish to a very complex and involved story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy. Every book was well done.

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Review: The Mongoliad: Book One

The Mongoliad: Book One by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version read by one of my faves, Luke Daniels.

This wasn't at all what I expected. Pretty much straight historical, although granted I have no idea about the Mongols and he could be spinning lots of alt history and I'd have no idea. Not real magic or tech though, so... Still, an interesting story with his signature interweaving of multiple storylines.

I love his writing so I'll put up with straight historical if he writes it!

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Review: Amberlough

Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Did Not Finish. Too much sex and nothing much happening for the first 65 pages.

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Review: Quantum Lens

Quantum Lens by Douglas E. Richards
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had issues. Mostly about the one female character who gets used, although she's supposed to be as bright as the boys. And who is then expected to just forgive her treatment because, of course, it was for the 'greater good'.

Otherwise, lots of good sciency stuff which I always enjoy. Too bad about the above. Oh, also in several parts too much lecturing about politics.

I listened to the audio version, read by Marc Vietor who did an okay job.

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Review: Artificial Condition

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sooo much fun. Love the murderbot and her obsession with 'Sanctuary Moon'. Like her new friend too. :)

I listened to the audiobook read by Kevin R. Free, who does a great job, and gets the humor just right.

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Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook read by Simon Vance.

Tricksy, with lots of diversionary tactics, these books keep you reading and wondering just how things can possibly turn out well. The main character, Lisbeth, is a troubled young woman who has no idea how to back down. You come at her and she comes right back at you with all her strength, intelligence and ability.

Characters are interesting, flawed and complex. They interact in surprising ways and the plot is hard to predict.

Really enjoyed it and hope to read the last of the trilogy soon.

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Review: Hunting Party

Hunting Party by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed her series Vatta's War, so was looking forward to reading this. She's really good at depicting women in the military, and does a great job of getting the types of thinking that is required of anyone in charge of other people and their health and well being.

Hunting Party didn't disappoint in this regard. This is an older woman in this series, where the heroine in Vatta's War was young and new to the experiences. This time, this woman is seasoned and unhappy about having resigned her commission and missing all that went with it.

I enjoyed the characters and the different settings, although I confess I learned more about fox hunting that I really ever expected to, but as there was quite a bit of character development going on with it, I didn't mind all that much.

The younger characters were annoying at first but definitely grew through the adventures they endured.

If you like military sci fi, give this a try. It's quite different from most of the genre but all the better for that.

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Review: Deadhouse Landing

Deadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

hroughout the Malazan series, I moaned about how little of Dancer and even Kellanved we saw. So when Esslemont came out with this prequel series I was ready to grab it up. And I'm delighted I did. The two of them together are hilarious, and seeing them grow up together and Dancer's constant frustration with his little mage friend makes me grin.

Eager for the next book.

I listened to the audiobook read by John Banks who did a terrific job.


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Review: The Wrong Stars

The Wrong Stars by Tim Pratt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting sci fi with a strange alien race the humans call Liars. When the survivor of a goldilocks ship turns up unexpectedly with a piece of alien tech that could change life forever, things start to go badly wrong.

Quite well written, a plot that moves things along nicely, likeable characters, and distinctly inscrutable tech and aliens.

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Review: Brilliance

Brilliance by Marcus Sakey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nicely conceived alt history where children are born with greater mental abilities, exploring the consequences for the greater population. Well written, and compelling storyline.

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