Ebook – Page 14 – transmission

icefalls?

Posted on December 30, 2015January 2, 2016 by Greig

Snow Crystal Trilogy

Sarah Morgan

This is a competent trilogy of romances set in remote ski resort, both in winter and summer. Individually they tell the story of the three brothers (two of whom are twins) who own the resort as they fall in love with various degrees of reluctance.
The best part about the books is the brothers’ crazy family.
The summer book is a bit weaker than the other two as it lacks a satisfying resolution to a key subplot. It gets and individual rating of C. The other two books share the collective rating of C+.

Rating: C+

Continue reading “icefalls?”

ambrose?

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Greig

The Nine Lives of Christmas

Sheila Roberts

I read this after watching the TV film based on it.
It’s got some differences to the film – particularly in the female lead (Merilee) and the extent to which the male lead’s cat plays a role in events.
It’s pretty enjoyable for a generic romance but I did prefer the version of Merilee they have in the film.

Rating: C

hungry?

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Greig

The Girl With All The Gifts

M.R. Carey

This is an extremely good post apocalyptic novel.
I don’t want to spoil the book in any way but I will say that it’s about a very gifted young girl, a teacher, a soldier and a scientist.
The world building is magnificent, the main characters are very well drawn and the plot is utterly involving.
It’s horror and it’s science fiction all at once.
I strongly recommend this book.

Rating: A

threep?

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Greig

Lock In

John Scalzi

Scalzi steps away from his Old Man’s War series and SF comedies to deliver a near future procedural.
In a world where a disease traps victims minds in their immobile bodies but government funded research allows the victims to communicate and work using telepresence robots or by piggy backing in the bodies of specially trained individuals a bizarre suicide is investigated by a rookie FBI agent.
I really enjoyed the world building in this one and as always Scalzi writes in a fast paced and entertaining fashion. Unfortunately when it gets to the meat of the investigation the mystery is way too predictable.
It’s still worth reading but don’t be surprised if you know what’s going to happen at the end by the halfway point of the book.

Rating: B+

sterling?

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Greig

First & Then

Emma Mills

The first novel by Emma Mills is a high school set tale of families, friendships, loves and finding yourself.
Ms Mills is better known to me as the vlogger elmify. Her videos are usually sweet, goofy but always underpinned by her enormous smarts.
The book also matches that pattern.
The book feels like it takes place in a recognizably real world filled with real people. Lead characters Devon and Foster are particularly well drawn.
However, there’s just something about this book that never quite sparks into life. For all their reality I never felt invested in the character’s lives.
It’s still worth reading and I expect better books to come from her over the years.

Rating: B

draconian?

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Greig

Nice Dragons Finish Last

Rachel Aaron

This is a fun piece of urban fantasy with an enjoyable setting and characters with loads of potential.
Julius is lacking the dragon instincts of his species. He’s trapped in human form and sent out into the world to prove he can be a credit to his clan or be eaten by his Mother.
In the course of events he meets up with a human Mage called Marci and the two help each other survive of draconic malice and the interventions of rival seers.
While this is a very solid book it’s the potential of the world Aaron’s built that has me most excited. In fact I’ve already bought the sequel.

Rating: B+

sol?

Posted on October 19, 2015October 19, 2015 by Greig

The Martian

Andy Weir

The hype finally got to me. I’ve been avoiding this book for a long time because my limited knowledge of the plot made it sound like another depressing space exploration book.
I finally get round to reading this to discover that it’s one of the most solidly written and life affirming pieces of traditional Science Fiction I’ve read in years.
I enjoyed so much I’m keen to see the film and might even download the audiobook.
Highly recommended if you have any interest in human space exploration.

Rating: A

merlin?

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Greig

Off To Be The Wizard

Scott Meyer

This is a comic science fiction novel about a hacker who discovers the secrets of controlling the universe via a garbage file on a server he’s broken into.
He quickly finds himself in trouble after changing reality to suit his own needs and he escapes into the past of medieval England.
The premise is more entertaining than the actual story and while I wouldn’t mind reading the sequel it’s certainly not something I’m super keen to acquire.

Rating: B-

gyro?

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Greig

Trade Me

Courtney Milan

A contemporary romance novel by the author of the Brothers Sinister series.
A dirt poor and struggling student swaps lives with her billionaire tech company heir classmate.
It’s certainly well-written and readable but the tech stuff is approaching laughable and the conclusion is a bit of a mess.
I’m up for reading the next book in the series – if only to see if Milan handles contemporary romance with a more sure hand in the future.

Rating: B-

elopement?

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Greig

A Week To Be Wicked

Tessa Dare

The second book in the series begun by A Night To Surrender.
The lead female character is just brilliant. Unfortunately the story runs of out steam about halfway through and I struggled to maintain interest all the way to the conclusion.
Really with a much more brutal editor these could have been much shorter much more enjoyable reads – especially given the author’s ability to create characters you want to root for.

Rating: B-