Category: Fiction

noodle?

Posted on by Greig

Nona The Ninth

Tamsyn Muir

The third book in the Locked Tomb finds Nona living a simple life and working as a teacher’s aide while her found family try to work out the mystery of who she is.
Set on a ‘Blood of Eden’ held planet as Nona and her family try to save lives as deadline creeps up on them unawares. In flashbacks we hear John tell the story of the end of the world.
This was an enjoyable book but very much felt like a diversion on the way to the actual ending of the series. I’m glad to have spent time with Nona and it’s great to see old friends (and enemies) in a new context.
How long am I going to have to wait for Alecto the Niinth?

Rating: A-

aircon?

Posted on by Greig

You And Me On Vacation

Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex are on vacation. They used to do this every summer but something nearly ended their friendship two years ago and Poppy is determined to fix things with this trip.
A sweet romance as we see the history of a chalk and cheese couple as they try to find a happy ending.
Really good fun to read.

Rating: B+

crash?

Posted on by Greig

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

Neil Gaiman

After his father’s funeral a man goes for a drive past his childhood home and remembers an adventure he had as a boy with neighbour Lettie Hempstock.
This seems to have been a deeply personal book for Gaiman. I personally found it a decent read if a little slilght. Not in his top tier.

Rating: B+

roses?

Posted on by Greig

Be The Serpent

Seanan McGuire

October Daye book 16 continues to bring world shattering revelations. A friend turns out to have been an enemy in perfect disguise and Toby will have to battle to save her family and community at any cost.
I genuinely love the Toby Daye books and as we get deeper into the series and the secrets start to come out I continue to have a lot of fun with the series.

Rating: B+

gallery?

Posted on by Greig

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

Ashley Herring Blake

Delilah is a cool tattooed art photographer struggling to make ends meet. So when her estranged stepsister Astrid offers her a lot of money to photograph her wedding she finds herself back in her hometown for two weeks. While there she will fall for someone unexpected.
A fun queer romance between a lesbian and a bisexual woman with some nice family stuff in the background. Really quite enjoyable

Rating: B

mithraeum?

Posted on by Greig

Harrow the Ninth

Tamsyn Muir

The second book in the Locked Tomb series finds Harrowhark struggling to adjust to her new station in life.
An old story is retold through flashbacks and in the present we the highest echelons of the Emperor’s court play their games.
Deliberately much harder to follow than Gideon the Ninth this book is so very rewarding once you understand what all the pieces mean.
I also straight up loved this book.

Rating: A

reverend?

Posted on by Greig

Gideon the Ninth

Tamsyn Muir

The first book of the Locked Tomb series finds Gideon Nav posing as the Cavalier Primary to Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus as they face trials to serve the Emperor Undying.
This series is wonderful and nuts. A space fantasy with lesbian romance, gothic swordfighting and horrific undead monsters.
Filled with beautifully seeded worldbuilding and a wicked terminally online sense of humour.
I straight up loved this book.

Rating: A

duffy?

Posted on by Greig

Gimme Some Sugar

Molly Harper

Lucy returns to her hometown to open a bakery after the early death of her husband, Wayne. Wayne’s family and new feelings for her best friend threaten to spoil her plans.
A generic but still enjoyable romance.

Rating: B-

lastra?

Posted on by Greig

Book Lovers

Emily Henry

Nora is an uptight career-focused NYC literary agent.
She’s persuaded by her little sister Libby to spend time with her in a quaint small town in North Carolina.
Once in town she keeps bumping into Charlie – a book editor who has been dismissive of work by her clients in the past.
Whatever will happen next?
This is a very enjoyable romance novel with enough of a twist on old tropes to never become tiresome. In fact I really enjoyed it. If Nora Ephron were still alive I reckon she could make a really good film of it.

Rating: B+