Grishaverse Trilogy
Eastern Europe inspired YA fantasy series. It’s competent enough even if it is predictably about a conflicted chosen one. Though she does seem more conflicted love life than her fate as the chosen one.
Category: B+
bees?
The Viscount Who Loved Me
Delightful historical rom-com. some wonderful banter between the two leads as they move from enemies to lovers.
I’m really looking forward to the Netflix adaptation of this particular book in the series because it could be the regency screwball comedy we all need.
culture?
Jews Don’t Count
I find myself disagreeing with some of Baddiel’s points but I cannot argue with the key central point that while racists and anti-semites still continue to attack Jews people cannot sit back with the comfortable notion that Jews are so normal in every day life that they don’t need to be protected from these attacks.
I do think he spends way too much time criticizing the Left on their handling of real or perceived anti-semitism without equally sticking the boot into the obvious villains on the right who made much political hay while continuing to be quietly racist and anti-semitic.
exandria?
The World of Critical Role
A competent recounting of the Critical Role phenomenon, lavishly illustrated
papers?
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
Excellent regency romance.
Previously reviewed.
This was re-read in advance of the Netflix series.
amnesiac?
The Eternals
Gaiman gives a new spin on Jack Kirby’s creations in this entertaining superhero yarn. This is meant to be highly influential on the upcoming film so I gave it a spin from the library
douga?
Tell Me How You Really Fell
This was a comfort re-read of a very enjoyable teen romance.
See the original review for more
radon?
Sensation
When Julia Hernandez is infected with parasitic wasps she walks out on her husband and her old life.
She accidentally initiates a new movement and becomes an infamous wanted felon only to vanish.
When Julia’s ex spots her in a grocery store we learn about the battle between parasitic wasps and the spiders that are their normal prey and about the Simulacrum – another world made up of the places that fall between the cracks of our world.
This is a weird and unsettling piece of present day science fiction.
I found it interesting enough to keep me reading but never quite satisfying enough to feel drawn in to the story.
Recommended if you want to read something a bit off the wall and you’re really interested in the way distributed movements act.
I would never have read this if I hadn’t come across it in the library. Just another reason why libraries are great – you can browse and randomly come across something interesting (the selection online is too vast to effectively do this) and take it home with you at no cost (definitely no way you can do this in a book shop).
chandler?
The End of All Things
This book directly follows on from the stories told in The Human Division and thankfully starts to reveal the consipiracy behind events right from the start.
Again this is a series of connected novellas and short stories that make up a complete story.
Many characters return from The Human Division but a few new players have impactful appearances.
It’s a satisfying ending without leaving everything too neatly resolved.
Again, good solid Science Fiction written in an enjoyable fashion.
I really needed to know what happened after The Human Division and read this one as an ebook. It was nice to be that involved in a book/world.
abumwe?
The Human Division
The Human Division is an entry in Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War” universe. Following from the events of The Last Colony / Zoe’s Tale a new political reality faces Humanity and the other species of the universe.
The book itself is made up of a series of novellas and short stories. These are mainly from the perspective of the previously redundant diplomatic service of the Colonial Union as they try to mend fences with Earth and create alliances with alien races. The central character is a familiar face from earlier “Old Man’s War” books – Harry Wilson.
As events proceed it becomes clear that events are being manipulated through sabotage, cultural manipulation and political shenanigans.
Then the book ends and you’re still in the dark!
Thankfully all is dealt with the next book – The End of All Things.
This is good solid Science Fiction from Scalzi. I enjoy his prose style – it’s not flashy but it draws you in to the story without sacrificing character.