Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The novelization of the latest Star Wars tale is a very enjoyable translation of a very enjoyable film.
As with all books of this type there’s a few things that make it into the book from the script that didn’t end up in the finished film. They’re pretty minor in this case for the most part but still worth checking out if you’re hungering for more after seeing the film
Recommended for fans of the film.
Lock In
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.
Nice Dragons Finish Last
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.
The Brothers Sinister Series
The Brothers Sinister series consists of four novels and three novellas. These are all expertly written historical romances featuring fascinating and compelling female lead characters.
I had read the first novella The Governess Affair a couple of years back as a free download and didn’t think much of it. At the time I didn’t really read romance of any stripe but I was interested in Courtney because of her involvement in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries fandom.
After a couple of years of reading romance I saw the first full length book of the series pop up as a free download too. This time round I thoroughly enjoyed the book and immediately shelled out for the complete series collection after completing it.
If you you’re looking for well-written, funny and insightful historical romance with really great female lead characters then read these. I would read them in order to get best sense of the time lines involved but I’m certain you could read them out of sequence and enjoy them just as much.
A Hero At The End Of The World
Ewan Mao was the one prophesised to save the world. Instead his best friend Oliver Abrams defeated the magical tyrant ruling their alternative version of contemporary London. Life hasn’t quite gone his way ever since.
Five years later and Ewan is suddenly at the centre of a plot to end the world and his estranged friend is also caught up in events.
This book was originally Kickstarted as part of the start up of Big Bang Press who specialize in publishing original fiction by highly regarded fanfic authors. I bought it as part of a Humble Bundle.
I really quite enjoyed this slice of romantic and humourous urban fantasy and I particularly enjoyed the copious amounts of snarky banter between the characters. It kind of reminded me of Tom Holt or a less out-there Robert Rankin.
The Goblin Emperor
This book has been nominated for Best Novel in the 2015 Hugo Awards.
As a Hugo voter this year I received an ebook copy of in the Voter Packet.
This is a very well written and reasonably enjoyable slice of Fantasy.
It’s very much about the intrigue behind the scenes of the imperial court of an ancient empire.
The titular character (whose real name is Maia) starts the story as a spineless ingenue. This quickly gets annoying. Fortunately he grows and gets to show some real personality and character as the plot develops.
By the end I really wanted to see what was going to happen next. It’s set up in a way that makes me think that I will find the sequel more enjoyable than this book.
I certainly recommend The Goblin Emperor if you like well-written, character led Fantasy and you’re more a fan of political intrigue than grimdark fantasy violence.
The Madness Underneath
The second book in the Shades of London series is just as charming and as much fun as The Name of the Star.
Following on shortly after the events of the first book we find Rory coming to terms with the trauma of those events and the consequences of her new abilities.
It’s all really hard to talk about without spoiling, but I’ll tell you one thing – this book has a doozy of an ending.
The Rook
The Winter Long
The latest Toby Daye book’s blurb promises to change her world forever. We do get some meaty revelations but nothing as shocking as the first reveal about Toby’s mother earlier in the series (at least for my money).
I love this series and this is another fine installment. I recommend reading the entire series from Rosemary and Rue onwards.
I’m just waiting for the installment in the series that takes the leap from very good to great. I believe that’s going to happen at some point.
The Cinderella Deal
Desperate for a position at a conservative college Lincoln invents a fiancee. Daisy’s life is in chaos – her plans to become an artist have hit the skids and her savings have run out.
Linc offers a way out – her back rent paid if she pretends to be engaged to him until he gets the job. Of course events conspire and to keep his new job they have to follow through and get married.
I’ve read a lot of Crusie’s books recently and while they’re all reliably enjoyable this is the first one I’ve loved.
By far the best execution of the fake marrieds meme I’ve come across so far, Crusie nails the transitions from dislike through to committed love perfectly.
I particularly loved the whole section from “my house is suddenly full of good people doing interesting things and I kind of like it” through the “looking after each other while sick” bit. So sweet and perfectly nailing what a fake marrieds story should be.
