Tag Archives: Goodreads

Defiance

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The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I recommend you go get this book if you’re a fan of modern fantasy. It’s not ‘urban fantasy’ in the way of the wave of current day, hidden magic stories but it is evocative of that same aesthetic from the early 1900s. There are bits of historic religious practices (I think that’s how VooDoo is categorized) combined with the reality of life for the characters at that time in the world.

The area and the characters are so real. There was romance and drama. Concern for the ripples a ‘heroic action’ would send out into the world. It had action as well, with spells and thugs and stakeouts leading to police raids and chases.

I went through this book in a rush and was completely satisfied when I finished it. Go and read this author’s work!





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Nameless

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The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a Watch The Skies choice. I suspect I would have missed it if not for the book club selecting it. I look forward to the discussion on it… because it isn’t something I would have picked.

This story does fall into the new ‘cozy’ category. It’s not a high stakes, save the world type story. It takes place entirely inside the restaurant and the adjoining kitchen. There may be repercussions outside the entry doors, but we don’t see that. We see almost nothing in terms of action actually.

I think this is an odd cross between a character study and a food network show pitch.

It’s clear and well written. It has interesting characters. It clearly loves food and cooking. There are hints at powers and politics, but all of that is wiped away by dessert. I will say I like it, but I don’t know that I’ll be reading more. It’s good, I’m just not sure it’s for me.



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Knitting Needles and Handkerchiefs

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The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher by E.M. Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A chosen one fantasy you say? Been there, seen that… except I haven’t seen this before.

A chosen one who’s NOT a child. Somebody with life experience and real world concerns. Somebody who can’t necessarily solve every problem with athletic skill. What a wonderful change.

While I’m not in the same age category as Edna, it was refreshing to see how life can and does change a person and how they interact with others. Edna and her companions were real and believable. The mish-mash of desires and emotions and actions based on that made for a believable group of people.

There was still action. There were swords and spells and dragons. There were real consequences to actions and choices made. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. If you’re looking for some good modern fantasy I would recommend this one, knitting needles and all.



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Drunk

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That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book came up on a ‘cozy fantasy’ list as a recommendation. I don’t remember where that list was, but they were incorrect.

This is not cozy, this is explicit. That’s fine, if that’s what you’re expecting.

This is NOT low stakes, except if you simply ignore everything outside of the relationship between the two main characters. The world building is really interesting. There’s a great set up for a land where the people are deceived and how culture builds around certain aspects of life. Everything from names people are given to how they conduct their day to day lives. It’s got good concepts!

Then it rips them apart, and tosses all that aside for a sex on the beach scene.

Again, this is great if that’s what you’re looking for. Don’t think about the world, focus on the sex. Cool. IF that’s what you’re looking for, this is the book for you. It was not what I was expecting, so it suffered because of that.



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Painful Indeed

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Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches by John Hodgman


My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Vacationland is, by any metric you’d care to chose, the whitest book I have ever read. It oozes privilege. It was gifted to me at some point in the relatively recent past. My friend believed because I was from New England originally, and had briefly both lived and vacationed in Maine that I would appreciate the stories told within the pages.

I can say now that I’m unsure what my friend’s true intentions were. Did they really think I would enjoy it or were they trying to send me a cryptic message about my own behaviors? Was there ulterior motive? Perhaps not.

I recognized and related to a couple of stories here, or parts of them. I had successfully repressed the memories of going to the dump, but now they’ve returned. There was a significant portion of this work that simply made me cringe. Perhaps that was the authors plan all along? Having read all the essays in this book it wouldn’t shock me. I could imagine a meeting with an editor where plans were made to really put one over on everyone by publishing this. We will laugh maniacally whenever a royalty check is sent.

I have read this book. That is now a thing I can say and not be lying at all.



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Annihilated

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Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Two stars has the little pop-up ‘it was ok’ and I think that’s fair.


I would place this work squarely into the existential horror category. It’s shades of Lovecraft through and through. IF you’re a fan of that, this book is likely right up your alley. I can’t really call myself a fan of this kind of thing, but I’m not NOT a fan. This is a compelling book, but I just don’t get as worked up about the existential stuff as a lot of fans apparently do. Some things happened, sort of, I think… but I’m not sure. Maybe that’s the point? What did happen? Did it really happen? Wouldn’t a walk on the beach be a good thing to do?

I read and finished this one, but I wasn’t excited about it. I was often just waiting for something to happen. I’m still kind of waiting for something to happen.

This book also (apparently) had a film made of it. I looked at the old trailer and I believe I watched the film. I’m uncertain as not much of it is a clear memory. I didn’t connect the thing I watched to this book at all and had to have it pointed out to me.

I think those two things, no clear memory and waiting for action, amount to a solid summary of my thoughts here.



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Check out the trailer for the Netflix movie too:
https://youtu.be/0m3cPEbwwhg?si=5nFbXdNhcNzOYM37

Six of something

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The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I struggled with this book right from the start. It begins with the “I hate you. I love you.” relationship mix. That has to be my least favorite – ever.

I pushed past that because I was hoping to get into the mystery of this order the six get selected to try out for. I was hoping for something about the magic system or the books they use to overcome something thought to be lost to time.

I hoped.

I got a fat pile of angst and a magicians style big brother house. Maybe that’s too harsh. I did not like it, and the longer that simmered, the more reactive I got to it. I’ve tried to temper my reaction by giving this review some time, but it hasn’t helped. It didn’t work for me and I won’t be picking anything else up from this author.



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Master of Djinn

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A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have two particular criticisms for this version of the book. They are small things, but worth noting.

First, the publisher put “A Dead Djinn In Cairo” at the back of this book. I know it’s a short story (or novella – I forget how it was classified) but in the time line this story happens before the novel that was just finished. I would highly recommend skipping to this and reading it first.

Second, (SPOILER ALERT)



They save the world. They fight off the biggest and baddest of bad guys and now… what? Where do you go when you save the whole world in the very first book? I don’t know how this character and the rich, wonderful world she lives in moves forward. That is disappointing because I did very much enjoy this story and the characters in it.

I absolutely recommend this book – you should read the novella (Haunting of Tram Car 15) and the short story at the end then definitely dig into this book!



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I usually put up some version of the cover with my reviews, but this fan art was a lot of fun and helped put a picture to these cool characters. Be sure to check out this artists work at their website HERE.

Gone In The Dark

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I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Outside of my normal genre, reading true crime IS a thing I’ve delved into before. I don’t like to read it generally because I see enough true crime in the news. I don’t seem to have the fascination that others do.

I was drawn to this book by the story of the author herself, and the fact that she wasn’t able to finish this work before she died unexpectedly (and far too young). My fears about reading this book stemmed directly from “Confederacy of Dunces” that has garnered so much praise. I was drawn in by the author’s story on that book and hated it.

Gone in the dark is incomplete. The people in the author’s life pulled together the book after her passing, but what I wish we got was the complete work from the author herself. She definitely had her own style and that was not something the others could emulate.

It’s an interesting story, and if you’re into true crime it’s worth digging into. I will also be checking out the documentary series they made about this story. Adding the visuals to this story will probably help me.

Not my thing, but I’m glad I read it.



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Colorful

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I’m glad this Sanderson novel came up on the list of things to be read for WTS.

Fantastic cover art!

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am predisposed to liking this authors work, so you should know that up front.

It feels disingenuous to critique the characters or storyline of such a prolific and successful author. I really enjoyed the journey and the growth for the sisters and for the reluctant god of bravery. I thought their interactions and their reveals along the way were just excellent.

What I really enjoyed, and wanted to dig into more was one of the things the author was best known for – the magic system. Breath, magic and awareness of the world around you being tied to color. That capacity for using color and the magic of it was great to see developed through the story.

NO spoilers, but there was one move by one character that in hindsight I should have seen coming and didn’t – and that really made the story that much better for me. Refreshing to have a fantasy story with new magic and actions that weren’t predictable.

IF you’re a fan of fantasy and new magic systems I would recommend this book.



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