Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one. I’m a sucker for stories involving the Greek gods, especially in a contemporary setting, so I was hooked on this from the very beginning. The characters are wonderful and the plot is complex and fast-moving. If you like urban fantasy I’d recommend this one very highly.
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*pulls out earbuds* *leans back with a happy sigh* *wipes a tear* So amazed by this writer and this series. I listened to all the audiobooks, which were flawlessly read by Will Patton, but I think I have to go back and read the print versions at some point so I have the full effect.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think this was my favorite of the series so far! Absolutely amazing.
Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure when starting this one that I was going to like it, because I didn’t look forward to where the author was going to take some of the characters I really enjoy in the series. However, it was worth sticking with it. On to the next!
Legion by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really enjoyed this–a fascinating character idea flawlessly executed, and an interesting storyline, too. I’m delighted to discover there are more…
Alien Hunters by Daniel Arenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I bought this book as part of a bundle and had no expectations of it going in, but it turned out to be tons of fun! I’ll definitely be interested in reading more about this cast of characters in future.
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The highest compliment a writer can pay another author, I think, is “I wish I’d written this.” An amazing series.
X by Sue Grafton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kinsey Millhone is like an old friend to me. I was right there for “A is for Alibi” and I’ve been along for the ride ever since. This latest book did not disappoint, even if there were elements that diverged a bit from the usual course of Kinsey’s cases. Everything I love about Kinsey was there, and I enjoyed the book immensely. I was a bit surprised at the ending, but I suspect it may be setting up for something in the next two–last two?–books, since we’re now down to Y and Z. Yikes.
Flashback by Dan Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a very tough book for me to review, because I had such a mixed experience listening to it. I was very interested in the mystery plot, the dystopian setting, and in the three main (viewpoint) characters. Despite other problematic issues, I listened to the entire thing and was pretty much satisfied with the ending, although one major plot point is never entirely resolved (I can take a guess, but I think it should have been spelled out). The dystopian society was intriguing, as was the exploration of the minds of the three main characters.
The difficult part of the book is the political discourse that regularly derails the plot as the book progresses. At first it made me uncomfortable, then annoyed, and finally became just sort of amusingly predictable in its heavy-handedness. I have read that the author claims he does not hold these particular right-wing political beliefs, which are unfortunately delivered without subtlety or finesse. Initially I thought (hoped) he might be trying for a Stephen Colbert-esque approach: to mock a political stance by extrapolating it into absurdity. But as the book progressed I became less convinced that this was what was going on. Sadly, the dystopian society is posited as a direct result of much of this, so for me, that undermined the exploration of the society itself–which was, in all other respects, quite intriguing.
I felt that the book was most successful in its portrayal of the three main characters (all male) and in the intricately interwoven plot lines. It’s a very male-centric book in a way, although the lives of all three main characters are certainly shaped by the loss of Dara Fox-Bottom.
I can’t say I disliked the book, but I suppose I liked it *in spite* of its deep flaws. So in a way, that’s a positive thing. I’ve stopped reading other books for far lesser failings, so it definitely offered enough to keep me reading and encouraged me to shrug off the problems. Did it offer me any insights into right-wing thought? Not really. If it could have done that as well, and left me feeling that I’d learned or better understood something, I would have rated it higher despite disagreeing with most of the polemics.
A Finer End by Deborah Crombie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I stay up reading three hours after going to bed, it pretty much means it’s going to be a five-star review. :) Although I did figure out what was going on in this one, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. The setting and plot were very intriguing, and I loved the character dynamics. On to the next in the series!
