Who knew there was a subgenre of science fiction that is basically espionage in space? Turns out, it’s a real category and it’s great! The novel Deep Who knew there was a subgenre of science fiction that is basically espionage in space? Turns out, it’s a real category and it’s great! The novel Deep Space by Rob Hart and Alex Segura drew me in with the synopsis-and it delivered. The story is told with two different perspectives, one pilot in space and one government agent on the moon. Scary situations are occurring in both narratives but neither person can figure out what is going on and why they are being steered in different directions. From the beginning this space mystery goes at a pretty adventurous speed, but at about 35% in- it really gets going. With a sprinkling of spy tech and tactics, hidden enemies and even first contact, this novel has all the science fiction ingredients I love. I hope these authors keep combining their skills because they worked together to create one of my favorite novels this year. If you like Mission Impossible movies and stories that are like puzzles, you may love this book! Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for a chance to read this earc in return for my honest opinion....more
Summer’s End is the latest cozy mystery in the Shady Hollow series, a grouping of novels with woodland creatures located in a special town of their owSummer’s End is the latest cozy mystery in the Shady Hollow series, a grouping of novels with woodland creatures located in a special town of their own where murders sometimes occur. Once again we enjoy Vera the fox, a novice sleuth, running into a dead body. She uses her reporter’s instincts to flush out clues and the killer. However I enjoyed this installment less than usual because although Vera has one of her friends with her, this mystery does not take place in comfortable, familiar Shady Hollow. Perhaps the author felt the need to add more zip with characters and a town that were all new, but I missed the usual suspects, their comments, and the sweet locations where they usually meet. In addition, the occasion for the out of town visit of observing a burial site we a bit boring for me. We see Vera and her best buddy Lenora the raven get even closer as friends and there is an addition of a junior reporter who is a vole with the same inquisitive nature as Vera. The murderer was actually guessable early on in the story, totally based on the animal that died and the characters in the neighboring town. I will look forward to the next mystery in the series if it’s back in the town we know and where we feel at home. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this earc in return for my honest review. ...more
Historical fantasy is a genre that is specific for sense of time, sense of place and then some imagination thrown in for something different. The SchoHistorical fantasy is a genre that is specific for sense of time, sense of place and then some imagination thrown in for something different. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door delivers as a historical fantasy novel which is loaded with feelings of time, place and gorgeous characters. Clover Hill is a farm girl living in the sadness of England following World War I. When her brother comes home from war with a supernatural injury, she is desperate for a way to help him. This search for help causes Clover to go out of her comfort zone and far away from home. The novel is the story of her journey, her friends and a whole different world that she never knew existed. I absolutely loved the characters, the setting, and the writing. Author H.G. Parry has written a book encompassing early 1900’s English life, a bit of magic school, an English country manor and a thrilling chase. Her characters are very well written and deep, showing a lifetime worth of adventures together make a strong bond. I love that Parry releases bits of the mystery of what is behind this yarn all throughout it. This book just sets you in a nice long comfortable story that has it all. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door would make a great movie, or series of movies. It is an appropriate novel for teens and up, although it is not at all immature in its writing. I would love to see a prequel or a sequel! Thank you to NetGalley for the ability to read this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Veterinary memoirs are always a genre that I want to devour when they are available. This type of reading provides medical knowledge and animals in thVeterinary memoirs are always a genre that I want to devour when they are available. This type of reading provides medical knowledge and animals in the typical office situation. Pets and the City, a new type of vet memoir, adds a more personalized approach given by author Amy Attas. Going back to a more James Herriot style practice, Dr. Attas provides services for pets in their own home in New York City. She goes wherever and usually whenever she is needed. This system assures the pets are most comfortable and the owners are conveniently visited. Who requests that a vet come to them instead of the “hassle” of going out in the city with their animal? Stars and well to do owners love this set up, as do shut ins and the elderly. This nonfiction starts with Dr. Attas’ training, continuing with the way her practice came to be. The anecdotes are sweet and one of a kind, with descriptions of the owners’ homes giving you a feeling of being there with the vet. This book would be ideal for a nightly short read as the chapters are brief. I would have enjoyed every bit of this book, even if twice the size. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read the Earc in return for an honest review. ...more
I had heard Beth Revis books were good, but I have found that she is still going strong and is up my alley. Full Speed to a Crash Landing was a fun, fI had heard Beth Revis books were good, but I have found that she is still going strong and is up my alley. Full Speed to a Crash Landing was a fun, fast reading with an independent, intelligent smart aleck…in space! Our heroine Ada has an emergency with her ship while traveling alone and is dependent upon another space ship of unknowns to rescue her. The incident leads her to make herself valuable to them in order to get a ride. As the first of a trio of novellas, it is full of action and banter, with a bit of attraction. Author Revis peppers in some background of the situation but it is very sparse with it, making the readers feel like we don’t know all of Ada’s intentions. The ending is unexpected and makes me excited for the next installment. Full Speed to a Crash Landing has the wit of John Scalzi with the brevity of Murderbot. A great way to take in part of a space opera. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this novella in return for my honest opinion. ...more
What fun to dip into a graphic novel between other reads, bringing back a youth of comic books that got me into science fiction originally. Colonies, What fun to dip into a graphic novel between other reads, bringing back a youth of comic books that got me into science fiction originally. Colonies, Return to Belzagor by Robert Silverberg is two parts, firstly an arrival on a new planet and then a return to the planet years later. I enjoyed the illustrations for both, with imaginative drawings of aliens and 1960-1970’s style drawings of humans. The first story of the arrival is an adventure with a definite villain and sets up an even better exploration of the planet with the second installment. If the first part was on its own, I would not have been excited about it at all. It seemed to be giving a lot of information that really went nowhere. However I pushed forward and really enjoyed the big ending. Although the stories skipped a lot between panes and the reader has to assume or imagine what happened in some time jumps, the ending was exciting and fulfilling. I appreciate Netgalley giving me the chance to delve into the cover that I found so intriguing! Note: this is definitely an ADULT graphic novel, in language and depiction. ...more
To speak of “the Tower” in Tudor times makes a reader skip to thoughts of death. However the building referred to in The Tower, a novel by Flora Carr,To speak of “the Tower” in Tudor times makes a reader skip to thoughts of death. However the building referred to in The Tower, a novel by Flora Carr, is only used as a holding place at Lochleven Castle in Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots was held there for almost a year and the story covers this time period. A great venue for historical fiction, Carr delivers a claustrophobic feeling of Mary and her ladies in damp quarters with little else but each other. I enjoyed the slow build of historical background on her captors and the ongoing back and forth of the government in Scotland. I would have loved more detail on the parallel situation going on with Mary’s brother himself and more knowledge of the child she had to leave behind. However I did not like the addition of an open door relationship of two of Mary’s ladies which is not historical. I do not think it was needed and it did not match the subject matter in the rest of the book. My favorite takeaway from this book is the feeling we get of Mary’s magnetism and determination. And all of her enemies are revealed throughout this year of captivity including Elizabeth I, other Protestants and other Scots too. She didn’t have a chance. I appreciate the chance to read this advance copy from Netgalley and the publisher Doubleday....more
Genetic and personality selection are becoming more real in the news every day. In the novel Baby X by Kira Peikoff, the futuristic options have arrivGenetic and personality selection are becoming more real in the news every day. In the novel Baby X by Kira Peikoff, the futuristic options have arrived and parents need to make a lot of decisions. It is speculative fiction with a twist of dna choices which include so much of a child’s personality and physical attributes known before implantation. Peikoff raises so many questions in reference to a future where babies can be formulated. Do parents give more weight to personality traits or health traits? Can parents provide dna from an unknown donor to create their child? What are the specific rights of each person regarding their dna? What kind of background investigation should the government require of parents choosing these children? The author does a great job of doing just what great science fiction should, asking will science really help in the future or just create more problems? All of these questions are addressed and put into story form so that we can imagine how an imaginary future system of creating designer babies could be causing so many questions. As someone with interest in dna and genetics, I loved this book. So much is brought up and the web is tangled. Consequently I flew through Baby X and highly recommend it. However there are so many more questions unanswered, and I would love to see either sequels to make a series or other stories in the same future. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a chance to read this earc in return for an honest review....more
With a space mystery, a heist, many aliens and a touch of found family, The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei delivers so much in a science fiction standWith a space mystery, a heist, many aliens and a touch of found family, The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei delivers so much in a science fiction stand alone novel. As the author creates a description of earth and its place in the universe in the future, we are wound into the complicated life of grad student Maya. She has a best friend with a problem, and an idea on how to fix it. It is with her that the reader learns the important alien relationships with Earth as she rides this adventure. In addition, the characters searching for the grail are great together. I especially love Maya’s friend old quiet Auncle, a giant jellyfish like creature who unknowingly is both squishy and strong at the same time. These team characters do all the required points for a bona fide space opera. I especially loved the time they spent flying in the big bubble like vehicle and its homey set up. I suggest it is a great read alike for A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet. I would definitely read another adventure with this group! Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Romances are a great break from serious reading, the type you have to read twice to decipher. But I did a lot of fast reading with Weekends with You, Romances are a great break from serious reading, the type you have to read twice to decipher. But I did a lot of fast reading with Weekends with You, searching for some excitement and plot to encourage me forward. Author Alexandra Paige offers a great set up of a romance in London, between a florist and a photographer. This couple lives in the same house, but because of work they barely see each other. Yet somehow the background and characters were not enough to get me rolling. Urban goings on were kind of slow. In addition the romance is in tiny bits, and frankly I was disappointed in our heroine’s decision to even give this guy the time of day. A lukewarm get together once a month? She thinks in her head one way but her actions are quite different. Even the ending was not very satisfying. Perhaps a repetitive romance reader would feel differently but this novel was not a winner for me. Thank you to Netgalley for letting me give this earc a try....more
Those of us that like adventure mixed into their science fiction are used to a pilot being a great side character. However, the debut novel Ocean’s GoThose of us that like adventure mixed into their science fiction are used to a pilot being a great side character. However, the debut novel Ocean’s Godori has that pilot at the center of the story. Ocean is a rebel, a flawed character with a tough background and is very good at her job. Her eclectic limited list of friends are her strength and also a family of sorts. With a similar vibe to a Becky Chambers novel, author Elaine Cho creates a spaceship crew that are mostly misfits traveling the galaxy to make a living and are specialists helping each other. Of course, adventures happen. This little novel extends the ship to other planets, is attacked and investigates a murder. Asian culture is introduced throughout and is mixed in the story and characters smoothly. (Note that there is a glossary in the back, which gives even more definition to terms used.) I thoroughly enjoyed most aspects of this short space opera. My only criticism is the abrupt ending. I am hoping that it means there will be an additional book creating a series. This novel would be a match for those that liked A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers or Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read this earc for my honest opinion. ...more
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