At 23% I had a hunch, at 52% I knew the twist and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how it all happened. The Tide of War is an excellent scAt 23% I had a hunch, at 52% I knew the twist and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how it all happened. The Tide of War is an excellent scifi thriller. It gets characters, pacing, and voice perfectly. I devoured the book in a single sitting.
My only (minor) critique is of the way bisexuality was presented. Andrei is bisexual and married to a woman. They have an open relationship that allows Andrei to be in a relationship with men at the same time.
But it's presented as: because Andrei is bisexual he needs to have women AND men, and his wife is gracious enough to allow this, even encurages it.
Rather than: Andrei is polyamerous and wants more than one relationship at a time. His wife allows/encourages this. Andrei is bisexual and the 2nd relationship he develops happens to be with a man.
Because bisexuality does not = cannot be monogomous. I don't know that the author intended to make that kind of statement, but that's how I read it.
However this isn't ruminated on in the course of the story and didn't take away from the expert craft. I cried twice. The body-count in this story is high. Setting and alien descriptions are vivid.
And I notice it's listed as first in a series? I thought the book came to a solid (if rather quick) conclusion and I'm honestly unsure where it could go next. I'm interested to see where the author takes these characters....more
First up, if you're not a fan of the flashback or history/memory for context, this isn't the book for you. Ei'Brai's existence and sanity relies on viFirst up, if you're not a fan of the flashback or history/memory for context, this isn't the book for you. Ei'Brai's existence and sanity relies on vicarious experience through telepathy and memory, making the topic a major theme throughout the novel. I love it.
Fluency falls solidly in the sci-fi genre without drifting too far into soft or hard. There's just enough tech to be fun and just enough fantastical to keep you turning the pages...
I hesitate to call this a romance. You'll notice I didn't put it in my romance tag. There's definitely a romantic subplot, and it's very strong. In fact, much of the story is dedicated to the tension around this romance. However, the book takes a different turn near the end that doesn't result in a HEA or HFN for the romantic plot.
I don't think the romantic plot is left unfinished, but I do think it's wrapped carelessly and thrown in the corner. Jane goes through some major self-realization near the end of the story, understandably realigning her priorities in life, and we don't get any of that change on screen. Instead we get quite a bit of angst from Alan, specifically pages of it as he paces outside Jane's quarters. But from Jane's perspective we get a dismissive paragraph about how there are 'so many reasons' this had to wait.
I understand the turn. I get it. I think it's a good move, even. But with the majority of the book from Jane's POV (at least in feel, if not in wordcount), and with the extreme experience Jane has gone through, the reader deserves more on her end.
So let's talk about tension. Fluency sets up a few pieces of conflicting tension, and most of them are highly effective. Is the alien helping or sinister? Are Jane and Alen gonna get together or not? Is Wash going to screw the whole mission (the fucker)? Will they make first contact, cure the plague, and survive the space slugs before the asteroid hits the ship?!?!?!?
No, really, I have some serious issues with the asteroid. Not because it's there. It was working excellently as a countdown timer to disaster riGHT UP UNTIL THE PLOT WAS COMPLETELY DROPPED. It was mentioned at the start of the book. It was mentioned in the middle of the book. It was casually mentioned near the climax of OH SHIT WE'RE DOOMED part of the book.
And then it wasn't ever mentioned again. Not even an, 'oh, we can move the ship. Let's get it ouT OF THE WAY OF THE GODDAMNNED ASTEROID.' The asteroid doesn't even get a dismissive paragraph.
I am offended on behalf of the asteroid. It was auditioning for a great part of this story: destroy priceless alien tech, kill a practically omnipotant being, possibly ruin the first decent relationship MsProtag has had- great plot for a walk-on asteroid. Not even a call back.
No, I'm not over it.
But let's move onto aliens. Now, I've never written an alien into a single story in my life, so with that massive salt block in mind, I think some really interesting culture/species opportunities were missed here. A lot of this was great. Like, fantastically great. The language, the discovery, the vulkan mind-meld, it was all really quite excellent and I'm super excited about it. I want more holographic written words with entire pockets of space-time inside them.
But something came up two or three times that wasn't addressed. Pronouns. Jane is a linguist and social scientist. Of everyone on the ship, she's the best candidate to not fuck up first contact. She even mentioned that assuming this voice in her head is male is a harmful idea and yet, Ei'Brai is male from page one all the way through to the end.
Now, without the mind-meld I might have let this slip, but there is a perfect, perfect, learning opportunity here. Ei'Brai is frequently shown to be riding around in Jane's head, absorbing what it means to be human and learning about the culture/acceptable personal barriers, etc.etc. You cannot possibly convince me that Ei'Brai didn't understand Jane was applying a gendered pronoun. And you further can't convince me that a sentient alien squid with no self-identification until capture by yet another alien race is going to slide into American Earth's idea of gender sweet as you please.
This could have been awesome. Throughout the book alien things adapt to Jane. Ei'Brai reaches out to speak with her, the battle armor adjusts to her, the healing tanks assess and provide her with her needs. But Jane doesn't do a whole lot of culture shifting to adjust in response. She doesn't change her approach to Ei'Brai as a result of learning about his/their history and the history of the ship.
If the topic hadn't ever come up, I wouldn't care nearly as much. But the specific use of male gender pronouns was mentioned at least twice and nothing came of it. This is a big disappointment for me.
Makes me want to write an alien book.
The wrap-up. Damn this was long. I have OPINIONS about this book. But the biggest one is that I think you should read it. Fluency is a great adventure, has nicely timed tension, and turns out a bit differently than you'll expect. I powered through it. You will, too....more
Let's talk about voice. Stealer of Flesh has it in spades. There's a difference between describing a scene for the reader and describing a character vLet's talk about voice. Stealer of Flesh has it in spades. There's a difference between describing a scene for the reader and describing a character via their understanding of the scene. This is a book to learn from.
I didn't find the plot particularly compelling, nor did I fall for any of the major or minor characters-- that's a lie. Petra was quite awesome, but I knew she was doomed the moment she joined the quest, so her presence was less heartening and more anticipatory.
The narrative jumps forward twice, breaking this novel into 3 easier short story-sized chunks. In direct contrast to Spirits, I found the time movement to be entirely functional. There was no skimming of events. Three minor arcs occur and they're divided by a month or two of time.
I liked the dips into a larger world. The lore, various cities, and ruins of ages past were all excellent color to see through Kormac's eyes. There are clearly massive stories before, after, and around this one.
But with all that said, I did not connect with Kormac's struggle or particularly care if he succeeded. The tone of the voice in this story is bland. More than once I felt removed, like I was reading a history textbook or a biography. Unfortunately, that means I won't be picking up book two.
Having said that, there's still much tequnique to learn from this book and I already have some ideas for edits in my current Wip. Also, brilliant cover. ...more
I'm torn on Sparks, which is unfortunate. The entire story takes place over the course of 7ish years, with much of the first half of the book barely bI'm torn on Sparks, which is unfortunate. The entire story takes place over the course of 7ish years, with much of the first half of the book barely better than summary. There's little telling, but it's impossible to get deep into the characters or their situation with the time frame moving along at such a rapid pace.
I like the concept of the Sparks and I love the fact that the 'chosen one' is not the main character. However, that impact is lessened when the main character discovers he also has the same powers at the end of the book.
There was also a major white-savior shift at the very end that came up out of nowhere.
So... I give it a three. I think there's a great concept here. I like some of the intrigue but a lot of that showed up after the fact. When things didn't go as planned it was explained later as being part of a larger plot.
Avis didn't get a good arc of character development. I wanted to see behind his mask ina more intimate way than an infodump of his entire backstory mid-book.
Character deaths/losses were... distant. I didn't feel them. They were given the same weight as a good meal or getting a new horse.
And I'm frustrated because I really wanted to get into the lore of the sparks. I want to know more about the Majestic(s). I wanted be involved in the school lessons but it all came across as a training montage.
Are you kidding me right now? This book sat on my phone for a year. A YEAR. I had it pre-ordered from Riptide the SECOND it released. I remember gettiAre you kidding me right now? This book sat on my phone for a year. A YEAR. I had it pre-ordered from Riptide the SECOND it released. I remember getting an email about it's availability. I'll read that next. And then I never picked it up BECAUSE I'M A RIGHT IDIOT, LET ME TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
Static is a brilliant encapsulation of trans social issues. It checks every box on the list. And it's all wrapped up in a wait-and-see timebomb of a plot. I love this book. Alex is traumatized. Damon is caught between a rock and a hard place. The two of them together are a little avoidant but their relationship is so healthy.
I want to work at the Welcome Mat and I'm an introvert. OH AND LET'S TALK ABOUT TOXIC WORK CULTURES, YES? I quit a very good job with very good pay and benefits because one asshole of a guy that I couldn't pin anything on with HR. I FEEL THIS BOOK.
I am yet again reminded why Witt is in the top five of my immediate-read list....more
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