Majkia's Reading What She Likes

Hi all! I mostly read genre: sci fi, fantasy, and mystery/thrillers with some historical stuff thrown in now and again. I'm an old fart, so read what I enjoy.

I'm pro Oxford Comma, and believe in the Pearl Rule.



🎵
Roadkill - Dennis E Taylor
🕮
Blood Relation - Dan Willis

From one old fart to another, welcome to the group, Jean.

>2 pamelad: Thanks!;)

Reading Plans for October
Sci Fi
✅ The Deep Sky - Kitasei Yume
Roadkill - Dennis E Taylor
✅ The Downloaded - Robert J. Sawyer
✅ The Worst Pirate Hunters in the Fringe - Skylar Ramirez
✅ The Fractured Void - Tim Pratt

SFF
✅ A House With Good Bones - T Kingfisher
The Seventh Bride - T Kingfisher
✅ Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo
✅ The Mist in the Mirror - Susan Hill
✅ Book of Night - Holly Black
Fire and Blood - GRRM

Mystery/Thriller
✅ A Foreign Country - Charles Cumming
✅ A Banquet of Consequences - Elizabeth George

Historical/Alt History/Classics

1.

The Book That Wouldn't Burn - Mark Lawrence
Series: The Book That Wouldn't Burn #1
Pages: 576
Challeges: TBR, BingoDOG

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 7
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 8
   
3. Writing Style: 8
   
4. Plot: 8
   
5. Intrigue:9
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 7
   
7. Enjoyment: 9
   
8. Rating: 4
   
   
   
   Imaginative, very nicely written, with some jaw-dropping plot twists. World-building is terrific and the characters are deeply drawn and those you can come to really care about. Lots to say about conflict and enemies and prejudices and assumptions.
   
   I did find things confusing at first, which dropped my rating of the book a little.
   
   I look forward to the rest of the series, but will have to re-read this one when I get all the books.
   
   I listened to the audiobook read by Jessica Wittaker who did a great job.

2.

A Clash of Kings - George R R Martin
Series: Song of Ice and Fire #2
768 pages

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 8
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 8
   
3. Writing Style: 9
   
4. Plot: 8
   
5. Intrigue: 9
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 8
   
7. Enjoyment: 9
   
8. Rating: 4 💙
   
   
   
   This is a Re-Read. I listened to the audiobook read by Roy Dotrice who did a wonderful job.
   
   So complex with so many interlocking moving parts, it is amazing to me it all comes together. War, and horror and bravery and craven critters. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth the read if you enjoy epic sword and sorcery.

3.

York: The Shadow Cipher - Laura Ruby
Series: York #1
pages: 496
Challenges:
AlphaKIT, TBR, ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 8
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 7
   
3. Writing Style: 7
   
4. Plot: 7
   
5. Intrigue: 8
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 8
   
7. Enjoyment: 8
   
8. Rating: 4
   
   
   
   Complex steampunk listed as middle-grade but pretty adultish to me. Only the main characters are kids I suppose makes it listed as middle-grade.
   
   In an alt-NewYork, three kids and a few cronies try to solve a centuries old cipher in an effort to save the building they live in. It's impossible... Or is it. And, what will they win. Can they save their home?

Found and starred!

I see you're reading Adrian Tchaikovsky, so am I.

Does he publish anything less than 600 pages? 🤣

>8 fuzzi: LOL. But he writes great 600+ page books....

>9 majkia: agreed. It just takes so much longer to complete with my allotted hour a night reading schedule!

4.

Daggerspell - Katharine Kerr
Series: Deverry #1
Pages: 482
I listened to the Audiobook read by Ruth Urquhart

Challenges:
ROOT
SFFKIT
Focus SFF
BingoDOG
CalendarCAT
SeriesLove2024

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6 - some characters well drawn, others not so much
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7 Definitely based on epic fantasy tropes
• Writing Style: 8 - Very nicely written, I enjoy her style
• Plot: 7 - confusing, with multiple timelines and people reincarnated from one to the other
• Intrigue: 7 - plots and plots
• Logic/Relationships: 5 - I found some of it rather unbelievable or at least odd
• Enjoyment: 7 - I did enjoy the story.

Rating: 3.5 💙

I'm planning on continuing the series, to see where this goes.

5.

Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree
Series: Legends and Lattes #1
Pages: 304
Challenges:
ROOT
Bookspin

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8 - The strength of the book are the characters, definitely. And I liked the diversity. Especially Thimble!
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7 - Nicely done world making and just a hint of magical stuff.
• Writing Style: 7 - Well written and easy to read.
• Plot: 5 - Not much of a plot, but the story moves ahead anyway
• Intrigue: 6 - Uhm, easily expected but still worked
• Logic/Relationships: 7 - I did love how the characters come together, despite Viv at times.
• Enjoyment: 7 - Definitely enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5 💙

>5 majkia: The Broken Empire trilogy is an absolute favorite of mine— one that I wish I could read for the first time over again! I’m not sure why I didn’t follow up with the Red Sister trilogy all the way through but your post reminded me that I need to revisit. And now this Library trilogy (so far) 🙂

6.

A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine
Audiobook - Read by Amy Landon
Pages: 464

Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7 - Very complex inter-relationships
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 - impressive atomosphere and world building
• Writing Style: 9 - Beautifully written with lots of introspection and consideration of events
• Plot: 7 - not as important as other aspects of the tale.
• Intrigue: 8 - guess who's on who's side. politics....
• Logic/Relationships: 8 - loyalties tested, and sometimes with unexpected results
• Enjoyment: 8 - I really enjoyed it. And am moving on to book two immediately.
Rating: 4 💙

7.

Naked In Death J D Robb
Audio - Reader: Susan Eriksen
Pages: 314 - I read about 100

Challenges:
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 5
• Atmosphere/Setting:4
• Writing Style:4
• Plot:4
• Intrigue:3
• Logic/Relationships:2
• Enjoyment:3
Rating:
2 💙

Way too Romancy for me.. DNF

8.

A Desolation Called Peace - Arkady Martine
Series: Teixcalaan 2
Audio - Reader - Amy Landon
Pages: 496
Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9 Complex and interconnecting characters, well drawn and thoughtful.
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 Aliens and civilizations that are different and complex
• Writing Style: 9 Beautifully written, complex when it needs to be.
• Plot: 7 - A bit hard to follow at times, but then there are many layers that make that true.
• Intrigue: 8 - Lots of players with competing wants/needs/fears
• Logic/Relationships: 7 - I confess to some confusion with the interactions of some of the characters. I think I need to re-read at some point
• Enjoyment: 8 - Great read.
Rating: 4 💙

9.

The Anodyne Necklace - Martha Grimes
Series: Richard Jury #3
Audio - Reader: Steve West
Pages: 304
Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT
Focus Mystery
BingoDOG
Backlist Readathon
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style:8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

I adore Jury and Plant. Laughs, great frienship, smart guys, intelligent kids, sneaky adults, and smitten women. I confess the mystery itself is secondary to me, because I love the Jury/Plant relationship so very much.

What's not to love.

10.

Vienna at Nightfall - Richard Wake
Series: Alex Kovacs #1
Pages: 308
Challenges:
ROOT
Focus Historical
CalanderCAT
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting:8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships:
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

This is a scary read. It's about Hitler beginning to move on Europe and Austria specifically. It was far too close to current events, in the way Hitler and his cronies acted, for comfort.

11.

Mort - Terry Pratchett
Audio - Reader: Nigel Planer
Pages: 243
Challenges:
ROOT
Roll100
Backlist Readathon

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting:7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 6
• Intrigue: 6
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

I do love Death but like him more in the later books. I did enjoy seeking Ook if only momentarily.

>17 majkia: The Jury series is my American wife's go-to comfort listen. Without doing any research into the author I started one and within ten minutes was saying to my English self, 'uh-ho, another book set in England but written by an American author.' Nothing wrong with that in itself but my English old fart just winces at the lack of real authenticity. And as old farts go I am willing to bet that I am an older fart than you, started earlier and have gone on later.
I did finish the book, and a couple more in the series because I enjoyed the character and plots.
Martha Grimes does not come close to being as inauthentic as Elizabeth George, who drops a clanger on every page. I couldn't even finish a chapter of hers. Not to mention that she stole the implausible concept of a peer of the realm being a working detective from Dorothy Sayers.
Grump Grump

>20 scunliffe: LOL. Grump away. I'll still keep reading them. ;)

And so you should :)

I had a pretty good month of reading.
I finished 11 books, 6 by women writers, 5 by men.

I did have quite a few re-reads because I'm re-reading first book of series that I intend to finish.

More SSF than SciFi, I had 1 DNF that got too romance-y for my taste.

I finally got to complete the Teixcalaan series, which is awesome.
I'm also re-reading The Song of Ice and Fire which is interesting. I keep being surprised when my memory pulls up the tv series version rather than the book version of some events. Not surprising since I watched the TV series after I'd read most of the series.

Looking forward to a good February.

12.
Shards of the Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky - 560 pages
Series: The Final Architecture #1
Audiobook: Read by: Sophie Aldred

Challenges:
ROOT
Focus SciFI
Jan Doublespin
BFB

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9 Complex characterization, with various aliens and altered humans.
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 Strange unkown aliens attacking human worlds for no known reason. A few humans have been altered to 'fight' them. Only a few survived when humanity drove off the aliens. But they didn't win. Just - the aliens left.
• Writing Style: 9 Nicely written, very complex and he did a good job clarifying as much as possible.
• Plot: 8 - A lot is unkown so we follow those who are attempting to make sense of what is going on.
• Intrigue: 8 - I love that the attacking aliens are so, uhm, alien. No one understands why the are killing planets and anyone on them.
• Logic/Relationships: 8 - Folks coming together to fight the threat, and yet, of course, others making things more difficult because of political reasons
• Enjoyment: 9 - Really interesting, and intriguing book.
Rating: 4.25 💙

13.

The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry
Audio version read by: Juanita Mahon and ebook

Challenges:
CalendarCAT (LibraryBook)
AlphaKIT
Roll100
ReadMyKindle

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
Impressive characters deeply and consistently created
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
Very atmospheric. 8
This the strongest aspect of the book I thought
• Writing Style:9
Her writing is what kept me reading.
• Plot: 5
What plot?
• Intrigue: 6
Not much.
• Logic/Relationships: 6
I found this challenging. Lots of hand wringing not much actual doing.
• Enjoyment: 7
I kept reading because it is so beautifully written, but really knew the ending long before the last of the reading.
Rating: 3.5 💙

13.
Starling House - Alix E Harrow
Audiobook Read by: Natalie Naudus

Challenges:
AlphaKIT
CalendarCAT (Library Book)
RandomKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting:9
• Writing Style:9
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4.5 💙

Characterization is super. I could almost see them in my mind. The setting, ditto. Atmospheric, creepy, horror done right IMO. The plot and the progression is great, kept me glued to the book. Best book so far this year.

I do want to say it kept evoking something I already read years ago, but I can't put my finger on what it was. I'm not a big horror reader, so the fact I enjoyed this so much was a surprise, although I'd already read her Ten Thousand Doors of January which I'd really enjoyed so that's why I put this on my library wishlist.

14.
Dead and Buried - Stephen Booth
Series: Cooper and Fry #12

Challenges:
ROOT
Focus Mystery
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 3.5 💙

Difficult entry for the series, with bad things happening to Cooper's life. As usual, the main 'character' is the setting. The moors and the Peak district front and center at the heart of the story.

15.

Eyes of the Void - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Series: Final Architecture #2
Audiobook - Reader : Sophie Aldred
Pages: 608
Challenges:

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 9
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

Second book in the Final Architect trilogy. Aliens abound, odd altered humans, tech advances, all converge to try to understand aliens who destroy human worlds and convert them into art, incidentally killing everyone and the planets. Why?

Eversion - Alastair Reynolds
Pages: 352
Audiobook Read by: Harry Myers
Challenges:
TBR
AlphaKIT
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style:9
• Plot:7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

Very odd and surprising stand alone book that appears to be alt history but turns out as something quite different.

17.

Believing the Lie - Elizabeth George - 624 pages

Challenges:
ROOT
BFB
Focus Mystery
Bookspin

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 9
• Writing Style: 9
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4.5 💙

Another intriguing and confusing addition to the series. Confusing, in a good way, as you're never sure what will happen next. Lots of character development for Lynly and Havers as well.

>30 majkia: I'll have to check and see if this is available through my library. I have read and enjoyed her books in the past.

19.

Europe in Autumn - Dave Hutchinson
Pages: 416
Challenges:
ROOT
Alpha
Focus Alt History

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

This was a very strange book. Alt History, with Europe divided into many tiny states, and our hero a courier who crosses all the guarded boundaries to deliver people and things across borders. But there is another level of reality he's only so far gotten a glimpse of.

February Wrap Up


Reading a bit slow this month. Hoping to finish one more today, but it'll be close.

I was disappointed with The Essex Serpent but surprised at how much I liked Starling House as I'm not much of a horror fan.

20.

Fallen Dragon - Peter F Hamilton
Audio - Reader: John Lee
Pages:832
Challenges: ROOT, BFB, SFFKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

Not my favorite Hamilton but a good read nonetheless. Aliens!

21.

Run - Blake Crouch
Series: Fear #1

Pages: 288
Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

Wow. This was amazingly unputdownable. Horror, and lots of blood as a family tries to find safety and live through this nightmare.

22.

The Rings of Haven - Ryk Brown - 240 pages
Series: Frontier Saga #2

Challenges: ROOT, Focus, AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting: 5
• Writing Style: 6
• Plot: 5
• Intrigue: 5
• Logic/Relationships:5
• Enjoyment: 6
Rating: 3 💙

I didn't enjoy this episode as much as I did episode one. This takes place on planet so maybe that's why. Hopefully the next book will be better.

23.

Slow Horses - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #1
Pages: 325
Audiobook read by:

Challenges:
ReadYourEbooks
AlphaKIT
Focus Mystery
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 9
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

Failed spies get sent to Slough House in the hope, I suppose, of getting bored enough to quit. Lamb, their leader, is enigmatic, surly and gives no quarter. Cartwright, one of the slow horses assigned to Lamb, is quite certain he was set up to fail, he just can't figure out who did it. Then comes a kid kidnapped and threatened with beheading. Even the slow horses want to get in on the action.

Very character driven and every one of them is well drawn. The action is compelling and the secrets and lies abound. Eager to get to the follow on in the series.

>37 majkia: The TV adaptation is really good....

>38 scunliffe: Agreed! I watched season 1 but am avoiding the rest until after I read the books. Or... I dunno. Book or adaptation first, .. coin flip?

24.

Argylle - Elly Conway
pages: 352
Audio read by: Dakota Blue Richards

Challenges:
Library Book

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 5
• Atmosphere/Setting: 5
• Writing Style: 6
• Plot: 5
• Intrigue: 6
• Logic/Relationships: 5
• Enjoyment: 5
Rating: 3 💙

For some reason I never really clicked into this book. It wasn't badly written, the characters were pretty well fleshed out, there was lots of action, but it never really engaged me as I like to be engaged. Oh well.

25.

Babel - R F kuang
Audiobook read by: Hoi/Fulford-Brown
Pages:560

Challenges:
AlphaKIT
TBR
BFB

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

I enjoyed this at times, got frustrated with it at times, but persevered to the end. Imaginative, but heavy handed at certain points.

I stuck with it to the end too, but don't know why. A billion years ago I was actually a student at Oxford and I suppose I felt a bit offended by the intrusion of this far fetched fantasy into my nostalgic memories. Those were the best years of my life, among a life full of good years. Old fuddy duddy you think, and you are right.

26.
The Mitford Murders - Jessica Fellows
Ebook and Audiobook - Reader: Rachel Atkins
Pages: 338
Challenges:
Roll100
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 6
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

An okay murder with interesting setting and characters. Looks like book 2 got better reviews. I might check book 2 out also.

27.

Heaven's River - Dennis E Taylor
Audio - Reader: Ray Porter
Pages: 640
Challenges:
AlphaKIT, BFB, ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting:8
• Writing Style:8
• Plot:8
• Intrigue:7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

I love the characters of the Bobiverse. This book seemed to drag a bit as our heroes traveled through a huge structure, but the comedic element was, as usual for these books, front and center. And geeky and nerdy to the max.

28.

Zoo Station - David Downing
Series: John Russell #1
Audio - Reader: Simon Prebble
Pages: 293
Challenges: ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

The book is set mostly in Berlin as Hitler begins his plans to declare war. John, a British journalist with a German son, wants to remain in Germany, even though he sees what's coming. He blunders his way into a world of spies as he tries to help friends.

29.

A Little Hatred - Joe Abercrombie
Series: Age of Madness #1


Audio Reader: Steven Pacey
Pages: 480
Challenges:
Roll100
Focus SFF series
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

Grimdark series with betrayal, hatred, black humor, and a ton of flawed characters. The black humor is the draw for me.

30.

Abaddon's Gate - James S A Corey
Audio - Reader: Jefferson Mays
Pages: 566
Challenges: BFB, ROOT, Focus SciFi

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 9
• Writing Style: 9
• Plot: 9
• Intrigue: 9
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 5 💙

Just as compelling as the first time I read it. I did find the differences between the TV version and the book interesting. The changes made sense, especially Drummer for Bull. Great series, great book.

32.

Limelight - Dan Willis
Series: Arcane Casebook #5
Pages: 335

Challenges: ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment:
Rating: 3.75 💙

I'm really enjoying this series. Alex is likeable and his friends are as well, not to mention odd and intriguing. The incidents are imaginative and complex. This one in particular, really opens up wide new horizons. I'm eager to see where they lead.

33.

The Rift - Walter Jon Williams - 944 pages
Audio - Reader: Kevin Kenerly
Pages: 944
Challenges: Roll100, BFB

CAWPILE Rating: 8
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4.0 💙

Wow. Quite the tale. Sadly all to possible in the south, especially given the current political climate here.

34.

Audio - Reader: Steve West
Pages: 320
Challenges: ROOT
Focus Mystery

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4.25 💙

Love Jury and Melrose's friendship, and Jury is such a sweetheart, odd for detectives. He's sweet and kind.

35.

A Storm of Swords - George R R Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #3
Audio- Reader: Roy Dotrice
Pages: 1216

Challenges: ROOT, Reading Westeros, BFB

As entertaining as the first time I read it. Intricate, surprising, complex and terrific characters.

36.

Sing the Four Quarters - Tanya Huff
Series: Quarters 1
Pages 416
Audio - Reader: Nicol Zanzarella

Challenges: ROOT, ReadYourKindle,

3 💙

I've liked Tanya Huff sci fi but never really connected with the characters in this one. Meh.

37.

The Lords of Uncreation - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Series: The Final Architecture - Book 3 final
PAges: 625

Challenges: Focus SciFi, ROOT, BFB, Bookspin

Wow. Good wrap up for the series. The VUlture God crew is on the run from the Architects and from the creature(alien, whatever) that is making them attack and alter planets with intelligent life forms. What do they want? What can stop them?

I love the characters, who are exceedingly diverse. The story is imaginative, full of humor even in the face of terror. Brightly written, with great visuals throughout.

38.
The Tourist - Olen Steinhauer

Series: Milo Weaver 1
Pages: 417
Challenges: SeriesLove24, AlphaKIT, ROOT

Meh. I never really clicked with the character. Won't be continuing the series. It did have a good twist or two, though.

39. The Captain (Last Horizon)- Will Wight
Series: Last Horizon 1

DNF

Ugh. All this is is a narrative of a guy playing a video game. No consequences, as he dies and just reappears.

40.
The Oppenheimer Alternative - Robert J Sawyer
Pages: 375

Challenges:AlphaKIT, TBR Challenge

Wow. Starts slow, and I don't know enough about Oppie to know how true the first part of the book is, but it was certainly interesting. The second half is where the sci fi comes in. Surprising ending! When all looks lost, science steps up.

41.
The City of Endless Night - Preston/Child
Series: Agent Pendergast #17

Challenges: Roll100, Library Book

I do enjoy this series. Quick reads with lots of twists and turns. Just a touch of horror.

42.
Too Like the Lightning - Ada Palmer
Series: Terra Ignota #1

Challenges: Roll100, ROOT

Complex, futuristic world filled with interacting characters whose motives are hard to understand. The narrator is admitedly unreliable. A tiny bit of magic, the rest is futuristic and surprising. No nations left, religion rejected, morality left to self-chosen groups who all have differing ideas. A hard read, but a deeply intriguing one.

43.

Probability Moon - Nancy Kress
Series: Probability #1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT, Roll100, Focus SciFi

Hard SciFi which actually forced me to look up some science stuff I wasn't really conversant with. I love when that happens! Terrans arrive on an alien world to study the locals (who are apparently an offshoot of Earth Humans seeded by unkown ancestors who created tunnels to travel across through the galaxy as well). Unkown to the scientists on the ground, the ship that brought them is here to investigate an alien object that the locals think is just another moon orbiting their planet.

Quite interesting ideas, involving physics and earth science and sociology. I'm looking forward to more in the series.

44.

Dead Lions - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #2

Challenges: Focus, ROOT, Backlist Readathon, Roll100

I'm really enjoying the series. Well written, fascinating characters, particularly Lamb, and lots of excitement with twists and turns.

45.

Prador Moon - Neal Asher
Series: Polity 1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT, Focus SciFi, ReadYourKindle

Disappointing. Nothing wrong with it, but it never really drew me in.

46.

Snowbound - Blake Crouch
Series: Fear 2

Challenges: ROOT, Roll100, Bookspin, Focus Series

Lots of action, no idea who is up to what.

47.

Diving Into the Wreck - K K Rusch
Series: Diving Universe 1

Challenges: Focus SCiFi, SFFKIT, Roll100

Interesting start to a series. Pilots searching for lost tech and ancient artifacts. Beware of what you wish for.

48.

Primary Inversion- Catherine Asaro
Series: Skolian Empire
Audio: Read by Anna Fields

A little too romancy for my tastes but I'm sure others will enjoy it. Good story other than the falling in love with one glance part.

49.

The Gray Man - Mark Greaney
Series: The Gray Man 1
Pages: 456

welp, it certainly was all action and tension, but it was hard to believe someone could take that many wounds and survive never mind manage to save his friends.

Still, I'll probably read more in the series.

50.

Dead Energy - James M Corkill
Series: Alex Cave 1
DNF

I put up with the awfulness of tense. Often, in the same sentence he'd use present tense and past tense. But when the women began throwing themselves at his hero, I hated it. Yet I kept on because I was interested in the ideas, but when even the intelligent women became helpless I'd had enough. Too bad because the sci fi aspects were intriguing.

51.

The Worst Ship in the Fleet - Skyler Ramirez
Series: Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes 1

A surprisingly fun read! Brad is a f-ckup. He blames himself for killing 500 people in ship he fired on, and is dealing with the grief and guilt by drowning himself in alcohol. That his court martial didn't find him guilty makes it worse for him. He hasn't been thrown out of the Prometheus Navy, instead he's assigned to the worst ship in the fleet stationed on the furthest planet in the empire. He's fine with that. But then things go from bad to worse. And he accidentally does the right thing.

It was a fun and easy read. I'm going to continue the series simply because I like a light book now and again!

52.

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead - K J Parker
Series: Corax Trilogy 1

There's no formal training for battlefield salvage. You just have to pick things up as you go along. Swords, armour, arrows - and the bodies, of course.

So the series begins. But just who is Saevus Corax really?

I love love love Parker's black humor and his deeply flawed and twisty characters. Things are never quite what they seem in his books. So be ready for a surpising ride.

53.

Starfish - Peter Watts
Series: Rifters #1
Challenges: ReadYourKindle, AlphaKIT

Peter Watts' books are always a challenge. This was no exception. I feel like I need to re-read it soonish.

People are being physically altered to work in the deep ocean to provide power to the world. Thing don't go as planned.

54.

Edges (Frontier) - Linda Nagata
Series: Frontier #1
Challenges: Focus, ROOT, ReadYourKindle

Hmm. I wasn't really drawn into this one as I like to be. And I got a bit confused with all the variants of the characters.

55.
Blood Gospel - James Rollins - 732 pages
Series #1 Blood of the Sanguines

Okay, but not as good as the Sigma Series.

56.

A Feast for Crows - George R R Martin
A Song of Ice and Fire #4

Still awed at this series. Although truth be told this is my least favorite of the series because there is so little on the Wall.

57.

Verses for the Dead - Preston/Child
Pendergast #18

Good entry to the series, with Pendergast this time having a partner. Complex as always.

58.

The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
Series: Thursday Next #1

Fun series, even if I'm not particularly a Jane Eyre fan. I especially laughed ever time Braxton Hicks made an appearance. And I only wish there'd been more dodos.

59.

Just One Evil Act - Elizabeth George
Lynley and Havers #18
pages: 723

Havers gets herself into so much trouble - okay, as usual. Lynely does his best to help but since Barbara's friends are involved she's far off the rails.

60.

The Maleficent Seven - Cameron Johnston

Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, RandomKIT

Bad guys reveling in being bad guys. Gore and murder aplenty. Lots of grim humor and I loved Tierenach and the Vampire Lord.

61.

The Legend of Corinair - Ryk Brown
Series: Frontier Saga #3

Quick read with lots of space battles. Not unlike Jack Campbell.

62.
A History of What Comes Next - Sylvain Neuvel
Series: Take Them to the Stars #1

Not at all what I expected but interesting for sure. Who exactly are they, leading Earthers to the stars? Reliving the rise of the space program felt very personal.

63.

The List (Slough House) - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #2.5

Quick read. Novella about spycraft.

64,
Lavinia Urusla K LeGuin

Beautifully written but I didn't really enjoy it that much, sadly.

65.
Stormwarden - Janny Wurts

Janny is so very good at painting a scene and then delving into a characters deepest thoughts and fears. I really enjoyed this and will be eager to get to the next in the trilogy.

66. Cibola Burn - James S A Corey
Series: The Expanse #4

Excellent, even on re-read. I am just blown away by this series.

67.
Persephone Station - Stina Leicht

This was okay, but I never really got drawn into it. Maybe it was the woman reading it as I listened to the audio.

>83 majkia: Oof! I went and listened to a sample and got maybe 5 seconds in. I'm amazed you got through the whole audio!

68.

Agent to the Stars - John Scalzi

Wow. Funny yet quite philosophical and moving at times. I really enjoyed it. First contact done right!

69.

Chaos Terminal Mur Lafferty
Series: Midsolar Murders #2

Chaotic for sure, with aliens galore, murders and old friends refinding each other. The aliens are mostly a hoot.

70.
Noumenon - Marina J. Lostetter

A Gen Ship, populated by clones, goes on a many centuries expedition to locate a construct far out in space. The story is told in Vignettes as the years pass. Interesting and well written novel.

71.
Summertide - Charles Sheffield
Series: Stellar Heritage 1

Hard SciFi focused on a doublet planet system which is going into a once in several thousand year close approach. What will happen? Especially with the alien atrifact that ties the two planets together?

Interesting and enjoyable, with focus on the planetary science.

72.

Luna: New Moon - Ian McDonald
Series: Luna #1
Read By: Multiple folks

This is a re-read so I can finish off the trilogy. A bit too much focus on sex, but otherwise a good read.

73.
Finder - Suzanne Palmer
Series: The Finder Chronicles #1

I really enjoyed this story of a Repo man after a stolen starship, and his encounters with other humans and aliens and of course bad guys. Eager to read more.

74.

Silesian Station David Downing
Series: John Russell #2

An English/American journalist experiences the beginnings of WWII in Hilter's Berlin. Quite scary given current events.

75.

Last Dragon Standing - Rachel Aaron
Series: Heartstrikers #5

Nice wrapup to the series. I'll miss Julius, Marcie and Bob and his pigeon.

76.

Consider Phlebas - Ian M Banks

This is a re-read (well first listen) so I can revisit the series. I love the drones.

77.
Keeper of the Keys - Janny Wurts
Series: Cycle of Fire #2

Beautifully written if a bit too much sailing rhetoric. I love the characters and am eager to see if our hero and heroine manage to save Kiethmark from the demons.

78.

Nemesis Games - James S A Corey
Series: The Expanse #5

Best one so far. Such a great series.

79.

Real Tigers - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #3

I do enjoy this series. Great characterization and lots of action.

80.

Driving the Deep - Suzanne Palmer
Series: Finder #2
Audio read by Paul Woodson

Enjoying this madcap repo man series.

81.

The Murder of Mr Wickham - Claudia Gray
First in Series: Mr Darcy and Miss Tilney

Cute, with all the main characters from Austen's books in one place.

82.

A Blunt Instrument - Georgette Heyer

Hannyside and Hemingway search for a murderer who had only minutes to complete his task. Who could have done it?

I enjoy the reparte of the suspects most in her mysteries.

83.

Luna: Wolf Moon - Ian McDonald
Series: Luna Trilogy #2

Wild west Luna. Battling dynasties. Sort of Westeros reimagined.

84. The Worst Spies in the Sector - Sylar Ramirez
Series: Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes #2

This is a fun series. I really like the characters but hope the female lead gets more chances to shine.

85.

Jerusalem Inn - Martha Grimes
Series: RIchard Jury #5

I love this cozy series, especially when set in the winter. I also adore how Jury and Plant are always interacting with the children who always seem drawn to them.

86.

The Blighted Stars - Megan E. O'Keefe
Series: Devoured Worlds #1
Audio edition.

Some truly amazing ideas in this book, (one, 'printing your consciousness into a new body when needed' ) with a great plot and complex characters who you aren't sure are the good guys or the bad guys. Turns out, maybe they aren't who they think they are, or at least their minds might not be their own.

87.

A Dance with Dragons - George R R Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire 5

I'd forgotten now different the ending of this book was from the HBO series. Other differences as well, but the worst cliffhangers. Sigh... Never gonna get the rest.

89.

Shadowfane - Janny wurts
Series: Cycle of Fire #3

Final entry to the trilogy. Science fantasy, beautifully written but I will admit the book seemed to last forever, with twists and turns toward the end. Enjoyed it nonetheless.

90.
Columbus Day - Craig Alanson
Series: Expeditionary Force #1

This is a re-read so I can read more of the series. I enjoy the humor and the action, and especially Skippy, an alien AI who helps Earth deal with invaders.

91.

A Better Man - Louise Penny
Series: Gamache 15

A surprisingly twisty addition to the series. Always enjoy them.

Luna: Moon Rising - Ian McDonald
Series: Luna Trilogy #3

Dynastic shenanigans on the moon dominate the trilogy. Cuthroat politics (with actual cut throats) and no quarter given. Good wrap up to a wildly imaginative view of what might happen if we colonize the moon. Naturally, the poor folks do the suffering.

93.

Spook Street Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #4

This is currently my favorite series. It is really unputdownable for me. The characters and action are terrific. I'm listening to the audio version and I love it.

94.
The Corpse Bridge - Stephen Booth
Series: Cooper & Fry #14

I love how much this series utilizes the setting and the old traditions and beliefs of the area. Another good entry to the series.

95.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - Christopher Paolini
Series: Fractalverse #1

Immersive, beautifully written, complex space opera. Imaginative world building makes it more than mere space opera. Looking forward to book 2.

96.

Void (Far Reaches) - Veronica Roth
Far Reaches #2

Meh, space mystery. Not very impressed.

97.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune - Nghi Vo

I do get tired of fantasy worlds where women are still treated like crap. Can't we imagine something different?

98.

Stettin Station David Downing
Series: John Russell #3

Most exciting so far in this spy behind the lines in Hitler's Berlin series. Great characters you can cheer for even as you are horrified by what is happing in the world around them.

99.

The Art of Prophecy - Wesley Chu
Series: War Arts 1

Sword and sorcery fantasy which turns prophecy on its head. Interesting but I probably won't continue the series.

100.

City of Ruins - K K Rusch
Sieres: Diving Universe #2

A team that 'dives' wrecked alien starships goes to a planet in search of alien tech. What they find is a surprise even for them. Now how to save the tech from being used agaiinst their own people.

I love archaeology in space, so this hits all my happy places.

101.

All Systems Red - Martha Wells

This is a re-read for me. I wanted to revisit the series from the beginning. And so very glad I did! It is still a breath of fresh air and light and lively.

102.

The Librarian of Crooked Lane - C J Archer
Series: Glass Library 1

Okay light SFF mixing magic in with historical fiction. Set after WWI. Interesting magics, a little too romancy for me, but I'll read at least the second book.

103.

The Life of Elves - Muriel Barbery
I really wanted to like this. It is beautifully written, but nothing ever seems to happen. I finally decided to DNF at about the half-way point.

104.

Victim 2117 - Jussi Adler-Olsen
Series: Department Q #8

Wow, darker than usual with Assad's past turning up to torture him. Also, a crazy kid wielding a sword. As usual, all about the characters and how they deal with the events.

Great Series.

105.
A Banquet of Consequences - Elizabeth George
Series: Lynley/Havers #19

As usual, complex with deep character studies of all suspects. Lynley and Havers growing and changing too. That's why I so enjoy this series. Consequences indeed.

>117 majkia: I red this one recently, and will seek out a few more in the series. Much more entertaining than I expected.

>122 pamelad: Oh, I adore that series. I've read most of them but doing a re-read now.

106.

The Downloaded - Robert J. Sawyer

People whose consciousnesses were uploaded into a computer matrix and downloaded not to find the world they expected but instead a ruined Earth. Few options, and what to do next.

Interesting concept but this was a damatized version and I really don't like them much, alas. I'd have prefered a regular audio version.

107.

The Worst Pirate Hunters in the Fringe - Skyler Ramirez
Series: Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes #3

Fun, light series that is entertaining. I do enjoy the humor and the candor of our not so heroic lead.

108
Book of Night - Holly Black
Series: Book of Night #1

The shadow magic is certainly different and interesting. I enjoyed the last part of the book far more than the first. And I liked Vince more than Charlie. Probably won't continue the series.

>121 majkia: I have enjoyed this series too.

109.

The Fractured Void - Tim Pratt
Series: Twilight Imperium #1
Audio version

When a scientist claims to have invented a machine that will create wormholes at the touch of a button, three different political systems send operatives to retrieve the device and the scientist. Mayhem, betrayals, unexpected alliances and murder happens as they vie to control this incredible device.

Interesting and fun, with lots of humor amidst the mayhem.

110.

A Foreign Country - Charles Cumming
Series: Thomas Kell

A spy has been sent into the cold because of a blown op. When the new head of MI6 ends up the target of a foreign op, Kell gets a chance to redeem himself.

Lots of action and twists and turns. I enjoyed the book and will definitely read more from Cumming.

111.

The Mist in the Mirror - Susan Hill
Far more atmospheric than frightening. Old school ghost story.

112.

A House With Good Bones - T Kingfisher

Not my favorite of hers but interesting nonetheless. A bit of horror but with cool vultures. Oh, and Lady Bugs.

113.

The Deep Sky - Yume Kitasei

Good ideas and nicely written, but I never really got drawn in.

114.

Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo

Okay read but I'm just not into this sort of book. Not a horror fan. I also kept thinking it copied a movie I'd seen about Skull and Bones (which I also didn't really enjoy very much).