The nitty-gritty: Sylvain Neuvel’s latest is an ambitious look at the history of the space race with an intriguing, speculative twist. This is an odd book that I think is going to have a tough time finding an audience, but I absolutely loved the concept, and I think Neuvel probably achieved what he set out […]
The nitty-gritty: The Minders had lots of potential, but too many silly plot points and unlikeable characters made this a miss for me. I think your enjoyment of The Minders is going to hinge on whether or not you can get past some of the ridiculous plot elements, at least that was my experience. The […]
The nitty-gritty: A computer with the ability to see one year into the future causes all sorts of problems in this thought provoking and twisty sci-fi story. I thought this book was a lot of fun! If you enjoy twisty, mind-bending sci-fi stories with an emphasis on technology and how it shapes our lives, you’ll […]
The nitty-gritty: The Echo Wife is a twisty, emotional and intimate look at the relationship between a human and her clone replica. Sarah Gailey is one of those writers who never writes the same book twice. This is my fifth Gailey book, and once again I’m surprised by how unique each of their books is. […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique seafaring story set in a brilliantly inventive world and populated with interesting characters, The Forever Sea was a feast for the senses. Never has a book surprised me as much as The Forever Sea. What started as a slog through heavily detailed worldbuilding and a slow moving plot suddenly made a […]
The nitty-gritty: Romance, intrigue and mystery collide in this sparkling science fiction debut. Winter’s Orbit was such a nice surprise! From some of the publisher’s descriptions and comparisons, I was expecting a much more romance-heavy story, but for those of you who shy away when the word “romance” comes up, fear not. The relationship between […]
The nitty-gritty: Threader Origins had a lot of potential, but a sluggish middle section made this an uneven read for me. Threader Origins has a great hook: a machine called the Quantum Power Source, designed as a solution to the world’s energy needs, misfires and pushes a young undergrad into a dystopian parallel world where […]
The nitty-gritty: Fancy some Eldritch nightmares? Then look no further. The Gulp is the perfect combination of weird, brutal and creepy. The Gulp has the honor of being my first horror book of 2021, and folks, it was a good one! Alan Baxter is a well-known Aussie horror author, and I had not heard of […]
The nitty-gritty: An outstanding epic fantasy debut, Hall of Smoke surprised me at every turn. Wow, that was a debut? I couldn’t be more impressed. Hall of Smoke was such a nice surprise, an epic fantasy with Norse mythology and Viking influences that captured my attention and never let go. Even better, Long’s writing is […]
The nitty-gritty: A low-key entry into McGuire’s popular series, Across the Green Grass Fields introduces a new character and sets the stage for more adventures. I’m always excited when a new Wayward Children book comes out, but unfortunately, this latest installment didn’t quite work for me. It wasn’t a bad book, per se, but it […]