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 […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique combination of sci-fi, folklore and coming-of-age, Remote Control is another atmospheric and thoughtful book by Nnedi Okorafor. This is a strange little Africanfuturism story that I enjoyed a lot, and if you’re a fan of Nnedi Okorafor you will enjoy it too. Remote Control has science fiction elements, but as other […]
The nitty-gritty: Inventive and engaging, Doors of Sleep is the feel-good sci-fi story you didn’t know you needed. If you’re looking for an upbeat, quirky, feel good story to start off 2021, then you cannot go wrong with Doors of Sleep. This book was such a happy surprise, and I can’t believe this is my […]
The nitty-gritty: A thought-provoking tale of survival, The Effort raises interesting questions about life in the face of impending disaster. The Effort is an ambitious debut about a comet that is hurtling towards Earth and the team of scientists who are tasked with stopping it. There are all sorts of directions you can take with […]
The nitty-gritty: A macabre glimpse into the mind of a female serial killer, In the Garden of Spite is a compelling page-turner, rich in historical details and fascinating characters. Halfway through the meal, Moira had to excuse herself, as she was feeling ill. I wished her a speedy recovery as she made her way upstairs. […]
The nitty gritty: Brutal and beautiful, heartbreaking and healing, Betty is an extraordinary coming-of-age story that I won’t soon forget. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, the snow comes in. At first the flurries melt before they land. Then they pile lightly like dust, bringing their cold in. I can see my mother’s […]