New month, new book thread!
Saturday’s first book was Masters of Death by Olivie Blake.
The description makes this one sound like a fun, fluffy paranormal adventure. In reality, this is a complex, deeply layered story with a cast of thousands.
Full review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/5927f056-4cfc-4551-9356-ce6077a54a03
Saturday’s second book was The Loneliness of the Deep Space Cargoist by J.S. Carter Gilson.
A fast-faced, tightly plotted, novel almost entirely focused on one person stranded alone in deep space. Well written, well edited, highly enjoyable.
Full review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ff4b9dd0-5333-459c-a873-65de50ed6d8a
Sunday’s book was Jezero City: Colony Four Mars by Gerald M. Kilby.
Fun, fast-paced murder mystery/conspiracy thriller set on a newly independent Mars.
https://geraldmkilby.com/product/colony-four-mars-audiobook/
Monday’s first book was The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves.
Rich, complex characters. The gentle pace serves as a foil to the taut storyline.
Very short review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/37483d7e-394a-4bf7-b68a-b012441014cc?redirect=true
Monday’s second book was Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells.
Murderbot solves a murder! This might be my favourite one yet.
Very short review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/5d5d4c9d-231d-4235-a0cd-569fc2d6b917
Tuesday’s book was What a Way to Go by Bella Mackie.
Characters you love to hate!
Full review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/1a149fb2-854e-42fc-a6c0-b4776698eb2d?redirect=true
Wednesday’s book was Surface Tension: Colony Five Mars by Gerald M. Kilby.
Imagine, if you can, a world where wealthy corporate overlords buy their way into power.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/5792ed29-fcb9-4654-8599-b8667bbde998?redirect=true
Thursday’s book was Simon Singh's Numbers by Simon Singh – yes, that’s really the title.
You like numbers? I’ve got a number for you: 68%. That’s how far into this book you have to get before you discover that women exist.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/5cc3dead-f616-4046-b59f-ca7205e5d0dc
Friday’s book was A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
This one continues to follow Kianthe and Reyna, but also adds a more traditional will-they/won’t-they romance, which isn’t my cup of tea.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/673af413-a99a-4b1d-8992-f375bd787def
Saturday’s book was All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall.
Reminded me of both Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice and Be the Sea by Clara Ward.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/32c1df13-6351-4e28-9f93-882cedc5701a
Sunday’s book was A Cut Below by T.W.M. Ashford.
A murder mystery in a futuristic, alien setting.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8618a1f4-22a6-4c41-ab5b-bd4b327559a1
Monday’s book was The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas.
The bones of the plot aren’t new. But what sets this story apart is the rich and vivid setting – in the heart of Mumbai.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ba04844d-dbc1-406a-856a-8beb2d5f4e6b?redirect=true
Tuesday’s book was Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.
You don’t read a Becky Chambers book for the plot. You read it for the characters. And this one has them in spades.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/886f7ce5-7108-4a84-906c-0be025b0c619
Wednesday’s book was Plains of Utopia: Colony Six Mars by Gerald M. Kilby.
It’s a conspiracy … on Mars!
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0d825aae-1de2-4629-8b62-452c9c943f17
Friday’s book was The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale.
Darkly hilarious and deeply twisted.
Full review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/e39405ac-2e7f-45dc-b07f-7bd0e8260948?redirect=true
Saturday’s first book was A Terrible Village Poisoning by Hannah Hendy.
Fun, chaotic mystery with a sapphic twist.
Rreview: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8034a4c9-b2ed-4b36-b07e-8d015e1d96e9?redirect=true
Saturday’s second book was Haunted: A Hallowe'en Adventure by Steph Shangraw.
Sweet, cosy paranormal adventure filled with adorable characters exploring a strange abandoned house on Hallowe’en night.
Get it direct from the author here: https://prysmcat.itch.io/haunted
Sunday’s book was A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Kel and Lilah, get caught up in adventures through four different versions of eighteenth-century London.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/a412d40d-8b50-4b50-b4dd-1145c20a5c15?redirect=true
Monday's book was The Drowning Hour by S.K. Tremayne.
PTSD keeps Hannah trapped on a small island. The only thing on the island is the hotel where she lives and works ... and business isn't going well.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4f21c3e0-fe9f-43f7-a509-db95884cced5?redirect=true
Tuesday’s book was a re-read of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
Such a fun, cosy, uplifting, feel good story. No plot to speak of, but adorable characters galore.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/01fbbd90-c1bd-40b7-9678-05f0a6964399?redirect=true
Wednesday’s book was Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump. I covered his stupid face because nobody needs to see that.
What a horrible family. And now they’re going to destroy the world.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6b9e0fba-0902-4142-bee1-50b270620eb9
Thursday’s first book was Lucas by MJ James.
I love the inclusiveness and acceptance in this book. Absolutely delightful to see.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/196567eb-6c21-499f-9033-48bf0bb33332?redirect=true
Thursday’s second book was Diversify by June Sarpong.
Top marks for the ideas but the execution (in some sections) needs improvement.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/365d6fa9-186c-4072-98c6-c12c0662f7cf?redirect=true
Friday’s book was The Concordia Deception by J.J. Green.
An interesting take on off-world colonisation. A very readable story.
Get it direct from the author: https://payhip.com/b/cYG0
Saturday’s book was But What Can I Do? by Alastair Campbell.
If change can be for the worse, it can also be for the better.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2d2a6e6f-a9c3-411e-98e6-8fccd63765d8
Sunday’s book was Blizzard by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard.
A unique but plausible selling. Impossible circumstances. A quick, light read.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/95585ae1-0b16-4244-9e8d-ef662f541dad
Monday’s book was Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly.
How do women not overthrow the system? Why do women not burn it all down? Why aren’t women angry all the time?
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6c7e4307-aed6-4b4a-abbf-2dc8dcc2dbc9
Wednesday’s book was Broken Places by Tracy Clark.
The plot isn’t exactly unique, but what makes this one shine is the characters. Compelling and kinda broken and supportive of one another.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2e9bc048-e841-4c0c-9c8a-bcee87243f93?redirect=true
Thursday’s book was Everything But Money by Jessica Moorhouse.
Whatever your views and feelings on the topic, if you’re ready to take charge of your relationship with money, this book is probably a good place to start.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/1c91606e-5f6d-4160-978c-f77ccf7da781
Friday’s book was The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White.
All works of fiction are, in essence, self-indulgent. This book takes self-indulgence to a whole ‘nother level.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/20eb9b61-ddd7-436d-85db-571f95893963?redirect=true
@Maker_of_Things
I’m trying to pace myself. Once I’ve read them all, I can never read them again for the first time.
I’ve read three of the four.
@clacksee @bookstodon How Vicky treated her characters in this novel made me blacklist her as an author I trusted to not abuse her characters.
"Must suit other tastes than mine."
@mvilain
Not every book is for every reader. And that’s okay.
I’ll be honest: This one wasn’t for me either. But that’s okay.
@clacksee I stumbled across a quite whimsical novella about QE II chasing her dogs behind Buckingham Palace to discover a bookmobile. She asks for recommendations on what to read and Norman, a kitchen aid, offers her a biography of Cecil Beaton. "Oh. We posed for him." said the Queen as she takes the book. Norman makes more recommendations and soon the Queen is finding it harder and harder to make small talk with people in the reception line. "What are you reading currently?" she asks a confused councilman. Her equerries prompted him to talk about his travels and traffic. And they had the temerity to hide the book she had been reading while riding to open Parliament and waving distractedly to the crowds. She'd hid it in the coach's cushions and now it's missing.
A fun romp by the author of HISTORY BOYS
https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Reader-Novella-Alan-Bennett/dp/0312427646
Shouty person
masukomi
Alfred Chow - Maker of Things
Michael Vilain
Donaupiratin