While this wasn't a bad read--at all--what made it extremely charming and compelling in the first book was kinda overwritten by large, even huge, stakWhile this wasn't a bad read--at all--what made it extremely charming and compelling in the first book was kinda overwritten by large, even huge, stakes.
I'm not one to hate it when larger stakes take over in tales, but when a book successfully pulls off a more comfortable, cute, even wholesome plot-rock, I feel a huge desire to keep it going. The whole down-to-earth AI helper storyline was truly delightful.
Unfortunately, that feel was subsumed beneath an ever-increasing scale and scope of dread that could have been simply banked at a simple cult-level, with strict focus on friendship and aid--not a world domination shtick.
Alas. It wasn't bad, otherwise, and perhaps devoted YA readers out there would LOVE this twist. It simply didn't work for me.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Honestly, I thought the year would be a lot crappier than it was. It's like books. Sometimes you go into a tome with a certain expectation that just gets blown up like fish in a dynamited pond.
The year wasn't exactly chum. But it did HAVE chum.
Overall, however, at least when it came to books, I had a relatively great time. Tons of LitRPG which is my version of snack foods and popcorn. Lots of classics, which comes out to comfort food and often full, memory-laden 7-course meals. And then there was my fair share of fast, forgettable food.
But my memories are all for the carefully crafted, savory mind-meals. The steaming soup-books, the spicy tomes, the heartwarming oatwords, and yes, the candies. And of course, the non-fiction veggies.
Let me mention a few of my all-time favorites for the year that weren't re-reads of already-favorites.
FRIEREN Beyond Journey's End.
This was something I started as an anime and ended buying every volume I could find, plus plushies. I watched the anime 5 -- yes, 5 -- times. It makes me laugh, and cry, fills my heart to overflowing, and keeps me awake late into the night. When I need real comfort, I turn to this now, and have been turning to it for smiles, deep melancholy, and sometimes deep glee. It has some brilliant fights, but it is all about the quiet moments, the small details, and everything that's utterly human. Even if there is a thousand year elf in it.
My FAVORITE.
There's really nothing that comes close.
As for everything else, I have to include rereads, like Broken Earth or Stormlight Archive. Or Three Body Problem, or Hannu Rajaniemi's Quantum Thief trilogy.. All of these are great. Let's not forget Terry Pratchett, of course.
Some books that really stood out for quality and worldbuilding are Ken Liu's fantasy, Alastair Reynold's Prefect books. Or the light-hearted Juveniles of Heinlein.
For LitRPGs, standouts were Mother of Learning books and All The Skills.
For light, fun space operas, my go-to gal is Suzanne Palmer's Finder series. But all-around great SF belongs to just about everything Adrian Tchaikovsky writes. He's a go-to always-trust.
But let's not forget the joy of Robert Greenberg's TLC series for music!
As for all the rest, this is far from being a comprehensive list, but if I'm honest, these are the books that my memory allows in the list late at night after a couple of glasses of wine. In other words, those books that shine brightest in memory.
And who's to say if this is a BAD way to do it? If a book stays with you, it's gotta be GOOD.
Happy New Year!
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.
This old Heinlein was surprisingly great. Perfect for a Boy's adventure between planets in the Solar System, meeting fun people (and aliens), getting This old Heinlein was surprisingly great. Perfect for a Boy's adventure between planets in the Solar System, meeting fun people (and aliens), getting waylaid in a fresh interplanetary war machine, and finding delightful ways out of the messes he finds himself.
Make no mistake--this is old SF, but it FEELS fresh enough to be marketed today to actual YA. It's wholesome, full of can-do attitude, and a lot happens in a short book. It's simply a fun, even rollicking, SF adventure. This might be one of my favorites in RAH's juveniles.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.
So, I was craving dragon fantasy and I came across this one being highly recommended, so I told my buddy reader and we got onto it.
So, here's the reaSo, I was craving dragon fantasy and I came across this one being highly recommended, so I told my buddy reader and we got onto it.
So, here's the real deal: it's written well. No complaints. It hits all the tropes you'd expect in a new-modern Eragon YA fantasy, which was, itself, an old genre. No problem there.
However--there is a glut of current books doing almost exactly the same thing at this time. I've read 3 different properties just last year, within the last 4 years of publications, that have an almost carbon-copy feel. Scourges, dragons, young kids with links, and--to put no fine line on it--an almost LitRPG feel to it. Or rather, an actual LitRPG feel to it.
I don't mind that. Truly. Hard magic systems and LitRPGs go hand-in-hand. So when we get into foods giving precise special effects, discussing complicated bonds between dragons and riders and the different effects, I'm in very comfortable territory. And the story itself is also very comfortable territory.
So, if I'm going to be generous here, I'd say this is a proper and fine book for any youngster who wants to fall in love with dragons afresh. Or for any one of us who just want to recapture that feel.
Just don't assume it'll break any new ground, and you'll be just fine. It ain't aged wine. It's grape juice. Sweet, wholesome, and gentle. Yes, gentle even with scourges and grief.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.
It's a pretty great example of a "signs and mystical Arthurian legendary artifacts" kind of series, boldly mixing ancient and wildThe finale has come!
It's a pretty great example of a "signs and mystical Arthurian legendary artifacts" kind of series, boldly mixing ancient and wild magic in with everyday English characters within a small territory for huge stakes.
That being said, I always preferred reading about Will's adventures and I warmed up to Brom pretty quickly, while the normal children were kinda so-so to me.
While I do APPRECIATE the idea of having so much Arthurian and older English imagery studded through these books, (and the last one in particular), my older self found it slightly ham-fisted and even slightly nonsensical by the end. It always boils down to arbitrary decisions by vastly powerful beings who then choose to give a choice over to the least consequential mortals.
Chosen-one stuff in different clothing, even arbitrarily chosen chosen-one stuff by the very end. And yes, I can see the point that this makes it rise above the expected outcomes, gives it subtlety and a chance for readers to read it all again for more signs and portents, but to me, it reminds me of countless heavy-handed christian fiction. Post-Narnia as this is, perhaps I'm a bit -- sensitive.
THAT being said, I still liked this book and the whole series. Good YA, great atmosphere, and if you're into it, vast numbers of symbolism to consider. ...more
Not only does it continue on in strong form from the first arc, it widens all horizons.
This series can only be I'm frankly blown away by this series.
Not only does it continue on in strong form from the first arc, it widens all horizons.
This series can only be described as a single endless novel. When the journey and character is this strong, a format like this is absolutely WONDERFUL if the writing is great and the dear reader is fully invested.
Fortunately, I am. Indeed, I LOVE a well-made Groundhog Day story and make no bones about the loop being about a month long. It turns this young character's magical learning sessions into something quite instructive. Being the academic sort, myself, I love the idea of becoming an archmage at 15 a wonderful prospect.
The big tragedy that keeps on re-happening is just a nice spur for everything else. As it is here, Zorian's scope is now well beyond the city where everything else had happened. He's developed a few new specialties, but it's his generalism that truly fascinates me.
So much so, I'm giving up on sleep and feel absolutely no desire to do anything else while reading this stuff. Yes, that is high praise....more
Maybe I'm getting into the worldbuilding more, or I am getting into the characters more, but the fourth book is really picking up for me and I'm lovinMaybe I'm getting into the worldbuilding more, or I am getting into the characters more, but the fourth book is really picking up for me and I'm loving it.
Perhaps a re-read of them all might be in order, now that I know the shape of things to come. :)
Either way, dark corners of English countryside, bastions of darkness, fought by the last incarnations of the light? As seen through foxes, ugly landowners, and dogs...
Yes, I think this small scope as a backdrop of the large is working quite well....more
Still a good YA fantasy from the early seventies, this time bringing the characters from the first two books together on an adventure to find the GraiStill a good YA fantasy from the early seventies, this time bringing the characters from the first two books together on an adventure to find the Grail. There's a good solid T. H. White thread here, as well as a Tethys, and a lonely Greenwitch.
It's worth it just for the mythology, but I have to say, it is likely a good, ageless book for the youngin's. ;)...more
I honestly enjoyed this 1973 YA fantasy. I was also rather surprised that we didn't get to follow the kids from the first book, instead falling into WI honestly enjoyed this 1973 YA fantasy. I was also rather surprised that we didn't get to follow the kids from the first book, instead falling into Will's headspace as he discovers he's one of the Old Ones.
Lots of magic and dark atmosphere here, but let's not forget just how much English folklore is jammed within these pages. Forces of light and darkness is just a single part of it.
I came into this assuming it was a fantasy classic, and so far, I haven't been disappointed.
Ah, a breath of fresh LitRPG air. I've been reading a lot of average stuff lately, so when I got into this, I didn't have all that much hope. I mean, Ah, a breath of fresh LitRPG air. I've been reading a lot of average stuff lately, so when I got into this, I didn't have all that much hope. I mean, sure, it has some friendly dragons and relatively horrible people, so I was wondering. Plus, I knew from the start it was going to be a skill-deck kind of fantasy, so I kinda had some high hopes for it.
Fortunately, it reads well. YA in feel, it's more a "kid gets a legendary card that allows him to level up (with practice) any kind of skill he sets his heart on" than a "let's ride dragons and kill the dark lord" kind of thing.
This, it turns out, is everything I wanted to read. Let's learn and get good at better learning and maybe sometimes be a great thief while we're at it.
Yummy.
I can't wait to get on with the next. :)
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.
I was excited to read this because I absolutely adored the author's short stories. And, let's face it, AI stuff is either REALLY HOT right now or it'sI was excited to read this because I absolutely adored the author's short stories. And, let's face it, AI stuff is either REALLY HOT right now or it's met with absolute disgust. Fortunately, I'm of the curious nature and I'm always up for a good imagining.
As for this SF YA, I don't have many complaints. It's cute, has a low-stakes mystery, and focuses on the young characters more than anything else.
Of course, it DOES do a pretty good job of informing the reader of the kinds of issues we all face with data mining, exploits, insecurities in our information networks. (Which are real, to say the VERY least.) So I'd say it does a good job trying to open our eyes while having a cool tale to make it ride.
Other than that, however, it's not ground-shattering. The next book probably won't be, either, but the complications are promising.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Here's a bright surprise of an older YA SF book. This 1968 novel reads perfectly as if it were of the modern type. Bright and clear in all ways, it giHere's a bright surprise of an older YA SF book. This 1968 novel reads perfectly as if it were of the modern type. Bright and clear in all ways, it gives us an exploration of life aboard a huge generational spaceship and its interactions with colony worlds.
Most importantly, it's fantastic for the very reason of its title. It's about growing up, learning more and more about your own society and how it clashes with others, of where you or they can be wrong, and where you could or should fit within it.
That's an exceedingly simple description, of course, but I'll point out that this well-written novel is quite down-to-earth in every way possible. It's fascinatingly straightforward and really digs into prejudices and misconceptions. The best part is that its pretty damn universal.
I could had this book to just about anyone, regardless of preferred genre, and I can pretty much promise that it will not offend and it will likely stay with you a long time afterward.
One thing I will point out: it gives me an impression of being a much better YA than most I have read. The best parts are the questions....more
So, right to the nitty gritty. I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. The title needed a bit of explaining, too, but I was pretty on boSo, right to the nitty gritty. I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. The title needed a bit of explaining, too, but I was pretty on board with a YA dark fantasy with necromancy. My only real concern was whether it'd go down the torrid romance path, but I'm happy to say that the majority of the book took the other path.
I admit it took me a bit to get into, all told, but I was fairly enjoying the life and many, many days of living, learning, and survival with the help of her helper ghosts, undead minions, and spies. My only concern by this point was trying to figure out where the plot might lead us. All-in-all, it just felt like a never-ending stream of slice-of-necromantic life. It was somewhat wholesome, not at all scary or gross, and was just this side of amusing.
And that might have been for the best, if it had been a bit tighter. The fact is, there was a lot of this mild stuff going on... and on... and on... and I had a problem with keeping my interest level high. I had to put down the book fairly often.
And then there was the time skip. A few interesting things happened after, but by then I honestly didn't care all that much.
Did I hate the novel? No. Not at all. I can absolutely see how others might adore it. It has so much of living in its deathly pages and I'm sure a certain kind of person out there would latch onto all this and call it the greatest thing ever. But for me, I would have preferred it go through a hardcore editor, maybe splitting the book into two, but with an emphasis on story-shape. It just kinda felt like it grew and kept growing and overrun the whole garden....more
Honestly, I do think this is a rather expected end to Seanan's Improbable Road YA fantasy -- the one that that is referenced to heavily in Middlegame,Honestly, I do think this is a rather expected end to Seanan's Improbable Road YA fantasy -- the one that that is referenced to heavily in Middlegame, etc.
The adventure ends satisfactorily, with all the proper reveals and sage wisdom, referring to the journey much more than the end.
So, while I was somewhat charmed by it, I have to admit that I wasn't blown away. It was decent. It gives me something to look forward to with the proper Alchemy references in the main series.
I don't know exactly why I feel a little let down, but I do, and I can't quite put my finger on why....more
The best part of this five page comic is getting a bit of the nostalgia for Mister from the earlier books. The cat always had a prominent place, and nThe best part of this five page comic is getting a bit of the nostalgia for Mister from the earlier books. The cat always had a prominent place, and now, after so many things having happened, he kinda got lost in the mix.
Not so, now. It's nice to see him ... even if he is very much a cat. #teammouse...more
Coming back to Wayward Children is always a treat. Deep and fantastical stories that always circle back around to profound coming of age tales. The moComing back to Wayward Children is always a treat. Deep and fantastical stories that always circle back around to profound coming of age tales. The moral lessons are almost always very closely tied to the magical lands.
In this particular novella, we get to revisit some classically horrible lands, or rather, classically horrible people in those lands, and reinforce the fact that we, as children, are not the things that are done to us.
This is important at all times, of course. But the magic makes it a bit more pointy. ...more
A bit of a departure from the first two books in the Harper YA, this one changes PoV entirely. Fortunately, I like the clever, spy-like feel. It's allA bit of a departure from the first two books in the Harper YA, this one changes PoV entirely. Fortunately, I like the clever, spy-like feel. It's all still about dragons and drakes, of course, but we get to see a lot more of the land and have an interesting adventure, so it's all good.
Simple, enjoyable YA with all that we love of the series: music and dragons....more
I think I liked this one better than the first Percy Jackson. It's more straightforward, all adventure, and evCan you say, "Best hits of the Odyssey?"
I think I liked this one better than the first Percy Jackson. It's more straightforward, all adventure, and even more mythology. It was just plain fun. Sure, a bit of Golden Fleece and a huge portion of Odysseus (without the man, himself,) and always... Family Drama. You know how those Greek Gods are like.
This, more than the first, convinces me to keep going....more