Of course I should immediately say that this is a love story but it is also about who should have power in societies.
AlWhat a richly satisfying read!
Of course I should immediately say that this is a love story but it is also about who should have power in societies.
Alternate history Rome with magic! This book is a fantasy set on a different world, which happens to have the same geography and buildings as Rome and the same world geography in general (Iberia is recognizably still Spain). The author has set this world up to be as like to Rome as desired but different (such as the magic) whenever she needs it to be different for story purposes.
I have always loved Ancient Rome. In this case, Aven (the city state in this book) still has its Republic. Yes, it did have a Dictator but that that man's death, the Republic reasserted itself and the consuls and senators ruled, as before.
I do find it interesting that magic does not necessarily run in families in Aven. That is, anyone might have his or her child start displaying magical powers (say, at age six) so any laws regarding magic regulation have to take that into account. Non-magical families may gain a magic user and only some members of magical families may inherit magical talents.
And I love elemental magic. Our main protagonist Latona is a Fire and Spirit mage. Her older sister has no magic but her younger sister is a Seer (sees possible futures).
Women are definitely not liberated in Aven. Rather, their fathers chose their husbands and women do not have the right to vote. Women live under their father's care until marriage and after marriage under their husband's care. Fortunately, women can divorce their husbands (even if only upperclass women have that right - our main protagonist did have that option.)
Ambitious men have to stand for annual election (including many campaign speeches, etc.) for the various offices.
The other aspect of this book which I really enjoyed so much was the fact that the main woman protagonist's servant (slave) was from another country. Yes, she spoke the Aventan language but her word order was different and her attitudes were certainly different. In Iberia, one of the main man protagonist's most valuable ally (while on campaign against the local troublemaking tribe) was a female warrior, again from another country but this was a free woman beholden to no man. I enjoyed the differing perspectives the people from the various cultures contributed.
Can't wait for the next installment of the Aven Cycle! Highly recommended for all who enjoy a good love story, alternate history, elemental magic, plenty of political intrigue, and lots of character-driven action!
Merged review:
What a richly satisfying read!
Of course I should immediately say that this is a love story but it is also about who should have power in societies.
Alternate history Rome with magic! This book is a fantasy set on a different world, which happens to have the same geography and buildings as Rome and the same world geography in general (Iberia is recognizably still Spain). The author has set this world up to be as like to Rome as desired but different (such as the magic) whenever she needs it to be different for story purposes.
I have always loved Ancient Rome. In this case, Aven (the city state in this book) still has its Republic. Yes, it did have a Dictator but that that man's death, the Republic reasserted itself and the consuls and senators ruled, as before.
I do find it interesting that magic does not necessarily run in families in Aven. That is, anyone might have his or her child start displaying magical powers (say, at age six) so any laws regarding magic regulation have to take that into account. Non-magical families may gain a magic user and only some members of magical families may inherit magical talents.
And I love elemental magic. Our main protagonist Latona is a Fire and Spirit mage. Her older sister has no magic but her younger sister is a Seer (sees possible futures).
Women are definitely not liberated in Aven. Rather, their fathers chose their husbands and women do not have the right to vote. Women live under their father's care until marriage and after marriage under their husband's care. Fortunately, women can divorce their husbands (even if only upperclass women have that right - our main protagonist did have that option.)
Ambitious men have to stand for annual election (including many campaign speeches, etc.) for the various offices.
The other aspect of this book which I really enjoyed so much was the fact that the main woman protagonist's servant (slave) was from another country. Yes, she spoke the Aventan language but her word order was different and her attitudes were certainly different. In Iberia, one of the main man protagonist's most valuable ally (while on campaign against the local troublemaking tribe) was a female warrior, again from another country but this was a free woman beholden to no man. I enjoyed the differing perspectives the people from the various cultures contributed.
Can't wait for the next installment of the Aven Cycle! Highly recommended for all who enjoy a good love story, alternate history, elemental magic, plenty of political intrigue, and lots of character-driven action!...more
Earth is under attack by the oni. Massive hordes of oni rampage across Pittsburgh (which is now on Elfhome full-time instead of switching back & forthEarth is under attack by the oni. Massive hordes of oni rampage across Pittsburgh (which is now on Elfhome full-time instead of switching back & forth from the universe we know and the elves' universe). Tinker finally gets to meet her younger twin sisters and the "babies" (four more Tinker siblings who very much have a role in this book, even though they have not yet been born. Don't ask. It's magic.)
Action has been building in the last several books and comes to a mighty climax in Storm Furies. I would definitely NOT recommend starting the Elfhome series with book six. This is definitely one of those series where you really need to start with book one.
That said, I really enjoyed finally seeing the different sets of characters from previous books get to interact on the same playing field.
It reminded me somewhat of the The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the last in the Hobbit trilogy. That movie also had a LOT of moving parts.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Storm Furies, and I am, at this point, hoping that this was not the last book in this series. A number of characters have new beginnings in this book so, in my humble opinion, there is room for book seven.
Highly recommended for Tinker/Elfhome series fans, Wen Spencer fans, and fans of well-drawn character action and well-drawn aliens!...more
In past times, short stories & (other fiction shorter than novels) were regularly published in sf magazines. Nowadays, the best thing is for an authorIn past times, short stories & (other fiction shorter than novels) were regularly published in sf magazines. Nowadays, the best thing is for an author to be invited to participate in an anthology. This is good because it means stories get written and published. This is also bad because most of the time I have no idea WHERE said stories were published.
So, I depend on authors periodically publishing collections of their short fiction, after a suitable time has passed since the stories appeared elsewhere.
Such is Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik. I first discovered Naomi Novik with the Temeraire series (book 1 being His Majesty's Dragon, c.2006). More recently I enjoyed her Scholomance series (first book c.2020).
Shortly after the title page, Buried Deep details WHERE the included stories were first published. The short story After Hours is set in the Scholomance world and was written for this collection. (I am definitely looking forward to reading it.) In both cases, these two stories "Dragons & Decorum" and "After Hours" are clearly set in the same world as Temeraire and Scholomance, respectively, but with completely new characters.
One story is even set in the world of Ms. Novik's NEXT series!
And don't miss the introductions to each story!
Highly recommended to Naomi Novik fans, fantasy & sf fans, and fans of NEW stories in cherished sf/fantasy worlds!...more
I don't do audiobooks. I prefer to read the material for myself.
HOWEVER, if no print version exists, I will read a "riveting script with fan-favoriteI don't do audiobooks. I prefer to read the material for myself.
HOWEVER, if no print version exists, I will read a "riveting script with fan-favorite characters" (Amazon blurb).
Star Trek: Picard: No Man's Land: The Script of the Thrilling Original Audio Drama was a quick, very enjoyable read.
It felt like a short story to me, which is fine because I enjoy short stories.
It was a quick read because it is almost ALL just dialogue. (If this had been a novelization, it would have taken longer and there would have been much more description of both the characters involved and the locations involved. I can't tell you how long it has been since I read a play in school. AND those plays had stage directions.)
But it was definitely worth reading.
This adventure is set just after Picard Season One and before Picard Season Two. Raffi and Seven had met in Season One. This is them endeavoring to figure out their relationship (definitely a new experience for former Borg Seven of Nine). So, I am glad that my friends kept recommending this book to me!
Highly recommended for all Star Trek fans, Seven of Nine fans, and fans of character-driven space opera action!...more
It is always a good feeling when a series author does a GOOD JOB with wrapping up all of the Loose Ends endemic to series.
So many Happy-Ever-Afters toIt is always a good feeling when a series author does a GOOD JOB with wrapping up all of the Loose Ends endemic to series.
So many Happy-Ever-Afters to arrange as people get paired off (and Amaranthine families are not limited to one husband and one wife/ the nuclear family). So, a lot of balls in the air at the same time to juggle.
The Amaranthine Saga has been one of my most-loved series. All of the seven novels have now been published but Forthright's free to the public "Coop and the Elderbough Trackers" serial is still continuing. (After it ends, she will pull all the posts into an ebook for purchase like she did with the earlier serial Lord Mettlebright's Man.)
And there are still some of the short stories, like this year's Pressed Into Service, which I haven't read yet. And there is Kimiko Book Two which is also not yet finished.
Highly recommended for all urban fantasy fans, series fans, romance fans, & Forthright fans. Bravo!...more
What a spectacular read! A total page-turner! And author D.L. Young respects physics! Like the Expanse, this book has no faster-than-light travel. (SuWhat a spectacular read! A total page-turner! And author D.L. Young respects physics! Like the Expanse, this book has no faster-than-light travel. (Sure, ships travel to different star systems routinely, but they use gates.)
I totally loved the characters in this novel. Fascinating well-drawn alien races. Our hero Jeryn is human, but his best friends are not.
And this book definitely reminded me of Memory of Empire by Arkady Martine. The Realm is a HUGE empire with the wealthy systems at its core and the systems at the outer fringes see little benefit from Realm rule. Plenty of Byzantine politics, though!
Highly recommended for exciting space opera, twists and turns you won't see coming, and found family!...more
I have really enjoyed the Icarus series by Timothy Zahn. These books are space opera PLUS murder mysteries. Our intrepid heroes Roarke & Selene are seI have really enjoyed the Icarus series by Timothy Zahn. These books are space opera PLUS murder mysteries. Our intrepid heroes Roarke & Selene are sent off on missions a la James Bond. Soon the bodies start dropping. It is up to Roarke to solve the puzzle of not only what is going on, but will they be next on the hit list? And can they beat their rival the alien Patth to the prize both races are desperately searching for?
We learn more about Selene's people in Icarus Changeling, book 5 in the Icarus Saga. Turns out that if a Kadolian loses his (or her) parents at a critical age, his (or her) socialization (yes, instilling a moral code of behavior) may not be completed. That child could go rogue and become a sociopathic killer, who the Kadolians call Changelings.
The action never stops, and the book keeps you guessing until the very end, as a good murder mystery does.
Highly recommended for all space opera fans, murder mystery fans, series fans, Timothy Zahn fans, and fans of books which respect other cultures. In other words, no cookie-cutter aliens but rather various alien species which have their own cultures and ways and are not JUST seen as "the villains" of the piece....more
Seven of Nine joined the Star Trek Voyager crew on the first episode of Voyager's fourth season, aired September 3, 1997.
This book was first publisheSeven of Nine joined the Star Trek Voyager crew on the first episode of Voyager's fourth season, aired September 3, 1997.
This book was first published as a mass market paperback by Pocket Books/Star Trek on September 1, 1998, and is the first full-length novel featuring Seven of Nine and her past.
I really enjoyed seeing Seven of Nine again on Star Trek: Picard. I enjoyed the Star Trek: Picard tie-in novel Firewall by David Mack which was about what happened with Seven of Nine after Voyager returned to Earth at the end of that series. How Seven joined the Fenris Rangers, etc.
This book is set shortly after the Voyager crew discover Seven of Nine's parents' ship the Raven, where six-year-old Annika Hansen (Seven) and her parents had been assimilated by the Borg.
This time Voyager comes across a vast empire in space. If they were not allowed to cross peaceably, it would take them a good year to go around this empire to continue their journey to the Alpha Quadrant & Earth. The crew runs into another group who says that they can get Captain Janeway an interview with the Emperor to ask for safe passage but they are refugees and need to ask Voyager to help them re-settle on a new planet after their own planet had been attacked and destroyed.
And so, the adventure begins. I don't want to say too much but Seven of Nine learns more about herself in this book and I'm glad that I had the chance to read it.
Highly recommended for all Star Trek: Voyager fans, fans of well-drawn alien species, and fans of a well-told tale!...more
Cast in Atonement by Michelle Sagara is the latest book in the long running Chronicles of Elantra series. This time, Kaylin's new housemate Mrs. ErickCast in Atonement by Michelle Sagara is the latest book in the long running Chronicles of Elantra series. This time, Kaylin's new housemate Mrs. Erickson meets Kaylin's last housemate Bellusdeo.
Mrs. Erickson, for those who have not read the last Chronicles of Elantra book Cast in Eternity, sees ghosts. The Dragon Bellusdeo had lost all of her eight sisters during the Shadow Wars. Mrs. Erickson finds eight ghostly sisters firmly attached to Bellusdeo.
To make it worse, Mrs. Erickson can not only see each sister clearly, but she can speak to and listen to the answers from each sister, whereas Bellusdeo can do neither.
Of course, Kaylin finds herself in the middle of yet another crisis in this latest book (bk 19). So Bellusdeo's sisters' predicament has to wait, for now.
Highly recommended for all Michelle Sagara fans, Chronicles of Elantra fans, series fans, urban fantasy fans, and fans of well told stories with plenty of character-driven action!...more
This second book was slow going somewhat in the middle but definitely finished strong.
As to be expected in a second book, we learn more about the chaThis second book was slow going somewhat in the middle but definitely finished strong.
As to be expected in a second book, we learn more about the characters, including the AI captain.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know Jal's twelve-year-old niece in this book.
Highly recommended for fans of found family, space opera, character-driven action, and trying to make the best decisions you can with the choices you are given at the time!...more
I have really thoroughly enjoyed the Major Bhaajan books. I totally loved the Skolian Imperialate where the POV characters were telepaths and warriorsI have really thoroughly enjoyed the Major Bhaajan books. I totally loved the Skolian Imperialate where the POV characters were telepaths and warriors. Major Bhaajan is a warrior as well, but she is an empath and has resisted exploring her paranormal powers.
The Major Bhaajan books deal with the have-nots. The people who left the city to live in what are considered slums. Turns out, not really slums. Just a different culture. A culture where scarcity is the way of life and people speak in a minimalist fashion (one word where the city dwellers would speak a dozen, for instance).
The city is totally prejudiced against the Under City dwellers as lazy, unskilled, and uneducated.
This book is likely the last with Major Bhaajan as the POV character. But I am looking forward to the Dust Knights books - the ones featuring Major Bhaajan's proteges - the warriors of the Under City the Dust Knights....more
For years, the Five Hundred of the Heart Worlds have only cared about their wealth and comfort. Five HundUh, oh. Terrence Murphy didn't get the memo.
For years, the Five Hundred of the Heart Worlds have only cared about their wealth and comfort. Five Hundred member Terrence Murphy is dispatched to a Fringe world for a "safe" two-year governorship. If he can keep his head down and avoid rocking the boat, he will continue to rise to the top in Heart World politics at home.
But no one counted on Terrence Murphy being an honorable & principled man. No one counted on Terrence having a mind of his own and the ability to decide for himself what he needs to do next. In other worlds, the Heart Worlders mis-calculated if they thought Terrence Murphy was going to be the average fop do-nothing governor usually seen in the Fringe worlds.
Highly recommended for hard sf space opera fans, military fiction fans, and people who like books with honorable protagonists who take risks for the right reasons and keep their heads when the situation suddenly "goes wrong". Can't wait for book two! [Set in the world of the book In Fury Born by David Weber.]...more
I really enjoyed this book. Beck is 16 years old. The seastead has been her home since the age of four. Beck is fortunate that her father is an importI really enjoyed this book. Beck is 16 years old. The seastead has been her home since the age of four. Beck is fortunate that her father is an important man and, until now, she has wanted for nothing. However, she wanted to feel useful / contribute to the community, so she got a job as a Finder. For the residents (not the tourists), the seastead has a barter economy. Say someone needs shoes or a piece of clothing of a particular color/size. Beck asks around and usually is able to find someone who not only has the desired item but is willing to make a trade for it. Beck herself earns hard currency for this service. (After all, teens always like to have a little money of their own.) Until the day she was asked to find someone's missing sister in return for the desired pair of sandals Beck had been tasked to Find. Suffice it to say that Beck's life quickly gets interesting from this point. And we learn a whole lot more about the seastead and what really goes on there. Highly recommended for Naomi Kritzer fans, fans of coming-of-age books, and fans of solid world building and a tale well told....more
This book is the fourth installment in the Singing Hills Cycle series by author Nghi Vo.
Mammoths at the Gates is about a traveling monk finally returnThis book is the fourth installment in the Singing Hills Cycle series by author Nghi Vo.
Mammoths at the Gates is about a traveling monk finally returning home to his monastery. The Divine (Abbott-equivalent in this world) who had been in charge had died shortly before Chih got home. The monks want to bury him and disburse his papers back into the monastery library (from which most had come).
When Chih arrives, he sees two mammoths, one a full-grown female and the other (her daughter) at the gates. You remember Hannibal and his war elephants. Similarly, war mammoths make short work of gates/enemy fortification through brute force. They ram gates and soon smash up enemy fortifications.
Their handlers, in this case, are two female military officers who quickly demonstrate that their mammoths are well trained.
Except the monks are not enemies to these women officers.
The women claim the deceased monk is their grandfather. They are there to bring home his body to bury him beside his wife, their grandmother. They are claiming what amounts to next-of-kin rights to bury this man.
The monastery understandably has other plans for its late Divine. The monks strongly feel that the dead man was part of THEIR community and thus should be buried right here on the grounds of the monastery he served for so many years.
Chih also comes home to find that his childhood best friend is now Acting Divine. He is in charge until the actual Divine arrives home.
Chih has to recognize and accept that his old friend is no longer his equal (they had known each other long ago as young novices & basically had grown up together) but is now his religious superior. What has that done to their longstanding friendship? Chih left to travel many years ago and in the interim his friend has risen in the ranks here at home.
I really enjoyed this quiet story about what it means to be part of a community. A chosen family versus the family of one's birth.
Book Five The Brides of High Hill promises to be a different kettle of fish entirely.
Cleric Chih is again the protagonist. The next book is a standalone Gothic mystery. That's fine with me. I really like the protagonist and this Imperial Chinese-seeming world.
I am also looking forward to reading books one through three of this Singing Hills Cycle. Book one The Empress of Salt and Fortune won the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Novella.
I really enjoyed Abeni's world. Lush African fantasy world with strong family ties/belief systems and fully realized characters.
Abeni finds herself I really enjoyed Abeni's world. Lush African fantasy world with strong family ties/belief systems and fully realized characters.
Abeni finds herself apprenticed to the local witch who had been caring for her village for many years until the day the witch showed up and said that she was there for the child she had been promised long ago. Her mother unexpectedly gives her to the witch and then Abeni's village is attacked and the action from then on never stops.
Abeni makes friends along the way, spirit shapeshifters that can either be girls (like Abeni) or panthers/other animals.
I enjoyed the setting the most, but the strong characters were a close second. I can't wait for book two, Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold. This is listed as a middle grade book. The book one opens with Abeni's twelfth birthday.
Highly recommended for fans of P. Djeli Clark, in depth worldbuilding, African fantasy, and strong female protagonists!...more
People have been saying for years how hilarious the Jodi Taylor books are - both the Chronicles of St. Mary's AND the Time Police series. But Killing People have been saying for years how hilarious the Jodi Taylor books are - both the Chronicles of St. Mary's AND the Time Police series. But Killing Time was the first laugh-out-loud-uncontrollably book in either series for me. I absolutely loved this one!!
The MacGuffin in Killing Time is an out-of-control steam engine train with a malicious mind of its own. And it is jumping randomly through Time. The only good thing is that the Time Police have in their favor is that they have all of the recorded sightings, going back hundreds of years.
A lot happened in the previous book and in this book, it has yet to be decided whether Team 236 (our protagonists Luke, Jane, & Matthew) will even stay together or be broken up or even if one or more members might be leaving the Time Police entirely.
Come along if you dare for a real roller-coaster of a ride and be prepared to face an out-of-control train which just happens (of course) to have two Team 236 members trapped onboard with the original 1911 passengers!
Highly recommended for all Time Police series fans, time travel fans, and fans of ripping good yarns!...more
The long-running Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series is one of my top favorite series.
Author Patricia Briggs always delivers a solid outing. Winter LoThe long-running Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series is one of my top favorite series.
Author Patricia Briggs always delivers a solid outing. Winter Lost involves a mystery- who stole an ancient artifact of great power? The owner is more than outraged. The end of the world is on the line this time unless the artifact is promptly returned.
I did enjoy that we got to see Gary, Mercy's half-brother (share the same father) in this adventure.
And we got to see Montana in winter. Mercy had grown up in Montana. Of course, Mercy and Adam have to contend with a bitter winter storm full of both driving snow AND magic. Much larger and more intense than the usual fierce winter storms in this area.
Highly recommended for all Mercy Thompson series fans, paranormal fans (this book has the usual Mercy assortment of fae, vampires, werewolves, etc.), fans of family drama, and fans of a tale exceedingly well told!...more
Too many times I have bemoaned what appeared to be the FINAL book in a series only to happily discover, some years later, that the next book is about Too many times I have bemoaned what appeared to be the FINAL book in a series only to happily discover, some years later, that the next book is about to be published.
Amazon's blurb said, "the fourth and final installment of the Finder Chronicles". This time I hope that Amazon is wrong.
The Finder Chronicles have been a particular delight. Our protagonist, Fergus Ferguson, is really good at his job, which is finding that which has become lost. He also frequently finds himself in the middle of the action.
Amazon also describes this series as MacGyver meets Firefly.
As it happens, I never watched MacGyver, but its reputation is that give MacGyver a paperclip and some other unlikely tool, and he can get himself out of most any fix. Fergus also is an extremely gifted problem solver, and also uses whatever tools he or his companions have to hand.
Firefly is found family making the best of the few resources available to them, again like Fergus.
Highly recommended to fans of space opera, capers/heists, dealing with known & unknown alien races, and just a thumpingly enjoyable adventure tale!
Alexia and companions find themselves in Egypt in book five of the Parasol Protective. Not just Egypt but Ancient Egypt. Book 5 reminded me of LawrencAlexia and companions find themselves in Egypt in book five of the Parasol Protective. Not just Egypt but Ancient Egypt. Book 5 reminded me of Lawrence of Arabia!
Plus, Alexia finds out her late father had visited Ancient Egypt on a number of occasions!
British/European travel by steampunk dirigible. Ordinary Egyptians travel in private/family hot air balloons.
I really loved traveling in Ms. Carrier's world. It looks outwardly like our own world, but it has supernaturals and magic!
So sorry to see this first series come to an end but glad that there are more books by this author just waiting for me to try!
Highly recommended for steampunk fantasy fans, mystery fans, romance fans, Georgette Heyer fans, series fans, and fans of fast-moving plots and comedies of Victorian manners fans!...more
Eight months pregnant? If you think this will stand in our stalwart protagonist's way when the game is afoot, you have not met Alexis Tarabotti MacconEight months pregnant? If you think this will stand in our stalwart protagonist's way when the game is afoot, you have not met Alexis Tarabotti Maccon!
Someone is threatening to kill Queen Victoria, but who? Alexis has plenty of suspects. But is it the vampires or the werewolves this time or is the threat coming from some as yet undiscovered source?
And I have not even mentioned the gigantic mechanical steampunk octomaton (think eight-legged octopus but metal and EACH leg independently armed with one nefarious weapon or another) rampaging through London!
Good thing Alexis has her ruffled parasol at hand with its various hidden weapons, not to mention just using it to club some evil doer upside the head!
Highly recommended for plenty of action and derring-do for steampunk fans, romance fans, mystery fans, series fans, and of course all Gail Carriger fans! This is a comedy of manners inside a mystery sure to delight all Georgette Heyer fans as well!
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