Review: City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: City of Miracles
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Publisher/Publication Date: Broadway Books; May 2, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Source/Format: Blogging for Books; Paperback

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Revenge. It's something Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is very, very good at. Maybe the only thing...

So when he learns that his oldest friend and ally, former Prime Minister Shara Komayd, has been assassinated, he knows exactly what to do and that no mortal force can stop him from meting out the suffering Shara's killers deserve. Yet as Sigrud pursues his quarry with his customary terrifying efficiency, he begins to fear that this battle is an unwinnable one. Because discovering the truth behind Shara's death will require him to take up arms in a secret, decades-long war, face down an angry young god, and unravel the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself. And perhaps most daunting of all finally face the truth about his own cursed existence...

My Thoughts:

When dealing with Divinities you never know what might (and mostly will) go wrong...

City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett is undoubtedly one of my most anticipated book releases of 2017. My sentiment about the second book in the series—City of Blades—is similar to my conclusion about City of Miracles: It was well worth the wait, because, oh man, this story was fantastic. City of Miracles was a bittersweet yet fitting end to this series.

After the sudden, unexpected death of Shara Komayd—who was one of my favorite characters—Sigurd is left with one goal in mind. However, when the Divine are involved, you never know what might happen. The actual plot of City of Miracles was awesome. Every time I thought I would take a break and set this book aside, I got to a good part. I basically stayed up well past midnight finishing it. There were so many twists, so many revelations that not only was this book exciting, it was packed full of action.

City of Miracles picks up years after the last book, and a lot of things have changed. In the last book, the progression of technology replacing divine miracles was being shown in its early stages. But change is slow and sometimes painful, and people want to cling to what they know. That is one of the things I truly liked about this series: its approach to progress, and the way these things gradually took place. City of Miracles also marked the return to Bulikov, the city surrounded by mysterious walls filled with stairs that went nowhere. It wasn’t the same as before, but again, that’s progress.

Sigrud je Harkvaldsson has had a role each time something inexplicable happened, but City of Miracles was where his story was front and center. There was always an air of mystery to him, and like so many other things about this series, City of Miracles answers those lingering questions. And yeah, I cried a little at the end, but in my defense emotions were running high in almost every scene.

I’m a little sad that this series is over. However, I can’t say that I’m sorry because City of Miracles was a good note to end on. Truly, it was an experience.

Rating 5/5

This copy of the book was provided by Blogging for Books (publisher) for this review, thank you!

About the author...

Robert Jackson Bennett is a two-time award winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, an Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original, and is also the 2010 recipient of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and a Philip K Dick Award Citation of Excellence. His fifth novel, City of Stairs, is in stores now. He lives in Austin with his wife and son. He can be found on Twitter at @robertjbennett...

ARC Review: Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung by Min Kym

Title: Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung
Author: Min Kym
Publisher/Publication Date: Crown Publishing Group; April 25, 2017
Genre: Memoir; Nonfiction
Source/Format: First to Read; eARC

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The spellbinding memoir of a violin virtuoso who loses the instrument that had defined her both on stage and off -- and who discovers, beyond the violin, the music of her own voice...

Her first violin was tiny, harsh, factory-made; her first piece was -Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.- But from the very beginning, Min Kym knew that music was the element in which she could swim and dive and soar. At seven years old, she was a prodigy, the youngest ever student at the famed Purcell School. At eleven, she won her first international prize; at eighteen, violinist great Ruggiero Ricci called her -the most talented violinist I've ever taught.- And at twenty-one, she found -the one, - the violin she would play as a soloist: a rare 1696 Stradivarius. Her career took off. She recorded the Brahms concerto and a world tour was planned. Then, in a London cafe, her violin was stolen. She felt as though she had lost her soulmate, and with it her sense of who she was. Overnight she became unable to play or function, stunned into silence. In this lucid and transfixing memoir, Kym reckons with the space left by her violin's absence. She sees with new eyes her past as a child prodigy, with its isolation and crushing expectations; her combustible relationships with teachers and with a domineering boyfriend; and her navigation of two very different worlds, her traditional Korean family and her music. And in the stark yet clarifying light of her loss, she rediscovers her voice and herself...

My Thoughts:

A while ago, I mentioned that I was going on a bit of a hiatus from reading nonfiction. Well, that’s obviously over. It’s cancelled. I’m going to leave it at that, because when I saw Gone by Min Kym up for review, I was more than interested. Gone sounded like the kind of book I would love to read, and my initial assessment was right. Gone was truly a fantastic memoir that was worth the time I spent reading it.

I’ve read a couple of memoirs here and there, but Gone was something else. The subject dealt with music, which I rarely read about. Still, this seemed like such and authentic book because of the writing—which was engrossing—but also because Kym herself is the violinist. Min Kym wrote about her personal experiences. She talked about the expectations that were placed on her because of her obvious and natural skill with a violin and how her early lessons and learned habits ultimately affected her life. Gone detailed some of the most pivotal times in her life—both emotionally and professionally—and painted an honest picture. It was written from the perspective of a person who was a child prodigy from their perspective, not told by someone else. Gone was as much about the violin that was unjustly taken as it was the violinist behind the bow. And let me tell you, the result was powerful.

I could write more about Gone, but I’m not trying to summarize the whole memoir. There wouldn’t be a point to it. You’d have to read it to truly understand. That’s all I can say.

Now, I have looked up more about Min Kym and discovered that there is an album that was released as a companion to this book. I have listened to it. And it has reminded me of why I still, to this day, enjoy listening to classical music.

So, if you read the memoir also listen to the companion album too. That’s my recommendation. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have music to listen to.

Rating 5/5

This copy of the book was provided by First to Read (Publisher) for this review, thank you!

Review: Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

Title: Key of Knowledge
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley; January 1, 2003
Genre: Romance; Fantasy
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Fate brings three women together for a chance to unlock their deepest desires. This is Dana’s quest…

Dana Steele has always found her greatest passion in books. But now her boss is making her job as a librarian a living hell. Luckily, she now has a Plan B. High on a hill overlooking the town of Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, sits the Warrior’s Peak estate. It’s where Dana was invited to meet Malory Price and Zoe McCourt—and where they learned that they were destined to find three keys to unlock a box holding the souls of three mythical demigoddesses: one an artist, one a bard, and one a warrior. With the promise of a million dollars each dangled before them, the women couldn’t refuse. And as Malory found the first key, they formed a fast friendship and decided to go into business together. For Dana, that meant her dream of owning a bookstore was about to come true. And now, as Dana finds herself on the threshold of some major life changes, it’s her turn to find a key. She has four weeks to unravel a riddle involving her past, present, and future, and to find the truth hidden among deception and lies—or succumb to her worst nightmare...


My Thoughts:

Every time I buy a Nora Roberts book, I always end up with the second book of a trilogy. This has happened twice now. I’ve heard of Nora Roberts before because my mom has a lot of her books, so I'm not totally unfamiliar with her work. I just haven’t kept up with which series was which.

Key of Knowledge is the first book I’ve actually read by Roberts, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story had a contemporary romance feel to it, but was combined with magical elements and mythology that I really enjoyed. There were gods and goddesses, prophecies, and even a little bit of a quest; romance, and a little action. Roberts knows how to set up a convincing atmosphere. There was always a sense of danger, even when the characters were going about their daily routine.

Going into the book there was a lot that I obviously missed, but it wasn’t hard to get into the story. Roberts writing was excellent, and the pace was good from start to finish. The characters were interesting. I especially liked the friendship between Dana, Malory, and Zoe. The romantic elements had a prominent role in Key of Knowledge, but honestly I didn’t mind it. I think Roberts handled that part of the story in such a good way. I liked the relationship between the characters a lot.

All-in-all, Key of Knowledge was just a great book. There was an emotional element to it that I really liked, and the story itself was great. So, I eventually want to read the rest of the trilogy, and will definitely check out other books by Nora Roberts.

Rating 5/5

ARC Review: Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay

Title: Better Late Than Never
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley; November 1, 2016
Genre: Mystery
Source/Format: First To Read; eARC

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

In the latest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Timesbestselling author of A Likely Story, a decades overdue book puts library director Lindsey Norris hot on the trail of a cold case...

When the Briar Creek Public Library holds its first overdue book amnesty day—no fines for late returns—the volume of incoming materials is more than Lindsey and her staff can handle. In a bind, Lindsey drafts the crafternoon ladies to help check in and sort the stacks of books.

But one tardy tome catches her attention—a copy of J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, twenty years past due. When Lindsey looks up the borrower, she’s shocked to discover it was a murdered school teacher named Candice Whitley, whose killer was never found.

Candice checked out the novel on the day she was murdered. Now Lindsey wonders if it could provide a clue to the decades-old cold case. No one noticed who brought the book back in, but could it be Candice’s killer? Lindsey is determined to catch the culprit one way or another, because justice for Candice Whitley is long overdue...

My Thoughts:

When I finally sat down to give Better Late Than Never (BLTN) a read, I wasn’t aware of the fact that this was part of a series—book seven to be exact. Regardless of what I didn’t know about the series, I still enjoyed the book.

Two of my favorite things are books and the library. I haven’t used my local library as much lately, but that’s beside the point. What I’m getting at is that Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay seemed like my kind of book. And I was right. The main character was a librarian, the Briar Creek Public Library played an important role in the plot, and the mystery was established early on in the book.

One of my favorite aspects turned out to be the mystery surrounding the overdue library book. McKinlay did a good job with her use of the typical cozy mystery elements—amateur sleuth, small town setting, a mystery that finds its way into the hands of the main character, etc.. I found it hard to put the book down.

The characters were wonderful. I really liked Lindsey, the sleuthing librarian. Her perspective was interesting, and I liked how she approached the case, even if she was asked to stay out of it. I also like how McKinlay established the relationships between the characters—from friends, to family, and even romantic interests.

At the end of the day, BLTN is definitely one of the best books I’ve read in 2016. Now I kind of want to see where Lindsey’s adventures all began. 

Rating 5/5

This copy of the book was provided by First to Read (publisher) for this review, thank you!

About the author...

Jenn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several mystery series and will be debuting a new women's fiction series in June 2017, starting with the title About a Dog. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets and her husband's guitars...

ARC Review: You Can't Touch My Hair (And Other Things I Still Have to Explain) by Phoebe Robinson

Title:You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain
Author: Phoebe Robinson
Publisher/Publication Date: Plume; October 4, 2016
Genre: Nonfiction; Essays; Autobiographical 
Source/Format: First to Read; eARC

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

A hilarious and affecting essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from celebrated stand-up comedian and WNYC podcaster Phoebe Robinson...

Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comic, which means that, often, her everyday experiences become points of comedic fodder. And as a black woman in America, she maintains, sometimes you need to have a sense of humor to deal with the absurdity you are handed on the daily. Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend," as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isn't that . . . white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the page and she's going to make you laugh as she's doing it.

Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus," to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, "2 Dope Queens," to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, "You Can't Touch My Hair" examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise...

My Thoughts:

I like nonfiction and have read a handful of books this year, everything from history to rain, and even a book on architecture. Interestingly enough, though, I haven’t read a collection of essays before Phoebe Robinson’s You Can’t Touch My Hair (YCTMH). I liked this collection. Robinson did a good job of articulating her thoughts into a series of interesting essays ripe with serious subjects, valid and thoughtful critiques and insights, and humor.

YCTMH is probably one of my top favorite books this year. I seriously enjoyed reading it. Robinson got real with her personal experiences of growing up, discovering herself, her passion in life, and later being a comedian. Robinson dished out opinions on race, hair (yes, hair, which was among my favorite essays), gender, stereotypes, and equality—which are extremely relevant topics in 2016. There was also a lot of reference to pop culture sprinkled throughout; however, the synopsis pretty much states that—so, it wasn’t unexpected to say the least. I also really liked Robinson’s sense of humor. It really came through in YCTMH.

So, to end this review, I’ll start by saying that YCTMH was definitely insightful and worth the time it took to read it. Finally—just one more thing before I call it a day—there was so much about the book that I genuinely liked that if Robinson writes something else, I would definitely give it a try.

Rating 5/5

This copy of the book was provided by First to Read (Publisher) for this review, thank you!

ARC Review: Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Letters from Paris
Author: Juliet Blackwell
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley; September 6, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction; Mysery; Contemporary
Source/Format: First to Read; eARC

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Keycomes the story of a mysterious work of art and the woman inspired to uncover its history in the City of Light...

After surviving the accident that took her mother’s life, Claire Broussard worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days she feels something lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful sculpture that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II. At her grandmother’s urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the centuries old mask-making atelier where the sculpture, known only as “L’inconnue”—or the Unknown Woman—was created. With the help of a passionate sculptor, Claire discovers a cache of letters that offer insight into the life of the Belle Epoque woman immortalized in the work of art. As Claire uncovers the unknown woman’s tragic fate, she begins to discover secrets—and a new love—of her own...

My Thoughts:

What do I even want to say about this book?

After I finished reading Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell, I had to find the words to convey what I wanted to say. Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Letters from Paris was a contemporary novel in all the right ways, balancing a historical aspect, traditions, and art—sculpting, mask-making, etc.—with alternating POVs between the past and the life of Claire Broussard, which was set in modern times. It was also about love, loss, family, and secrets set in Paris, France.

What I liked most about Letters from Paris was how the different pieces of the story fit together. It dealt with so many different things—from personal loss to sculpting—yet it all worked as a coherent and emotional story. Blackwell had a way with characterizations. She produced a series of convincing circumstances that elicited an emotional response. I felt for the characters and that made the story a page-turner.

I really liked the plot. And, yes, while the beginning of this book was kind of sad, it was easy to get into the story. I wanted to know more about Claire and her family. Claire was a good narrator, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective as she navigated Paris, while trying to regain some sense of direction/motivation after very abrupt changes in her life—relationship, employment, and a personal tragedy.

Blackwell handled all the different themes really well, and my favorite aspects of Letters from Paris were the relationships in Claire’s life. The setting was also great too, and while I’ve never been to Paris, Blackwell did a good job with describing the places that Claire visited. The mystery of the woman behind the l’inconnue mask was pretty cool too, and I liked it just as much as I enjoyed the historical parts of the book.

The romance was sweet. It wasn’t spontaneous and certainly didn’t happen overnight, or even at first sight. It unfolded slowly as the characters got to understand and know one another better. Blackwell did a good job developing the chemistry between Claire and her love interest. I loved the dialogue between them. In fact, I really liked the dialogue between all the characters throughout the novel. Each interaction/conversation added something else to the story, which was great and kept the book interesting.

Letters from Paris was just a lovely book. From start to finish, this book was everything I was looking for and more. Blackwell has another book set in Paris—The Paris Key—and now, I’m curious to know if it’s just as good as Letters from Paris. And since my eARC has already expired for this book, I do want to look into eventually getting a physical copy.

Rating 5/5

This copy of the book was provided by First to Read (publisher) for this review, thank you!

About the author...

Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author ofLetters from Paris and The Paris Key. She also writes the Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series. As Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Agatha-nominated Art Lover's Mystery series. A former anthropologist, social worker, and professional artist, Juliet is a California native who has spent time in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France...

Review: Friction by Sandra Brown

Title: Friction
Author: Sandra Brown
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing; August 18, 2015
Genre: Romantic Suspense; Mystery; Thriller
Source/Format: Purchased; Hardcover

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes a gripping story of family ties and forbidden attraction...

A Texas Ranger, relegated to deskwork due to past recklessness, petitions to regain custody of his five-year-old daughter, and his case is assigned to a family court judge who is as attractive as she is ambitious. When a masked gunman barges in during the custody hearing with his sights on the judge, the Ranger reacts instinctually and goes after him. But authorities apprehend the wrong man, and the real gunman remains unknown, at large, and a threat. Will this take-charge lawman jeopardize his chances of custody by going after the would-be assassin? And will this unlikely pair be able to deny the forbidden attraction building between them?

My Thoughts:

I am having almost too much fun with thrillers/mysteries lately—i.e. Map of Bones by James Rollins. So, when I saw Friction by Sandra Brown at the book store, I immediately wanted to read it just based off the synopsis alone. I haven’t read anything else by Brown yet; however, Friction turned out to be a very good start. 

I was impressed by Brown’s ability to establish a credible conflict so early on in the novel, one which the main characters were immediately thrown into the center of amidst more personal issues. Plus, these were characters I could root for since page one. I wanted things to work out for them, really I did, but the majority of the book had them in some pretty bad situations, which as far as mystery/thrillers go, was pretty entertaining.

Friction was definitely a page-turner. I sped through the book in a couple of days. As I mentioned above, there was a lot going on. With Crawford Hunt dealing with a custody case concerning his daughter, Georgia—a case that put him on the opposite side of the courtroom from his in-laws—so he didn’t need anything more to complicate his life. However, that’s exactly what he got when a tragedy occurs at the courthouse. I think Brown handled the conflict well. She also left room to explore the consequences of strained relationships between family members, and the ethical expectations of certain occupations—like being a judge or a lawyer, and even a detective. 

The mystery aspect was really good, and there was a generous amount of suspense in the story. There was some romance, but it didn’t really take the focus away from the mystery.

Crawford Hunt made some mistakes in his life, and multiple characters throughout the story state this fact. He was described as reckless and prone to acting without fully judging the situation. Brown showed this too, but managed to give a plausible reason for his reactions to certain situations. Holly Spencer has issues of her own to deal with—such as keeping her position as judge out of the hands of her rival—she had a lot she needed to focus on. I liked their interactions despite the circumstances.

The conclusion was somber but nicely wrapped up the story. So, in terms of endings, it was a good one. So, at the end of the day, Friction was an unexpected favorite. 

Rating 5/5

Review: Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams

Title: Life, the Universe and Everything
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey Books, April 30, 2002 (First published in 1982)
Genre: Science Fiction
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback Omnibus Edition

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The unhappy inhabitants of planet Krikkit are sick of looking at the night sky above their heads–so they plan to destroy it. The universe, that is. Now only five individuals stand between the killer robots of Krikkit and their goal of total annihilation. They are Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered space and time traveler who tries to learn how to fly by throwing himself at the ground and missing; Ford Prefect, his best friend, who decides to go insane to see if he likes it; Slartibartfast, the indomitable vice president of the Campaign for Real Time, who travels in a ship powered by irrational behavior; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-president of the galazy; and Trillian, the sexy space cadet who is torn between a persistent Thunder God and a very depressed Beeblebrox. How will it all end? Will it end? Only this stalwart crew knows as they try to avert “universal” Armageddon and save life as we know it–and don’t know it!

My Thoughts:

I’m steadily working my way through the omnibus edition of this series, and so far, I really like it. Adam Douglas’ style is interesting—classic science fiction elements mixed with humor and outrageous methods of going about life in the universe.

Life, the Universe and Everything picks up where The Restaurant at the End of the Universe left off. Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are still living under the forced confines of their latest predicament. But they, of course, manage to get out of it in the most hilarious and random way possible. From there, the story delves into new issues that involved messing around with time—and the potential consequences—the impending destruction of the entire universe and the usual variety of problems that always seem to plague Arthur.

Life, the Universe and Everything was a fantastic book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The settings were fantastic as always and fit perfectly with the world already established by the previous books. All the old characters were back. Many of them dealing with the events that happened in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe in their own ways. But trouble was afoot, and it was interesting to see how the characters dealt with it. A lot of unexpected things happened in this book, which made it interesting.

I will read on, because I’m curious to know what the next books have in-store for Arthur Dent, Trillion, Ford Prefect, Marvin, and Zaphod Beeblebox. 

Rating 5/5

Review: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

Title:The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey Books, April 30, 2002 (First published in 1980)
Genre: Science Fiction
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback Omnibus Edition

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability--and desperately in search of a place to eat. Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who's gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android who suffers nothing and no one very gladly. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food (literally) speaks for itself. Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that the Hitchhiker's Guide deleted the term "Future Perfect" from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!

My Thoughts:

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable…”

One thing I really like about the Hitchhiker’s books, are the titles. They’re fun, but that’s beside the point. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the second book of the misnamed series. Really, it’s not a trilogy. But, who cares? More books, right? Anyway, this book picks up shortly after the end of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Arthur Dent is still aboard the Heart of Gold, as he, Ford Prefect, Zaphod, Trillian, and Marvin search for a place to eat. But this is the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe series, and the most simplistic task always has the chance of going seriously wrong. And this time it involves an ill-timed request for a very ordinary cup of tea.

I enjoyed The Restaurant at the End of the Universe as much as I did the first book. It was a great story—serious at times, but also maintaining a sense of humor. The Universe in the novel is, of course, an outrageous place—and one of the many aspects that, so far, I’ve enjoyed about the books. The setting and the characters were fantastic. The different planets were very interesting, and it was nice to see how the characters reacted to the rapidly changing environments. Marvin was his usual self, and so was Ford Prefect and Trillian. Arthur was present, but a good portion of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was dedicated to Zaphod.

I’m also glad that some of the unresolved mysteries from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe were addressed in this book. It all tied together so that was great. But, once again, the ending left me with more questions. So, I will definitely read Life, the Universe and Everything.

One more favorite quote:

“The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

Rating 5/5

Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Title:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey Books, April 30, 2002 (First published in 1979)
Genre: Science Fiction
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback Omnibus Edition

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years...

My Thoughts:

Before I get on with this review, I just have a quick clarification to make. I have the omnibus edition but I plan on reviewing the books separately. So, for today, I’m going to stick with my thoughts for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

And now, I’ll be moving on.

With this one, I ran into a small dilemma. When I first decided I wanted to read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—and this was after staying up late one night, when the movie was on—I discovered that I didn’t actually have the first book in the series. I had the sixth, And Another Thing by Eion Colfer. Fast forward a week or so, and I’ve gotten my copy of The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I read the first book.

Did I like it?

Yes.

The story follows Arthur Dent, who is the unfortunate recipient of a decidedly bad day. His house is about to be demolished to make way for a bypass. And on top of that, the earth is about to be demolished to make room for a galactic highway that could have really gone around it—but then, there wouldn’t be a story.

I could describe Arthur as a character who had previously lived under very ordinary circumstances. However, his problems began to add up all at once. It was interesting to see his reactions to everything that happened around him. The other characters were interesting too—Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian, and even Marvin—there interactions were highly entertaining, and a joy to read. The Guide itself offered up interesting facts about the universe as the book presents it.

The settings were very interesting—from Vogon ships to strange planets and an even stranger ship called the Heart of Gold with its Improbability Drive.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a very entertaining read that was sometimes serious and sometimes a little silly with the much needed humor of outrageous situations.

Rating 5/5

Review: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Title: Cold Magic
Author: Kate Elliott
Publisher/Publication Date: Orbit, September 2, 2010
Genre: Fantasy 
Format/Source: Mass Market Paperback, Purchased

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The Wild Hunt is stirring - and the dragons are finally waking from their long sleep...

Cat Barahal was the only survivor of the flood that took her parents. Raised by her extended family, she and her cousin, Bee, are unaware of the dangers that threaten them both. Though they are in beginning of the Industrial Age, magic - and the power of the Cold Mages - still hold sway.

Now, betrayed by her family and forced to marry a powerful Cold Mage, Cat will be drawn into a labyrinth of politics. There she will learn the full ruthlessness of the rule of the Cold Mages. What do the Cold Mages want from her? And who will help Cat in her struggle against them?

My Thoughts:

The first time I read Kate Elliott’s Cold Magic was years ago, and recently, I reread it just for fun since I had some time. Let me tell you, this book is two kinds of fantastic and everything I look for in a fantasy novel.

The story focuses on Cat (Catherine) Barahal after she is married to a cold mage. It took some time for the reasoning to come into full focus, but that slow buildup made the story interesting. When the reasons were finally revealed, well I liked it the first time I read the book and it was just as expertly placed as I remember it to be. Bee (Beatrice), Cat’s cousin, was present in the beginning but wasn’t as involved in the middle of the book. As I said, the story was mainly about Cat. But for the parts that she was present, well, they were fantastic. Bee is one of my favorite characters in Cold Magic, she remains interesting, and I loved the conversations that happened between the two—those parts were basically some of my favorites and one of the reasons why I picked this book up again.

The magic in Cold Magic fits seamlessly with the world, from the Cold Mages themselves to the abilities that Cat and Bee possessed, though vastly different from one another. The world itself was done well and served as a fitting backdrop for Cat’s story. I liked how all of the little details were handled and incorporated into the story—the development was clear from early on, and the information was spread out and placed in a way that avoided info dumps.

The characters Cat and Bee are still some of the best I’ve read about. So, I’m glad that I had the time to reread Cold Magic, and it remains one of my favorite fantasy novels.

Rating 5/5

   

About the Author...

Kate Elliott has been writing stories since she was nine years old, which has led her to believe that writing, like breathing, keeps her alive. She is the author of over twenty science fiction and fantasy novels, including her YA debut Court of Fives, as well as Cold Magic, Spirit Gate, King’s Dragon, Jaran, and her short fiction collection, The Very Best of Kate Elliott. Her new epic fantasy, Black Wolves, is now available. She lives in Hawaii with her spouse, paddles with outrigger canoe club Ka Māmalahoe, and nurses along an aging schnauzer.

(Photo copyright April Quintanilla)

Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Title:The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Publisher/Publication Date: Orbit, February 25, 2010
Genre: High Fantasy
Format/Source: Paperback (omnibus), Purchased

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle...

My Thoughts:

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin was everything I was expecting and more. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve picked up this year, and a new all-time favorite right alongside Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson and the Martian by Andy Weir. And as far as high fantasy novels go, this one was excellent.

I have so much to say. So, where do I even begin with this one?

Let’s talk about the setting, which was definitely one of my favorite parts of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Sky’s description was kind of cool since there were essentially two cities that went by the same name, and were located in the exact same place. The only catch was that one was a palace that nearly floated above the other, only connected by an “impossibly thin column.” And it was in Sky—the palace—that the story primarily played out.

The POV was first person and set its focus entirely on Yeine Darre. I enjoyed the narrative style, because it was nice to read about the characters reaction from her point of view. The internal dialogue was something I found especially interesting to read as Yeine’s story unfolded. Overall, she remained a good character who had her flaws and struggles, but seeing how she dealt with them only added to the story. Dekarta Arameri was a character I disliked for…well, you know, reasons—just like many members of the Arameri family. I rooted for the main character so there wasn’t a single reason for my dislike, but stuff happened which added some tension to the novel. Oh, and there were gods/goddess—not much to say there because of the usual reason of potential spoilers.

The plot, while not the most fast-paced, was definitely one of my favorites. There were some political aspects combined with fantasy elements, which ultimately worked well together. So yeah, I absolutely loved The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. And because I have the omnibus edition with all three books, I will definitely be continuing on with this trilogy.

Rating 5/5

Review: Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Title: Old Man's War
Author: John Scalzi
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor Books, January 15, 2007
Genre: Science Fiction
Format/Source: Paperback, Purchased

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger...

My Thoughts:

With Old Man’s War by John Scalzi I had really high expectations—I kept seeing the series come up in various places, so I decided to go ahead and just give it a try. And you know what I was pretty impressed by it. Everything from the concept to the characters, even the various (often time’s completely alien) places were interesting and what ultimately kept me reading. I was invested in the story and eager to see where the characters ended up by the end of the novel.

Old Man’s War was exactly my kind of book.

The story is basically told from the perspective of John Perry, and at the age of seventy-five he decides to join the army. Well, this wasn’t any old army, because it primarily dealt with conflicts in the far reaches of outer space. The beginning was solid and introduced the concept, and I especially liked the parts that explained what really happens when you join the Colonial Defense Forces (CDF). There were a lot of stipulations that came along with the numerous benefits, and it was interesting to see how it played out later on in the story. I can’t say much about the other characters, because it’s a spoiler— or there wasn’t much about them. The focus of the story remained primarily on John and his experience in the CDF.

The technology—ships and weapons—were also cool. Other aspects that I enjoyed was the way that the CDF operated, and the numerous missions that the recruits had to do under their specific orders. I also liked being able to see some of the training they underwent. I think that this book worked because it blended science fiction elements with strategy and war. So on that note, I look forward to eventually getting more of Scalzi's novels.

Rating 5/5

Review: The Fold by Peter Clines

Title: The Fold
Author: Peter Clines
Publisher/Publication Date: Crown, June 2, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction, Suspense
Format/Source: Hardcover Review Copy, Blogging for Books

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The folks in Mike Erikson's small New England town would say he's just your average, everyday guy. And that's exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he's chosen isn’t much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he’s content with his quiet and peaceful existence. That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve: far out in the California desert, a team of DARPA scientists has invented a device they affectionately call the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to “fold” dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step. The invention promises to make mankind’s dreams of teleportation a reality. And, the scientists insist, traveling through the Door is completely safe. Yet evidence is mounting that this miraculous machine isn’t quite what it seems—and that its creators are harboring a dangerous secret. As his investigations draw him deeper into the puzzle, Mike begins to fear there’s only one answer that makes sense. And if he’s right, it may only be a matter of time before the project destroys…everything.

My Thoughts:

“Step into the fold. It’s perfectly safe.”

Hahaha, no. If someone ever told me that, I would be heading for the hills long before they finished trying to talk me into it.

So yeah, I read The Fold by Peter Clines, and I was up until one in the morning just because I wanted to finish it. I was at the part where everything was getting good, so sleep just had to take the backseat for a while. This was basically a story about scientific theory and even more speculation combined with what could possible happen if things were to go wrong when people play with forces they have little to no understanding of.

Where should I even start?

Well for one thing, The Fold was exactly my kind of book.

There are so many things that I want to say about this book—all of them good—because I loved it. Honestly I did. The concept is definitely what got me interested in The Fold. I mean it’s basically about a group of scientist who supposedly discovered a way to bend the fabrics of reality, “fold dimensions,” and cut long distances down by more than half, allowing a person to go from one place to the next in an instant. And it was an aspect of the novel that I thought was handled well.

The story begins with Mike Erikson, who’s doing a good job of ignoring his talents until his old friend shows up on the last day of work at a high school, approaching him with a proposition about a potential job. And that is exactly how Mike finds himself at the facility that houses the Albuquerque Door. From the beginning, his job seemed so straightforward, almost easy for someone like him, but alas thing didn’t play out that way. Just from the way the secondary characters spoke and the mystery surrounding how the Albuquerque Door was actually put together, I could tell that not everything was what it seemed with the project. I enjoyed seeing how Mike navigated his way around the facility, learning what he could so he could do his job, and getting to know the people who worked on the door.

The setting was definitely fitting even though it was mostly contained to the facility where the door was being worked on. I really can’t say much else because I don’t want to ruin the story for those who would be interested in this book. But let me just say that the beginning did a wonderful job of building up to the end. The pacing was done well and things weren’t revealed too early, it just seemed to work for me.

So yeah, I enjoyed The Fold. It had a satisfying mix of mystery, hints of action, and speculation about the possibility of creating something close to instantaneous teleportation.

Rating 5/5 

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, thank you! 

About the Author…

PETER CLINES has published several pieces of short fiction and countless articles on the film and television industries, as well as the novels The Fold,Ex-Heroes, Ex-Patriots, Ex-Communication, Ex-Purgatory, and 14. He lives and writes in southern California.

Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Title:Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Publisher/Publication Date:  Viking Adult, July 10, 2012
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Source/Format: Won Paperback

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

IT BEGAN WITH A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES...

Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library,she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened. Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot. Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers...

My Thoughts:

I decided to begin with this book simply because I won a copy and I wanted to see what Harkness’s writing was like before I made any definite decisions to pick up the other two books in the trilogy. So let me just say that I’m going to need A Discovery of Witches & The Book of Life, because Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness was fantastic. Needless to say, I have no idea why it took me so long to get to this trilogy. 

The story follows Matthew and Diana after they’ve landed in 1590 in search of Ashmole 782 and a witch to help Diana with her magic. The two suffered no shortage of issues during their time in the past. And despite their adventure taking them to several places, trouble always seemed to follow them. Part of the problem stemmed from Matthew’s many secrets, which ultimately led them into several situations that I can’t be specific about. The secondary characters were interesting, and I enjoyed seeing how the Matthew from the future interacted with his friends from the past.

Going into this book I was unfamiliar with the characters and the situations they were currently in, but I didn’t have a problem with that fact. There was enough detail provided as the story moved along that I was able to understand the situation and circumstances that had led Diana and Matthew to travel through time. I enjoyed the plot and the writing was something I could get into. The descriptions were just wonderful. The detail made it easier to picture the historical setting, and I enjoyed how everything was vividly described. I could really see the work that went into building the world of Shadow of Night, and I appreciated the attention to detail.

Overall, I liked this book, and I’m definitely interested in getting the rest of the trilogy.

5/5