Black Sun - Book Review (2021 Pearl)

One more repost of one of my favorite reads of this year!

See you all in 2022 

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

What is it about:

The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.

A god will return

When the earth and sky converge

Under the black sun

In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.

Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

What did I think of it:

This is a really awesome read!

There are several viewpoint characters and the way the story is told isn't linear, so you have to pay attention to the chapter headings to see when it is taking place.

I will say I liked all viewpoint characters, making that I worried about the outcome of this book as several of them are at opposite ends. And the more I learned about what's going on, the more I knew things most probably wouldn't end happy for all involved.

The worldbuilding is so so good. I loved learning about the holy city of Tova, the Teek heritage of Xiala, and about Serapio and his destiny. I could easily picture everything and was totally invested in the world as well as the story. I felt myself sympathizing with not just the main characters, but minor ones as well. I wanted the best outcome for all, knowing that would not be a possibility.

The ending was epic and made me eager to see what will happen next while it was also satisfying for now. You bet I'll be pre-ordering the next book.

Why should you read it:

It's an amazing Fantasy read.

buy from amazon

Ashes to Fire - Book Review

 

Ashes to Fire (Woodwalker #2)

by Emily B. Martin

What is it about:

“You are a country.”

Those words have been the guiding force behind Queen Mona’s every move since she was a little girl—the idea that all her actions and desires were, first and foremost, decided based on what was best for Lumen Lake. It had kept her alive after the Alcoran invasion, it had driven her to retake her country, and now it is the steely resolve she needs to finally confront the despotic Seventh King, Celeno.

But when her diplomatic mission finds herself on the run through the swamps of Cyprien—accompanied by the unlikeliest group of companions—Mona discovers that while she is her country, she is also someone who has been sheltered by principles and bound by past mistakes. Now she must struggle to reshape her view of the world and face intimate new truths—not only for the good of her country, but for herself, as well.

What did I think of it:

I very much enjoyed Woodwalker so got my trotters on the next two books in the trilogy. It took me a while to finally pick this up though, as I didn't much care for Mona in Woodwalker.

And although this is an enjoyable read, I never did warm up to Mona. And I wasn't a fan of her love interest either. There was one character I really liked, but he went the way of most characters I like and aren't the hero of the story...

Still I had fun with this book. The overall story is intriguing and the worldbuilding is solid and interesting. I was invested in one side character who did survive the book, and it looks like she will be a main character in the last book. So I might actually pick that up soon.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable Fantasy read.

buy from amazon

Fire of the Frost - Book Review

 

Fire of the Frost

Anthology with stories by Darynda Jones, Amanda Bouchet, Grace Draven, and Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

A midwinter holiday fantasy romance anthology…

A Wynter Fyre by Darynda Jones

In a world where vampyres have been hunted to near extinction, the daughter of a demon is sent to save their race. Wynter ends the Blood Wars, but a single drop of vampyre blood accidentally crosses her lips. As punishment, she’s encased in stone for a hundred years. When she awakens, she vows revenge. Even if it means her demise. Her quest leads her to the vampyre prince who supposedly started the wars. He comes to her aid after she’s attacked, and Gareth’s deadly prowess may be exactly what Wynter needs to defeat the woman who created her. Or exactly what she needs to thaw her frozen heart.

Of Fate and Fire by Amanda Bouchet

The Kingmaker Chronicles meets modern-day New York City! Piers, an exiled warrior from Thalyria, finds himself in the Big Apple just before the holidays. The world and everything in it might be utterly foreign to him, but that won't stop Piers from helping to complete a vital mission for Athena and protect Sophie, a French teacher from Connecticut who's suddenly knee-deep in inexplicable phenomena, danger, and henchmen after an Olympian treasure that should never have ended up in her hands—or remained on Earth after the Greek gods abandoned it.

The King of Hel by Grace Draven

Castil il Veras, daughter of lesser boyars, attends the gatherings that celebrate her best friend's upcoming marriage to the cursed king of a sorcerous kingdom. She soon learns that even marked by the magic of the Wastelands, Doranis of Helenrisia is everything she's ever desired in a mate—and absolutely forbidden to her. Bound by duty to crown and country, Doranis has traveled to the Caskadan empire to marry a woman who loathes the sight of him. During the prenuptial celebrations, he meets a scribe who finds him fascinating instead of repellent, but Castil is beyond his reach. Fate, however, would have it otherwise, and a beseeching letter from a dying queen will bring them together again in a land gripped by endless winter and old magic.

Familiar Winter Magic by Jeffe Kennedy

It’s holiday time at Convocation Academy, but best friends Han and Iliana are finding it hard to celebrate. As a familiar, Iliana is facing her assignment to a life of servitude to a wizard, very soon. And Han… despite being tested by the oracle daily, he is still uncategorized. As Iliana and Han face being separated forever, they at last find the courage—or desperation—to break the rules and acknowledge their deeper feelings for each other. But it will take more than true love to save them from the laws of the Convocation…

What did I think of it:

A Wynter Fyre by Darynda Jones

The worldbuilding was intriguing, and Wynter even more so. I rooted for her to succeed. There's one scene that people who don't like non/dub con might not enjoy, but I myself loved every second of this story. It's standalone so easy to jump into.

Of Fate and Fire by Amanda Bouchet

This story is linked to Bouchet's Fantasy series. I haven't read that series yet, but I can tell you it can be easily read as a standalone. I didn't feel like missing out. It's a fun and entertaining read.

The King of Hel by Grace Draven

Tis is a bittersweet love story that had me blink away a few tears. I felt for Castil and rooted for her to find happiness. I really should try more by Draven.

Familiar Winter Magic by Jeffe Kennedy

This story is set in the Bonds of Magic world, but can easily be read as a standalone (but why would you want to? Read all the books!). It probably won't come as a surprise that this story was my favorite. I rooted for Han and Iliana from the start and hoped they'd find happiness together. It looks like we might be seeing them again in Grey Wizard and if possible I'm now even more excited about getting my trotters on the last book in the Bonds of Magic trilogy. 

All in all a really wonderful anthology with 4 amazing stories!

Why should you read it:

It's a more than enjoyable Fantasy read.

buy links

Teaser Tuesdays - True Love

 

Not like you mean. Madaket is more of a place than an actual town.

(page 84, True Love by Jude Devereaux)

buy from amazon

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Wait for Night - Quick Book Review

 

Wait for Night

by Stephen Graham Jones 

What is it about:

Wait for Night by Stephen Graham Jones is horror story about a day laborer hired to help clean up a flooded creek outside of Boulder, Colorado, who comes across what could be a very valuable find.

What did I think of it:

This is a short story and a very entertaining one at that.

It starts out mysterious, but soon things get dangerous and deadly. I liked the writing and the worldbuilding. Graham Jones manages to set up and deliver this story in less than 20 pages without it feeling rushed or unfinished. Because it's so short it's hard to tell anything about it without spoiling things, but it's suspenseful and with plenty of action.

I might see what else he has written,

Why should you read it:

It's a suspenseful Short Story.

buy from amazon

We Are Satellites - Book Review (2021 Pearl)

   I'm reposting the reviews of some of my favorite reads of 2021 this week. 

We Are Satellites

by Sarah Pinsker 

What is it about:

Everybody's getting one.

Val and Julie just want what's best for their kids, David and Sophie. So when teenage son David comes home one day asking for a Pilot, a new brain implant to help with school, they reluctantly agree. This is the future, after all.

Soon, Julie feels mounting pressure at work to get a Pilot to keep pace with her colleagues, leaving Val and Sophie part of the shrinking minority of people without the device.

Before long, the implications are clear, for the family and society: get a Pilot or get left behind. With government subsidies and no downside, why would anyone refuse? And how do you stop a technology once it's everywhere? Those are the questions Sophie and her anti-Pilot movement rise up to answer, even if it puts them up against the Pilot's powerful manufacturer and pits Sophie against the people she loves most.

What did I think of it:

After reading several short stories by Sarah Pinsker I decided to give one of her novels a try.

And this is a seriously good read!

The build-up of the story is slow paced, but in a good way. You slowly learn about the family that is at the heart of this story and about how the Pilot, a new brain implant, is affecting their lives. Through them you learn the benefits and the dangers of this this new gadget, and how each of them handles this new technology.

The story switches between the four of them and it was interesting to see how each of them thinks and what is important for each of them. And even the viewpoint of the character I disliked was interesting to read. I was hooked from the start and loved seeing the events unfold. There are several time jumps, but these are done well, so you don't feel pulled out of the narrative.

This story might be futuristic, but it is very critical of our society today. Not in a finger pointing, in your face way, but it's there and it challenges you to think. The use of societal problems that are present today and attaching them to this new technology also made the story feel scarily real.

All in all this is a thought provoking and engaging read. Sarah Pinsker definitely made it onto my favorites shelves with this book.

Why should you read it:

It's a though provoking futuristic read.

Fugitive Telemetry - Book Review (2021 Pearl)

   I'm reposting the reviews of some of my favorite reads of 2021 this week.

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6)

by Martha Wells 

What is it about:

No, I didn’t kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn’t dump the body in the station mall.

When Murderbot discovers a dead body on Preservation Station, it knows it is going to have to assist station security to determine who the body is (was), how they were killed (that should be relatively straightforward, at least), and why (because apparently that matters to a lot of people—who knew?)

Yes, the unthinkable is about to happen: Murderbot must voluntarily speak to humans!

What did I think of it:

Although this is book 6 in the series it is set before the events in book 5 as far as I can tell. Also: it is sort of a standalone in so far that it's not connected to events in the other books.

And with that we have the only 'flaw' in this novella. I missed the connection to the overall story arc of this series.

Other than that this novella is just as awesome as the other books. Murderbot is cynical and sarcastic as ever, and tries hard to keep the humans from doing stupid things. I was hooked from the start and read the book in one sitting, it was that engaging.

There were appearances of some of my favorite characters, as well as new characters who seemed intriguing. The story is a whodunnit in space and it was set up really well in my opinion. All in all well worth the wait.

Now the waiting for the next book begins.

Why should you read it:

Because Murderbot is awesome!

buy from amazon

Fire of the Frost - Out Today!

 

Fire of the Frost

A midwinter holiday fantasy romance anthology

A Wynter Fyre by Darynda Jones

In a world where vampyres have been hunted to near extinction, the daughter of a demon is sent to save their race. Wynter ends the Blood Wars, but a single drop of vampyre blood accidentally crosses her lips. As punishment, she’s encased in stone for a hundred years. When she awakens, she vows revenge. Even if it means her demise. Her quest leads her to the vampyre prince who supposedly started the wars. He comes to her aid after she’s attacked, and Gareth’s deadly prowess may be exactly what Wynter needs to defeat the woman who created her. Or exactly what she needs to thaw her frozen heart.

Of Fate and Fire by Amanda Bouchet

The Kingmaker Chronicles meets modern-day New York City! Piers, an exiled warrior from Thalyria, finds himself in the Big Apple just before the holidays. The world and everything in it might be utterly foreign to him, but that won't stop Piers from helping to complete a vital mission for Athena and protect Sophie, a French teacher from Connecticut who's suddenly knee-deep in inexplicable phenomena, danger, and henchmen after an Olympian treasure that should never have ended up in her hands—or remained on Earth after the Greek gods abandoned it.

The King of Hel by Grace Draven

Castil il Veras, daughter of lesser boyars, attends the gatherings that celebrate her best friend's upcoming marriage to the cursed king of a sorcerous kingdom. She soon learns that even marked by the magic of the Wastelands, Doranis of Helenrisia is everything she's ever desired in a mate—and absolutely forbidden to her. Bound by duty to crown and country, Doranis has traveled to the Caskadan empire to marry a woman who loathes the sight of him. During the prenuptial celebrations, he meets a scribe who finds him fascinating instead of repellent, but Castil is beyond his reach. Fate, however, would have it otherwise, and a beseeching letter from a dying queen will bring them together again in a land gripped by endless winter and old magic.

Familiar Winter Magic by Jeffe Kennedy

It’s holiday time at Convocation Academy, but best friends Han and Iliana are finding it hard to celebrate. As a familiar, Iliana is facing her assignment to a life of servitude to a wizard, very soon. And Han… despite being tested by the oracle daily, he is still uncategorized. As Iliana and Han face being separated forever, they at last find the courage—or desperation—to break the rules and acknowledge their deeper feelings for each other. But it will take more than true love to save them from the laws of the Convocation…

buy links

Dealbreaker - Book Review (2021 Pearl)

  I'm reposting the reviews of some of my favorite reads of 2021 this week.

Dealbreaker (The Bounceback #2)

by L.X. Beckett

What is it about:

Rubi Whiting has done the impossible. She has proved that humanity deserves a seat at the galactic table. Well, at least a shot at a seat. Having convinced the galactic governing body that mankind deserves a chance at fixing their own problems, Rubi has done her part to launch the planet into a new golden age of scientific discovery and technological revolution.

However, there are still those in the galactic community that think that humanity is too poisonous, too greedy, to be allowed in, and they will stop at nothing to sabotage a species determined to pull itself up.

What did I think of it:

I loved Gamechanger so you bet I preordered Dealbreaker as soon as it was available. Then I had to (im)patiently wait for the release.

And it was totally worth the wait.

This book takes places several years after Gamechanger and it's up to the next generation to show that they are capable of keeping up with the rules set by the galactic community. But there are people who don't want mankind to succeed, and they're willing to kill for it.

I was invested from the start. Some of the characters from Gamechanger didn't return or only had a minor role, but the cast of characters was amazing. I especially loved Frankie, Maud, and Crane. There was also a character that technically belonged with the bad guys, but who I fell in love with.

As with the previous book you have to keep your attention on the story to get all the nuances. There are many unfamiliar terms, and lots of people who are connected to what's going on. I was  on the edge of my seat to see if my favorites would survive, and if they would manage to stop those who were working against humanity.

All in all a wonderful sequel that would also work as a standalone. I'll be keeping an eye out for more by Beckett.

Why should you read it:

It's an amazing Futuristic read

buy from Amazon

Dark Wizard - Book Review (2021 Pearl)

 I'm reposting the reviews of some of my favorite reads of 2021 this week.

First up: Dark Wizard

Dark Wizard (Bonds of Magic #1) 

by Jeffe Kennedy 

What is it about:

Lord Gabriel Phel wants one thing: to restore his shattered House to its former station in the Convocation’s complex and arcane society. Fortunately, through a wild chance of birth, he was born with the magic of a powerful wizard, the first in his family in generations. If he can obtain a familiar to supplement his skills, ideally one who is a highborn daughter who can also be his lady wife, then he’ll be that much closer to restoring House Phel. And to exacting his ultimate revenge on the Convocation that destroyed his family.

Lady Veronica Elal doesn’t have many choices. To her bitter disappointment, she will never be the powerful wizard she and her father hoped she’d be. Instead Nic is doomed to be a familiar like her mother, a second-class citizen in the Convocation, and one destined to be bonded to a wizard, serving his purposes for the rest of her life. Her one hope lies in entering the Betrothal Trials—and choosing a wizard from the Convocation candidates that she can manipulate. Whichever one of her suitors impregnates her will claim her as familiar and wife, and she can use her wiles to rule her wizard master, and the House she marries into.

But Gabriel throws a wrench into Nic’s careful scheming, by seducing and fascinating her. When she finds she’s pregnant by the rogue wizard she can never hope to control, Nic does the unthinkable: she runs.

What did I think of it:

This book is amazing!

The world Jeffe creates in this book is intriguing and twisted. I loved learning about the Convocation rules and what they mean for those who have to follow them.

Veronica/Nic grew up with these rules and takes them for granted. Gabriel however is new to them and it was fun to see how different both react to the rules.

The two of them also have very different ideas about a possible future together, and when Nic realizes Gabriel won't ever be the gullible and malleable wizard she was hoping him to be, she runs. Gabriel however won't let her disappear that easily.

I loved both Nic and Gabriel. Nic is a product of her highborn upbringing and once she's on her own has to learn a lot about both herself and the world around her. Gabriel is new to the world of the Convocation and he has to be careful he doesn't break the rules he only recently learned about.

I read this book in almost one sitting and rooted for the both of them. The ending of this book is very satisfying, but there's so much coming for these two, and there's so much yet to explore within this fascinating world that I'm eager for the next book. I want more! 

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful dark Fantasy Romance

buy links

On McPig's Wishlist - Comfort Me With Apples

 

Comfort Me With Apples

by Catherynne M. Valente

Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect.

It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect.

But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze...

But everything is perfect. Isn't it?

Season of Yellow Leaf - Book Review

Season of Yellow Leaf

by Douglas C. Jones

What is it about:

Captured by the Comanche in the 1830s, 10-year-old "Chosen", is reared by the tribe and becomes strong enough to survive the pain of losing her whole world. A unique witness to a vanishing way of life, Chosen becomes one of the Comanche and suffers with them as the white man destroys their ranks.

What did I think of it:

I read this book ages ago in Dutch before I started reading in English and absolutely loved it back then. I didn't remember the author, so it took me forever to find it again for a reread in English. I finally stumbled upon it by accident when I saw a list with books based on the life of Cynthia Ann Parker. 

I must have been a glutton for punishment back then, or more focused on the setting and the lifestyle of the Comanches than the story, because what a depressing read this is!

Don't get me wrong: it's a really good book, but there's so much suffering, heartache, and other negativity going on. And yes: the period in time this story is set in, isn't a happy one for the Comanches, but if I compare this book to Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson, which is also based on the life of Cynthia Ann Parker, and also has some seriously sad moments, it seems like this book doesn't even try to bring some levity, but instead piles drama upon drama upon desperation.

So this was a very emotionally tiring read. I did still love reading about the Comanches and their way of life, but I really would have liked a few more happy moments.

Before this reread I was contemplating tracking down the sequel Gone the Dreams and Dancing which I've not read yet, but I'm hesitant now. I think I'll either reread the romanticized novel about Quanah Parker I already have in my collection, or finally get myself a copy of Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

Why should you read it:

It is a beautiful if depressing read.

buy from amazon

 

Teaser Tuesdays - Dune

 

Because the emperor ordered it. And because there's hope in spite of what that witch-spy said.

(page 33, Dune by Frank Herbert)

buy from amazon

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Empress Game - Book Review

 

The Empress Game (The Empress Game Trilogy #1)

by Rhonda Mason

What is it about:

One seat on the intergalactic Sakien Empire’s supreme ruling body, the Council of Seven, remains unfilled, that of the Empress Apparent. The seat isn’t won by votes or marriage. It’s won in a tournament of ritualized combat in the ancient tradition. Now that tournament, the Empress Game, has been called and the females of the empire will stop at nothing to secure political domination for their homeworlds. Kayla Reinumon, a supreme fighter, is called by a mysterious stranger to battle it out in the arena.

The battle for political power isn’t contained by the tournament’s ring, however. The empire’s elite gather to forge, strengthen or betray alliances in a dance that will determine the fate of the empire for a generation. With the empire wracked by a rising nanovirus plague and stretched thin by an ill-advised planet-wide occupation of Ordoch in enemy territory, everything rests on the woman who rises to the top.

What did I think of it:

The premise of this book is cool, but it fell flat for me.

I didn't really connect with Kayla and found the love interest boring as heck. Some of the side characters were the most interesting people in the book, but they got not enough screen time by far.

I kept reading, hoping that once the game began I might be gripped by the story, but with no real connection to any of the main players it didn't happen.

All in all not a bad read, but not one I'll revisit. I do have the second book in my TBR, but I don't think I'll pick it up.

Why should you read it:

It's a nice enough SF read.  

buy from amazon

Back Next Week

I've been busy with other things, so no new books to review this week.

Contemporary Holiday Mixology - Book Rant by Voodoo Bride

 

Contemporary Holiday Mixology (Chemistry Lessons #3.5?)

by Susannah Nix

What is it about:

After she’s jilted at a holiday ball, Gen hits it off with a handsome stranger. But what she intends as a casual hookup leaves her inexplicably wanting more. Will she ever find her Prince Charming again, or is he lost to her forever?

This story was originally published in the 2020 Jingle Balls Anthology under a different name, and is only available to subscriber's of the author's newsletter.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

The other two books I read in this series were not brilliant, but enjoyable enough.

This one however is absolutely not for me.

Gen meets a guy at a charity event and introduces herself as 'Gen with a G'. So of course the jerk keeps calling her 'Gen-with-a-G' for the rest of the novella. I know it's meant to be witty and/or funny, but stuff like that just seriously pisses me off. So I was totally not into this story and romance, I just hoped Gen would punch the jerk.

I don't think I'll read more by Nix, the previous books were entertaining enough for freebies, but I don't see myself paying for the other books in the series.

Why should you read it:

Maybe you don't mind jerks who think they're witty, but aren't.

Remedial Rocket Science - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Remedial Rocket Science (Chemistry Lessons #1)

by Susannah Nix

What is it about:

Opposites attract when a computer geek meets billionaire bad boy.

The last thing Melody expects when she accepts a dream job offer is to run into her college one-night stand again. Not only does the hunky blast from her past work at the same aerospace company where she's just started in the IT department, he's the CEO's son.

Jeremy's got a girlfriend and a reputation as a bad boy, so Melody resolves to keep her distance and focus on building a new life for herself in Los Angeles. But despite her good intentions, she can't seem to stay away from the heavenly-smelling paragon of hotness.

As the two begin to forge an unlikely friendship, Melody's attraction to Jeremy grows deeper than she's ready to admit. Can the woman who always plays it safe take a risk on the man who's all wrong for her in all the right ways?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

After I read Advanced Physical Chemistry, which is book 3 in this series, I discovered I had book 1 lingering on my kindle app as well.

And I liked this book slightly better than Advanced Physical Chemistry. I liked Melody and didn't dislike Jeremy, even though he's a bit of a douche for part of the story. I actually liked Jeremy's girlfriend the most, to be honest.

Still this is an enjoyable read that even has some fake dating, so I had fun with it. The women in STEM was at least a bit more prominent in this book as well.

I did get the opportunity to download a novella in this series as I receive the author's newsletter, so I decided to give that a try next.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable Contemporary Romance

Buy from Amazon

Eat the Rich #4 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #4

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

Even as Joey struggles to make sense of everything she's seen, what role her beloved Astor has in it, and what it means for her relationship with him, Crestfall Bluffs is a flurry of activity preparing for the Thistleburn Unveiling Gala Party. When Joey intervenes in a situation she doesn't fully understand, it will bring everything to a head in the most unexpected way!

What did I think of it:

Things are getting absurd in this issue.

I liked the start, the story seemed to take a turn I was hoping for, but then things got weird... Maybe it's just me, and others might find it suspenseful or scary, but it felt almost like slapstick to me at times.

Still I'm curious how this all will end, so I'll get my trotters on the last issue for sure.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun horroresque comic

buy from amazon

The Sound of Useless Wings - Free Short Story Alert

After rereading Tin Star I immediately reread this short story about Heckleck. It's available as an ebook on amazon, but can also be read for free online.

It is a beautiful story in my opinion, so if you read Tin Star or are a fan of SF, I can recommend you give this a try.


The Sound of Useless Wings
CECIL CASTELLUCCI
illustration by DOMINICK SAPONARO

In this prequel to Tin Star, we meet Heckleck, the Hort alien who befriends Tula Bane on the space station Yertina Feray in her fight for survival. In his modest beginnings, Heckleck is raised to understand that breeding and propagating his own kind is the sole reason for living. When he is called upon to settle on a new planet, he meets the daughter of a politician, Goglu, with whom he falls helplessly in love, and is determined to win over. But nothing is easy in love and space exploration, and when his plans become thwarted, he must find a new way of life.

This short story was acquired and edited for Tor.com by Connie Hsu.

Read it here

Tin Star - Book Review (repost)

 I was in the mood for some comfort reads, so I reread this book. Here's a repost of my review + some thoughts on rereading.

Tin Star (Tin Star #1)

by Cecil Castellucci

What is it about:

On their way to start a new life, Tula and her family travel on the Prairie Rose, a colony ship headed to a planet in the outer reaches of the galaxy. All is going well until the ship makes a stop at a remote space station, the Yertina Feray, and the colonist's leader, Brother Blue, beats Tula within an inch of her life. An alien, Heckleck, saves her and teaches her the ways of life on the space station.

When three humans crash land onto the station, Tula's desire for escape becomes irresistible, and her desire for companionship becomes unavoidable. But just as Tula begins to concoct a plan to get off the space station and kill Brother Blue, everything goes awry, and suddenly romance is the farthest thing from her mind.

What did I think of it:

This is such a great read!

I love that this is a story that actually uses real aliens instead of aliens that are basically the same as humans in appearance. Even better is that Tula ends up being looked at as the alien, being the only human on the space station, and humans being a rare sight for the other aliens. I think this book would have deserved a place on my keeper shelves just for that alone.

Luckily there's lots more good things about this book. It's a really cool and intense read.

I loved the aliens, especially Heckleck, Tula's mentor. Castellucci manages to keep him alien, while still giving him qualities that make you like him and relate to him.

I liked reading about the space station, the aliens living there, and about how Tula adapts to her new life. It's surprising how Castellucci makes you fall in love with the space station and its inhabitants with just a minimum of world building.

Then the humans arrive and Tula has to decide how to deal with that.

Not often I've come across a book where you can understand the aliens better than the humans, but this book is one of them. I didn't trust the humans at all, and felt like warning Tula about them. It made for some intense reading.

Some events I saw coming, but others caught me off guard and left me shocked. The ending (although leaving some things open) was satisfying, but I was so in love with this story and world by then that I was eager for more.

All in all this is a really beautiful and suspenseful Young Adult SciFi, and you can bet I will get my trotters on the sequel once it releases. I will also try another book by Castellucci in the meantime.

Thoughts on rereading:

On my first read Heckleck was my absolute favorite. He still was my favorite on this reread, but Tournour, the chief constable on the station really grew on me in this reread. I missed a lot of subtle things in my first read, because I was focused on other things.

Why should you read it:

It's a YA SciFi with actual aliens!

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