High Times in the Low Parliament - Book Review

 

High Times in the Low Parliament

by Kelly Robson

What is it about:

Kelly Robson is back with fairies, scribes, and many many kisses in High Times in the Low Parliament.

Lana Baker is Aldgate’s finest scribe, with a sharp pen and an even sharper wit. Gregarious, charming, and ever so eager to please, she agrees to deliver a message for another lovely scribe in exchange for kisses and ends up getting sent to Low Parliament by a temperamental fairy as a result.

As Lana transcribes the endless circular arguments of Parliament, the debates grow tenser and more desperate. Due to long-standing tradition, a hung vote will cause Parliament to flood and a return to endless war. Lana must rely on an unlikely pair of comrades—Bugbite, the curmudgeonly fairy, and Eloquentia, the bewitching human deputy—to save humanity (and maybe even woo one or two lucky ladies), come hell or high water.

What did I think of it:

I've loved everything I've read by Robson so far, so you bet I pre-ordered this as soon as I could.

And it's good I did, because this is a really awesome novella!

I immediately fell in love with Lana. She's a happy-go-lucky woman who flirts with every pretty girl she meets. It's this that gets her sent to the Low Parliament, a place that might get flooded soon if the parliament doesn't manage to avoid yet another hung vote.

I loved the quirky worldbuilding, the fairy controlled Low Parliament and the antics Lana gets up to with her new sidekick Bugbite (who I also totally loved!) .

But it's not all quirkiness and antics. There's a reason the parliament keeps ending up disagreeing and Lana will have to be smart to get to the bottom of it and save the Low Parliament. I was intrigued by how Robson managed to weave current politics into this story that is set in an alternate world historical Europe without it smacking you in the face or detracting from the story, and I eagerly read on to discover if Lana would succeed in saving everyone.

I read this in one sitting and you bet I'll reread it in the future.

Why should you read it:

  It's a fun, quirky, and though-provoking read.

Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach - Book Review (repost/reread)

Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach

by Kelly Robson

What is it about:

Discover a shifting history of adventure as humanity clashes over whether to repair their ruined planet or luxuriate in a less tainted past.

In 2267, Earth has just begun to recover from worldwide ecological disasters. Minh is part of the generation that first moved back up to the surface of the Earth from the underground hells, to reclaim humanity's ancestral habitat. She's spent her entire life restoring river ecosystems, but lately the kind of long-term restoration projects Minh works on have been stalled due to the invention of time travel. When she gets the opportunity take a team to 2000 BC to survey the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, she jumps at the chance to uncover the secrets of the shadowy think tank that controls time travel technology.

What did I think of it:

I have wanted to read this book for a while, but never got to it, so my attempts to read some of the Hugo nominations was a good excuse to finally pick it up.

And this is such a great story!

Maybe you know I have a weakness for time travel stories, but that I'm often disappointed or frustrated by the flaws or logical errors in those stories. This story did everything right in my opinion. I loved the time travel theory that was used here, I loved how Robson applied it to the story, and I could actually believe it would work like this. Just for that this novella deserves praise!

But that's not the only praise it gets! I also loved the characters, the world building, and the story. That Minh has tentacles for legs was just the yummy icing on an already delicious cake. I was hooked from the start and wanted to find out more about this future, Minh, her coworkers, and if they could pull off the project they set themselves.

There's more I want to tell you, because it was so cool in my opinion, but that would lead into spoiler territory, so I'll just say I recommend this novella to everyone who loves a well thought-out time travel story.

I'll be investigating what other stories Robson wrote.

Notes on rereading:

I was once again totally hooked! On reread the time travelling still hold up as well as the first time I read this, and I loved Minh even more. I'm holding out hope there will be a sequel one day.

Why should you read it:

It's a really cool Time Travel story.

Buy from:

Bookdepository - Amazon

A Human Stain

A Human Stain
by Kelly Robson

What is it about:
A Human Stain by Kelly Robson is a disturbing horror novelette about a British expatriate at loose ends who is hired by her friend to temporarily care for his young, orphaned nephew in a remote castle-like structure in Germany.

What did I think of it:
I loved Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach so I picked up this book to read more by Kelly Robson.

And this story is atmospheric and beautifully creepy!

It combines Gothic horror and Lovecraftian vibes in a story that gets more and more disturbing as you get further into it.

Robson manages to draw you in and won't let you go until the chilling conclusion.

You can be sure I'll reread this and that I'll keep an eye out for Robson's next release.

Why should you read it:
It's a deliciously creepy read.


buy from Amazon

Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach - Book Review

Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach
by Kelly Robson

What is it about:
Discover a shifting history of adventure as humanity clashes over whether to repair their ruined planet or luxuriate in a less tainted past.

In 2267, Earth has just begun to recover from worldwide ecological disasters. Minh is part of the generation that first moved back up to the surface of the Earth from the underground hells, to reclaim humanity's ancestral habitat. She's spent her entire life restoring river ecosystems, but lately the kind of long-term restoration projects Minh works on have been stalled due to the invention of time travel. When she gets the opportunity take a team to 2000 BC to survey the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, she jumps at the chance to uncover the secrets of the shadowy think tank that controls time travel technology.

What did I think of it:
I have wanted to read this book for a while, but never got to it, so my attempts to read some of the Hugo nominations was a good excuse to finally pick it up.

And this is such a great story!

Maybe you know I have a weakness for time travel stories, but that I'm often disappointed or frustrated by the flaws or logical errors in those stories. This story did everything right in my opinion. I loved the time travel theory that was used here, I loved how Robson applied it to the story, and I could actually believe it would work like this. Just for that this novella deserves praise!

But that's not the only praise it gets! I also loved the characters, the world building, and the story. That Minh has tentacles for legs was just the yummy icing on an already delicious cake. I was hooked from the start and wanted to find out more about this future, Minh, her coworkers, and if they could pull off the project they set themselves.

There's more I want to tell you, because it was so cool in my opinion, but that would lead into spoiler territory, so I'll just say I recommend this novella to everyone who loves a well thought-out time travel story.

I'll be investigating what other stories Robson wrote.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Time Travel story.


Buy from:
Bookdepository - Amazon