On this last day of 2019 I wanted to look back on my reading and my bookish adventures.

2019 was the year my owner and I traveled to Dublin to attend Worldcon, and to meet Jeffe Kennedy. The first picture in this post is of me and my owner enjoying our first evening in Dublin, the second picture is me posing for a picture together with Jeffe Kennedy and Kelly Robson.

We had such a great time in Dublin, sightseeing with Jeffe and David, meeting other authors, and attending panels. A complete recap can be found on my other blog. You can bet that I want to go to other cons in the future, even though I retired from all my other traveling this year.



On to my reading.


I set myself two challenges this year: try to finish the Charley Davidson series by DArynda Jones and to read at least one book each month that had been lingering on my shelves for a more than a few months.

I didn't succeed in finishing the Charley Davidson series, but I did read 5 books in this series this year, and have 4 more to go. I'll definitely will finish this series in 2020.

As for Orphaned books, I didn't read one every month, but I had months were I read more than one, bringing my total of Orphans Read at 17 for 2019 (two of those were on my shelves for 6 years). I'll continue to try to get more older books read next year.


My favorite reads of 2019

I have read so many amazing books in 2019, that I made a list of my favorite book for each month (in two cases I really couldn't decide and have more than one)

January
How to Save an Undead Life - Hailey Edwards

February
Phoenix Falling – Laura Bickle

March
The Queen's Resistance – Rebecca Ross

April
Vicious - V.E. Schwab


May
Every Heart a Doorway – Seanan McGuire
The Orchid Throne – Jeffe Kennedy
The Only Harmless Great Thing – Brooke Bolander

June
Chaos Choreography – Seanan McGuire

July
American Hippo – Sarah Gailey

August
Empire of Sand – Tasha Suri


September
Magic for Liars – Sarah Gailey
Middlegame – Seanan McGuire
Gamechanger – L.X. Beckett

October
Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir

November
The Alchemist and an Amaretto – Annette Marie

December
Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones – Micah Dean Hicks



All in all my reading year was great and I will continue to read and review in 2020.

That leaves me with wishing you all "Many good books for 2020, and a very happy New Year!"

Nightflyers - Book Review

Nightflyers
by George R.R. Martin

What is it about:
When a scientific expedition is launched to study a mysterious alien race, the only ship available is the Nightflyer, a fully autonomous vessel manned by a single human. But Captain Royd Eris remains locked away, interacting with his passengers only as a disembodied voice--or a projected hologram no more substantial than a ghost.

Yet that's not the only reason the ship seems haunted. The team's telepath, Thale Lasamer, senses another presence aboard the Nightflyer--something dangerous, volatile, and alien. Captain Eris claims to know nothing about the elusive intruder, and when someone, or something, begins killing off the expedition's members, he's unable--or unwilling--to stem the bloody tide.

Only Melantha Jhirl, a genetically enhanced outcast with greater strength, stamina, and intelligence than other humans, has a chance of solving the mystery--and stopping the malevolent being that's wiping out her shipmates.

But first she has to keep herself alive.

What did I think of it:
I have very much enjoyed the HBO series A Game of Thrones, but I didn't feel compelled to read Martin's books. They're huge, and there are so many other books I want to read. But then I ran into this SF novella and I could not resist!

And this is such a cool story!

The plot isn't all that exciting, but it's Martin's writing, and the way he sets mood and atmosphere that made me totally invested and kept me reading. I raced through this story , enjoying the drama and mystery, curious to see who would survive and who'd die and how.

Next to this murder mystery in space I also enjoyed the storyline of the mysterious alien race the scientists are seeking. What are these aliens, are they related to the trouble, and will they appear?

All in all a very enjoyable SF novella. I might have to investigate the Netflix series that was based on this novella.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool SF novella.


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The Migration - Book Review

The Migration
by Helen Marshall

What is it about:
When I was younger I didn't know a thing about death. I thought it meant stillness, a body gone limp. A marionette with its strings cut. Death was like a long vacation--a going away.

Storms and flooding are worsening around the world, and a mysterious immune disorder has begun to afflict the young. Sophie Perella is about to begin her senior year of high school in Toronto when her little sister, Kira, is diagnosed. Their parents' marriage falters under the strain, and Sophie's mother takes the girls to Oxford, England, to live with their Aunt Irene.

An Oxford University professor and historical epidemiologist obsessed with relics of the Black Death, Irene works with a centre that specializes in treating people with the illness. She is a friend to Sophie, and offers a window into a strange and ancient history of human plague and recovery. Sophie just wants to understand what's happening now; but as mortality rates climb, and reports emerge of bodily tremors in the deceased, it becomes clear there is nothing normal about this condition--and that the dead aren't staying dead.

When Kira succumbs, Sophie faces an unimaginable choice: let go of the sister she knows, or take action to embrace something terrifying and new.

Tender and chilling, unsettling and hopeful, The Migration is a story of a young woman's dawning awareness of mortality and the power of the human heart to thrive in cataclysmic circumstances.

What did I think of it:
You know me: If I think there might be zombies in a story I want to give it a try.

It turns out that this isn't the zombie book I expected, but I was not disappointed. This story is set in the near future and is partly about family and dealing with grief and the unknown, partly about our fear for that which is different, and partly about the threat of climate change.

I know that sounds like a lot to tackle in one story, but Marshall makes it work without this book turning into a morality lesson. Instead it's a gripping and emotional story about a teen who is trying to deal with change and loss. I was hooked from the start and eager to find out what was going on and what choices Sophie would make.

Near the end it got a bit over the top, but again Marshall made it work. All in all a very satisfying read.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful Near Future read.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones

"He said he's going to call you," Jane squeezed his shoulder. "I think you did something really bad this time. Worse than the robot."

(page 26, Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones by Micah Dean Hicks)


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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!

All I Want For Christmas Is A Werewolf - Book Review

All I Want For Christmas Is A Werewolf
by Liana Brooks

What is it about:
Del hates Christmas. As a child, she spent too many Decembers on the streets after her parents abandoned her. As an adult, the enforced family focus, the clients who see the holidays as an excuse to get gropey, and the mistletoe her well-meaning colleague Maureen hung over her work desk just seals the deal: December sucks.

If only it could stay Halloween for a couple of months instead. Del loves the excuse to slay monsters, the spooky atmosphere—and of course, the werewolves. Because everyone knows werewolves make the best lovers... Pity they’re not real.

When Maureen conjures up a list of eligible bachelors for the holidays and insists Del take her pick, Del does the only reasonable thing: she lies. And when nosy office Grinch Rafael Kane asks who the lucky fellow is, Del announces it to the whole office: she's getting a dog.

So now, the first item on Del’s holiday to-do list? Find a dog. Fast. Because if she doesn’t, nothing will protect her from Maureen’s list of Miami bachelor rejects.

A charming, sensual romance for everyone who believes in found families, happily ever after—and werewolves.

What did I think of it:
Looking for a last minute Christmas Romance? Look no further!

This Paranormal Christmas Romance is cute, fluffy, and fun!

I fell in love with Del from the start (and not just because she loves zombies and Zombies, Run!) and rooted for her to get on top of things and to get her Happy Christmas Ever After.

I also really liked Maureen, even with her meddling and gossiping, and let's not forget Rafael of course. He's totally awesome.

At about 180 pages this is a quick and very enjoyable read that will get you in the mood for Christmas. You bet I'll reread and that I'll read more by Brooks.

Why should you read it:
It's a cute and fun Paranormal Christmas Romance.


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Transcendent 4 - Book Review

Transcendent 4: The Year's Best Transgender Speculative Fiction
assembled by Bogi Takács

What is it about:
A non-binary teenager may be from a small town but they remember at least a dozen past lives; a young trans woman auditions as an anime voice actor while the world is ending; in a future of constant change and transformation, one person is hesitant to undergo the next metamorphosis; a trans man comes back home to discover his parents have added to the household an android that has his deadface installed. Award-winning editor Bogi Takács has assembled a stellar line-up of stories that explore the frontiers of gender - using the imaginative tools of speculative fiction.

What did I think of it:
This is a very cool anthology with a myriad of stories to capture your imagination and to make you think.

In front of the book there are trigger warnings with each story, so people can skip the stories that would be too confronting or emotional.

The stories themselves range from magical realism to straight out SF. There are those that explore possible futures, family relationships, love, friendship, etc. Some of the stories made me cry, others made me angry, others offered hope.

All in all this is an anthology that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I can recommend it to everyone who loves speculative fiction and anyone looking for a diverse read.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool SF anthology.


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Spirits That Walk in Shadow - Book Review

Spirits That Walk in Shadow (Chapel Hollow #3)
by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

What is it about:
Roommates Jaimie Locke and Kim Calloway are each looking to find a new life at college. It’s Jaimie’s first time Outside—away from her large, complicated family and their magical traditions—and she wants to learn what nonmagical life is like. Kim is anxious to escape the depression that’s been dragging her down since last year so she can make new friends and create the art she loves.

But almost as soon as they unpack, Jaimie realizes that Kim’s depression is different from normal sadness. Something outside of Kim is literally forcing her to be depressed, pursuing and draining her. Just like that, the two girls—along with Jaime’s cousins and a Presence named Rugee—try to capture and rout the creature that is following Kim.

No one said that college would be easy....

What did I think of it:
Did I buy this book because of that gorgeous cover by Daniel Dos Santos? You bet!
(And apparently I was very lucky amazon.de still had a copy for a normal price)

And I'm so glad my shallow cover love let me buy this book, because it is such a cool story!

The main story is simple enough and not that difficult to figure out. I was way ahead of Kim and Jaimie. It's the characters, the worldbuilding, and writing that totally drew me in and kept me reading. I loved both Kim and Jaimie and how both of them looked at the world. Then more characters got introduced and I loved most of those as well.

This book is third in a series, but I can't say I felt like missing out. The other two books seem to be about other characters, who are related to Jaimie, and after reading this book I will try to get hold of the other two books as well. And I will absolutely investigate what other books Nina Kiriki Hoffman has written.

Why should you read it:
It's a well written and cool UF read.


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