System Collapse - Book Review

 

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7)

by Martha Wells

What is it about:

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast.

Yeah, this plan is... not going to work.

What did I think of it:

I read and forgot to review this back in 2024.

(It was quite the year)

I couldn't really remember a lot, so when I got Platform Decay in the mail I decided to reread this before reading Platform Decay.

I know lots of people complained about Network Effect being slow, but to be honest to me System Collapse felt slow at first. I still enjoyed the story, but was waiting for things to actually start happening. (Some of this may be because it was a reread however little I remember of that first read.)

Murderbot is a mess and trying to deal with a lot of things and the way it was written was cleverly done. Still I was glad when action kicked in and the pace of the story picked up. From there on out it felt like Murderbot was back on track and found a way to move forward after the things that happened in Network Effect. I'll be picking up Platform Decay soon to see what's next for Murderbot.

All in all a great read if a bit slow at first.

Why should you read it:

Murderbot! Ehm... I mean: It's a really great SciFi read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Mister Magic

 

The sun assaults Val's eyes as she stumbles off the missing front step, knocking over one of the cinder blocks. She nearly falls among the toads.

(page 128, Mister Magic by Kiersten White)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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 Faraway Inn - Book Review

 

The Faraway Inn

by Sarah Beth Durst

What is it about:

After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn--but this fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret--in this cozy and irresistable new fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and breakfast for a few months, she jumps at the chance.

But when Calisa arrives at the B&B, she's shocked to find a rundown inn with only a handful of guests. And to make matters worse, upon meeting with her great-aunt it quickly becomes clear that Calisa was not invited. Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn…even if it is clear she needs the help.

To earn her keep, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper's (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the more it becomes evident that there is something strange about the B&B—and its residents. Something almost…otherworldly.

The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she's come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth of it, and her aunt, before it's too late.

What did I think of it:

After the fluffy happy coziness of The Spellshop series I totally had to get this YA Cozy Fantasy.

And it doesn't disappoint!

I loved every minute I spent with this book. Together with Calisa I got to explore the Faraway Inn and discover its many wonders. Having read my fair share of Magical Realism and Fantasy books I picked up on the hints dropped throughout the story, which made sure I kept ahead of Calisa in discovering what was going on. It was fun to see where things started to click into place with Calisa.

Overall this is a wonderful and cozy read. You bet I'm keeping an eye out for more books by Sarah Beth Durst.

Why should you read it:

This book is like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror - Book Review

 

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Crowns of Nyaxia #2.5)

by Carissa Broadbent

What is it about:

She was commanded to kill him with a single strike to the heart. She didn’t expect her own to betray her.

Sylina has sacrificed everything for her goddess–her soul, her freedom, her eyes. Life in service to the Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate, has turned Sylina from orphaned street-rat to disciplined killer, determined to overthrow Glaea’s tyrannical king. But when a brutal vampire conqueror arrives on their shores, Sylina faces an even deadlier adversary. She’s tasked with a crucial mission: infiltrate his army, earn his trust… and kill him.

Atrius is a terrifying warrior carving an unstoppable path through Glaea. Yet when Sylina becomes his seer, she glimpses a dark and shocking past–and a side of him that reminds her far too much of parts of herself she’d rather forget. Sylina’s orders are clear. The conqueror cannot live. But as the blood spilled by Glaea’s tyrant king runs thicker, her connection with Atrius only grows stronger. A connection forbidden by her vows. A connection that could cost her everything.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone fantasy romance set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, full of heart-wrenching forbidden romance, dark curses, and epic battles – perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and the From Blood and Ash series.

What did I think of it:

I devoured this book, it's so good!

Turns out I absolutely love Broadbent's writing and worldbuilding, I just really did not like the main characters in The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Sylina is an intriguing character. I liked getting to know her and learn more about her order and how it shaped her. Atrius is a cool character as well, so it was easy to root for the both of them to connect and learn to trust each other.

There's action and suspense, betrayal, and more, but the growing bond between the two and Sylina's growth as a person away from her order were the heart of this story. 

All in all this is a really enjoyable and engaging read. I'll investigate if there are more books in this world that have this vibe.

Why should you read it:

Cool worldbuilding and a very enjoyable romance.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Sea Witch

 

But I thought I should show him what I can do, I protest.

The Sea Witch cuts me off. Let him win. Again and again. Watch his mood improve.

(page 136, The Sea Witch by Rebecca F. Kenney)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

Do You Ship It? - Book Review

 

Do You Ship It?

by Beth Reekles

What is it about:

When Cerys’ secret crush Jake moves to a new college, she realises she’s running out of time to take their relationship from platonic to romantic. She’ll do anything to get out of Jake’s friendzone, even if that means finally diving into the huge fantasy fandom he loves so much. Though she absolutely can’t see the appeal in Of Wrath and Rune, if Jake loves it, then Cerys will too.

But when Jake introduces Cerys to his shiny new friend Max, who goes to all the fandom conventions (and loves a costume or three), Cerys realises she’ll need to do a lot more to grab Jake’s attention than just read a few fanfics.

Can Cerys convince Jake they should become the new couple to ship? Or will he see straight through her cosplay?

What did I think of it:

This was a fun read!

For me as a reader there were a lot of things I could see coming, but that's what makes books like this fun: the clear hints of what's going on, and guessing when Cerys will come to certain realizations. 

I really liked Cerys and rooted for her to overcome the many struggles she faces with both her friendship with Jake, and with school friendships. This book is as much about finding yourself and being brave enough to not give in to peer pressure as it is about Cerys trying to get Jake to notice her.

All in all a very enjoyable read.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun Contemporary YA read.

The Wonder Engine - Book Review

 

The Wonder Engine (Clocktaur War #2)

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

Pull three people out of prison--a disgraced paladin, a convicted forger, and a heartless assassin. Give them weapons, carnivorous tattoos, and each other. Point them at the enemy.

What could possibly go wrong?

In the sequel to CLOCKWORK BOYS, Slate, Brenner, Caliban and Learned Edmund have arrived in Anuket City, the source of the mysterious Clockwork Boys. But the secrets they're keeping could well destroy them, before the city even gets the chance...

What did I think of it:

This was an entertaining read and a mostly cool conclusion to this duology.

I absolutely loved Grimehug, the gnole who joined Slate and her team in The Clockwork Boys. He and the other gnoles are my favorite of the creatures in the Clocktaur world.

I also really liked Learned Edmund and Brenner.

The story was fun and exciting as well. I was eager to find out how our band of misfits would deal with their predicaments and how they would complete their mission.

But the Romance...

I loved Slate, but Caliban...

I know which Knight Commander inspired Caliban, and I can say that Caliban is just as annoying as I find that particular Knight Commander, so well done, I say.

And mostly the romance is cute and sweet, and I might even have been satisfied with it, but near the end of the book something happens that for me would have meant the end of the relationship or should have had at least a different aftermath then it got. Now the Romance to me ended with a lopsided relationship that I don't think will last.

All that said: the overall story was still tons of fun, so this book will be added to my growing T. Kingfisher collection.

Why should you read it:

It's a really fun and entertaining Fantasy read.