I've been aware of Cory Doctorow for MANY years, and have read his essays and blogs for almost as long -- but I'd never actually read the fiction whicI've been aware of Cory Doctorow for MANY years, and have read his essays and blogs for almost as long -- but I'd never actually read the fiction which he's been releasing for 22+ years now. This was partly because I perceived it to be designed to appeal to younger, hipper readers: the kind who live in cohousing or polycules, are makers and practitioners of Burning Man-relevant hobbies, and experiment with physical and mental alterations. But now Cory is middle-aged like me, and he seems to be looking backwards to the era when tech was FUN with this newer thriller series about a middle-aged forensic accountant in Silicon Valley.
A lot of the joy of the scenario for older techies like myself is the pitch-perfect depiction of Silicon Valley's unique combo of technical idealism and sick amounts of money. Martin Hench is a professional skeptic but the habits and mores of the Bay Area are also deeply ingrained in him -- from living on a tour bus, to sleeping with beautiful women who basically see him as a well-mannered and undemanding friend, to taking 25% as his finder's fee -- he's a perfect observer as he moves through the world, cloaked by the fact he looks like a middle-aged forensic accountant named Marty.
Doctorow handles the thriller elements competently but there are few surprises in that area, except for a brief interlude where Marty has to hide in plain sight that was fresh if not particularly believable. Characterizations aren't deep, but these are all people who live for their work so that might be just as well. The story feels a lot like having a long boozy dinner with an old friend in Palo Alto, for better and worse....more
The conclusion of a duology that is essentially one very long novel. Absolutely no point starting it if you haven't read the first volume, _One Dark WThe conclusion of a duology that is essentially one very long novel. Absolutely no point starting it if you haven't read the first volume, _One Dark Window_.
One of the quirks of this novel is that it depends for a surprising amount of effect on people knowing about a bunch of tree species that are neither common nor particularly valued in the US. I looked them all up and was surprised to find that the sinister yew is... a quick-growing but invasive shrub that people use to fill up bare spots in the yards of houses they're trying to sell! Hawthorns and rowans are both shrubby but pretty members of Rosaceae with attractive red berries; spindle trees are similar but with extra-hard wood that can be sharpened to a point to make spindles, and a poisonous 4 lobed fruit.
The author did an extra good job showing how utterly helpless magic-users are when the source of their magic is taken away. These characters barely know how to throw a punch or detect a half-truth because they have magic that does all that for them. And unlike magical systems in many fantasy books, the cards are entirely effort-free if used appropriately -- there's no special bloodline you need to have, no awakening, no training necessary. You just tap the right card three times and get whatever you're promised... subject to the rules of balance....more
The setup here is pretty standard -- a young woman from a noble family, struggling with magic while forced into a deadly game of court politics -- butThe setup here is pretty standard -- a young woman from a noble family, struggling with magic while forced into a deadly game of court politics -- but the card-based magic system will appeal to players of TTRPGs in particular. I personally found the protagonist a little too lightly sketched -- for instance, what did she do all day before the action of the book started? there's no real clue, she had no duties or hobbies AFAICT unless you count occasionally zoning out to chat with her alter ego the Nightmare -- but it's a common failing in romantasy, where slightly unusual physical beauty + strong magic often stand in for more durable virtues....more
Slatter has, for most of her career, been a well-regarded short story specialist whose work tends to be published in anthologies and small-press editiSlatter has, for most of her career, been a well-regarded short story specialist whose work tends to be published in anthologies and small-press editions if it's available at all -- clearly an artiste, not a commercial writer except for a urban fantasy trilogy that apparently went nowhere. But during COVID she suddenly burst forth as a full-on novelist, blending horror, suspense, historical fiction, fantasy, and feminism into a heady cocktail -- beginning with this volume and continuing in rapid succession with _The Path of Thorns_, _The Briar Book of the Dead_, and the upcoming _The Crimson Road_.
All of these novels to date involve young women who are the underestimated and underloved scions of powerful families, valued only insofar as they are exceptionally capable at unglamorous chores disdained by others or expected to marry for the benefit of others. Most of the others are very much "land" novels, but this one is pervaded by saltwater. Miren O'Malley is the final member of a once-wealthy mercantile family come upon hard times due to their failure to keep an ancient bargain with the sea. She is expected to somehow recoup all their losses, but she also has plenty of her own personal tragedies -- such as the disappearance of her parents when she was a baby -- to grieve, investigate, and avenge.
I didn't find this novel as rich and multifaceted as the others in this loose series, but that's a pretty high bar. There's no need whatsoever to read the books in order, and to be frank I'd probably do this one after the others....more
If you've already enjoyed _The Kamogawa Food Detectives_, you'll also enjoy this one. Really not much more to say about it, except I'd forgotten how mIf you've already enjoyed _The Kamogawa Food Detectives_, you'll also enjoy this one. Really not much more to say about it, except I'd forgotten how mouthwatering the descriptions of Japanese food are!...more
Callie Hart is a longtime romance novelist -- one of her most recent series is set in a high school! -- who suddenly busted out with a very long, detaCallie Hart is a longtime romance novelist -- one of her most recent series is set in a high school! -- who suddenly busted out with a very long, detailed fantasy novel. I always enjoy seeing writers who have toiled for years without finding that one great concept, when they FINALLY hit... and she deserves all the praise because this reads like a new classic of the romantasy genre.
The protagonist is bratty and impulsive to distraction at first -- I get why she might be, but also would a successful thief and rebel be THIS unable to keep her mouth shut!?!? -- but it works for the narrative. The author also doesn't shrink away from showing that magic always extracts a price, sometimes the right person isn't the one who pays it, and raw power is often subordinate to making the right choices....more
Self-described by the author in the end note as "Jane Eyre meets Dr Frankenstein". Much more of a horror vibe than I expected, but as always Slatter'sSelf-described by the author in the end note as "Jane Eyre meets Dr Frankenstein". Much more of a horror vibe than I expected, but as always Slatter's true forte is making you understand how growing up with a lack of love and attention can make women vulnerable -- no matter how intelligent or otherwise competent they are....more
This author excels at depicting supremely competent young women who carry a lifelong wound from feeling unloved and unspecial. In this case the protagThis author excels at depicting supremely competent young women who carry a lifelong wound from feeling unloved and unspecial. In this case the protagonist is an administrator -- the one who gets all the tedious shit done without complaint or excuse -- from a famed family of witches, despite her lack of any magic herself. The family is undergoing a tumultuous generational change as well as dealing with mysterious deaths, hauntings, and external threats in their prosperous but creepy village. A very small amount of romance, of the "they went into the cottage together" variety, but Slatter does not hesitate to describe various bodily fluids in nauseating detail....more
A fleshed-out fairytale with a proto-feminist twist. I loved how thoroughly the author demonstrated that borrowed power -- power because you're born iA fleshed-out fairytale with a proto-feminist twist. I loved how thoroughly the author demonstrated that borrowed power -- power because you're born into a certain family, or married into one, or are beautiful, or bore a much-desired heir -- is more a liability than an asset. Most of the story is taken up with understanding the central conflict and then the whole "putting a team together" aspect, with a relatively small part devoted to the actual mission. There only a hint of romance here but the whole story is driven by violence towards women,so I'd say this novel is suitable for some teens but not all....more
Heartwarming little fable, but wow is it didactic about prejudice and repression! It's a little bit risky to have a protagonist who starts off our talHeartwarming little fable, but wow is it didactic about prejudice and repression! It's a little bit risky to have a protagonist who starts off our tale both rigidly rule-following AND basically with no backstory whatsoever except a love of golden oldies music -- no family, no old traumas or significant events, no siblings, no friends, dude has never even been on vacation! -- and I'm not sure Klune pulls it off here. He is a writer who excels at heartbreak that can't ever really be healed and complex love affairs that often take time to work themselves out, and the main story here simply doesn't have the room for what he does best....more
Ahhh, the DIFFICULT second book in a trilogy -- the one that needs to move the plot along, dispose of old characters a**spoiler alert** SPOILERS AHEAD
Ahhh, the DIFFICULT second book in a trilogy -- the one that needs to move the plot along, dispose of old characters and add new ones, and set up the finale for maximum impact. This one suffers from a couple of not uncommon problems, the most important of which is that the entire plot basically requires the characters to love each other but not be able to communicate at all for various reasons -- which leads to MANY MANY MANY scenes of Violet screeching to herself that she Must Nobly Remain Silent To Save Others No Matter The Cost To Her, and then randomly reversing her decisions because she wants to have sex or feels guilty, and then reversing AGAIN when she's feeling more logical.
The villains are basically avatars of pure evil because this author isn't good at depicting the subtler motivations that would lead someone to truly BELIEVE they were doing the right thing by, for instance, torturing someone. Instead we get a Snidely Whiplash type, veritably twirling his villainous mustachios while lurking in the corridors of the academy; the well-nigh miraculous return of an old enemy; and a new romantic rival.
Nevertheless, the pages turned! I did have to read the book twice because I found I couldn't follow the plot very well the first time, and some of the most important "clues" can be very brief -- a mere word or two in a reasonably long conversation. And of course the story ended with some of the author's massive cliffhangers. It's hard to see how the author can maintain the frame of three years at a military academy considering the events of this volume, but I'm looking forward to seeing how Yarros wraps up her story....more
The gigantic publishing phenom is actually worth the excitement! This story is actually more impressive to me because it covers so many stereotypical The gigantic publishing phenom is actually worth the excitement! This story is actually more impressive to me because it covers so many stereotypical beats: a magical military academy with deadly practices, hormones running riot, dragons, and potentially sinister authorities -- there have been SO MANY stories with some or all of these factors! But this author breathes new life into the old tropes, from her first scene (walking across a thin parapet to the school, where one misstep means death) to the last (can't say, major spoiler). Her heroine would be considered disabled in our world, probably with something like Ehlers-Danlos, but it mostly works for the story....more
If you still believe in triumphant endings after 3 volumes of this series, this final one will try to burn it out of you. Seriously bleak for most of If you still believe in triumphant endings after 3 volumes of this series, this final one will try to burn it out of you. Seriously bleak for most of its narrative, and doesn't answer a lot of long-existing questions....more
This series is getting darker and darker as it goes on, and putting more harsh consequences on the relatively happy, bouncy characters. This episode iThis series is getting darker and darker as it goes on, and putting more harsh consequences on the relatively happy, bouncy characters. This episode is notable for a relationship between an asexual (ace) character and his fated mate....more
The first volume in this series, _Wolfsong_, was so suffused by young first love that this one might be startling for those who don't pay attention --The first volume in this series, _Wolfsong_, was so suffused by young first love that this one might be startling for those who don't pay attention -- because it's about first love that curdles and goes muscularly wrong. It fills in a lot of details that weren't available from the first story, but also goes into areas that might not be appropriate for younger readers....more
Seems like this author is now being marketed as a cute, sweet, nostalgic storyteller -- but I can tell you that his real strength is making you cry whSeems like this author is now being marketed as a cute, sweet, nostalgic storyteller -- but I can tell you that his real strength is making you cry when you understand the sacrifices everyone needs to make to keep a community going. This is actually the simplest and most straightforward of the four episodes in this series, so if you don't like this one I can't imagine there would be much point in going on....more
Something about the synopsis and cover art on this book made me think it would be a swift, larky, _Hitchhiker's Guide_ style romp -- which it definiteSomething about the synopsis and cover art on this book made me think it would be a swift, larky, _Hitchhiker's Guide_ style romp -- which it definitely is NOT. Instead it's a book full of secrets, which are doled out slowly at first until they're finally tumbling out at breakneck speed in the second half.
I've always rather enjoyed stories about daily life on small, unimpressive spaceships but if that's not your thing the first half of this one might drag. There's also a lot of speculation about what it might actually be like to live in a multi-species universe -- and guess what, it's not all Captain Kirk and a series of beautiful women with blue skin. The main POV character, Rosemary, serves as our naive stand-in as the crew of the good ship _Wayfarer_ as it goes about its task of creating wormholes for hire.
I've seen a lot of reviews that say not very much HAPPENS plotwise, and the book can sometimes read more like a collection of short stories than a novel. Everyone needs to have a few novels tucked away for days when they're sick or otherwise low-energy, and this one is good at soothing without becoming pablum....more
Marguerite, the brilliant and worldly spy from the beginning of this series, is back -- and running from her former employers, who probably want to kiMarguerite, the brilliant and worldly spy from the beginning of this series, is back -- and running from her former employers, who probably want to kill her. She teams up with the best looking of the Saint of Steel's former paladin's to attend a house party full of aristos and spies. This could be the setup for a very conventional mystery-romance, but there are so many twists and turns that I just did not see coming! In some ways the most spiritual of the series....more
The love story here involves two men, one a paladin and the other what we would call a forensic pathologist, on the trail of a possible serial killer.The love story here involves two men, one a paladin and the other what we would call a forensic pathologist, on the trail of a possible serial killer. The vast majority of the story occurs in a single building which has been turned into something straight from a horror movie. As always with this writer, the secondary characters -- in this case a gnole, a member of a species that resembles large badgers -- are vivid and adorable almost to a fault....more
Of the four volumes in this series, this is my least favorite if only because it's quite repetitive -- particularly all the "thwarted romance" bits. BOf the four volumes in this series, this is my least favorite if only because it's quite repetitive -- particularly all the "thwarted romance" bits. By the middle of the book you're practically screaming at them to get it on or get over it! Also I'm by far not the most perceptive about plot twists, but I figured out this one in the first chapter. If you're going to read the whole series you'll definitely want to read this one but definitely don't start here....more
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