Husband and wife solve mysteries is one of my favorite tropes, and this was a great one. A few clues I spotted early, a few red herrings I caught, andHusband and wife solve mysteries is one of my favorite tropes, and this was a great one. A few clues I spotted early, a few red herrings I caught, and an interesting world full of magic. The main couple were sometimes minorly grating, but overall likeable....more
Interesting, short, and ended too soon. I don't know how much it would interest a kid, or what age it would work well for, but as an adult I appreciatInteresting, short, and ended too soon. I don't know how much it would interest a kid, or what age it would work well for, but as an adult I appreciated it....more
This book was a wild ride. The characters were all both wildly unlikeable and somewhat sympathetic, the plot was all over the place, and the whole thiThis book was a wild ride. The characters were all both wildly unlikeable and somewhat sympathetic, the plot was all over the place, and the whole thing has a great absurdism running through it. I listened to this book in about 36 hours while sick and hazy brained which is probably the best way to digest it. That being said, it was very heavy handed at times, even if I mostly agree with the messaging....more
Apparently this is supposed to be one of the more predictable ones but it kept me guessing. I loved the thematic through lines here� (view spoiler)[meApparently this is supposed to be one of the more predictable ones but it kept me guessing. I loved the thematic through lines here� (view spoiler)[mental illness/overmedication and how that intersected with the theme of our worldview depending so much on what we are told. (hide spoiler)] I also loved the characters (well except the botanists) and the sunny Caribbean setting. And Miss Marple is a gem as always....more
Finished this 9 hour audiobook in approx 12 hours—just couldn't stop listening. The ending is a little less fascinating than the first 2/3—it goes froFinished this 9 hour audiobook in approx 12 hours—just couldn't stop listening. The ending is a little less fascinating than the first 2/3—it goes from intense detail into much broader strokes, but still well worth a listen. Definitely putting the sequel onto my TBR....more
May come back sometime. I just couldn't make myself excited to keep reading. Practically every chapter is a new POV and even though it is surDNF @ 33%
May come back sometime. I just couldn't make myself excited to keep reading. Practically every chapter is a new POV and even though it is surprisingly cohesive all things considered I just couldn't find any momentum....more
Coming back after a few days now that my thoughts have settled. I enjoyed the adventure and Ethan's character, and while the author isn't at her peak Coming back after a few days now that my thoughts have settled. I enjoyed the adventure and Ethan's character, and while the author isn't at her peak form here it is certainly a competent story. But the weird "Planet of the Men" world was just such a hard buy that it distracted from the rest of the book and the resolution just wasn't super satisfying to me. 3/5...more
3.5 stars. Had a lot of the same charms as Parker's other books (great voice, great characters, crazy scheming and politics in a big wide world) but t3.5 stars. Had a lot of the same charms as Parker's other books (great voice, great characters, crazy scheming and politics in a big wide world) but the pacing sagged a little bit in this one. I think that even though the world stakes were high, for a big part of the middle I didn't really know what the main character wanted so even though he was acting really decisive it kind of just felt like he was muddling along....more
Not sure how this one will shake out. It was very much a first book in a series—there's potential for greatness but it isn't ever reached here. It hasNot sure how this one will shake out. It was very much a first book in a series—there's potential for greatness but it isn't ever reached here. It has some interesting moral and ethical questions, some cool aliens, and the author isn't afraid to kill off a character at any point. But I also feel like the sides characters weren't well developed and the general grimness wasn't my favorite tone. I didn't love the romances either.
If you liked the Expanse, expect a similar writing style but a very different world and plot archetype....more
Fun, snappy hard sci fi thriller. I liked the problem solving, the politicking was fine, the ending mostly landed. But I felt like the authors ran outFun, snappy hard sci fi thriller. I liked the problem solving, the politicking was fine, the ending mostly landed. But I felt like the authors ran out of room to tie up some loose ends, so they just hung a lantern on it....more
Kind of mixed feelings on this one. Loved Miss Marple as always. Lucy is a great character, and I loved the little boys. There were some deliciously tKind of mixed feelings on this one. Loved Miss Marple as always. Lucy is a great character, and I loved the little boys. There were some deliciously twisty reveals scattered throughout the book. But the ending was, if anything, a little too twisty—it almost came together and made sense, but it didn't quite feel supported. I just can't believe that Miss Marple could have figured out the killer with the clues she had or that the killer would have actually structured the plan in the way he did....more
First read of 2025! I loved the idea of this, and I enjoyed the execution in general, but it didn't quite keep my attention the way it should have. ButFirst read of 2025! I loved the idea of this, and I enjoyed the execution in general, but it didn't quite keep my attention the way it should have. But I do like that the romance was mild and slow burn, the fae were sufficiently inhuman, and that the socially awkward protagonist was actually legitimately socially incompetent and not just awkward in a cute way....more
I couldn't tell you if it was a tough read or an unputdownable one—it was both. Sometimes I kept reading in a "can't look away from the train wreck" wI couldn't tell you if it was a tough read or an unputdownable one—it was both. Sometimes I kept reading in a "can't look away from the train wreck" way. Sometimes in the "sucked in by beautiful prose and detail" way. And sometimes I couldn't stop listening for hours and then it was suddenly all too much and I had to take a break for a few days. But I'm so glad I finally read it!...more
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