Put simply? A fantasy-setting romance. A Paladin whose god has died, and a perfume maker down on her luck.
Light-hearted, a few funny moments, but realPut simply? A fantasy-setting romance. A Paladin whose god has died, and a perfume maker down on her luck.
Light-hearted, a few funny moments, but really, it's mostly just a very horny book.
I won't say it blew me away, but I would recommend it to anyone wanting a little bit of fantasy setting with their heavy-breathing.
My synesthesia went a bit haywire with this one, but between all the sweets and the fresh pie, it's safe to assume that diabetics need not apply.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
To be entirely fair, I shouldn't rate this book at all. Parts were easily a 5 star and parts were an unequivocal 1 star. To split it right down the miTo be entirely fair, I shouldn't rate this book at all. Parts were easily a 5 star and parts were an unequivocal 1 star. To split it right down the middle does an injustice to both the parts I hated and the parts I loved.
Let me explain:
I picked this up because of the obvious. Fear of Books sounds delightfully perverse for someone like me who loves them. And by all accounts, it's a book lover's book. The author posits that she's a professional deep reader, interpreter, and critic, and I won't gainsay her because I saw all of myself in the things she wrote about. And when she turned her analysis on herself, on the very idea of making her life one deserving of (or, as we quickly learn, of ERASING herself from) an overarching narrative, it suddenly hit too close to home.
Sure, the idea is cool, but there ARE limits, whether for personal sanity or simple reality--and the direction that this then takes in the memoir suddenly takes a downturn.
So, wait, what? Brad, do you mean it becomes a poorly-written self-narratization akin to navel-gazing and labyrinthizing of one's self?
Well, it's not poorly-written. But I WILL say that it's a dangerous book.
There are a lot of memoirs about major depression, plopping any reader face-first in the downward spirals of self-harm and suicidal ideation--and if you have a tendency to susceptibility, the point is to AVOID SUCH WORKS.
This one is VERY much a book about suicide, about finding that final narrative end.
On the one hand, it's expressive about all such downward spirals, but it takes the form of pretty much seeing ALL of it through the lens of bibliomania, for all the good and ill, and making sure you follow her down into this pit--perhaps making doubly-sure that you pick up the poison, yourself, and ingest just enough of it to make you question why YOU love reading.
Do you read to efface yourself, to make your ego disappear in the face of a character's more-real presence? Do you silence yourself repeatedly by throwing yourself in somebody else's world? Are you, in effect, committing suicide by degrees?
These are the questions being asked. And honestly, I think they're disingenuous. A major depressive episode, especially when paired with a bright mind, can transform ANYTHING into another of its dark, death-seeking kind. Books, in this case, are merely a lens to see the world--darkly.
So, I say this is a dangerous book. A poisoner's tome, with the poison painted at the corners of every page. Of course, the author may not have INTENDED this, consciously or not, but the effects are clear.
So, reader beware.
My synesthesia smells insecticide with an old paper smell, one like chocolate.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I'm now finally a solid fan of the series, but it took me two whole novels to push through before I got there. Fortunately, Kingdoms of Death was pretI'm now finally a solid fan of the series, but it took me two whole novels to push through before I got there. Fortunately, Kingdoms of Death was pretty great.
And yes, even if a lot of it comes close to torture porn, there IS a reason for it and why it's necessary. It's obviously a huge turning point for Marlow and it underscores much of what all of human space is going through. So, yeah, I'm on board. Emotionally, even.
As for the rest, expect Hard SF goodness mixed with epic fantasy sensibilities and you won't be disappointed. It's worth getting to this point.
My synesthesia made me feel cold and amazingly uncomfortable, which shouldn't surprise anyone, considering the heart of darkness vibes.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Well, now. This might be my favorite Kingfisher. At least, so far.
I immediately loved the twisted Usher retelling--the creepy Poe story--with a greatWell, now. This might be my favorite Kingfisher. At least, so far.
I immediately loved the twisted Usher retelling--the creepy Poe story--with a great fungal core. It sucked me in and got me invested and the payoff was truly immense. What can I say? It was a great story.
My synesthesia feels makes this book feel like a block of ice, chilling me to the bone.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
My only complaint is that this series can't already be written and waiting for me to read it forever.
I'm very invested in ALL of these wide-ranging plMy only complaint is that this series can't already be written and waiting for me to read it forever.
I'm very invested in ALL of these wide-ranging places and peoples. Even the King of Destruction has got me chomping at the bit--such a charismatic leader, feeding on loyalty and justice and perception--and I'm even feeling jingoistic. This is, despite how generally anti-war I am, I'm cautiously gracious about him even as every warning bell in my heart goes off.
As for Erin, I'm rocking to her changes. It's going in a very interesting direction.
As for Pallass, the huge battle against the wyverns was epic. And Riverfarm is continuing to get extremely interesting. I cannot WAIT for a particular door to be opened.
All told, I loved every second. I'm hooked.
My synesthesia is almost always eating cake while forever being able to have it--at least while I could still be reading it. So delicious. So decadent.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
"Through These Moments, Darkly" by Samantha Murray -- (4*) While it does have some interesting SFnal aspects, it's primarily a short LitSF, a brief gl"Through These Moments, Darkly" by Samantha Murray -- (4*) While it does have some interesting SFnal aspects, it's primarily a short LitSF, a brief glimpse at a poetical notion wrapped in a longing. Good for what it is, but I found myself wanting a lot more.
"The Seed" by Sheryl Singerling -- (4*) Solid beginning and nicely eerie. I love stories that feel like hope but is twisted, nonetheless.
"Aegiopolis Testudo" by Gordon Li -- (5*) Beautiful story about a traveling parasite-colony of humans harvesting and tending to a leviathan alien creature, moral and sustainability questions being asked--with some interesting, measured answers. Very imaginative. So far, my favorite of the month.
"Still Water" by Zhang Ran -- (5*) A little series of vignettes that suddenly become a gorgeous little wish, and I found myself profoundly moved by it. A mother's wish for his son is a powerful thing.
"Symbiotic" by Carolyn Zhao -- (5*) This is an extremely immersive, sensational (as in senses) work. It gripped me the entire time. It isn't a commentary, but a full-on SFnal story about belonging, be it to yourself, or with another. It's very, very sharp.
"There Is No King in My Country" by Thomas Ha -- (5*) Easily one of the most clear unclear stories I've ever read. :) I love a good subtlety. I think we'll need a lot of that in the future, alas.
"An Even Greater Cold to Come" by Rich Larson -- (5*) A great little SF horror story. Satisfying little emotional romp with an even better bit of body-horror.
All told, this month's collection of stories were pretty solid. Three were wonderfully sensational and visceral: Aegiopolis Testudo, Symbiotic, and An Even Greater Cold to Come.
I also really loved the idea and execution of There Is No King in My Country, but it was easily a lot more intellectual than the rest.
Still Water was smooth and eventually quite rewarding, but it took a moment to get there....more
A good callback to old '80s horror epics with a full ensemble cast, an evil that pulls them all in, and the craziness of trying to survive it, or harnA good callback to old '80s horror epics with a full ensemble cast, an evil that pulls them all in, and the craziness of trying to survive it, or harness it, the real joy of the adventure.
Of course, I got into this primarily because I love punk rock and the REAL punk rockers' ethos. That's exactly the kind of spirit we need to beat down the devil.
After reading? It was pretty good. I won't say it's the best I've ever read, but being what it is, the whole diverse ensemble and the great dialogue made it a solid horror that's fairly unlike most we have these days. Hell, between the black-ops operations, the idiots flailing, or the music, I had enough to feed me for days.
My synesthesia just felt the bass in my chest, the thumps in my head, and the call of the mosh.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
This Inn-verse book featuring Cora, the singer, the undead singer, pop-star, really got to introduce us to some great characters. It's very grounded aThis Inn-verse book featuring Cora, the singer, the undead singer, pop-star, really got to introduce us to some great characters. It's very grounded and has moments of comfort and progression, of course, but I was here for the whole package. Action, excitement, pumping up the audience--OR a group of noob hunters in WAY over their head--had me enjoying it even more.
This next book is just proving to me that I can't get enough.
I'm getting superstar-van-helsing vibes. :)
My synesthesia sees nothing but zombie moth-bears and pink hair. Cool, right?
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Oh lordy, this is really hitting the spot for me. Pirateaba has been reliably hitting it out of the park with everything. The balance between comfort-Oh lordy, this is really hitting the spot for me. Pirateaba has been reliably hitting it out of the park with everything. The balance between comfort-emotions, overcoming odds, dealing with issues, and beautiful worldbuilding that sets up some pretty awesome foils--AND heart-wrenching action on a huge scale, as if the former wasn't enough, is just doing it all for my poor old heart.
The balance, here, is just as good as the later Wandering Inn books, and indeed, we are in the same world and hear some interesting, familiar names. But this one is special all on its own.
A song, whether it comes from an actress or a struggling earther thrust into a fantasy world that behaves by leveling-up rules, can still have enormous power.
It's just a bit more interesting when the song in question has THIS much power.
Really great stuff.
My synesthesia smells not grave-dirt or zombie rats, but comfort-tea and honey, together with a mouth watering biscuit and warm company.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
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