Recent Reads

Some of my recent reads... links are to Amazon - if you buy any of these books, you're contributing to my coffee fund. Thank you!

The Galaxy and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4) by Becky Chambers

I can't say enough about how important I think Becky Chambers' work is to anyone who writes fiction. Even if you don't like science fiction, Chambers does an amazing job of world creation and character development. In the fourth book set in the Galactic Commons universe, five people find themselves trapped together temporarily at a galactic rest stop. This "bottle episode" finds each learning more about themselves and each other and challenging their previously held beliefs about the other species they're now forced to spend time with and get to know. A unique aspect of the Wayfarers series is that you do not need to read them in order as they only loosely connect to each other. Cannot recommend enough. Even better - go for the audio version narrated by Rachel Dulude. 

Firefly: Big Damn Hero by James Lovegrove

One of the complaints about this story is that "it feels too much like the TV show." I do not see how this is a complaint. I feel like the author nails the mannerisms and speech of the series while bringing us a brand new story that also gives us a lot more backstory about Mal. I really enjoyed it and it has completely changed my mind about fan and other types of supplemental fiction to extend shows and movies I've enjoyed. It was nice to be back in the 'verse.  I really enjoyed it.

Silverswift by Natalie Lloyd

I think this was promoted as a youth title. My son and I regularly take rides in the car, so we listened to it during our drives. Eliza's grandmother's sight is fading, but she wants to have one last adventure with her granddaughter - to find a hidden cove where mermaids gather once a year. Of course, her mom thinks this is silly nonsense. It was a nice story, an entertaining way to spend a few hours.

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe

For centuries, the pattern has repeated - a Demon King arises and begins to take over the world. A Hero arises and saves them. Wash, rinse, repeat. Young Yui has studied this cycle. She's not Hero-material, but that's not going to let that stop here. It's LitRPG if that was just how your world worked, but it goes easy on the skills/stats. A well-crafted and creative experience. 

The Man on the Mountaintop by Susan Trott

This one will make you think but not make your brain hurt.  Joe has built himself a home on a remote mountaintop and people from around the world make a pilgrimage to his door to seek his wisdom. He's getting older and the idea of succession is weighing on his mind. Also, each year he invites a group to live with him during the spring months. The story is told through conversations where all kinds of issues are wrestled drawing from lots of philosophies. I never found it to be preachy and thought it was a terrific book. It does feel like two books, this may be the result of it being an adaptation from multiple books.

The Collapsing Empire (Interdependency #1) and The Consuming Fire (Interdependency #2) and The Last Emperox (Interdependency #3) by John Scalzi

Scalzi never disappoints. The Interdepency is a galactic federation controlled by a small group of wealthy families.  A new threat to the galaxy emerges that could upset this balance of power and also possibly threaten all of humanity. The warring houses will have to decide where their allegiances lie and whether they want to acknowledge the threat and if so, what it means for their businesses: life as usual, grab as much as you can now or maneuver in such a way to come out on top if humanity survives the threat. Some great characters and interesting universe.

The Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Abandoned)

I couldn't figure out where this was going - it didn't hook me and I got bored.

Bacchanal by Veronica G. Henry (Abandoned)

The traveling carnival is Eliza Meek's way to escape her circumstances in depression-era south. A black orphan with the ability to communicate with animals is a good addition to the carnival which is not what it seems. I made it 60%, but I found most nights I wasn't reading much at all and finally decided I wasn't invested enough to keep reading.