Critiques et Commentaires

Based on a recommendation from @masu@icosahedron.website. Masu wrote:

"A dystopian story about survival, climate change, and humanity (and the lack of it) set in Jamaica in 2085"

jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/with-pen-or-sword

For some reason I held off reading this for years, because it seemed too close to Gaiman's Neverwhere. But it really isn't, it's well worth reading if you like urban fantasy or books with spunky child protagonists. I particularly liked the way it turned certain fantasy tropes on their head. I can't quite decide the target age group, but it feels definitely less horror tinged than Neverwhere..

It's not bad. I can see that if I was looking for a Victorian Novel, it would even be good. But ooof, the biology is destiny is just too much at the moment, even in a fantasy setting.

Free to download (DRM free) until July 31. Worth a shot.

All of Masha du Toit's books are free to download (like legit, you scurvy pirate) until July 31

www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Masha_duToit

I read a bunch of books on a trip, but did not actually finish this audiobook. For some reason lately I don't listen to audiobooks much when traveling. Not sure if this is because I have more time, or because I have less inclination / ability to tune out my surroundings.

Based on ourislandgeorgia.net/@Wolven/110648427183667770

And yet, a bit further in to the book I find myself staying up later than I should to read. Not sure whether that just means both the book and I are imperfect, or what.

Have enjoyed some of (one of) the author's necromancer books.

Just started, but finding it a bit ponderous so far. Not sure if that is me, the translation, or returning to "hard" sci-fi.

This is at one level a YA supernatural mystery novel, and successful as such. Unlike many YA novels where the bulk of dramatic tension is provided by stupid and uncaring adults, here the love and support Elatsoe receives from her family and elders is a constant happy surprise. Unlike the relentlessly negative (and probably accurate!) media stories I usually read, this made being an indigenous child/teen seem like a wonderful experience I was missing out on.

I read two shorter works set in the same universe first, so I knew what to expect, more or less. As a mystery novel, the book is good, but maybe a bit less surprising than the author intended. I did really enjoy the setting, perhaps because I was somewhere where I could hear Arabic spoken all around me. And of course anything that makes fun of the (fallen) British Empire has my sympathies.

I was on a Katherine Addison kick, so I decided to read this right after the Angel of the Crows.