Book Reviews Archives - Gary David Gillen

112263 by Stephen King

Introduction

In 112263 by Stephen King, Jake had a problem. He’s friends with Al, a diner owner and cook, who tells him about what he calls a rabbit hole that he found in his diner. Al says the rabbit hole is a time portal back to 1958. He wants Jake to go back and prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Was Lee Harvey Oswald a lone gunman or was there a conspiracy? Will Jake find out in time and save Kennedy or will he doom the future?

Summary

112263 by Stephen King starts with schoolteacher Jake Epping making friends with diner owner Al Templeton. Al tells Jake that he finds what he calls a rabbit hole in his diner. The rabbit hole takes him back to 1958, he has made many trips, and he always returns exactly two minutes after he left. Al is sick and he wants Jake to do something for him that he can’t do for himself because of his condition.

Jake doesn’t believe Al. Al gives Jake a diary with all the information he will need to succeed in the past. Al wants him to go back and prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on 11-22-63 in Dallas, Texas. Al wants Kennedy to live because he believes that the escalation of the Vietnam War will not happen and the current time will be better because of it. Jake discovers two tests that will show if changing the past will affect the future.

Jake does his tests and returns to the past under the alias of George Amberson. At first, he pretends to be a novelist but to make money he gets a job as a substitute teacher in Jolie, Texas which is near Dallas. He needs to figure out if Lee Harvey Oswald is the lone gunman and prevent the assassination. His mission is compromised when he falls in love with the school librarian Sadie Dunhill. The timeline of history pushes back at his efforts as he gets closer to the date in question. Will he or won’t he succeed? What will happen to Sadie?

Recommendation

I think that 112263 by Stephen King is a great novel. This novel is a romance, but that’s not clear until Jake meets Sadie. In the afterward, King said his son, Joe Hill, insisted on the ending that is in the novel that closes the loop on the romance. He was right about that ending and the last chapter is what makes the novel great in my opinion. There is a good miniseries adaption of the novel on Hulu called 11.22.63 that presents the novel well, especially that last scene. Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Stephen King writes in the novel’s afterward that he is 99% sure that he was. Whatever you believe, if you treat this novel as a fantasy, one possibility of what had happened in the past, then you should enjoy it. I certainly did.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12530184-11-22-63

In Gerald’s Game by Stephen King, what happens when they are at their isolated lake house, Jessie is cuffed to the bed, and Gerald is incapacitated? Will Jessie escape before she goes crazy, or will she die of dehydration?

Gerald’s Game by Stephen King

In Thinner by Stephen King, Billy accidentally kills an old gypsy woman. Her father curses him to lose weight until he dies. Can Billy reverse the curse, or will he wither and die?

Thinner by Stephen King

In The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub, twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer’s mother is dying. The only way for him to save her is to find the mythical Talisman, which is in a parallel world called the Territories. He must pass many challenges to obtain his goal. Will Jack find the Talisman in time to save his mother from death?

Talisman by Stephen King

It is by Stephen King and has seven kids who face horror. As adults, they face it again. Will the Losers Club defeat the hidden evil in the Derry sewers, or will they perish?

It by Stephen King

In The Waste Lands by Stephen King, Roland and his group search for a way to the Dark Tower. They find the city of Lud and the way forward. Will Roland and his gunslingers continue their path to the Dark Tower, or will they fail before they even get started?

The Waste Lands by Stephen King

Drawing of the Three by Stephen King, book #2 of The Dark Tower series, features Roland, Eddie Dean, and Odetta Holmes. Roland gets one step closer to reaching the Dark Tower.

Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The Gunslinger by Stephen King, book #1 of The Dark Tower series, seemed to set up for a climax that never happened. What is there is a trippy and metaphysical non-ending.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #14 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold is the Fourteenth novel of the Vorkosigan saga. Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan is on a fact-finding mission on Kibou, the planet where people are routinely put in cryo-suspended animation. Jin is a homeless boy who helps Miles. Miles learns far more than he expected.

Summary

In Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan wakes up hazy. A terrorist group kidnapped and drugged him, but he got away from them.

Jin, a 12-year-old homeless boy, finds Miles and takes him to the place he squatted on.

Miles has amnesia, but his memories are coming back. He must find Armsman Roic and get to the Barrayaran consulate to report in.

Roic is imprisoned by the terrorists and must escape so he can help Miles, his employer.

Miles, Roic, and Jin investigate what is going on in Kibou. They must uncover the Kibouan plot to take over the Barrayaran colony of Komarr and defeat it.

They are helped by Durona, an Escobaran specialist in cryonic suspended animation, Consul Vorlynkin from the Barrayaran consulate, and Jin’s mom.

Recommendation

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold is another excellent novel in the Vorkosigan saga. Miles thwarts a plot in his unorthodox way. Roic saves the day more than once. Jin feels like a twelve-year-old most worried about his animal friends. The only sad thing is that this is the last novel in the series which features Miles as the main character. I’m glad he went out this way.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7841670-cryoburn

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold is the eighth novel of the Vorkosigan saga. Lord Miles Vorkosigan uses his alias, Admiral Miles Naismith. He is the leader of the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet. This time, the fleet is at Jackson Whole. Jackson Whole is run by gangsters who have illegal cloning businesses. Miles must rescue his brother Mark from the gangs and disrupt the cloning operation. Will the brothers perform their mirror dance and escape Jackson Whole in one piece?

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold is the thirteenth novel of the Vorkosigan saga. Miles and Ekaterine are racing back from their honeymoon to see the birth of their children, but a mystery brews for Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan. An issue arises in Quaddiespace involving Komarr, Cetaganda, and the triumphant return of Bel Thorne. Will Miles solve the mystery before an environmental disaster is released in the universe?

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold

In A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles’s latest mission is his most difficult yet. He’s in love and wants to court the next Lady Vorkosigan, but everyone conspires against him, including her.

Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

Links Continued

In Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles uncovers a terrorist plot. Can Miles save Komarr from itself or will the planet fall into anarchy?

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold, death will not stop Miles Vorkosigan, but his boss Simon Illyan has an illness that might end Miles’s career. Can Miles figure out what happened to Illyan and what he should do about it before it’s too late?

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold, Dr. Ethan Urquhart must discover what happened to unusable ovarian samples. Will Ethan go off the planet, risk being corrupted, and solve the mystery of the unusable samples, or will he doom Athos by doing nothing?

Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold

Links Continued

In Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold, they send Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan to Cetaganda on a diplomatic mission. Miles becomes involved in a complex mystery. Will Miles foil the plot to destroy Cetaganda and save his home planet of Barrayar?

Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold

In The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, they accused Miles Vorkosigan of treason. Will Miles play The Vor Game well enough to escape the treason charges made against him and secure the assignment he wants?

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold is the fifth novel of the Vorkosigan saga. Miles and the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet escape the Cetagandans and arrive at Earth for repairs. Miles must juggle both of his identities, obtain the funds to repair the fleet, and defeat a plot to replace him with a double. Will Miles achieve his goals and rescue his brothers in arms?

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold

Links Continued

In Warriors Apprentice (Book #2 of the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Vorkosigan gets involved in another planet’s war. Can he escape the mischief he started?

Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Barrayar (Book#7 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan faces an assassination and the birth of her son. Will she survive the regency and give birth to her son?

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Shards of Honor (Book#1 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayaran Captain Aral Vorkosigan takes Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith as a prisoner. They take a hike in the jungle. What happens when they fall in love?

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Falling Free (Book #4 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, space engineer Leo Graf must decide between retiring or risking his life protecting his students. The novel is a fun, self-contained space opera romp.

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

City and the City by China Mieville

Introduction

City and the City by China Mieville is a noir police procedural set in two overlapping cities that share the same location as each other. Borlu is the detective that must travel between the two cities and try not to lose his sense of place as he investigates a case. Will Borlu get lost between the City and the City and never return to his old life?

Summary

In City and the City by China Mieville inspector Tyador Borlu of the city of Beszel extreme crime squad investigates the murder of a woman. A group of kids saw someone dump the body from a van.

Borlu talks to constable Lizbyet Corwi about the case. Borlu sees an old woman who he thinks he should not be able to see. He looks way and pretends she’s not there.

Borlu and Corwi work on the case. The victim’s name is Fulana Detail. None of the leads are panning out. Then Borlu gets a break from a caller from Ul Qoma. Beszel is the city and Ul Qoma is the other city. The two cities are side by side and interwoven. The caller said he knew Fulana from when she was in the Ul Qoma underground. Fulana’s name was Marya in Ul Qoma. The caller feels he is in danger and Borlu should investigate the Beszel underground. Borlu believes the caller. It means though that if he pursues the case, he will be in breach, he cannot investigate a case that originates from Ul Qoma.

Being in breach carries significant consequences, so Borlu must be careful if he wants to catch the murderer of Fulana. He pursues the case as far as he can.

Recommendation

City and the City by China Mieville is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. Once the reader understands the relationship between the two cities and the meaning of the word breach, then the novel makes sense. Borlu was the perfect noir detective. His conflict was real and earned. I’d like to rerad more of the novels of China Mieville in the future.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of City and the City by China Mieville

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4703581-the-city-the-city

Another book that reminds me of City and the City is The Fifth Season. Both books are Science Fiction but are on the boundary with Fantasy because they explore concepts that have an element that cannot be explained through physics.

In The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Essun, Damaya, and Syenite, all face hard choices in the Broken Earth of the Stillness. Will they survive?

Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold

Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #8 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61909.Mirror_Dance

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold

Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles uncovers a terrorist plot. Can Miles save Komarr from itself or will the planet fall into anarchy?

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

Links Continued

Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold

Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Warriors Apprentice (Book #2 of the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Vorkosigan gets involved in another planet’s war. Can he escape the mischief he started?

Links Continued

Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Barrayar (Book#7 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan faces an assassination and the birth of her son. Will she survive the regency and give birth to her son?

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore

Introduction

In Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore, Hodge is a historian living in a world where the South won the Civil War. They call it the war of Southron Independence. He lives in a much-reduced North and wonders how his history was shaped. He gets the chance to see the past as it happens. Will the North win this time and bring the jubilee to the South?

Summary

Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore is said to be a memoir by Hodge, a historian from the world where the South won the Civil War. Hodge grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. When he turns 17, he seeks his fortune in New York City. The South is a superpower, while the North is lesser. The South and Great Britain are allies, while the German Union and the Spanish empire are allied against them. Hodge gets a job in New York City and learns about the state of the world. He forms his desire to be an historian from living in New York.

The war of Southron Independence facinates Hodge and especially the battle of Gettysburg, which the South won which led the South to winning the war. He has an opportunity to see the battle firsthand. His goal was to be an observer only, but the reality did not follow his plans.

Recommendation

Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore is an alternate history and time traveling novel that raises interesting questions. Would the world be a better place if the South had won the war? Would it be different? Can events change the course of history? Hodge raises these questions and more in the novel. He portrays the uninvolved observer. But not choosing is still a choice. He had a wonderful life in his timeline with Catalina, but he had to learn what he wanted to learn which cost him in the end. This novel is a tragedy to me, a well written tragedy. I’m glad a read this novel.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61355290-bring-the-jubilee

This novel has one alternate history narrative while the following novel has four alternate history timelines.

In The Female Man by Joanna Russ, four identical women, separated by chance, come together for a reason revealed only at the end of the novel. The novel explores how their different upbringing shapes each of these women. It was disturbing and thought-provoking.

Female Man by Joanna Russ

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold

Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #5 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/296182.Brothers_in_Arms

Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold

Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles uncovers a terrorist plot. Can Miles save Komarr from itself or will the planet fall into anarchy?

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

Links Continued

Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold

Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Warriors Apprentice (Book #2 of the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Vorkosigan gets involved in another planet’s war. Can he escape the mischief he started?

Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson

Introduction

This collection has ten stories that are not part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere, connects the author’s works. The author set the stories of the cosmere on a group of worlds that people travel to through magical means. These are science fiction and fantasy stories not set in the cosmere. They previously published nine of these stories, while publishing the story Moment Zero here for the first time. All the stories in this collection are excellent, but I will comment on each, starting with the one I like most.

Summary

Moment Zero Summary and Recommendation

Moment Zero is a science fiction novella involving two detective partners at work and in life. A time travel incident occurs, and they must work together to avoid an apocalyptic future.

Moment Zero is the longest story in this collection, and it was published here for the first and only time. The author writes in the postscript that he wanted to tell a story about two people fighting through time to avoid the apocalypse and to show the end of a failed relationship. I thought it was the best story in the collection.

Snapshot Summary and Recommendation

Snapshot is a science fiction novella about two detective partners sent into a simulation of the previous day to determine the circumstances of a crime that was committed that day.

This was a nice serial killer thriller. The twist comes at the end, revealing an interesting secret about the relationship between the main character detectives. The author writes in the postscript that he worried it was too on the nose, but I think that’s what makes it good.

Perfect State Summary and Recommendation

Perfect State is a science fiction novel about a simulation where real-born people inhabit a fantasy land surrounded by machine-born NPCs. Real born are the masters of their simulation, but there are other simulations where other real born people are located. What happens when they put two real-born people together?

The author writes in the postscript that he wanted to write about a reverse Matrix, where the real born have reasons to be happy inside the simulation. I felt like he accomplished that goal in the story. He debated whether to include or delete the final scene. At one time, he did, but he felt that without the final scene, the story is incomplete, so the final scene is in this collection. I think his reasons are valid, and I am glad that he chose to include them here.

I Hate Dragons Summary and Recommendation

I Hate Dragons is a humorous fantasy short story. Skip’s special talent is that he smells good to dragons. Also, he can understand spoken words as written to the annoyance of his employer, Master Johnston. Skip is the dragon bait and Master Johnston’s crew are dragon killers. The story follows from that setup.

It’s a great, funny story. The author writes in the postscript that he wrote this story in response to a prompt from his podcast, Writing Excuses, in January 2011. The prompt was to write a story with dialogue only. No dialogue tags or descriptions are allowed.

This is a link to the story on his website. Extended versions of the story are also found at that link.

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/i-hate-dragons

Defending Elysium Summary and Recommendation

Defending Elysium is a science fiction novelette. Jason comes to the orbital station Evensong to find a missing operative sent by his company. An extraterrestrial being is murdered, and things get more complicated. How are these two events connected?

This story is set in the same universe as the author’s Skyward series. It’s one of his earliest written stories.

This is a link to the story on his website

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/defending-elysium

Mitosis Summary and Recommendation

Mitosis is a superhero science fiction novelette. David is a Reckoner, a group that defeated Epics, strong supervillains. Another Epic surfaces and David must defeat it, or it will kill many citizens of David’s city.

This story is set in the same universe as the author’s Reckoners series.

Firstborn Summary and Reccomendation

Firstborn is a science fiction short story. Dennison is overshadowed by the accomplishments of his older brother Varion. Varion is an experienced space fleet commander, who has never lost an engagement. Dennison always fails in his attempts. Dennison studies Varion’s record. What will Dennison do with his knowledge?

This story was originally published on Tor.com which is called reactor now. It’s one of his earliest written stories. The author writes in his postscript that he wanted to explore the topic of nature versus nurture in this story.

This is a link to the story on reactor.

Firstborn

Dreamer Summary and Recommendation

Dreamer is a phycological horror short story. Dreamer and Phi both want to find Longshot first. Who is going to win this battle and what that means is the subject of the story.

This story was first published in the Games Creatures Play anthology. It’s a short story that tells the message and finishes quickly. It’s hard to care for these characters because of what they are.

Brain Dump Summary and Recommendation

Brain Dump is a short story about genetic engineering. People can choose the brain that they want for their children. A couple wants a child and finds out the downside of the choice. There is always a negative consequence for any positive trait. They choose their own path.

This story gives a different take on designer brains.

Probability Approaching Zero Summary and Recommendation

Probability Approaching Zero is short flash science fiction story.

Not much there.

Recommendation

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson. is a great anthology. I liked Moment Zro and Snpshot the most.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222035715-tailored-realities

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson. Sixth of the Dusk is a trapper that has magical birds that help him. Dusk must travel to the dangerous Emberdark and discover a necessary secret or his people would lose their freedom to those who want to take it away.

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson. They published the original novella named Sixth of the Dusk in this anthology.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595941-arcanum-unbounded

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. Dalinar Kholin’s forces fight the forces of the god, Odium. The fight ends with a contest of champions. Who will prevail in the contest of champions?

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson. Wax and Wayne must foil a plot started by the terrorist group called the Set to destroy their home and people.

Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson. In book 3.5 of the Stormlight Archive, Rysn and Lopen must uncover the secrets of the lost island of Akinah, or it will doom Roshar.

Links Continued

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. In book four of the Stormlight Archive, the war between humans and Voidbringers intensifies.

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere interrelated many of the author’s works. He set six stories on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham (Book #4 of The Long Price Quartet)

Introduction

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham is the fourth and final book in the Long Price Quartet. The magic of the beings called the andat protects the cities of Khaiem. Their Empire and their magic have receded, so the non-magical Empire of Galt tries to overthrow them. The best Galt general takes away their andat. The former poet Maati seeks to bring back the andat and fix his mistakes. The Emperor of the Khaiem, Otah, seeks to make peace with the Galts. Will Maati or Otah prevail, or will the andat destroy the cities of the Khaiem?

Summary – Background

The cities of the Khaiem are connected by the use of sentient magical creatures called the andat. Each city has one andat controlled by a person called a poet who binds them with a series of words. They name andat by the special task they can perform. Seedless, the andat of the city Saraykeht can magically pick seeds from cotton, functioning just like a magical cotton gin. The andat of the city of Machi called Stone-Made-Soft can help with the mining of ores. The andat also protect the cities by having the power to destroy enemies of the Khaiem. No one has defeated the cities since they obtained their andats. The Old Empire before them used the andat but was destroyed, serving as a warning to them of what could go wrong.

Summary

The Empire of Galt defeated the Khaiem. Balasar Gice was their best general. In winning, he lost for his people.

Maati Vaupathai is a scholar, an apprentice poet who missed his chance to control the andat called Seedless. His actions caused the loss to the Galt’s in the war. He wants to start a school for women to bind andat. In this way, he hopes to atone for his mistakes.

Otah Machi is the sixth son of the Khai Machi. He became the ruler of the city of Machi after his father died. He became a poet apprentice, where he met Maati, and later, Otah was exiled as a laborer. Maati is his old friend, but they have a complicated relationship. The Galts destroy all of the Khaiem except Machi. Otah becomes the Emperor of the Khaiem. He wants to make peace with Galt.

Cehmai held but lost the binding on the andat named Stone-Made-Soft. He considers Maati a mentor. He disappeared after his loss.

Kiyan is Otah’s wife, and she recently passed. She is the mother of their daughter Eiah and their son Danat, Otah’s heir.

Sinja Ajutani is a mercenary captain from Machi. He is the former lover of Kiyan. He is Otah’s best friend and bodyguard.

Recommendation

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham is a great finale for this fantasy series. The fantasy elements in the series were subtle, focusing more on the political and business spheres, until the ending of the previous novel. The use of the andat in that novel created catastrophic consequences. Maati seeks to bring back the andat to defeat Galt and fix his mistakes. Otah wants to make peace with Galt. The ending of this novel is bittersweet and appropriate.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11550699-the-price-of-spring

In An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham, the magic of the andat protects Otah Machi’s country. The best Galt general learns how to take away their andat. Will Otah Machi defeat the Galts, or will they destroy him and all the cities of Khaiem?

An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham

In A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham, the Khai Machi is dying, and his sons must fight to the death to follow him. His youngest son, Otah was exiled and presumed dead. Otah still wants to be hidden but is drawn into their conflict. If he doesn’t win, his city will be sacked by the Galts.

Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham

In A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham, the poet-magician Heshai must keep control of the magical creature Seedless, or the Summer Cities will fall to the Empire of Galt.

Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Book Fourteen of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the fourteenth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows seven main plot arcs featuring Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene, Aviendha, and Nynaeve. All seven characters face difficult choices and must grow to get closer to their goals. Will the forces of Light be ready for the Last Battle or will the Dark One win?

Summary – Prologue

The prologue has twelve point-of-view characters, and each point of view sets up a plot arc.

[Insert Summary Here]

Summary–Main Plot Arcs

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson has seven main arcs.

[Insert Summary Here]

Summary–Best Chapters

Two Chapters stand out in A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the last novel of the series. Rand gets everyone to the Field of Merrilor for the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don. Rand, Perrin, Mat, Elayne, Aviendha, Gawyn, and Egwene must overcome challenges. The Final Battle occurs and creates unforeseen consequences.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60508036-a-memory-of-light

Review of Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene, Gawyn, and Aviendha get closer to their goals in this novel.

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

Review of Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Gawyn get closer to their goals in this novel.

Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan

Review of Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, and Egwene get closer to their goals in this novel.

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

Review of Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan. Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Egwene get closer to their goals in this novel.

Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

Winters Heart by Robert Jordan has some brilliant scenes but misses conclusions to the plot arcs explored

Winters Heart by Robert Jordan

Review of Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan. When Rand fights the Seanchan, will they defeat him, or will he win across the Path of Daggers?

Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

Links Continued

This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him, or will he earn a Crown of Swords?

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time.

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.

Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book Three of the Wheel of Time.

Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book Two of the Wheel of Time.

Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book One of the Wheel of Time.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

Introduction

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders follows the relationship between a witch, Patricia, and a techno-geek, Laurence. They were friends as children, but have been separated for ten years. Patrica lives in a world of magic, and Laurence lives in a world of science. They meet again when the world unravels. Can magic and science come together and save the world?

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25372807-all-the-birds-in-the-sky

I think the following two novels I have read are similar to All the Birds in the Sky in terms of the setting and the handling of the romantic interests.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab is a fantasy novel. Will the powerful token that Kell found result in the destruction of the four cities named London?

Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Tress’s close friend Charlie goes missing. Will Tress rescue him or perish herself?

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Links Continued

Links Continued

Links Continued

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Links Continued

Links Continued

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Links Continued

More Links

Introduction

Summary

Moment Zero Summary and Recommendation

Snapshot Summary and Recommendation

Perfect State Summary and Recommendation

I Hate Dragons Summary and Recommendation

Defending Elysium Summary and Recommendation

Mitosis Summary and Recommendation

Firstborn Summary and Reccomendation

Dreamer Summary and Recommendation

Brain Dump Summary and Recommendation

Probability Approaching Zero Summary and Recommendation

Recommendation

Links

Links Continued

Introduction

Summary – Background

Summary

Recommendation

Links

Introduction

Summary – Prologue

Summary–Main Plot Arcs

Summary–Best Chapters

Recommendation

Links

Links Continued

Introduction

Summary

Recommendation

Links