Book Reviews Archives - Page 6 of 19

Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker

Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker, 4MK Thriller Book #3.

Introduction

In the Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker, the hunt for Anson Bishop the Four Monkey Killer heats up. They have implicated suspended Chicago Metro detective Sam Porter in the case and he remains in custody in a Metro interview room. Detective Brian Nash and FBI Special Agent Frank Poole continue the investigation. They quarantined detective Claire Norton in a hospital under a SARS scare. Porter thinks he is the only one who can understand the writer of the diaries. Can Sam Porter find the answers to the 4MK’s motivations in the Diaries and catch the killer?

Summary

The Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker starts with another murder victim discovered. The four viewpoint characters are affected by the aftermath of the conclusion of the previous novel of the trilogy, The Fifth to Die.

FBI Special Agent Frank Poole entered the case after they discovered the original crime scene in South Carolina. The case took him to New Orleans and now he is back in Chicago after they discovered Porter in a compromising position set up by Bishop. He believes Porter is not telling him something, but can’t get through to him. He seeks Nash’s help because Nash might get through to Porter.

Chicago Metro detective Brian Nash is the lead investigator of the 4MK case for Metro. He interfaces with Poole. Nash thinks Porter is a good cop but is acting differently since he got deep into the 4MK case. He thinks he can get through to Porter. He is worried about Claire and Kloz, who are in quarantine at the hospital.

Summary Continued

Chicago Metro detective Claire Norton is under quarantine in the hospital because of a SARS scare instigated by Bishop. Chicago Metro IT guy Edwin Klozowski (aka Kloz) helps her at the hospital. They gathered all of Bishop’s potential victims at the hospital. Bishop threatens to release more SARS unless they cure his friend Paul Upchurch. Claire must juggle all those balls while facing the potential of getting sick herself.

Suspended Chicago Metro detective Sam Porter is in custody at Metro pending his involvement in a murder at the end of the previous novel. He has been investigating the 4MK case since the beginning and is deeply involved in Anson Bishop’s plots. There is a question of the depth of his involvement. Porter has been reading Bishop’s diaries all along. He thinks he can sort the fact from the fiction and learn the motives and a way to catch Bishop if he reads the last diaries left by Bishop at the crime scene where they found Porter.

Recommendation

The Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker concludes the 4MK Thriller trilogy. This novel is a surprising and fitting conclusion to the story. The best things about the trilogy are the complicated antagonist Anson Bishop, the deep mysteries contained within the diary chapters, and the flawed protagonist Sam Porter. I’m glad I went on this trip with them. As 4MK says; Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil, and Do no evil.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Sixth Wicked Child by JD Barker, 4MK Thriller Book #3.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49667585-the-sixth-wicked-child

Book Review of the Fifth to Die by JD Barker. Detective Sam Porter searches for the serial killer’s mother, the source of the killer’s deviant behavior.

Fifth to Die by JD Barker

This is the link to my review of The Fourth Monkey by JD Barker, 4MK Thriller Book #1

Detective Sam Porter is on the trail of the Four Monkey Killer. See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil, Do no evil. An eye, an ear, a tongue, and a body. Will he find the killer’s latest victim before it’s too late? Read and find out.

The Fourth Monkey by J. D. Barker

Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin

The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin, Book #2 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Introduction

The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin follows three different narratives. It’s set on a continent called the Stillness. It’s a post-apocalyptic world or possibly a second-world fantasy land. Essun rests in a safe underground city. Alabaster asks her to summon an obelisk. She plans to continue to search for her kidnapped daughter after she satisfies Alabaster. Nassun is Essun’s daughter. Her chapters describe what happens to her after her father kidnaps her and takes her south. She has the potential for great orogene power and she might end up going against Essun’s purpose. Guardian Schaffa comes out of the battle at Meov with lost memories and purpose. He senses someone who reminds him of his former charge, Damaya. He goes to her, searching for his lost purpose. These three tales intersect and come to a dramatic conclusion which continues in the concluding novel of the trilogy, The Stone Sky.

The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin, Book #2 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Summary

The novel follows the stories of Essun, Nassun, and Schaffa. Each chapter has a different viewpoint and the viewpoints intersect eventually. Four Interludes provide important information from characters other than the three main viewpoint characters.

Essun’s story is told in the second person. At the beginning of the first novel, Essun finds out her husband Jija has killed her son and taken her daughter to the South. Essun is an Orogene, someone who can manipulate the energy of the earth to perform magical like acts. In the first novel, she traveled to an underground comm with the help of the mysterious Hoa and Tonkee, a woman without a community. Essun rests in this safe comm named Castrima. Her mentor and former lover Alabaster asks her to summon an obelisk. She plans to continue to search for her kidnapped daughter after she satisfies Alabaster’s request. But first, she must protect Castrima from the people who want its resources since resources are scarce during a Season.

Nassun is Essun’s daughter. Her first chapters describe what happens to her after her father kidnaps her and takes her south. Jija had killed her brother since he was an Orogene. But he didn’t kill Nassun when she exhibited signs of being an Orogene as well. In the South, she might find her destiny. She has the potential for great Orogene power and she might end up going against Essun’s purpose.

Summary Part 2

Guardian Schaffa was hurt at the battle at Meov at the end of the previous novel. He starts this novel with lost memories and purpose. The role of the Guardians is as protectors and controllers of the Orogenes. He senses someone who reminds him of his former charge, Damaya. He travels South to find her, searching for his lost purpose.

The three stories are tied together, and the stage is set for the concluding novel of the trilogy.

Recommendation

The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. The author expands on themes from the first novel and reveals mysteries. Essun’s chapters are all in the second person and past tense. A narrator, who the author revealed in the first novel, talks to her. Usually, the second-person point of view is difficult to read, but it is easier to read in this novel because it is more familiar, since the author used it in the first novel for Essun’s chapters. Nassun’s and Schaffa’s chapters are in the third person and present tense. I’m looking forward to reading the third novel later this year.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26228034-the-obelisk-gate

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin is Book #1 of the Broken Earth trilogy

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

Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle

Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle.

Introduction

Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle is a fantasy novel about a female unicorn’s search for the rest of her kind. She faces an evil carnival owner, a creepy king in a lonely castle, and a scary red bull. Her only help is an incompetent magician, a scullery maid, and a prince with a mysterious past. She learns about yearning and loss. Will her question ever have an answer? Is she the Last Unicorn?

Summary

Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle begins in the glade of a female unicorn. She has lived in the glade for hundreds of years and realizes that she doesn’t remember what happened to the rest of her kind. She is worried that she is the last unicorn and decides to leave her glade to find out what happened to them.

The unicorn is captured and put into Mommy Fortuna’s traveling Midnight Carnival. She escapes the carnival with the help of Schmendrick a magician who doesn’t know how his spells will work once he casts them. Sometimes the spells have better outcomes than he expects but usually, they are worse.

Bandits capture them but they are saved by the wife of the leader of the bandits. Her name is Molly Grue and she joins the group. They continue on their journey.

They learn the unicorns might have been in Hagsgate ruled by King Haggard and his son, Prince Lir. The unicorn takes a human form and goes by the name Lady Amalthea. They follow the clues and find the lair of the red bull. The unicorn finds the answer to her question but the story doesn’t end with: they lived happily ever after.

Recommendation

Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle is a twist on classic fairy tales. I enjoyed the mix of fantasy tropes that the author acknowledges in the text. We see the illusions of the Midnight Carnival, the misguided bandits who fancy themselves alternate Robin Hoods, and the evil king in his dark tower. On top of that are unusual choices that the author takes. Examples are using a unicorn as the lead character, the cryptic butterfly, and the parched skull. It all works well together. This is a great novel.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13124003-the-last-unicorn

This is the Wikipedia link to the 1982 animated fantasy film the Last Unicorn. Rankin/Bass produced the film. It has a stellar voice cast and excellent musical score including songs from the band, America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Unicorn_(film)

This is a link to the 2011 graphic novel the Last Unicorn from IDW Publishing which is available to view on the viewcomics website. The drawings are great and bring to life the images from the novel.

https://viewcomics.me/the-last-unicorn/issue-tpb/1

A fantasy novel that is similar to Last Unicorn is Eyes of the Dragon.

Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King is a traditional fantasy. King Roland of Delain has two sons. Prince Peter is his heir who is the perfect prince and ready to lead. His younger son is Prince Thomas, who is too young and malleable to Flagg, the court advisor, and magician. Flagg secretly assassinates the King and frames, Peter, for the murder. How will Peter clear his name, defeat the ancient Flagg, and claim his rightful throne?

Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

Drawing of the Three by Stephen King, Book #2 of The Dark Tower series

Introduction

Drawing of the Three by Stephen King is Book #2 of The Dark Tower series. The previous book, The Gunslinger, left Roland, the last gunslinger, waiting on a beach. Roland begins the second book on that same beach. He must discover what the drawing of the three means. Roland searches through three transporter portals. He finds the junkie Eddie Dean and the wheelchair-bound Odetta Holmes. They must work together to continue their journey to the Dark Tower or face death.

Summary

At end of the Gunslinger, the man in black does a tarot reading for Roland. The three cards he draws are The Prisoner, The Lady of Shadows, and Death. The three sections of The Drawing of the Three each feature a different character. Roland accesses a portal at the beginning of the section. Each of the three portals is connected to New York City in three different time periods. In between each section is a chapter named shuffle where the previous section is reset and leads to the next.

Section one, The Prisoner, features Eddie Dean the junkie. Eddie must bring drugs across the border or the mob will kill him if he doesn’t.

Section two, The Lady of Shadows, features Odetta Holmes. She is black and lived during the civil rights movement. She lost the use of her legs, uses a wheelchair, and has a secret that they soon find out.

Section three, The Pusher, features a character that I’ll leave to the reader to learn about when reading. That character is important in the journey to The Dark Tower for Roland, Eddie, and Odetta.

Recommendation

I enjoyed Drawing of the Three by Stephen King better than the previous book in the series, The Gunslinger. The Gunslinger novel was a series of short stories featuring Roland’s fight with the Man in Black and his search for the Dark Tower. I didn’t feel like the stories came together. I think the Drawing of the Three came together. There were three new POVs in the story corresponding to the three sections in the novel. Eddie Dean, Odetta Holmes, and the third character are all important to Roland’s journey. I liked the perspectives of the new POVs and look forward to continuing to read the series to its end.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Drawing of the Three by Stephen King.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7675050-the-drawing-of-the-three

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

Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey

Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey (Book #9 of the Expanse Series)

Introduction

Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey is the ninth book of The Expanse series. The crew is back on the Rocinante, Jim, Naomi, Alex, and Amos plus a special additional crew member. They start in the Kronos system looking to remain inconspicuous. They dodge the Laconian ship looking for Teresa Duarte, the daughter of the Laconian leader, High Consul Winston Duarte. The Laconian high command sends colonel Aliana Tanaka on an important secret mission. Elvi studies a mysterious object left by the ring gate builders in the Adro system. These three storylines intersect. Can Jim Holden and his crew discover the secret of the ring gate builders and defeat them before they destroy the universe?

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey brings the Expanse Series to a fitting and exciting conclusion. Elvi learns what she has been searching for. Alex gets his moment in the sun. Holden gets to have his grandstand experience. Naomi keeps it together because that’s her and she must. And Amos has the last word. They touched all the points on in this last book of the series. It’s been a long and worthwhile ride. I wish the TV show had been around long enough to adapt the last three novels of the series. Maybe someday they will.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28335699-leviathan-falls

In Tiamat’s Wrath by James S.A. Corey, James Holden and his crew strike back at the Laconians. Will they succeed or will the Laconians start a thousand-year Empire?

Tiamats Wrath by James SA Corey

In Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey, the Laconians plan to take the 1300 worlds. Can Holden and his crew defeat the Laconians? It starts a new trilogy. Great beginning to the Laconian storyline.

Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey

In Babylon’s Ashes by James S.A. Corey, the Free Navy is trying to take the 1300 worlds. Can Holden and his crew defeat the Free Navy? Great conclusion to the Free Navy storyline.

Babylon’s Ashes by James S. A. Corey

This is the link to my review of Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey.

Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan, Book Seven of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan is the seventh book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows nine main points of view and many short alternate points of view. The prologue deals with the aftermath of the situation at Dumai Wells from the ending of the previous novel, The Lord of Chaos. Perrin observes Rand at Dumai Wells and accompanies him back to Cairhein and they meet up with Min. Egwene takes her rebel Aes Sedai forces toward Caemlyn on their way to besiege Tar Valon. Nynaeve, Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat search for the Bowl of the Winds in Ebor Dar. Morgase learns more about the situation with the Children of Light. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?

Summary – Prologue

The prologue of the novel covers six different points of view.

Elaida is in Tar Valon. She gets reports about Rand’s situation and the situation in Ebou Dar. She sends Alviarin to enact her plan to deal with the Black Tower. Eladia thinks about how she will break Egwene’s army.

Sevanna of the Shaido clan of the Aiel is at Dumai Wells during the events from the end of the previous novel. This is an alternate viewpoint and flashback scene.

Alviaran leaves Elaida in Tar Valon and confers with Mesaana, the Forsaken. They talk about the Black Tower plan’s likelihood of success.

Pedran Niall of the Whitecloaks is in Amador with Morgase Trakand. She is trying to get his backing for Andor. Omerna arrives and Morgase leaves.

Eamon Vlada of the Whitecloaks is also in Amador. He puts plans in motion.

Gawyn Trakand is also at Dumai Wells and gives an alternate viewpoint to the White Tower Loyalists. He leads his group of Younglings in the retreat back to Tar Valon.

Summary–Groups of characters

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan follows five plot arcs.

Perrin comes back from Dumai Wells and goes to Cairhein to meet with Rand and Min. Perrin makes sure that Faile is alright. Rand has a special mission for Perrin.

Egwene brings her army that she wants to use to capture Tar Valon to the border between Altara and Murandy. She must find a way to gain strength and get through Murandy to get to Tar Valon.

Mat was sent to Enou Dar by Rand to get Elayne to go to Andor to take the throne of Andor. He is not very successful in that quest. He agrees to help Elayne and Nynaeve find a cache of powerful artifacts that may help the forces of Light in their battle with the darkness. Meanwhile, Mat must deal with the sexual advances of Queen Tylin of Altara.

Elayne and Nynaeve enlist the aid of the Kin and Matt to find the artifacts hidden in Ebou Dar.

Rand must deal with the situation in Cairhein. He comes up with a way to strike back at the Forsaken.

Summary–Best Plot Points

Three Plot Points stand out in Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.

In Chapter 31, Mashiara, Lan, and Nynaeve have a long-delayed and important meeting.

Mat showcases his awesomeness in Chapter 38, Six Stories. An important artifact is found and a powerful enemy is encountered.

In the novel’s last chapter, Chapter 41, a Crown of Swords, Rand’s plans come to fruition. It’s worth the effort to get to this point and an iconic image is delivered at the end of the chapter.

Recommendation

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan ends with a series of climaxes that match the other novels of the series. Three plot points stand out for me. Lan’s meeting with Nynaeve, what Mat finds in addition to the Bowl of the Winds, and Rand’s encounter with a Forsaken. There are two plot points I’m having trouble with. The Morgase subplot is short but takes up valuable space from the other plots. The relationship between Mat and Tylin seems icky at best. Otherwise, this novel fits well with the rest of the series for me.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13890.A_Crown_of_Swords

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 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

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #6 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold is the sixth published novel of the Vorkosigan saga. It is also the eighth story of the internal chronology of the saga. Miles Vorkosigan is the protagonist of the novel. Miles suffers from brittle bones because of an assassination attempt on his mother when she was pregnant with him. He graduates from the Service Academy and gets his first assignment as a commissioned ensign. He wanted to get ship duty to follow in his father’s footsteps, but his commander wants him to command ordinary men. The posting is out of the way and boring for him. He gets in trouble anyway and they accuse him of treason. Will Miles play The Vor Game well enough to escape the treason charges made against him and secure the assignment he desires?

Summary

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold begins when Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Barayarran Service Academy. He wants a posting in an interstellar spaceship where he can command men. What he gets is an assignment to replace the weatherman at the remote base on Kyril Island. He sees the posting as a boring assignment beneath his dignity. It becomes a test of his resolve and cunning.

Miles ends up charged with treason and imprisoned in IMPSEC. His fortunes are turned, and he gets an assignment to evaluate the Hengan Hub. He discovers Emperor Gregor which changes everything. Miles must deal with a plot instigated at Kyril Island, match wits with a female mercenary leader whom he fancies, and protect Emperor Gregor from himself, meanwhile defeating the approaching Cetagandan fleet.

Mile juggles these impossible tasks in a way only he could succeed through and saves the day.

Recommendation

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1991. They printed the first six chapters of the novel as the short story, The Weatherman, covering the first part of the story when they stationed Miles at Kyril Island. The rest of the story detailed how Miles helped Emperor Gregor get out of trouble in a manner only Miles would try. I like Miles and want him to succeed. I like he met his match in the mystery mercenary leader, and how she intrigued him. I’m looking forward to reading Miles’s next adventure in my Vorkosigan saga reading project.

Links

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

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68483.The_Vor_Game

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 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 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

Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Trilogy Book #3

Introduction

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie is the third book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, a follow-up trilogy of the First Law World Trilogy. The Trilogy occurs thirty years after the First Law Trilogy. This Trilogy follows an additional set of characters; some are the children of characters from the First Law books. First Law characters also appear in secondary roles in this series. At the end of The Trouble with Peace, the second book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, they defeated a rebellion, but all is not well in the Union. Will the wisdom of crowds start a revolution and bring down the Union once and for all?

Summary – Part One

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie features seven points of view characters from both sides of the Angland and Midderland conflicts. The characters meet and part in this complex narrative which concludes the plot arcs of this generation of characters.

Orso dan Luthar, the first character, is the King of the Union. He is coming back to Adua after his great victory on the battlefield. But the Change has come to the Union, and he must find his place in it or die.

Savine dan Glokta, the second character, is the daughter of Sand dan Glokta, the head of the King’s Closed Council and the head of the Inquisition. Her money and her power are gone and she must find a new way to live.

Leo dan Brock, the third character, has lost his chance for greatness, his dignity, and his health. He must reinvent himself to continue.

Summary – Part Two

Victarine (Vic) dan Teufel, the fourth character, was an undercover agent for the Inquisition of the Union. Her mission has taken her to the city of Valbeck which has fallen to the People’s Army. The Great Change is headed for Adua. She must discover Superior Pike’s role in The Great Change and decide what is the best plan for her future.

Gunner “Bull” Broad, the fifth character, worked for Savine dan Glotka. He had helped Savine in Valbeck and she was grateful, so she employed him. His conflict is with the sort of tasks that Savine requires him to perform. Now he is imprisoned for his crimes and despairs about ever returning to his family. The Great Change will change his fortunes and he must make a difficult decision to achieve his goals.

Rikke, the sixth character, is the Dogman’s daughter. The Dogman was the chieftain of the city of Uffrith and leader of the Protectorate, Angland’s ally in the North. Rikke inherited his leadership. She has the Long Eye, a way of seeing images from the past or the future. She must come to terms with her gift or face going insane like many with the gift have done so before her. Rikke defeated Stour Nightfall, King of the North, and holds his seat at Carleon. She must find a way to hold onto her power or face destruction.

Jonas “Clover” Steepfield, the seventh character, was the advisor of Stour Nightfall, the King of the North. Clover was once a famous warrior but is now an observer of the Northmen’s court. He now serves Rikke and must decide what is the best course for his future.

Recommendation

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie concludes the Age of Madness Trilogy well. The action builds and the plot shifts land hard. Most chapters follow either a single viewpoint or two sequential viewpoints of the seven main characters.

The two exceptions are the chapter titled The Little People, where a series of people react to a devastating event in Adua. And a chapter also titled The Little People, where a series of people react to the climactic battle in Carleon, the capital of the North. In the Carleon chapter, one character observes and then encounters the next character, and then that character takes on the narrative. It continues in the chapter, creating a kaleidoscope where the events build to a greater whole.

Those chapters were my highlight of the book. It was a brilliant book. I liked the love triangle arc of Leo, Savine, and Orso. I wanted more and hope the author will return to this setting in the future.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #3

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56621190-the-wisdom-of-crowds

This is the link to my book review of The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #2

Peace comes after the wars in the previous novel. Intrigues occur. Will the peace prove more deadly than the wars that came before?

Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

This is the link to my book review of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #1

Northmen invade Angland, the northern province of the Union. The Industrial Revolution arrived in the Union and civil unrest increased following unfair labor practices. The city of Valbeck is the center of the unrest. It features seven characters from both sides of the conflict. Will they destroy Angland and Valbeck, or will they survive?

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Introduction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is the author’s most recent novel. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship flying to a destination unknown. He has no memory of his past, of why he is on this interstellar mission, or why his crewmates are dead. He must discover the nature of his mission. If Ryland doesn’t solve these problems, the human race will perish.

Summary

In Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace wakes up to a feminine computer voice. They hooked him up to monitors, and he was tired, so he goes back to sleep. They locked him in a room with two more patients who are dead in their hammocks. Ryland doesn’t remember his name or where he is located.

Ryland tries to get up, and the trauma causes a flashback. In the flashback, he gets an email from a Russian scientist urging him to help her with a problem involving an unusual IR emission headed toward Venus. He drops out of the flashback.

Ryland discovers they connected his chamber to a laboratory. He examines the equipment and performs tests that convince him he is not on Planet Earth.

Ryland must put these revelations together to understand his mission. His life and all the lives of the people on Planet Earth depend on him solving the problems put before him.

Recommendation

I thought this was a great novel. Ryland Grace was an engaging, smart, and resourceful character. He used the resources available to him to try and solve a difficult problem. I was surprised and pleased when the story turned from a problem-solving story to a story about first contact. I thought the ending fit the character and was happy with how it turned out.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-mary

My book review of Artemis by Andy Weir. Jazz, a poor smuggler & thief on the moon colony of Artemis, dreams of being rich. A little sabotage and she can retire with a million slugs. She must improvise or face death. How can she survive and get her money too?

Artemis by Andy Weir

Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Book #1 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Introduction

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin follows three different narratives. It’s set in the Stillness, a post-apocalyptic or possibly a second-world fantasy land. Essun is a teacher in a small town hiding from her past until someone murders her son and her daughter goes missing. These events send her on a quest to recover her daughter. Damaya is a young girl who shows signs of having Orogeny, the ability to manipulate energy. A guardian arrives to take her to a school where she can learn her skill up to her potential. Syenite is a breeder. Her next assignment is to breed with and learn from a stronger male Orogenist. The three tales intersect and come to a dramatic conclusion which is expanded on in the second novel of the trilogy, The Obelisk Gate.

Summary

The novel follows the stories of Essun, Damaya, and Syenite. Each chapter has a different viewpoint and the viewpoints do not intersect, though it is explained by the end of the novel how they are related. Two Interludes provide important information that can’t be contained in the other chapters.

Essun’s story is told in the second person. It’s like an unknown narrator is telling Essun’s story to her. Essun finds out her son is dead and her daughter has been taken. She decides to leave the town of Tirimo to search for her daughter. On her quest, she meets and travels with the mysterious Hoa and Tonkee, a woman without a community. Her quest leads to further revelations.

Damaya’s story is told in the third person. Damaya shows signs of possessing ability as an Orogenist. Guardian Schaffa takes her to the Fulcrum to be trained in Orogeny. She does well in learning and seeks the secrets of the Fulcrum. A still named Binof helps her in her search.

Syenite’s story is also in the third person. She is a breeder. Orogeny is an inherited trait, so there is a breeding program at the Fulcrum. She is assigned to Alabaster. He is a ten-ringer, the strongest level of Orogenist. She travels with him to the town of Allia. Alabaster has a mission in Allia. They learn secrets they should not have learned involving an obelisk.

The three stories are tied together and the stage is set for the second novel of the trilogy.

Recommendation

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. Do not DNF it, please stick with it, because it will make sense by the end. The prologue begins with an unknown narrator who is talking to someone, revealed to be Essun in the first chapter. Essun’s chapters are all in second person and past tense. Usually, the second-person point of view is difficult to read but I like its use here. Damaya and Syenite’s sections are in third person and present tense. These transitions are hard for the reader, but it pays off by the end of the story. I think what hooked me on the novel was Damaya’s tale since she’s in a kind of twisted Harry Potter story. I’m looking forward to reading the other two novels next year.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38213103-the-fifth-season

Another book that reminds me of Fifth Season is Ancillary Justice. One is fantasy and the other science fiction, but they remind me of each other, in the sense that both break old tropes of the genre. They are both kind of like Science Fiction Fantasy in the old-school sense.

In Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie