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geekmom's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Martha Wells writes good short fiction! These stories were engaging and provided some nice background for the characters I know from the Ile-Rien series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Violence
spacepenguin22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bourbon72's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nenya_kanadka's review
5.0
I loved all these snapshots of moments in the lives of the Ile-Rien & Cineth characters. My favourite was probably the young lady that Nicholas and Reynard helped out in the second story, though the others were pretty great too. I hope she grows up to be a consulting detective on her own merits, like Madame Vastra or something.
Also, Ilias (and Giliead to some extent): THE MOSTEST WOOBIE.
Also, Ilias (and Giliead to some extent): THE MOSTEST WOOBIE.
humvee's review
5.0
A great collection of stories, adding depth to the world of Ile-Rein and Cineth
A collection of interesting short stories, featuring characters we've encountered in the Ile-Rein novels. Kade Carion, Nicholas Vallard, Renyard Morane, Ilias and Gilead. It's fun to get these little glimpses into their worlds.
A collection of interesting short stories, featuring characters we've encountered in the Ile-Rein novels. Kade Carion, Nicholas Vallard, Renyard Morane, Ilias and Gilead. It's fun to get these little glimpses into their worlds.
ratgrrrl's review
5.0
I Need to Read the Books Now!
This is a wonderful collection of short stories in and around a couple of the author's fantasy series that definitely made me want to get into them, which is easy to do with this anthology and at least the first book of the series being in the Audible Included library.
Having only read The Murderbot Diaries before, it was really interesting delving into Wells' fantasy and seeing the difference in writing style, which actually reframed my perspective on the style for Murderbot. The quality and interest of the stories has some variance, as all anthologies do, but that is from pretty good to great in my opinion.
I always get excited to her Samuel Roukin's narration as he's always brilliant and has quickly become one of my favourite audiobook performers, after first coming across him in the brilliant Chasing Graves trilogy by Ben Galley.
Thoroughly recommend.
This is a wonderful collection of short stories in and around a couple of the author's fantasy series that definitely made me want to get into them, which is easy to do with this anthology and at least the first book of the series being in the Audible Included library.
Having only read The Murderbot Diaries before, it was really interesting delving into Wells' fantasy and seeing the difference in writing style, which actually reframed my perspective on the style for Murderbot. The quality and interest of the stories has some variance, as all anthologies do, but that is from pretty good to great in my opinion.
I always get excited to her Samuel Roukin's narration as he's always brilliant and has quickly become one of my favourite audiobook performers, after first coming across him in the brilliant Chasing Graves trilogy by Ben Galley.
Thoroughly recommend.
ielerol's review
4.0
The Ile-Rien books don't rank high on my list of favorite Martha Wells work, mostly because of how she's grown as a writer since, rather than a particular criticism of those books. But part of what I enjoyed the most about them was Ilias and Giliead's relationship, and the world of Cineth itself. So I was pleased to see that this collection focuses on stories of their lives before The Wizard Hunters, and I enjoyed them, as expected. Not a lot to say about these, just some nice texture and backstory to the various Ile-Rien books, some morsels of Wells to tide me over while I wait for the next Murderbot.
tehani's review
5.0
This is probably not a book for a new reader to Wells' work, but if you, like me, have read the novels these stories share a world (and characters) with, then you, like me, will almost certainly love this collection too!