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annelyle's reviews
128 reviews
Sharps by K.J. Parker
5.0
Brilliant book - best thing I've read in a long time. (Proper review when I've had time to put my thoughts in order...)
Blood and Feathers by Lou Morgan
5.0
Action-packed urban fantasy with some of the most charming, flawed (and all too often, psychotic) angels you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting - and a heroine who doesn't need to dress in leather or kick ass in order to be strong and awesome. Highly recommended!
(Disclaimer. Yes, Lou is a friend. No, I don't say nice things about books just because a friend wrote them. I'm mean that way...)
(Disclaimer. Yes, Lou is a friend. No, I don't say nice things about books just because a friend wrote them. I'm mean that way...)
vN by Madeline Ashby
A wonderful debut following in the footsteps of Asimov and Dick, vN is a fascinating exploration of human-android relationships as well as an action-packed SF adventure with a geeky sense of humour. A must-read for all serious robot fans!
5.0
A wonderful debut following in the footsteps of Asimov and Dick, vN is a fascinating exploration of human-android relationships as well as an action-packed SF adventure with a geeky sense of humour. A must-read for all serious robot fans!
The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron
4.0
Eli Monpress is the greatest and most infamous thief in the world. At least, that’s his ambition. The bigger the theft, the higher the bounty on his wanted poster – and what could be higher profile than stealing a king? Unfortunately the kidnapped king’s absence leaves a power vacuum in the wizard-hating kingdom of Mellinor and sets off a chain of events that even Eli’s charm can’t easily get him out of.
I confess that I started reading this book under the misapprehension that it was YA – I’m not sure why, maybe the lovely new cover art for the omnibus edition? However it took me some time to realise my mistake, perhaps because between the “clean rating” (no swearing or sex, very little violence), the girl mage who rides a giant telepathic wolf, and the wryly humorous style, it reminded me of a cross between The Princess Bride and an intelligent Disney cartoon. Of course the fact that the previous book I read was The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan probably made the contrast even more striking! At any rate, this is one of those books that is likely to appeal to – and be suitable for – a wide age range of readers, from young teens upwards.
Towards the end it becomes somewhat darker, as Eli confronts a particularly nasty wizard bent on taking over the kingdom, and I’m told that later books continue in this vein (I have the omnibus edition, so I’ll no doubt be reading them at some point). However the overall flavour is definitely slanted towards the light, epitomised by master swordsman Joseph, who walks around covered in unfeasibly large amounts of edged steel but is really only interested in fighting opponents worthy of his skill.
If you’re not keen on the “gritty” type of epic/adventure fantasy, or just want a break from all the raping and pillaging, I heartily recommend you check out this book. Eli’s reputation depends on it!
I confess that I started reading this book under the misapprehension that it was YA – I’m not sure why, maybe the lovely new cover art for the omnibus edition? However it took me some time to realise my mistake, perhaps because between the “clean rating” (no swearing or sex, very little violence), the girl mage who rides a giant telepathic wolf, and the wryly humorous style, it reminded me of a cross between The Princess Bride and an intelligent Disney cartoon. Of course the fact that the previous book I read was The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan probably made the contrast even more striking! At any rate, this is one of those books that is likely to appeal to – and be suitable for – a wide age range of readers, from young teens upwards.
Towards the end it becomes somewhat darker, as Eli confronts a particularly nasty wizard bent on taking over the kingdom, and I’m told that later books continue in this vein (I have the omnibus edition, so I’ll no doubt be reading them at some point). However the overall flavour is definitely slanted towards the light, epitomised by master swordsman Joseph, who walks around covered in unfeasibly large amounts of edged steel but is really only interested in fighting opponents worthy of his skill.
If you’re not keen on the “gritty” type of epic/adventure fantasy, or just want a break from all the raping and pillaging, I heartily recommend you check out this book. Eli’s reputation depends on it!