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bkwrm1317's reviews
210 reviews
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The last human on earth being raised by robots. Victor (Vic) Lawson is the son of Giovanni (Gio) Lawson, designation inventor. When Vic takes two robots he fixed up (Rambo and Nurse Ratched) to the Scrap Yards, one day they find a power source, and with it a decommissioned robot of the former HARP designation, who becomes Hap (Hysterically Angry Puppet).
What ensues is a riveting novel featuring an ace and neurospicy human character (queer, maybe autistic?) as our protagonist. I'm not sure how this is the first TJ Klune novel I've read, but I'm certain it won't be the last. Vic has to make big decisions: for himself, for his chosen few, for humanity (it's past, present, and future), as well as for all robot-kind.
There's so much here, I'll just have to encourage folks to read it for themselves and reflect on their own humanity and journeys through the pages.
What ensues is a riveting novel featuring an ace and neurospicy human character (queer, maybe autistic?) as our protagonist. I'm not sure how this is the first TJ Klune novel I've read, but I'm certain it won't be the last. Vic has to make big decisions: for himself, for his chosen few, for humanity (it's past, present, and future), as well as for all robot-kind.
There's so much here, I'll just have to encourage folks to read it for themselves and reflect on their own humanity and journeys through the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Blood
Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E.M. Hamill
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
First full read for quarter finals of SPSFC4. Whiskey and Warfare follows a primary protagonist and a band of her friends, all former mercenaries, from deep grief at the loss of the protagonist’s life partner to rescuing refugees on another planetary system, even though it’s been 20 years since they were mercenaries or privateers together.
The depictions of grief were quite good, as well as mental health; dialogue was very solid, flowed well.
While not the most exciting SF I’ve ever read, I loved the dynamics between the primary characters and their lovely friendship. Their support of Marin through her grief, fear of being back in the black, and more, are page turn worthy, and definitely worth a shot for adult audiences.
The depictions of grief were quite good, as well as mental health; dialogue was very solid, flowed well.
While not the most exciting SF I’ve ever read, I loved the dynamics between the primary characters and their lovely friendship. Their support of Marin through her grief, fear of being back in the black, and more, are page turn worthy, and definitely worth a shot for adult audiences.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Grief, and War
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is truly a really solid read. I love the reflections on the way we treat others from the lens of a fantasy world, as well as the introduction of programming language as a form of writing magic (I see the borrows from Python especially!!).
Scions is a privileged young woman trying to make a name for herself in a deeply misogynist magical culture, and the things she will learn about the city’s founding, and how it intersects in devastating ways with other cultures (lower caste folks in the city) is devastating.
Horrifying, page turning, and hopeful, I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more by ML Wang.
Scions is a privileged young woman trying to make a name for herself in a deeply misogynist magical culture, and the things she will learn about the city’s founding, and how it intersects in devastating ways with other cultures (lower caste folks in the city) is devastating.
Horrifying, page turning, and hopeful, I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more by ML Wang.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Sexual violence
Mendel's Ladder: A Grimdark Scifi Epic The Collected Histories of Neoevolution Earth Vol. 1 by E. S. Fein
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Weird/confusing even at nearly a fifth of the way through the novel. Not worth moving beyond slush phase.
In the Valley, A Shadow by Samantha Tano
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Clunky, not invested in characters even at nearly a quarter of the way through the novel. Better than some of the others up to that point, but not good enough to make it beyond slush/to QF.
Embers of Esper: An Epic Sci Fi Adventure by Tyler Aston, Tyler Aston
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Didn't find characters compelling, in particular - one femme character was overly obsessed with her looks (e.g. leaving behind a "beautiful corpse") and it detracted from the story for me during slush phase. Not compelling enough to propel into the QF.
Embargo on Hope (Star Marked #1) by Justin Doyle
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Really weird physical descriptions of characters were a big turn off during slush phase reading this one. E.g. comparing someone's arms to having a gorilla for a mother, calling their lips/chin/other physical attributes "oversized" which often elicits thoughts of subtle (or not so subtle) racism towards Black folks, even if that was not the author's intent. Didn't flow particularly well.
Beautiful World: Part 1 by Bill Sharrock
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Unfortunately the file transferred incredibly strangely to Kindle, and the rest of the team didn't particularly recommend. Nixed during slush phase for SPSFC4.
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A much more confusion portion of this trilogy from my read, but enjoyable nonetheless. I’ll be looking forward to wrapping up this series and seeing what happens to Control/John and the rest as Area X is increasingly out of control in this ecohorror series.