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chantaal's reviews
2291 reviews
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
4.0
I'm in love with this sci-fi cozy-adjacent murder mystery sub-genre - and to get even more micro about the subgenre, I love sci-fi cozy-adjacent murder mysteries on space ships/space hotels/space cruises/space living. It hits all the right buttons for me, and Murder by Memory is an excellent example of what I love about it.
In this novella, we're introduced to Dorothy Gentleman, who wakes up in a body that is not her own. On this space habitat, humans can save their minds in a great library, and can be put in a new body. But usually they make that choice, and stumbling into the middle of a murder mystery is not normal. Mostly. Dorothy is a detective, after all.
I'd like to leave the summary at that, because this is so short. What I will say is that there's a great amount of world exploration done in such a short amount of time, and Olivia Waite does it well. Dorothy explores the mystery at hand, and we get to learn so much about this space habitat and how it works and the people who live in it, and there is a YARN SHOP and I loved that almost as much as Dorothy did. It's charming and warm despite the murder. People comping this to Miss Marple or similar are not wrong.
I enjoyed the entire experience of reading this, and I can't wait for more. Couple this with Malka Older's Mossa & Pleiti series and you'll see what I mean by this sub-genre. I really love it.
In this novella, we're introduced to Dorothy Gentleman, who wakes up in a body that is not her own. On this space habitat, humans can save their minds in a great library, and can be put in a new body. But usually they make that choice, and stumbling into the middle of a murder mystery is not normal. Mostly. Dorothy is a detective, after all.
I'd like to leave the summary at that, because this is so short. What I will say is that there's a great amount of world exploration done in such a short amount of time, and Olivia Waite does it well. Dorothy explores the mystery at hand, and we get to learn so much about this space habitat and how it works and the people who live in it, and there is a YARN SHOP and I loved that almost as much as Dorothy did. It's charming and warm despite the murder. People comping this to Miss Marple or similar are not wrong.
I enjoyed the entire experience of reading this, and I can't wait for more. Couple this with Malka Older's Mossa & Pleiti series and you'll see what I mean by this sub-genre. I really love it.
Silver Shark by Ilona Andrews
4.0
I desperately need more Kinsmen books, like what do you MEAN there's only four stories, two of them are novellas and one is a short story on the Andrews' website??
This is one of those books where you really come here to get exactly what you want. You know the world, you get a taste of some interesting characters and world building, some sliiiiight tension, and a happy romance ending.
This is one of those books where you really come here to get exactly what you want. You know the world, you get a taste of some interesting characters and world building, some sliiiiight tension, and a happy romance ending.
The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride 1 by Midori Yuma
2.0
The setup for this story is that a young woman, Nanao, was once attacked and is tainted by a demon, and thus shunned by her fiance and their entire clan. One day deep into her bullied and lonely life Yako, a demon hunter from another clan, visits and realizes what Nanao truly is and whisks her away, declaring her his wife.
The main issue I have with this first volume is that the pacing is incredibly fast. The entire setup is a roller coaster ride of a single chapter, and it doesn't leave any room for the story or characters to breathe. I was left with zero interest in what was going on in the end.
Also, the setup for this romance is highly uncomfortable. Nanao is very sheltered and traumatized and feels indebted to Yako, and Yako "saved" her for reasons that are spoilery to mention here. It's unbalanced, and while I'm sure Nanao will grow into her own against Yako, I have zero interest in following the story.
The best thing about this was the art, it was gorgeous. I wish more of the panels had better background work, but when there were full splash scenes of landscapes and backgrounds, they were beautifully done.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a review copy!
The main issue I have with this first volume is that the pacing is incredibly fast. The entire setup is a roller coaster ride of a single chapter, and it doesn't leave any room for the story or characters to breathe. I was left with zero interest in what was going on in the end.
Also, the setup for this romance is highly uncomfortable. Nanao is very sheltered and traumatized and feels indebted to Yako, and Yako "saved" her for reasons that are spoilery to mention here. It's unbalanced, and while I'm sure Nanao will grow into her own against Yako, I have zero interest in following the story.
The best thing about this was the art, it was gorgeous. I wish more of the panels had better background work, but when there were full splash scenes of landscapes and backgrounds, they were beautifully done.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a review copy!
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
4.0
this was like if richard scarry wrote a cozy mystery and it was exactly the vibe i needed right now.
also, a great audiobook performance!
also, a great audiobook performance!
Wild Massive by Scotto Moore
1.0
This started with one interesting concept, then another one, and another one, and another, and another and another and and and—
It was a hate read by the end. Review to come when I can sort through my thoughts because this is five books in a trench coat and I’m still mentally screaming about it.
It was a hate read by the end. Review to come when I can sort through my thoughts because this is five books in a trench coat and I’m still mentally screaming about it.
A Study in Honor by Claire O'Dell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
I thought I was going to get something exciting here, but the veeeery long time we spend sitting with Watson and her depression felt like I was being dragged through molasses to get to a promise of something good. Then, when I came to Goodreads to read a few reviews to see if it was worth going on, I saw the author. And you know what? I'm not doing this during Black History Month. ✌🏾
Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh
4.5
The best of the Trinity books since Silver Silence for me. A fantastic balance of romance and plot, and the macro plot was a banger.
I liked Remy and Auden a lot, especially as their connection blossomed in a way that still went along with the typical insta-attraction/love, but there were barriers and interesting plot that kept them from coming together too quickly.
Auden's entire deal with supremely fucked up on MANY LEVELS, but I liked how it was dealt with in the end. RIP for good Shoshanna, you evil bitch.
This book also made me tear up quite a bit in all the sections of the plot that dealt with the impending destruction of the Psy-Net. Though it was mostly in interstitial sections and toward the end, the desperation of everyone trying to save as many Psy as they can in any way they can and still looking at a 90% loss of Psy life really got to me. And then you start talking about Psy children???? I was a goner. Trying not to cry on the fucking freeway.
Angela Dawe continues to be an absolute god tier narrator.
I can't believe I'm caught up. I binged 8 books in 2.5 weeks, and now I have to WAIT for the next one? Rude.
Auden's entire deal with supremely fucked up on MANY LEVELS, but I liked how it was dealt with in the end. RIP for good Shoshanna, you evil bitch.
This book also made me tear up quite a bit in all the sections of the plot that dealt with the impending destruction of the Psy-Net. Though it was mostly in interstitial sections and toward the end, the desperation of everyone trying to save as many Psy as they can in any way they can and still looking at a 90% loss of Psy life really got to me. And then you start talking about Psy children???? I was a goner. Trying not to cry on the fucking freeway.
Angela Dawe continues to be an absolute god tier narrator.
I can't believe I'm caught up. I binged 8 books in 2.5 weeks, and now I have to WAIT for the next one? Rude.