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coca_reads's reviews
452 reviews
The Last Colony by John Scalzi
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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
4.0
Picking up a few years after the Ghost Brigades, this has John and Jane reunited in a colony on the planet Huckleberry, with their now adopted daughter, Zoe when yltheyre approached by a representative of the Colonial Union asking them to head the CU's newest colony of Roanoke.
Things do not go as planned.
Scalzi's writing remains some of my absolute favorite. The dialogue is clever and hilarious. The story is smart and often scathing in its critique of societal norms. They're just smart, fun, reads and they always offer good messages to the readers. How you interpret those messages is up to you.
Things do not go as planned.
Scalzi's writing remains some of my absolute favorite. The dialogue is clever and hilarious. The story is smart and often scathing in its critique of societal norms. They're just smart, fun, reads and they always offer good messages to the readers. How you interpret those messages is up to you.
Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was just ok for me.
It's a pretty standard British, police, procedural.
DCI leads a group of investigators looking into a modern skeleton found at an archeological dig.
It's a pretty standard British, police, procedural.
DCI leads a group of investigators looking into a modern skeleton found at an archeological dig.
A Grimoire Dark by D. S. Quinton
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
This was an interesting, dark, mystery taking place in 1969s New Orleans.
It has some of your detective novels tropes that you look for, like the grizzled former cop turned P.I. with a heart of gold, a throwback to an old case, and a sassy young sidekick.
Also voodoo. SO much voodoo. There major references to Papa Legba and Marie Laveau. There are also nods to Edgar Allen Poe and Lovecraft
It was an entertaining read.
It has some of your detective novels tropes that you look for, like the grizzled former cop turned P.I. with a heart of gold, a throwback to an old case, and a sassy young sidekick.
Also voodoo. SO much voodoo. There major references to Papa Legba and Marie Laveau. There are also nods to Edgar Allen Poe and Lovecraft
It was an entertaining read.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
challenging
dark
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
I really enjoyed this.
This book has intimidated me for more than a year because, by all accounts, N.K. Jemisin is a genius and I was concerned I wouldn't be smart enough to grasp her writing.
I was right to be intimidated, this book is insanely smart, but Jemisin wrote it in such a way that I could grasp the major themes and messages.
Orogenes, referred to as the slur "rogga" by "Stills" (normal humans), have the ability to sense and influence the very bedrock of the earth down to the tectonic plates.
Theyre so feared and reviled that, at the very least, people shun them and cast them out of their families. Other people will just kill them because of the potential power and destruction they can wield. It's world of disasters, pain, cruelty, and subjugation.
Its difficult to say much more without getting into specific plot points, but the world is vividly built around a very seismicly active country and all of the failed civilizations it has seen. The cast of characters, both major and minor, feel real and deliberate.
This is just book 1 of a trilogy, and of course it ends on a kind of cliffhanger. I'm waiting for book 2 to get here now.
This book has intimidated me for more than a year because, by all accounts, N.K. Jemisin is a genius and I was concerned I wouldn't be smart enough to grasp her writing.
I was right to be intimidated, this book is insanely smart, but Jemisin wrote it in such a way that I could grasp the major themes and messages.
Orogenes, referred to as the slur "rogga" by "Stills" (normal humans), have the ability to sense and influence the very bedrock of the earth down to the tectonic plates.
Theyre so feared and reviled that, at the very least, people shun them and cast them out of their families. Other people will just kill them because of the potential power and destruction they can wield. It's world of disasters, pain, cruelty, and subjugation.
Its difficult to say much more without getting into specific plot points, but the world is vividly built around a very seismicly active country and all of the failed civilizations it has seen. The cast of characters, both major and minor, feel real and deliberate.
This is just book 1 of a trilogy, and of course it ends on a kind of cliffhanger. I'm waiting for book 2 to get here now.
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-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
Book 2 was just as entertaining as book 1.
There is a surprising amount of depth to these as well. Carl is distinctly aware of the implications of what is happening and how the remaining human population are being slaughtered for entertainment.
So in his words, he starts "planting little seeds".
I cant wait to continue this series.
There is a surprising amount of depth to these as well. Carl is distinctly aware of the implications of what is happening and how the remaining human population are being slaughtered for entertainment.
So in his words, he starts "planting little seeds".
I cant wait to continue this series.
Fuse by Nicholas Turner
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Christie is somewhat of a slow methodical read.
Her characters are always well thought out, but rely heavily on stereotypes. They are based on a flawed understanding thats almost a century out of date though.
Her characters are always well thought out, but rely heavily on stereotypes. They are based on a flawed understanding thats almost a century out of date though.
Five Dead Herrings by E.J. Russell
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Adorable, fun, and SUPER gay mystery.
Imagine Harry Dresden, but he's the only one without magic, also it's cozy. And he's gay.
Very cute and endearing read. Will continue this series.
Imagine Harry Dresden, but he's the only one without magic, also it's cozy. And he's gay.
Very cute and endearing read. Will continue this series.
Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House by M.C. Beaton
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Short and fun, but not up to where some of the other Agatha Raisin books are. She's completely man crazy in this one, and it comes across as irritating.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a bumpy ride. It was great, but had it's issues.
Some parts it struggled to find its pacing and kind of dragged on a bit, and others, it felt rushed.
I can put some of the chaotic feeling of the pacing to the way the war was playing out, but the rest kind of felt a little unplanned.
The subject matter is still relevant. The talk of propaganda and methods of control by corrupt govts, seeing people as us vs. them hit home, especially hard.
I'm glad I finally dipped into this series.
Some parts it struggled to find its pacing and kind of dragged on a bit, and others, it felt rushed.
I can put some of the chaotic feeling of the pacing to the way the war was playing out, but the rest kind of felt a little unplanned.
The subject matter is still relevant. The talk of propaganda and methods of control by corrupt govts, seeing people as us vs. them hit home, especially hard.
I'm glad I finally dipped into this series.