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dana_naylor's reviews
489 reviews
Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
4.0
This was my first time reading any of the Johnny Maxwell books.
I've checked book 2 out from my library already.
No footnotes (other than one in the introduction).
The book was published in 1992 and features the first Gulf War and computer games of war (space battles). Fascinating to see online gameplay mentioned before it was available. I also didn't find any terribly cringe-worthy language or themes even when including a preteen female gamer.
Obligatory link to Annotated Pratchett File at lspace for the book:
https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/johnny-and-the-dead.html
I've checked book 2 out from my library already.
No footnotes (other than one in the introduction).
The book was published in 1992 and features the first Gulf War and computer games of war (space battles). Fascinating to see online gameplay mentioned before it was available. I also didn't find any terribly cringe-worthy language or themes even when including a preteen female gamer.
Obligatory link to Annotated Pratchett File at lspace for the book:
https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/johnny-and-the-dead.html
1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire by Rebecca Rideal
informative
slow-paced
3.75
The chapters on the plague and the Great Fire of London were excellent. I was fascinated to learn more.
The chapters on the war with the Dutch were far less interesting to me. We had too many sailor/noble/ship names for me to keep up - or to care. More of the book was devoted to the naval war than to the fire or plague. The bits about Charles II and his court were also interesting. I may want to read/learn more about that time period.
Some sentence structure was clunky through the book and I would have appreciated a paragraph or two situating us in the politics of the time to help with the transition. I think a reader is expected to know background of the Restoration Period before reading this and I don't have that background.
Still, no regrets on reading it. Thanks so much to Interlibrary Loan resources so I was able to get a copy to read!
The chapters on the war with the Dutch were far less interesting to me. We had too many sailor/noble/ship names for me to keep up - or to care. More of the book was devoted to the naval war than to the fire or plague. The bits about Charles II and his court were also interesting. I may want to read/learn more about that time period.
Some sentence structure was clunky through the book and I would have appreciated a paragraph or two situating us in the politics of the time to help with the transition. I think a reader is expected to know background of the Restoration Period before reading this and I don't have that background.
Still, no regrets on reading it. Thanks so much to Interlibrary Loan resources so I was able to get a copy to read!
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb
fast-paced
4.25
I do enjoy Nora Roberts!
I expect to see complaints from some nitwits about her politics, but I really appreciated the bits that were included. Guns are illegal in America and have to be smuggled in. We're getting more information about the Urban Wars (taking place roughly now in real world timeline).
"Things began going to shit in Europe in about 2016." (p35)
Poison canister dated from 2024.
Hmm... wonder what's dreadful from both of these years in particular.
And the Twelve "were fighting to restore rights for all."
And the bad guy was a police officer in our current time.
We have allusion to a prior novella (which I had forgotten about), Missing in Death.
No problems following this story having forgotten that one, but I am tempted to go back and reread it.
I especially adore seeing the characters grow.
I love seeing the HEA between Eve and Roarke. I love seeing how effective communication works in a successful relationship. We see it also between Eve and Peabody and Nadine.
Talking about love and relationships,
"But I know I'm not easy, and I don't want to screw it up."
"You will. You'll both screw up, then you'll both deal with it, figure it out."
Sure sounds real to my experience!
I plan to keep reading the In Death series as long as she keeps writing them.
60 books into a series, and I'm still enjoying them!
I expect to see complaints from some nitwits about her politics, but I really appreciated the bits that were included. Guns are illegal in America and have to be smuggled in. We're getting more information about the Urban Wars (taking place roughly now in real world timeline).
"Things began going to shit in Europe in about 2016." (p35)
Poison canister dated from 2024.
Hmm... wonder what's dreadful from both of these years in particular.
And the Twelve "were fighting to restore rights for all."
And the bad guy was a police officer in our current time.
We have allusion to a prior novella (which I had forgotten about), Missing in Death.
No problems following this story having forgotten that one, but I am tempted to go back and reread it.
I especially adore seeing the characters grow.
I love seeing the HEA between Eve and Roarke. I love seeing how effective communication works in a successful relationship. We see it also between Eve and Peabody and Nadine.
Talking about love and relationships,
"But I know I'm not easy, and I don't want to screw it up."
"You will. You'll both screw up, then you'll both deal with it, figure it out."
Sure sounds real to my experience!
I plan to keep reading the In Death series as long as she keeps writing them.
60 books into a series, and I'm still enjoying them!
Into the Broken Lands by Tanya Huff
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Loved it.
Fantasy world. Fully realized characters. Plays in two timelines - now and 60 years ago in a journey into lands destroyed during a mage war. Took me a bit to get into at first, then couldn't put it down.
Fantasy world. Fully realized characters. Plays in two timelines - now and 60 years ago in a journey into lands destroyed during a mage war. Took me a bit to get into at first, then couldn't put it down.
The Build Up by Tati Richardson
medium-paced
3.5
I wanted to like this more than I did. I liked the characters, but the story is trying to fit too much in and is all over the place. No idea was developed fully. It was almost a DNF for me.
But....it's her first book. I may give her next one a try.
But....it's her first book. I may give her next one a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual harassment
I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I had fun with this. I’ve been reading Kelley Armstrong for decades and enjoy her writing.
There are predictable bits, but it was a neat ghost story and I got a sense of dread with it. Towards the end of the bookit becomes more of a horror film with gore and visual set pieces that are a bit ridiculous, but at that point I was just along for the ride.
I don’t think this would be a reread for me, but glad I read it now.
There are predictable bits, but it was a neat ghost story and I got a sense of dread with it. Towards the end of the book
I don’t think this would be a reread for me, but glad I read it now.
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
fast-paced
3.75
Phew! Check the trigger warnings before starting this one!!
I enjoy the author's voice, but I look to romance for my escapism, and this had too much present-day harms and pains. Once I got past the beginning of the book, I was able to enjoy it, but I don't think I'll start another of her books until I'm in a safe space.
The romance is fun and the characters are fun. Main character acts young and makes some really dumb mistakes in communication.
I enjoy the author's voice, but I look to romance for my escapism, and this had too much present-day harms and pains. Once I got past the beginning of the book, I was able to enjoy it, but I don't think I'll start another of her books until I'm in a safe space.
The romance is fun and the characters are fun. Main character acts young and makes some really dumb mistakes in communication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan
dark
mysterious
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
We have a story told from the point of view of a seriously screwed up and unlikeable narrator.
She makes stupid choice after stupid choice…but she was true to her character and I really enjoyed the writing.
She makes stupid choice after stupid choice…but she was true to her character and I really enjoyed the writing.
Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey
Overall, a satisfactory conclusion to the series. Generally pessimistic worldview, which is appropriate to the series. If I were to reread parts of the series, I think I'd stick just to the first 3 books and leave it at that.
fast-paced
4.5
"I think about all the things we could have done, all the miracles we could have achieved, if we were all just a little bit better than it turns out we are."
Overall, a satisfactory conclusion to the series. Generally pessimistic worldview, which is appropriate to the series. If I were to reread parts of the series, I think I'd stick just to the first 3 books and leave it at that.
I absolutely believe that people are more good on balance than bad. All the wars and all of the cruelty and all of the violence. I'm not looking away from any of that, and I still think there's something beautiful about being what we are. History is soaked in blood. The future probably will be too. But for every atrocity, there's a thousand small kindnesses that no no one noticed. A hundred people who spent their lives loving and caring for each other. A few moments of real grace.
The Comeback by Lily Chu
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
Talia Hibbert mentioned loving this book, so I had to pick it up. Set in Toronto and Seoul, it’s a neat romance. I was annoyed seriously at some points at Ari’s youth and poor choices, but they are all true to her character and believable. The racism at her law firm was difficult to read about, but as a romance we do get the HEA.
I plan to read more of Chu’s books.
I plan to read more of Chu’s books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism