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gabrielahouston's reviews
34 reviews
The Phlebotomist by Chris Panatier
5.0
A wonderfully- written, page turner of a debut, The Phlebotomist shows us a medical dystopia with a horrifying twist and a wonderful, kick-is older protagonist
It's slightly cross-genre, which I prefer.
I really loved it!
It's slightly cross-genre, which I prefer.
I really loved it!
Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks
5.0
An entertaining Indiana Jones-esque romp. There’s Nazis, evil experiments, monsters, the Atlantis and Ancient Egyptian artefacts, shootouts and sibling rivalry - What’s not to like?
Little Quakes Every Day by Caroline Hardaker
5.0
Beautiful, thoughtful, with a spell-like rhythm to them. Great for dipping in and out of when your soul needs a bit of a lift!
Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker
A literary find, it grapples with humans’ capacity for ethical inertia, in a near-future setting that is shocking and yet depressingly plausible.
The best written book I got this year
Fans of Ishiguro, this is a delight!
5⭐️
5.0
A literary find, it grapples with humans’ capacity for ethical inertia, in a near-future setting that is shocking and yet depressingly plausible.
The best written book I got this year
Fans of Ishiguro, this is a delight!
5⭐️
Stringers by Chris Panatier
5.0
Many writers try to play it safe with the dreaded second novel.
Many writers, but not all, as Chris Panatier took chances and delivered with his second book, Stringers, coming out April 2022 from Angry Robot Books.
Stringers follows a small group of intergalactic “stringers”, people who can access the memories of long dead people whose minds accessed the same “string” of consciousness matter, leaving behind traces of obscure knowledge and skills. Some of the “stringers” get the useless end of the weird stick, but then others have awareness of a mysterious phenomenon, which is evidently enough to change the course of history for the entire universe.
Like with his first novel, Panatier caters to a wide audience, with his easy humour and intelligent writing style.
Reminiscent of the well-loved Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Stringers delivers the laughs, with the jokes drawing on the author’s clear love affair with the grotesque, with poignant moments peppered throughout.
A highly enjoyable read with moments of real emotional honesty that deserves to reach a wide audience.
Many writers, but not all, as Chris Panatier took chances and delivered with his second book, Stringers, coming out April 2022 from Angry Robot Books.
Stringers follows a small group of intergalactic “stringers”, people who can access the memories of long dead people whose minds accessed the same “string” of consciousness matter, leaving behind traces of obscure knowledge and skills. Some of the “stringers” get the useless end of the weird stick, but then others have awareness of a mysterious phenomenon, which is evidently enough to change the course of history for the entire universe.
Like with his first novel, Panatier caters to a wide audience, with his easy humour and intelligent writing style.
Reminiscent of the well-loved Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Stringers delivers the laughs, with the jokes drawing on the author’s clear love affair with the grotesque, with poignant moments peppered throughout.
A highly enjoyable read with moments of real emotional honesty that deserves to reach a wide audience.
Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks
A team of world-saving teenage misfits is again called upon in their middle age to once more face the nightmare-inducing villain, while juggling school runs, work and housework
Hilarious and poignant both! Loved it!
5.0
A team of world-saving teenage misfits is again called upon in their middle age to once more face the nightmare-inducing villain, while juggling school runs, work and housework
Hilarious and poignant both! Loved it!
Obsidian by Sarah J. Daley
5.0
Sarah J Daley’s deftly-crafted debut, Obsidian, introduces us to the island nation of Malavita, protected by the magically-erected “Veils”, separating its population from the demonic blight of the barren wastes.
Malavita is ruled from afar by an Empire keen to exploit its rich natural resources, and by the corrupt Brotherhood of blood magicians.
Into this complex political landscape the Empire sends Captain Raiden Mad, to explore the possibility of erecting a new Veil with the help of a local prince and an outlaw witch.
In Obsidian, Daley weaves a powerful tale of friendship, power and sacrifice, with a rich cast of characters led by loyalty and ambition. A sure crowd-pleaser.
Malavita is ruled from afar by an Empire keen to exploit its rich natural resources, and by the corrupt Brotherhood of blood magicians.
Into this complex political landscape the Empire sends Captain Raiden Mad, to explore the possibility of erecting a new Veil with the help of a local prince and an outlaw witch.
In Obsidian, Daley weaves a powerful tale of friendship, power and sacrifice, with a rich cast of characters led by loyalty and ambition. A sure crowd-pleaser.