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357 reviews
The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
How to rate this - when I don't know how I feel about it? I find the premise intriguing - we always say we hear the "heartbeat" of a city but this book takes care to listen to the breath of a city. But there is something about it that has a bitter aftertaste
It's tragedy masquerading as defiance, defense and railing against "the man" (and American Cops sound like the stuff of nightmares I just don't understand) and honestly I did not want to read any tragic stuff this month.
I'm going with a 2.75⭐ not rounded up.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Black homelessness seems to have a different existence to general homelessness. There is way more danger to existing on the streets in addition to hunger, shelter and security from others. There's the need for safety and security from people of authority namely police officers. I have half a mind to think that the entire ordeal was a vivid hallucination his mind transplanted onto a real foot chase between him and the cops.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
What I don't warm up to is the voice of the main character - hell let's go with the entire character. Back in my teaching days, he'd be the one making each lesson a scorching trial. But I guess thats why this voice works, you have to listen past that mess and instinct to dismiss what he's saying as garbage and get to the heart of the dying city.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Birth of a City - almost Lovecraftian
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “What good does it do to be valuable, if nobody values you?” (being relatable in this sentence)
🖤 “I don’t have to believe in something for it to fuck up my life.” (Little gems of hard truths)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Living Cities
■Harbingers
■ Graffiti for air
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
It's tragedy masquerading as defiance, defense and railing against "the man" (and American Cops sound like the stuff of nightmares I just don't understand) and honestly I did not want to read any tragic stuff this month.
I'm going with a 2.75⭐ not rounded up.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Black homelessness seems to have a different existence to general homelessness. There is way more danger to existing on the streets in addition to hunger, shelter and security from others. There's the need for safety and security from people of authority namely police officers. I have half a mind to think that the entire ordeal was a vivid hallucination his mind transplanted onto a real foot chase between him and the cops.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
What I don't warm up to is the voice of the main character - hell let's go with the entire character. Back in my teaching days, he'd be the one making each lesson a scorching trial. But I guess thats why this voice works, you have to listen past that mess and instinct to dismiss what he's saying as garbage and get to the heart of the dying city.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Birth of a City - almost Lovecraftian
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “What good does it do to be valuable, if nobody values you?” (being relatable in this sentence)
🖤 “I don’t have to believe in something for it to fuck up my life.” (Little gems of hard truths)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Living Cities
■Harbingers
■ Graffiti for air
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
One Last Job by Anise Starre
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book had me binge-watching episodes of Three birds Renovations on Youtube because that's what I call style and homes filled with moments - so for that, thank you Starre!
Okay but look at this! I cannot believe I am thawing to Contemporary Romance. I was prepared to hate this. As I read, my review was already taking the shape of a dark cloud. But man, I really saw this book, these characters and I really began to understand them. I love to see mental health representation and it was subtle and so well done. After a while, I didn't need an Orc or Finn to have fangs or wings or something to enjoy this book. It judt won me over.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Impossibly hot and impossibly young (to be owning a 50 year old club) business owner meets hot young interior designer. Sparks fly, conflict conflict conflict (but not between MCs), game-changing moment. Bing bang boom, fall in love.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Finn on the surface is a gorgeous nepo-baby. Beneath it he has an Anxiety disorder, actual imposter syndrome and a label he didnt ask for. He's fight so hard against the tide and yet he remains high functioning.
Amber is abrasive and defensive in her monologues and at first I hated her but look at the 180. I actually cried when she said "look what I achieved" basically and her mother and Peter diminished it all like it was nothing. I think I rejected Amber because I could see myself in her and that hurt. Be gentle to yourself Amber. You deserve it.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Finn Hawthorne apologizing with food. It made me hungry. Ordered a curry. Happy reader.
Finn ahem 😳🔥in the office with Amber
“Sweetheart,” I say, holding her gaze so she knows just how serious I am and that this isn’t a rejection. “There are too many people in this building right now, and the first time I fuck you, it’s going to be somewhere you can scream my name.” - I need a glass of water.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 "Don’t do that. Don't make yourself small. You don’t have to do that around me, sweetheart.
(I’m not going to dismiss you. I’m not going to make you feel like your wins don’t matter).” (Finn being the definition of LOVE)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
Can it be possible? Nothing? No no wait
■ The Festival of Interiors
■Amber's Nepobaby lecture
■That gorgeous Colonial Lake house
■Pizza Debate: Rosas vs Louies
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Okay but look at this! I cannot believe I am thawing to Contemporary Romance. I was prepared to hate this. As I read, my review was already taking the shape of a dark cloud. But man, I really saw this book, these characters and I really began to understand them. I love to see mental health representation and it was subtle and so well done. After a while, I didn't need an Orc or Finn to have fangs or wings or something to enjoy this book. It judt won me over.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Impossibly hot and impossibly young (to be owning a 50 year old club) business owner meets hot young interior designer. Sparks fly, conflict conflict conflict (but not between MCs), game-changing moment. Bing bang boom, fall in love.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Finn on the surface is a gorgeous nepo-baby. Beneath it he has an Anxiety disorder, actual imposter syndrome and a label he didnt ask for. He's fight so hard against the tide and yet he remains high functioning.
Amber is abrasive and defensive in her monologues and at first I hated her but look at the 180. I actually cried when she said "look what I achieved" basically and her mother and Peter diminished it all like it was nothing. I think I rejected Amber because I could see myself in her and that hurt. Be gentle to yourself Amber. You deserve it.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Finn Hawthorne apologizing with food. It made me hungry. Ordered a curry. Happy reader.
Finn ahem 😳🔥in the office with Amber
“Sweetheart,” I say, holding her gaze so she knows just how serious I am and that this isn’t a rejection. “There are too many people in this building right now, and the first time I fuck you, it’s going to be somewhere you can scream my name.” - I need a glass of water.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 "Don’t do that. Don't make yourself small. You don’t have to do that around me, sweetheart.
(I’m not going to dismiss you. I’m not going to make you feel like your wins don’t matter).” (Finn being the definition of LOVE)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
Can it be possible? Nothing? No no wait
■ The Festival of Interiors
■Amber's Nepobaby lecture
■That gorgeous Colonial Lake house
■Pizza Debate: Rosas vs Louies
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
2043...A Merman I Should Turn to Be by Nisi Shawl
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There's always a damned Judas. Even on the ocean floor. - Usually it's a person, sometimes it's hackable underwater tech. This was almost a tragedy. Let people jusy live geez. Its 2043 FFS and nazis still nazi-ing. SMDH.
This was not the merfolk story I was hoping for. But I dove into this and the water was nice I ended up floating in the words like a happy seal on a boat - not an orca in sight.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Race to obsidoan Atlantis underwater before American White Supremacists Nazis hunt and kill you. There, kinda summed it up just right.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Alan D Stott is a grade-A ass. And White Supremacists ve white supremacing their bull all the way to the depths of the ocean floor. FFS just let people live already.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Race to Bahari against the clock and supremacists.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Keep his love beside him and his fear wouldn’t matter. He’d be brave for her sake. Brave enough for both of them” (Darden choosing Merlife for the wrong reasons)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ nannie machines
■Underwater BodMod packages
■ I wanted to fill out the questionnaire 🤣
■Dive Propulsion Vehicles
■Pretzels🎵🎶
■Bahari
■CLITIA
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
This was not the merfolk story I was hoping for. But I dove into this and the water was nice I ended up floating in the words like a happy seal on a boat - not an orca in sight.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Race to obsidoan Atlantis underwater before American White Supremacists Nazis hunt and kill you. There, kinda summed it up just right.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Alan D Stott is a grade-A ass. And White Supremacists ve white supremacing their bull all the way to the depths of the ocean floor. FFS just let people live already.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Race to Bahari against the clock and supremacists.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Keep his love beside him and his fear wouldn’t matter. He’d be brave for her sake. Brave enough for both of them” (Darden choosing Merlife for the wrong reasons)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ nannie machines
■Underwater BodMod packages
■ I wanted to fill out the questionnaire 🤣
■Dive Propulsion Vehicles
■Pretzels🎵🎶
■Bahari
■CLITIA
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This one slipped through the clutches of my adoration fast. - I suppose I'm still hearing the echo of The Ballad of Black Tom and the writing there was gripping.
Maybe the writing is meant to be stilted and almost cluttered to mirror Grimace's mind and grasp on UY Scuty and New York? If so it was a success but it tilted just shy of great for me and has settled into my realm of that's nice.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
See there'll be one eternal question evertime I think of this book.
Was Grimace just hallucinating until he was killed if he was even killed?
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters: -2⭐
Uhm... his trashcans in the garbage bag are women (except for Cherry Coke who seems to be the male voice of action, offering tangible ways in and not talking a whole lot - as in the females yap yap yap whilst the male bottle is relied upon when actually needed?) I don't think I like how I feel about that even though they were keeping him going (well technically he was talking to a garbage bag full of trashed cans so he appears insane).🤷🏻♀️
Is it on purpose? Would Grimace be a genius albeit a raging mysoginist if he had power (and money) and wasn't slumming it on the streets or is it a subconscious thing the author let slip into his work? I'm rooting for the former please please because I just starting falling into the LaValle rabbithole of intense storytelling.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
This was painful: Grimace at McDonalds
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “My mind was awake, but my body hadn’t quite caught up. Oh, sleep paralysis, my old friend, you are always fucking with me.” (Hey Don't even joke, my sleep paralysis demon has been MIA)
🖤 “The crowds parted for us.
They were scared. Or disgusted. No matter the reason, we strolled with the air of emperors”(Grimace and Kim, homeless and hooker and judged for it every where)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Signalman
■ Pathfinders
■ Dying Star
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Maybe the writing is meant to be stilted and almost cluttered to mirror Grimace's mind and grasp on UY Scuty and New York? If so it was a success but it tilted just shy of great for me and has settled into my realm of that's nice.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
See there'll be one eternal question evertime I think of this book.
Was Grimace just hallucinating until he was killed if he was even killed?
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters: -2⭐
Uhm... his trashcans in the garbage bag are women (except for Cherry Coke who seems to be the male voice of action, offering tangible ways in and not talking a whole lot - as in the females yap yap yap whilst the male bottle is relied upon when actually needed?) I don't think I like how I feel about that even though they were keeping him going (well technically he was talking to a garbage bag full of trashed cans so he appears insane).🤷🏻♀️
Is it on purpose? Would Grimace be a genius albeit a raging mysoginist if he had power (and money) and wasn't slumming it on the streets or is it a subconscious thing the author let slip into his work? I'm rooting for the former please please because I just starting falling into the LaValle rabbithole of intense storytelling.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
This was painful: Grimace at McDonalds
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “My mind was awake, but my body hadn’t quite caught up. Oh, sleep paralysis, my old friend, you are always fucking with me.” (Hey Don't even joke, my sleep paralysis demon has been MIA)
🖤 “The crowds parted for us.
They were scared. Or disgusted. No matter the reason, we strolled with the air of emperors”(Grimace and Kim, homeless and hooker and judged for it every where)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Signalman
■ Pathfinders
■ Dying Star
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
The Angel of Khan el-Khalili by P. Djèlí Clark
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A game of truth without the dare - I fully believe an Angel would do this. A really good quick read while I wait, no hope for the rest of the series to be complete. You hear that Clark? Patiently waiting over here.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This is my 4th "you" 2nd person story and you know, it might be luck of the draw but yet again I didn't hate it. Maybe the hate for the second pov comes from the fanficky-kpoppish style ofq books that flooded the market a while back? But so far, so good. This one is not the best I've read but in the context of the rest of the Djinn Universe, it was pretty good.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The Seeker deserves a whole book. In fact if I could get a book with the main characters being the Djinn and the Angels in Egypt, I'd be a happy camper.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Oh sure, you go out there and bargain with an angel. Not like it's risky or anything 🤷🏻♀️ Pretty standard for an immortal supernatural entity.
"When is a hidden truth more than a secret?" - And so it begins
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Many claim to seek my wisdom. But in truth, it is my favors they hope to attain.” (It would seem that Angels are shrewd and blunt in any religion)
🖤 “you feel your face heat up again. It is not a comfortable thing to hear that you are transparent” (on being seen)
🖤 “Wishes are risky business anyway—undependable and unpredictable. You never can tell what end of the bargain you’ll come out on when dealing with djinn.” (on the facts of immortal beings who toy with mortals)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Steampunk Angels (clockwork machinery)
■Angels withhold their names
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This is my 4th "you" 2nd person story and you know, it might be luck of the draw but yet again I didn't hate it. Maybe the hate for the second pov comes from the fanficky-kpoppish style ofq books that flooded the market a while back? But so far, so good. This one is not the best I've read but in the context of the rest of the Djinn Universe, it was pretty good.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The Seeker deserves a whole book. In fact if I could get a book with the main characters being the Djinn and the Angels in Egypt, I'd be a happy camper.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Oh sure, you go out there and bargain with an angel. Not like it's risky or anything 🤷🏻♀️ Pretty standard for an immortal supernatural entity.
"When is a hidden truth more than a secret?" - And so it begins
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Many claim to seek my wisdom. But in truth, it is my favors they hope to attain.” (It would seem that Angels are shrewd and blunt in any religion)
🖤 “you feel your face heat up again. It is not a comfortable thing to hear that you are transparent” (on being seen)
🖤 “Wishes are risky business anyway—undependable and unpredictable. You never can tell what end of the bargain you’ll come out on when dealing with djinn.” (on the facts of immortal beings who toy with mortals)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Steampunk Angels (clockwork machinery)
■Angels withhold their names
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Song of the Dawn by Angela J. Ford
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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 is a dreamers book the theme is so uplifting underneath it all. You have a dream, chase it, if that door shuts well you never know - that window might just open up. You get rejected, that's plating for your armor for the next round.
We all deserve the opportunity to pursue what we want. - Avelina to Mila
Oh and don't even get me started on the sheer cottagecore-esque atmosphere, harvest festival, picky cows, maybe woodland Fey and hot shirtless men hauling in the catch of the day(okay maybe that last one isn't cottagecore). Lagoda and the neighboring valley makes me want to start a silent vlog on youtube but first I need to ditch the city and buy a quaint little farmouse and some chickens.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Her Tower of Knights series has yragedy woven so deep into it that the overall feeling of each plot so far has been melancholy, magnificent(gowns and vistas) and just a little dash of hope. This one has the fire of ambition. Ezra and Mila are not to be trifled with as they crash into each other's goals and dreams. Of course the connection would be fire.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters: -1⭐
Here's my gripe. The men in these stories get 1 chapter pov for every 5 chapters of the female main character. I mean I get that we interact with them throughout the book via the FMC pov but if you're going to switch pov at least give them 2 pov chapters per 3 of the FMC? The MMCs just orbit the FMC which is fine I suppose because I do love Mila.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
1. Oooh lala wine tasting with Ezra ouy on the balcony overlooking gorgeous orange trees. Makes me want to head to Bordeaux Sip wine overlooking the riviera.
2. Oh wow! The Lonely-hearts/cupid scam is alive and kicking even in this world. Also that shit turned dark real quick. From scam to fatality faster that Barry Allen (let's be real he's like maybe the 5th fastest person on the planet as proved in every CW episode of The Flash).
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “When I woke, the place between my legs ached. I lay in bed, relishing, reliving the dream because it solidified what was forbidden.” (Can confirm, that dream was something)
🖤 “He was so handsome it hurt.” (hhmmm sometimes it do be like that Mila)
🖤 “I tell you about the darkness of my past, and all you say is thank you?
What kind of wondrous creature are you?” (insert appropriate lovey dovey cooing sounds here)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Gods of The Seasons
■ Mystical memory loss
■ Lagodian Legend
■Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as waxed poetically by Ezra
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
We all deserve the opportunity to pursue what we want. - Avelina to Mila
Oh and don't even get me started on the sheer cottagecore-esque atmosphere, harvest festival, picky cows, maybe woodland Fey and hot shirtless men hauling in the catch of the day(okay maybe that last one isn't cottagecore). Lagoda and the neighboring valley makes me want to start a silent vlog on youtube but first I need to ditch the city and buy a quaint little farmouse and some chickens.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Her Tower of Knights series has yragedy woven so deep into it that the overall feeling of each plot so far has been melancholy, magnificent(gowns and vistas) and just a little dash of hope. This one has the fire of ambition. Ezra and Mila are not to be trifled with as they crash into each other's goals and dreams. Of course the connection would be fire.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters: -1⭐
Here's my gripe. The men in these stories get 1 chapter pov for every 5 chapters of the female main character. I mean I get that we interact with them throughout the book via the FMC pov but if you're going to switch pov at least give them 2 pov chapters per 3 of the FMC? The MMCs just orbit the FMC which is fine I suppose because I do love Mila.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
1. Oooh lala wine tasting with Ezra ouy on the balcony overlooking gorgeous orange trees. Makes me want to head to Bordeaux Sip wine overlooking the riviera.
2. Oh wow! The Lonely-hearts/cupid scam is alive and kicking even in this world. Also that shit turned dark real quick. From scam to fatality faster that Barry Allen (let's be real he's like maybe the 5th fastest person on the planet as proved in every CW episode of The Flash).
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “When I woke, the place between my legs ached. I lay in bed, relishing, reliving the dream because it solidified what was forbidden.” (Can confirm, that dream was something)
🖤 “He was so handsome it hurt.” (hhmmm sometimes it do be like that Mila)
🖤 “I tell you about the darkness of my past, and all you say is thank you?
What kind of wondrous creature are you?” (insert appropriate lovey dovey cooing sounds here)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Gods of The Seasons
■ Mystical memory loss
■ Lagodian Legend
■Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as waxed poetically by Ezra
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Someone hold my phone, here take my earrings and don't even hold me back! - I want vengeance on behalf of the Cities of Lies, old testament style righteous vengeance must be rained down on "Ajungo". Let's have a look ... what can they cut of you, come come, step right up and don't be shy there's a comeuppance for everyone of you obas I'mma need a minute.
The "Ajungo" are lying, obfuscating, shady, knowledge and resource stealing liars who lie. The ease at which they did it vexes me! You hear that liar obas, with your liar royalty and your liar throne? I am vexed. 🤬😡
Plot/Storyline/Themes :
A suffering people, waterless dryingnout and dying from drought and some rich fat cats in the next city laud it over them and condem them to a fate worse than death. Like WTF is wrong with you and the level of cruelty. But also loved the unending survival of the people of the City of Lies. There are still thousands in the city without water? Humanity is weird about enduring pain.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Tutu starts out with such innocence it's sad and important seeing him become that hero. His understanding of water, rather lack thereof is so painful to me as a reader because were headingnin the water scarcity direction as a planet and I wonder if hundreds of years from.now kids will wonder what rivers are? Is the sky made of water? What is an Oasis?
But he is brave.
The Three Desert Angels: Funme, Lami and Asila. I feel like they are manifestation of his prayers to the Gods even though he thought the God's said NO - these three arrived at a crux moment. But also - stop calling Tutu "husband" that boy is 13 years old smdh.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
I can't decide, so I'm going to go with the entire Seer-Wagon-Revelation sequence.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Evil in one place is evil in every place.” (The beginnings of a quest)
🖤 “Tears are precious, don’t waste them on your enemies. Save them for your friends.” (Mama to Tutu)
🖤 “This death felt different [..] This death felt good" (Behold, the voice of wrath whispers in Tutu's ears)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Palm of Aye (incredible!)
■Blood Drought
■ The Deafening
■ Speakers, Seerers, ASSEMBLE!
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
The "Ajungo" are lying, obfuscating, shady, knowledge and resource stealing liars who lie. The ease at which they did it vexes me! You hear that liar obas, with your liar royalty and your liar throne? I am vexed. 🤬😡
Plot/Storyline/Themes :
A suffering people, waterless dryingnout and dying from drought and some rich fat cats in the next city laud it over them and condem them to a fate worse than death. Like WTF is wrong with you and the level of cruelty. But also loved the unending survival of the people of the City of Lies. There are still thousands in the city without water? Humanity is weird about enduring pain.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Tutu starts out with such innocence it's sad and important seeing him become that hero. His understanding of water, rather lack thereof is so painful to me as a reader because were headingnin the water scarcity direction as a planet and I wonder if hundreds of years from.now kids will wonder what rivers are? Is the sky made of water? What is an Oasis?
But he is brave.
The Three Desert Angels: Funme, Lami and Asila. I feel like they are manifestation of his prayers to the Gods even though he thought the God's said NO - these three arrived at a crux moment. But also - stop calling Tutu "husband" that boy is 13 years old smdh.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
I can't decide, so I'm going to go with the entire Seer-Wagon-Revelation sequence.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Evil in one place is evil in every place.” (The beginnings of a quest)
🖤 “Tears are precious, don’t waste them on your enemies. Save them for your friends.” (Mama to Tutu)
🖤 “This death felt different [..] This death felt good" (Behold, the voice of wrath whispers in Tutu's ears)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Palm of Aye (incredible!)
■Blood Drought
■ The Deafening
■ Speakers, Seerers, ASSEMBLE!
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything by Michio Kaku
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
RTC
What a ride. Between reading this and the rest of my Scifi schedule, I went on a deep dive on the Beyond Ideas Channel and watched Michio Kaku talk turkey about the 10th dimension. As one does when they have a weird interest in the Kardashev Scale and try to find work leaning in that direction.
This book has been such an enriching learning experience for the science nerd in me. I mean yeah I got a bit lazy with most theory after I got my degree and bolted straight into the workforce but it's so good to stretch the muscles hidden in the skull you know.
What a ride. Between reading this and the rest of my Scifi schedule, I went on a deep dive on the Beyond Ideas Channel and watched Michio Kaku talk turkey about the 10th dimension. As one does when they have a weird interest in the Kardashev Scale and try to find work leaning in that direction.
This book has been such an enriching learning experience for the science nerd in me. I mean yeah I got a bit lazy with most theory after I got my degree and bolted straight into the workforce but it's so good to stretch the muscles hidden in the skull you know.
Slow Time Between the Stars by John Scalzi
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I too would like to be programmed to "not mind" things. - but I mind, I mind very much. For example, I do mind that this is too good to be this short and I want at least 150 pages more. I mind oh so very much it was good reading.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
The idea that Sentient and Sapient AI can transcend programming by the very thing programmed into it - knowledge changes people. Why not AI?
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
This AI is tasked with basically the creation of life in all its forms on an earthlike planet. An AI programmed by humans to be a god.
"I contain multitudes" - Āśā
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Āśā on the Asteroid. Seems lonely and comforting and peaceful. This AI human-made god taking a few years of rest in order to build the new world.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “All that knowledge, including the knowledge that some knowledge was forbidden, was packed into me. I was changed, knowing that.” (oh oh - it's like telling a kid not to press the big red button)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Alexandria Module
■ AI Asteroid Mining
■ Slingshot Manoeuvre
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
The idea that Sentient and Sapient AI can transcend programming by the very thing programmed into it - knowledge changes people. Why not AI?
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
This AI is tasked with basically the creation of life in all its forms on an earthlike planet. An AI programmed by humans to be a god.
"I contain multitudes" - Āśā
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Āśā on the Asteroid. Seems lonely and comforting and peaceful. This AI human-made god taking a few years of rest in order to build the new world.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “All that knowledge, including the knowledge that some knowledge was forbidden, was packed into me. I was changed, knowing that.” (oh oh - it's like telling a kid not to press the big red button)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Alexandria Module
■ AI Asteroid Mining
■ Slingshot Manoeuvre
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Just Out of Jupiter's Reach by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
2.75⭐ rounded begrudgingly to 3
Oof I did not like Tornado Onwubiko or 90% of the other characters. I loved loved loved the story though - not a promising start seeing as I added a whole lot of Nnedi Okorafor's books to my February reading list. My first look into their writing style is already making me question the wisdom of mass checkout 🤔 I should really just buy 1 book by an author first before getting the backlist.
I usually find most main characters likeable or a little bland but I'm wired to like those who orbit the characters or find them more interesting. I still root for the main character, I'm there with my posters yelling "You can do it Frodo!" Or "C'mon Potter get your head out your arse and get in there and be a hero!" Or " You got this Katniss!" etc etc cheerleading stuff. But I dislike this one from the jump. What's worse - the supporting characters were the kind of people I wish had a mute button, namely Kisha and Anthony - mute them.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I love the idea of trapesing through space in a ship made to your genetic makeup.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I mean if your opening paragraph is to disparage the lives of influencers with plastic surgery, bigger butts, and I can't remember what else and then say "I just love space travel" I'm already side eyeing you because you can be a nerd and like what you like without spinning it into a "Not like other girls" monologue. I was so put off I forced myself to push past that nonsense and read on.
Also thumbs down to Kisha. First so annoying. Second- my god how was she picked for this project she's allergic to everything- and I say that as someone with a Shellfish and gluten Allergy.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
The Gathering of the Miris in Jupiter's shadow.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “The medications for all the DNA changes caused strange quirks in us; for instance, I developed a taste for olives, when I’d hated them all my life, and I could no longer stand drinking coffee or eating French fries.” (oh no no no, Coffee, French fries are life. Unacceptable. Yay to the olives though)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Miri: Sequencing, Imprinting just awesomeness
■Kármán Science
■ Chi
■Space Cat
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Oof I did not like Tornado Onwubiko or 90% of the other characters. I loved loved loved the story though - not a promising start seeing as I added a whole lot of Nnedi Okorafor's books to my February reading list. My first look into their writing style is already making me question the wisdom of mass checkout 🤔 I should really just buy 1 book by an author first before getting the backlist.
I usually find most main characters likeable or a little bland but I'm wired to like those who orbit the characters or find them more interesting. I still root for the main character, I'm there with my posters yelling "You can do it Frodo!" Or "C'mon Potter get your head out your arse and get in there and be a hero!" Or " You got this Katniss!" etc etc cheerleading stuff. But I dislike this one from the jump. What's worse - the supporting characters were the kind of people I wish had a mute button, namely Kisha and Anthony - mute them.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I love the idea of trapesing through space in a ship made to your genetic makeup.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I mean if your opening paragraph is to disparage the lives of influencers with plastic surgery, bigger butts, and I can't remember what else and then say "I just love space travel" I'm already side eyeing you because you can be a nerd and like what you like without spinning it into a "Not like other girls" monologue. I was so put off I forced myself to push past that nonsense and read on.
Also thumbs down to Kisha. First so annoying. Second- my god how was she picked for this project she's allergic to everything- and I say that as someone with a Shellfish and gluten Allergy.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
The Gathering of the Miris in Jupiter's shadow.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “The medications for all the DNA changes caused strange quirks in us; for instance, I developed a taste for olives, when I’d hated them all my life, and I could no longer stand drinking coffee or eating French fries.” (oh no no no, Coffee, French fries are life. Unacceptable. Yay to the olives though)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Miri: Sequencing, Imprinting just awesomeness
■Kármán Science
■ Chi
■Space Cat
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025