skadir's reviews
10 reviews

Lockdown Tales 2 by Neal Asher

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This is an anthology of short stories/novelettes  and a good example why I like some of the author's works and some I deeply hate. It was a really mixed bag for me.

Neal Asher can tell exciting stories, that's undeniable. Many of them deal with themes of severe body modification, sometimes bordering on body horror, sometimes going over the line. Often brutal violence is depicted but the medicine of his setting can heal almost everything nearly immediately.  So it is supposed to be OK. Trauma is glossed over. 

If you have read other books of Neal Asher you already know that.

Some stories had elements I found so problematic, they pulled me out of the reading flow. Superhuman (male) protagonist overriding the free will of others, for example. One story contained something I would classify as non-con with a underlying theme of (male) agent of higher civilization meets barbarian society.  😒  And he triumphs, of course.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Body horror

Everybody Writes: Your New and Improved Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

informative medium-paced

4.0

Do Interesting: Notice. Collect. Share by Russell Davies

informative inspiring fast-paced

4.25

I liked it very much. The book found me via a recommendation of Austin Kleon (›Steal like an Artist‹) at the right time as I contemplated restricting my social media and wanting to focus on my blog instead.

It's a short read. That means that the topic isn't unnecessary padded. It also tells the experiences of other people, not only the author's. And most importantly, it lists 34 prompts to start you practicing noticing, collecting and sharing.

A Fire Born of Exile by Aliette de Bodard

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

adventurous 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? N/A

5.0

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I found the pacing to be uneven and the ending didn't convince me at all.  Alas, the evil queen was terribly flat and boring. 

That said, I like books and tea on principle, I also liked the protagonists, quite a few of the side characters and  especially the setting a lot. But I was bored around the middle of the book and had do force myself to finish it. This was my first read in the cozy fantasy sub genre, so maybe it was just not for me.

Witch King by Martha Wells

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Bookshop Witch by T. Thorn Coyle

lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.25

I was looking for a relaxing and cozy story for a rainy day and this book delivered that.

Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction (Master Class Series) by Nancy Stohlman

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Inspirierend und nicht langweilig. Aber ich hätte mir ein bisschen konkretere Tipps für das Schreiben von Flash Fiction Storys gewünscht.

On the Steel Breeze by Alastair Reynolds

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is  the second book in the series, set chronologically after the first but can be read as a standalone novel.

Like the first book in the series it started  (very) slow until the first death happened. Then the plot picks up its pace and it is truly epic. I like the world the author created. But my biggest problem with this novel is again that the protagonist(s) remained distant. I am told how they acts and speak but I could only infer what they are thinking or feeling. That was frustrating.