I don’t like the word ‘fresh’ but perhaps that’s a good way of describing it. It’s just different than a lot of fantasy/urban fantasy which works really well in its favour. Continue reading
Category Archives: Book reviews
Book review: Revenant Gun
This is the third (maybe final?) novel in the Machineries of Empire series. It follows on roughly 10 years after the events in Raven Stratagem. Cheris-Jedao has disappeared, leaving Brezan and Mikodez to create a new structure to their society. However, Kujen has other tricks up his sleeve, including another Jedao! Continue reading
Book review: Space Unicorn Blues
There were elements of Space Unicorn Blues I liked, but unfortunately it couldn’t make up for some of the clunky world-building and general hatefulness of some of the characters (or their past). Continue reading
Book review: Rogue Protocol
Honestly, when there are no more instalments of the Murderbot Diaries, I’m going to be so very sad. I basically want to be Murderbot’s friend at this point, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be uncomfortable with that. So this is the third in the series after All Systems Red and Artificial Condition. And it is still … Continue reading
Book review: Occupy Me
There’s a woman named Pearl. Except she’s an angel. Well. She has wings like an angel, but she doesn’t actually know what she is or where she came from. But she knows that someone has stolen something from her and that thing is now in the shape of a briefcase, in the possession of Kisi Sorle. But it’s…sort of not Dr Kisi Sorle, orthopaedic surgeon but something else that occasionally inhabits him. Continue reading
Book review: A Secret History of Witches
So, the book follows the history of a family, the Orchiéres, as they flea from France to life in England. The gift of witchcraft is passed down from mother to daughter but at all times they must keep it secret – or face a hostile world that fears women with such powers. Continue reading
Book review: The Regional Office is Under Attack
The plot is absurd. The Regional Office is a group of super-human women, guided by Oracles to defend the earth from all threats – alien, mystical, time-travelling, monstrous, etc. But its attacked! By first what seems a counter-agency but as we learn through the plot, has come from within. Continue reading
Book review: Inferior
To call it well written would be an insult. It’s brilliant. It’s a compulsive read – which in other circumstances could be trying to other authors given the range of subjects covered, papers mentioned, people interviewed. The narrative is so beautifully crafted that its easily one of the most accessible and fascinating non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time. Continue reading
Book review: Binti – Home
This is the sequel to Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, which like the first in the series, it is also a novella. The story takes up a year after the events of the first book, with Binti taking up her place at Oomza university. She’s still friends with the Meduse Okwu. Continue reading
Book review: Spare and Found Parts
So, it’s the future. There’s been some sort of disaster that has meant the population has been radically reduced, lots of people are born without bits of them (eyes, arms, legs etc) and computers are banned. In this world we have Nell Crane, daughter of famous inventors in this world. Owner of one mechanical heart. Continue reading
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