Majkia (Jean) and the Quantum Entanglement of Reading - 2024

Hi everyone. Jean here, back again to enjoy my favorite genres. I'm an introvert so don't expect a lot of chitchat. I've never really learned that art.



🎵
The Maleficent Seven - Cameron Johnston
🕮
The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

Tickers

Reading Plans for June
Sci Fi
Legend of Corinair - Ryk Brown
Cibola Burn - James S A Corey
A History of What Comes Next - Sylvain Neuvel
Goliath - tochi Onyebuchi
Chaos Terimal - Mur Lafferty

SFF
Maleficent Seven - Cameron Johnson
Stormwarden - Janny Wurts
Black Water Sister - Zen Cho
❌ A Feast for Crows - GRRM

Mystery/Thriller
❌ Blood Gospel - James Rollins
❌ Just One Evil Act - Elizabeth George
❌ The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
❌ Verses for the Dead - Preston/Child
The List (Slough House)

Books Read

1. The Book That Wouldn't Burn - Mark Lawrence
2. A Clash of Kings - George RR Martin - 768 pages
3. York: The Shadow Cipher - Laura Ruby - 496 pages
4. Daggerspell - Katharine Kerr - 492 pages
5. Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree - 304 pages
6. A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine
7. Naked In Death J D Robb - DNF
8. A Desolation Called Peace - Arkady Martine - 496 pages
9. The Anodyne Necklace - Martha Grimes - 304 pages
10. Vienna at Nightfall - Richard Wake - 308 pages
11. Mort - Terry Pratchett - 243 pages
12. Shards of the Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky - 560 pages
13. The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry - 464 pages
14. Starling House - Alix E Harrow - 320 pages
15. Dead and Buried - Stephen Booth - 432 pages
16. Eyes of the Void - Adrian Tchaikovsky - 608 pages
17. Eversion - Alastair Reynolds - 352 pages
18. Believing the Lie - Elizabeth George - 624 pages
19. Europe in Autumn - Dave Hutchinson - 416 pages
20. Fallen Dragon - Peter F Hamilton - 832 pages
21. Run - Blake Crouch- pages 288
22. The Rings of Haven - Ryk Brown - 240 pages
23. Slow Horses - Mick Herron = 325 pages
24. Argylle - Elly Conway
25. Babel - R F Kuang
26. The Mitford Murders - Jessica Fellowes - 338 pages
27. Heaven's River - Dennis E Taylor - 640 pages
28. Zoo Station - David Downing - 293 pages
29. A Little Hatred - Joe Abercrombie - 480 pages
30. The Marlow Murder Club - Robert Thorogood - 480 pages
31. Abaddon's Gate - James S A Corey - 566 Pages
32. Limelight - Dan Willis
33. The Rift - Walter Jon Williams - 944 pages
34. The Dirty Duck - Martha Grimes- pages 320
35. A Storm of Swords - George R R Martin Pages: 1216
36. Sing the Four Quarters - Tanya Huff - 416 pages
37. The Lords of Uncreation - Adrian Tchaikovsky
38. The Tourist - Oleg Steinhauer
39. The Captain (Last Horizon) - Will Wight
40. The Oppenheimer Alternative - Robert J Sawyer
41. City of Endless Night - Preston/Child
42. Too Like the Lightning - Ada Palmer
43. Probability Moon - Nancy Kress
44. Dead Lions - Mick Herron
45. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
46. Snowbound - Blake Crouch
47. Diving into the Wreck - K K Rusch
48. Primary Inversion- Catherine Asaro
49. The Gray Man - Mark Greaney
50. Dead Energy - James M Corkill DNF
51. The Worst Ship in the Fleet - Skyler Ramirez
52. Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead - K J Parker
53. Starfish - Peter Watts
54. Edges (Frontier) - Linda Nagata
55. Blood Gospel - James Rollins - 732 pages
56. A Feast for Crows - GRRM - 784 pages
57. Verses for the Dead - Preston/Child
58. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
59. Just One Evil Act - Elizabeth George

Happy New year and happy new thread!

Will you be revisiting the entire Deverry series?

The Anodyne Necklace looks ominous. Have never read any Martha Grimes. Not sure why. Hm.

>4 Karlstar: Yes, planning to read the whole series if I like it. I'm sure I read a book or two in the day, but don't remember them, sadly.

>5 Bookmarque: Thanks! Ilove the graphic!
I started reading Martha Grimes in the 90s, back when I really had no access to anything but a bookstore 20 miles away or so. I quit when I couldn't find the next book. Now, with options! I'm restarting it and plan to get much further. I really adore the main character. He's a sweetheart, always searching out the kids who see so much and being kind to the downtrodden and left out.

Happy reading in 2024!

Happy New Reading Year!

>1 majkia: Happy New Year, New Thread and New Reads!!!

Happy New Year and Happy New Thread! I look forward to your thoughts on The book that wouldn't burn.
I too read all the Deverry books back in the day, so I'll be interested to hear how you get on with Daggerspell.

1.

The Book That Wouldn't Burn - Mark Lawrence
Series: The Book That Wouldn't Burn #1
Pages: 576
Challeges: TBR, BingoDOG

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 7
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 8
   
3. Writing Style: 8
   
4. Plot: 8
   
5. Intrigue:9
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 7
   
7. Enjoyment: 9
   
8. Rating: 4
   
   
   
   Imaginative, very nicely written, with some jaw-dropping plot twists. World-building is terrific and the characters are deeply drawn and those you can come to really care about. Lots to say about conflict and enemies and prejudices and assumptions.
   
   I did find things confusing at first, which dropped my rating of the book a little.
   
   I look forward to the rest of the series, but will have to re-read this one when I get all the books.
   
   I listened to the audiobook read by Jessica Wittaker who did a great job.

>11 majkia: Interesting. I'm glad you enjoyed this, and I'm glad he turned out to be a decent writer and somewhat of a success. He used to post in here back in the day. In fact I think one of his accounts got removed for plugging Prince of Thorns a bit too vigorously.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/120120
Mark was both the original poster, and one of the people who commented with a second account.

>12 clamairy: I read Prince of Thorns but didn't continue that series. I have also read his Sisters trilogy and enjoyed it very much. This book though, really shows how much he's grown.

>13 majkia: I've heard good things about the Sisters Trilogy. I'm very happy to hear he's improving so much.

>11 majkia: I've been waiting for a Green Dragon review of this one. It sounds great!

2.

A Clash of Kings - George R R Martin
Series: Song of Ice and Fire #2
768 pages

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 8
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 8
   
3. Writing Style: 9
   
4. Plot: 8
   
5. Intrigue: 9
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 8
   
7. Enjoyment: 9
   
8. Rating: 4 💙
   
   
   
   This is a Re-Read. I listened to the audiobook read by Roy Dotrice who did a wonderful job.
   
   So complex with so many interlocking moving parts, it is amazing to me it all comes together. War, and horror and bravery and craven critters. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth the read if you enjoy epic sword and sorcery.

3.

York: The Shadow Cipher - Laura Ruby
Series: York #1
pages: 496
Challenges:
AlphaKIT, TBR, ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:

1. Character: 8
   
2. Atmosphere/Setting: 7
   
3. Writing Style: 7
   
4. Plot: 7
   
5. Intrigue: 8
   
6. Logic/Relationships: 8
   
7. Enjoyment: 8
   
8. Rating: 4
   
   
   
   Complex steampunk listed as middle-grade but pretty adultish to me. Only the main characters are kids I suppose makes it listed as middle-grade.
   
   In an alt-NewYork, three kids and a few cronies try to solve a centuries old cipher in an effort to save the building they live in. It's impossible... Or is it. And, what will they win. Can they save their home?

Looks like your CAWPILE rating is working out well so far.

>18 Narilka: I think I'm going to comment on each rating for the next book, or at least comment on those that strike me as particularly important for that book.

4.

Daggerspell - Katharine Kerr
Series: Deverry #1
Pages: 482
I listened to the Audiobook read by Ruth Urquhart

Challenges:
ROOT
SFFKIT
Focus SFF
BingoDOG
CalendarCAT
SeriesLove2024

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6 - some characters well drawn, others not so much
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7 Definitely based on epic fantasy tropes
• Writing Style: 8 - Very nicely written, I enjoy her style
• Plot: 7 - confusing, with multiple timelines and people reincarnated from one to the other
• Intrigue: 7 - plots and plots
• Logic/Relationships: 5 - I found some of it rather unbelievable or at least odd
• Enjoyment: 7 - I did enjoy the story.

Rating: 3.5 💙

I'm planning on continuing the series, to see where this goes.

>20 majkia: Do you feel, due to the nature of that series, that the Intrigue and Logic/Relationships aspects will get better in future books? I've been kind of curious about re-reading this series.

>21 Karlstar: I think I downgraded those mainly because I found the reincarnation stuff a bit confusing. And the logic/relationships that ensuded from reincarnation to be confusing to me. I'm planning on continuing the series, so hoping I'll have a better grasp on who's now who.

>22 majkia: That's probably why I lost interest after book nine in that series.

5.

Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree
Series: Legends and Lattes #1
Pages: 304
Challenges:
ROOT
Bookspin

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8 - The strength of the book are the characters, definitely. And I liked the diversity. Especially Thimble!
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7 - Nicely done world making and just a hint of magical stuff.
• Writing Style: 7 - Well written and easy to read.
• Plot: 5 - Not much of a plot, but the story moves ahead anyway
• Intrigue: 6 - Uhm, easily expected but still worked
• Logic/Relationships: 7 - I did love how the characters come together, despite Viv at times.
• Enjoyment: 7 - Definitely enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5 💙

>24 majkia: I've been eyeing this book since it came out, but haven't done anything about it. I just haven't been in the mood, I guess...

6.

A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine
Audiobook - Read by Amy Landon
Pages: 464

Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7 - Very complex inter-relationships
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 - impressive atomosphere and world building
• Writing Style: 9 - Beautifully written with lots of introspection and consideration of events
• Plot: 7 - not as important as other aspects of the tale.
• Intrigue: 8 - guess who's on who's side. politics....
• Logic/Relationships: 8 - loyalties tested, and sometimes with unexpected results
• Enjoyment: 8 - I really enjoyed it. And am moving on to book two immediately.
Rating: 4 💙

>26 majkia: I also really enjoyed this one. I'm glad you did, too.

>27 clamairy: A bit more deeply thought than most space opera.

>28 majkia: Definitely! I didn't think the second one was quite as good, but I believe I'm in the minority there.

>26 majkia: I am so glad you enjoyed it! It was one of my favourite sci-fi reads in recent years. The same goes for book 2 ;)

>26 majkia: I really liked that one, too.

7.

Naked In Death J D Robb
Audio - Reader: Susan Eriksen
Pages: 314 - I read about 100

Challenges:
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 5
• Atmosphere/Setting:4
• Writing Style:4
• Plot:4
• Intrigue:3
• Logic/Relationships:2
• Enjoyment:3
Rating:
2 💙

Way too Romancy for me.. DNF

8.

A Desolation Called Peace - Arkady Martine
Series: Teixcalaan 2
Audio - Reader - Amy Landon
Pages: 496
Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9 Complex and interconnecting characters, well drawn and thoughtful.
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 Aliens and civilizations that are different and complex
• Writing Style: 9 Beautifully written, complex when it needs to be.
• Plot: 7 - A bit hard to follow at times, but then there are many layers that make that true.
• Intrigue: 8 - Lots of players with competing wants/needs/fears
• Logic/Relationships: 7 - I confess to some confusion with the interactions of some of the characters. I think I need to re-read at some point
• Enjoyment: 8 - Great read.
Rating: 4 💙

>33 majkia: I am glad you liked it! I thought it was excellent.

9.

The Anodyne Necklace - Martha Grimes
Series: Richard Jury #3
Audio - Reader: Steve West
Pages: 304
Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT
Focus Mystery
BingoDOG
Backlist Readathon
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style:8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

I adore Jury and Plant. Laughs, great frienship, smart guys, intelligent kids, sneaky adults, and smitten women. I confess the mystery itself is secondary to me, because I love the Jury/Plant relationship so very much.

What's not to love.

10.

Vienna at Nightfall - Richard Wake
Series: Alex Kovacs #1
Pages: 308
Challenges:
ROOT
Focus Historical
CalanderCAT
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting:8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships:
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

This is a scary read. It's about Hitler beginning to move on Europe and Austria specifically. It was far too close to current events, in the way Hitler and his cronies acted, for comfort.

11.

Mort - Terry Pratchett
Audio - Reader: Nigel Planer
Pages: 243
Challenges:
ROOT
Roll100
Backlist Readathon

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting:7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 6
• Intrigue: 6
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

I do love Death but like him more in the later books. I did enjoy seeking Ook if only momentarily.

>37 majkia: Discworld is always a pleasure to visit, even when this or that particular book is not your favourite :)

>38 Alexandra_book_life: Very True. I just never particularly warmed to Mort, but I loved the jokes and silliness.

I had a pretty good month of reading.
I finished 11 books, 6 by women writers, 5 by men.

I did have quite a few re-reads because I'm re-reading first book of series that I intend to finish.

More SSF than SciFi, I had 1 DNF that got too romance-y for my taste.

I finally got to complete the Teixcalaan series, which is awesome.
I'm also re-reading The Song of Ice and Fire which is interesting. I keep being surprised when my memory pulls up the tv series version rather than the book version of some events. Not surprising since I watched the TV series after I'd read most of the series.

Looking forward to a good February.

12.
Shards of the Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky - 560 pages
Series: The Final Architecture #1
Audiobook: Read by: Sophie Aldred

Challenges:
ROOT
Focus SciFI
Jan Doublespin
BFB

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9 Complex characterization, with various aliens and altered humans.
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8 Strange unkown aliens attacking human worlds for no known reason. A few humans have been altered to 'fight' them. Only a few survived when humanity drove off the aliens. But they didn't win. Just - the aliens left.
• Writing Style: 9 Nicely written, very complex and he did a good job clarifying as much as possible.
• Plot: 8 - A lot is unkown so we follow those who are attempting to make sense of what is going on.
• Intrigue: 8 - I love that the attacking aliens are so, uhm, alien. No one understands why the are killing planets and anyone on them.
• Logic/Relationships: 8 - Folks coming together to fight the threat, and yet, of course, others making things more difficult because of political reasons
• Enjoyment: 9 - Really interesting, and intriguing book.
Rating: 4.25 💙

>41 majkia: I've only discovered Tchaikovsky's books ca two years ago, and I loved everything I've read so far. The backlog is enormous ;), but it's something to look forward to. This one sounds tempting, I've seen quite a few great reviews of it in my feeds!

>42 Alexandra_book_life: He's one of my favoirte authors, especially for his last 5 or so years work.

13.

The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry
Audio version read by: Juanita Mahon and ebook

Challenges:
CalendarCAT (LibraryBook)
AlphaKIT
Roll100
ReadMyKindle

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
Impressive characters deeply and consistently created
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
Very atmospheric. 8
This the strongest aspect of the book I thought
• Writing Style:9
Her writing is what kept me reading.
• Plot: 5
What plot?
• Intrigue: 6
Not much.
• Logic/Relationships: 6
I found this challenging. Lots of hand wringing not much actual doing.
• Enjoyment: 7
I kept reading because it is so beautifully written, but really knew the ending long before the last of the reading.
Rating: 3.5 💙

I'm currently reading Starling House and I keep having Deja Vu moments like I've read this before a long time ago. I have no idea what book it keeps evoking but it is unsettling! Good book though.

John Scalzi posted on Threads that Paramount intends to create a movie of Starter Villain. I soooo want to see those dophins!

>46 majkia: Oh, this is great news! (I hope they don't screw it up.)

>46 majkia: Great! I hope it will be good :)

13.
Starling House - Alix E Harrow
Audiobook Read by: Natalie Naudus

Challenges:
AlphaKIT
CalendarCAT (Library Book)
RandomKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting:9
• Writing Style:9
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4.5 💙

Characterization is super. I could almost see them in my mind. The setting, ditto. Atmospheric, creepy, horror done right IMO. The plot and the progression is great, kept me glued to the book. Best book so far this year.

I do want to say it kept evoking something I already read years ago, but I can't put my finger on what it was. I'm not a big horror reader, so the fact I enjoyed this so much was a surprise, although I'd already read her Ten Thousand Doors of January which I'd really enjoyed so that's why I put this on my library wishlist.

14.
Dead and Buried - Stephen Booth
Series: Cooper and Fry #12

Challenges:
ROOT
Focus Mystery
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 3.5 💙

Difficult entry for the series, with bad things happening to Cooper's life. As usual, the main 'character' is the setting. The moors and the Peak district front and center at the heart of the story.

>49 majkia: I like this author quite a bit. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Going on my TBR.

>51 clamairy: She's rapidly becoming a favorite of mine.

15.

Eyes of the Void - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Series: Final Architecture #2
Audiobook - Reader : Sophie Aldred
Pages: 608
Challenges:

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 9
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

Second book in the Final Architect trilogy. Aliens abound, odd altered humans, tech advances, all converge to try to understand aliens who destroy human worlds and convert them into art, incidentally killing everyone and the planets. Why?

Eversion - Alastair Reynolds
Pages: 352
Audiobook Read by: Harry Myers
Challenges:
TBR
AlphaKIT
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style:9
• Plot:7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

Very odd and surprising stand alone book that appears to be alt history but turns out as something quite different.

>54 majkia: It was an interesting read! I liked that Reynolds decided to do something different here.

>54 majkia:, >55 Alexandra_book_life:, would it make a good intro to Reynolds? I’ve been thinking about trying him, but unsure where to start. I do have Revelation Space in my TBR, but think maybe a standalone might be good to try first.

>56 ludmillalotaria: It's a very enjoyable read for sure. But it's good to know that it's quite different from what he usually writes. I can recommend it, though :) Otherwise, my favourite Reynolds is probably House of Suns - it is also a standalone.

>55 Alexandra_book_life: Yes, it was so surprising because I expected his usual fare. I like that kind of surprise!
>56 ludmillalotaria: It is quite different from his usual space opera, but a good book nonetheless. Tho I agree with Alexandra that House of Suns might be a better intro to the most of his reading.

19.

Europe in Autumn - Dave Hutchinson
Pages: 416
Challenges:
ROOT
Alpha
Focus Alt History

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

This was a very strange book. Alt History, with Europe divided into many tiny states, and our hero a courier who crosses all the guarded boundaries to deliver people and things across borders. But there is another level of reality he's only so far gotten a glimpse of.

February Wrap Up


Reading a bit slow this month. Hoping to finish one more today, but it'll be close.

I was disappointed with The Essex Serpent but surprised at how much I liked Starling House as I'm not much of a horror fan.

>60 majkia: The Essex Serpent kept showing up on sale, and I came to LibraryThing to look at the reviews more than once and each time decided not to buy it. I want to watch the TV series, but I don't have Apple+. Your link for Starling House is pointing to the wrong book. I've read a couple of books by that author and I really love her stuff. I'll be borrowing or buying that one soon.

hmm. I didn't know about Essex Serpent TVseries. I'll have to check it out, as I have apple+. Hope you enjoy Starling House.

20.

Fallen Dragon - Peter F Hamilton

Audio - Reader: John Lee
Pages:832
Challenges: ROOT, BFB, SFFKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

Not my favorite Hamilton but a good read nonetheless. Aliens!

Run - Blake Crouch
Series: Fear #1

Pages: 288
Challenges: ROOT, AlphaKIT, Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

Wow. This was amazingly unputdownable. Horror, and lots of blood as a family tries to find safety and live through this nightmare.

22.

The Rings of Haven - Ryk Brown - 240 pages
Series: Frontier Saga #2

Challenges: ROOT, Focus, AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting: 5
• Writing Style: 6
• Plot: 5
• Intrigue: 5
• Logic/Relationships:5
• Enjoyment: 6
Rating: 3 💙

I didn't enjoy this episode as much as I did episode one. This takes place on planet so maybe that's why. Hopefully the next book will be better.

23.

Slow Horses - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #1
Pages: 325
Audiobook read by:

Challenges:
ReadYourEbooks
AlphaKIT
Focus Mystery
Roll100

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 9
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4 💙

Failed spies get sent to Slough House in the hope, I suppose, of getting bored enough to quit. Lamb, their leader, is enigmatic, surly and gives no quarter. Cartwright, one of the slow horses assigned to Lamb, is quite certain he was set up to fail, he just can't figure out who did it. Then comes a kid kidnapped and threatened with beheading. Even the slow horses want to get in on the action.

Very character driven and every one of them is well drawn. The action is compelling and the secrets and lies abound. Eager to get to the follow on in the series.

>66 majkia: The TV adaptation is excellent if you haven't seen it yet. Though it's very faithful to the book so you might want to give it a bit of time before watching if you were considering. Gary Oldman is superb as Jackson Lamb.

>67 AHS-Wolfy: I've watched the first season and agree it is great. And Gary Oldman is a treasure.

24.

Argylle - Elly Conway
pages: 352
Audio read by: Dakota Blue Richards

Challenges:
Library Book

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 5
• Atmosphere/Setting: 5
• Writing Style: 6
• Plot: 5
• Intrigue: 6
• Logic/Relationships: 5
• Enjoyment: 5
Rating: 3 💙

For some reason I never really clicked into this book. It wasn't badly written, the characters were pretty well fleshed out, there was lots of action, but it never really engaged me as I like to be engaged. Oh well.

25.

Babel - R F kuang
Audiobook read by: Hoi/Fulford-Brown
Pages:560

Challenges:
AlphaKIT
TBR
BFB

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

I enjoyed this at times, got frustrated with it at times, but persevered to the end. Imaginative, but heavy handed at certain points.

26.
The Mitford Murders - Jessica Fellows
Ebook and Audiobook - Reader: Rachel Atkins
Pages: 338
Challenges:
Roll100
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 6
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

An okay murder with interesting setting and characters. Looks like book 2 got better reviews. I might check book 2 out also.

27.

Heaven's River - Dennis E Taylor
Audio - Reader: Ray Porter
Pages: 640
Challenges:
AlphaKIT, BFB, ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting:8
• Writing Style:8
• Plot:8
• Intrigue:7
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4 💙

I love the characters of the Bobiverse. This book seemed to drag a bit as our heroes traveled through a huge structure, but the comedic element was, as usual for these books, front and center. And geeky and nerdy to the max.

>72 majkia: Ah, the Bobiverse books are nice and geeky! I agree that this particular one felt too long and I remember getting a bit lost in that gigantic thing they are exploring. But I still enjoyed it.

>72 majkia: & >73 Alexandra_book_life: I really enjoyed this series. I thought this was supposed to be the last one, but number five is in the works apparently!

>72 majkia: Apparently he's writing a 5th Bob book too :D Hope it releases this year. Or what >74 clamairy: said!

28.

Zoo Station - David Downing
Series: John Russell #1
Audio - Reader: Simon Prebble
Pages: 293
Challenges: ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

The book is set mostly in Berlin as Hitler begins his plans to declare war. John, a British journalist with a German son, wants to remain in Germany, even though he sees what's coming. He blunders his way into a world of spies as he tries to help friends.

>76 majkia: That's a series I'm really enjoying. Thought the 1st book did a good job of setting the scene for what's to come while also providing enough of a story in its own right to keep the pages turning.

>77 AHS-Wolfy: Agree. Looking forward to more of the series.

29.

A Little Hatred - Joe Abercrombie
Series: Age of Madness #1


Audio Reader: Steven Pacey
Pages: 480
Challenges:
Roll100
Focus SFF series
ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 8
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue:
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

Grimdark series with betrayal, hatred, black humor, and a ton of flawed characters. The black humor is the draw for me.

>79 majkia: You make it sound so appealing! :)

>80 Karlstar: LOL.

30.
The Marlow Murder Club - Robert Thorogood
Series: Marlow Murder Club - #1
Audio - Reader: Nickolette McKenzie
Pages: 480
Challenges: ROOT, TBR Challenge, AlphaKIT, Doublespin

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting: 7
• Writing Style: 7
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 7
• Enjoyment: 7
Rating: 3.5 💙

Similar to The THursday Murder Club series, but not as good, since not so much emphasis on the main characters. More centered on the mystery, which was good.

>82 majkia: I read this recently and found the plot a bit unbelievable. But I enjoyed the setting because I visited Marlow last year and could imagine the characters there.

>83 Sakerfalcon: Oh, cool! Yeah, I found the cops not doing anything at all a bit much too.

31.

Abaddon's Gate - James S A Corey
Audio - Reader: Jefferson Mays
Pages: 566
Challenges: BFB, ROOT, Focus SciFi

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 9
• Writing Style: 9
• Plot: 9
• Intrigue: 9
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 5 💙

Just as compelling as the first time I read it. I did find the differences between the TV version and the book interesting. The changes made sense, especially Drummer for Bull. Great series, great book.

32.

Limelight - Dan Willis
Series: Arcane Casebook #5
Pages: 335

Challenges: ROOT

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 7
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 8
• Enjoyment:
Rating: 3.75 💙

I'm really enjoying this series. Alex is likeable and his friends are as well, not to mention odd and intriguing. The incidents are imaginative and complex. This one in particular, really opens up wide new horizons. I'm eager to see where they lead.

33.

The Rift - Walter Jon Williams - 944 pages
Audio - Reader: Kevin Kenerly
Pages: 944
Challenges: Roll100, BFB

CAWPILE Rating: 8
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 8
Rating: 4.0 💙

Wow. Quite the tale. Sadly all to possible in the south, especially given the current political climate here.

34.
The Dirty Duck - Martha Grimes
Audio - Reader: Steve West
Pages: 320
Challenges: ROOT
Focus Mystery

CAWPILE Rating:
• Character: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 8
• Intrigue: 8
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 9
Rating: 4.25 💙

Love Jury and Melrose's friendship, and Jury is such a sweetheart, odd for detectives. He's sweet and kind.

35.

A Storm of Swords - George R R Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #3
Audio- Reader: Roy Dotrice
Pages: 1216

Challenges: ROOT, Reading Westeros, BFB

As entertaining as the first time I read it. Intricate, surprising, complex and terrific characters.

>89 majkia: Glad you enjoyed it, I'm overdue for a re-read of this one.

>89 majkia: >90 Karlstar:

This is the series that made me stop reading a series before it is finished. In fact, I decided to hold off after A Feast For Crows until the remaining books were published. I picked up A Dance With Dragons when it came out and it remains unread to this day. Disappointing but, on the bright side, I have not suffered from a lack of other books to read!

>91 ScoLgo: & >89 majkia: & >90 Karlstar: I'm not sure I could make myself read these again, but I am open to listening eventually. Possibly when I'm 80 something and someone else finishes the series for poor Mr Martin... Although the rumor is he's getting closer on book 6, The Winds of Winter. I'll believe it when I see a publishing date.

>92 clamairy: Yeah, I too will believe it when I see it. I mean, it has already been as long between book #5 and #6 as between #2 and #5:

A Game of Thrones: 1996
A Clash of Kings: 1998 (2 years)
A Storm of Swords: 2000 (2 years)
A Feast for Crows: 2005 (3 years)
A Dance with Dragons: 2011 (6 years)
The Winds of Winter: Forthcoming (13 years and counting...)
A Dream of Spring: Planned (ooo-kay, sure...)

I hope someone is able to finish them eventually but... I have read (on the internet so it must be true!) that Martin has made it clear he does not want anyone else finishing this series if he doesn't. Not sure how he could enforce that from beyond this mortal coil tho...?

>91 ScoLgo: For me it was Rothfuss, I'm really disappointed at his apparent lack of interest in finishing the series.

>92 clamairy: Let's hope!! I'd love to see it published, and the rest of the series, before Sanderson has to finish it.

>93 ScoLgo: I guess he could refuse to let anyone see his notes, so it would be essentially fan fiction.

>93 ScoLgo: I really don't know who has the writing chops to finish GoT.

>94 Karlstar: Brandon Sanderson is a brilliant writer, but I don't think he is bloodthirsty enough to finish this series.

I thought Rothfuss finally finished his series, with The Narrow Road Between Desires. I just found out it's actually not what I thought it was. Silly me.

>96 clamairy: Unfortunately, that Rothfuss is not actually anything new. Argh.

On Litsy we're reading (I'm listening) this one chapter a day. I find that it is working very well for the re-read.

>94 Karlstar: Don't talk to me about Rothfuss, please ;))))

36.

Sing the Four Quarters - Tanya Huff
Series: Quarters 1
Pages 416
Audio - Reader: Nicol Zanzarella

Challenges: ROOT, ReadYourKindle,

3 💙

I've liked Tanya Huff sci fi but never really connected with the characters in this one. Meh.

>96 clamairy: Just thinking here, if someone has to finish GoT, I would actually suggest Tad Williams, but it just occurred to me that maybe Joe Abercrombie?

>101 Karlstar: I haven't read anything by either one of them. I will have to remedy that.

>102 clamairy: oh Joe might well be a good fit.

>101 Karlstar: & >103 majkia: Can either of you suggest a place to start? There are multiple series and multiple standalones.

>104 clamairy: Tad Williams has written a lot of classic, epic fantasy. If you're up for something a little lighter, but still showing Tad's slightly weird side (he can get real weird) try starting with Tailchaser's Song.

Joe Ambercrombie is known for his dark, gritty fiction, think Mark Lawrence style. Lots of folks like his Best Served Cold.

Here's a slightly different direction, do you think Lois Bujold could do it? I think the result would not read a lot like Martin's, but would that matter? Is Tyrion Lannister just Miles in a fantasy setting?

>105 Karlstar: Tailchaser's Song has one of my all-time favorite heros! Fritti is both handsome and clever :)

>105 Karlstar: That does look interesting. I do own The Dragonbone Chair as an audiobook. Maybe I'll bump that one up the stack.

>106 Darth-Heather: When I read Tailchaser's Song, it just kind of stunned me that Tad came up with all of that. Quite the imagination.

>107 clamairy: Give it a try, but it may be a bit dry in audio format. Not sure.

>104 clamairy: I agree on Best Served Cold. Joe has tons of very very black humor in his books. They are definitely grimdark, but I enjoy the sudden appearance of that humor in the midst of the dark worlds he creates. I've read Dragonbone Chair. It was very good. i listened to it. From my review, I wasn't very impressed with the story itself, but with the lyrical writing style.

>109 majkia: Well, you all know I have a twisted sense of humor, so this one is definitely going on my OverDrive wish list.

37.

The Lords of Uncreation - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Series: The Final Architecture - Book 3 final
PAges: 625

Challenges: Focus SciFi, ROOT, BFB, Bookspin

Wow. Good wrap up for the series. The VUlture God crew is on the run from the Architects and from the creature(alien, whatever) that is making them attack and alter planets with intelligent life forms. What do they want? What can stop them?

I love the characters, who are exceedingly diverse. The story is imaginative, full of humor even in the face of terror. Brightly written, with great visuals throughout.

>111 majkia: I need to get my hands on this! It's been such a good trilogy so far, I'm glad he sticks the landing.

38.
The Tourist - Olen Steinhauer

Series: Milo Weaver 1
Pages: 417
Challenges: SeriesLove24, AlphaKIT, ROOT

Meh. I never really clicked with the character. Won't be continuing the series. It did have a good twist or two, though.

39.

The Captain (Last Horizon) - Will Wight
Series: Last Horizon 1

DNF

Ugh. All this is is a narrative of a guy playing a video game. No consequences, as he dies and just reappears.

40.
The Oppenheimer Alternative - Robert J Sawyer
Pages: 375

Challenges:AlphaKIT, TBR Challenge

Wow. Starts slow, and I don't know enough about Oppie to know how true the first part of the book is, but it was certainly interesting. The second half is where the sci fi comes in. Surprising ending! When all looks lost, science steps up.

41.
The City of Endless Night - Preston/Child
Series: Agent Pendergast #17

Challenges: Roll100, Library Book

I do enjoy this series. Quick reads with lots of twists and turns. Just a touch of horror.

42.
Too Like the Lightning - Ada Palmer
Series: Terra Ignota #1

Challenges: Roll100, ROOT

Complex, futuristic world filled with interacting characters whose motives are hard to understand. The narrator is admitedly unreliable. A tiny bit of magic, the rest is futuristic and surprising. No nations left, religion rejected, morality left to self-chosen groups who all have differing ideas. A hard read, but a deeply intriguing one.

>117 majkia: The entire series is excellent! These are not easy reads, but so intricate and interesting.

43.

Probability Moon - Nancy Kress
Series: Probability #1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT, Roll100, Focus SciFi

Hard SciFi which actually forced me to look up some science stuff I wasn't really conversant with. I love when that happens! Terrans arrive on an alien world to study the locals (who are apparently an offshoot of Earth Humans seeded by unkown ancestors who created tunnels to travel across through the galaxy as well). Unkown to the scientists on the ground, the ship that brought them is here to investigate an alien object that the locals think is just another moon orbiting their planet.

Quite interesting ideas, involving physics and earth science and sociology. I'm looking forward to more in the series.

44.

Dead Lions - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #2

Challenges: Focus, ROOT, Backlist Readathon, Roll100

I'm really enjoying the series. Well written, fascinating characters, particularly Lamb, and lots of excitement with twists and turns.

45.

Prador Moon - Neal Asher
Series: Polity 1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, ROOT, Focus SciFi, ReadYourKindle

Disappointing. Nothing wrong with it, but it never really drew me in.

46.

Snowbound - Blake Crouch
Series: Fear 2

Challenges: ROOT, Roll100, Bookspin, Focus Series

Lots of action, no idea who is up to what.

47.

Diving Into the Wreck - K K Rusch
Series: Diving Universe 1

Challenges: Focus SCiFi, SFFKIT, Roll100

Interesting start to a series. Pilots searching for lost tech and ancient artifacts. Beware of what you wish for.

48.

Primary Inversion- Catherine Asaro
Series: Skolian Empire
Audio: Read by Anna Fields

A little too romancy for my tastes but I'm sure others will enjoy it. Good story other than the falling in love with one glance part.

>124 majkia: I didn't care for these at all. Bad romance novels vaguely disguised as scifi.

>124 majkia:, >125 Karlstar: I agree with you about Primary inversion, but the spin-off series about Major Bhaajan is excellent. SF/mystery, and very little romance because the MC is already in a relationship, which doesn't play a large part in the action.

>126 Sakerfalcon: Oh, good to know!

>125 Karlstar: Agreed.

49.

The Gray Man - Mark Greaney
Series: The Gray Man 1
Pages: 456

welp, it certainly was all action and tension, but it was hard to believe someone could take that many wounds and survive never mind manage to save his friends.

Still, I'll probably read more in the series.

50.

Dead Energy - James M Corkill
Series: Alex Cave 1
DNF

I put up with the awfulness of tense. Often, in the same sentence he'd use present tense and past tense. But when the women began throwing themselves at his hero, I hated it. Yet I kept on because I was interested in the ideas, but when even the intelligent women became helpless I'd had enough. Too bad because the sci fi aspects were intriguing.

>130 majkia: Thanks for helping us to avoid that author.

51.

The Worst Ship in the Fleet - Sylar Ramirez
Series: Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes 1

A surprisingly fun read! Brad is a f-ckup. He blames himself for killing 500 people in ship he fired on, and is dealing with the grief and guilt by drowning himself in alcohol. That his court martial didn't find him guilty makes it worse for him. He hasn't been thrown out of the Prometheus Navy, instead he's assigned to the worst ship in the fleet stationed on the furthest planet in the empire. He's fine with that. But then things go from bad to worse. And he accidentally does the right thing.

It was a fun and easy read. I'm going to continue the series simply because I like a light book now and again!

52.

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead - K J Parker
Series: Corax Trilogy 1

There's no formal training for battlefield salvage. You just have to pick things up as you go along. Swords, armour, arrows - and the bodies, of course.

So the series begins. But just who is Saevus Corax really?

I love love love Parker's black humor and his deeply flawed and twisty characters. Things are never quite what they seem in his books. So be ready for a surpising ride.

>133 majkia: Oh, great! I am a fan of Parker too. I hope to get to this series soon (-ish).

>134 Alexandra_book_life: :)

53.

Starfish - Peter Watts
Series: Rifters #1
Challenges: ReadYourKindle, AlphaKIT

Peter Watts' books are always a challenge. This was no exception. I feel like I need to re-read it soonish.

People are being physically altered to work in the deep ocean to provide power to the world. Thing don't go as planned.

54.

Edges (Frontier) - Linda Nagata
Series: Frontier #1
Challenges: Focus, ROOT, ReadYourKindle

Hmm. I wasn't really drawn into this one as I like to be. And I got a bit confused with all the variants of the characters.

55.
Blood Gospel - James Rollins - 732 pages
Series #1 Blood of the Sanguines

Okay, but not as good as the Sigma Series.

56.

A Feast for Crows - George R R Martin
A Song of Ice and Fire #4

Still awed at this series. Although truth be told this is my least favorite of the series because there is so little on the Wall.

57.

Verses for the Dead - Preston/Child
Pendergast #18

Good entry to the series, with Pendergast this time having a partner. Complex as always.

>139 majkia: That was my least favorite as well. I'm pretty sure it has the lowest rating of the five books here on library thing, too.

58.

The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
Series: Thursday Next #1

Fun series, even if I'm not particularly a Jane Eyre fan. I especially laughed ever time Braxton Hicks made an appearance. And I only wish there'd been more dodos.

>142 majkia: I remember liking this one a lot (and the rest of the series)! Good fun :)

59.

Just One Evil Act - Elizabeth George
Lynley and Havers #18
pages: 723

Havers gets herself into so much trouble - okay, as usual. Lynely does his best to help but since Barbara's friends are involved she's far off the rails.