series – Page 3 – The Spine View

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis

I adore a good Sci-Fi book and I was not disappointed with Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis. It is a look at what first contact with an alien race might be like. It was an entertaining, fascinating read and it made me stop and think about how first contact might really go. A total pleasure to read and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Caro Sabino is a young college dropout. She is just trying to find her footing in the real world. Her estranged father is the CEO of the equivalent of WikiLeaks and he has just released the leak of a lifetime. The evidence he presents purports that the US government has made first contact with an alien race. However, the facts suggests they have not been able to communicate with them. That is until Caro unwittingly steps into the picture.

The story was outstanding. It is creative, well thought through and has a great cast of characters with just enough suspense and twists to keep you engaged. The plot moved quickly and I was engaged throughout the entire book. However, the relationship between Ampersand and Caro is what really made me enjoy this so much. The connection and eventually trust that developed between the two was well done and I loved the path it took in the book.

I also liked how the author handles the government cover ups. It explored some interesting ideas and made me think about the lengths government will go to keep people in the dark. Also the reoccurring theme of truth being a human right brings up whole host of ideas on that topic. In short, besides being a good story (which it is) it raises some interesting questions about morality, compassion and what it means to be human.

This is a great book for those true lovers of the Science Fiction genre. I would like to be able to recommend it to others but I doubt, for example, a person who is a Historical Fiction fan would like it. Yet, for you Sci-Fi people like me, you have to read this one!

I received an ARC, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett

Shorefall, by Robert Jackson Bennett, is the follow up to Foundryside and the second installment of the Founders series. The author has once again shown us how outstanding world building, but together with great characters, can draw you into a world beyond your imagination. It is an epic fantasy tale that you are sure to enjoy.

It is three years later in Tevanne, Sancia, Orso, Berenice and Gregor are all back and they are trying to change the world. They want to make scriving available to everyone and Sancia in particular wants no more slaves. They have started their own foundry and though they are small, they are mighty. By changing the way society works they hope to break the hold that the large foundries (i.e. the Dandolos) have on the people.

They are just starting to put their plan in action when a wrench is thrown into the works. The wrench being a heirophant. The first heirophant no less and he is dead or should be. It seems that Gregor’s mother has found a way for him to live again. Now that he is here, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

I normally give a much longer synapsis; however, I hate spoilers and I don’t want to spoil anything for you, though I have to admit I am tempted to tell you more. This is a great plot and there are a lot of unexpected turn of events that you will not see coming and I just can’t bring myself to ruin it for you. The author used these twists creatively, and they keep you engaged. This made for an exciting read and I know you will think so too.

The characters in the book are well thought-out. I especially liked the interaction between the various characters. They felt authentic.

There is a lot to take in with this book. The rules for scriving and the way everything works will keep you on your toes. In fact, I found it a little too cumbersome at times. As such, it is the one negative for me.

You really need to read Foundryside first, if you have not already. It will get too confusing if you don’t have the first book as the background. However, if you are a lover of epic fantasy you will not mind as all reading or rereading book one before you tackle this one. The imagination it took to create this is mind blowing. Super inventive story sure to entertain. Don’t miss out on this one!

I received a free electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

As suggested from the title, Stalking Jack the Ripper, is a YA horror/murder mystery book (very) loosely based on the real murders of young women in London during the 1880s. The author, Kerri Maniscalco, has presented the reader with a young protagonist who will capture your heart with her courage, defiance and tenacity as she works to solve the murders.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth is an educated young woman and daughter of a Lord. Ladies of her standing are expected to be prime and proper. Yet, she finds the society demands upon her restricting and she rebels against them. Even though her father has expressly forbidden it, she has been learning forensic science through her Uncle who is an expert in the field. So naturally she is thrilled to help her Uncle examine the first victim of Jack he Ripper.

Then when her Uncle of all people is arrested for the murders, she vows to find out the truth. For Audrey Rose this is the being of a very dangerous path. One that could lead even to her death.

I appreciated the fast pace of the book and it had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The prose was also good and I liked the attention to detail given to the scenes. Pace will only take the reader so far and this book had a good mix of both.

I liked the characters in this book, especially Audrey Rose. In truth, I felt her character was a little bit of a stretch for the times but it worked so well in the story I can’t really find fault. Sometimes a little creative license is necessary for a good story. After all it is fiction meant to entertain. At the end the author does give you the facts of what happened in London during this time and shows how those facts were used to create the story.

This book has been on my TBR list for almost a year. I wish I had read it sooner because if was entertaining and just what I needed as a distraction amid this virus lockdown. The book definitely has a Holmes and Watson vibe to it, albeit a younger male/female version. I highly recommend for those readers that like this type of book. Being a historical book with a light touch of romance I think there will be a wider audience that will enjoy it and recommend you give it a read.

I received a free copy from the publisher, at BookExpo 2019, in exchange for my honest review.

A Beggar’s Kingdom by Paullina Simons

A Beggar’s Kingdom, by Paullina Simons, is the second book in the End of Forever Saga. In it we continue to follow Julian and Josephine’s story, as it continues thru time, as the soul mates try to defy their fate. The author has given us some of her best work in this epic tale of heart break and enduring love. It is the kind of story that will touch you and stay with you long after the end.

Julian is devasted that he was not able to save Josephine in his previous attempt to join her younger soul in the past. Despite the failure, and the consequences of that, he is determined to try again despite the risks and the odds stacked against him. I do not want to say more on the fear of giving away too much. I want the reader to be as surprised and shattered as I was by the twists and turns this story takes.

First thing I would like to note is that you need to read book one before this one. While the author does a good job of recapping what occurred in book one, it is not enough to understand the depth of Julian and all the events that lead to the opening of book two. In short, it is the detail of the characters and events that make this series and you don’t want to miss out on any of it. In fact, I am so enthralled by the story I am going to jump right into book three.

My favorite thing about Ms. Simons stories is the attention to detail. The way she sets a scene and the depth of her characters always keep me coming back for more and this book is no exception. I totally felt Julian’s devotion to Josephine and his devasting loss when he failed to save her. In this story there are plenty of twists of fate that will keep you engaged and you will marvel in wonder at Julian’s devotion and tenacity.

I highly recommend this book to readers that love to be sweep away in a story. It the kind of story that is so emotionally raw it left me rung out and I loved every minute of it.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a coming-of-age story that I can only be described as a cross between Ground Hogs Day and Beauty and the Beast. It is hands down one of the best fairy tales I have read in a while. Meant as a retelling, it goes above and beyond the original.

Prince Rhen of Emberfall has been cursed to relive the same autumn season of his eighteenth year over and over again by a powerful enchantress. To break the curse, all he has to do is make a girl fall in love with him. Of course, the enchantress throws a further twist into her game by having Rhen turn into a terrible monster at the close of each season. Despite this, Rhen has been arrogant enough to believe it would be easy. Born of privilege he is used to everything being easy. As season after season goes by with no true love, he is losing hope and now he is running out of time because the enchantress has said this will be the last season.

Grey, Rhen’s Caption of the Guard and protector, is given the ability to cross over to our world. At the beginning of each season he brings back a girl for Rhen in the hopes that it will be the one this time. With the stakes even higher this season, he must get the right girl. However, fate is against him when a girl with a limp prevents him from returning to Emberfall with the intended girl. Instead Grey is forced to abduct Harper.

Harper has not had an easy life. She was born with cerebral palsy and limps profoundly. Her father has deserted the family and left enormous debts with a loan shark. And to top it off, her mother is dying of cancer. Her brother is the only thing good thing right now in her life. He is actually working for the loan shark to pay off the debt. So, when Grey abducts her, her main concern is not in helping Rhen but returning home before her mother dies. Therefore, Rhen is going to have to pull off a miracle to break the curse.

I am totally in love with this book. I liked everything about the book, the prose, plot, characters and world building were so, so good. I can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about the book, which is unusual for me. Even with books I love, there is normally some little nitpicky thing I don’t care for, not the case here.

Of course, the characters were my favorite part. The author did a wonderful job of making me love them all. It is such a fabulous thing when I totally get the characters. The plot is also worthy of a comment since it worked so well with the characters and there was enough intrigue and twists to keep me reading and engaged. I just had to know how Harper was going to handle things once she found out about the true nature of the curse. Totally looking forward to reading book two.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and fairy tales. This is a book that should be at the top of TBR list.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler

Cursed, by Thomas Wheeler, is a retelling of King Arthur told from the POV of Nimue, The Lady of the Lake in the original tale. There has been a steady stream of retellings over the years, but I don’t recall one told from the POV of Niume. So I was intrigued and wanted to read this one and see how it stacked up. It is a unique retelling of King Arthur, which I found interesting.

Nimue is the daughter of one of the leaders of her Druid tribe. She should have an inherited status within the tribe, instead she is an outcast. She is feared because of the magic she can command and there are others that fear her and her kind also. The Red Paladins have been systematically killing and destroying homes of Fey. When they arrive at Nimue’s village to destroy it, her mother gives Nimue a sword and tells her to find Merlin and give him the sword.

When she embarks on the journey she meets Arthur, a rogue warrior, who aides her. She also discovers that the sword is very powerful and she wishes to use it to save her people who are being massacred throughout the country. When she discovers a group of Fey hiding in a cave they recognize the sword she carries. It is an old sword with old Fey magic. She is anointed the Queen and is seen as the savior of her kind. The question is will she be strong enough to be everything they need her to be.

The story had so much potential. Unfortunately, the characters were flat and didn’t fit the plot. I was so wanting a strong heroine; however, Nimue I found to be a lack luster leader. I was expecting a more Joan of Arc type character but was given a poor imitation instead. Merlin was a drunk and Arthur acted more like a hormone infused teenager. In my opinion, the minor characters were better.

The plot was good, but the execution was not the best. The POVs changed among the major characters as the story progressed and there was not always a smooth transition between them. This made the story feel kind of jerky instead and winding and flowing evenly throughout. The pace was good which helped a little to overcome some of the issues.

There is a lot of art work in this book. Since my copy is an ARC some art was not present. However, from what I did have, I can tell you the art was more suited to a graphic novel. I was expecting so much more and was greatly disappointed.

Even with the short comings I enjoyed this one; but, it will never be on any of my favorites list. This is a middle grade book but because of the violence and other subjects it is better suited to the older middle grade reader. I recommend it to those middle grade readers who like graphic novels because this book has a graphic novel feel.

I received an ARC copy at BookExpo 2019, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

This novella, Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, is in the vain of Octavia Butler. It is a quick read and the action pulls the story along rather swiftly. The prose was really good. The basis of the plot was not new but that was OK because the execution was good.

The only thing I longed for was a little bit more character development. I felt there was so much to Binti we did not understand. For example, why she felt she must leave her family and all she has known for an unknown future at Uni. I hope the next books will fill in the gaps for me.

This is one for fans of YA Sci-Fi . In addition, if you are a fan of Butler then you most likely enjoy this story. However, this is not a heavy on the Science book. Therefore, hardcore fans of the genre may not find this one to their liking.

Book Blurb:

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself – but first she has to make it there, alive.

The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt

The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt is the second book in The Carson Chronicles series. The book follows the Carson siblings on their continuing adventure of a lifetime as they struggle to find their lost time traveling parents. Book two picks up where book one ended and, as you can imagine, nothing seems to go right for the siblings.

Shortly after arriving in 1918 the siblings decide they can cover more ground by splitting up. Adam and Bridgett, now expecting their first child, have taken up a temporary residence in Minnesota not far from Duluth. This becomes home base with Adam as the head of the time traveling group. From here he will help guide the search for their parents, Tim and Caroline Carson.

The twins, Caitlin and Cody, decide to visit an old friend from 1889 and so they travel to Pennsylvania. The plan is to visit a family war hero, while in Pennsylvania, in the hopes that their parents have done the same. In the meantime, Natalie takes a journalist position at the Minneapolis Post. She will travel as far as war torn Europe to cover her human interest stories. Greg heads off by himself following yet another trail of ancestral clues to Mexico to meet another family member.

In attempting to cover all the bases, in this time traveling game of tag, will the Carson sibling ever caught a break? It seems they encounter even more problems than they did in 1889. Despite the setbacks and hard ships they will endure, the siblings remain upbeat and optimistic. Their parents have left them a big clue and maybe, just maybe this is the time period they are able to reunite.

As I have come to expect from Mr. Heldt, the characters are what make this developing story. Told from various POVs , each sibling and their parents have their own observations and contributions to the tale. The passion which Heldt portrays the characters makes them memorable and you can’t help rooting for them even when you know things are not going to work in their favor.

In addition, the events of the time and descriptions of an era, now one hundreds in our past, are deftly woven in and around the unfolding story. Heldt brings you into this magically time in our history and then sends you on this grand adventure with the characters you have grown to know and love. Overall this is a wonderful story that I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

I highly recommend this book for people who love historical stories, with a touch of fantasy, that are grounded in facts. In several ways this series reminds me of Outlander. The historical interwoven with the fictional families, relationships and romance makes for a delightful read. While I used my Kindle Unlimited account to down load this e-book, the author did request that I read and review it. Regards of how I acquire a book, all opinions are my own.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Title: A Memory Called Empire
Author: Arkady Martine
Pub. Date: 26-Mar-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

In this preview of the debut novel by Arkady Martine, A Memory Called Empire, I was treated to some in depth world building, an MC I loved and an exciting plot. I am totally hooked. This is going to be a great series, I can feel it.

Because I only read the preview, the suspense is killing me. I want to know what happens. That’s the thing about previews, while I love getting a taste of what is to come, the down side is the wait. I am hoping I will be able to get my hands on the complete ARC or galley copy before the publication date.

I know this is a rather abbreviated review, but remember, I did get only a preview. Here is the synopsis according to the publisher.

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn’t an accident–or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court.

Now, Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan’s unceasing expansion–all while navigating an alien culture that is all too seductive, engaging in intrigues of her own, and hiding a deadly technological secret–one that might spell the end of her Station and her way of life–or rescue it from annihilation.

I received the preview for free from the publisher, via NetGalley. In addition, my rating is based on the preview alone. I reserve the right to change my rating once I have read the book in its entirety.

Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton

Title: Salvation
Author: Peter F. Hamilton
Pub. Date: 4-Sept-2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars

I am always excited to read a new to me author, especially in one of my favorite genres, however that excitement dwindled a little because I had a hard time becoming invested in the story. I loved the plot. However, there were a few things about the book I did not enjoy. I’ll get into that later.

The story opens with aliens, disguised as humans, landing on Earth. Skip forward to the beginning of the 23^rd century and the Olyix, another alien species, has made contact. They are on a religious mission and are making a stop over to refuel before continuing on their journey to the end of time to meet their God. They have given humans technology to greatly extend life expectancy in exchange for the fuel they need. In addition, humans have now begun to colonize the galaxy. A new technology of jump gates, literally, makes far flung plants just one step away.

A crashed alien ship is found on a newly discovered planet and this has a highly skilled team assembled to review the findings. As the team travels to the crash site, we learn more about each team member and how their lives, and what they do from this point forward, will affect the future of mankind.

Interspersed with the team member’s stories is a look at life in the future at least 1000 years later. The humans of this time are being genetically modified to do battle against a group of hostile aliens. The reader learns that the crash site investigation team members are now called “Saints”. Therefore, you know something is not at it seems and the reader does not yet know why they are called “Saints”.

I loved the story. My beef is with the execution. First problem, there is no main character. Therefore, I never had someone to identify with and root for. In addition, I did not enjoy all the various stories and the jumping around between time lines. It made the pace of the plot rough. Basically, it felt like a bunch of short stories strung together.

I liked the inventiveness of the story and a couple of characters I liked a lot. I just wished the author had focused on one or two of the characters to advance the plot. I did like the story enough that it over came some of the problems and I liked it enough to read the next book in the series.

One addition items to note, this book ends on a cliff hanger so if you enjoy the book it will be a wait for the next installment.

I recommend this book to all those who love Science Fiction. If you are a true Sci-Fi fan, I think the flaws in the book are not fatal and you will still enjoy this one.

I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.