Parable of the Talents picks up a few years after the ending of Parable of the Sower. Lauren and her Earthseed followers are living in a community theParable of the Talents picks up a few years after the ending of Parable of the Sower. Lauren and her Earthseed followers are living in a community they built called Acorn, safely and comfortably. Pregnant, Lauren faces questions for the future of where she wants to be and how to spread the word of Earthseed to a larger demographic. But outside forces see Acorn as a threat, and mean to cause it harm.
This duology is like nothing I've read before and I absolutely love it. I got full body chills when I heard the slogan "Make America Great Again" considering this book was published in 1998. There are actually a lot of parallels to modern day that were jarring to read.
This book was incredibly well written and well paced, I wanted to keep listening to the audiobook at times when I wasn't on my commute. It definitely wasn't an easy book to read at times, but I still loved it all the same. I'm really sad that Butler passed away before writing more books in the series, I would have loved to know where this story would have gone. But even if there aren't more it still ended on a high note. ...more
Published in the 90's, taking place in the years 2024-2027, Parable of the Sower is the story of teenage girl, Lauren, living in a post-apocalyptic AmPublished in the 90's, taking place in the years 2024-2027, Parable of the Sower is the story of teenage girl, Lauren, living in a post-apocalyptic America, in a small community where Pasadena/Glendale used to be. California is full of dangers, a water shortage, and monetary inflation and survival is hard. When her community is attacked and falls apart, Lauren must make her own way north for a chance for a better life.
I actually had tried to read this book in paperback format and was unable to get into the book initially, it has a slow start and is a bit confusing at first. I decided to try again on audiobook and ended up loving it. I do think the narrator is a bit older for the age of the character who is between 13-18 years old during the book, but it worked because it's mentioned repeatedly throughout the book that she seems older than her age. I also want to point out that just because the character is a teenager, it does not make this book YA, it's adult science fiction.
I thought this book was beautifully written and engaging. Similar to Handmaid's Tale (of which it is compared to a lot) the devil is in the small, everyday details rather than the big ones. We can piece together how this world really works (and the worldbuilding was incredible). It's also truly scary how a book written over thirty years ago about a post-apocalyptic America actually got some things right about our modern society today....more
An odd little short story that would have worked better as a full length novel for me. I heard this started out as a screenplay, which makes a lot of An odd little short story that would have worked better as a full length novel for me. I heard this started out as a screenplay, which makes a lot of sense. I think had some of the beginning been less confusing as to when portals came into play, I would have liked it more. I didn't really love either main character.
Definitely a "liked it" three star read. Not really interested in more of this universe....more
To be fair, I am not the target audience for this book. It was both better and worse than I was expecting, and I did laugh quite a bit while reading iTo be fair, I am not the target audience for this book. It was both better and worse than I was expecting, and I did laugh quite a bit while reading it. ...more
After her brother is abducted, Bianca will do anything to rescue him, including running from her own family. When her father sends his head o 4 stars
After her brother is abducted, Bianca will do anything to rescue him, including running from her own family. When her father sends his head of security, Ian, after her. Forced to work together to find her brother’s captors, Bianca and Ian race to save him before anyone else can hurt him, or the two of them.
I love Mihalik’s Starlight’s Shadow series, and I read the first book in this series Polaris Rising but wasn’t super impressed. I got comments on my review of it that this second book was better and had good disability rep so I gave it a chance and I agree with them. This second book was better, I really liked both of the characters but Biana and her story were my favorite. It’s definitely an action packed book, but my favorite parts were the quiet ones, the smaller moments that had more impact....more
I don't have many coherent thoughts on this one, but I mostly liked it despite somewhat confusing worldbuilding. I do wish there had been m 3.5 stars
I don't have many coherent thoughts on this one, but I mostly liked it despite somewhat confusing worldbuilding. I do wish there had been more female characters supporting the heroine in this feminist young adult novel, but hoping there will be more in the next one. Overall I liked it, but wasn't as in love with this book as everyone else. ...more
A cozy fantasy retelling of Pinocchio, in the lives of puppets is about a human named Vic who is raised by robots. When Vic finds a unique 3.5 stars!
A cozy fantasy retelling of Pinocchio, in the lives of puppets is about a human named Vic who is raised by robots. When Vic finds a unique robot in a junkyard and salvages it, their lives are changed forever.
I would have loved this book, but it has the same criticism I've given Klune's last 3 books, it's too long. It was also very easy to stop listening to or put down. While it has some sweet moments and some funny ones, I don't think this book will stick with me like some of his other work....more
Book 2 of A Rip Through Times series, you must read the first book in order to understand this one.
Mallory, a modern day woman cop trapped in the bodyBook 2 of A Rip Through Times series, you must read the first book in order to understand this one.
Mallory, a modern day woman cop trapped in the body of a 19 year old Scottish Victorian girl in 1869. Her employer and friend Dr. Duncan Gray is aware of who Mallory really is, and while she there she serves as his assistant. When a series of murders occurs via poisoning, Mallory and Duncan find the case hits closer to home than either one realized.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my all time favorite authors and this series just reminds me of why. We get a time travel mystery that is set in Victorian times but with modern eyes. There's a hint of romance, but Armstrong notably is a slow burn writer as her books focus more on the mysteries abound instead.
I liked how in this book we were able to focus more on Mallory's police work instead of her having to hide who she truly was. At some point side characters were also calling her Mallory instead of Katrina (sorry if that is spelled wrong, I listen to the audio version) and I wondered if I missed a big reveal? I even rewound it to be sure I didn't hear wrong.
I think one of my favorite things Armstrong does with this series is tackle topics such as racism, Sapphic romance, transgender community, and more in a Victorian era. I loved that Mallory as a more modern woman was able to recognize things in a way people of the time might not have and was able to address everyone with kindness and respect. All of these topics existed back then as well as today and I enjoyed those elements being incorporated into the book.
My one regret is reading these books as they were released and now I have to wait probably another year for the next book. But I am sure it will be worth it as I have already grown to love these characters.
ALC provided by Libro.fm as a part of their Librarian ALC program ...more
Reread November 2023, still like it but don't love it
3.5 stars
Fleeing from a bounty placed on her head, space princess Ada von Hasenberg teams up w Reread November 2023, still like it but don't love it
3.5 stars
Fleeing from a bounty placed on her head, space princess Ada von Hasenberg teams up with renowned criminal Marcus Loch to flee her jilted fiancé. But Ada notices something suspicious about the ship they escaped on, and may have accidentally started a war.
I enjoyed this for the most part. I wasn’t super in love with the romance between Ada and Loch, I didn’t really feel their chemistry. And the story/plot felt like it dragged on forever instead of coming together seamlessly. I am interested in reading the other books to see if things improve, but I find myself more of a fan of Milahik’s Starlight’s Shadows series than I am of the Consortium Rebellion series....more
Kee Ildez wants to do research to find a group of traitors trying to start an intergalactic war that have also been causing trouble for he 3.75 stars
Kee Ildez wants to do research to find a group of traitors trying to start an intergalactic war that have also been causing trouble for her and her entire crew. She decides to separate from her ship and stay in a station to get her research done. Varro, a Valovian solider also on the ship, decides to be Kee’s protector on the station. When something goes terribly wrong they must work together to find out who is behind the wrongdoing, and try not to get blamed for it themselves.
If there’s one thing I can’t stand in a romance novel, it’s when there’s so much indecisiveness between the main couple throughout the book. And by that I mean one or both parties acts like they want in and then they back out, it’s a huge pet peeve of mine. And this book was rife with that. I loved the first book in the series, it was a five star read for me. This book was excellent but because Varro kept hedging it took away from my enjoyment of the book overall hence a 3.75 rating (and I am being nice).
While the romance was lacking the rest of the plot was great. One of my favorite aspects of these books is the scifi world building and the political intrigue it’s all so well done. I love going on adventures with these characters and when I read them I feel like I am completely immersed in their world and stories. I love all the side characters and I want all of their stories. Kee I really liked as a heroine, she was strong but emotional, driven but needed to set her own work boundaries. This book could technically be a grumpy sunshine trope, Varro was just more reserved than grumpy. ...more
After the war, Octavia Zarola (Tavi) and her fellow soldiers banded together to run a bounty hunting business. And times can be rough, until 5 stars!
After the war, Octavia Zarola (Tavi) and her fellow soldiers banded together to run a bounty hunting business. And times can be rough, until a job from General Torran Fletcher of the former enemy offers Tavi a job that can keep her crew comfortable, more so than they’ve ever been. Tavi accepts the job and what comes with it is Torran and his crew on her ship, mixing with her own crew. While it’s awkward for everyone, the two crews start to blend together into an agreeable group. Until they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the peace between their two races.
I was not expecting to love this much as much as I did, space opera is not my usual genre choice. But I would describe this as a mix between the tv series Firefly and the Grace Draven romance novel Radiance and it was wonderful. I listened to the audiobook and was riveted while listening, I was hooked on the story, the characters, the world building. All of it was so beautifully written and I loved getting lost in this world.
And the romantic tension between Tavi and Torran. It was *chefs kiss* perfection! The whole book was a delicious enemies to friends to lovers story and I ate up every single bit of it. All the character dynamics in general between the two crews, I loved all of them and would gladly read more books just to spend more time with them all. Luckily the second book is already out but I need to wait for my library hold to come in. But I am really excited for it and cannot wait to spend more time in this universe.
If you love romance I highly recommend this book. Take it from someone who was skeptical about reading it, it was excellent. ...more
One day the Carls just appeared, no one knows how, no one saw it happen. But suddenly around the world there were stationary giant robot look 4 stars
One day the Carls just appeared, no one knows how, no one saw it happen. But suddenly around the world there were stationary giant robot looking Carls all over the world. April May stumbles across one in New York and makes an impulsive video about it with her friend Andy that goes viral. Suddenly, April is whisked into a world of fame and notoriety as she was one of the first people to discover the Carls and she searches to find an answer: why are they here?
I was apprehensive going into this book because when it was first published, all I really knew was John Green’s brother published a book. With Hank Green being a Tik Tok personality now, I decided I should move this one up the to be read list and I really, thoroughly, enjoyed it. I actually liked April as a main character, yes she made mistakes and could be annoying sometimes, but she was human.
I enjoyed the evolution of the story as it took us through discovery and all the steps after that. I think this book could make a really great tv miniseries if done well (I’m actually hoping for it). I listened to the audio version and didn’t want to stop listening at certain points because I needed to know what happened next.
It might be a while before I get to the second book (library holds lists on e-audio) but I will definitely be reading it and I’m even more of a fan of Hank Green now that I’ve read this book. ...more
Man, I am just striking out when it comes to reading books that have been on my backlist.
I went into this book blind and wasn’t sure what I w 2 stars
Man, I am just striking out when it comes to reading books that have been on my backlist.
I went into this book blind and wasn’t sure what I was going to get. I will say I enjoyed the twist, I thought it was a good one. But the plot and pacing felt all over the place. Definitely an interesting concept of a book, I just didn’t care for the execution of the idea. ...more
“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
I really enjoyed this book despite not understandin 3.75 stars
“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
I really enjoyed this book despite not understanding over a third of it.
Project Hail Mary is about Ryland Grace, a man who just woke up in space and has no memory of how he got there. While his memories start coming back, Ryland remembers he is on a mission to save the human race from extinction. He also discovers, he might not be as alone as he thought he was.
“We’re as smart as evolution made us. So we’re the minimum intelligence needed to ensure we can dominate our planets.”
I really love Andy Weir’s tone in his books. His characters always have this great sense of humor that I suspect is his own, but it ads this great layer to the story. I didn’t understand most of the science in this book, nor did I try to. So I did spend some time skimming this book, hence the lower rating. But I think this was such a unique and fun story and one I would love to see adapted on the big screen.
“Intelligence evolves to gives us an advantage over the other animals on our planet. But evolution is lazy. Once a problem is solved, the trait stops evolving.” ...more
One of my favorite authors wrote a Victorian England time travel gothic romance? Sold. Didn’t even have to think twice about wanting to read 4 stars
One of my favorite authors wrote a Victorian England time travel gothic romance? Sold. Didn’t even have to think twice about wanting to read this book.
A Stitch in Time is about 38 year old Bronwyn who returns to Thorne Manor when her aunt passes away and leaves it to Bronwyn in her will. More than twenty years ago Bronwyn left the manor after a tragic death, and she also left behind an unbelievable secret. Returning to Thorne Manor, Bronwyn reunites with her young love William, who is not so receptive to her return.
I thought this book was a wonderful time travel romance. I don’t understand the science of it all in this one but I also don’t have to because it’s fiction so I went along with it. Second chance romance is my favorite trope in the romance genre, so I ate this book up so fast! I love Kelley Armstrong’s writing and the way she can deliver a good story with great characters. This was definitely the escape from real life that I needed right now....more
Nora, a British woman suffering from depression, has a VERY bad day. And so, at the end of it, she de 5 stars!
“The only way to learn is to live.”
Nora, a British woman suffering from depression, has a VERY bad day. And so, at the end of it, she decides to take her own life. Except instead, she ends up in the midnight library. A place where you can choose to live another life, one of the lives where you decided something differently. Nora gets the chance to see the different ways her life might have turned out and searches for the life that would be the perfect fit for her.
“A person was like a city. You couldn't let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don't like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile.”
It’s funny, since the covid19 pandemic began, death has been on my mind a lot. I think and worry about it more lately than I ever did before. Reading this book was exactly what I needed right now. It was such a balm for the worry that’s been in the back of my mind this past year. I loved the concept of the midnight library and that we can see all the lives we could have lived based on any number of small or large decisions. This is one of the best “choose your own adventure” type fictions books I’ve ever read. I’ve always loved the parallel universe concept and this book completely nailed it.
I listened to the audio version of this book on my commute and was so invested I would just sit in my car listening even after I reached my destination. I found myself getting all emotional while driving and had to pull myself together too. One of my favorite books of 2021, I know I will be thinking back on this book for a long time to come.
“Sometimes just to say your own truth out loud is enough to find others like you.” ...more
“ I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery”
Kindred is the story of Dana, a young black woman living in 1976 4 stars
“ I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery”
Kindred is the story of Dana, a young black woman living in 1976 California who is one day sucked into the early 1800’s Maryland. There she meets one of her ancestors Rufus and saves his life. But even when Dana returns home, she is repeatedly transported back in time whenever Rufus’ life is at risk, and saves him time and time again. The more time she spends in the past, it becomes apparent she might not have a future at all.
“Repressive societies always seemed to understand the danger of "wrong" ideas.”
Kindred is a book that I’ve intended to read for a long time. It’s sat on my tbr shelf for longer than I’d like to admit. I’m very glad I read it, because for me the largest takeaway was the point that people could become used to slavery as a way of life and come to accept it. Which blows my mind, because slavery is one of the most evil concepts ever created and implemented and it’s a stain on our world. This book was horrifying and haunting, I truly believe it will stay with me for a very long time.
I’m eager to read more by Butler, her writing style is absolutely magnificent. She did an incredible job with the concept and the characters, in addition to the daily life aspects of the early 1800’s. This book has been around a long while and it really stands the test of time. I hope people in the present and future read it and that no one forgets this book.
“Slavery was a long slow process of dulling.” ...more
One word comes to mind when I think of this book: unnecessary.
I went into this book with an open mind, I love The Hunger Games trilogy. I even 1 star
One word comes to mind when I think of this book: unnecessary.
I went into this book with an open mind, I love The Hunger Games trilogy. I even have 3 different copies of the first book. But this one fell flat. And the main reason? I did not give two shits about a single character in this book. Which was weird to me, because I cared so deeply about all the characters in the original trilogy. How can these books be written by the same author??? I don’t get it.
Also this book was waaaaaayyyy too long at 500 pages. It honestly could have been cut in half and been much better.
That’s all I got. I’m sure I’ll rant about it more to friends but, that was a waste of $27.99. Except I bought it from an indie bookstore, so at least I supported them and not Amazon. One good thing....more
I’ve been wavering on my rating since finishing this book. Ultimately, while I liked this book, just about nothing happened plot wise til the2.5 stars
I’ve been wavering on my rating since finishing this book. Ultimately, while I liked this book, just about nothing happened plot wise til the end. And after the first three books ended so perfectly (imo) I have to wonder if this book was really necessary? (No, it wasn’t). I’m debating reading books 5 and 6 to see if it gets better or quitting and forgetting this book happened....more
Loading...
