geethr75's reviews
1361 reviews

 

This was quite an enjoyable read. The voice, the prose, the characters and plot, everything was good. 

Dalí Tamareia is a changeling or third gender, a human who has been evolved to be without gender but who can assume either gender. They're also an empath who grew up in the planet of Zereid whose natives are highly empathic and telepathic. Even though they practise a martial art, they're a peaceable race who don't believe in killing. 

When the story opens, Dalí is lost in a sea of grief and pain following the death of their two partners and unborn child in a terrorist bombing. They're subjected to bullying and hate by some bigots who consider the third genders as abominations. Dalí is also spiralling into addiction, and ignores the people who try to set them right. Changelings like them are disappearing from all over, but Dalí doesn't care. 

An encounter with some bigots have Dalí  nearly dead, which makes them realise that they doesn't want to die. They're recruited by a group to discover what's happening to the missing changelings, and Dalí realises that the group has links to the bombs that killed her family. 

I loved the plot, and Dalí's characterisation as well as that of the minor characters. The world building is done well and the inner workings of various societies are interesting. Even with all my focus issues, I finished the first book in a week and has started the second book of the series. 

If you love scifi, space operas, advanced technology, alien civilisations, flawed characters and personal stakes, this is the book for you. 

 

This was another of my SPSFC semifinal reads and the views represent my own and not my team's. 

 

The story opens with Roy Mackey who is recovering a kidnapped kid from the addicts who did the abduction. I loved how it established Mackey's skills and the kind of work he does. He's hired by a man calling himself Mr. Smith to track down the manuscript of a deceased author. The chase leads him to realising that the author has plagiarised her work from an old comic book which only ran for three issues before the publisher went bankrupt due to a recession. He tracks down the author of the comic book, only to discover that Smith has been after her from the beginning, and Roy has just become expendable. He saves the author, Lucy Langenkamp from the goons Smith has sent, but neither of them are prepared for what comes after them. Characters from the comic book are coming alive and all of them want Lucy. 

 

While this reads more like fantasy than Sci Fi, the theory of alternate parallel universes gives it a Sci Fi slant. It was a highly entertaining and enjoyable read and I finished it in two days. There were times I had to put it aside for a bit because I got so anxious for the characters. 

 

Roy and Lucy are both well rounded characters, with depth and dimension. They are both battling their own traumas even as they're running from enemies. The side characters are mostly the comic book people but even they have some depth to them. I loved how it ended, and how everything led to that conclusion. As someone who hates confrontation and was afraid to say no for a long time, I found Lucy relatable on a personal level. I want to give her a hug and keep her safe and warm. Same with Roy. For all his faults, he is a man struggling to do the right thing. 

 

If you love Sci fi, fantasy and alternate dimensions with characters who are both believable and likeable, this is the book for you. 

 

This was one of my SPSFC reads. Kenai is a semi finalist in the SPSFC, and I really loved it. The review and the score reflects my individual views and not the team's. 

 

Jess Amiko is a former marine who's working private security now. She's the one woman security for an archaeologist who is excavating the planet of Kenai which is uninhabited but shows remains of ancient cities. Someone attacks them but an unknown kills their attackers. Welk dies of a heart attack and Jess finds a cryptic message in their dig site which references a past experience. In her attempt to discover her saviour, she comes across a tree like creature who calls himself Elihar and a mysterious portal that has already killed a few people. Elihar helps Jess but is very cagey and Jess has to figure out what he's hiding and what's happening in Kenai before whoever is after her succeeds in getting rid of her. 

 

The first person narrative of Jess' story in Kenai is interspersed with her past experiences which serves to help us understand more about Jess as a person and the experiences which shaped her. The past plotline has no relevance to the events in Kenai, and are there only to help us understand the character development Jess had undergone prior to arriving in Kenai. 

 

Kenai is a well written and intriguing read. There were parts of it which went slowly and parts which were very confusing to me, but it's a well rounded story overall, and I found Jess to be a believable and relatable character. The only other characters of note are Elihar and Otieno who appears in the flashback chapters. Though we see only flashes of Otieno, I really liked her and Elihar, of course is one of the major characters in the plot. I found the world building to be done well and in an interesting manner. 

 

If you love Sci Fi, space opera, other planets, and flawed characters who mean well, stakes that are both personal and larger than that, you will love this book. I know I did! 

 

This was my second read in the Flos Magicae series, and I enjoyed this just as much as the first. I want to read all the books in the series now. 

 

Sebastian is a thief and con artist who is between jobs, and planning the heist of a lifetime with his partner in crime, Kitty. He runs into Morgan Hollyhock, whom he had known as a boy and renews the acquaintance. A bet with Kitty's boyfriend, Adam, to seduce Morgan has Sebastian make a deal with Morgan. But the more time he spends with Morgan, the more Sebastian finds himself getting emotionally invested. But Morgan is respectable, staid and completely disapproving of Sebastian's thieving ways. Can Sebastian have his cake and eat it too? 

 

This was a fun read, and Sebastian is such an interesting character. I loved the magical system and how Sebastian can talk to magic and do things that others can't. I laughed at how some of the magics he encountered were like overeager puppies rather than the guard dogs they were supposed to be. 

 

The world of Flos Magicae is an alternate universe London in the 1920s and it's well realised. Magic is common but not flaunted. I loved the world building, especially the enchanted make up which can make people stand out as well fade away in crowds. Sebastian's unique abilities were very intriguing. 

 

Warnings for panic attacks and PTSD. 

 

I cried at times too, just because Sebastian's emotions were too much for me and for him too. 

 

Recommended for anyone who likes queer books, fantasy, romance and magic. 

 

 

I enjoyed this a lot. The satire was on point and there were places I laughed out loud. I needed a laugh, and this book provided it. The whole was so excruciatingly funny that I couldn't stop laughing. 

 

If you love laughing, books, and fantasy, give this one a go! You won't be disappointed! 

 

This has been on my TBR for a while now, and after reading Blood Over Bright Haven, I had to know how this compares. 

 

The story revolves around Misaki, who has married into the Matsuda family in an arranged marriage. She had to give up her independent nature and her love of fighting in order to be the traditional housewife she is expected to be. The land of Takayubi where the Matsudas live still holds to its traditional values and blind faith in the emperor who rules them. Misaki's son, Mamoru is the other focus of the book. He has always known his purpose, but the arrival of a new student in school has him doubt everything he knew about his land and its people. When an unexpected invasion by Kaigen's traditional enemies, the Ranganese, who were once part of the empire but who rebelled and managed to divide the empire, suddenly happens, Misaki and Mamoru as well as the rest of Takayubi finds that they need to forget their doubts and docility if they're to survive. 

 

The story is in part a commentary on a woman's lot in a traditional society. As someone coming from a culture where arranged marriages are common, where the expectations on women are to be good housewives and mothers, I found Misaki to be a relatable character. She had to give up everything that made her who she was in order to be a good wife to Takeru and mother to his children. She resents it but has learnt to hold her tongue, to say yes and amen when she wants to lash out. 

 

Mamoru is heir to the Matsuda technique of Whispering Blade, a method by which a warrior can create a blade of ice so strong and sharp that it can cut through steel. Since the first it has been created, every Matsuda has attempted to emulate it, though not all have succeeded. Mamoru's father and uncle could both create Whispering Blades, but his grandfather couldn't, and Mamoru himself has been unable, at fourteen, to do it. He is full of insecurities despite being the strongest Matsuda ever. 

 

Takeru is as important as the other two, and starts out as an unlovable character. He is cold towards his wife and children, diminishes and puts down Misaki and silences her at every turn. He's angry when Mamoru questions the empire's propaganda, and even during the invasion and its aftermath, behaves coldly and disappears when his people needed him the most. We do get an explanation for his behaviour, but to me, that's not entirely convincing. Still, Takeru does show growth during the course of the book, and he and Misaki learn to communicate as well. 

 

This book also touches upon the apathy and indifference of a society as a whole which is further expounded in Blood over Bright Haven. However, in this, the Takayubi people realise they have been blind and changes, unlike the Tirannese in Blood over Bright Haven. 

 

The magic system is well defined and the world building is done very well. This is a story of human struggle and endurance and of relationships and family. I loved the characterisation, even though, as in Blood Over Bright Haven, some of the characters are more or less caricatures. There are deaths that ripped my heart out which even now chokes me with grief when I think of it, but the ending is on a positive and hopeful note just as in Bright Haven. 

 

I did cry a lot, like full on ugly cry while I was reading. I love books that make me feel so much. I am still reeling from everything that happened on its pages. 

 

While I respect the author's decision not to continue the series, I am also saddened by it. It's a world and people well worth visiting and the themes are very relatable and universal. 

 

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys fantasy, and specifically to those who enjoy eastern fantasy, high fantasy, epic fantasy and well defined magic systems, world building with excellent characters. 

 

Let me go and process for a bit now. Even after two days, this books still makes me want to cry. 

 

I started this book a long time ago, because I heard a lot of glowing recommendations. This is the debut book by the author and I enjoyed it a lot. 

The main protagonist is Riona who was orphaned by the King of Revon, Padrig when he invaded her kingdom of Makaria and killed her parents who were the rulers of Makaria. As their only daughter and heir, Riona is now the queen of Makaria. The only problem is Makaria no longer exists and is now part of Revon. Riona has been raised on a diet of revenge and anger by her Aunt, Orla whose sole mission is to kill the royal family of Revon and retake Makaria’s throne. They know that there was a mage who helped Padrig in defeating the armies of Makaria and they want to take him out too. As part of the mission, Riona infiltrates the royal palace as a maid. Her mission is to gather intelligence and to kill Prince Tristan, Padrig’s son and heir. But the mission doesn’t go as expected as she discovers Tristan to be intelligent, wise, compassionate and caring. Not to speak extremely handsome. 

The story is set in a larger world called Kasmia and the magic system is rather unique. I loved the overall plot and development, but it lacked tension for me. At no point did I feel the urgency or anxiety for the characters. Riona’s character development needed more space in my view, and the romance while it took time to develop, didn’t feel wholly convincing 

The world building is subtle, which I liked a lot. It’s done very well and is immersive, but it doesn’t spend passages expounding on the world or the magic. Descriptions are vivid without interrupting the plot, and the characters are believable, likeable and relatable. 

Warnings for blood and gore, attempted sexual harassment, nightmares, trauma and PTSD. 

That said, this is an immensely enjoyable and entertaining read. If you like high fantasy, romantic fantasy, elves, well developed magic systems and world building that’s not in your face, but done well, you may enjoy this book. 

 

Let me start by saying I loved this. It’s a very short read but there is a whole lot of emotions packed into that space! 

I haven’t read the one before this, but I plan to. The book revolves around Kit, a constable in Bow Street’s preternatural division and his lover and best friend Harry, a Viscount. Kit’s superior, Sam, needs his help with something personal, an art theft, and he needs Kit to attend a party at a house even though it’s Midwinter and Kit wants time off to spend with Harry. In the end, Kit and Harry attend the party together and Sam is there as well. The actual theft and the mystery of the thief and all form the rest of the story. 

I want to say that I love Kit and Harry, and their relationship. Harry is a ball of sunshine and I would give him the world. He’s described like a ball of sunshine too, with golden hair and all. Kit is naturally very protective of him, which I approve of. 

I loved the magic system here. Kit is an empath, who can feel other’s emotions and at times even see their memories. Harry has a gift that’s super secret, but is revealed over the course of the book. Sam’s gifts are not mentioned in this book, so I guess we’ll just have to keep guessing. There’s mention of ice elementals, greenwitches etc which adds depth to the world building. 

I love how subtle the world building is. It’s an alternate history Britain, with magic and a queernormative society. I approve of both! There are subtle brushstrokes of how the magic works and such, but no long winded explanations. The descriptions flow gently and nothing interrupts the plot but serves it instead. 

And all the emotions! Kit feels so many things but lacks the words to express them properly, but he has to find them to clear some of the misunderstanding between him and Harry. The misunderstanding doesn’t actually affect anything, but it’s something that’s entirely natural and a cause for some mental anguish for both of them. 

All in all, this is a short but good read. I would recommend this to anyone who loves romantic fantasy, alternate history, historical fantasy and mysteries. 

The book is an adventure. Violet is one of the three POV characters, who has always longed for adventure and whose wish comes true when her aunt goes missing. She is joined by her uncle, Nox, her missing aunt Lark's half brother. To Nox, this is a break from the monotony of his life. The third PoV character is Ryon, who is seeking blessings from a mysterious divine entity for reasons of his own. 

During the course of the adventure, Violet is separated from her uncle and runs into Ryon, who agrees to help her. The rest of the book is about Violet and Ryon and Nox in his cell and in captivity. 

Without spoiling anything, let me say at the outset that this is an entertaining, fast paced read. I had issues with the storytelling itself. It seemed as if there was too much telling and not enough showing. Characters' motivations, emotions and everything are told to us. We don't feel anything because everything is told. One of the most emotional moments of the book, a death, is told from the perspective of the person who is least invested emotionally in that death. Similarly, love between characters are told to us from the point of view of others.

There is a backstory that makes this seem like a continuation of an existing series rather than the start of a new one. Descriptions are confined to setting rather than people so I have no idea what any of the people (except Violet) looks like. 

I was never anxious for the characters no matter what situation they found themselves in because I was certain that somehow they would get out of it. and most of the time they do, someone having a very convenient way of doing it. The bloodfeathers themselves serve like a deus ex machina to bail the characters out of tricky situations. As such there was never a tense moment due to the stakes. Good storytelling keeps you invested and anxious for how the characters will make it out and if they even will. Here, that tension was not there.

All that said, this is a very quick paced, action packed and entertaining read. The plot moves along quickly, and there is sufficient loose threads at the end to carry on to the rest of the series.

This will be a good fit for readers of epic fantasy, YA fantasy, and adventure fantasy. The world building and settings are all immersive. 

This book came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint. I hadn't read any books by M.L. Wang before though I know of her and Sword of Kaigen. It's been in my TBR for a while now. This one on the other hand came out of the blue as far as I am concerned. 

Sciona and Thomil are the two protagonists. Sciona has been a prodigy, a genius and she has spent her life oblivious to everything and being as self absorbed and selfish as a person can be in her pursuit of magic. Magic is what makes the city of Tiran where she lives go around, and it is a gift from their god who embodies truth and a spirit of enquiry. In a world where women are expected to be the lesser citizens and denied opportunities for higher research, she is determined to succeed. But her entry into the High Magistry doesn't open doors as she expected it to. Her male colleagues are determined to think she didn't get in on her merit and shows their disdain by giving her a Kwen Janitor as an assistant instead of a qualified university graduate.

Kwen are the outcasts, the ones who comes from the wild lands beyond the barrier that keeps Tiran safe. The lands beyond are subject to the Blight, a bright light that strikes from above and kills instantly, by unravelling flesh and muscle till only blood is remaining of the victim. The Tirannish hold that it's a punishment from God for the ungodly ways of the Kwen. Tiran, under her magical barrier, is protected from the Blight. 

The janitor, Thomil is a hunter who had seen his entire family except his niece die from the blight before his eyes. He and his niece, Carra who he raises, are the last of the Caldonnae who once numbered in the thousands. The lands outside are rendered inhospitable since the Blight takes animals, plants and men alike. 

Sciona and Thomil form an unlikely friendship as they delve into Sciona's project: the expansion of the barrier. If she can come up with a viable method that's better than that of her peers, she can prove beyond doubt that she is worthy of being in the High Magistry, that a woman is capable of doing as well, if not better, than men in her chosen field. But her attempt to come up with a better way leads to her discovering the buried truth behind Tiran's magic and prosperity. It's a truth that destroys everything she believes in, and alienates everyone around her.

There were places in the book where I wanted to kick Sciona and places where I wanted to shake her. But thankfully, it all changed soon. I was so anxious for her that I had to stop reading and breathe for a bit. 

To say this book ripped the heart right out of my chest from chapter one is not an understatement. It was so intense, and I had so many emotions. The ending was strangely cathartic, and despite how sad I was, realistically, no other ending would have worked. 

This book deals with a lot of themes. Feminism, sexism, misogyny, colonialism, bigotry, racism, and the ills of all these are brought out in one way or another. Some of the characters are almost like caricatures, but even then, they remain representative of the evils they embody. 

I loved Sciona's character development as well as Thomil's. Even though she makes her appearance only after the mid way point, Carra is also a memorable character who grows in the space given to her. 

I needed two days to settle down enough to write this review. This book impacted me that much. Even now, I am not sure I'm doing justice to it. 

I would recommend it to anyone who loves epic fantasy, high fantasy, complex and well defined magical systems, character driven stories, and anyone who loves M.L. Wang's books. There's nothing about this book I didn't love. 

Just go and read it. You won't regret it!