leitnerkev's reviews
676 reviews

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a nice, fun political thriller set in space. The story moves well and the characters are worth rooting for.  Ashing-Giwa's prose is clear and accessible. I had some minor quibbles with it - 1) the MC's easy access almost instantly to the God-Emperor of an empire, with no barriers at all, was just unbelievable, really, and 2) the surprise twist about 90% of the way through the book (no spoilers!) truly felt tacked on for story length/added twist, idk. 

But, largely enjoyable so 3.5 stars. Though I do have to say it failed my fundamental test of Science Fiction - that space needs to be a part of the story, as in the realities of a interstellar space empire need to impact the story. If the story could happen on a planet, or even a continent (which this one could), then it's not really Science Fiction. It's a political thriller set in space.  

Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Julia by Sandra Newman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oh my a brilliant successor to 1984. So great in so many ways. And spectacularly chilling to read in today's day and age. Highly recommend
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

King Rat by China Miéville

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Classic Mieville. 
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Lovely. A classic Sanderson tale. Accessible and fun with trademark B.S. signatures. A delight for many ages
Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Yours For The Taking is a smart and interesting entry into the the Dangers of Social Engineering category of scifi. While it lacks a bit of a dramatic punch, it is a serious and curious exploration of thr ills of hubris and blind fanaticism embedded into many social causes. Jacqueline is a worth antagonist and the premise of the world's solution to eco-disaater is both creative and plausible. 
The Fraud by Zadie Smith

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emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is not, as you might think by the publisher blurb and the title, a book about the fraud trial of Sir Roger Tichborne, but rather a modern british novel, one about Victorian English society, colonialism, classism, racism, in a society of manners. Smith is a modern English Literaturist (new word, tm). Additionally, her narration of the audiobook is sparkly and delightful, she has a career in the spoken performance arts world if she wants it. Highly recommended.