Veronica

Some books take a while to dig into. The first few chapters set up the story, introduce you to the main characters and build a framework for the tale to come.

Wool sets up the story too, but in a heartbreaking and gripping way that has you consuming the book as quickly as possible, if only to learn the answer to: “that's not really about to happen, is it?”

There are moments in Wool when I wondered if maybe the book was too dark. I mourned for characters and didn't know how they would possibly get themselves out of the messes they (or others) had gotten them into. I won't say it worked out for everyone, but there is enough hopefulness and light in the book to brighten the darkest depths of this silo.

Wool is not a long read (even shorter when you can't put it down and read it over two nights) but it is one that will stick with you.

SPOILERS

A Natural History of Dragons is the story of Isabella (or Lady Trent, who functions as the story's narrator in her later years). A curious and tomboyish girl who grows up to be fascinated by the Dragon species. This book is different from most traditional takes on the dragon theme, since it's really more like an alternate history story that just happens to feature dragons in it, as opposed to something more high fantasy.

I read a few complaints in the S&L forums that since the narrator exists, there are no high stakes (she must have lived through the trials and tribulations of the story, since she's alive to tell it), but this is not the case. People close to her die, and she shares that grief with the reader in a very forthright way.

This is a mystery tied up in a tale of discovery. It's a book more about Isabella than about dragons. Let's call them the scaly icing on the cake!

Three stars means “I like” a book, even though it feels more like a “meh” when you see those three lonely stars up there on a review. However, in this case, it rings perfectly true: I liked Empire State.

I'm having some trouble being objective in this review, because I follow Adam Christopher on Twitter, he has been a friend to Sword and Laser, etc etc. But I had a hard time truly getting into this book as much as I wanted to.

Part of the problem is that the storyline is purposely convoluted. We're thrown into a world that features alternate dimensions, time-shifting, doppelgängers, and a murder mystery... all wrapped into one. The intentions and loyalties of the characters are constantly in flux, and I frankly found it hard to keep track.

This is not a book of hard science fiction: the science used to explain the “fissure” between these two worlds (or rather, the Origin and the Pocket) is murky at best, but that's not really the important thing here. Was it an entertaining story? Yes! Did I like the characters? I think so (when I understood what was happening)! Was the ending satisfying? Hmmm... mostly. Ended somewhat with a fizz rather than an explosion.

But overall, I thought the storyline was original and interesting. Though it felt a little unclear to me at times, it's entirely possible that this was a fault of mine, not the books.

Ready Player One is one of those books that I'll be recommending to people for a long, long time. If you love geeky media... books, videos, TV shows, music (and especially if it's from the 80s) this book will be a favorite of yours as well.

The characters are engaging, the descriptions of the scenes inside OASIS are vivid, and it's fun (and thrilling) at the same time.

Does the 80s trivia come on a little thick? Yes, but that's kind of the point (and the plot).

Well, this is definitely one of those cliffhanger ending books, as many people warned me. So.... close.... yet so far away.Anyhow. The book was excellent, I loved the independent narratives and the writing style. This book made me want to learn so much more about the universe it's based in/on. The allusions to classic poetry and literature were very fitting to the story line, and I think they'll only deepen with what I've read so far of [b:The Fall of Hyperion 77565 The Fall of Hyperion Dan Simmons http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329610795s/77565.jpg 1882596]. Yes, I immediately went out and bought the next book in the Hyperion Cantos, since I HAD to know what was going to happen to the seven pilgrims next, Well played, [a:Dan Simmons 2687 Dan Simmons http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1202439650p2/2687.jpg]. Well played.

[b:Bossypants 9418327 Bossypants Tina Fey http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300386015s/9418327.jpg 14302659] is the kind of book that makes you feel like you could be the author's best friend. In fact... [a:Tina Fey 4385839 Tina Fey http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1286658273p2/4385839.jpg], will you be my best friend? I really think we have a lot in common. Like this quote, for example:“My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne.” I also find this to be true! We have the same self-success loathing anxieties! (Is that not a thing? I think I just made that a thing.)Anyhow, even if we can't all be best friends with Tina Fey, hearing her talk about her background, rise to glory, and inner-most thoughts on breast feeding is hilarious and enjoyable. Plus, it's always nice to hear an author read her own book, though there were some audio issues (weird fade-outs, vocal asides that were almost inaudible) but otherwise I give this book two thumbs up!

Rule 34 is interesting in many ways: it deals with a subject matter that is deeply interesting to me (artificial intelligence and what that means for society), is ripe with memes that any internet savvy reader would find amusing, and uses a unique second-person narrative style that takes some getting used to.

The first half of the book is something of a slog: you're introduced to the “main” character (at least in my mind) Liz, and we get an info dump on the world we're going to be visiting for the next 368 pages or so. It's the not too-distant future, and I found the technology to be believable (and intriguing).

I finished the book feeling like I wanted to know more, but I also felt a little confused and lost. I understood what had happened, but I felt like there were loose ends that I needed to know more about. Overall, I probably won't continue with the series (but in the interest of time and many other books that need reading) but it's definitely a book worth discussing.

Felicia made me do it.UPDATED:So, Grave Witch was actually a pretty fun book. It reminds me a little bit of [a:Jim Butcher 10746 Jim Butcher http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205261964p2/10746.jpg]'s Dresden Files, though with a female lead and with an extra bit of sexiness thrown in.There were some exciting moments (not just exciting in the sexy-sense) and I found Alex Craft to be a likable and relatable character. Who hasn't only had a hot dog left in their fridge during rough times?Overall, a fun quick read. Some of the writing was a little repetitive, but I was able to overlook it for sexy faerie-men detectives.

This book had all the elements that should have made it a hit (for me, at least). Strong, powerful female lead; sexy, manly (yet sensitive!) soldier-type who only wants to defend the one he loves; and magic. Also, horses.

Maybe it was a little too straightforward. Maybe all the pieces came together a little too easily (heh heh). Whatever it was, the book never seemed to connect with me. I liked the characters, but I didn't find them especially compelling.The magical Sources were a little too obvious in their construction. And the secretive societies charged with their protection (or with their acquisition) are never quite fleshed out for me.

Overall, a quick, pretty entertaining read, but nothing to keep me going with the rest of the series.

Seth Grahame-Smith does an excellent job combining history with fantastical fiction, and it all comes together with gruesome detail in this book. I half expected this to be a comedy (not having read anything else by him), but I was definitely surprised by some of the turns this story took. Not for the squeamish!

Discovering your new favorite series is going from a trilogy to a tetralogy is always good news. Nona the Ninth picks up seemingly where Harrow left off, but I honestly wish I had reread Harrow another time before starting this one. I loved the story, and yet I found myself constantly wondering if I remembered where all the characters fit in with one another – this could be because Harrow the Ninth left me with so many questions about who is alive, who is dead, and who is somewhere in-between.

All I can hope for is that Alecto will give us more answers, but I'm happy to have met Nona along the way!

I was worried, like many others, that this would be a blatant Sookie Stackhouse rip-off. I'm sure the author gets that a lot, and frankly, it's undeserved. This book (I listened in audio form) is filled with wry humor and a fun new take on the vampire coming-of-age story. Jane Jameson is a likable and relatable heroine, in many ways reacting far more convincingly to vampires in her world than the Bellas and Sookies.

As far as fun Summer reading goes, this series is off to a good start for me!