Archive for the ‘Book reviews’ Category
Just Reviewed the Last Two Books in Jim C. Hines “Jig the Goblin” Series at SBR
Folks, I just reviewed GOBLIN HERO and GOBLIN WAR, the latter two books of Jim C. Hines “Jig the Goblin” series, at Shiny Book Review. These books are satirical and often made me laugh, but the lack of a definite conclusion to the third book was frustrating. (If there’s to be a fourth book down the line, I’d completely understand as there are dozens of loose ends — or at least it seems that way — left to exploit in future books.)
Here’s the link:
My capsule review is, go read Hines’ books in paperback. They’re fun, they’re enjoyable, and I really hope Hines will write a fourth book (maybe several more books) about Jig because there’s lots more to say. (And before anyone points it out, I am aware of several more short stories in Jig’s universe. That’s a start, but more novels are needed.)
Enjoy!
Just reviewed “How Carrots Won the Trojan War” at SBR
Folks, I just reviewed Rebecca Rupp’s HOW CARROTS WON THE TROJAN WAR at Shiny Book Review. Rupp’s opus is a fun, fast, highly enjoyable read about, of all things, vegetables. There are many interesting facts to pique your interest, and Rupp’s writing style is both winning and witty.
Here’s the link for your delectation:http://shinybookreview.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/rebecca-rupps-how-carrots-won-the-trojan-war-is-one-great-read/
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed Joan Slonczewski’s “The Highest Frontier” at SBR
Folks, I enjoyed the science, but not the characterization, of Joan Slonczewski’s newest novel, THE HIGHEST FRONTIER. Slonczewski’s novel is very strong, scientifically, as makes sense due to Slonczewski’s own scientific background. What I hadn’t expected is the dearth of characterization, as the main character, Jennifer Ramos Kennedy (scion of two Presidential families, one being those Kennedys), while likable, just wasn’t strong enough to hang a book around.
This made writing a review for THE HIGHEST FRONTIER more difficult than it might’ve otherwise been, as the “sense of wonder” feeling was definitely present, and in style. I admired the science, the world-building, the intense detailing, and everything that went up into making a near-future world (our Earth, set about 100 years in the future) both plausible and palpable.
Anyway, please go read my review at SBR and tell me what you think:
Enjoy!
Just reviewed Lee and Miller’s “Ghost Ship” at SBR
Folks, if you want an interesting, mind-blowing adventure that capably continues the journey of pilot Theo Waitley, half-Liaden through her father’s side and related to the current Delm of Korval (an extremely powerful personage), seek no further.
Hie thee hence to my latest review of the inestimable Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe (TM) epics, GHOST SHIP, at Shiny Book Review. Go here, if you’re like the folks of Clan Korval and believe “I Dare” to be your calling card (as well you should):
Because if you haven’t read any of Lee and Miller’s novels yet, what’s stopping you?
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed “The Crystal Variation” at SBR
Folks, if you’re looking for three great books at a very nice value, look no further than Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s latest Liaden Universe (TM) omnibus, THE CRYSTAL VARIATION. In this compilation of three earlier-published novels (including CRYSTAL SOLDIER, CRYSTAL DRAGON, and BALANCE OF TRADE), Lee and Miller do something extremely difficult: they have a nice balance in the two prequels (CRYSTAL SOLDIER and CRYSTAL DRAGON) between information long-time readers such as myself want and need and the action-adventure that’ll help draw in new readers without confusing them. This is a very neat trick that very few authors can pull off.
Now, the third novel, BALANCE OF TRADE, is a stand-alone novel set two hundred years or so before the bulk of the Liaden Universe novels but over one thousand years after the prequels CRYSTAL SOLDIER and CRYSTAL DRAGON; thus, we see Liadens and Terrans who distrust each other far more than they do during the time of LOCAL CUSTOM, SCOUT’S PROGRESS, etc. The clash of cultures narrative is striking, but what’s even more striking is that this is one of the few young adult novels Lee and Miller have written — it has no sex, little violence, little if any swearing, and yet it’s as riveting as if it had all those things, which is another neat trick to pull off.
Excellent stories at an excellent value. How could you want anything more? (Except for a sequel to BALANCE OF TRADE, that is. I definitely want that, m’self.)
Here’s the link to my review:
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed J.M. Frey’s TRIPTYCH at SBR
Folks, if you want to read one of the very best books of 2011, look no further.
Go read my review of J.M. Frey’s TRIPTYCH, which is an outstanding novel of love, sexual politics, aliens, tolerance, and xenophobia — among many other sterling qualities. This reads like something that could actually happen, and is a sensible, logical exploration of our current world as seen by the ultimate outsider (as well as by two insiders).
(Seriously, what are you waiting for?)
http://shinybookreview.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/triptych-by-j-m-frey-among-best-books-of-2011/
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed Sabrina Jeffries’ “How to Woo a Reluctant Lady” at SBR
Folks, if you enjoy quick, light romances with some snappy dialogue, you’ll enjoy Sabrina Jeffries’ historical romance HOW TO WOO A RELUCTANT LADY as much as I did. But you might still like to take a gander at my review anyway . . . just to be sure.
Enjoy!
Just Reviewed Lackey/Edghill’s “Legacies” and “Conspiracies” at SBR
Folks, if you love urban fantasy as much as I do, you really need to grab hold of these novels and don’t let ’em go until you’ve read ’em.
Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill have created a magical academy out in the middle of Montana called Oakhurst that’s both familiar and terrifying. They get all the “teen stuff” right — the “teen speak,” all the emphasis on technology, wanting to eat junk food (and hating healthy food, for the most part), “teen angst,” etc. — and they also manage to get in there a great many hints at mysteries that go back to the Morte d’Arthur . . . really nice work, and I enjoyed both Legacies (book one) and Conspiracies (book two) immensely.
So go read my review already, then go grab the books!
Just Reviewed Maya Rodale’s “A Tale of Two Lovers” at SBR
Folks, if you like originality and can handle a plot that’s extremely implausible in that it’s all supposedly happening in 1823, you’ll enjoy Maya Rodale’s A TALE OF TWO LOVERS. The writing quality is, overall, quite good. The premise is original. The romance itself between the two lovers, Lady Somerset (a gossip columnist) and Lord Roxbury (a notorious rake that Lady S. has wronged), is fine and often funny.
But I couldn’t get past the implausibility of it all; that there’s one bit of writing that echoes too closely a line from the movie Fight Club didn’t help.
At any rate, here’s the review, where I tried my best to praise the writer for her writing, while pointing out how unlikely any of this would’ve been to happen in 1823, of all times:
Enjoy!
Barb Caffrey's Blog 