Book Review: Less Than A Treason by Dana Stabenow
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Less Than a Treason by Dana Stabenow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
FINALLY! The cliffhanger at the end of Bad Blood is resolved, or of course there would not be a #21. It’s been so long (over four years!) since I read #20, though, that I had to go back and re-read the last bit of it to understand the beginning of this novel. That wasn’t happy-making, and it had a negative effect on my ability to just dive in and enjoy the book.
Once things got going, though, everything was good — it’s still a five-star read. Kate is in fine form, although as usual she is definitely affected by recent events. We see a lot of Jim Chopin here — in fact, he figures as largely as Kate does. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Stabenow has always done a good job of showing us a Niniltna that grows and changes with the times, with people coming and going, being born and dying, which is realistic. That hurts at times when you’re attached to the characters. I don’t want to get into spoilers, but you’ll see when you read it. And you should definitely read it!
Book Review: Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D.
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive by Barbara L. Fredrickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first read Fredrickson’s second book, Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. It blew me away, and I’ve recommended it hither and yon. I was definitely interested in her first book, but for one reason and another it took me a while to get around to it.
This is an excellent audiobook. I enjoyed the presentation, and the information was absolutely fascinating. I’m going to have to go back and read (instead of listen to) some of the sections and take notes, but I’m definitely interested enough to do so!
I’m particularly interested in the science-backed techniques Fredrickson recommends for improving one’s positivity ratio. I’ll be tracking mine as I try these techniques to see what happens. I strongly recommend the book, especially to anyone who is interested in combating negativity or the science of positive psychology.
Book Review: Storm Front by Jim Butcher
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Storm Front by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just re-read Storm Front, after first reading it — well, I don’t even know how many years ago! Shortly after it was first released, I think.
Now, it’s important to know that I simply don’t re-read books. I find that too boring, most of the time. There are a scant few exceptions. The Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are the most remarkable of them. The fact that I would even consider a re-read speaks very, very highly of Butcher’s work.
I’d forgotten far more than I expected, but I suppose that happens, with at least 15 years and goodness knows how many books in between readings. I knew it was a good book, I knew one important part of the ending (I mean, come on — there are many more books in the series, so you KNOW that Dresden lives!), but all else was lost. I wasn’t sure I would like reading about old Harry with recent Harry fresh in my mind (I just read the short story “Jury Duty”).
If anything, I enjoyed it even more spiced by the knowledge of who Dresden (and Murphy) will become in the future books. I enjoyed the setting, the craft that went into building the whole novel, and seeing how Butcher’s skill grew from the first book to the more recent works.
I’m going to go on with re-reading the entire series — I hadn’t committed to it before, but now I’m looking forward to it!
Book Review: Full Metal Magic
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Full Metal Magic: An Urban Fantasy Anthology of Magic, Mayhem, and the Paranormal by J.A. Cipriano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was clued in to this anthology by a mention in J.A. Cipriano’s newsletter, which is worth subscribing to (hey, the man sends you free reads, and they’re good!). Anyway, Cipriano and company are all dark urban fantasy authors who have written these stories specifically for this volume, so you won’t find them anywhere else. The book is available via the Kindle Unlimited program. In fact, every related book that I checked on is available that way, so I’m wondering if this thing was sponsored by Amazon or something. If so, why doesn’t it say so? Anyway, on to the review.
“The Bull Demon King” is Cipriano’s story, set in the Thrice-Cursed Mage universe. You don’t need to have read those books to appreciate the story, and it serves as a nice little introduction if you’re curious about the series (I’ve really enjoyed them). I think the story is set between the second and third books, but I won’t swear to that and it isn’t vital. We get to attend the Texas state fair with assassin mage Mac Brennan and his girlfriend Ricky, the local alpha werewolf. Of course, mayhem ensues, because that’s Mac’s lot in life — and what kind of story would we have otherwise?
Domino Finn contributes “The Black Door” which is noted as “A Black Magic Outlaw Story.” This story had me guessing right up until the end, which was delightful. The writing is wonderful, the world of an alternate magical Miami nightlife is very fully realized, and central character, Cisco Suarez, is extremely well drawn. I will be pointing my partner to Finn’s work, for sure (he loves the macabre), but I think it may be a little too dark for me.
On to Manhattan for our next piece, “Dance of the Dead,” which Sonya Bateman tells us is a “Deathspeaker Codex Short Story.” It takes place just after the events of the first novel in that series, according to the author’ note. Gideon Black drives bodies from crime scenes and the like to the morgue. Apparently he’s not 100% human, and he’s just learned that he can speak to the dead. That’s very important to the plot. For some reason this story didn’t grab me. I don’t relate well to stories that deal with the dead, like zombies and so on, so it’s probably a failure of imagination on my fault rather than anything wrong with Bateman’s story. If I find something she writes in another setting, I will give her another go.
Ambrose Ibsen offers up “Hard Row: A Demon-Hearted Story” for the collection. Lucian Colt works with other special enforcers to keep the threats from Beyond from encroaching on the mundane world of Detroit, and when he learns that there’s a shipment of kidnapped children being moved, he’s definitely down for tracking down the bad guys behind the trade. The fallen angel whose heart he carries is just glad to get a chance to throw down. The gimmick doesn’t really carry the story here. It feels like Colt is too overpowered in comparison to his allies, as if they are a mismatched RPG party.
Okay, I’ll admit it: Al K. Line’s name just annoyed me. So I had to get past that to give “Angry Spark,” set in his Dark Magic Enforcer world, a fair reading. Then the use name of the main character, “Black Spark,” hit me wrong. The guy’s real name is Faz Pound, but obviously magic men don’t go about giving their real names to all and sundry, hence the use name. Then I didn’t like the remarks about a corpulent character. So I finally just decided to leave off on this story. Maybe someone else can give you a review of it.
Rob Cornell’s “Family Business,” which is apparently a prequel set in his Unturned series’ universe, is set in another alternate Detroit. Fortunately nothing annoyed me about this one, so I was able to read it. It’s a wee bit hackneyed, but a bit sweet, too. It’s sort of like when you hear a song and you know how the melody is going to go because the chords and the melody progression already feel familiar. I might check out more of Cornell’s work, but it won’t be at the top of my to-read list.
On the other hand, “Valentine Blues” left me truly hungry for more of James A. Hunter’s work, and wanting to read more about Yancy Lazarus right now. This minute. Not soon, NOW. Lazarus is a traveling blues man with some interesting talents who takes an interest in the very strange behavior of the young people in Valentine, Nebraska. You can find the most interesting things on the road! I will most definitely be reading Strange Magic: A Yancy Lazarus Novel, the first book in this series, SOON.
I know that I’ve read something about Craig Schaefer’s Daniel Faust series somewhere before, but I’ve never actually read any OF the series until “A Drive in the Country.” It’s set in and around Las Vegas. I have no idea where in the timeline of the series this particular story is set, but it’s well-written. It pulls you into the gritty, noir world of gangsters plus magic and makes you feel the dark. If that’s your thing, Schaefer’s your man.
New York is the setting for Pippa DaCosta’s “Chase the Dark,” set in the world of her Soul Eater series. I am highly intrigued, as I don’t believe I’ve ever run into an urban fantasy series that draws upon Egyptian mythology the way DaCosta is here. The name of the main character, though, Ace Dante? Even though it’s obviously an assumed name, it’s terrible. I hate it. I’m jarred every single time my eyes come across it on the page. It kept pulling me out of what was otherwise a really good story, and is making me wonder whether or not I can handle reading Hidden Blade, the first book in the series.
Now that I’m finished with the book, I can’t help but notice a few things. There wasn’t a single main character that was female, and while it’s possible that Cisco Suarez is a person of color, his cultural background wasn’t made clear in Finn’s story. If any of the other protagonists were POC, that wasn’t obvious (I’m not sure what to consider “Ace Dante.”) I’m pretty sure all these men were cisgendered and heterosexual, as well. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that there’s a little more diversity in such a volume.
All in all, a decent collection of stories and a nice introduction to some new authors, but a disappointment in some important respects.
Book Review: Magic to the Bone
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Magic to the Bone by Annie Bellet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boss Fight!
The climax to the Samir storyline that has been building throughout all seven volumes of the series, this plot does not disappoint. My only complaint about the book, as with the other six, is that it’s short. Still, it’s as long as it needs to be to tell the story, with nothing extraneous, so I guess it is the right length.
Book Review: Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not quite as good as her first book, but well worth the read. I probably should have gotten the abridged version, because as usual I got tired of the anecdotes.
I find her types interesting — there are upholders, obligers, questioners, and rebels. Apparently most people are questioners or obligers (I think — I may be wrong about the obligers). (I’m a questioner, so for once in my life I’m not weird.) Then she classifies people in additional ways, like abstainers or moderators and so on. In fact, there seems to be some sort of classification or label in nearly every chapter!
Anyway, the information in the book is useful, and I am already using it in analyzing my own habits and improving them. Rubin’s reading voice is fairly pleasant (I listened to the Audible version), so I don’t hesitate to recommend the book.
Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was a teenager when my father recommended Mr. Carnegie’s original book to me, and at 48 I finally got around to reading this version. I’m glad that I did, as it was well worth the time. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who deals with other humans in any capacity at all. And yes, I’ll be suggesting it to my own daughter right away.
Review: Attack the Geek by Michael R. Underwood
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Attack the Geek by Michael R. Underwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excuse me, but SQUEE! More Ree Reyes! More Drake! More Eastwood and Grognard! Yes, more Geekomancy!
Michael Underwood is back with a delightful novella and if I have ANY complaints, it’s that this is a novella instead of a novel. That’s just because I am a greedy fangirl reader. The story itself is fully developed, and the novella is exactly the right format for it.
Attack the Geek definitely isn’t the place to start in the series, as it relies on previous knowledge of the characters and the universe, but if you’ve read the previous novels, you will NOT want to miss this installment when it is released on April 9.
Now I’m left hungry for Ree Reyes #3, though!
Tags: Fantasy, Michael R. Underwood, Ree Reyes
Review: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fascinating stuff! Vast amounts of sheer geekery about sex, science, and the intersection thereof. If you’re looking for sex tips or salacious reading, look elsewhere. If you’re looking to howl with laughter without being able to explain WHY to most people, this is your book.
Okay, one might glean the occasional sex tip, but I don’t think they’re anything that common sense couldn’t tell you. And you’ll have to wait for the very last chapter for the best bit.
I’ll be adding more of Roach’s diverse works to my to-be-read stack soon!
Review: Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to be honest. When I initially heard about Opening Up by Tristan Taormino, it was in association with someone I can’t stand, and I childishly let that association color my impression of the book. I didn’t really consider reading it. I finally got around to reading (okay, listening to) it this past week, and I’m sorry I didn’t do so sooner. It’s so good that I’m considering purchasing a print copy to have on hand in my lending library, and maybe even an ebook copy so that I might easily reference passages from time to time.
None of the information is new to me, exactly, but it is put together very well. The sections on issues to consider/issues that might arise in each style of responsible non-monogamy were especially appreciated. I was disappointed that there isn’t a section in her web site for readers, but perhaps the print copy has reproducible checklists.
The chapter on STIs was very good, although I think that a list of specific STIs for which non-monogamous people should request testing would have been helpful.
In any case, I do recommend this book. It’s replacing Love Without Limits as my go-to recommendation for new polyfolk to read.