majkia messes with the alphabet

I'll track both titles and authors for 2023

Titles:
A Absolution Gap - Alastair Reynolds
B
C - Crimes Against Magic - Steve McHugh
D - Dorsai! - Gordon R. Dickson
E - The Empress of Salt and Fortune - Nghi Vo
F - Flesh House - Stuart MacBride
G - Gridlinked - Neal Asher - Series: Ian Cormac #1 - 532 pages
H - Hyperion - Dan Simmons
I - In The Ocean of Night - Gregory Benford
J - Jade City - Fonda Lee
K - The Killing Light - Myke Cole
L - Love and Death Among the Cheetahs - Rhys Bowen
M
N
O - Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper
P
Q - Queen of Crows - Myke Cole
R
S - Sufficiently Advanced Magic
T
U - An Untimely Frost - Penny Richards
V
W - Wicked Autumn - G.M. Malliet
X
Y
Z

Authors:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Welcome to the challenge :) And good luck (especially with X - that letter is very annoying) :)

Thanks for the welcome! Yeah, X is always an issue.

1. Crimes Against Magic - Steve McHugh - Series: Hellequin #1


Last year I accidentally picked up Magic Reborn which I enjoyed but noted all the background I didn't know about. So I returned to -re-read this book and read the rest of the first series.

I can certainly see the progress McHugh has made. This book is not nearly as well put together as Sorcery Reborn so I'll be happy to see his progress as I work my way through the series.

As for the book itself, I really enjoyed the main characters and the plot was convoluted enough for me to enjoy. World building is intriguing as it involves Avalon and Arthur. Looking forward to learning more about both of those.

2. Flesh House - Stuart MacBride - Series:Logan McCrae #4


AlphaKIT
Focus: Mystery
BingoDog - Series you've started
SeriesCAT

Oh my. Talk about messed up serial killer investigation. Nothing goes right. Clues that lead to nothing, people getting killed right and left, and the cops running around attempting to get a handle on this killer.

Definitely not for the faint of heart. Blood and gore and cooking humans. Great Tartan Noir!

3. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
Series: Hyperion Cantos #1


AlphaKIT
Focus:Sci Fi
SFFKIT

Eh. Not sure I'll continue this series. I found the multiple story way of telling the tale annoying.

4. Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper -
Series: The Dark Is Rising #1


AlphaKIT
Focus: SFF
SFFKIT
RandomKIT

Nicely written exciting middle grade or so tale of Arthurian returns, missing grails, and a mysterious great uncle with an interesting name.

I had this book marked as already read but I have no memory of it at all, just of the not so good movie I saw years ago.

5. Absolution Gap - Alastair Reynolds -
Series: Absolution Gap #4
Pages: 768



AlphaKIT
Focus:SciFi
SFFKIT
BFB

Complex world building, intriguing characters. I do love his work, and this one was on exception.

6. Dorsai! - Gordon R. Dickson -
Series: Childe cycle #1
Pages: 176



Written in 1959, it is of course outdated in quite a bit of it's thinking. I was particularly unhappy with the focus on genetics and some comments toward the end.

It also read oddly, more like a series of vignettes rather than a novel.

Given the ending, not going to continue this series.

7. Queen of Crows - Myke Cole -
Series: Sacred Throne #2
Pages:256


"They believe that wisdom and salvation are found in grief, and not in the shadow of the Throne"

Powerful second book of the trilogy. Poor kid gets no breaks. Myke Cole is another Robin Hobb. Torture those characters!

8. The Killing Light - Myke Cole -
Series: Sacred Throne #3
Pages: 240

ROOT, Focus:SFF

Good wrap-up to the trilogy. Grimdark, great characters, difficult situations and lots of author torture of poor Heloise.

Recommended for those who like grimdark.

9. Sufficiently Advanced Magic - Andrew Rowe
Series: Arcane Ascension #1
623 pages


Fun story, twists and turns, interesting characters.

10. In The Ocean of Night- Gregory Benford -
Series: Galactic Center #1
Pages: 452


Focus:SciFi
SFFKIT
ROOT

When the Earth acts to stop a comet from hitting Earth, they find out it is a wrecked alien ship.

Lots of twists and turns, science and adventure. Will continue the series.

11. Vanguard: Genesis Fleet - Jack Campbell -
Series: Adm Geary #12
Pages: 336


Roll100
Focus: Sci Fi
AlphaKIT
Alphabet Challenge
Library Book

Still space porn despite the fact our favorite Geary isn't in this one. This one is about defending human colonies from predatory humans. Just as riveting for me as the previous books in the series.

12. Jade City - Fonda Lee -
Series: Green Bone Saga #1
Pages: 498


AlphaKIT
Alphabet Challenge
ROOT
SFF Focus Series

Such a good book. This is a re-read so I can read the rest of the trilogy

Great world-building, well-drawn characters and a plot that has twists and turns galore.
Jade is a magical item in this world, giving those who can wear it, powers of perception and strength. But it only exists on one small island. Everyone wants it.

13. Wicked Autumn - G.M. Malliet -
Series: Max Tudor #1 -
Pages 320



Challenges: Focus Series
ROOT, AlphaKIt

This is a re-read for me, so I can get to the rest of the series. Better second time around.

Library Book

An interesting short book on women and empire. No as impressed as everyone else seems to be.

Gridlinked - Neal Asher -
Series: Ian Cormac #1 -
532 pages



Nicely done sort of sci fi police procedural, with agent Ian Cormac hunting down terrorists and a critter that's been hiding in plain sight for centuries.

Love and Death Among the Cheetahs - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness#13 - pages 304



Challeges:
Litsy Roll100
Litsy SeriesLove
Alphabet Challenge
ROOT
Historical

Darcy and our heroine head to Africa and find all sorts of trouble! Enjoyable as ever with this series.

An Untimely Frost - Penny Richards -
Series: Lilly Long #1 -
288 pages



Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT
Alphabet Challenge

Frustrating at times, and I really didn't like the ending where the men save her.. Well written though, and I'm sure others will like it far more than I did.