Majkia (Jean) and the Quantum Entanglement of Reading - 2023 - #2

Hi everyone. Back for more. Hoping to be more engaged this year, to get over my introversive penchant for lurking and not saying much.

Tickers:

December Reading Plans

1. Sci Fi: Caliban's War , The Captain's Daughter , Queen of an Alien Sun , More than Human, Starter Villain
   
2. SFF: The Sandman
   
3. Mystery/Thriller: The Old Fox Deceiv'd , Moriarty, The Last Mrs. Summers, Tonight You're Dead
   
4. Historical/Alt: Great Expectations
   
5. Classics:
   
6. TBR Challenge:
   
7. Bookspin: The Sandman
   
8. Roll100: Dressed for Death, The Captain's Daughter , Doors of Eden
   

🎵
The Doors of Eden - Adrian Tchaikovsky
🕮
York: the Shadow Cipher - Laura Ruby

Books Read:

1. Crimes Against Magic - Steve McHugh - Series: Hellequin #1
2. Flesh House - Stuart MacBride - Series:Logan McCrae #4
3. Hyperion - Dan Simmons - Series: Hyperion Cantos #1
4. Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper - Series: The Dark Is Rising #1
5. Absolution Gap - Alastair Reynolds - Series: Absolution Gap #4
6. Dorsai! - Gordon R. Dickson - Series: Childe cycle #1
7. Queen of Crows - Myke Cole - Series: Sacred Throne #2
8. The Killing Light - Myke Cole - Series: Sacred Throne #3
9. Sufficiently Advanced Magic - Andrew Rowe - Series: Arcane Ascension #1 - 623
10. Ancillary Justice - Ann Leckie - Series: Imperial Radch #1
11. In The Ocean of Night- Gregory Benford - Series: Galactic Center #1
12. Careless in Red - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #15 -
13. Kidnapped - Robert Lewis Stevenson
14. A Dragon of a Different Color - Rachel Aaron - Series: Heartstrikers #4
15. The Benefit of Hindsight - Susan Hill - Series: Simon Serrailler #10
16. A Divided Loyalty - Charles Todd Series: Ian Rutledge #22
17. Vanguard: Genesis Fleet - Jack Campbell - Adm Geary #12
18. Dead Witch Walking - Kim Harrison - Series: The Hollows #1
19. The Stardust Thief - Chelsea Abdullah - Series: Sandsea #1
20.Jade City - Fonda Lee - Series: Green Bone Saga #1
21. Death Between the Vines - G J Bellamy - Series: Brent Umber #1
22. Jade War - Fonda Lee - Series: Green Bone Saga #2
23. Innate Magic - Shannon Fay - DNF
24. Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee - Series: Green Bone Saga #3 - 678 pages
25. Infinite - Jeremy Robinson - Series: Infinite #1
26. Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence - Series: Book of the Ancestors#2 - 416 pages
27. Wicked Autumn - G.M. Malliet - Series: Max Tudor #1 - Pages 320
28. The Dark Between the Stars - Kevin J. Anderson - Series: Saga of Seven suns #8 - 692 pages
29. Court of Broken Knives - Anna Smith Spark - Series: Empire of Dust #1 - 512 pages
30. The Empress of Salt and Fortune - Nghi Vo Series: Singing Hills #1
31. Shadow Magic - Patricia C. Wrede - Series: Lyra #1 - 328 pages
32. Ashes of the Sun - Django Wexler - Series: Buring Blade and Silver Eye #1 - 592 Pages
33. Gridlinked - Neal Asher - Series: Ian Cormac #1 - 532 pages
34. The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker - Series: Golem and Jinni #1, 496 pages
35. The Appeal - Janice Hallett - 448 pages
36. Atlas Six - Olivie Blake - Series: Atlas Six #1 - DNF
37. Senlin Ascends - Josiah Bancroft - Series: Books of Babel #1 - 448 pages
38. Blind Eye - Stuart MacBride - Series: Logan McRae #5 - 496 pages
39. Love and Death Among the Cheetahs - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness#13 - pages 304
40. Drive - James S.A. Corey
41. The Butcher of Anderson Station - James S.A. Corey
42. The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
43. The Sundering - Walter Jon Williams
44. A Change of Circumstance - Susan Hill - Series: Simon Serallier #11
45. Murder In Old Bombay - Nev March - Series: JimAgnohorti #1
46. Born of Hatred - Steve McHugh - Series: Hellequin #2
47. Blood of the Cosmos - Kevin J. Anderson - Series: Saga of Seven Suns #9 - 608 pages
48. Eternity's Mind - Kevin J. Anderson - Series: Saga of the Seven Suns #10 - 576 pages
49. The Two of Swords - K J Parker - Series: Two of Swords - 512 pages
50. Arabella of Mars - David D Levine - Series: Arabella #1 - 416 pages
51. A Deadly Education - Naomi Novik - Scolomance #1 - 336 pages
52. Leviathan Wakes - James S A Corey - Series: the Expanse #1 - 592
53. The Clan Corporate - Charles Strolss - Series: Merchant Princes #3 - 320 pages
54. Witch of the Federation - Michael Anderle - Series: Federal Histories #1 - 627 Pages
55. Ascendant - Jack Campbell - Series: Geary #13 - 368 pages
56. The Stone in the Skull - Elizabeth Bear - Series: Lotus Kingdom #1 - 368 pages
57. Glass Houses - Louise Penny - Series:Three Pines #13 - 400 Pages
58. City of Brass - S A Chakraborty - Series: Daevabad #1 - 544 pages
59. An Untimely Frost - Penny Richards - Series: Lilly Long #1 - 288 pages
60. Kingdom of Copper - S A Chakraborty - Series: Daevabad #2 - 640 pages
61. Quantum Space - Douglas Phillips - Series: Quantum #1 - 362 pages
62. Ancillary Sword - Ann Leckie - Series: Imperial Radsch #2 - 400 pages
63. Blitz - Daniel O'Malley - Series: The Rook Files #3 - 688 pages
64. Greenwitch - Susan Cooper - Series: The Dark Is Rising #3 - 192 pages
65. Triumphant - Jack Campbell - Series: Gensis Fleet #3 - 336 pages
66. Gods and Men: Ruins of the Earth - Christopher Hopper - Series: Ruins of the Earth #2 - Pages: 498
67. Clean Sweep - Ilona Andrews- Series: Inkeeper 1 - Pages: 235
68. Gallant - V E Schwab - pages 352
69. Infamous Reign - Steve McHugh - Series: Hellequin #2.5 - pages 87
70. Empire of Gold - S.A. Chakraborty Series: The Daevabad Trilogy #3 816 pages
71. Battle Mage - Peter A Flannery - 652 pages
72. The Long Chain - Dan Willis - Series: Arcane Casebook #3 - 316 pages
73. Holy Sister - Mark Lawrence - Series: Book of the Ancestor #3 - 336 pages
74. The Prefect - Alastair Reynolds - 576 pages
75. The King's Spy - Andrew Swanston Series: Thomas Hill #1 352 pages
76. Ancillary Mercy - Ann Leckie - Series: Imperial Radsch #3
77. A Rising Man - Abir Mukherjee - Series: Wyndham and Banerjee #1 - 400 pages
78. The Merchant's War - Charles Stross - Series: Merchant Princes #4 - 384 pages
79. The Ophiuchi Hotline - John Varley - Series: Eight Worlds #1 - 240 pages
80. Record of a Spaceborn Few - Becky Chambers - Series: Wayfarer #3 - 368 pages
81. Outland - Dennis E. Taylor - Series: World-Lines #1 - 364 Pages
82. The Grey King - Susan Cooper - DNF - Series: The Dark Is Rising #4 - 209 pages
83. Conventions of War - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall #3 - 688 pages
84. The Man With a Load of Mischief - Martha Grimes - Richard Jury #1
85. Embers of War - Gareth L. Powell - Series: Embers of War #1 - 411 pages
86. The Hobbit - Tolkien - Reread
87. The Eternity Artifact - L.E. Modesitt Jr - 380 pages
88. Quarter Share - Nathan Lowell - Series: Solar Traders #1 - 224 pages
89. Planetside - Michael Mammay - Series: Planetside #1 - 265 pages
90. A Fatal Winter - G M Malliet - Series- Max Tudor #2 - 384 pages
91. Elysium Fire - Alastair Reynolds - Series: Prefect Dreyfus #3 - 342 pages
92. Guiltless - Viveca Sten - Series: Sandhamn Murders #3 - 368 pages
93. The Emperor's Wolves Michelle Sagara - Series- Wolves of Elantris #1 - DNF
94. The Fellowship of the Ring - Series: Lord of the Rings #1 - 398 pages
95. The Accidental War - Walter Jon Williams Series: Dread Empire's Fall #4 496 pages
96. Fleet Elements - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall #5 - 512
97. Imperium Restored - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall #6 - 496 pages
98. First Man in Rome - Colleen McCullough - 1152 pages
99. This Body of Death - Elizabeth George - 692 pages
100. Fleet of Knives - Gareth L. Powell - Series: Embers of War #2 - Pages: 317
101. Murder in Malmo - Torquil MacLeod - Series: Anita Sundstrum #2 - pages: 260
102. The Ruin of Kings - Jenn Lyons - 560 pages
103. Hard Reboot - Django Wexler
104. How It Unfolds - James S A Corey
105. The Shadow of What Was Lost - James Islington
106. Force of Nature - Jane Harper -
107. The Lost Starship - Vaughn Heppner
108. Nottingham - Nathan Makaryk - DNF
109. A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin - 720 pages
110. Hole in the Sky - Peter F. Hamilton
111. Phantom Deadfall - Christopher Hopper
112. Station Eternity - Mur Lafferty
113. The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman
114. Aurora: CV-01 - Ryk Brown
115. Nettle and Bone - T. Kingfisher
116. A Fatal Lie - Charles Todd
117. The Light of Impossible Stars - Gareth L. Powell
118. With Silent Screams - Steve McHugh
119. The Devil's Edge - Stephen Booth
120. Kingdom of the Blind - Louise Penny
121. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester - DNF
122. Elder Race - Adrian Tchaikovsky
123. Killers of a Certain Age - Deanna Raybourn
124. Light from Uncommon Stars Ryka Aoki
125. Meru - S B Divya - DNF
126. Dark Blood - Stuart MacBride
127. the Terraformers - Annalee Newitz
128. The Red: First Light - Linda Nagata
129. Caliban's War - James S A Corey
130. Sandman - Neil Gaiman/Dirk Maggs - DNF
130. Tonight You're Dead - Vivica Sten
131. The Captain's Daughter (Arkship Trilogy) - Peter F Hamilton
132. Queens of an Alien Sun (Arkship Trilogy) - Peter F. Hamilton
133. Dressed for Death - Donna Leon
134. The Last Mrs. Summers - Rhys Bowen
135. Starter Villain John Scalzi
136. Mind Games (Arcane Casebook) - Dan Willis
137. The Old Fox Deceiv'd - Martha Grimes

With half the year gone, already... sheesh
I'm well ahead of projections and have read some great books, some okay books and some duds. A typical year!

Happy new thread. I always lurk in your thread. I am looking forward to more lurking.

>5 pgmcc: I do a lot of lurking on your thread too. Introvert, here. I tend to not talk or type much.

>6 majkia:
You are not alone, regardless of whether you want to be or not.
:-)

Happy new thread!
Lurking is an art. Be not ashamed!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Thanks y'all!

74.

The Prefect - Alastair Reynolds
Series: Prefect Dryfus #1
576 pages



Continuation of larger series, so not the real beginning of the story. As usual, imaginative, complex, well drawn characters, and lots of action.

75.

The King's Spy - Andrew Swanston
Series: Thomas Hill #1
352 pages



Okay, I confess I adore cyphers and puzzles, but even for me this was a bit much with the repetition of the cypher solving.

Challenges:
ROOT,
BookedInTime - LItsy

76.

Ancillary Mercy - Ann Leckie
Series: Imperial Radsch #3
Pages: 368

Challenges:
Sci Fi Focus
Litsy Bookspin
SFFKIT



Complex and imaginative, good wrap up for the previous two books.

77.

A Rising Man - Abir Mukherjee
Series: Wyndham and Banerjee #1
Pages: 400

Challenges:
ROOT,
TBR Challenge
Bookspin
SFFKIT



Interesting and nicely written historical police procedural, taking plance in India just after WWI.

78.

The Merchants' War - Charles Stross
Series: Merchant Princes #4 -
384 pages



I confess I do get tired of fantasy worlds where women are just their wombs. I'm hoping our heroine can flatten all of them.

79.
The Ophiuchi Hotline - John Varley
Series: Eight Worlds #1
240 pages



Imaginative story about alien invasion and the remnants of humanity afterwards. Clones make it interesting, as well as alien who do not much care what humans try to do.

80.

Record of a Spaceborn Few - Becky Chambers
Series: Wayfarer #3
368 pages



Challenges:
Litsy Roll100
TBR Challenge
ROOT

I really can't get into this series. Nicely written, interesting, but still...

>18 majkia: I loved the first one, and I thought the second ones was halfway decent, but I've been stuck in the middle of this one for several years. :( I just need to force myself to move on, because the books after this in the series all have higher ratings.

>19 clamairy: The first and last ones are standalones but also form a loose duology (albeit with different characters), but this one definitely can be skipped.

81.

Outland - Dennis E. Taylor
Series: World-Lines #1
364 Pages

Challenges:
ROOT
AlphaKIT



What a terrific book! Wow. This hit every note for me. Lots and lots of scienceing and engineering. Smart people, geek references throughout, and a great plot.

If you don't like sciencing though, probably not for you. If you do though.... :)

>21 majkia: I was wondering if this would be good considering I love his Bobiverse books. I think I'll add it to my wish list.

>22 Narilka: has the same vibe as the Bobiverse books. I think you'll like it!

>21 majkia: &>22 Narilka: I did this one through Audible a few months ago and it is wonderful. Can't wait for the next in the series.

The touchstone in >21 majkia: is pointing to the wrong book. It should be Outland.

82.

The Grey King - Susan Cooper - DNF
Series: The Dark Is Rising
209 pages



Challenges:
ROOT
SFF Focus Series
Litsy Roll100

This was dragging for me, and then they killed a dog . I'm done with this series.

>18 majkia:, >19 clamairy: Record of a spaceborn few was a real struggle for me to finish. I just didn't like or care about the characters or their stories. Thankfully the final book was really good.

>25 majkia: I have this on my shelves as part of my Newbery challenge, but thought I should read the first three books prior to tackling The Grey King.

What do y'all think? Worth it?

>27 fuzzi: I enjoyed the earlier books but in The Grey King she does something that I hate, hate, hate. If you want to know what happened the bad guys killed a beloved dog and then were threatening to kill another one

>26 Sakerfalcon: Glad to hear the final book is good. I was surprised how disappointed I was in this one.

>28 majkia: That is a deal breaker for me too. I can't remember the name of the Will Smith movie about zombies-apocalypse that my son recommended to me (based on a book), but I remember texting him in the middle saying, THEY KILLED THE DOG!. Deal breaker for me, too.

>28 majkia: I'm torn...I hate having books spoiled but...

>30 MrsLee: "I can't remember the name of the Will Smith movie about zombies-apocalypse..."

That would be I Am Legend. I didn't care for that version because the ending so completely misses the point of Matheson's book. The adaptation that comes closest is The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price. It's been a long time since I watched it so I don't recall if there were any dogs in that version.

>32 ScoLgo:
I have not seen the Vincent Price version. :-( I shied away from the Will Smith one because I knew from the trailers that it was not the Matheson story. I did eventually watch it and had my fears confirmed.

I have seen The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston. That was not the Matheson I Am Legend story either.

For me the ending of the novel was what was missing from the Heston and Smith versions. The key message from Matheson's novel was that because vampires were now the majority population, humans who were hunting vampires had become the monsters. I did not get that from "The Omega Man" or Will Smith's version of "I Am Legend".

The Girl With All The Gifts is basically a rewriting of Matheson's novel with upgraded technology and explanations for the zombies. I was annoyed at Carey for doing that without any allusion to Matheson. It was well written, engrossing and exciting, but I felt it was a copy of Matheson's story. I have not seen anyone else draw that conclusion. Rightly or wrongly, it put me off Carey. Perhaps I am just a bad person. Perhaps I have become the monster.

83.

Conventions of War - Walter Jon Williams
Series: Dread Empire's Fall #3
688 pages



Challenges:
ROOT
BFB
Sci Fi Focus Series

Good wrapup to the war, but I'm not sure the solution they end up with is that much better. I'm eager to read the next book in the series.

>32 ScoLgo: >33 pgmcc: Very strange, I've always thought of I Am Legend as a novella. Looking it up on Amazon, I see it says there is a 317 page and a 448 page version. I wonder if I read this in a short form somewhere.

84.

The Man With a Load of Mischief - Martha Grimes - Richard Jury #1

Challeges:
ROOT
MysteryKIT



This is a reread of a favorite series. I'm planning on getting further on than I did many years ago when I first read it.

85.

Embers of War - Gareth L. Powell - Series: Embers of War #1 - 411 pages



Challenges:
SciFi Focus Series
ROOT
Litsy Roll100

This is a re-read in preparation to continuing the series. I love that we get the ship as a narrator.

86.

The Hobbit - Tolkien - Reread

Still not my favorite but it does have it's moments!

87.

The Eternity Artifact - L.E. Modesitt Jr - 380 pages

Challenges:
TBR Challenge
ROOT
SFFKIT

Interesting take on finding alien culture. I wasn't all that happy with the ending, but enjoyed the rest.

88.

Quarter Share - Nathan Lowell - Series: Solar Traders #1 - 224 pages

Challenges:
ROOT
Litsy Bookspin
AlphaKIT



First book of the Solar Traders. Wow. No space battles, nobody got killed, and I enjoyed it. Traders traveling between the stars.

89.

Planetside - Michael Mammay
Series: Planetside #1
265 pages



Challenges:
ROOT
TBR

Pretty good start to a story about aliens and humans at war. Probably will continue the series.

90.
A Fatal Winter - G M Malliet - Series- Max Tudor #2 - 384 pages



Challenges:
ROOT
Focus Mystery Series
Litsy Roll100

Nice cozy with interesting characters and twists enough to keep me wondering.

91.

Elysium Fire - Alastair Reynolds
Series: Prefect Dreyfus #3
342 pages



Challenges:
Sci Fi Focus Series
ROOT
Litsy Roll100
Litsy Bookspin

I found this one a bit confusing, and very complex. But still good.

92.

Guiltless - Viveca Sten
Series: Sandhamn Murders #3
368 pages

Complex and well written murder mystery, with ties to the far past of the island.

The Emperor's Wolves Michelle Sagara - Series- Wolves of Elantris #1 - DNF

Just blah.

>44 majkia: I tried the original Elantra series a few years ago and I liked the world, but the characters and the way the stories were written just frustrated me SO much I had to give up.

>45 Sakerfalcon: I read the first Elantra book only. It was okay, but like you, I wasn't interested enough to continue.

ETA: I really need to connect to the characters for me to keep interesting in any novel. That wasn't happening in Wolves and didn't really happen with Elantra either.

94.

The Fellowship of the Ring - Series: Lord of the Rings #1 - 398 pages

Litsy is doing a re-read of the series, one chapter a day. Finished the first book today.

I've no idea how many times I've re-read the series. Always find something new each re-read. This was, of course, my entry into SFF when I was young.

>47 majkia: I did a re-read of it as well in the past twelve months and it is true that one finds something different in the each experience.

95.

The Accidental War - Walter Jon Williams
Series: Dread Empire's Fall #4
496 pages



Focus Sci Fi, and ROOT

After a slow start, with political and personal elements explored, it becomes apparent there's a plot in the background that is leading up to something, although our heroes don't see it at first. Then, suddenly, they're in the middle of it, and running for their lives.
Really enjoying the series, and hurrying on to the next book now.

96.
Fleet Elements - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall #5 - 512 pages



Space Opera with lots of space warfare and politics. Up my street for sure.

97.

Imperium Restored - Walter Jon Williams
Series: Dread Empire's Fall #6
496 pages

Challenges:
ROOT
Focus SciFi Series



Well, darn. Not the wrap up I was hoping for! Instead the story continues! Soon, I hope!

98.

First Man in Rome - Colleen McCullough
1152 pages



Finally! This book took forever to get read. I'm glad I read it but I'll pass on the rest of the series.

>52 majkia: I think I own them all, bought as $4 remainders, but I only ever read the first one. I have no inclination to pick them up, but I would consider doing them as audiobooks if they exist.

They entranced me and I read all of them! They are dense, complex and epic, but I loved the series. The audiobooks are abridged, unfortunately. McCullough could write, and despite her Caesar worship, she got her facts right with a TON of research.

>53 clamairy: >54 Bookmarque: They are really well written and researched, but I'm just not quite that much into Rome.

This Body of Death - Elizabeth George - 692 pages
Series: Lynley and Havers #16

As usual, complex, well written and thought provoking.

>53 clamairy: and >54 Bookmarque: Yes, they are complex and give you a look at Rome of the time. But it took me 2 months to get through one.

>54 Bookmarque: You give me some hope. I haven't donated them, because I may go on a Rome jag at some point.

99.

Fleet of Knives - Gareth L. Powell
Series: Embers of War #2
Pages: 317



Solid second book of the series, extending the oddness and fleshing out the characters even more. Looking forward to book 3.

101.

Murder in Malmo - Torquil MacLeod
Series: Anita Sunstrum #2

I'm enjoying this series. The mysteries are convoluted enough to keep my interest and the detective is flawed but likeable, and growing with her experiences.

102.

The Ruin of Kings - Jenn Lyons
Series: Chorus of Dragons #1

Okay, this is the second time I've read it, hoping to do the series, but... I hate the split timeline which I find needlessly confusing. So, no, no more.

>60 majkia: Ooh, I've just been to Malmo! I shall have to look out for this series.

>62 Sakerfalcon: The author shows and highlights a lot of Malmo locales so I'd guess you'd enjoy that a lot.

>63 majkia: The first book is 99p on kindle ... CLICK!

103.

Hard Reboot - Django Wexler


On old Earth, a mess from old wars, a young scholar finds war bots and love. A fun story.

How It Unfolds - James S A Corey
Series: Far Reaches



Short tales by various authors in this series. This first book is certainly a wild version of how to seed humanity throughout the universe.

105.

The Shadow of What Was Lost - James Islington
Series: Licanius Trilogy

Challenges:
TBR
ROOT
CasttheDie



This was okay, but didn't really grab me, so not going to continue the series.

106.

Force of Nature - Jane Harper -
Series: Aaron Falk #2

Enjoying the settings of this series, the wildness matches the stories really well. The mystery is complex and interesting, and the characters are well drawn. Will definitely continue the series.

>67 majkia: I had exactly the same reaction to that one. Ok, too derivative. I had a friend in his 20's who was a big fan of that series, I think it may have been because he hadn't yet gotten to some of the more classic epic fantasy series.

>69 Karlstar: yeah, very derivative agreed, and nothing really different to catch and keep my attention.

107.

The Lost Starship - Vaughn Heppner

Litsy Doublespin
Litsy Roll100
TBR Challenge

This was just odd. I liked the ideas but didn't much like the characters and the bad guys were too one dimensional.

108.

Nottingham - Nathan Makaryk

DNF

I read about 200 pages and decided this book is too much like current day politics with folks arguing and not hearing each other. I want to read something I'm enjoying.

109.

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin - 720 pages



This is a Re-Read for me. Obviously not quite as jaw-dropping after having read the series up to now, and watched the series, but still an astounding work. No tropes left unturned.

110.

A Hole in the Sky - Peter F. Hamilton

I really enjoyed this YA version of a generation ship in trouble. Thankfully, not a lot of teenage silliness, instead focus on the issues and problems.

>74 majkia: Woo! A Hamilton I haven't read yet!

>75 Karlstar: He's a pretty much must read for me.

111.
Phantom Deadfall - Christopher Hopper

Continued attempts to kill aliens off of Earth. A fun series with lots of action and characters to cheer for. OTF.

112.

Station Eternity - Mur Lafferty Series: MidSolar Murders #1

That was fun! Mallory, became an amateur detective when suddenly she was always present during murders. She'd see connections that the actual investigators couldn't and because everyone suspected her of something, they blocked her from getting a private eye license and actually making a living dealing with what was always happening to her. Then, one day, she found herself more or less kidnapped to an alien space station. It was a solution that worked for her, since she wanted to stay away from humans who kept dying around her. Aliens weren't affected so it worked just fine.

Until suddenly the alien intelligent station decided to allow humans to visit. Sure enough, murders began again and suddenly the station was having a breakdown and yet more death and craziness happened. Mallory and her few friends, mostly alien, have to figure out what the heck was happening.

113.

The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman
Series: The Thursday Murder Club #4

Poignant, funny, complex. Such a beautifully written series, dealing with aging, death, changing worlds and in the end, the depths of love.

>79 majkia: I keep seeing remarks about the Thursday Murder Club mysteries. Your description is the first one that makes me think I should read one.

>80 MrsLee: I'm a big fan of the series. It is so different from most series, dealing with aging people and paying attention to what that means along side the mysteries.

>79 majkia: & >80 MrsLee: The first one is going on the OverDrive wishlist. Thank you.

114.

Aurora: CV-01 - Ryk Brown
Series: Frontier Saga #1

This was a pleasant surprise! Very like one of my favorite sci fi series, Admiral John Geary by Jack Campbell.

Earth, devastated by a plague, is crawling out of a dark age, and just returning to the stars. A young man is assigned to the Aurora, a prototype spacecraft built to protect Earth from an expected invasion of other humans. Things do not go as planned, and the ship, with a skeleton crew and a lot of systems not even installed yet, finds itself in a battle with an unknown enemy very very far from home.

115.

Nettle and Bone - T. Kingfisher

I do love her books! Imaginative, lighter hearted than many such fractured fairy sorts of stories, filled with weird and wonderful and awful characters.

>84 majkia: I loved this one. One of my best of the year so far.

>85 clamairy: I'm currently reading my first Kingfisher: The Seventh Bride, (free to borrow via Prime Reading). Has anyone here read that one? If yes, is Nettle and Bone similar?

>84 majkia: I love that title. Might have to put this on my list, but only if it is light and not dark. I haven't read Kingfisher before, and I had the idea from other's posts that she writes dark.

>87 MrsLee: Kingfisher is sort of dark/light. One of the paladin books was described as a rom com with severed heads. I love her books very much and read all of them, but some are more horror than others so I don't buy them all. You might try Swordheart or A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking as introductions. Nettle and Bone is superb.

>88 tardis: Thank you.

>87 MrsLee: Here's my quickie review. Don't know if this will help you decide if it's right for you or not: https://www.librarything.com/topic/351798#8235674

>90 clamairy: I skimmed that when you first posted it (I only skim reviews of books I think might interest me), this time I read the spoiler. Hmmm, ok. I have added it to my list on Amazon.

>91 MrsLee: Maybe you can borrow it from OverDrive like I did. Although if it goes on sale I will buy it.

>84 majkia: I agree! This was a lovely read. There are dark elements but the characters and their relationships keep the book from getting depressing or grim.

>86 ScoLgo: The seventh bride is on my TBR pile. I let other books by Kingfisher overtake it, for no good reason. I must find my copy and read it.

A Fatal Lie - Charles Todd
Series: Ian Rutledge #23

I love this series. Ian is so complex and so determined. As usual, he delves into stuff that seems unrelated, only to turn up the final pieces that clear up the mystery.

117.

The Light of Impossible Stars - Gareth L. Powell
Series: Embers of War #3

Hmmm. I felt the ending was rushed and didn't really do the rest of the series justice. Glad I finished the series though.

118.

With Silent Screams - Steve McHugh
Series: Helliquin #3

Nathaniel hooks up with his old pal Galahad to go after some bad guys. Magic and bloodshed abound.

119.

The Devil's Edge - Stephen Booth
Series: Cooper & Fry #11

I love this series. It is so atmospheric and pays so much attention to the landscape and personalities. Lots of odd characters, surprising twists, nicely written.

120.

Kingdom of the Blind - Louise Penny
Series: Gamache #14

Complex and surprising as usual. I do love the characters and am always startled by a surprising turn of events.

121.

The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

DNF

Never really connected with the story.

>99 majkia: I went back and looked at how I felt about The Stars My Destination and apparently I never fully connected with Gully Foyle as the main character. While some read TSMD as being akin to The Count of Monte Cristo, I read it as being closer to Frankenstein, because Foyle never does truly connect with those around him and may be incapable of doing so. I haven't revisited the title since I read it back in 2012.

OTOH, I do like Louise Penny although I haven't got round yet to reading the one you just finished.

>99 majkia: There was a group read of this in this group. You can find it by going to the work page and looking for the Conversations link in the left column

>99 majkia: & >100 jillmwo:
I too had a look back at my thoughts on The Stars My Destination. According to my review on LT I put a lot of thought into the globalisation aspects of the story and the use of power by corporate organisations. My review notes the lack of any "nice" people in the story.

I don't remember much about TSMD but I didn't keep the book after I read it, which is a pretty clear verdict.

>103 Sakerfalcon: LOL

This should be a link to both the spoiler-free and spoiler full threads.
https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Groups:The_Green_Dragon/Group_book_discu...

I gave this one three stars, but according to my comments I was ready to bail more than once.

Elder Race - Adrian Tchaikovsky

I really enjoyed this book, attempting to deal with really odd things. Cultural bridges can be difficult to build and misunderstandings can complicate everything. Loneliness and desperation collide here. Monsters are not always malevolent, but sometimes just so different They/you can't imagine what they are or what they want.

123.

Killers of a Certain Age - Deanna Raybourn

Old ladies can be surprising. Especially when they are assassins. Fun.

124.

Light from Uncommon Stars Ryka Aoki

I learned more about violins than I ever wanted to know, but otherwise interesting, if muddled. Redemption is good.

125.
Meru - S B Divya - DNF

I just lost interest.

125. Dark Blood - Stuart MacBride

Definitely dark, even for this series. Still, laugh out loud funny at times with the dark humor of folks attempting to make do in a world that is grim and at times horrible.

Has anyone used the CAWPILE rating method? I have a spreadsheet I'm going to use for 2024 that has it as part of the spreadsheet.

I'm pretty lazy and don't do much with ratings, mainly because I can never really articulate how I feel about one book compared to others, especially different genres. I'd like to change that, but unsure how to do so.

I'd never heard of it before >111 majkia:. Having now looked it up, it does seem to have some points in its favor as a way of thinking about a book's value. Do you think you will be incorporating all the CAWPILE elements into your spreadsheet?

>112 jillmwo: Yes, I'm going to use CAWPILE, at least give it a couple of months trial. Maybe I'll even be organized enough to post the results. I guess I need to detail it on the new thread too, so folks interested can follow along.

126. the Terraformers - Annalee Newitz

I really wanted to like this book, but never really felt connected to it. DNF about 100 pages from the end.

127.
The Red: First Light - Linda Nagata

Surprisingly intense military sci fi, wherein an AI appears to be altering people's behaviors and the outcomes of all sorts of things. Also, Government Contractors make wars so they can sell weapons.

128.

Caliban's War - James S A Corey - 624 Pages
Series: The Expanse #2

I'd forgotten the changes made for the TV series, vs the Books. I really found the alterations for a different media understandable and thought they were actually good choices for a visual version.

I do love this series. Depth and understanding of human nature, and great complex characters. The whole Protomolecule is frightening and compelling, and the questions it raises keeps me glued to the series.

129.

Sandman - Neil Gaiman/Dirk Maggs - DNF

I wanted to enjoy this but... I don't know if it was the presentation of it, with all the sound effects or what, but I really didn't enjoy it much.

Firm believer in Pear Ruling, so after about 2 hours of listening, I'm done.

I felt the same about the audio adaptation of the Locke & Key series of graphic novels by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez - not sure if it's the fact that it went from a heavily illustration-driven form to an entirely audio-driven form, but it fell flat and I usually love audio dramas. Even the ...what was it, Netflix? adaptation didn't work for me. The books are so wonderful that I am thinking of getting them in print since I originally read them as ebooks.

>117 majkia: I'm not even sure how you could do that as an audio? So much of the story for me was the illustrations (drawings? Graphics?).

130.

Tonight You're Dead - Vivica Sten

I enjoyed the mystery, couldn't really get all the parts of it, but the female the author uses to tie the books together has become whiny and needy. Ugh. Not planning to continue the series.

>118 Bookmarque: >119 MrsLee:

Agree.

131.

The Captain's Daughter - Peter F. Hamilton
Series: Arkship Trilogy #2

A generation ship has been secretly taken over by aliens. The humans are fighting to get it back. Quite good YA space opera without the angst and misery, just folks trying to get to a new planet alive.

>120 majkia: Well, I felt like that last night.

>123 MrsLee: LOL. Hope you are doing better today.

And I hope you are not miserable because a one night stand didn't call you when you thought he should.

>124 majkia: Hahaha! I was referring to the title only. Been a long time, 41 years, since I worried about one night stands. Actually, never. :)

ETA: Thank you, I do feel better.

>122 majkia: That looks like it is audiobook only?

>126 Karlstar: yeah
Weird huh.

132.
Queens of an Alien Sun (Arkship Trilogy) - Peter F. Hamilton
Last of the Arkship Trilogy

Entertaining YA story of a girl on a generation ship, heading for a new world. The ship had been taken over by aliens and the humans had no idea, until things began to go very very wrong.

I love Hamilton so read everything of his. He's imaginative, creates complete characters and uses lots of science to come up with intriguing plots.

133.

Dressed for Death - Donna Leon
Series: Insp. Brunetti #3

I'm enjoying the unique Venitian outlook on life, love and death. And I love his family. It wasn't very LGBTQ friendly, this episode, but not because of our hero, but rather the attitudes of others, so that made that bearable.

134.

The Last Mrs. Summers - Rhys Bowen
Series: Her Royal Spyness #14

Fun, imaginative homage to Rebecca. Mrs. Mannering, indeed....

>127 majkia: Darn it, I don't often do audiobooks, just don't have the time.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

135.

Starter Villain John Scalzi

I know humor is dicy. I hate a lot of stuff others find funny. But John Scalzi has my number! I've loved his last few books that make fun not of people, but of assumptions and actions that IMO fully deserve to be rediculed. And, intelligent cats is a bonus.

>133 majkia: This was a fun one for me, as well. It wouldn't be hard to pick it apart, but that would require overthinking it - just sit back & enjoy.

136.

Mind Games (Arcane Casebook) - Dan Willis

Series: Arcane Casebook #4

I'm enjoying the series, with great and intriguing characters, complex mysteries, and a well develped and surprising magical system set up in this alt historical New York City.

>132 majkia: Love the graphic! May you find just as many friends to boost you in your celebration of the season!

>132 majkia: Happy Holidays :)

137.

The Old Fox Deceiv'd - Martha Grimes
Series: Richard Jury #2

I love this series. I'm re-reading the first several, as I read them when they first came out. Jury is such a sweetie, and I love how he searches out the kids and the unentitled to befriend and help.

The mysteries are complex enough that you have to work to figure them out, and the characters she creates are fascinating.

138.

The Doors of Eden - Adrian Tchaikovsky

What happens when you are having fun, just off on an adventure to track down cryptids you know aren't real.... but you find one, no more! that are real! And your girlfriend gets sucked out into some other reality and there you are left behind. What then?

A fun and imaginative stand alone, with lots of lovely biological science in it.

This is my last book of the year. Happy New Year everyone, see you on other side.