Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.14k reviews by:
ishouldreadthat
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free.
Rating: 3.5/5
My disclaimer here is that I haven’t actually read any Alastair Reynolds before, despite him being on my long list of authors I need to look into. Therefore I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up Slow Bullets.
Scur is a soldier who, just as a ceasefire has been declared, is captured by the war criminal Orvin. He shoots a slow bullet under her skin, a routine procedure that usually requires an unconscious patient or at least an anesthetic. Rather than working its way harmlessly into her chest where it would painlessly remain, this bullet will dig an excruciating and ruthless path through her body and into her heart, where it will explode. She is rescued just as she loses consciousness and when she awakens, she finds herself on a drifting prison ship that hasn’t quite arrived at its destination on schedule. Trapped on the dying ship with criminals and civilians from both sides of the war, Scur and the others must set aside deeply ingrained differences in order to survive and build a community. But unknown factors disrupt the fragile peace and new priorities begin to take hold.
I have a lot of feelings about this novella. First of all, a decision should have been made to either expand this into a full-length novel or trim a lot of the fat and flesh out the story and characters. There’s just so much crammed in here and it would have been more effective to follow a more simple plot line. Many of the extra bits just didn’t feel as necessary — some things that would be more developed in a full-length book were mentioned once or twice and never again. A lot of this was fluff; it was adding action for the sake of action. The best parts of the book were when we could study the behaviour of the people on the ship and how they reacted to a range of hopeless and difficult situations.
Despite plot issues, the writing is fantastic and engaging. Reynolds does an excellent job of creating an underlying tension and sense of despair that permeates the novella. While the world building is minimal, Scur, Prad, and Orvin are all interesting characters that help drive the reader’s interest. Scur is our narrator, but is she reliable? We cannot be sure even though we get a firsthand account of the events through her. She says she doesn’t want leadership, only revenge, but assumes a leadership role anyway. Prad follows her lead too easily, particularly toward the end, but he’s supposed to be an innocent crew member fleeing from dangerous soldiers. Orvin is a terrible, terrible human, but is there something he knows that we don’t about our narrator? Maybe I read too much into it, but these characters all seem to be and want more than they appear, and I would have loved to see them fully developed in a novel.
A lot of this sounds so negative, but it really is a fun read. The good stuff is there in Slow Bullets, but some of it got sacrificed for ‘action’ and filler. There’s a level of depth here that works so beautifully in sci-fi; science fiction is at its absolute best when it breaks down society and examines what it is to be human. Overall, this is a quick and satisfying read that’s absolutely worth picking up. I feel I was harsh on a good novella because it had the potential to be so much more.
Review originally posted to I Should Read That
Rating: 3.5/5
My disclaimer here is that I haven’t actually read any Alastair Reynolds before, despite him being on my long list of authors I need to look into. Therefore I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up Slow Bullets.
Scur is a soldier who, just as a ceasefire has been declared, is captured by the war criminal Orvin. He shoots a slow bullet under her skin, a routine procedure that usually requires an unconscious patient or at least an anesthetic. Rather than working its way harmlessly into her chest where it would painlessly remain, this bullet will dig an excruciating and ruthless path through her body and into her heart, where it will explode. She is rescued just as she loses consciousness and when she awakens, she finds herself on a drifting prison ship that hasn’t quite arrived at its destination on schedule. Trapped on the dying ship with criminals and civilians from both sides of the war, Scur and the others must set aside deeply ingrained differences in order to survive and build a community. But unknown factors disrupt the fragile peace and new priorities begin to take hold.
I have a lot of feelings about this novella. First of all, a decision should have been made to either expand this into a full-length novel or trim a lot of the fat and flesh out the story and characters. There’s just so much crammed in here and it would have been more effective to follow a more simple plot line. Many of the extra bits just didn’t feel as necessary — some things that would be more developed in a full-length book were mentioned once or twice and never again. A lot of this was fluff; it was adding action for the sake of action. The best parts of the book were when we could study the behaviour of the people on the ship and how they reacted to a range of hopeless and difficult situations.
Despite plot issues, the writing is fantastic and engaging. Reynolds does an excellent job of creating an underlying tension and sense of despair that permeates the novella. While the world building is minimal, Scur, Prad, and Orvin are all interesting characters that help drive the reader’s interest. Scur is our narrator, but is she reliable? We cannot be sure even though we get a firsthand account of the events through her. She says she doesn’t want leadership, only revenge, but assumes a leadership role anyway. Prad follows her lead too easily, particularly toward the end, but he’s supposed to be an innocent crew member fleeing from dangerous soldiers. Orvin is a terrible, terrible human, but is there something he knows that we don’t about our narrator? Maybe I read too much into it, but these characters all seem to be and want more than they appear, and I would have loved to see them fully developed in a novel.
A lot of this sounds so negative, but it really is a fun read. The good stuff is there in Slow Bullets, but some of it got sacrificed for ‘action’ and filler. There’s a level of depth here that works so beautifully in sci-fi; science fiction is at its absolute best when it breaks down society and examines what it is to be human. Overall, this is a quick and satisfying read that’s absolutely worth picking up. I feel I was harsh on a good novella because it had the potential to be so much more.
Review originally posted to I Should Read That
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler-free review
‘Some people think opening a book is a simple thing. It’s not. Most people don’t realise that you can get truly lost in a book. You can. Especially you. Do not open any of these books without my permission, Euphemia.’*
Euphemia Truelove spends a lot of time with her grandfather Griffin after her mother’s disappearance and her father’s remarriage. When Griffin is attacked and killed, Effie discovers that he has left her his magnificent library and a few mementos. Unfortunately, Effie’s father sells the books — all but one — to a sinister antiquarian book dealer. With the aid of her grandfather’s gifts, some new allies, and the only remaining book —Dragon’s Green — Effie and her friends embark on an adventure to retrieve the books and protect the powerful magic they conceal.
The first book in a new children’s series by acclaimed novelist Scarlett Thomas, Dragon’s Green has it all: brave kids outwitting bumbling adults, magic, mayhem, strong but unlikely friendships, secrets, and humor. If I had this book as a kid, the spine would have been worn out. While it is very much in the spirit of Harry Potter or Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci series, it manages to be something different in the sea of books about magic.
This is one of those rare books that both children and adults can equally enjoy. This novel is truly a love letter to books and they power they hold. With references to Shakespeare, Sophocles, Bulgakov, Harry Potter, a whole host of poets and more, this is a book for established and budding book lovers. Thomas cleverly combines magic and literature in such a way that doesn’t alienate young readers and invokes curiosity in the reader. With a narrative voice that hearkens back to Lemony Snicket, the story flows easily and does not talk down to younger readers. I felt that it puts you, whether you’re young or older, on a level playing field — you will get a similar experience whether you’re a child or an adult.
This is a perfect read for fans of Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Diana Wynne Jones, or Philip Pullman. I’d also highly recommended to anyone who has ever daydreamed about falling into a book, going on adventures, or has struggled to fit in.
*Copy courtesy of Goodreads
This is a spoiler-free review
‘Some people think opening a book is a simple thing. It’s not. Most people don’t realise that you can get truly lost in a book. You can. Especially you. Do not open any of these books without my permission, Euphemia.’*
Euphemia Truelove spends a lot of time with her grandfather Griffin after her mother’s disappearance and her father’s remarriage. When Griffin is attacked and killed, Effie discovers that he has left her his magnificent library and a few mementos. Unfortunately, Effie’s father sells the books — all but one — to a sinister antiquarian book dealer. With the aid of her grandfather’s gifts, some new allies, and the only remaining book —Dragon’s Green — Effie and her friends embark on an adventure to retrieve the books and protect the powerful magic they conceal.
The first book in a new children’s series by acclaimed novelist Scarlett Thomas, Dragon’s Green has it all: brave kids outwitting bumbling adults, magic, mayhem, strong but unlikely friendships, secrets, and humor. If I had this book as a kid, the spine would have been worn out. While it is very much in the spirit of Harry Potter or Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci series, it manages to be something different in the sea of books about magic.
This is one of those rare books that both children and adults can equally enjoy. This novel is truly a love letter to books and they power they hold. With references to Shakespeare, Sophocles, Bulgakov, Harry Potter, a whole host of poets and more, this is a book for established and budding book lovers. Thomas cleverly combines magic and literature in such a way that doesn’t alienate young readers and invokes curiosity in the reader. With a narrative voice that hearkens back to Lemony Snicket, the story flows easily and does not talk down to younger readers. I felt that it puts you, whether you’re young or older, on a level playing field — you will get a similar experience whether you’re a child or an adult.
This is a perfect read for fans of Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Diana Wynne Jones, or Philip Pullman. I’d also highly recommended to anyone who has ever daydreamed about falling into a book, going on adventures, or has struggled to fit in.
*Copy courtesy of Goodreads
This review was originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free.
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive… *
I admit I’ve only read one of Mark Lawrence’s books, Prince of Thorns, and it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. However I have been following his writing career — he’s a good guy and very active on social media — and when I heard about this book it intrigued me. I grabbed a copy and am so glad I did. It is compelling from page one; Nona gets her hooks in you and doesn’t let go until the very end.
I love a well-written, strong female character, but I find them few and far between, especially if they’re slotted into any kind of assassin or murdery role. They usually end up hating what they do and avoid it at all costs because killing is bad. Nona, however, is exactly the kind of character I’m looking for. She’s fierce and intelligent and murdery, but also a child in search of a place where she belongs. She has friends, but a complicated relationship with them. She struggles through school, has nightmares, is fiercely loyal to those who are loyal to her. She is an ordinary girl in such a way that you forget she’s living this extraordinary life. She is complex and has depth — she is far from perfect, but you don’t want to shake her every time she makes a decision. I found her so well-written, kudos to Lawrence for really hitting the nail on the head.
The world of Red Sister is one of the more unique ones I’ve read. Set on Abeth, a frozen planet orbiting a dying star, the world’s earlier inhabitants left for the stars. They left behind an artificial moon, a mirror that concentrates the weak sunlight and melts the ice in a strip across the planet’s center daily. This area is the Corridor, where the events of the book take place. The people of the Corridor scrape out a pitiful existence, but manage to survive in the harsh cold under the light of a red star.
Don’t be fooled by Nona’s age — I wouldn’t call this a YA novel despite its classification on Amazon. Red Sister is pure grimdark and fans of the genre will not be disappointed. Told in a style that is more a series of vignettes than a linear plot, Red Sister is among one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read in a long time. It’s a dark and violent novel that lacks the sexual violence that is often seen in these kinds of books — long-time fans of Lawrence’s books and new readers alike will enjoy this well-crafted novel. The only problem is now we have to wait for a sequel.
*copy courtesy of Goodreads
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free.
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive… *
I admit I’ve only read one of Mark Lawrence’s books, Prince of Thorns, and it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. However I have been following his writing career — he’s a good guy and very active on social media — and when I heard about this book it intrigued me. I grabbed a copy and am so glad I did. It is compelling from page one; Nona gets her hooks in you and doesn’t let go until the very end.
I love a well-written, strong female character, but I find them few and far between, especially if they’re slotted into any kind of assassin or murdery role. They usually end up hating what they do and avoid it at all costs because killing is bad. Nona, however, is exactly the kind of character I’m looking for. She’s fierce and intelligent and murdery, but also a child in search of a place where she belongs. She has friends, but a complicated relationship with them. She struggles through school, has nightmares, is fiercely loyal to those who are loyal to her. She is an ordinary girl in such a way that you forget she’s living this extraordinary life. She is complex and has depth — she is far from perfect, but you don’t want to shake her every time she makes a decision. I found her so well-written, kudos to Lawrence for really hitting the nail on the head.
The world of Red Sister is one of the more unique ones I’ve read. Set on Abeth, a frozen planet orbiting a dying star, the world’s earlier inhabitants left for the stars. They left behind an artificial moon, a mirror that concentrates the weak sunlight and melts the ice in a strip across the planet’s center daily. This area is the Corridor, where the events of the book take place. The people of the Corridor scrape out a pitiful existence, but manage to survive in the harsh cold under the light of a red star.
Don’t be fooled by Nona’s age — I wouldn’t call this a YA novel despite its classification on Amazon. Red Sister is pure grimdark and fans of the genre will not be disappointed. Told in a style that is more a series of vignettes than a linear plot, Red Sister is among one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read in a long time. It’s a dark and violent novel that lacks the sexual violence that is often seen in these kinds of books — long-time fans of Lawrence’s books and new readers alike will enjoy this well-crafted novel. The only problem is now we have to wait for a sequel.
*copy courtesy of Goodreads
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
Two people, ninety minutes to live, and no hope of rescue.
Max and Carys are adrift in space with only ninety minutes of oxygen. With only a tether holding back the crushing silence and loneliness, they struggle to come to terms with their situation, support each other, and maybe – just maybe – get out alive. As their story unfolds, we slowly learn about their pasts and what brought them to drift in the infinite reaches of space.
Oh my god. I don’t really know what I was expecting when I picked up Hold Back the Stars, but it wasn’t this. It’s just an absolutely stunning read and I don’t really know where to start. There’s a lot that makes this book unique; it’s not just your run-of-the-mill romance or science fiction novel. The romance in the book isn’t what makes it amazing. Max and Carys aren’t characters we haven’t seen before and surely we’ve all read books featuring forbidden romances. What makes them unique and interesting as characters is their actions. Max and Carys are ordinary people who do ordinary things — this is what made the whole story so heartbreaking. I’ve seen people go through some of the things they go through, deal with the issues they deal with, and drift apart in the same way they do. Max and Carys could be anyone — they could be you or me or your best friends.
At the same time, this book isn’t just about a romance. It’s about sacrifice, struggling to conform to society’s rules and regulations, and how one small interaction can change lives. The world-building is incredible; Khan creates a version of Earth that we could actually see in the not-so-distant future, for better or worse. What I found really fascinating is that this book is not a dystopian novel — they’re not fighting against one of the evil, tyrannical governments that have been so popular in fiction the past few years. They live in a Utopia filled with happy citizens and a global government. There’s a lot of grey area here, making the book all the more captivating.
The storytelling lends itself beautifully to the full discovery of the plot. I’m not usually a fan of a dual narrative — there’s always one plot line that’s far more interesting than the other — but Hold Back the Stars doesn’t suffer from this. Their current situation is just as compelling as their pasts. I won’t spoil it, but Khan manages the twists and turns of the plot so incredibly beautifully and you just don’t know what to expect. I kept second guessing myself and going back to reread bits until the very end.
There’s so much that I want to say but cannot and will not — you should go into this book blind if possible in order to get the most out of it. This is an incredibly unique read that manages to be both utterly heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. I highly recommend it, particularly for someone new to science fiction and just stepping out of their comfort zone. Don’t forget to bring some tissues.
This review was originally posted on I Should Read That
Two people, ninety minutes to live, and no hope of rescue.
Max and Carys are adrift in space with only ninety minutes of oxygen. With only a tether holding back the crushing silence and loneliness, they struggle to come to terms with their situation, support each other, and maybe – just maybe – get out alive. As their story unfolds, we slowly learn about their pasts and what brought them to drift in the infinite reaches of space.
Oh my god. I don’t really know what I was expecting when I picked up Hold Back the Stars, but it wasn’t this. It’s just an absolutely stunning read and I don’t really know where to start. There’s a lot that makes this book unique; it’s not just your run-of-the-mill romance or science fiction novel. The romance in the book isn’t what makes it amazing. Max and Carys aren’t characters we haven’t seen before and surely we’ve all read books featuring forbidden romances. What makes them unique and interesting as characters is their actions. Max and Carys are ordinary people who do ordinary things — this is what made the whole story so heartbreaking. I’ve seen people go through some of the things they go through, deal with the issues they deal with, and drift apart in the same way they do. Max and Carys could be anyone — they could be you or me or your best friends.
At the same time, this book isn’t just about a romance. It’s about sacrifice, struggling to conform to society’s rules and regulations, and how one small interaction can change lives. The world-building is incredible; Khan creates a version of Earth that we could actually see in the not-so-distant future, for better or worse. What I found really fascinating is that this book is not a dystopian novel — they’re not fighting against one of the evil, tyrannical governments that have been so popular in fiction the past few years. They live in a Utopia filled with happy citizens and a global government. There’s a lot of grey area here, making the book all the more captivating.
The storytelling lends itself beautifully to the full discovery of the plot. I’m not usually a fan of a dual narrative — there’s always one plot line that’s far more interesting than the other — but Hold Back the Stars doesn’t suffer from this. Their current situation is just as compelling as their pasts. I won’t spoil it, but Khan manages the twists and turns of the plot so incredibly beautifully and you just don’t know what to expect. I kept second guessing myself and going back to reread bits until the very end.
There’s so much that I want to say but cannot and will not — you should go into this book blind if possible in order to get the most out of it. This is an incredibly unique read that manages to be both utterly heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. I highly recommend it, particularly for someone new to science fiction and just stepping out of their comfort zone. Don’t forget to bring some tissues.
This review was originally posted on I Should Read That
