I would give this book 10 stars out of 5, and I look forward to reading it again. 

This one sets the stage for the ART x Murderbot situations in the future and I am grateful for it. 

Thirsty Divergent. 

Ever since I first picked up Ayesha at Last many years ago, Uzmâ Jalaluddin's books have become a must buy for me, so when I saw this one, I was excited to read it. The title gives it away a bit but it's centred on the convergence of three holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan (and specifically Eid.) in a cozy little town in Canada called Snow Falls.  

I do not read romance novels for their adherence to reality or likelihood - just that they -could- happen, if circumstances were just right. I was delighted by all scenarios and schemes and drama, I loved the commitment to showcasing holidays that still don't get a lot of airtime in December - even when they're happening, and of course, I enjoyed the references to the Big Snowstorm (the official dates don't matter) it was a delightful scenario to set the stage for the rest of it all. 

I loved the description of Snow Falls and wish I could visit again in person - what a dreamy Canadian town. 

There is character growth. There are Serious Issues. There is real communication, respect, drama, and love and family and community and it's just a very nice cozy romantic book to get lost in in December. 

Happy to have gotten a chance to read this book early courtesy of Netgalley and the Publisher. Check it out. 

I first read this book in 2019, as part of the read harder challenge, and it changed my life. 

Hyperbole? No. The absolute fixation I have on this series and murderbot cannot be overstated. I am always so flabbergasted that this is a novella. The world building, the stage setting, the character development and building, the interpersonal relationships between Mensa and her crew, her crew and Murderbot, so much more than the sum of its pages. 

This is the perfect book (for me)  and helped rekindle my love of reading after an incredible dry spell. 

It's funny, it's sarcastic in a very good way, and while I read this book a few times in book form, I highly recommend the narration by Kevin R. Free as well. He's just a gem and every character voice is just so good. 

 I think the best part about this book, is that it starts a fantastic series, so if like me, if you want more Murderbot, you can have it!

World Running Down by Al Hess was such an interesting exploration of identity, friendship, artificial intelligence, and what a peri-apocalyptic future might look like, and left me with a lot to think about. 

There is the archetype of the gated city of splendour and the surrounding communities of struggle and strife, but both are shown with care I think.  On that note, I was intrigued by some of the settings of the story - and I thought the world building was brilliant: 
- Salt Lake City as a gated city of plenty, run by artificial intelligences called Stewards, and a human council.  
- Several outer communities in varied states of anti-technology, stealing from travellers, but in a way that was implied to be subsistence based rather than just based around cruelty like some of the city based "respectable" criminals.  There is a designated queer community. 

There is a love story, some unexpected allies, a mystery, ADHD rep, and queer, trans rep. It's got a great combination of cozy and adventure - and just some deep conversations. I think there is a lot going on in this book, and I think for the most part, it was really well done. 

On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe was cute and funny, and an easy, feel good read. I couldn't put it down and stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it. 

 

I thought the main characters, Everyly and Logan,  were both people to root for, and I was cheering for their love on the sidelines. I am not into reality TV, or makeover shows, or any of that stuff, but this was a fun imagining of what that might look like in a fat-affirming environment. 

 

I found the instances and descriptions of fatphobia in this, appropriate and not-gratuitous. The main character wasn't 100% body positivity rah rah in the beginning, but she also didn't hate herself, which I think can sometimes be a fine balance in stories centering fat experiences in fiction, but something that I think the authour did really well. I thought some of the situations in the story were also very relatable more broadly. 

 

I loved the character growth from start to finish - it also felt like the natural outcome of what was happening in the story. 

 

The grumpy cinnamon roll is a romance trope I am fond of, so that hit the spot for me. There are a few spicy bits in this novel, I didn't find them particularly explicit, but they were also not fade to black. 

 

Some serious themes in here that were touched on, and offered as a heads up in the beginning of the story, and most of these circumstances didn't just feel plonked in there for arbitrary reasons, but meshed well with who the characters became, their motivations, and some of the ways they responded to the world. 

 

Over all, I thought this was very enjoyable and well done. There were a few points in the story that gave me pause, but not enough to be hugely negative. If you know too much about the tattoo industry, you might need to suspend some disbelief, but I didn't think that was a biggie. There are a certain amount of fantasy outcomes here, as in any romance, and I think books like that are very comforting and just a worthwhile respite from reality. 

 

Thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher for an early copy of this book. It's coming out December 26, 2023. 

This book is a warm hug, but with a bit more peril and action than Baldree's first book Legends and Lattes. Bookshops and Bonedust, still maintains the cozy fantasy vibe of the first book, and as with the first, offers a soft landing. 

I enjoyed the depictions of friendship and collaboration within the community. The world building and character building is excellent - very immersive. I find the interpersonal relationship building very thoughtful and creative. Highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover that just wants a bit of a gentle read. The world is still vibrant and interesting, but not sexist or hateful - there are misunderstandings, and very clear villains and heroes - in a way that can be very comforting, especially when done well, as it is in this book. 

Travis Baldree started out as an audiobook narrator, so the narration quality is absolutely excellent - he really brings his characters to life. 

Thanks to Macmillian Audio for advanced access via Netgalley.

I want to digest this one,  before writing anything more extensive. I intend on coming back and sharing more thoughts - but  I enjoyed it quite a bit, and think it's a very good retelling. 

I was largely ambivalent about this book.