msrichardsreads89's Reviews (2.64k)

This was such a phenomenal sequel! I love the characters so much and their relationships are so much fun to follow. The world building is impeccable and so lush. The plot is intricate and interesting, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to get to the next book! 

This book was wonderful and so completely different from the TV show. Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical novel is a classic, full of rich prose and vivid imagery. I loved the look at times past and how times changing affected the village of Lark Rise and their customs. This book had such a nostalgic feel and had me wondering down memory lane of my own childhood and the wonder of youth. Flora Thompson included so many historical details of Lark Rise, including housing, clothes, holiday celebrations, childbirth, and social mores. Despite being detailed, the plot is very endearing and charming and urges the reader to continue reading. While this doesn't have an overarching plot, it is a very compelling, cozy read and one that I highly recommend! 

I was craving a space opera, so I was really looking forward to this one. This was a fun, fast paced, thrilling novella. This novel made me uncomfortable with the thought of just floating in deep space without any signs of other human life. It created a very claustrophobic feel. 

The build up of suspense and atmosphere was well done, and the internal and external threats that the crew faced added to the tension. I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of what kind of entity is wreaking havoc on this ship. The ending was very climactic and had me on the edge of my seat. 

That being said, I don't know if this will have much staying power with me. The audiobook was fantastic, and the narrator did a wonderful job. I appreciated that the author used her astrophysics background to add to the science in the novella. If you want something that is pacey and suspenseful, I recommend this one! 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing e-and audio ARCs in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I am impressed by Megan E. O'Keefe's ability to write a series that is so pacey and compelling to read. She kept the plot twists coming right up to the end. This book was definitely a bit longer than it needed to be, but I feel as though the ending made it worth it. There is a character in this series that we follow throughout that I just don't care about and could have done without her perspective, but I really enjoyed following the other characters. I wish we got more Grippy in this installment. We got a few quieter character interactions, which I really appreciated. The last part of this one had me on the edge of my seat. While the ending wasn't perfect, I loved the final scene. 

This second book in the Protectorate series hit the ground running. I loved that the story not only continued in this book, but it was also expanded upon and became more complex. There were lots of twists and turns, and it was so fun and kept me guessing. I will say that I think this book was a bit too long. There was a section in the middle that dragged and felt repetitive, but the pacing picked back up and didn't stop until the end. I feel like I got more connected with the characters as we learned more about them and their motivations. While some of the character decisions were unexpected, I had so much fun reading this book, and I was so excited to jump right into Catalyst Gate. 

This is an incredibly atmospheric, melancholic, and unsettling story. As far as the plot goes, not much happens, but so much meaning is packed into this book. The author was very purposeful with her prose and imagery. I absolutely loved her descriptions and her ability to tell a small story with a few sentences. I loved the exploration of cultural exploitation/appropriation, depression, exploring one's identity, and beauty standards. The ending is abrupt, so I felt like there was something missing that I couldn't identify, but this is a novel that has stuck with me since I finished it, and I find myself thinking about it often.

"I would walk out to the pagoda at the end of the jetty, skin clammy from the stench of the sea spray that left salt on the cheeks, a taste of iron on the tongue, and soon, the thousands of lights would start to twinkle and the fishermen would cast off from shore and make their way out to sea with their light traps, a slow, stately procession, the Milky Way of the seas."

“Our beaches are still waiting for the end of a war that’s been going on for so long people have stopped believing it’s real.”

This book is just wonderful. I loved the world building, which was incredibly imaginative, the characters, and the plot. I read this in a few sittings because I could not put it down. The Sanderlanche did not disappoint. 

I think this is a great entry point into the Cosmere, and for seasoned Cosmere readers, there are a lot of easter eggs to enjoy. 

I haven't read Steinbeck in years, and this was a pleasant surprise. Yes, some of this is very much a product of it's time, including toxic masculinity, racism, and outdated/negative terms. This was an interesting journey across America with his dog Charley in the fall of 1960. I really enjoyed this snapshot into the lives of people across America and the exploration of roots, language, travel, growing cities, environmentalism, and enjoying the small moments in life. This is a book that I enjoyed reading slowly, and the audiobook narrated by Gary Sinese was wonderful. I loved Steinbeck's prose and his vivid descriptions. I was not expecting the historic moment that he witnessed when he got to Louisiana, but I am glad that it was included. I find it interesting that, looking at America through Steinbeck's novel, we can see how far we've come yet how far we still need to go. 

"She said the autumn never failed to amaze her; to elate. “It is a glory,” she said, “and can’t be remembered, so that it always comes as a surprise.”

"I began to formulate a new law describing the relationship of protection to despondency. A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ"

"When people are engaged in something they are not proud of, they do not welcome witnesses. In fact, they come to believe the witness causes the trouble."

"For George is an old gray cat who has accumulated a hatred of people and things so intense that even hidden upstairs he communicates his prayer that you will go away."