patlo's Reviews (1.32k)

Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do about It

3.5

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Not my favorite McLaren, but it's a welcoming and safe conversation for folks who are wrestling with faith-doubt and are hoping to land back in faith. Like most of his work, it's open in welcome for all perspectives and requests that readers respond in welcome rather than certainty.

The Mercy of Gods

James S. A. Corey

4.75

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Without giving away details.. very engaging, immersive, character driven hard sci-fi. More serious and intricate than The Expanse; harder to follow (in a good way). I cannot wait for Book 2..

Content Warnings

Babylon's Ashes

James S. A. Corey

3.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Compulsory

Martha Wells

3.5

adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

In Ascension

Martin MacInnes

5.0

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Majestic, mind shifting, mysterious, glorious. One of those novels I will never forget reading.

It’s like nothing I’ve ever read; the comparisons to Andy Weir etc fall flat.

Excellent character based literary sci-fi; read if you don’t need clear explanations and big action scenes.