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roadtripreader's Reviews (357)
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's Lush, it's trippy, a bit cosmic with a touch of Fae. - Oh yeah it's like a horrorshow about ageing and yet it's something bordering on beautiful.
Is it dimentia or maybe Alzheimers? Is it just the memory loss that comes with being that age? Is it an alien? Is it Eldritch? Is it a chemical in the garden that makes hallucintation come at you in a hazy way and makes you forget yesterday but remember the long lost past vividly?
I was engaged right through to the end.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I must admit I was a bit weary in the first few chapters. The UN namedropping didn't have the intended effect or maybe that was exactly the effect the writer wanted? It felt to UNy which would be great 10-15 years ago when the body was reverred, relevant and perceived as a galvanizing entity. Now it's a glorified FiFa except the bribes and money exchanges aren't as brazen or public but under the table and hsrder to untangle. I almost shut the book.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The main character is 65 years old and lives at the edge of a drowning world. The sea levels have risen and she may or may not be losing her mind regarding her magnificent, thriving riotous, beautiful garden.
Sometimes I felt like the author was using the fear of ageing and confirming aching bones and loss of motivation as a horror tool
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
☆Breone's first memory
☆A grandma and an alien sitting down for a nice spot of tea and cucumber sandwiches
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “All worlds changed; our task was to change with them, not argue with an entire planet. Humanity was too small, too insignificant, to cause the changes we were seeing” (Breone Hemmerli on the rising sea levels)
🖤 “Memory is a form of fiction—a story that keeps the days threaded together in proper order” (And so I wonder about Breone)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Irisland
■Tura
■ Ecosystems thriving instead of dying
■Eleanor of Aquitaine
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Is it dimentia or maybe Alzheimers? Is it just the memory loss that comes with being that age? Is it an alien? Is it Eldritch? Is it a chemical in the garden that makes hallucintation come at you in a hazy way and makes you forget yesterday but remember the long lost past vividly?
I was engaged right through to the end.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I must admit I was a bit weary in the first few chapters. The UN namedropping didn't have the intended effect or maybe that was exactly the effect the writer wanted? It felt to UNy which would be great 10-15 years ago when the body was reverred, relevant and perceived as a galvanizing entity. Now it's a glorified FiFa except the bribes and money exchanges aren't as brazen or public but under the table and hsrder to untangle. I almost shut the book.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The main character is 65 years old and lives at the edge of a drowning world. The sea levels have risen and she may or may not be losing her mind regarding her magnificent, thriving riotous, beautiful garden.
Sometimes I felt like the author was using the fear of ageing and confirming aching bones and loss of motivation as a horror tool
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
☆Breone's first memory
☆A grandma and an alien sitting down for a nice spot of tea and cucumber sandwiches
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “All worlds changed; our task was to change with them, not argue with an entire planet. Humanity was too small, too insignificant, to cause the changes we were seeing” (Breone Hemmerli on the rising sea levels)
🖤 “Memory is a form of fiction—a story that keeps the days threaded together in proper order” (And so I wonder about Breone)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Irisland
■Tura
■ Ecosystems thriving instead of dying
■Eleanor of Aquitaine
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love books that just come out of nowhere and knock you right in the emo chemical dispensing center of the brain .
The prose alone had me inlove with this story. Not too lyrical, comfortable and deeply gothic - and it's still scifi. It's painful, dark and oh so beautiful. Oh and the fact that the canal in this Venice-like watered city is filled with the bodies of the dead (not a serial killer but willing water burials) just gives it a hopeless and helpless dire feel to it.
4.75 ⭐ not to worry, the .75 shows up on my Storygraph.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Somebody said the dead need to stay dead. But I think there must be a caveat - dead stay dead except for vengeance. I love a good vengeance plot.
Maybe a god said: Not everybody deserves to be alive. But you do. And he doesn't. - Winfield
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I started out pitying the Jewel, Winfield, Nero but how insensitive and condescending of me. The courtesans/prostitues who live in the brothel House Biccheiri who've had no voice, no agency, aren't allowed to scream, or cry must only submit. And yet, they possess a strength, some indomitable spirit to have survived, endured this long and man are they resilient.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
A couple of stellar moments:
☆Winfield's Resurrection. It was moody and dark and the trauma of the courtesans is so great they felt no fear they just rolled with it.
☆Winfield's deciding moment: He can try to unmake me," she says. "But he cannot unperson me. I will always be who I am.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have not even given our god a name. Maybe in another thousand years.” (Funeral procession to a watery Church)
🖤 “Imagine Beowulf showing up only to discover the Danes protecting Grendel, guarding him while he eats their people..” (On the rich getting away with murder )
🖤 “she looks radiant, not alive, something else, brimming with light. The light of vengeance, I think with a little twist of envy. The light of fury. I” (on the formidable Winfield)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Dinoflagellates, Phlebuttons
■ The Cull: open season killing.
■ Neo-Nobility
■Planet Buying(shameful rich)
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
The prose alone had me inlove with this story. Not too lyrical, comfortable and deeply gothic - and it's still scifi. It's painful, dark and oh so beautiful. Oh and the fact that the canal in this Venice-like watered city is filled with the bodies of the dead (not a serial killer but willing water burials) just gives it a hopeless and helpless dire feel to it.
4.75 ⭐ not to worry, the .75 shows up on my Storygraph.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Somebody said the dead need to stay dead. But I think there must be a caveat - dead stay dead except for vengeance. I love a good vengeance plot.
Maybe a god said: Not everybody deserves to be alive. But you do. And he doesn't. - Winfield
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I started out pitying the Jewel, Winfield, Nero but how insensitive and condescending of me. The courtesans/prostitues who live in the brothel House Biccheiri who've had no voice, no agency, aren't allowed to scream, or cry must only submit. And yet, they possess a strength, some indomitable spirit to have survived, endured this long and man are they resilient.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
A couple of stellar moments:
☆Winfield's Resurrection. It was moody and dark and the trauma of the courtesans is so great they felt no fear they just rolled with it.
☆Winfield's deciding moment: He can try to unmake me," she says. "But he cannot unperson me. I will always be who I am.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have not even given our god a name. Maybe in another thousand years.” (Funeral procession to a watery Church)
🖤 “Imagine Beowulf showing up only to discover the Danes protecting Grendel, guarding him while he eats their people..” (On the rich getting away with murder )
🖤 “she looks radiant, not alive, something else, brimming with light. The light of vengeance, I think with a little twist of envy. The light of fury. I” (on the formidable Winfield)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Dinoflagellates, Phlebuttons
■ The Cull: open season killing.
■ Neo-Nobility
■Planet Buying(shameful rich)
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My only question is whhhhyyy - why is it so short?
There is a big bad patriarchal empire that uses a matriarchal mage clans to do the important business of opening portals. But the empire is always punishing women. At the height of its merciless cruelty, women's flesh is to be flayed. It's upsetting. Its enraging. It's a damn good story.
The subtle love story in the backdrop of all of this had me worrying like a mother hen. Like are you ladies even going to survive to anything beyond dinner and a kiss?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Names are so important in this story and their erasure and replacement with something not belonging has this effect on the psyche. A "traitor" becomes known only as traitor as is her entire family - that is frightful. Imagine a child going to class and they have to answer to the name Traitor. No peace for the ones left behind after the execution.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Beautifully, tragically crafted. At the height of authority, The main character starmage has no power and is the same as ll the other women on worlds dominated by the Empire. Just a body whose power is to be used and replaced in the mist vicious way.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That horrifying execution
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Hatred turns to pity, turns to exhaustion. No one has the energy to fight forever” (Profound. And true.)
🖤 “You realize you can choose to be happy, and accept the love you have been given; or you can remain in despair forever” (Choosing is the hardest part)
🖤 “Slaughter a chicken, to warn the monkeys” (Broadscasted Executions tend to have that effect.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Ansible Training is basically Conversion Therapy for lesbian mages. Or like a mage nunery.
■Song-Sisters: Twinning Song
■ Starmage
■Magebright
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
There is a big bad patriarchal empire that uses a matriarchal mage clans to do the important business of opening portals. But the empire is always punishing women. At the height of its merciless cruelty, women's flesh is to be flayed. It's upsetting. Its enraging. It's a damn good story.
The subtle love story in the backdrop of all of this had me worrying like a mother hen. Like are you ladies even going to survive to anything beyond dinner and a kiss?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Names are so important in this story and their erasure and replacement with something not belonging has this effect on the psyche. A "traitor" becomes known only as traitor as is her entire family - that is frightful. Imagine a child going to class and they have to answer to the name Traitor. No peace for the ones left behind after the execution.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Beautifully, tragically crafted. At the height of authority, The main character starmage has no power and is the same as ll the other women on worlds dominated by the Empire. Just a body whose power is to be used and replaced in the mist vicious way.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That horrifying execution
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Hatred turns to pity, turns to exhaustion. No one has the energy to fight forever” (Profound. And true.)
🖤 “You realize you can choose to be happy, and accept the love you have been given; or you can remain in despair forever” (Choosing is the hardest part)
🖤 “Slaughter a chicken, to warn the monkeys” (Broadscasted Executions tend to have that effect.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Ansible Training is basically Conversion Therapy for lesbian mages. Or like a mage nunery.
■Song-Sisters: Twinning Song
■ Starmage
■Magebright
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The mother wound endures even in a dystopian future - It just wasn't it for me. Its not a bad story, there's just something missing. I take author endorsements with a pinch of salt but I have to admit Ken Liu's thumbs up played a huge factor in getting me into this novella.
You know what's weird? I wanted Marmeg to succeed even though I didn't really enjoy the book. She still kept me in it and I didnt even like her.
The chicken adobo was one of the highlights and that was in the beginning. Seriously, After reading this, I ordered takeout.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, the utter bleakness of this dystopian near-future was defined extremely well. I honestly would want to take a swig of immortality to live in that world. Because of this seamless depiction of not-quite-hell-on-earth but kind of a mass materialism coupled with discontent and maybe anui, it had me seriously contemplating rounding up from 2.5 to 3. But I read it, some parts were nice but a 3 would mean I liked it quite a bit. So no. 2.5/2.75.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Marmeg is one of those characters you know will come out victorious but it'll be rough AF for her because she pushes against the tide until it bends to her will. I didn't like Marmeg at all, but I sure as hell respect the hustle. That is a fighter deep in her spirit.
Hhhm, a grown man (straight out of the military service abroad) going through a Tyler Durdan/Narrator Fight Club phase, should not be nicknamed Jeffy. Como que Jeffy?
He should just be Jeff or Jeffrey.
Also not a fan of the slang/cutting words. I understand it's to translate their social class and that's their vernacular but I couldn't finish Firestarter-Adrian Tchaikovsky for that reason - and I love all hisnother books so its definitely a book pet peeve of mine. I'm surprised I got through this one.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Marmeg made a friend!🤗
Ardha, Marmeg and an actual glacier in the desert.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I want more. Six-digit ratings. Big money and benefits jobs. Make some rules, even with no vote. Run the world. Not be run down by it.” (The essence of Marmeg)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Androgynous Moots
■exoskeletons, chips, smartskins
■ Postnatal vs Nat citizens
■Parkour Times a Hundred
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Science Fiction Books by 2025
You know what's weird? I wanted Marmeg to succeed even though I didn't really enjoy the book. She still kept me in it and I didnt even like her.
The chicken adobo was one of the highlights and that was in the beginning. Seriously, After reading this, I ordered takeout.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, the utter bleakness of this dystopian near-future was defined extremely well. I honestly would want to take a swig of immortality to live in that world. Because of this seamless depiction of not-quite-hell-on-earth but kind of a mass materialism coupled with discontent and maybe anui, it had me seriously contemplating rounding up from 2.5 to 3. But I read it, some parts were nice but a 3 would mean I liked it quite a bit. So no. 2.5/2.75.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Marmeg is one of those characters you know will come out victorious but it'll be rough AF for her because she pushes against the tide until it bends to her will. I didn't like Marmeg at all, but I sure as hell respect the hustle. That is a fighter deep in her spirit.
Hhhm, a grown man (straight out of the military service abroad) going through a Tyler Durdan/Narrator Fight Club phase, should not be nicknamed Jeffy. Como que Jeffy?
He should just be Jeff or Jeffrey.
Also not a fan of the slang/cutting words. I understand it's to translate their social class and that's their vernacular but I couldn't finish Firestarter-Adrian Tchaikovsky for that reason - and I love all hisnother books so its definitely a book pet peeve of mine. I'm surprised I got through this one.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Marmeg made a friend!🤗
Ardha, Marmeg and an actual glacier in the desert.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I want more. Six-digit ratings. Big money and benefits jobs. Make some rules, even with no vote. Run the world. Not be run down by it.” (The essence of Marmeg)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Androgynous Moots
■exoskeletons, chips, smartskins
■ Postnatal vs Nat citizens
■Parkour Times a Hundred
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Science Fiction Books by 2025
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Are we really just the 3 pounds in our skulls making us do stuff -Don't mind me I'm having an existential debate with no one, eh maybe my conscious is debating my subconscious. Toby's story really got me a little teary-eyed and a ton curious. Not just the neurological part but the relationship between Toby and his mom it's both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's like Robocop but without the cop, the robot or the murders and mayhem. It's a kid deal bad cards in life and technology allows his mind to transcend the physical confines of his body.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
His mama is a gem.
Toby is so childlike even with his unlimited processing capacity.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
😥Toby needing his mama whilst out in space and having the crew patch her in. Reading together was so bittersweet.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Nobody likes surprises in space travel.” (True, true see that's how Scifi Horrors begin)
🖤 “The moon loomed, familiar and white, filling most of my view as I rotated toward it: my cratered dream; my harsh mistress. The blanched horizon terrified me.” (Toby on imminent landing and legacy creation)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Intact Brain & Subconscious transference into a non-living object
■ Space Travel without bodies.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's like Robocop but without the cop, the robot or the murders and mayhem. It's a kid deal bad cards in life and technology allows his mind to transcend the physical confines of his body.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
His mama is a gem.
Toby is so childlike even with his unlimited processing capacity.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
😥Toby needing his mama whilst out in space and having the crew patch her in. Reading together was so bittersweet.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Nobody likes surprises in space travel.” (True, true see that's how Scifi Horrors begin)
🖤 “The moon loomed, familiar and white, filling most of my view as I rotated toward it: my cratered dream; my harsh mistress. The blanched horizon terrified me.” (Toby on imminent landing and legacy creation)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Intact Brain & Subconscious transference into a non-living object
■ Space Travel without bodies.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I mean can I say slam dunk? - What's the one where you score the point but it's not a perfect 5 but it was marvelous to watch? Cause that's this.
From Glowups to Glowdowns, heists and shootouts in the streets against the backdrop of the most stunning planet Rada- everything worth happening, happens in New Delphi.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Both main protagonists are married to other people. There's a theft and a legacy at stake. Both protagonists are enemy killing machines. My heart swelled with excitement.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Honestly, Cassidy Baena and Gabriel Adler can just piss off. In what world did that seem like a good idea? Some people just dive right into the deep end of a bad idea and think they can just keep swimming.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Ramona and Matias, aerial hanging over the Davenport building looking down on a passed out Haider Davenport and Ramona being an absolute badass.🔥
Oh yeah and Haider Davenport!
“Haider chuckled. “You have what you need. Go forth, brave heroes, track down the traitors, and recover your data so you can pay me. I wouldn’t recover the spouses, however. Seems like a lost cause.” (If only we could get a book on Haider)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “On Rada, a kinsmen family’s standing was vital. It could mean the difference between being targeted in a feud and being invited to a negotiation table. Deals were offered and agreed upon based on the respect afforded to one’s family name.” (the literal race to get them good is on)
🖤 “She didn’t trust him, but she trusted the rage she’d seen in his eyes when his wife kissed her husband.” (Ramona being insanely astute)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Secare: Seco Blade
■ Secare Origin story is badass
■Seco Martial Arts
■ Sabetera Geniocracy
■Davenport Speed&Coordination
■Tarim Mutation
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
From Glowups to Glowdowns, heists and shootouts in the streets against the backdrop of the most stunning planet Rada- everything worth happening, happens in New Delphi.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Both main protagonists are married to other people. There's a theft and a legacy at stake. Both protagonists are enemy killing machines. My heart swelled with excitement.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Honestly, Cassidy Baena and Gabriel Adler can just piss off. In what world did that seem like a good idea? Some people just dive right into the deep end of a bad idea and think they can just keep swimming.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Ramona and Matias, aerial hanging over the Davenport building looking down on a passed out Haider Davenport and Ramona being an absolute badass.🔥
Oh yeah and Haider Davenport!
“Haider chuckled. “You have what you need. Go forth, brave heroes, track down the traitors, and recover your data so you can pay me. I wouldn’t recover the spouses, however. Seems like a lost cause.” (If only we could get a book on Haider)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “On Rada, a kinsmen family’s standing was vital. It could mean the difference between being targeted in a feud and being invited to a negotiation table. Deals were offered and agreed upon based on the respect afforded to one’s family name.” (the literal race to get them good is on)
🖤 “She didn’t trust him, but she trusted the rage she’d seen in his eyes when his wife kissed her husband.” (Ramona being insanely astute)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Secare: Seco Blade
■ Secare Origin story is badass
■Seco Martial Arts
■ Sabetera Geniocracy
■Davenport Speed&Coordination
■Tarim Mutation
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A 2.75 ⭐ not rounded up😥
Bit disappointed. - I came here for a continuation of the Sean Koslov story with Jennifer under the Koslov Universe but sadly nope.
I think this should have been a standalone novella but I can see why it was placed in Kinsmen, but Koslov? Sure sure, the Orbital Embassy links them but Koslov is literally the last name of the main character in book 1 which would stand to reason that he has to show up or at least set it in Numeria.
My Cover over Blurb russian roulette did not pay off this time. Next time.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I mean that's a whole lot of work to get a bride. The Reigh were doing way too much. It's a good plot device but I think I just could rise to the occasion to appreciate it.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
There's Diedre , Fatima, Robert, Timur, Lord Nagrad etcetera and honestly I forgot their character essence as soon as I shut of my Paperwhite. I'm not wired to forget so easily, so I'm kinda bummed they didn't make a lasting impression on me. Not even a "hate them" impression. More like "eh...who????".
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Lord Nagrad is something else 😯:
"The man is the trunk of a family, but the woman is its root. In our society, men own the children and the means of war. Everything else is owned by the woman. And too often a woman s first loyalty is to her mother instead of her husband. It tends to make matters complicated. A woman of the foreign blood has no one to turn to. She would exist solely at the mercy of her husband."
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have been tested, and I'm not sure we've passed. Why do I have a feeling this isn't going to end well?” (Skulduggery and plotting is afoot)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Orbital Embassy
■ The Reigh & Vered
■ Vunta Aliens
■WTF is a "Proportion Scale" huh?
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Bit disappointed. - I came here for a continuation of the Sean Koslov story with Jennifer under the Koslov Universe but sadly nope.
I think this should have been a standalone novella but I can see why it was placed in Kinsmen, but Koslov? Sure sure, the Orbital Embassy links them but Koslov is literally the last name of the main character in book 1 which would stand to reason that he has to show up or at least set it in Numeria.
My Cover over Blurb russian roulette did not pay off this time. Next time.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I mean that's a whole lot of work to get a bride. The Reigh were doing way too much. It's a good plot device but I think I just could rise to the occasion to appreciate it.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
There's Diedre , Fatima, Robert, Timur, Lord Nagrad etcetera and honestly I forgot their character essence as soon as I shut of my Paperwhite. I'm not wired to forget so easily, so I'm kinda bummed they didn't make a lasting impression on me. Not even a "hate them" impression. More like "eh...who????".
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Lord Nagrad is something else 😯:
"The man is the trunk of a family, but the woman is its root. In our society, men own the children and the means of war. Everything else is owned by the woman. And too often a woman s first loyalty is to her mother instead of her husband. It tends to make matters complicated. A woman of the foreign blood has no one to turn to. She would exist solely at the mercy of her husband."
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have been tested, and I'm not sure we've passed. Why do I have a feeling this isn't going to end well?” (Skulduggery and plotting is afoot)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Orbital Embassy
■ The Reigh & Vered
■ Vunta Aliens
■WTF is a "Proportion Scale" huh?
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
PSA: Paging Venturo Escana. Paging Venturo. Oh, wait there you are. This way➡️STRAIGHT TO my Book Husband Shelf you go sir. I will hear no arguments. Off with your golden godlike hotness. Get in there, scoot scoot and play nice with the others. I think Valroy is up for a chat? You can hang out with Brishen.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This was a story of Hope and Hotness and I am here for it. The introduction of Captain Claire Shannon is deeply, exhaustingly, drainingly, traumatically relatable. But it isn't the war that was a fascinating read it was surviving the war, going out as a refugee and finding a way to thrive. It was heartwarming.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Claire Shannon felt so disconnected in the beginning Even her suicidal ideation was less of a burning flame and more like spent ashes in an ashtray. But her growth was just amazing. She began to "awaken" from the moment she stepped into Gaurdian building.
Claire decided to She's All That herself and I loved it!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
✔️Well job hunting is hard enough. How do you ace an interview when the lead interviewer is Venturo Escana THE Chief psychic panty-dropper😳. Damn Claire, you really are a War Captain because that took nerves of steel
✔️Rooftop barbecue and deep conversations💔
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Psychers love other psychers. Something about joining of the minds, and all that." (oh Claire. That was your sign silly)
🖤 “Killing a civilian would be sloppy and the height of bad manners” (uhm, Welcome to New Delphi🤷🏻♀️ Kinsmen be wild)
🖤 “He was keeping his mind firmly away from hers. It was an exquisitely polite gesture. She had expected him to batter her the moment she entered the room.” (Venturo Escana being🔥gentleman )
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Psychers: Mind Vision, Smudging, Dimming, Burning
■ PPP: Pressure Probe
■Meteor Shower Virus
■Flower Planet Rada vs Horror Death Planet Uleys
■Guardian Building
■Bionet Bionet Suit, Security Forces Bite
■Passion Cones! Nom nom nom
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This was a story of Hope and Hotness and I am here for it. The introduction of Captain Claire Shannon is deeply, exhaustingly, drainingly, traumatically relatable. But it isn't the war that was a fascinating read it was surviving the war, going out as a refugee and finding a way to thrive. It was heartwarming.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Claire Shannon felt so disconnected in the beginning Even her suicidal ideation was less of a burning flame and more like spent ashes in an ashtray. But her growth was just amazing. She began to "awaken" from the moment she stepped into Gaurdian building.
Claire decided to She's All That herself and I loved it!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
✔️Well job hunting is hard enough. How do you ace an interview when the lead interviewer is Venturo Escana THE Chief psychic panty-dropper😳. Damn Claire, you really are a War Captain because that took nerves of steel
✔️Rooftop barbecue and deep conversations💔
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Psychers love other psychers. Something about joining of the minds, and all that." (oh Claire. That was your sign silly)
🖤 “Killing a civilian would be sloppy and the height of bad manners” (uhm, Welcome to New Delphi🤷🏻♀️ Kinsmen be wild)
🖤 “He was keeping his mind firmly away from hers. It was an exquisitely polite gesture. She had expected him to batter her the moment she entered the room.” (Venturo Escana being🔥gentleman )
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Psychers: Mind Vision, Smudging, Dimming, Burning
■ PPP: Pressure Probe
■Meteor Shower Virus
■Flower Planet Rada vs Horror Death Planet Uleys
■Guardian Building
■Bionet Bionet Suit, Security Forces Bite
■Passion Cones! Nom nom nom
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, that started out spicy - I'm still curious abou Bella's managerial style letting two employees bone in the supply closet and actually yelling at the to "not get any fluids on the merchandise". Like Uhm...WTF and also I never EVER want to be that comfortable with my boss. Ever.
Brazen openings are either hit or miss but this time, the sheer audacity of everything in this short is a hit for me.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's the year 2145 and things are about as Dystopian-TechAdvanced-Bleak-Yet-Hopeful that one would expect of the future.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Oh John (Threezed) a former slave turned indentured laborer who used to stream naked at night whilst journaling in a cubicle out there. When we meet him, he's won his freedom. When I said bleak tech future, I was not picturing this much suffering.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
FFS! even the future has these neanderthals. If you've ever had the "Where are you from originally question thrown at you - this scene captured the undertones:
The man looked at him more closely, his pale blue eyes like flecks of aluminum-doped glass. “Where you from?”
“Farm outside Lucky Lake.”
The man gave a big-throated laugh that vacuumed geniality out of the air. “No. I mean, where are you from originally?”
It was a menacing question.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “He turned back just once before he fled, [...] saw Med transform into an avenging angel. Only she was better than an angel. She was real, made of carbon alloy and flesh, not feathers and faith. She’d saved him. Possibly she’d even saved the world.” (Well, now I want to meet Med)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Cross Species Biohacking
■Indenture School Dormitory, WTF😲
■ Franchising people
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Brazen openings are either hit or miss but this time, the sheer audacity of everything in this short is a hit for me.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's the year 2145 and things are about as Dystopian-TechAdvanced-Bleak-Yet-Hopeful that one would expect of the future.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Oh John (Threezed) a former slave turned indentured laborer who used to stream naked at night whilst journaling in a cubicle out there. When we meet him, he's won his freedom. When I said bleak tech future, I was not picturing this much suffering.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
FFS! even the future has these neanderthals. If you've ever had the "Where are you from originally question thrown at you - this scene captured the undertones:
The man looked at him more closely, his pale blue eyes like flecks of aluminum-doped glass. “Where you from?”
“Farm outside Lucky Lake.”
The man gave a big-throated laugh that vacuumed geniality out of the air. “No. I mean, where are you from originally?”
It was a menacing question.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “He turned back just once before he fled, [...] saw Med transform into an avenging angel. Only she was better than an angel. She was real, made of carbon alloy and flesh, not feathers and faith. She’d saved him. Possibly she’d even saved the world.” (Well, now I want to meet Med)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Cross Species Biohacking
■Indenture School Dormitory, WTF😲
■ Franchising people
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Is the Koslov Universe just a short story duology? - because if so, that'sa bit cruel- such a likeable set of characters and creatures. I thoroughly enjoyed this duel with biotech and tech versus the antiquated paper records.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Defeating the hackers to regain lost data but it's fun and a little kooky.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I can feel the insomnia and haze faze rolling of Sean Koslov. Like he could sleep for a week.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Sean And Vern in discussion and Gods and basic worshipper-god agreement:
Verne picked up a stick, hefted it in his hand, and hit the idol. Thwack!
Sean stopped. “Verne?”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“He has been a bad god,” Verne said grimly. “He must be punished.”
Thwack! Thwack!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Let's Begin. It's a chimera, so give it to me piece by piece.” (Jennirfer on creating that which Nannybot seeks)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Neumria
■Trogomet
■The Questing Beast
■Dwarf Cows
■ Nannybot🤣
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Defeating the hackers to regain lost data but it's fun and a little kooky.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I can feel the insomnia and haze faze rolling of Sean Koslov. Like he could sleep for a week.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Sean And Vern in discussion and Gods and basic worshipper-god agreement:
Verne picked up a stick, hefted it in his hand, and hit the idol. Thwack!
Sean stopped. “Verne?”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“He has been a bad god,” Verne said grimly. “He must be punished.”
Thwack! Thwack!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Let's Begin. It's a chimera, so give it to me piece by piece.” (Jennirfer on creating that which Nannybot seeks)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Neumria
■Trogomet
■The Questing Beast
■Dwarf Cows
■ Nannybot🤣
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025