Mood reader, will try again another time 

⭐ 5/5 ⭐

In the utopia of Lucille, everyone knows there are no monsters. So when a strange entity appears to teenager Jam, telling her of a monster in her best friend's house, it comes as a shock. Jam and the entity Pet must hunt down this monster that shouldn't exist.

- I loved the idea of Lucille, this utopia where after a revolution there are no monster (e.g. murderers, predators etc). I particularly love how open and normal queer and polyamorous lives are and that none of the characters have any issue with these things. However, I really enjoy the dismantling of this utopic idea and how blind people can be when they think they've dealt with all the problems.

- The autistic representation seems well done and I like how Jam isn't shown as a stereotype but a whole, well-rounded human and that her society does not treat her as less. In fact I love how her traits are used to enhance the story in a way that seems perfectly natural.

- Pet and the idea of how Pet came to be was really cool. Pet's appearance sounded amazing and super vivid. The way Pet and Jam interact is fun too.

I think this would be an excellent book for lots of people. For kids and younger teens I think it's an excellent book about community strength but also the need to avoid complacency, plus lots of queer and global majority representation. For others it's an easy to digest story with warnings but incredibly enjoyable.

⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐

Audiobook narrated by David Thorpe.

A detailed account of the first Western attempt to climb Everest and the trials and hazards faced in 1920s mountaineering.

- This is a very comprehensive account, and super detailed. I enjoyed this as I like knowing lots of little details but I can see how this could annoy readers who prefer a more action focused experience. For example, we get detailed histories on a lot of the climbers and in detail descriptions of the rations that were packed.

- The detail does lend itself beautifully to picturing landscapes. The aspects of the Himalayas travelled through and experienced by both the reconissence and attempt parties were vividly described and easily imaginable. I would happily read a book similar to this but dedicated to the culture of Tibet and the Himalayas.

- The author does a good job of addressing attitudes in climbing. There's intense and in-depth coverage over the benefits of supplemental oxygen throughout the book. Though not explicitly addressed until the end of the book and the epilogue, the author does discuss the treatment of Sherpas as both porters and guides and discusses some of the systemic racism faced by these people over the last century.

Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend to those who enjoy early 20th century adventure accounts and mountaineering.

⭐ 4/5 ⭐

A thought-provoking sci-fi novel. A human envy arrives on a world where cold is prevailing and the sentient inhabitants spend most of their lives between sexes. It explores prejudice, societal differences and what it means to belong.

- The book starts slow and it took a while for me to get into it. However, after some background and once the plot has time to develop I couldn't stop listening. It was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be.

- Considering this was originally published in 1969, it was wonderfully forward thinking. As a genderfluid person, I love how the native inhabitants remained androgynous most of the time and the mechanisms for Chemour, the process during which an individual gains a sex for a time. I would love to explore this theme more.

- The society and world is complex and well thought out. Primarily there are two countries in the story and each has a different societal system and acceptable norms. I also enjoyed the traditional stories and the way the cold and snow were conveyed 

For the sci-fi reader who likes to think on their books. I look forward to reading more of the Hainish cycle.

⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐

Another Murderbot installment. Something has happened to Murderbot that is affecting its performance. Trying to power on through, it accompanies its humans to find some colonists and protect them from a corporation that wants to enlist them for indentured servitude.

- The same Murderbot depressed sarcasm that we all know and love is present in full force and I love it. I also adore Murderbot and ART's interactions.

- The plot itself was okay. It wasn't anything massively different or groundbreaking but it was comfortable and enjoyable.

- There are hints of growth and change for Murderbot and I'm really interested to see where Wells takes it from here. 

A solid but not particularly innovative entry. Fans of the series will enjoy.

⭐ 4/5 ⭐

Audiobook narrated by David Attenborough.

Well known and loved presenter David Attenborough discusses the impact human ls have had on the natural world , why we should change to be more accommodating if nature and what may happen if we do not.

- The book felt like it was split into three sections. The first was semi-autobiographical, detailing Attenborough's life and career plus how the natural world has diminished over that time. The second focuses on the harm and destruction we humans have caused over time but especially the last 50-100 years and how it will escalate and harm us all. The third discusses ways we may be able to change this climate collision course and revitalise nature once more. This structure worked very well, was very clear and consise and helped to guide the reader on a thought journey.

- I liked that this book, though very much a warning, was hopeful that humans as a species could change and adapt to live with nature. The examples and models given were inspiring and I plan to try and follow some of them myself. 

- Is there a better narrator than Attenborough? I don't think there is. The man has had such an amazing career and his insights and passion are always interesting.

A book everyone should read and take heed of to save our world.

⭐ 5/5 ⭐

Well that was a journey and a half! Book three of the Mistborn era 1 trilogy and it does not disappoint. The world is ending and Vin, Elend, Sazed and the remaining members of the crew have to fight to save it.

- Sanderson is the king of world building and this book is no exception. He expands wonderfully on the Scadriel we know from previous books and gives us new areas to learn and explore. I loved the detail and life he put into this world and how vivid it was.

- As well as expanding the world, we get to explore some more of characters. I particularly enjoyed Spook and Sazed's journeys as well as the indepth look we get at the kandra. Similarly, the metal-based magic systems get further detail and exploration and wonderful play into the power balances throughout the book.

- I genuinely felt so emotional ending the book. I didn't guess the ending and it was beautifully done. Sanderson definitely knows how to wrap up a story.

A worthy and intensely enjoyable ending to the trilogy. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

⭐ 3/5 ⭐

A complex sci-fi. There is an archipelago where the octopuses may have evolved advanced intellect. A scientist goes to research them and figure out their society.

- This book was pretty confusing. I like a good complex sci-fi but this was more convoluted. I also couldn't decide what the actual plot or message of the book was. There were overlapping themes of environmentalism, non-human and AI intelligences, the ethics of AI, human-caused planetary destruction and consequences, what it means to be human and honestly a few others. None particularly dominate or guide the narrative.

- The characters I didn't particularly care about for the most part. The exceptions being Evrim, who I found to be the most relatable oddlly, and the octopuses which a million times more personality and interesting interactions than most of the rest of the book.

- The octopuses and the study of their society was awesome and I would have loved the book if it was more focused on this. However, the author seems to have used this novel as a "sci-fi ideas I think are cool" dumping exercise and most of them do not add anything of value. More focus on one or two themes or ideas would have been much more interesting.

Sadly disappointed with the lack of cephalopod offerings. However, a reader may like this book if they enjoy exploring many sci-fi concepts superficially or wandering narratives.

⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐

Legends & Lattes mixed with Coffee Talk in a modern setting. A cosy novella about ex-guard Gwen, a drider who sets up her own café.

- If you like cosy coffee shop stories, you can't go wrong with this one. Heartwarming, low stakes and chilled. I really enjoyed the characters. However, I think the author could have expanded this into a lover book and gone more indepth into some of the situations and the brevity of a novella meant they felt a little skipped over sometimes.

- Who doesn't like a fantasy and queer setting. Driders, minotaurs, moth people galore and being queer is completely normalized. Perfect for light LGBT+ representation.

A short and light but cosy and fuzzy novella. Perfect for those who enjoy modern coffee shop AUs with a fantasy twist.

⭐ 4.25/5 ⭐

Tamora Pierce was one of my favourite authors as a child and has an enduring place in my heart. I was so happy to return to this fantasy world, a new country this time and follow the beginnings of the great mage Numair, named Arram Draper in this book.

- I loved the familiarity of the world and the style of writing with the new details and people that comes with this different setting. Carthak is a vibrant and nuanced city and the university and it's ways we're fascinating.

- Watching Numair and knowing how things eventually turn out for him was quite bittersweet. I loved his friendships and the relationships between him and his tutors, patients and, at some points, gods but equally know that something will happen that will change all this.

- Despite knowing there will be a point to the story, the narrative seems to lack driving force. We follow Arram's education and him working out how he fits into the world but there seems to be no defined end goal or point. I hope the next book makes this clearer.

Enjoyable for a long time fan. Would recommend to those already familiar with Pierce's writing and the world in which this book is set.