thecandlelightlibrary's Reviews (1.25k)

I was hoping this would be a cookbook on campfire cooking with recipes, tips, and tricks for how to make delicious food with limited supplies and kitchen tools. While some of the recipes do use a campfire, most use a camp stove (which is definitely easier and more consistent when cooking but I do feel a bit misled by the title). Overall, this cookbook seems geared for “light” camping - the menu plans included in the back are geared for a weekend getaway and not cooking during extended trips, since most of the food prep would only last for a couple of days. 

I LOVED this book! Johnson weaves together a mesmerizing story filled with beauty and magic - one that I wanted to spend much more time in. This was everything I wanted in an environmental fantasy. It’s definitely not a standalone, but I was satisfied with this story arc and have enough burning questions that I can’t wait for the sequel and to see how everything connects going forward.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company/Macmillan Publishing Group for sending me a copy of this title. 

 

I don’t think this would have been a book I would have normally picked up, but I’m SO glad I read it! There were so, so many sections that had me uncontrollably laughing out loud and many chapters I’m already looking forward to revisiting. I didn’t mind when Lawson’s storytelling would go off on a tangent because I knew I would be thoroughly entertained by the end of each story. 

This is a subject I’m interested in learning more about and educating myself on, but while this is a relatively short book I struggled to finish it. I had difficulty connecting to the narrative and did not enjoy the autobiographical focus of the author’s life throughout the book: I can understand how these sections would be included to show how the author can speak with authority on the subjects brought up, but oftentimes I felt they read as defensive justifications for past actions (but I do recognize that sometimes that validation is needed for healing, I just don’t know if this was the right outlet). I did learn many new things from this book, however, and I will be looking into the further reading recommendations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Untethered is the sequel to Shielded (which I reviewed an ARC of about this time last year) and is just as fast-paced and action-packed as its predecessor. This time around, though, there is more focus on the characters than the world building and themes of teamwork, friendship, family, and healing are especially prevalent. 

 

I love spending time with these characters and each of the enchanting settings that make up this world and I really enjoyed discovering the new settings and characters introduced. I hope to see more of them in a future story. 

 

There is one noticeable difference between the two books: in Shielded we had one major POV with brief snapshots from a limited number of minor characters while in Untethered we are treated to two main POVs with snapshots from a wide range of characters. Since I prefer multiple POVs, I liked this change and think it’s clever how the number of POVs expands as the story and world do. However, I did find the spacing between POVs to be a bit off: I always wanted to check back in with characters well before the story made it back to them and sometimes the parts I was hoping to read were skipped over entirely. 

 

Overall, though, I think my biggest complaint is with Ren’s initial setup in his opening chapters. By the end of Untethered, none of the issues brought up in the beginning with Ren are even remotely resolved and I don’t understand why this setup was chosen as his catalyst. Obviously, Ren needed something to set him on his path so the events of this book could happen…but I feel like there could have been a more satisfactory catalyst that didn’t leave so many unresolved questions. When I first read Shielded I was under the impression this was a duology, however Untethered reads more like a trilogy (and, after some research, I can’t find an answer to that question and I have absolutely no idea where I got that impression). Since there were a bit too many loose ends for me for a duology, my rating will probably bump up if this turns out to be a trilogy. 

 

Thank you again to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the privilege of reviewing an ARC. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Martha Wells’ Murderbot series is one of my all-time favorites, so it should be no surprise that I really enjoyed this next installment. In Fugitive Telemetry we’re back to the novella format (a bit sad after how much I enjoyed the full-length novel for book 5) with some new faces and some old favorites. Murderbot remains as snarky as ever with a sense of humor I never get tired of. 

 

Fugitive Telemetry is more of a standalone than books 2-5, and it’s a bit ambiguous on when it takes place in relation to events in the other books (it might even fit better between Exit Strategy and Network Effect instead of after Network Effect as it currently appears). However, I would still recommend reading the entire series before diving into this one to fully understand what’s going on (and also to fall in love with the series as much as I have). 

 

I do wish there was a bit more connection between Fugitive Telemetry and Network Effect, since the previous book ended with a good set up for a new story line. Perhaps, though, this is just an interlude and things will take off in the next book, or maybe everything will connect going forward in ways I can’t imagine. Whatever the case, Fugitive Telemetry also introduced several new story possibilities and, of course, I want to read all of them and can’t wait for the next book. 

 

Thank you again to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the privilege of reviewing an ARC.