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thecaptainsquarters
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult crime thriller eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
So me mateys, I continue with me Kelley Armstrong obsession and this be her latest offering. It is not me favorite of her novels (as I prefer her fantasy or adult thrillers) but this was a quick and fun read.
The story follows Winter Crane who lives in a small poverty stricken town in Kentucky. Like most young residents of the town, she has one hope – to graduate high school and escape to the big city. Just like her big sister and best friend did. Except Winter can’t seem to get a hold of either of them.
Due to an abusive home life, she tends to take care of herself. Think hunting and trapping and shack in the woods. One day in the woods, Winter rescues a young guy in trouble who happens to be looking for Winter’s best friend – the same friend that Winter has been unable to reach. In trying to figure out the whereabouts of her missing friend, Winter begins to think that not everyone in town made it to the big city. Can she solve the mystery before anyone else goes missing?
One of the “problems” I had with the novel was the setting. In me vagabond nature, I once lived in a small, one street town in Kentucky. The author does try to address the stereotypes and challenge them. However, there were inclusions of many small town stereotypes like an idiot pointless sheriff, using food stamps as currency, moonshine stills, and old mountain folk with no running water or electricity. I couldn’t tell if some of these facts were trying to be based in reality or just plot points to forward the story.
Two less then stellar impressions were of some of the twists towards the end of the novel. I kinda felt like I was reading a V.C. Andrews melodrama in parts. And I wasn’t a huge fan of those books even back in the day. Also the way Winter puts another person’s wishes about reconciliation with her abuser ahead of her own preferences made me cringe.
But these issues were very minor for me overall concerning me enjoyment. I still found the author’s writing, characters, and story to be engaging. I read this book in one quick session. While I don’t think this will ever be a re-read for me, it was certainly entertaining if taken with a grain of salt. I very much look forward to Kelley Armstrong’s next novel.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Random House/Crown Books!
So me mateys, I continue with me Kelley Armstrong obsession and this be her latest offering. It is not me favorite of her novels (as I prefer her fantasy or adult thrillers) but this was a quick and fun read.
The story follows Winter Crane who lives in a small poverty stricken town in Kentucky. Like most young residents of the town, she has one hope – to graduate high school and escape to the big city. Just like her big sister and best friend did. Except Winter can’t seem to get a hold of either of them.
Due to an abusive home life, she tends to take care of herself. Think hunting and trapping and shack in the woods. One day in the woods, Winter rescues a young guy in trouble who happens to be looking for Winter’s best friend – the same friend that Winter has been unable to reach. In trying to figure out the whereabouts of her missing friend, Winter begins to think that not everyone in town made it to the big city. Can she solve the mystery before anyone else goes missing?
One of the “problems” I had with the novel was the setting. In me vagabond nature, I once lived in a small, one street town in Kentucky. The author does try to address the stereotypes and challenge them. However, there were inclusions of many small town stereotypes like an idiot pointless sheriff, using food stamps as currency, moonshine stills, and old mountain folk with no running water or electricity. I couldn’t tell if some of these facts were trying to be based in reality or just plot points to forward the story.
Two less then stellar impressions were of some of the twists towards the end of the novel. I kinda felt like I was reading a V.C. Andrews melodrama in parts. And I wasn’t a huge fan of those books even back in the day. Also the way Winter puts another person’s wishes about reconciliation with her abuser ahead of her own preferences made me cringe.
But these issues were very minor for me overall concerning me enjoyment. I still found the author’s writing, characters, and story to be engaging. I read this book in one quick session. While I don’t think this will ever be a re-read for me, it was certainly entertaining if taken with a grain of salt. I very much look forward to Kelley Armstrong’s next novel.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Random House/Crown Books!
Ahoy there mateys! Though the first mate and I have very different reading tastes, occasionally we do recommend books to each other. Books the first mate introduced to me included xom-b, holes, and the perks of being a wallflower. He and I both read the following:
the wool series (Hugh Howey)
We were talking about the books and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered him to write a review. So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew. Please note that I write like I talk and the first mate writes like he thinks. Hope you enjoy!
From the Captain:
So this trilogy is made up of the books called wool, shift, and dust. Or as I like to think of them – questions, answers, and consequences. This series is one of the best dystopians that I have ever read. The writing is fantastic, the world building exciting, and the characters exquisite. This book was filled with twists and turns and tensions. It kept me guessing and I was thoroughly engrossed during the reading process. I can’t get into major details because that would spoil everything. I don’t recommend reading the synopsis either because ye need to be surprised. Seriously wonderful books. The only downside were some parts of how the consequences were structured and the not as good ending. But the first and second books are damn near perfect. Commandeer yerself a copy.
From the First Mate:
I have to admit that I really drug my feet about reading “Wool,” and to tell you the truth I really have no good reason for doing so. From the instant it appeared as one of the first Kindle Direct successes it received great reviews, had many online champions, seemed to appear on tons of people’s favorite lists, and was just generally very well regarded whenever I heard about it. And yet, well, its plot sounded like a bad 70s sci-fi film (a bad version of “Logan’s Run” perhaps) or a young adult novel centered on an ingenue bringing down the system. It kind of sounded like it was going to be slog to get through; having to wade through the new sheriff making mistakes and learning that the world she lived in was far more corrupt than she’d previously thought. I was wrong. Oh, my, how I was wrong.
“Wool” is an adult sci-fi novel. Not in the “there’s sexytimes and profanity everywhere” sense that the word “adult” has come to mean in some contexts. In fact, there’s very little profanity and practically no sexuality at all. No, “Wool” is adult in the sense that all of the primary characters are actually adults, behave and reason like adults, have realistic adult relationships, and engage in complex themes and motivations. A significant part of the early part of the novel is devoted to two senior citizens (Jahns, the mayor, and Marnes, the deputy sheriff) descending from the top of the silo to the bottom to interview a candidate to be the new sheriff, all the time talking about relationships and history, and it is fascinating. Howey’s deft characterization here is so skillful that it was impossible not to be fully drawn into the decades long relationship that these two characters had shared. Reading that section I knew that I should’ve read this book long ago.
Perhaps the most fun aspect about “Wool” was the ways in which Howey kept taking standard story expectations and refusing to let them be played out in an easy, simplistic way. It would’ve been very easy for this novel to have settled into a procedural or a simple political struggle. But every moment where the story might have gone in a simple standard direction, Howey appears to have asked himself, “what would Bernard or Juliette really do here to screw up the other’s plan?” And then, after getting that answer, he’d ask it again.
When I finished the book, though, I had two thoughts: 1) Given the world that’s been set up, there’s no way this has a happy ending. And, 2) Given what we learn about the Silo in the latter third of the book, it’s difficult to understand how the events of the ending could have occurred (being vague, sorry, trying not to spoil). Thankfully, there was a second book, “Shift,” to dive right into.
“Shift” is, in my opinion, just as good as “Wool” just in a completely different way. Whereas “Wool” was very much a character driven story with our protagonist and antagonist altering the world they inhabited through sheer will, “Shift” is a plot driven story wherein a sad man, Donald, is caught in the currents of the decisions of others. Sadly, those decisions by other people end up destroying the world. It’s kind of a bureaucratic nightmare where one can be a cog in a machine that’s reaping untold destruction and yet be completely incapable of doing anything to prevent it. “Wool” was a novel about agency; “Shift” is a novel about helplessness.
In addition to telling Donald’s story, “Shift” also tells the story of a character from “Wool” about whom I absolutely did not want to read any more. Seriously, I audibly groaned when I saw that I was going to be reading about this character. And, well, Howey makes it work. He told me a story that I in no way wanted to read, and I ended up enjoying it. That’s gotta be a mark of some damn fine writing skill.
“Shift” ends in the same time period that “Wool” ends and gives a good explanation for how the end of that book was able to happen. However, given that we know even more about the world, it’s even more difficult after reading this book to see how there’s going to be any type of happy ending here for anyone.
The final book in the trilogy, “Dust,” may as well have been titled “The Consequences of Bad Decisions” as that’s really all there is to the book. It’s the shortest book in the series and, honestly, it feels as though Howey was done with these characters in this world and was really just looking to wrap things up in the fastest way possible. Virtually every bad decision that any of the characters made in the previous books comes back to bite them. Most of the consequences have a narrowing effect on the novel. Characters and possibilities are peeled away to allow the story line to progress quickly towards the finish. Unlike the previous novels which were full of surprising twists, “Dust” simply grinds through its plot towards a more or less predictable conclusion.
The only addition to the world in “Dust” was a completely unnecessary and bizarre religious story line. Basically a cult of really crazy people doing the things crazy cult people do (think Jim Jones and the People’s Temple and you’re on the right track). The only reason I can see for Howey to have put it in was to pad the length of the novel and that really seems at odds with how tight and well plotted the previous two novels were.
And the ending? Well, I wouldn’t call it a satisfying ending, but it also wasn’t the super dour ending that I was expecting. Does Howey cheat a little bit? Yes, he does. But, I admit, by that point I really didn’t care anymore.
I’d recommend “Wool” and “Shift” without reservation to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or post apocalyptic fiction. They should rightly be viewed as modern classics. Were I to recommend them, I’d probably also say that the third book is the weakest of the bunch and you might be better off skipping it.
the wool series (Hugh Howey)
We were talking about the books and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered him to write a review. So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew. Please note that I write like I talk and the first mate writes like he thinks. Hope you enjoy!
From the Captain:
So this trilogy is made up of the books called wool, shift, and dust. Or as I like to think of them – questions, answers, and consequences. This series is one of the best dystopians that I have ever read. The writing is fantastic, the world building exciting, and the characters exquisite. This book was filled with twists and turns and tensions. It kept me guessing and I was thoroughly engrossed during the reading process. I can’t get into major details because that would spoil everything. I don’t recommend reading the synopsis either because ye need to be surprised. Seriously wonderful books. The only downside were some parts of how the consequences were structured and the not as good ending. But the first and second books are damn near perfect. Commandeer yerself a copy.
From the First Mate:
I have to admit that I really drug my feet about reading “Wool,” and to tell you the truth I really have no good reason for doing so. From the instant it appeared as one of the first Kindle Direct successes it received great reviews, had many online champions, seemed to appear on tons of people’s favorite lists, and was just generally very well regarded whenever I heard about it. And yet, well, its plot sounded like a bad 70s sci-fi film (a bad version of “Logan’s Run” perhaps) or a young adult novel centered on an ingenue bringing down the system. It kind of sounded like it was going to be slog to get through; having to wade through the new sheriff making mistakes and learning that the world she lived in was far more corrupt than she’d previously thought. I was wrong. Oh, my, how I was wrong.
“Wool” is an adult sci-fi novel. Not in the “there’s sexytimes and profanity everywhere” sense that the word “adult” has come to mean in some contexts. In fact, there’s very little profanity and practically no sexuality at all. No, “Wool” is adult in the sense that all of the primary characters are actually adults, behave and reason like adults, have realistic adult relationships, and engage in complex themes and motivations. A significant part of the early part of the novel is devoted to two senior citizens (Jahns, the mayor, and Marnes, the deputy sheriff) descending from the top of the silo to the bottom to interview a candidate to be the new sheriff, all the time talking about relationships and history, and it is fascinating. Howey’s deft characterization here is so skillful that it was impossible not to be fully drawn into the decades long relationship that these two characters had shared. Reading that section I knew that I should’ve read this book long ago.
Perhaps the most fun aspect about “Wool” was the ways in which Howey kept taking standard story expectations and refusing to let them be played out in an easy, simplistic way. It would’ve been very easy for this novel to have settled into a procedural or a simple political struggle. But every moment where the story might have gone in a simple standard direction, Howey appears to have asked himself, “what would Bernard or Juliette really do here to screw up the other’s plan?” And then, after getting that answer, he’d ask it again.
When I finished the book, though, I had two thoughts: 1) Given the world that’s been set up, there’s no way this has a happy ending. And, 2) Given what we learn about the Silo in the latter third of the book, it’s difficult to understand how the events of the ending could have occurred (being vague, sorry, trying not to spoil). Thankfully, there was a second book, “Shift,” to dive right into.
“Shift” is, in my opinion, just as good as “Wool” just in a completely different way. Whereas “Wool” was very much a character driven story with our protagonist and antagonist altering the world they inhabited through sheer will, “Shift” is a plot driven story wherein a sad man, Donald, is caught in the currents of the decisions of others. Sadly, those decisions by other people end up destroying the world. It’s kind of a bureaucratic nightmare where one can be a cog in a machine that’s reaping untold destruction and yet be completely incapable of doing anything to prevent it. “Wool” was a novel about agency; “Shift” is a novel about helplessness.
In addition to telling Donald’s story, “Shift” also tells the story of a character from “Wool” about whom I absolutely did not want to read any more. Seriously, I audibly groaned when I saw that I was going to be reading about this character. And, well, Howey makes it work. He told me a story that I in no way wanted to read, and I ended up enjoying it. That’s gotta be a mark of some damn fine writing skill.
“Shift” ends in the same time period that “Wool” ends and gives a good explanation for how the end of that book was able to happen. However, given that we know even more about the world, it’s even more difficult after reading this book to see how there’s going to be any type of happy ending here for anyone.
The final book in the trilogy, “Dust,” may as well have been titled “The Consequences of Bad Decisions” as that’s really all there is to the book. It’s the shortest book in the series and, honestly, it feels as though Howey was done with these characters in this world and was really just looking to wrap things up in the fastest way possible. Virtually every bad decision that any of the characters made in the previous books comes back to bite them. Most of the consequences have a narrowing effect on the novel. Characters and possibilities are peeled away to allow the story line to progress quickly towards the finish. Unlike the previous novels which were full of surprising twists, “Dust” simply grinds through its plot towards a more or less predictable conclusion.
The only addition to the world in “Dust” was a completely unnecessary and bizarre religious story line. Basically a cult of really crazy people doing the things crazy cult people do (think Jim Jones and the People’s Temple and you’re on the right track). The only reason I can see for Howey to have put it in was to pad the length of the novel and that really seems at odds with how tight and well plotted the previous two novels were.
And the ending? Well, I wouldn’t call it a satisfying ending, but it also wasn’t the super dour ending that I was expecting. Does Howey cheat a little bit? Yes, he does. But, I admit, by that point I really didn’t care anymore.
I’d recommend “Wool” and “Shift” without reservation to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or post apocalyptic fiction. They should rightly be viewed as modern classics. Were I to recommend them, I’d probably also say that the third book is the weakest of the bunch and you might be better off skipping it.
Ahoy me mateys. I am sad I actually spent me money on this book. This book betrayed my enjoyment so it must walk the plank . . . Arrrrgh!
It has been on me list forever and I wanted so badly to read the first novel. However, local libraries in port didn’t have the first novel (just the second! Grrrr!). It seemed to have all the elements of fantasy that I love: Awesome cover, magic swords, fantastic heroine, a bit of romance, epic battles, etc. So after hemming and hawing, I gave in and got me a copy.
To be fair, I loved the author’s characters. The main character was a noble lady named Alix. She is funny and resourceful and clever. The scout, Liam was funny and sweet. The king, Erik, commanding and charming. Even the side characters like General Green and Kerta were likeable and fun to read about. I loved how the various banner houses were set up. I loved how women were respected and held high positions in the kingdom. I even appreciated how one of the bad dudes was conflicted and yet a little more complicated than I expected. I didn’t abandon this book because I enjoyed the characters a lot individually.
The problem was in the plot. A spy that shows up and is just trusted for no reason. Alix making dumb choices that went against her seeming intelligence. Other bad dudes who have no real reason for being evil. Complicated situations that are just fixed with almost no effort. Magic that almost seems pointless. And the love triangle from hell.
I liked Alix. I liked Erik. I liked Liam. How this triangle was set up was fine. It being in the book didn’t even bother me at first. But as the triangle continued to drag on, the plot surrounding it grew more and more ridiculous. The resolution was just plain horrible. Personally, Alix could have ended up with either of them. That was unusual for me and was due to the author’s characterizations. The conflict of Alix’s choice seemed realistic enough at times. However, the major “reveal” in the middle of the novel to how Alix makes her choice is what ruined the book for me. That and the love story taking center stage.
I wanted more complex politics and battles, a story that didn’t get bogged down because the king broke his leg and was castle bound forever, for the magic to be better explained and used, and for problems not to be solved with a wave of the hand. I will not be reading the rest of the series but would be willing to give the author’s next one a try if the love stuff could be toned way down and her plots tightened.
Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean that it won’t float yer boat. Give it a try if ye dare!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
It has been on me list forever and I wanted so badly to read the first novel. However, local libraries in port didn’t have the first novel (just the second! Grrrr!). It seemed to have all the elements of fantasy that I love: Awesome cover, magic swords, fantastic heroine, a bit of romance, epic battles, etc. So after hemming and hawing, I gave in and got me a copy.
To be fair, I loved the author’s characters. The main character was a noble lady named Alix. She is funny and resourceful and clever. The scout, Liam was funny and sweet. The king, Erik, commanding and charming. Even the side characters like General Green and Kerta were likeable and fun to read about. I loved how the various banner houses were set up. I loved how women were respected and held high positions in the kingdom. I even appreciated how one of the bad dudes was conflicted and yet a little more complicated than I expected. I didn’t abandon this book because I enjoyed the characters a lot individually.
The problem was in the plot. A spy that shows up and is just trusted for no reason. Alix making dumb choices that went against her seeming intelligence. Other bad dudes who have no real reason for being evil. Complicated situations that are just fixed with almost no effort. Magic that almost seems pointless. And the love triangle from hell.
I liked Alix. I liked Erik. I liked Liam. How this triangle was set up was fine. It being in the book didn’t even bother me at first. But as the triangle continued to drag on, the plot surrounding it grew more and more ridiculous. The resolution was just plain horrible. Personally, Alix could have ended up with either of them. That was unusual for me and was due to the author’s characterizations. The conflict of Alix’s choice seemed realistic enough at times. However, the major “reveal” in the middle of the novel to how Alix makes her choice is what ruined the book for me. That and the love story taking center stage.
I wanted more complex politics and battles, a story that didn’t get bogged down because the king broke his leg and was castle bound forever, for the magic to be better explained and used, and for problems not to be solved with a wave of the hand. I will not be reading the rest of the series but would be willing to give the author’s next one a try if the love stuff could be toned way down and her plots tightened.
Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean that it won’t float yer boat. Give it a try if ye dare!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This be a lovely sci-fi novel that I read back in 2015 after randomly finding a copy in a local library. It is one of the books that helped bring me attention to the Angry Robot publishing house wherein I joined the Robot Army. Their books tend to be quirky and to my taste. In any case, at the time this book was a stand-alone and it can be read as such. But when I found out there was another book in the series, I was excited to have the chance to re-visit an old port.
And Santee is a great place to spend time if ye like sarcastic bad-ass women, crazy times, and, of course, rum. The story involves me favorite wench, Padma, who is a union recruiter who deserted the corporate culture of the Big Three to make a better life for herself on a little “mudball” planet. If she recruits just 33 more people to the union then she can buy her dream business (a rum distillery – Arrrrr!). When word comes of a breach of 40 people that would help her reach her union quota and her dream, she takes a chance. Of course nothing goes to plan and all hell breaks loose . . .
The characters are what made the story for me. Padma be me favorite but there are plenty of strong women in this book – from police officers, pub owners, and tuk-tuk drivers. While there is very brief mention of sex in this novel, it does NOT have romance as a major element. There are however strong male and female friendships. I loved Jilly and Banks. I loved to dislike Bloomberg. Several of the bad guys and girls were not as fleshed out but it didn’t really effect me enjoyment. There are screwball characters and fantastic character interactions that I loved re-reading.
The world building and politics are not extremely complicated but Santee feels solid and believable. The story was even-paced at the start but ratchets up into a fun mad dash towards the end. Basically this book is just plain fun. A quick read, I am glad I chose to revisit this port and look forward to finding out what the gang has been up to in the next installment.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
And Santee is a great place to spend time if ye like sarcastic bad-ass women, crazy times, and, of course, rum. The story involves me favorite wench, Padma, who is a union recruiter who deserted the corporate culture of the Big Three to make a better life for herself on a little “mudball” planet. If she recruits just 33 more people to the union then she can buy her dream business (a rum distillery – Arrrrr!). When word comes of a breach of 40 people that would help her reach her union quota and her dream, she takes a chance. Of course nothing goes to plan and all hell breaks loose . . .
The characters are what made the story for me. Padma be me favorite but there are plenty of strong women in this book – from police officers, pub owners, and tuk-tuk drivers. While there is very brief mention of sex in this novel, it does NOT have romance as a major element. There are however strong male and female friendships. I loved Jilly and Banks. I loved to dislike Bloomberg. Several of the bad guys and girls were not as fleshed out but it didn’t really effect me enjoyment. There are screwball characters and fantastic character interactions that I loved re-reading.
The world building and politics are not extremely complicated but Santee feels solid and believable. The story was even-paced at the start but ratchets up into a fun mad dash towards the end. Basically this book is just plain fun. A quick read, I am glad I chose to revisit this port and look forward to finding out what the gang has been up to in the next installment.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
It's time to abandon ship me mateys! And oh I be highly disappointed. I just re-read the first book of the series, windswept and gave it me second reflections. While I still loved that novel, I should have skipped this one completely. I made it to page 51 of 375. Two things made me grumpy: 1) the mention of Jackson Pollack (pg. 41) and 2) the bad guy (pg. 50).
Now I have no real hatred of Jackson Pollack, but the mention of him was just so incongruous that I was taken aback and thrown out of the story. And to be fair the story was fine up until that moment. Then the premise of Padma's new problem to solve was introduced on page 51 and it made me furious. It seemed both unrealistic and a lazy choice. I had no interest in this storyline at all. Had I read the blurb for the second book, I would have known and not purchased it. But I normally don't read book two synopses because I like being surprised.
Mistake on this one. Wish it had stayed a standalone.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Now I have no real hatred of Jackson Pollack, but the mention of him was just so incongruous that I was taken aback and thrown out of the story. And to be fair the story was fine up until that moment. Then the premise of Padma's new problem to solve was introduced on page 51 and it made me furious. It seemed both unrealistic and a lazy choice. I had no interest in this storyline at all. Had I read the blurb for the second book, I would have known and not purchased it. But I normally don't read book two synopses because I like being surprised.
Mistake on this one. Wish it had stayed a standalone.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/