Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Super awesome title and cover made me pick up this sci-fi.  This ended up being a quick, engaging read where I ultimately ended up being both confused and conflicted.

I did not know this was the first book of a series so that could have contributed but really this book made me feel like either nothing was explained or I just blatantly missed things.  I did very much like the idea of the corporate indenture based society.  I loved the beginning of the book and how the terminally ill main character, Ash, goes into a salvage operation with unexpected consequences.  I absolutely loved the idea of the mysterious alien artifact.  But sadly this book wasn't what I wanted.

I don't normally mind being thrown into the middle of things.  In this book the conflict with the alien Vai has been ongoing for a while.  The action is basically non-stop.  What was missing was any real insight into what the characters were thinking or their relationships with each other.  Ash was a fun person to root for but I didn't really get to see any of the "found family" moments that were hinted at.  Ash and her love interest are in a very nebulous relationship where we are told they are in love but the reader doesn't get to see this either.  All the romances were surface level and felt more like plot-devices.  Even the interactions of the major players and overall world politics of the society did not seem to have nuance.  Unusually, I actually wanted the backstory of both the war and Ash's life.

Then there is the aliens and the technology.  I felt that neither aspect made any sense.  I liked the idea of how the alien society supposedly functioned but the practical aspects of how the aliens and their tech worked felt more like magic without any clear rules.  In fact in many scenes, I felt that the tech contradicted itself in terms of the problems it caused and the circumstances required to make it work.  There is a lot of discussion of how the alien tech distorts or changes memory but I couldn't tell you how or why.  All the memory related problems made no real sense and confused me even more.

And then the ending.  I actually thought the book could have been a standalone based on what happened.  The ending was depressing which I was cool with.  I did not enjoy that I am still not sure exactly what the plot or message of the book was besides corporations are evil and humans suck.  I thought it was weird that while I found reading the book to be enjoyable, the problems and inconsistencies ended up making me like the book a lot less after-the-fact.  So much so that I don't feel like I will read any more of the series.

Strange reading times indeed.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

This book has been on me radar ever since I read the awesome premise - magic done with bits of people's bones.  The book is excellent and the major negative is having to wait for the next one.  Just be aware that the blurb makes it seem like there is only one protagonist but there are in fact five:

Lin, daughter of the Emperor who won't teach her his magic;
Jovis, a smuggler who is searching for his missing wife;
Phalue, the daughter of a governor and a warrior;
Ranami, the girlfriend of Phalue and a member of the rebels; and
Sand, a mysterious woman on a mysterious island.

The world is a series of floating islands that move around.  The empire is run by animal constructs made with the Emperor's bone shard magic.  The bone shards come from the citizens of the island and when used slowly kill the giver.  The Emperor is failing and change is on the horizon.

The world building is excellent, the characters engaging, the magic system is fascinating, and the plot compelling.  I read this in one sitting and still wanted so much more!  This book involves heists, missing memories, missing people, rebellion, unusual animal companions, ancient artifacts, awesome settings, diverse people, and above all cool creepy magic that influences every aspect of the culture.  There were lots of twists to the story and I can't wait to see what happens next.  And Mephi.  I love Mephi.  I know that this review doesn't really get into much of the plot but that's because the crew should discover this highlights of this treasure for themselves.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Orbit Books!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this comic eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Okay so Andrews McMeel Publishing makes me happy again.  I loved loading penguin hugs and book love.  I also love author and illustrator Sarah Anderson's work.  I mean how can any book lover not relate to this:



This newest book follows the unusual love story between a vampire and a werewolf.  It goes from their first date to later on in their established relationship.  The First Mate and I read this one together and had such a great time.  Here be an example of the awesome:



At times it be snarky, sweet, clever, and yet always amusing.  I loved this and highly recommend it to the crew.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing!

Side note: Much thanks to Matey Danielle @ thepluviophilewriter for letting me know that this existed.  Arrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I absolutely love Sharon Shinn and featured her works in me Broadside No. 2.  I finished the Elemental Blessings series, was sad and then Matey Nicole @ bookwyrmknits told me that this YA series existed and of course I had to track it down.  The author's website describes the world of these books as:

In the Kingdom of the Seven Jewels, many of the highest nobles are attended by one or two or three echoes—creatures who look exactly like them, who move with them in perfect synchronicity, but who have no thoughts or volition of their own. Centuries ago during wartime, the echoes were a gift from the triple goddess, who bestowed them as a way to keep nobles safe from constant attempts at assassination. But what if an echo wasn't always exactly as it appeared . . .

I read the three books back to back and enjoyed them.  Just be forewarned about two things:

a) the echoes and how they work make no real sense; and
b) each plot is basically the same: young non-noble girl meets rich noble man, doesn't recognize him, insta-lust ensues, shenanigans ensue, happy ever after.

Now normally both of those things would irk me to no end.  However, this is Sharon Shinn and I love her writing.  Sure things don't make sense and these plots are super problematic but I still enjoy the world building and characters.  Even if even the characters were kinda special snowflakes and things worked out for them rather easily.   The echoes are a concept are fascinating and so I loved reading about them.  Each book focuses on a slightly different aspect of echoes.  Just don't think too hard about them cause inconsistencies abound.  I needed a distraction from life and these worked perfectly for the mood and moment.

This were fun and fluff but I have no urge to own them.  I also got them as part of Kindle Unlimited and so didn't have to pay the absurd ebook price for them.  The concept is both the strongest and weakest part of the book.  These are not her best books (in fact may be her weakest) and I wouldn't recommend them but I am so very glad I read them.

If ye be interested in any of Sharon Shinn's works, I suggest ye hoist those sails and visit her amazing website.  Literally one of the best author websites I have ever seen.  Arrrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I absolutely love Sharon Shinn and featured her works in me Broadside No. 2.  I finished the Elemental Blessings series, was sad and then Matey Nicole @ bookwyrmknits told me that this YA series existed and of course I had to track it down.  The author's website describes the world of these books as:

In the Kingdom of the Seven Jewels, many of the highest nobles are attended by one or two or three echoes—creatures who look exactly like them, who move with them in perfect synchronicity, but who have no thoughts or volition of their own. Centuries ago during wartime, the echoes were a gift from the triple goddess, who bestowed them as a way to keep nobles safe from constant attempts at assassination. But what if an echo wasn't always exactly as it appeared . . .

I read the three books back to back and enjoyed them.  Just be forewarned about two things:

a) the echoes and how they work make no real sense; and
b) each plot is basically the same: young non-noble girl meets rich noble man, doesn't recognize him, insta-lust ensues, shenanigans ensue, happy ever after.

Now normally both of those things would irk me to no end.  However, this is Sharon Shinn and I love her writing.  Sure things don't make sense and these plots are super problematic but I still enjoy the world building and characters.  Even if even the characters were kinda special snowflakes and things worked out for them rather easily.   The echoes are a concept are fascinating and so I loved reading about them.  Each book focuses on a slightly different aspect of echoes.  Just don't think too hard about them cause inconsistencies abound.  I needed a distraction from life and these worked perfectly for the mood and moment.

This were fun and fluff but I have no urge to own them.  I also got them as part of Kindle Unlimited and so didn't have to pay the absurd ebook price for them.  The concept is both the strongest and weakest part of the book.  These are not her best books (in fact may be her weakest) and I wouldn't recommend them but I am so very glad I read them.

If ye be interested in any of Sharon Shinn's works, I suggest ye hoist those sails and visit her amazing website.  Literally one of the best author websites I have ever seen.  Arrrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I absolutely love Sharon Shinn and featured her works in me Broadside No. 2.  I finished the Elemental Blessings series, was sad and then Matey Nicole @ bookwyrmknits told me that this YA series existed and of course I had to track it down.  The author's website describes the world of these books as:

In the Kingdom of the Seven Jewels, many of the highest nobles are attended by one or two or three echoes—creatures who look exactly like them, who move with them in perfect synchronicity, but who have no thoughts or volition of their own. Centuries ago during wartime, the echoes were a gift from the triple goddess, who bestowed them as a way to keep nobles safe from constant attempts at assassination. But what if an echo wasn't always exactly as it appeared . . .

I read the three books back to back and enjoyed them.  Just be forewarned about two things:

a) the echoes and how they work make no real sense; and
b) each plot is basically the same: young non-noble girl meets rich noble man, doesn't recognize him, insta-lust ensues, shenanigans ensue, happy ever after.

Now normally both of those things would irk me to no end.  However, this is Sharon Shinn and I love her writing.  Sure things don't make sense and these plots are super problematic but I still enjoy the world building and characters.  Even if even the characters were kinda special snowflakes and things worked out for them rather easily.   The echoes are a concept are fascinating and so I loved reading about them.  Each book focuses on a slightly different aspect of echoes.  Just don't think too hard about them cause inconsistencies abound.  I needed a distraction from life and these worked perfectly for the mood and moment.

This were fun and fluff but I have no urge to own them.  I also got them as part of Kindle Unlimited and so didn't have to pay the absurd ebook price for them.  The concept is both the strongest and weakest part of the book.  These are not her best books (in fact may be her weakest) and I wouldn't recommend them but I am so very glad I read them.

If ye be interested in any of Sharon Shinn's works, I suggest ye hoist those sails and visit her amazing website.  Literally one of the best author websites I have ever seen.  Arrrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  Well, all ye scalawags should be familiar with Matey Sarah's blog and wonderful book reviews.  But some of ye may not be aware that she also be a writer.  (What be wrong with ye wretches?)  In these crazy times, Matey Sarah decided to publish her short story as an escapist uplifting tale to raise our moods.  And here be dragons . . .

This story follows grumpy Casta the Grey, who hangs out in his lair lamenting the lost good ol' days and tries to live out his remaining days in peace.  Then he has to watch his grandkids one afternoon and his life is tossed upside down.

At a little over 50 pages, this read was quick and delightful.  I absolutely loved elements like discussions over the best type of food (clever!) or how the dragons really use all that treasure they hoard.  But mostly it was the relationship between Casta and his granddaughter that I adored.  It was so wonderful to see it grow and to see Casta get a new outlook on life.  Who doesn't love a rough exterior that holds a marshmallow deep inside?

I would love to talk more about the specific plot but I don't want to spoil it.  I certainly would read more about this silly and lovely dragon family.  Arrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I wanted to read this debut ever since I saw it described as "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet meets The 100."  I know nothing about The 100 but sadly this book did not live up to the comparison to the Becky Chambers work.  In fact this book walks the plank!

Pros:

- The author's writing shows promise.  For a debut novel, I felt the writing style itself was decent.

- I finished it in one day.

- I really enjoyed the concept of ten astronauts going on a mission to set up a colony on an Earth-like planet.

- I enjoyed the set-up of the novel and how the author chose to countdown to the launch and beginning of the mission.

But there were a bit too many problems to make me like this book:

Cons:

- The character point-of-views were the six young teenage astronauts on the mission.  I really would have liked some of the chapters to have been from the experienced adult astronauts.

- The teenagers all seemed to have an extreme problem - an eating disorder, depression, hallucinations, etc.  I found it hard to believe that every one of them would have got through the selection process with a major illness.

- Actually, two of the adults had major problems - a terminal illness and a grief/anger problem.

- At no time was there any real oversight from the supposedly in-charge adults on the ship.

- The characters were not really fleshed out and I often didn't know which character was speaking during dialogue sections because they sounded too similar in tone.  In addition the blurb claims there were four adults on board.  I just finished it and I can only remember three?  Captain, Engineer, and Medic.  Who was the fourth?  If that person existed then I mixed them in with the Engineer.

- The world-building of the shipboard life did not seem realistic or detailed enough.

- The majority of the story centered on the teens fighting with each other and odd relationship dramas.

- Once the actual countdown to the launch occurs, the plot began to disintegrate.  The middle of the story was too long and drawn out.  The 520 page story could have used substantial trimming. 

- Also the ending in particular seemed a bit ridiculous with a deus ex machina rescue and lackluster ideas of what happened to the characters.  The story really doesn't have a good resolution.  There were also a lot of mystical occurrences that I didn't like involving dreams and other woo-woo.

I am sad that this book didn't meet any of me basic expectations.  I do think I could read the author's potential future books but I think I would have to read reviews of them first before committing to the time.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Saga Press!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/