Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.39k reviews by:
thecaptainsquarters
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this science fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings . . .
Title: crosstalk
Author: Connie Willis
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Publication Date: currently September 15, 2016 (in UK) and October 4, 2016 (in US)
ISBN: 9781473200937
Source: NetGalley
I had only read one novel thus far by this author. It was The Doomsday Book and it was seriously one of the best books I have ever read. If ye haven’t read it, ye should. So when I saw that she had a new book out on NetGalley with an interesting premise, I wanted to read it. Luckily, I was approved. Yay!
And, overall, I highly enjoyed this book. The standout of this novel is the ideas behind social media and the need for our society to be connected at all times. The main character, Briddey, is supposed to get a procedure called an EDD with her partner Trent which will allow them to experience a “deeper” connection by feeling each other’s emotions. Only when the procedure has been completed, the results have unintended consequences like nothing Briddey could have imagined.
The results of Briddey’s EDD and how it ends up “working” were really what made me continue to read. A lot of books that deal with connected minds tend to showcase only positives. This novel deals with the negative ideas of being connected at all times, and I thought it did a fantastic job of showing how horribly things could go. Not that all consequences were bad in the novel. Technology has the power for both good and evil. I love the internet, my mobile, and GPS tracking. I wouldn’t want to give them up. I love being able to get in touch with the planet when I want to. However, I do try to maintain a good balance between reading about life and experiencing it.
This novel, for me at least, had fantastic concepts, silly banter, twists in the plot, and some truly loveable characters. I adored the character Maeve because she was inquisitive, intelligent, precocious, and just plain fun. I loved C.B.’s steadiness and how the viewpoint of him changes with time. I did however have some problems with the main character of Briddey. Despite her portrayal in the beginning of being smart and strong, she was the weak link of the book for me. She seems to always need saving, be more than two steps behind at all times, have no idea of what she wants, and she lets other people always dictate her life. Now while I sympathized with her situation, I wanted her to take charge at some point and be her own person. She never really seemed to get there. I mean sometimes while reading I would think “Seriously Briddey how dense are you?” But her flaws did not ruin the book for me because I loved the concepts and did have to know how it ended.
I am glad I got to read this novel and definitely would recommend this to any of me crew who likes books that delve into the effects of technology and the “what ifs” of the future. But if I ever have to the choice to get an EDD, I will pass!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Orion Publishing Group!
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Title: crosstalk
Author: Connie Willis
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Publication Date: currently September 15, 2016 (in UK) and October 4, 2016 (in US)
ISBN: 9781473200937
Source: NetGalley
I had only read one novel thus far by this author. It was The Doomsday Book and it was seriously one of the best books I have ever read. If ye haven’t read it, ye should. So when I saw that she had a new book out on NetGalley with an interesting premise, I wanted to read it. Luckily, I was approved. Yay!
And, overall, I highly enjoyed this book. The standout of this novel is the ideas behind social media and the need for our society to be connected at all times. The main character, Briddey, is supposed to get a procedure called an EDD with her partner Trent which will allow them to experience a “deeper” connection by feeling each other’s emotions. Only when the procedure has been completed, the results have unintended consequences like nothing Briddey could have imagined.
The results of Briddey’s EDD and how it ends up “working” were really what made me continue to read. A lot of books that deal with connected minds tend to showcase only positives. This novel deals with the negative ideas of being connected at all times, and I thought it did a fantastic job of showing how horribly things could go. Not that all consequences were bad in the novel. Technology has the power for both good and evil. I love the internet, my mobile, and GPS tracking. I wouldn’t want to give them up. I love being able to get in touch with the planet when I want to. However, I do try to maintain a good balance between reading about life and experiencing it.
This novel, for me at least, had fantastic concepts, silly banter, twists in the plot, and some truly loveable characters. I adored the character Maeve because she was inquisitive, intelligent, precocious, and just plain fun. I loved C.B.’s steadiness and how the viewpoint of him changes with time. I did however have some problems with the main character of Briddey. Despite her portrayal in the beginning of being smart and strong, she was the weak link of the book for me. She seems to always need saving, be more than two steps behind at all times, have no idea of what she wants, and she lets other people always dictate her life. Now while I sympathized with her situation, I wanted her to take charge at some point and be her own person. She never really seemed to get there. I mean sometimes while reading I would think “Seriously Briddey how dense are you?” But her flaws did not ruin the book for me because I loved the concepts and did have to know how it ended.
I am glad I got to read this novel and definitely would recommend this to any of me crew who likes books that delve into the effects of technology and the “what ifs” of the future. But if I ever have to the choice to get an EDD, I will pass!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Orion Publishing Group!
If ye liked this review, check out me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings . . .
Title: path of fate
Author: Diana Pharoah Francis
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Publication Date: July 12, 2016
ISBN: 9781504037716
Source: NetGalley
When I saw that Diana Pharoah Francis had a book available on NetGalley I got excited. I thought “oh I love her writing” even though silly me couldn’t remember the name of the book that I had previously read just that I loved it. As soon as I started reading this novel, I knew I had read it before. It is likely that I borrowed this from a library back in the day. Turns out the book is being re-released in eBook format. As the details in my head were so fuzzy i.e. almost non-existent, I got excited to re-explore this novel.
I loved it all over again. The story is about Reisil who is a tark (a healer). Reisil has finished her training and is settling down in the village of Kodu Riik where she feels that she has found her purpose in life. Only the gods have other plans. You see there are these people called ahalad-kaaslane who have telepathic bonds with their animal friends. They serve as guardians of the land. When a goshawk appears in Kodu Riik and claims Reisil has been chosen, Reisil rebels. When a kidnapping threatens a truce to end the war between two neighboring lands, Reisil must make a choice. This book details the choice Reisil makes and its consequences.
I loved Reisil and how she comes to terms with the beginning of her destiny. Of course having telepathic abilities with animals is awesome. Ahalad-kaaslane have lynx, lizard, and other companions. I like that Reisil’s magic bond is not instant or natural. She has to learn to use her talents. She of course is smart, loyal, and caring. I also love that for the most part the light romance aspects of the novel are more realistic. First loves do not always last. Neither do second ones. There was a small unnecessary love triangle in his book which did irk me but overall did not spoil the book for me. Also the portrayal of the gods in this story was fun. I rather liked them.
The author’s website describes the trilogy as:
"The Path books (PATH OF FATE, PATH OF HONOR, PATH OF BLOOD) are traditional epic fantasy. The first focuses on Reisil and how she has to make a choice to do something she absolutely doesn’t want to do, even though everybody else thinks is a great honor. In the second book, she finds out that not everybody is what they seem to be, and that evil can be really seductive. In the third book, she finally comes into herself and must really embrace who she’s become."
I want to definitely read the rest of the trilogy.
So lastly . . .
Open Road Integrated Media!
If ye liked this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Title: path of fate
Author: Diana Pharoah Francis
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Publication Date: July 12, 2016
ISBN: 9781504037716
Source: NetGalley
When I saw that Diana Pharoah Francis had a book available on NetGalley I got excited. I thought “oh I love her writing” even though silly me couldn’t remember the name of the book that I had previously read just that I loved it. As soon as I started reading this novel, I knew I had read it before. It is likely that I borrowed this from a library back in the day. Turns out the book is being re-released in eBook format. As the details in my head were so fuzzy i.e. almost non-existent, I got excited to re-explore this novel.
I loved it all over again. The story is about Reisil who is a tark (a healer). Reisil has finished her training and is settling down in the village of Kodu Riik where she feels that she has found her purpose in life. Only the gods have other plans. You see there are these people called ahalad-kaaslane who have telepathic bonds with their animal friends. They serve as guardians of the land. When a goshawk appears in Kodu Riik and claims Reisil has been chosen, Reisil rebels. When a kidnapping threatens a truce to end the war between two neighboring lands, Reisil must make a choice. This book details the choice Reisil makes and its consequences.
I loved Reisil and how she comes to terms with the beginning of her destiny. Of course having telepathic abilities with animals is awesome. Ahalad-kaaslane have lynx, lizard, and other companions. I like that Reisil’s magic bond is not instant or natural. She has to learn to use her talents. She of course is smart, loyal, and caring. I also love that for the most part the light romance aspects of the novel are more realistic. First loves do not always last. Neither do second ones. There was a small unnecessary love triangle in his book which did irk me but overall did not spoil the book for me. Also the portrayal of the gods in this story was fun. I rather liked them.
The author’s website describes the trilogy as:
"The Path books (PATH OF FATE, PATH OF HONOR, PATH OF BLOOD) are traditional epic fantasy. The first focuses on Reisil and how she has to make a choice to do something she absolutely doesn’t want to do, even though everybody else thinks is a great honor. In the second book, she finds out that not everybody is what they seem to be, and that evil can be really seductive. In the third book, she finally comes into herself and must really embrace who she’s become."
I want to definitely read the rest of the trilogy.
So lastly . . .
Open Road Integrated Media!
If ye liked this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
