A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great mystery. It has all the hallmarks of Watson and Holmes in a very fantasy setting, as usual, but firmly held in a great worldbuilding paradise.

Indeed, the cover for this book gives this particular story completely away, but it's still pretty damn tasteful for all that.

Dead girl, mysterious deaths, family politics, and a truly messed up psychological thriller. No more spoilers. But this was fascinating and quite good.

Bennett is always solid as hell.


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Fated Antagonist by RinoZ
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very long novel that accomplishes much, conquering, destroying, building, but more than anything else, there's a very important aspect that I can't get enough of: The ones who will not be named.

I can't stop chortling.

I can't stop thinking about applying this ... organization ... to our world.

I would eagerly ant-icipate this change. A wonderful cultural contamination. I know a few people I'd love to see get kidnapped. The fear on their faces. The hushed whispers everywhere else. And the tea. The haircuts. Muahahahahahahaha

I'm having a great time with this series.

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Antvance into the Unknown by RinoZ
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Third stratum? Exploration? It's just the demon realm, right? Should be relaxing. A little happy jaunt.

And since it's just Antony the ant with his pets and a rambunctious and curious little hatchling going along, (we're ignoring the silent and invisible honor guard,) there's no real risk to the COLONY if anything goes wrong.

Truly. If anything goes pear-shaped, it's all on the vacationeers. The consequences will all be on them.

No blowback to the COLONY.

Ahem.

By the way, if you're curious, I should point out that the direction of the blame implied here is purely ironical. The story happens to go an entirely different direction. Which makes it funny.

Strange, too, because Antony has NO concern about a queen's thwap.

This time.
Muahahahahaha.

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Enemy A[n]t the Gates by RinoZ
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Want a siege novel? You get a siege novel. A massive siege novel. The colony must defend against those damn armored beefcake humans and rockies.

Impressive prep, industry, of course. Lots of conflict and setbacks and balance in the story.

All told, a fun novel.

Was there much in the way of character development? Maybe a little. But no, not really.

Still, a fun middle-book LitRPG.

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Between a Rock and a Carapace by RinoZ
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What? A LONE ANT in a tournament against his poor wishes?

Yeah, fine, that's fine. Everything's fine. But just wait till the colony finds out. Muahahahahahahahaha

Truly, it's all just a bunch of leveling and training and dealing with crazy cultists and a spot of overwhelming force to even things out, but it's hugely ANTertaining.

For the Colony!

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Antelligent Design by RinoZ
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Evolution! Who doesn't appreciate a total colony transformation now and then? More intelligence? More industry? Endless care to support your colony, at any cost?

What could go wrong?

Nothing! It's perfection! Especially when endless monster hordes are on their way. And hey, even the humans are appreciating the family! Ant-supremacy!

Fun stuff, seriously.

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Upping the Ante by RinoZ
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe how much fun I'm having following the family. Or rather, the colony. Sure, it's more Ants and Friends, or pets, or idiot human worshipers, but it's all great fun. Dungeon delving. Eating. Mutating. PROTECTING THE COLONY.

It actually makes neat sense the way it's set up. Human reborn as an ant actually prefers it this way. And with what we learn, I GET IT.

After all this, I'm wondering if it might not be a bit better to want to be an ant. It's fairly antastic.

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