Ice Vegas by Larry Niven; Steven Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly, this is a good book for nostalgia. For those of us who grew up on SF that was still filled with wonder and positive aspects and not just dire warnings. And it's doubly strange to be saying that when this particular novel follows a master assassin who lives in this wonderful time working for ambiguous (or very much not-ambiguous) political finks.

But that's kinda the thing. This novel is working from the angle of redemption. It has a very Koontz feel in some ways, but it's mixed gloriously with all the big SF concepts (near-future, free-energy, built-up Greenland as a free-zone Vegas wonderland).

The core plot is comfortable, but there are some genuine moments of real awesomeness and surprise in the side encounters.

That's the thing about SF. It's horrors can be truly horrible, but so can its wonder be wonderful. It's the wonder that makes me label this as nostalgic. Niven and Barnes, while working together over all these many novels, work that magic well.

I think this is very solid. Not brilliant. That would require a different kind of plot and MC. But as a redemption-type novel? Very satisfying.

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Silence by Nicoli Gonnella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Arrrrgghhhh. Pirates on the void seas, matey. lol

Decent followup with a completely different location thanks to getting flushed out of that previous universe in the first book. Still chaotic, but less chaos in the skills and more in the plot, so expect a bit of excitement.

Not bad. The progression bit is kinda down, here, but I don't mind because the plot keeps hopping.



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Dissonance by Nicoli Gonnella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This LitRPG is a bit chaotic. Usually we see a grand, slow, and sometimes fast but mostly slow progression of skill gains in variously interesting or bland fantasy worlds, be it isekai or VR or cultivation. But this one?

It's throw this Isekai character into highish level skyrim, let them level everything and anything, only to find out later that this bit is slightly unusual. And then we have consolidation time, more cultivation, and a totally chaotic mish-mash of skills we never really get to know except for the one that has to do with eating memories, and then have a grand high level blow out that threatens...

Well, I won't spoil. It's fun, mind you, and it's kinda wild on the power progression speed, but if it's going in the direction I think it is, I think I'll be happy. Write yourself in a corner? No problem. Eat your mistakes. :)



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The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I went into this almost blind. The only thing I knew about it, strangely enough, was the movie trailer and the big letters saying, "based on novel", and the fact it was a post-apoc with some very recognizable peeps.

So, I thought, "Huh. I guess I better get on that."

I expected, and somewhat dreaded, a bleak future, but also dreaded a saccharine future, too. Neither was going to to me any good at this point.

Fortunately for me, this novel came out with just the right tone. Gritty, sure, but focused on competence and realism just enough hope and even curiosity to get not only the protagonist, but the reader, too, out of bed.

It isn't so much a novel about friendship and pinning your hope to a star, (or a dog), but a realization that all things can--and will--change.

I'm just glad this didn't come out bittersweet. Or sweet. Too much pain for that.

It's the writing that really came out on top, however. Beautifully imagined. Core, solid as hell.

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Last Save Dave: A LitRPG Adventure by Michael James Ploof
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a solid LitRPG but it does have a couple of caveats and/or manage-your-expectations moments.

For one, expect it to be a LitRPG that leans more heavily into super mario bros mixed with light leveling, with a focus on temporary powerups and a restart option.

If you like that kind of thing, you're gonna love this NY plumber in action.

I personally read it for the novelty factor, and it has that.

It also has a light riff on DC Carl going on, but that part's very light.

Still, it's all pretty amusing and heartwarming in the right ways. And like many of these LitRPGs, there always seems to be little DARK easter eggs hidden in here. Story element that usually would derail other kinds of novels with the emotional weight, but don't do that in LitRPGs because the MCs are just TOO DAMN BUSY. :)





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Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It lives up to the cozy fantasy romance billing. Nerdy researchers in the real world, 1909, getting the low-down on the fae.

Only one of them isn't quite what they seem. And the other is a bit more competent than they seem. And they're both idiots.

Which makes for a fun adventure/romance overloaded with fae lore.

I won't say it's the best I've ever read, but it, also, follows all the rules of the fae... AND romance novels. So, props for that.

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He Who Fights with Monsters 12 by Shirtaloon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How do you continue a story when your MC is a god? By reframing the question. Or rather, continue to keep asking the very question the series started with.

He who fights with monsters runs the risk of becoming one.

The real story is about power. Wisdom. Abuse. And the sometimes obvious, oftentimes oblivious solutions.

And in this novel, we see a LOT of wrap-up. But to be fair, a LOT has happened and we get to follow the grand procession of all those people Jason has interacted with--after the fact of such change. It's delicious. Crazy. Bittersweet.

But above all that, the flavor of hard-earned wisdom permeates the text. One might say it's soul-healing.

At this point, I could read this novel forever. I appreciate a good bit of wisdom. Shown wisdom. :)

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