Queen of Candesce by Karl Schroeder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We didn't really focus too much on the mechanics of Virga in this book, (which still remains awesome, btw,) but that's mostly fine. We got the lion's share of worldbuilding in the first book.

This one takes us to an OLD, insular community with our favorite back-stabbing hot noble as she successfully rises to power on nothing more than intelligence and opportunism.

That's it. It's fun, a wild ride, and it's all still set in a man-made world like a balloon with artificial suns inside. For that, I call it quasi-steampunk, quasi-hardSF.

I'm down for more. Originality counts for a lot.

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Dual Memory by Sue Burke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m surprised how much fun I had while reading this novel. Subtext is everything, of course, but what can I say? I love a good diatribe.

Between discussions of the nature of art, revolutionary planning, anti-cap sentiment, a plethora of AIs puppeteering the whole shebang — and friendship, I just fairly rocked with this novel.

It’s not perfect, but I still had a great time, so that counts for a lot.

It is a cool departure from Sue Burke’s other novels and not a bad thing in the slightest. It’s just different.

I can’t wait to follow her writing career.

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Evershore by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a solid novella, or even short novel, in the Skyward series. We get full characterization of Jorgen, Jerkface, and it's great.

We even get some great battle, too, but the strength of this is in the rise to power, getting to know the aliens, and the Knowhere place that is obviously (at least to a Brandon Sanderson Cosmere fan,) a lot more than what it seems to be.

I'm really reading all these for the completionism aspect to it, but I'm quite happy, anyway. Quite solid.

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ReDawn by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This in-between novella in the Skyward series is just more proof that no one should go it alone. I liked the mentoring aspect of it.

Everyone needs help.

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Fables, Vol. 9: Sons of Empire by Bill Willingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bigby's Bros! I'm also really getting into the whole Snow/Bigby relationship (including the kids) now.

Flycatcher is really getting interesting, too.

It looks like I'm finally getting into the good stuff, or close. I'm invested at last.

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Ex-Communication by Peter Clines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Comic superheroes vs zombie apocalypse, continued.

This one is simple and fascinating. I loved Dead Girl and the whole deal with the devil sideline was solid, too. Make no mistake, however: it's all popcorn. It fulfills a specific reader need and does it well.





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Dark One: Forgotten by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this one all too much because it just felt like a v-blogger amateur murder investigation — a bit cute, increasingly weird — but overall, logical and earnest.

I will say that I did get into it 100% once the real hook was revealed. What hook? Ah, but to say that would spoil WAY too much.

So I’ll just say that the true bits of horror, when it finally turns on the protagonist, is well worth the read and fascinating in its own right.

I am certain I’ll enjoy more like this in the future.

Of course, since it’s Sanderson and Wells, of whom I’ve already read tons, I’m sure it will come around again. :)

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