ソードアート・オンライン11: アリシゼーション・ターニング by Reki Kawahara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is fully transformed into a genuine LitRPG in the way the genre is known, today. Focus on worldbuilding, gaming the system, and survival.

Quite fun. Of course, we have to break a few things, like the schooling and training montages, but it sure as hell propels the plot forward. :)

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Proxima Dreaming by Brandon Q. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm of two minds with this final book in the trilogy. First, I was very invested in exploration, etc, so when it turned into a PoV with an alien mindset that seemed too familiar with us, or being about an AI vs AI thriller surrounding base survival for the humans, I was a bit Meh.

After all, I wanted to have truly alien aliens and exploration, discovery, etc.

On the other hand, it was still pretty entertaining and the end was pretty cool. So I went from meh to alright. Not too bad. A decent SF to be read strictly for a bit of escapism.

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Proxima Dying by Brandon Q. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beginnings are the best time. But that being said, middle books are still progression. And here we learn ever more about Proxima, it's deadly mystery, and the kids' own (as well as the mission's) dark past.

Pretty standard, story-wise. Nothing even close to unique. BUT, it's well-done and quite entertaining, and I appreciate it for exactly that.

SF exploration is and should be a thing we still have in our heads. Endlessly trawling the depths of our own depravity shouldn't be everything we get. :)



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Proxima Rising by Brandon Q. Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know, honestly, I really appreciate all old-school SF adventure/exploration tales. Especially when they just KNOW their job and do it extremely well. Bring out that sense of awe and wonder and danger, throw in a little intrigue, but really stick to the landing.

It's not something we get much of anymore. So, I rather loved it.

It's half of Bobbiverse, and half Interstellar. Maybe not quite as wonderful as either, alone, but very entertaining and nerdy anyway.

I especially love the awe. :)



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Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wayward Children series is as strong as ever. And this time, we return to the halls of the dead.

I think I have the most fond memories of this realm. Very interesting. But no more spoilers. Fun stuff.

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How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Yeah. So. This one really didn't connect with me. I mean, Mr. Beast doing a reality TV show contest on Survival Island, only it goes really bad with deep dark mystery island stuff a-la cults. Yeah. Well. Practically none of that sparks me as original or not over-done in today's entertainment.

When books need to steal from youtube and decades of reality tv and a smidge of Jonestown, you know we're scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Otherwise, the writing was okay. I simply had a hard time caring.

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Lady of Fire by Pirateaba
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can say this 100% every single time now: I cannot get over how much I love this series and how excited I am to get to read it. It's christmas and my birthday all at the same time, and on top of that, I read it slower because I never want it to end.

For how long the books are, and this one is just as heart-stoppingly long as the others, it's unique in that I never ever ever want it to stop.

So many characters at this point. So many gorgeous stories. So much current history. So much EMOTION.

I was just laughing with my family about just how crazy it is to have a single little scene where an ancient and impossibly powerful dragon is complaining about just how stupid Shrek is while refusing to stop watching it. And require commentary.

I couldn't stop chortling... not because the scene was funny in concept, and it is, but because of ALL the other things that had to happen FIRST for it to hit QUITE this hard.

That's the genius of this work. And I love it. Love, love, love.

And that's just a tiny little sliver. So much happens in just this book and it's world-wide and amazing in scope, with wars, a whole pirate section, medical drama with body-stealing friends, sex drama, and most of all---friendship.

And while all that's happening, we even get Soccer. And a little troublemaking inn-keeper telling the most powerful king in all the world to "stuff his face" on live TV. And he loves it. *shakes head*

I can't recommend this series enough. It's just too good on way too many levels.



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