Keep the Stars Running - Samantha M. Derr Editor

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 A very strong collection of short stories. I liked the theme a lot. It was refreshing reading about the people working in space rather than the typical hero types. I admit I always had a weakness for the Space Quest games and the not so heroic  Roger Wilco.

The Prince and the Programmer  by Cassandra Pierce

This was my least favorite of all of the stories. It seemed odd to me to have the first story of this collection start with a romance with a Prince especially one as spineless, dull, and whiny as this one. His only appeal seemed to be his beauty, and that was it. He was nice, but bland and uninteresting. So very uninteresting. The plot was a bit silly, and too much like a stereotypical romance novel to be all that interesting. Not for me.

About a Bot by Andrea Speed

I really like Andrea Speed, and this story was no exception. Fun interesting, and well thought out.  I loved how Tahir’s kindness was the key to the story. I also loved the natural feeling to the romance. No declarations of undying love, just the start of something good.

The Aurora Conspiracy by Lexi Ander

I really enjoyed this story. I’m usually not much for a couple reunited, but this story handled it beautifully, and I love how neither man was trying to force the other into being who they used to be. They are both trying to understand what happened, and appreciate the people that they have become.  The plot is engaging, and complex. A good conspiracy tale.

Flight Risk by Tayla Andor

I really liked Kiel, the mechanic. I appreciated that consideration to the toll his job took on his body was given. It reminded me of my Great-Grandfather who was nearly deaf from years of exposure to his lobster boat’s diesel engine. I liked that he was so dedicated to his job.  The romance was nicely developed, and felt natural to the characters. The plot was engaging, and the resolution was well done.

 

Survival by Leona Carver
 
The least romantic of the stories, it has a creepy vibe that I really enjoyed. The plot was well done, and I liked the way the different elements came together. Sad, and bittersweet the ending fit the story well even though my heart broke a little bit.

Overall a nice compilation that explored different theme, ideas, and characters.

mle

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I really was hoping this was going to be a wonderful read. Alas it didn’t live up to the cover, or the blurb.
I hear people saying it’s like Tangled, and it does have a slight Rapunzel feel. If only it had the romance, the Dragon is no Flynn Ryder.

Nope.



Not even close.

They also say that it has a Beauty and the Beast feel, but again nowhere near the chemistry as Belle, and her Beast.



They also say it’s a bit like Frozen, and yeah the friendship between Agnieszka and Kasia is pretty awesome, but it just wasn’t enough to erase the squicked out feeling I got from Agnieszka and the Dragon hooking up together.
You see the Dragon is over 500 years old and Agnieszka is seventeen. That is not romantic to me, and the sex scene, thank the SMFPU it was a boot scene, made my skin crawl.
There is also some Baba Yaga lore tossed in, but without a house of with chicken feet I felt cheated!



All in all there were some neat concepts with the forest, and the creatures within, but on a whole it just didn’t do it for me.

Rating: ⋆⋆

- E

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in trade for an honest review.

The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell

Thank you Netgalley, and Jabberwocky. I really enjoyed this one! With its rich world building, and complex characters it was a great book to take my time with.
I really liked the main characters Alain and Mari, they may be young in years, but life has aged them, especially Alain.



The world has three different castes, Mages, Mechanics, and Commons. Mages in this are interesting. They deny reality; everything is an illusion, and everyone a shadow. So you can just imagine what that power trip means for the Commons.
Alain is the youngest Mage in history at seventeen, and on his first mission for the Mage Guild. This is where he meets Mari, the youngest Master Mechanic in history. I was pleasantly surprised that there was no insta-love here, and rightly so because Alain is so emotionally shut off there would be no way he could feel anything. I mean at this point he doesn’t know what the word help means; it’s been beat out of him.



So it takes quite a while for the romance in this to build. Mari finally thinks that maybe, but maybe she has feeling for him at sixty percent, and at that point the connection felt real. The romance works, it doesn’t come off as a puppy love.
I also love the running joke of Mari’s sarcasm, and Alain trying to understand it.



Also Alain’s use of logic to do what he wants to do is great. I really had fun with these characters and can’t wait to read the next installment. I hope it comes out in eBook format!!

Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆


I received this book from Netgalley in trade for an honest review.

- E

Flunked by Jen Calonita

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book. It was an interesting idea, and it seemed cute to begin with. The execution left a lot to be desired. The characters felt more than a bit uneven to me. They weren't all that well developed, so their actions felt inconsistent, or contrary to what I knew about them. The balance between the darker aspects of the story, and the cuter ones felt off as well. It was almost like the author wasn't sure what kind of story they were writing, and it left me feeling a bit off balance. The plot was a bit simplistic, and it wasn't helped by the lack of characters I felt fully engaged in either. I think the shortness of the story didn't help, and the author tried to cram a bit too much into this book for any of it to come together well. Parts of the ending felt a bit out of left field, and, while I was glad it wasn't quite as simplistic as I feared, it still wasn't great. The message at the end also seemed to be a bit out of nowhere, and really wasn't supported by anything that came before it. A quick read, but shallow even by middle grade book standards.

mle

A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin

I really love this book. The premise is just so different. I love the way magic works, and what it is to be a Sorcerer. The Bikers were really interesting as well. I love the complicated mess that is Matthew Swift, and the Electric Blue Angels. I love how there is no real, clear lines between the two of them, and how often they merge and blend. The plot is well done, and tightly paced. The secondary characters are a varied bunch, and from an integral part of the story rather than just being an afterthought, or a foil for Matthew. For me the stand out of this book is the writing. It's vibrant, alive, and reminds me of what I love about British humor, or style. There was a lot that reminded me of the feel of Doctor Who, Neil Gaiman, and Douglas Adams without ever feeling like the author was copying anything; just that they shared a similar sensibility, and taste. I loved the blend of humor, and darkness. It's not a light read, but it's not an oppressive one either. One of my all time favorite urban fantasy series.





Oh, I can't resist one of my favorite quotes: "'All part of the service,' she said. 'Now-I'm going to get bandages. Please don't evaporate into you constituent parts before I get back.'"

mle

The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

I really enjoyed this book very much. The writing is efficient, and avoids anything excessive or flowery. The story is well plotted, and interesting, but it is the characters that made it really stand out for me. Both Alain and Mari are complex, and well developed characters. I really felt for both of them. I liked that there wasn’t any instant love or even instant attraction. They both have the prejudices of their Guilds, and neither one of them is willing to trust the other at first. It takes time for them to learn to understand, and respect each other before even friendship can begin. I liked that they were both thoughtful characters, and they took time to think about things, and to understand the situation BEFORE they acted. I liked that they learned to appreciate each other, and how their difference often times worked to their benefit. The conflict was interesting, and I liked seeing both of them learning to see beyond what they have been told. The resolution was well done, and while this is the first book in a series, it felt complete. No artificial cliffhanger, or last minute introductions. Overall a very good start of an interesting new series. I can’t wait to read more.

mle

Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman

A fantastic collection of short stories and poems by my favorite living author. While I didn't love every story in this collection there were ones that were just perfect.

The Man Who Forgot Ray was powerful, and especially moving considering his friendship with Terry Pratchett. A beautiful, and haunting reflection on the power of words, of ideas, of books, and of stories. A story that addressed some of my personal biggest fears.


Click-Clack the Rattlebag was just the kind of creeping, and atmospheric horror story I like. Scary, and dark without being obvious and silly.


Nothing O'clock was the perfect fusion of my favorite author and one of my favorite shows. Exactly how much love the author has for Doctor Who shines in these pages. His grasp of Amy and the Eleventh Doctor was perfect, and I could see the story playing out in my head just like an episode of the show. The balance of humor, and darkness was just right.


The fairy tale re-imaginings were all different, but each drew on the feel of the original tales. Each dark, and more than a bit gruesome in their own way. No traditional happy endings, or Princes to the rescue here.


Black Dog was an excellent addition to American Gods universe. I don't think that you have to have read American Gods before you read this. It might give you a little more context, and it might be helpful to know (view spoiler)[that Shadow isn't precisely all human (hide spoiler)] and that (view spoiler)[his father is Odin (hide spoiler)], but I don't think it's vital to understanding the story either. Just know that after some difficulties Shadow has been traveling or wandering in Europe. I love the history, and mythology in this story. It only makes me long for more.


Overall a good, darker selection of Neil Gaiman stories. The kind of horror that sneaks up on you. The kind built from suggestion, atmosphere, and character and not copious amounts of blood and gore. In short my favorite kind of horror.


mle