Previously unread.

Third of Novik's Temeraire books, starting not too long (I imagine) after the end of book #2. Further travels, with incidents, complications and adventure for our intrepid hero and his human Captain. Eh, maybe that's "intrepid hero and hs dragon", not entirely sure.

It's basically "Napoleonic era buckling of swashes, WITH DRAGONS!" and as such it does an eminent job of entertaining.

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Third month of the year. A linear extrapolation puts end-of-year count at 120 books, this does at the moment seem to be within the realm of reasonable. One trend that (alas) continues is lagging slightly in writing each book up, but this is certainly repairable.

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Reread.

Second time for this rather solid fantasy tome. It's pretty good reading, although tends towards the whole "change viewpoint character every few chapters". Could've been worse, the set of viewpoint characters is not vast (4? 5? maybe 6?).

What we're faced with is a huge chunk of land and sea, inhabited by (as far as I can tell) humanoid/insect hybrid things (called "kinden", Beetle-kinden, Dragonfly-kinden, ...) living in, at times tense, peace. But in the periphery are the Wasp-kinden, who are dead set at imposing an empire on the rest, an empire of black and gold.

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Reread.

This is a collection volume, containing Komarr, A Civil Campaign and (actually in the "previously unread" category), the short A Winterfair Gift. The title for the collection volume is very descriptive, as that theme starts in Komarr, continues through the entirety of A Civil Campaign and comes to some sort of culmination in A Winterfair Night.

As is the custom, these are all eminently readable. It is also perhaps not the worst place to pick up the Vorkosigan Saga books (but, I should stress, it is also not the best), since I seem to recall that Komarr was actually the first one I read.

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Previously unread.

It's been a while since I last read any of the Expanse novels. Don't really know why, maybe the whole "TV hype" has put me off. On the whole, they're eminently readable, although one of my distinct memories of "oh, no, not again!" from the first four is mercifully not as prominent in this one.

All in all a pleasant read, although I have a nagging feeling that the acceleration required to cover distance in this book may possibly require higher sustained acceleration than what seems to be happening.

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Reread.

Been a while since I read this one. Weirdly, i think it might be the Vorkosigan Saga book I've read the rest times.

Anyhow. It is shock fill of young Miles, in his second outing, i believe. Pretty much what you would expect from one of these books. It might be a good introductory point, come to think about it. All in all, a most pleasant read.

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Previously unread.

This is an odd one. Eminently readable, but odd. Definitely "far future", realistic (at least of sorts) space travel, aliens (mostly, but not completely, off-stage) and Deep History.

I quite enjoyed it on a first read-through. I wouldn't mind reading more in the same setting. But I can't really say what it reminds me of. Possibly Terminal World, maybe.

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Previously unread.

This is another in Spencer's Elfhome (or possibly Tinker) series. It's basically a collection of character sketches, shorts, a novella or two and a couple of what-ifs, mostly spanning the time passed in the first three volumes of the series, but with a few "well into the past" segments.

definitely readable, if you've liked previous works in the series. Probably does not stand alone, at all.

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Reread.

This is, what, third or maybe fourth time I read this and it's still a delightful read. I think the trick is to leave a while between the rereads, to sort of vaguely smear the memory of the story and be delighted when things are remembered right and wrong and simply not remembered. And, of course, enjoy the story.

I would say that it is not really like most "Miles" books, because it is fundamentally not a "Miles" book (he does appear, but...). If that's what you want, you have to go back at least two (I think) to Cryoburn.

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Reread.

The sixth (I think?) book in Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. Starting with a pointed request to "please remember this favour you owe me" from the goddess of the river Tyburn to our intrepid magical policeman. Then steadily growing worse from there...

I'm still slightly miffed that the text uses Aldgate and Aldersgate interchangeably, both being existing former city gates of the City of London and very much not the same gate. But, you know, that's still pretty much the only complaint I do have of the book. If you've liked the earlier ones, chances are high you'll like this one.

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Reread.

This is the third book in Hines' Magic Ex Libris series. In retrospect, it might've been better to read this before reading #4, but, you know, I've read it in the past and had at least a passing familiarity with what happened. Many specifics, as happens, I'd totally forgotten about.

Still, a good read, all things considered.

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EoFebruary status is 20 books. This means that a linear extrapolation puts us at 120 books. Is this realistic? Probably within 50% of the right number, one way or the other... February numbers much higher than January numbers, for several reasons. One, I've been leaving my tablet at home, so much less temptation to sit down and play games. Second, I had a week off in January and while I do find reading relaxing, if I'm at home and thehre's other things to do, I frequently end up doing "not reading" things.

This entry was originally published at http://vatine.dreamwidth.org/305387.html, please reply there (DW sees comments)

Previously unread.

This is the fourth book in Hines' Magic Ex Libris series, starting approximately a year after the end of the third book. I am trying to figure out how to describe what happens without dumping massive plot spoilers through the write-up and, well, its difficult.

Isaac is heading up a research institute. And in the classic Vainio manner, things do not perhaps go in the most straightforward manner. And it makes for some pretty good reading. Me like.

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Previously unread.

This is the third book in Schwab's "magic' series, taking place essentially directly after the second book, continuing on from what happened there.

I would say that it is a pretty captivating read (it was released last week and I am currently two books behind on write-ups).

If you liked the first (or the first two) chances are probably high that you will like this.

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Reread.

Second of the Magic ex Libris series. Pretty much like the first, but with different things, words and stuff. But if you liked the first, you'll probably like the second. If you didn't like the first, you're unlikely to like the second. And if you swap "second" and "first", I think the previous two sentences are equally true.

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Reread.

First book in Hines' Magic ex Libris series. All in all, not a shabby read. There were things I recalled correctly, some that I recalled wrong and some things I had out of order. Pretty much what I was expecting, going in.

This entry was originally published at http://vatine.dreamwidth.org/304287.html, please reply there (DW sees comments)

Reread.

What happens if you get blackmailed by a Black Court vampire? How powerful is polka music, really? And why would you want to have an unerring sense of rythm, if you're a necromancer? Well, the latter might be because you're looking to graduate to necrodancer, but that is a pun outside the scope of this book.

All in all, portents are laid, foundations upended and shit happens.

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Previously unread.

This is technically a novella. At least that's what the metadata says. It is eminently readable, no matter what category of "size of work" it happens to fall in. Not exactly sure what to say about it, but the term "slow bullet" is in many ways highly plot-relevant. And anything else would probably be spoilery.

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Previously unread.

Sequel! Squeal! This is the book that follows A Darker Shade of Magic, starting approximately four months after the end of the previous book. Like the previous book, there are multiple strands of narrative that braid together. And it's been out for a year and I didn't notice. Weird, how that happens.

Anyway, eminently readable. If you liked #1, you will liekly like this one. #3 should be out in a week or so ,so all is good.

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Previously unread.

This is the 3rd collection volume of McGuire's Velveteen stories. Superheroes aplenty. And some crass corporatism. And all.

That aside, it's pretty darned good reading, so that's brilliant. All I need to do now it remember to track down more.

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