-
Book Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Back in February, I listened to and loved Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow (my review linked). The last book I finished this year is The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, also in audiobook format. These books, along with others like Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone (which I loved, but haven’t written any reviews of), are part of a new trend in science fiction and fantasy where the main characters are non-western girls. Let me be clear that I am here for this trend. As a GenX girl who loved science fiction and fantasy books, I grew up mostly reading about the adventures of young, implied western, boys. So…
-
Some Thoughts After Listening to Steven Brust’s Agyar
Agyar is my favorite vampire book, despite the fact that I don’t think the word “vampire” is used anywhere in the book. The audio version is great because Steven reads it himself. I loved listening to him tell me this story. I first read this book probably within two years of it first being published (back in the early 90s). I have read it at least two other times, but it had been close to two decades since those readings when I decided to listen to it. When I revisit a book, I notice new things, or I react differently to the same things. It is not always about the…
-
100 Word Book Review: Unbelievable True* Stories from Ancient Greece by Anna Werner
I fell in love with Greek mythology in 4th grade. This book would not have been appropriate for me to read at 1o years old. But if you are over 18, have ever found yourself thinking “Are you fucking kidding me?” while reading Greek mythology, and still want to read more Greek mythology, then Unbelievable True* Stories from Ancient Greece by Anna Werner is the book for you. Anna’s research and deep understanding of the subject are obvious, but it is her humor that shines through as she expresses the thoughts many of us have had while reading these stories.
-
100 Word Book Review: G.H.O.S.T. Teams Book 1- Magic by Bobby Brimmer
If you’re lucky enough to have met Bobby Brimmer, then you have a good idea what reading G.H.O.S.T. Teams Book 1 – Magic is like. It’s his personality on the page – an action romp with a wise-cracking hero. There are fight scenes and chase scenes and unsuccessful flirting scenes. There’s not a lot of deep introspection, though there’s enough character development to show the hero isn’t perfect and has plenty to learn. But the best part of the book was that it was FUN. This was an easy read, and I will definitely be reading more of the series.
