Reading Cold Days by Jim Butcher, the 14th book in Dresden Files series.
Another super busy week, so pretty much still at the same place as last week.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
For details on the c/Books bingo challenge that just restarted for the year, you can checkout the initial Book Bingo, and its Recommendation Post. Links are also present in our community sidebar.
I’m about 2/3 of the way through All Systems Red by Martha Wells, the first Murderbot story. I can see why it’s so well-liked.
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Finished:
Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi (historical fiction with elements of myth) | bingo: minority author, based on folklore, steppin’ up, political
A lowly blacksmith adjusts to her new life as the future bride of a powerful ruler.
According to the blurb, this is based on the myth of Persephone, but even clarifying that as “loosely” is generous. That said, outside of a couple of minor quibbles, I enjoyed this, and now I feel like I know a tiny bit about traditional West African culture. There is a brief glossary in the back, but I spent some time on Wikipedia, too.
Dead Cert by Dick Francis (mystery thriller) | bingo: different continent, motion picture, saddle up, game
A jockey investigates the death of his friend.
First in a series. Lots of horse racing, has that 1960s-era writing feel. This was decent, although the romance wasn’t great, and it hasn’t aged well in a couple of places (an understatement in one case).
Just read “Will of the Many” by James Islington. It was fantastic. Kind of an adult Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones but the world is more Roman influenced.
Basically an empire conquers the whole continent and they have a heirarchy system where 8 people give their will/strength/life force to those above. The people at higher levels have so much will coming in that they have telepathic abilities as well. Those at the bottom are half as stong as normal. Its a very interesting magic system.
Plot wise lots of twists and turns. Betrayals and redemptions, political backstabbing and plenty of mysteries to uncover.
I had a few gripes with the boy saviour trope and the lead character Vis being good at everything but not enough to kill an otherwise excellent story.
I don’t want to say anymore than that for fear of ruining it.
The sequel “Strength of the Few” just came out. I’m holding off reading it though because i know I’ll inhale it.
How many books is it going to be total? Don’t want to start another unfinished series, but the setting sounds interesting.
I think it started as a trilogy but he moved it to a quadrilogy because it would be too hard to wrap it up in 3.
Yeah if this fails to get completed I won’t be reading anymore unfinished series. I have faith though because he already completed one trilogy with a consistent release schedule.
Thanks for the info. I am willing to make exceptions for writers who are consistent and I enjoy. Will check it out.
This past week I finished reading “Transgender Marxism” by Jules Joanne Gleeson. I also read “The Abolition of Work” by Bob Black.
Just finished American Sirens, the story of the first paramedics in the US. Everyone should read this book. It should be made into a movie, ala Hidden Figures. It’s frustrating and fascinating and well written. You will be amazed at what they used to do before CPR was invented in the 60s.
sounds fascinating, I’ll add this to my TBR📚
Dark gathering: Volume 1 (manga)
How are you liking it so far?
Enjoying it ☺️
Here because of Enshittification by Cory Doctorow. Moving on to “This non-violent stuff’ll get you killed” by Charles E. Cobb Jr.
How did you like Enshittification?
Reads like an extended infodump, good analysis throughout, although I do critique some turns of phrase preferred by the author (eg. calling non-internet users “Normies”).
As much as the author tries backs away from it in the conclusion, it reads as a critique of late stage capitalism as a whole, unsurprisingly.
I highly recommend.
Thanks for the review!
