2020 - Majkia (Jean) in Margaritaville

Does everyone know Jimmy Buffett? If you aren't that familiar, us fans are known as Parrot Heads.
Flip flops and blue jeans. It's 5 o'clock somewhere! I'm dreaming of tropical places to read.

Long live the Conch Republic!

1st Quarter Reading


January
1. The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson 🎵 (reader: Michael Kramer) Series: Mistborn #2 pages: 815 - SFFKIT, ROOT, BFB
2. The Bayern Agenda - Dan Moren - Pages: 384 -Series: The Galactic Cold War #1 -ROOT, SFFKIT - ROOT from 2019
3. Dispel Illusion - Mark Lawrence - Impossible Times #3 - 🎵 (reader: Matthew Throw) - pages 234
4. Whose Body? - Dorothy L. Sayers - Series: Lord Peter Wimsey #1 - 🎵 (reader: Roe Kindall - pages 224 - ROOT, BingoDog
5. Age of Myth - Micheal J. Sullivan - Series: Legends #1 - 🎵 (reader: Tim Gerard Reynolds - pages 432 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, Focus Series
6. Un Lun Dun - China Mieville - pages 498 - ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT
7. Ancestral Night - Elizabeth Bear - Series: White Space #1 - 🎵 (reader: Nneka Okoye) - pages 512 - BFB, ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT
8. The City of Brass - S.A. Chakraborty - pages 544 - 🎵 (reader: Soneela Nankani) - BFB, ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT, Dice
9. Deep Secret - Diana Wynn Jones - pages 384 - ROOT, 75rs TIOLI
10. The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett - pages 480 - 🎵 (reader:Peter Bradbury) - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus Series, Dice
11. The Tomb - F. Paul Wilson - pages 448 🎵 (reader: Joe Barrett) - ROOT, SFFKIT, ScaredyKIT

February
12. Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel - 🎵 (reader: Simon Slater ) - pages 560 - BFB, BingoDOG, group read
13. Finders - Melissa Scott - pages 412 - AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, ROOT
14. Clouds of Witness - Doroth L Sayers - 🎵 (reader: Ian Carmichael ) - pages 230 -RTT, ROOT, BingoDog
15. The Red Door - Charles Todd - pages 368 - RTT, ROOT, BingoDOG
16. Velocity Weapon - Megan O'Keefe - pages 544 - 🎵 (reader: Joe Jameson) - BFB, ROOT, Dice
17. Cold Vengeance- Preston/Child - pages 457 - 🎵 (reader: Rene Auberjonois) - ROOT, Focus Series, ScaredyKIT

March
18. The Serrano Succession - Elizabeth Moon - Pages: 802 - Last of the Serrano series - ROOT, SFFKIT, BFB, Focus Series
19. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel - pages 432 - 🎵 (reader: Simon Vance) Series: Wolf Hall #2 - Group Read
20. Foundryside - Robert J. Bennett - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader: Tara Sands) - ROOT, BFB, SffKIT
21. Omega - Jack McDevitt - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader:Karen Hvram) - ROOT, BFB, SffKIT, focus series
22. Who Buries the Dead - C.S. Harris - pages 384 - 🎵 (reader:Davinia Porter) - ROOT, focus series, AlphaKIT
23. Wicked Autumn - G.M. Malliet - pages 320 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT
24. European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman - Theodora Goss - pages 736 - 🎵 (reader:Kate Reading ) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, TravelKIt, SFFKIT
25. Unnatural Death - DorothyL. Sayers - pages 736 - 🎵 (reader:Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT, MysteryKIT, group read
26. The Ruin - Dervla McTiernan - pages 400 - 🎵 (reader:Aoife McMahon ) - ROOT

2nd Quarter Reading

April
27. The Black Prism - Brent Weeks - pages 540 - 🎵 (reader:Simon Vance) - ROOT, Dice, Focus Series, BFB
28. Down Among the Dead - K.B. Wagers - pages 448 - ROOT
29. The Spaceship Next Door - Gene Doucette - pages 368 - 🎵 (reader: Steve Carlson) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
30. The Witch Who Came In From the Cold - Multiple authors - Season 1 - pages 429 - 🎵 (reader: cast) - ROOT, MysteryKIT
31. Barbary Station - R.E. Stearns - pages 448 - 🎵 (reader: Mia Barron) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
32. The Collapsing Empire - John Scalzi - pages 336 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
33. The Consuming Fire - John Scalzi - pages 320 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
34. The Last Emperox - John Scalzi -pages 330 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
35. The Weight of the Evidence - Michael Innes - pages 243 - 🎵 (reader: Matt Addis) - ROOT,Dice
36. Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir - pages 448 - 🎵 (reader: Moira Quirke) - ROOT, AlphaKIT
37. The Demon Crown - James Rollins - pages 672 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous ) - ROOT, Focus Series, BFB
38. Jennifer Morgue - Charles Stross - pages 401 - ROOT, BingoDOG, Dice, Focus Series, AlphaKIT
39. Odyssey - Jack McDevitt - pages 432 - ROOT, Focus Series
40. The Darwin Elevator - Jason M. Hough - pages 496 - ROOT

May
41. The Time Traders - Andre Norton - pages 179 - ROOT
42. Revenger - Alastair Reynolds - pages 448 - ROOT, SFFKIT, RandomCAT
43. Shadow Captain - Alastair Reynolds - pages 448 - ROOT, SFFKIT, RandomCAT
44. A Lonely Death - Charles Todd - pages 348 - ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT, Dice
45. Bone Silence - Alastair Reynolds - pages 640 - 🎵 (reader: Clair Corbett ) - ROOT, BFB, SFFKIT
46. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - Dorothy L. Sayers - pages 256 - 🎵 (reader: Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT, RandomCAT, MysteryKIT
47. Legacies - F. Paul Wilson - pages 450 - Repairman Jack #2 - 🎵 (reader: Christopher Price ) - ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT
48. The Desert Spear - Peter V. Brett - pages read: 450 about - ABANDONED - DNF
49. The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday - Saad Z. Hossain - Pages 176 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
50. Network Effect - Martha Wells - pages 352 - 🎵 (reader: Kevin R. Free ) - ROOT, SFFKIT
51. To Kingdom Come - Will Thomas - pages 290 - ROOT
52. Lady Takes the Case - Eliza Casey - pages 304 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
53. Sins of Empire - Brian McClellan - pages 624 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Rodka ) - ROOT, Focus Series, Dice, BFB
54. Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett - pages 288 - Discworld #6 - 🎵 (reader: Celia Imrie ) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT, SFFKIT
55. The City in the Middle of the Night - C.J. Anders - pages 368 - ROOT

June
56. The Disappeared - K.K. Rusch - pages 366 - 🎵 (reader: Jay Snyder ) - ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT, Focus Series
57. Middlegame - Seanan McGuire - pages 528 - 🎵 (reader: Amber Benson ) - ROOT, BFB
58. Blood on the Tongue - Stephen Booth - pages 401 - ROOT, Focus Series, MysteryKIT
59. Columbus Day - Craig Alanson - pages 432 - 🎵 (reader:R.C. Bray ) -ROOT, SFFKIT
60. Strong Poison - Dorothy L. Sayers - pages 252 - 🎵 (reader:Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT
61. Kraken - China Mieville - pages 528 - 🎵 (reader:John Lee ) -ROOT, AlphaKIT, ScaredyKIT, BFB
62. Killing Gravity - Corey J. White - pages 176 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
63. The Lake House - Kate Morton - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader: Caroline Lee ) -ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT, BFB
64. Where the Hell is Tesla? - Rob Dircks - pages 396 - 🎵 (reader: Rob Dircks ) -ROOT
65. Edinburgh Twilight - Carol Lawrence - pages 446 - 🎵 (reader: Napoleon Ryan ) -ROOT, MysteryCAT

3rd Quarter Reading


July
66. Crucible : A Thriller - James Rollins - pages 656 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous ) - AlphaKIT, Focus Series, BFB
67. The Black Tides of Heaven - J. Y. Yang - pages 238 - ROOT
68. The Lost Fleet: Fearless - Jack Campbell - Pages 304 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Rummell ) - AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, Focus Series
69. The Ruin of Kings - Jenn Lyons - Chorus of Dragons #1 - pages 650 - 🎵 (reader: ) - AlphaKIT, BFB,
70. The Killing Way - Tony Hays - pages 272 - ROOT, RTT Quarterly, MysteryKIT
71. Chasm City - Alastair Reynolds - pages 704 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT , 🎵 (reader: John Lee )
72. Cauldron - Jack McDevitt - pages 368 - 🎵 (reader:Karen Hvram) - ROOT, SffKIT, focus series

4th Quarter Reading

Planned Series



SFF
1 Lightbringer Series Brent Weeks SFF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 #1 - The Black Prism (re-read)
2 Demon Cycle Peter V. Brett SFF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 #1 - The Warded Man (re-read)
3. Craft Sequence Max Gladstone SFF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, #1 - Three Parts Dead
4. Legends of 1st Empire Michael J Sullivan SFF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 #1 - Age of Myth
5. Laundry Files Charles Stoss SFF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 #2 - The Jennifer Morgue
6. His Dark Materials reread Phillip Pullman SFF 1,2,3, 0, 0.5 #2 - The Subtle Knife
7. P.C. Grant Ben Aaronovitch SFF 6,7 #6 Lies Sleeping
8. Powder Mage Brian McClellan SFF 4,5,6 #4 Sins of Empire
9. Repairman Jack F. Paul Wilson SFF 1,2,3,4,5 - #1 The Tomb #2 Legacies
10. Devine Cities Robert Bennett SFF - 1,2,3

Sci Fi
11 The Academy Jack McDevitt Sci fi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 #4 - Omega #5 Odyssey #6 Cauldron
12 Revelation Space Alastair Reynolds Sci fi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 #2 Chasm City
13 Greg Mandel Peter F. Hamilton Sci fi 1, 2, 3 #1 - Mindstar Rising
14 Confederation Tanya Huff Sci fi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, #1 - Valor's Choice
15 The Retrieval Artist K.K. Rusch Sci fi 1, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. #1 - The Disappeared
✔ 14 Heris Serrano Elizabeth Moon Sci Fi 6,7
16 The Lost Fleet Jack Campbell Sci Fi 2,3,4,5,6 #2 Fearless

Mystery/Thriller

17 Ian Rutledge Charles Todd Period mystery 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, #12 - The Red Door #13 A Lonely Death
18 Dept Q Jussi Adler-Olsen Contemp mystery 7, 8 #7 - The Scarred Woman
19 Seb St Cyr C.S. Harris Period mystery 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 #10 - Who Buries the Dead
20 Sigma Force James Rollins thriller 13, 14 #13 - The Demon Crown #14 Crucible: A Novel
21 Pendergast Preston/Child thriller 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, #11 - Cold Vengeance
22 Flavia Alan Bradley Period mystery 9, 10 #9 - The Grave's a Fine and Private Place
23 Gamache Louise Penny mystery 10, 11, 12 #10 - The Long Way Home
234 Cooper & Fry Stephen Booth mystery 3,4,5 - #3 - Blood on the Tongue #4 - Blind to the Bones

Wishing everyone a wonderful new year and great reading. Raise a glass!

Do I know Jimmy Buffett? Yup, yup! Tin Cup Chalice, A Pirate Looks at Forty, Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season, on and on goes the list...

Welcome back!

Happy reading in 2020!

Best wishes for 2020, may plenty of great reads come your way!

Thanks all for dropping by. Happy New Year!

We're beginning the year RVing at one of our favorite campgrounds, Eastbank, on Lake Seminole just across the Florida border in Georgia. Our daughter and her husband are camping with us.

Happy new year! May it bring you good times and great books!

Happy New Year! I always enjoy following your thread.

1. The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson 🎵 (reader: Michael Kramer) Series: Mistborn #2 pages: 815 - ROOT, BFB, SFFKIT

I struggled a bit with this. I'm not certain why. Perhaps because I'm not crazy about the reader. He's not very good at discriminating between characters or showing much emotion.

Not sure I'll continue with this series.

Hope your 2020 is full of amazing reads.

>15 majkia: Have you already read a print of ebook version?

>16 clamairy: No I hadn't read it before I listened to the audio.

>15 majkia: I remember enjoying that series quite a lot when I read it several years ago, but that’s practically all I remember aside from the magic system. I remember almost nothing about the story itself. I’d like to re-read it someday, but I’m of course now stubbornly avoiding all Mistborn-related books until he finishes all the subseries he plans for it. :)

>17 majkia: Maybe try switching to print if the narrator stinks.

I've read one of Sanderson's books and didn't care for his writing style. I might try him again later. The magic systems always sound interesting.

I'm dreaming of tropical places to read.

Story of my life, although I'm not a Parrot Head, just a surfer girl. :)

Happy 2020 readings!

>1 majkia: I have to smile every time I see the message in the graphic. I've been in flip flops most of the time since you posted that. Right now it's in the low 30s Celsius and sunny. But then this is the southern hemisphere.

>1 majkia: Of course if you were from my part of Down Under, you’d be in thongs, but I can see that being open to misconstruction.

>21 hfglen: Enjoy your summer! And long live flip flops.

>22 haydninvienna: LOL. Some folks here call them thongs and indeed that always raises a snicker.

>18 YouKneeK: Yeah, I have no idea what other series mesh with the Mistborn books. I have books of his in other series but no idea if they are related. I guess I should check? Heh.

>19 clamairy: Yeah. Pondering that. However I don't own the ebook and the library doesn't have it, so I might force myself to listen to Hero of the Ages.

>20 libraryperilous: Yeah, the magic system is quite imaginative. And, ain't nothing wrong with being a surfer girl ;)

2. The Bayern Agenda - Dan Moren - Pages: 384 -Series: The Galactic Cold War #1 -ROOT, SFFKIT - ROOT from 2019

An interesting story. Lots of action but also lots of plots within plots and intrigue. Not exactly 007 style espionage, but actually more interesting.

>24 majkia: I just saw someone in my GR's book club also complain about the narrator for the Mistborn series and they had to switch to regular reading to enjoy it. A narrator can make or break your enjoyment of any audio book. Kind of like having a good translator can do the same for foreign language works.

>26 Narilka: Oh, I agree. A narrator is so cruicial if you are listening to a book. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. It does piss me off that I've paid for the audio and hate it. Maybe i'll ask audible for a refund on Hero of the ages and then buy the ebook.

>27 majkia: Audible is really great about returns as long as you don't abuse it. I had no issues returning the occasional title in the past.

>28 Narilka: Well, darn. They won't let me return it because I bought it more than 1 year ago. Well, actually in 2016. Darn.

>29 majkia: Oh shoot :(

3. Dispel Illusion - Mark Lawrence - Impossible Times #3 - 🎵 (reader: Matthew Throw) - pages 234

What a fun series, full of nostalgia and imaginative twists.

4. Whose Body? - Dorothy L. Sayers - Series: Lord Peter Wimsey #1 - 🎵 (reader: Roe Kindall - pages 224 - ROOT, BingoDog

Fun, light-hearted, intro to Lord Peter Wimsey and his piffle.

>32 majkia: Is that the one which begins, "Oh, damn!" :)

>33 MrsLee: It is!

5. Age of Myth - Micheal J. Sullivan - Series: Legends #1 - 🎵 (reader: Tim Gerard Reynolds - pages 432 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, Focus Series

Full of interesting characters, and imaginative world building.

January 15th is my 13th Thingaversary. The haul, in order to meet my obligations:

The Fated Sky: A Lady Astronaut Novel -Kowal, Mary Robinette
Lady Astronaut (2)
Dressed for Death: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery Leon, Donna
Commissario Brunetti (3)
Murder at Archly Manor: High Society Lady Detective, Book 1 Rosett, Sara
High Society Lady Detective (1)
Wrath of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder Book 2) McClellan, Brian - Gods of Blood and Powder (2)
Jade War (The Green Bone Saga 2) Lee, Fonda
Witch Of The Federation (Federal Histories Book 1) Anderle, Michael
The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War 2) Kuang, R. F
A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia (A Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventure Book 1) Benson, Clara
The City in the Middle of the Night Anders, Charlie Jane
Escape to Osprey Cove Book 1 of The Osprey Cove Lodge Series Gold, Luisa Marietta
Steel Crow Saga Krueger, Paul
Mutineer (Kris Longknife 1) Shepherd, Mike
The Ten Thousand Doors of January Harrow, Alix E.

One to grow on:
The Mitford Murders - Jessica Fellowes

Happy early Thingaversary! I hope the haul lives up to its promise.

Happy Thingaversary! Enjoy your well-deserved loot!

Happy thingaversary! If you get to The City in the Middle of the Night any time soon, let us know if it’s any good. I’ve just read the first one, All the Birds in the Sky, and thought it was terrific.

>39 haydninvienna: I found a good deal of interest in The City in the Middle of the Night but the abusiveness of the central relationship kept it from being a favorite.

>40 quondame: Seconded.

Happy Thingaversary! I have at least 10 in the Commissario Brunetti series. I've only read one, but I liked it. The rest I purchased on my Kindle when they were on sale for my mother. She was a big fan.

>40 quondame: Oh dear. Not good news. Well, won't be the first book I DNF'd for that reason.

Otherwise, thanks kindly for all the well wishes. I wish you all great thingaversaries as well.

6. Un Lun Dun - China Mieville - pages 498 - ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT

What an imaginative book! Binjas! Webmister! Curdle!!!

Highly recommended.

As usual, China Mieville does not disappoint. And, you can also almost see The City & the City being created.

>40 quondame:, >41 Sakerfalcon: Thirded, and the author's defense of it when questioned was pretty gross.

>45 libraryperilous: Can you supply a pointer to her defense?

>36 majkia: Quite the thingaversary haul - may you enjoy your time with your acquisitions.

>44 majkia: This one is somewhere on my TBR pile, your comments make me want to move it up the pile so I get to it sooner.

>47 Peace2: Hope you enjoy it!

7. Ancestral Night - Elizabeth Bear - Series: White Space #1 - 🎵 (reader: Nneka Okoye) - pages 512 - BFB, ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT

I really enjoyed the philosophy and internal debates regarding guilt and forgiveness, obligations, consequences, and needs. Not the usual Space Opera but still great.

We are currently at home, and bakporch birding is particularly fruitful this week. The temps here plummeted, and when that happens we have birds sailing (flying and swimming) into the bayou in the early mornings. Today though, they all are hanging out still (it is nearly noon). There must be 30 or more pelicans, and over 100 cormorants. Not to mention a couple of pairs of loons and the Great Blue herons.

You can see a pile of pelicans on the neighbor's roof of their dock as well as the others on the pilings.

Cormorants and pelicans also populate another dock further up the bayou. Others are still swimming and flying around.

>50 majkia: Pelicans are cool. You are very lucky to live in such a nice area. I have been to Florida several times on business and have always enjoyed visiting. Our most recent trip was in 2017 where we met this handsome avian at Pompano Beach:





Feathers were not at all ruffled by proximity to humans. There were literally hundreds of people walking past during the photo session.

>50 majkia: >51 ScoLgo: Fabulous bird pictures!

>50 majkia: Nice to see all those from your back porch! Did you have any falling iguanas in your area?

>51 ScoLgo: We were down that way last spring. Probably head that way again this year some time or another.
>52 quondame: Thanks!
>53 Sakerfalcon: No iguanas I heard of here. We are a bit cold for them here, although we do have smaller critters that are in the same class. They're small though.

Our pelicans stick to the big lakes - Michigan & Superior. From what I've seen they are the white ones only, but there could be brown, too. Once I was on the dock and saw a flock of them fly over - close to 50 birds all in a big V. Pretty cool to see. I don't know if they stop at smaller lakes on the way to the big ones, but they were moving!

Great photos, everyone. I do love birdies, no matter the size. But the big ones certainly are thrilling!

8. The City of Brass - S.A. Chakraborty - pages 544 - 🎵 (reader: Soneela Nankani) - BFB, ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT, Dice

Interesting and complex tale of djinn and afreet. World building is well done, characters are complex and intriguing, plot twists happen often enough to keep you wondering.

Very well read by Ms Nankani.

9. Deep Secret - Diana Wynn Jones - pages 384 - ROOT, 75rs TIOLI

Fun view of multiple universes and Earth being firmly in the refusal to accept such 'unbelievable' things.

>57 majkia: You going to keep going with the series?

>59 clamairy: Yup

>60 majkia: Good! Me, too.

>57 majkia: when does the final book come out? I have been hoarding those until the trilogy is complete.

>62 littlegeek: Amazon tells me June 2020. So I'll be reading book 2 before then and be ready to grab the third. Well, given book 2 is as good as book 1

>Cool, thanks!

>58 majkia: Deep Secret is one of my favorite DWJ books. :)

>65 Marissa_Doyle: I really enjoyed her use of humor throughout.

10. The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett - pages 480 - 🎵 (reader:Peter Bradbury) - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus Series, Dice

One of the focus series I'm attempting to make a serious dent in. This is a re-read of the first book, since I read it quite a few years ago. Now I'm set to go further into the series. I enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the first time round. Imaginative and exciting, with characters who change and grow.

11. The Tomb - F. Paul Wilson - pages 448 🎵 (reader: Joe Barrett) - ROOT, SFFKIT, ScaredyKIT

Very much reminded me of Relic. Strange creatures in the night. Repairman Jack, who doesn't fix appliances, takes them on to protect those he cares about.

Major thriller vibes.

12. Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel - 🎵 (reader: Simon Slater ) - pages 560 - BFB, BingoDOG, group read

Thomas Cromwell certainly comes across as something quiet less than a monster, but instead a man attempting to negotiate the complex waters of the English Court where one misstep can get you tortured or beheaded.

I found the book on re-read a bit hard going with regard to who was talking at times. Too many Thomases for one thing.

13. Finders Melissa Scott - Series: Firstborn #1

What a fun read. Archaeology, Indiana Jones style, in space! A crew of salvagers roam the galaxy looking for artifacts from a past human civilization, and then find themselves having to save the galaxy from another Dark Age. If they can.

>69 majkia: Have you read any of C. J. Sansom's Shardlake mysteries? I like Sansom's blend of historical details and compassion for commoners. The first two feature Thomas Cromwell. Sansom manages to find some sympathy for Cromwell while exposing the obscenity of his power struggles.

>70 majkia: Oh, this sounds fantastic! I am a huge fan of the space salvagers/scavengers/pirates subgenre.

>71 libraryperilous: Yes, I've read the first two C.J. Sansom Shardlake mysteries. I agree. I enjoyed them very much.

Also, I also am a fan of searching and digging up past civilizations in space. Pirates, salvagers, whoever! This is why I was so psyched up to read this book. Really enjoyed it too. Characters you can cheer for, and mysteries to solve!

>70 majkia: Oh! I haven't been paying attention! There is a Melissa Scott that I haven't read (Other than Rule of Five or Stargate or ok, I'm not an ultimate fan)

14. Clouds of Witness - Doroth L Sayers - 🎵 (reader: Ian Carmichael ) - pages 230 -RTT, ROOT, BingoDog

Enjoyable as always. I've read it multiple times.

The Red Door - Charles Todd - pages 368 - RTT, ROOT, BingoDOG

I love this series and find it quick reading because I get so immersed in Ian's head. Right along with ... oops, spoiler.

Highly recommended period mystery series.

Back at Eastbank slamping.

Beaut!

That's a lovely spot. Enjoy your time there!

16. Velocity Weapon - Megan O'Keefe - pages 544 - 🎵 (reader: Joe Jameson) - BFB, ROOT, Dice

Fun and well-written sci fi novel. I enjoyed the characters, there were several surprisingly good twists, and the world building was quite good. I'll be reading the rest of the series.

>79 majkia: Glad you enjoyed it! I read it last year and thought it was great.

17. Cold Vengeance - Preston/Child - pages 457 - 🎵 (reader: Rene Auberjonois) - ROOT, Focus Series, ScaredyKIT

Another good entry to the series, especially when Constance is involved.

>76 majkia: Lovely photos!

And were you listening to Wolf Hall to get ready for the final book in Mantel's Cromwell series, The Mirror and the Light? It's coming March 10th, I believe. I actually might cash in one of my Audible credits for that one, as I listened to the first two.

>82 clamairy: Yes, indeed. There's a group read for the books here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/317098

We read wolf Hall in February, and will read Bring Up the bodies this month, and The Mirror and the Light next month.

18. The Serrano Succession - Elizabeth Moon - Pages: 802 - Last of the Serrano series

Satisfying wrap up to the Serrano series. Great military sci fi, impressive characterization, and surprises along the way.

19. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel - pages 432 - 🎵 (reader: Simon Vance) Series: Wolf Hall #2 - Group Read

What a depressing book. Beautifully read by Simon Vance, but such a horrible time for women to live in. And men, for that matter.

>85 majkia: It was awful.
:o(
It is slightly easier for me to read about this time than it is to watch, though. Have you seen any of The Tudors? I had to cover my eyes quite a bit.

>86 clamairy: Yeah, I watched The Tudors. Perhaps that's why the book bothered me so much, I could picture it better? I listened to the audio, and Simon Vance, per usual, did a stellar job. I'm just not sure I want to read the next one, since it's so depressing, and I don't need that right now ( well, or ever, really).

>87 majkia: It's been 8 years since I listened to Bring up the Bodies so I think I'll be okay. I find it is often best for me to put a lot of space between darker books. No one will blame you if you take a pass on the new one.

20. Foundryside - Robert J. Bennett - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader: Tara Sands) - ROOT, BFB, SffKIT

Okay steampunk. Interesting concepts, well-drawn characters.

21. Omega - Jack McDevitt - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader:Karen Hvram) - ROOT, BFB, SffKIT, focus series

I sooo enjoy this series. Lots of science, lots of action, intelligent and daring characters, and well written.

>90 majkia: Thanks, I've only read 4 Jack McDevitt books, but I liked them all. I'll put that on my list. By the way, I love the Margaritaville theme! I'm not a huge fan, but I did buy Volcano when it first came out on vinyl.

>91 Karlstar: Yeah, I really enjoy McDevitt. Novels with ideas and archeology. Who can't enjoy that!

WRT Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett has some family here in our area of Florida so it's a must to be a fan :).

22. Who Buries the Dead - C.S. Harris - pages 384 - 🎵 (reader:Davinia Porter) - ROOT, focus series, AlphaKIT

I really enjoy the series, and this one had Jane Austen making an appearance!

23. Wicked Autumn - G.M. Malliet - pages 320 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT

Beginning of a series. Murder in a little English village, that isn't near Badger's Drift.

24. European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman - Theodora Goss - pages 736 - 🎵 (reader:Kate Reading ) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, TravelKIt, SFFKIT

What a fun series this is. When the women who were targeted by men (sometimes their fathers) get together, the bad guys better look out.

>95 majkia: I so enjoy that series!

Whelp, Bring Up the Bodies just arrived in my latest book order....will be saving it for later given the times!

>95 majkia: I need to read this one!

>98 Sakerfalcon: You do!

>97 JannyWurts: yeah. I'm passing on the third book in that series for the same reason. I'm wanting upbeat books at the moment.

>95 majkia: The third one is fabulous, too, and has a fabulous twist in the middle of the action.

25. Unnatural Death - DorothyL. Sayers - pages 736 - 🎵 (reader:Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT, MysteryKIT, group read

I do enjoy the audios read by Ian Carmichael. He's so right for the part. I'm not entirely sure I've read this book before. I certainly didn't remember all the twists and turns so think I must have missed it in previous re-reads of the series.

Just stopping by to thank you profusely for recommending We are Legion (We Are Bob) at some point during the last year. I snagged it when it was on sale at Audible and just started it a couple of days ago. I have been chuckling and guffawing my way through it. Couldn't have picked a better distraction.

>102 clamairy: :) Delighted to hear it. The rest of the series is as amusing.

So I'm considering scratching all my planning of reads for the year, and just picking up books that are hopeful, or at least mind-numbing by immersive action and thrills. I have zero desire to read stuff about past horrors, or the zombie (or any other kind of future) apocalypse. Well, unless it ends with hope not despair.

Sounds absolutely reasonable to me.

>102 clamairy: I didn't realize you hadn't read it! Glad you are enjoying it. My sourdough starter is named Bob, in honor of the giggles I had from that story.

26. The Ruin - Dervla McTiernan - pages 400 - 🎵 (reader:Aoife McMahon ) - ROOT

Irish mystery. Lots of atmosphere, and a convoluted plot that keeps you guessing.

>106 MrsLee: Oh, how perfect is that! I was thinking of starting one next month, actually, and I was planning to go with William Butler Yeast.

>108 clamairy: lol "The bread will arise and go now"

>104 majkia: I think it's a good idea to try this. If you decide you crave something different, your brain will let you know.

>108 clamairy: I especially liked the name "Bob" when I was asked to share him by my two nephews. Bobiverses are spreading! I love your name as well. :) At first, I pooh-poohed naming a sourdough starter, but sometimes a thing calls out for a name.

>111 MrsLee: I love the idea of a name for starter, but I don't want my loaves to have faces!

>112 clamairy: LOL

>112 clamairy:, Agreed!

27. The Black Prism - Brent Weeks - pages 540 - 🎵 (reader:Simon Vance) - ROOT, Dice, Focus Series, BFB

This is a reread for me, because I want to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed it the first tiime, impressed with the odd ball magic system. The characters are well drawn and the world building is complex.

>115 majkia: I'm hoping to get to that series later this year. I'm happy to see you enjoyed it well enough both to re-read it and to continue the series! I've seen a lot of mixed comments on it, at least over on Goodreads, but I have high expectations that it's something up my alley.

>116 YouKneeK: I read it something like nine years ago, and it stayed with me, so....

I have very confused Christmas cacti. One isn't blooming a lot but this one sure is. And still has more blooms coming.

My amaryllis are blooming like crazy too.

So pretty!

>118 majkia: Wow! Those are both amazing!

28. Down Among the Dead - K.B. Wagers - Farian Wars #2 - ROOT

One of my favorite authors, K.B. Wagers again makes space opera deeply personal and complex. Hail Bristol, gunrunner, turned Empress, relies on her heart and mind. Only when there is no other option, on guns.

29. The Spaceship Next Door - Gene Doucette - pages 368 - 🎵 (reader: Steve Carlson) - ROOT, AlphaKIT Series: Sorrow Falls #1

What a terrifically fun read. Think you know what to expect when a saucer lands on Earth. You have no idea.... Nor did anyone in Sorrow Falls. Maybe...

>118 majkia: Glorious! Now aren't you glad you are home to see that? :)

>118 majkia: Whoa, a white Christmas catcus! I've never seen one, just the pink ones. That's a really great specimen. Your amaryllis too.

30. The Witch Who Came In From the Cold - Multiple authors - Season 1 - pages 429 - 🎵 (reader: cast) - ROOT, MysteryKIT

Bought this at SerialBox. Interesting idea, reliving the cold war but with witches.

Lovely photos. Thanks for posting them!

I have Wagers' latest, A Pale Light in the Black next in the queue. I'm looking forward to reading their space operas.

31. Barbary Station - R.E. Stearns - pages 448 - 🎵 (reader: Mia Barron) - ROOT, AlphaKIT Series: Shieldrunner Pirates #1

An okay book, a bit too romancy for me, because I wanted to smack the two women involved and tell them to pay attention to things trying to kill them, than to each other. Otherwise, lots of action, and interesting world-building.

32. The Collapsing Empire - John Scalzi - pages 336 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT

What a great book. This is a re-read so I can read the rest of the trilogy together. It is exciting, funny, imaginative and full of characters who are immensely entertaining.

>128 majkia: Good to know. I need to finish the Old Man's War series before I jump into this one.

>129 clamairy: I think Scalzi is my favorite author. I love his humor, and I'm one of those folks who have trouble with humor, because I get tired of humor through making fun of people. But his brand of humor and snark is right up my alley.

>130 majkia: I think he's brilliant. His books are just the perfect ratio of science fiction and humor for my tastes. I loved Redshirts, but I think I might have laughed even harder at Agent to the Stars when I listened to the Wil Wheaton narration. That is a great partnership.

33. The Consuming Fire - John Scalzi - pages 330 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT

Excellent second entry to the Interdependency Trilogy. Awaiting the last book, tomorrow!

32. . The Last Emperox - John Scalzi -pages 330 - 🎵 (reader:Wil Wheaton) - ROOT, AlphaKIT Last of the trilogy. Excellent wrap up to an excellent series.

>133 majkia: I snagged this through Overdrive. It was available through my mom's library, so I thought, "Why not?" Is there enough background that I don't need to read the first two books to keep up with the plot?

>134 libraryperilous: hmmm. maybe.... although I doubt you'd get the machinations of the bad guys very well.

>133 majkia: Thanks, good to know all three books were the same quality. I'll have to jump back in with The Consuming Fire.

35. The Weight of the Evidence - Michael Innes - pages 243 - 🎵 (reader: Matt Addis) - ROOT,Dice

The incredibly erudite Appleby takes on the dons again.

36. Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir - pages 448 - 🎵 (reader: Moira Quirke) - ROOT, AlphaKIT

I'm trying to read all the Hugos. So this is the second from the finalists I've read. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Imaginative, gross, funny, quirky. Although, so far, I still prefer A Memory Called Empire this book is certainly worthy of being a finalist.

>118 majkia: you’re the third person I know whose Christmas castes is blooming! Weird.

>138 majkia: I just read Gideon the Ninth too! This will be the first year where I've read most of the Best Novel finalists. I enjoyed it a lot but agree with you that I preferred A memory called Empire.

>140 Sakerfalcon: First time for me too. Generally speaking, I'm a few years behind everyone else, lol, so this year I decided to get on the ball and read at least the finalists in time for the awards.

37.The Demon Crown - James Rollins - pages 672 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous ) - ROOT, Focus Series, BFB
#13 in the Sigma Force series.

Well, this was uncomfortable, reading during a pandemic. In this outing Sigma Force has to find the key to containing and/or killing a wasp from the era of dinosaurs which is weaponized by a madman.

38. Jennifer Morgue - Charles Stross - pages 401 - ROOT, BingoDOG, Dice, Focus Series, AlphaKIT

Critters from the deep, demons, a James Bond geas and the Laundry has its hands full.

39. Odyssey - Jack McDevitt - pages 432 - ROOT, Focus Series Series: The Academy/Engines of God #5

I really enjoy this series, about near Earth exploration, and the search for alien life. I really like the characters and the whole world set-up.

40. The Darwin Elevator- Jason M. Hough

interesting take on Inscrutable Aliens coming to Earth and doing weird stuff..

41. The Time Traders - Andre Norton - pages 179 - ROOT

Eh. Dated. Rather conventional, and uninspiring until near the end.

>145 majkia: Norton's stuff definitely has a very 60's and 70's feel to it. I still enjoy them, but not as much.

>146 majkia:, >147 Karlstar: I have a soft spot in my heart for Andre Norton, as being the author who first introduced a juvenile -pilgrim- to the sense that SF was about more than Cowboys-and-Indians In Space.

You make me afraid to revisit her...

42. Revenger - Alastair Reynolds - pages 448 - ROOT, SFFKIT, RandomCAT

This is a re-read for me, since the third of the trilogy was just released. I love the world building, and the characters are deeply flawed and interesting for it. I love it's about pirates, and baubles left by previous civilizations, and how we know so little about so much.

I read the audio which was excellently done.

Happily continuing on to second of the series.

>147 Karlstar: >148 -pilgrim-: I know, right? I hesitate to go back and read the old stuff as well. I didn't hate this, like I hated Foundation on re-read, at least. But the lack of female characters was, as usual for this era, startling. Like we never existed, and if we did we were too stupid to matter.

43. Shadow Captain - Alastair Reynolds - pages 448 - ROOT, SFFKIT, RandomCAT

Second in the Revenger trilogy. Oh my. sentient things abound. But what the heck is going on? On to the last of the series.

>148 -pilgrim-: Are you referencing the Witch World series or some other series? Unfortunately there are very few reviews here on LT, including my own!

>150 majkia: I remember the Gryphon Saga being about a young man. I don't remember the Witch World series very well and I don't even own all of them. I'd have to re-read some to have any comments about representation.

>152 Karlstar: No, actually it was

Moon of Three Rings

Protagonist is a young man, newest recruit on a trading space ship. Gets in a lot of trouble, through no real fault of his own, on a new planet; helped by wiser, more mature local women.

>153 -pilgrim-: Thanks, I'm not familiar with that one.

44. A Lonely Death - Charles Todd - pages 348 - ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT, Dice

13th in the Ian Rutledge series. I do love the depth of psychological examination that this series brings.

45. Bone Silence - Alastair Reynolds - pages 640 - 🎵 (reader: Clair Corbett ) - ROOT, BFB, SFFKIT

Third book of a trilogy titled Revenger.

I love the trilogy, especially the feisty sisters and the world building. Lots of unknowns, mysteries, and surprises.

46. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - Dorothy L. Sayers - pages 256 - 🎵 (reader: Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT, RandomCAT, MysteryKIT

The Lord Peter Wimsey series #5. Not my favorite Wimsey, but it is still him and he's still pretty compelling.

>153 -pilgrim-: That's a great cover!

>158 Sakerfalcon: Have you read it?

>159 -pilgrim-: No, the only Norton I've actually read is the first Witch World book. I own a couple of her other ones, Flight in Yiktor and an omnibus of three of the YA Magic books, so I really should give them a try.

>160 Sakerfalcon: Ooh, I never realised that there were sequels to Moon of Three Rings! More Maelen - I must go hunt...

ETA: Found a double volume of it and its sequel: have ordered a revisit to my childhood...

>153 -pilgrim-: - I loved this one. I was a huge Andre Norton fan in my teens. I've reread some since and enjoyed them, but I'm not the most critical reader.

>162 NorthernStar: I hope I don't regret revisiting, since I have extremely fond memories of this.

The only reason that I didn't read more by Andre Norton was situational: I grew up in a small town where the local bookshop's only concession to fantasy was John Norman - and only John Norman! The local library's fiction section was purely made up of romance sagas and murder mysteries, so for introduction to new authors, I had to rely on my school library, which was small, but fairly eclectic. Most of my science fiction reading prior to university were classics from my parents' collection (and fantasy aimed at adult readers had to wait until I reached university).

Legacies - F. Paul Wilson - pages 450 - Repairman Jack #2 - 🎵 (reader: Christopher Price ) - ROOT, Focus Series, AlphaKIT

Pretty good second book of the series. Although I confess to being unhappy with some aspects of how the author presented the main female protag. It gets better later on, but I was almost ready to stop reading at one point.

I've read other books by Wilson and never before felt that way about his writing. Hopefully, this will be the last time I have that issue with Wilson.

48. The Desert Spear - Peter V. Brett - ABANDONED
I am abandoning the book and the rest of the series. I'm just tired to death of books where worlds are created that STILL treat women worse than pigs. Tired of it. I keep hoping for a saving grace, no such luck. Sadly, a well written book too.

I hear you. It's pretty disheartening to get beaten over the head with it all the time. I just ranted about it in my thread after listening to a Great Courses lecture series on the Vikings. It wasn't that the women were treated badly at the time, it was how they were pretty much erased from the historical record for a long time (not that this is new either) and that the modern day professor decided to keep erasing them - no women were mentioned as anything but trade goods for about 9 hours.

>165 majkia: I bailed at the same stage as you for the same reasons. *sigh*

49. The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday - Saad Z. Hossain - Pages 176 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Interesting and comedic take on djinns and IA clashing. The IA and world system it created was interesting. Odd, and weird little book.

>168 majkia: Ooh, that does sound tempting...

>168 majkia: Well that's checked out now - I may even have a chance to read it!

50. Network Effect - Martha Wells - pages 352 - 🎵 (reader: Kevin R. Free ) - ROOT, SFFKIT

I Loves me some Murderbot! And this story has well, more of Murderbot in several ways that I love. And ART! Not to mention Murderbot #3! Excited to see what happens with more freed sec units!

51. To Kingdom Come - Will Thomas - pages 290 - ROOT

An inquiry agent in the 1880s gets involved with the IRA bombings of London. Second of the series.

>172 majkia: Happy Birthday!

>173 clamairy: Thanks!

Happy Birthday!

Hippo Birdie!

Birthday greetings to you! I hope you have a great day!

Happy birthday, majkia!

Happy birthday!

And from me, too - happy birthday!

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. It was a lovely day, despite rain (we need it desperately) and a partial lockdown. This is when being an introvert helps.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday!

52. Lady Takes the Case - Eliza Casey - pages 304 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
Cute cozy. Nothing brilliant but a fun read nonetheless.

Jean, I have now gotten myself a thread in the group.

Hope you'll enjoy this long weekend.

>185 PaulCranswick: Oh, cool, Paul. Welcome to the group! We're staying home and staying safe. Hope you are doing the same.

53. Sins of Empire - Brian McClellan - pages 624 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Rodka ) - ROOT, Focus Series, Dice, BFB

Gunpowder Fantasy with lots of battles and gore with a fair dose of gallows humor throughout.

54. Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett - pages 288 - Discworld #6 - 🎵 (reader: Celia Imrie ) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT, SFFKIT

PTerry is always fun. One of the first audiobooks I ever bought.

This is one of my absolutely favorites ever, not just my favorite Discworld book. I listened to it first, then read it.

55. The City in the Middle of the Night - C.J. Anders - pages 368 - ROOT

Third of the Hugo Nominees I've read and, in a rated list, this would come in third. I still prefer A Memory Called Empire and I'd rate Gideon the Ninth second, with this book third.

Interesting ideas but I got a bit bored with the predictable stupid romance bits.

>190 majkia: I had mixed feelings about Anders’ All the Birds in the Sky, so I’ve been reluctant to try The City in the Middle of the Night. I probably won’t.

I’m interested in trying both of those other books at some point, although I’ve seen mixed reactions to them. I think your touchstone for Memory is wrong; you probably meant A Memory Called Empire. Although I now find myself very puzzled how the touchstone’s search process turned up a booked called Uncle Bernac by Arthur Conan Doyle as the most obvious match for A Memory of Empire. I don’t see either “memory” or “empire” anywhere on the work page.

>191 YouKneeK: I've never been a great fan of YA SFF, mainly because I dislike the romance bits they tend to stick in them. But there are certainly a few series and authors I've liked in the field.

And I'd mistitled the book so fixed the touchstone. Thanks.

>190 majkia: I loved both A memory called Empire and Gideon the Ninth. I liked the setting of The city in the middle of the night but like you, the romance spoiled it for me. I hated how abusive it was and how Bianca gets away with it I'd rather have seen more of the Gelets than all the relationship drama.

>191 YouKneeK: I couldn't understand all the love for All the birds in the sky. It had potential but I didn't click with Patricia and Lawrence and the plot didn't quite work for me.

>193 Sakerfalcon: I totally agree with your spoiler comment. And yes, I wanted far more about the Gelets. In fact, that was the only reason I kept reading, trying to ignore the 'romance'.

56. The Disappeared - K.K. Rusch - pages 366 - 🎵 (reader: Jay Snyder ) - ROOT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT, Focus Series
Intriguing entry to a new series, with aliens and lots of weirdness to delight. Will continue with the series, for sure.

57. Middlegame - Seanan McGuire - pages 528 - 🎵 (reader: Amber Benson ) - ROOT, BFB

I read this as part of the Hugo Nominee reading, and well, I confess I'm unimpressed. I found the book a bit of a slog. The words and the images written are beautifully done, but I found several aspects of the book felt kind of added on, rather than an integral part of the story. More specifically, The Hand of Glory thing. I know it is a primary part of horror ideas about alchemy, but felt the whole alchemy thing a bit weird, rather than integrated into the story.

I do love the math. I majored in math until I realized it was eating up my life. But I still love the math

58. Blood on the Tongue - Stephen Booth - pages 401 - ROOT, Focus Series, MysteryKIT - Cooper And Fry Series #3

I really enjoy this series. I especially enjoy how important the geography and history of the area is highlighted throughout the series. The mystery is complex and hard to figure and I didn't guess most of it. Characterizations are well done, as well.

>196 majkia: I had no intention of reading Middlegame but it was on sale for kindle for 99p so I bought it because I usually like McGuire's books. I'm about 20% into it and not really enjoying it. The villains are so nasty just because, and I'm finding the atmosphere to be very unpleasant. I will keep going for a while but can't see myself loving this the way I do the Incryptid and October Daye series.

>198 Sakerfalcon: Yeah. I found the villains way too nasty also, with no redeeming depths at all. It was like parody.

Camping! We arrived at Eastbank Campground yesterday. Yesterday was the first day the campground had opened since February. We were the first campers to arrive, although they said they were expecting 14 rigs that day.

>200 majkia: yay! It must be a relief to get out there and have some fun after a long wait.

>201 Darth-Heather: Really. We were at home longer than we are used to. So we were definitely ready to head out.

59. Columbus Day - Craig Alanson - pages 432 - 🎵 (reader:R.C. Bray ) -ROOT, SFFKIT

What a terrifically fun read! I love Skippy, and Joe and the action was non stop. The military humor was spot on!

>200 majkia: How lovely! Enjoy!

60. Strong Poison - Dorothy L. Sayers - pages 252 - 🎵 (reader:Ian Carmichael ) - ROOT

I forgot what little we saw of Harriet in this book. But at least we had lots of Miss Climpson and crew.

>200 majkia: That view is a sight for sore eyes! Enjoy!

It has been quite lovely here. Cool mornings but it does get very hot late afternoon.

61. Kraken - China Mieville - pages 528 - 🎵 (reader:John Lee ) -ROOT, AlphaKIT, ScaredyKIT, BFB

Not my favorite Mieville, but fully as weird as his other books.

62. Killing Gravity - Corey J. White - pages 176 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Interesting mash up of fantasy and sci fi. It's action packed and the characters are very well drawn, despite the shortness of the piece. I'll be reading more Voidwitch.

63. The Lake House - Kate Morton - pages 512 - 🎵 (reader: Caroline Lee ) -ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT, BFB

Enjoyable mystery, complex plot, well drawn characters. In some ways it feels like a Tana French novel, only going easy on the harshness of reality.

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley. I was planning to read this for my test of books I like for the Hugos. I managed about 30 minutes and decided I have zero desire to read it. I dunno. I find her too grim, even for me who likes grimdark. Start killing animals and I bail.

>211 majkia: I read The Light Brigade instead of listening to it, and I ended up really appreciating it. I'm not certain I would have liked listening to it nearly as well.

She does tend to be on the dark side of the SF spectrum, but ultimately, The Light Brigade was hopeful. That said, I'm not reading or listening to much I don't enjoy these days so while I won't encourage you to give it another try - it's is very violent.

I've got both Killing Gravity and The Lake House on hand - I don't know when I'll get to them, but your positive words will help ensure that I do eventually. Thanks!

>207 majkia: Gorgeous scenery, btw.

>210 majkia: So The Lake House has nothing to do with the movie of the same name?

>213 Karlstar: That was what I was wondering as well!

>213 Karlstar: >214 clamairy: I don't know a movie called The Lake House so I can't tell you one way or another.

>213 Karlstar: no, the book is not the movie at all. Both are good, though. :)

64. Where the Hell is Tesla? - Rob Dircks - pages 396 - 🎵 (reader: Rob Dircks ) -ROOT, BingoDOG

Really fun read what with BoBos and Tesla and interdimentional travel and a smart-ass hero.

65. Edinburgh Twilight - Carol Lawrence - pages 446 - 🎵 (reader: Napoleon Ryan ) -ROOT, MysteryCAT

An interesting period mystery. Nicely written with good characterization.

66. Crucible - A Thriller - James Rollins - pages 656 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous ) - AlphaKIT, Focus Series, BFB

One of my focus series. I really enjoy the mix of science and action. Nothing quite like intelligent folks who use science and their brains when they can, using violence only when necessary.

67. The Black Tides of Heaven - J. Y. Yang

Interesting story set in a well drawn world.

68. The Lost Fleet: Fearless - Jack Campbell - Pages 304 - 🎵 (reader: Christian Rummell ) - AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, Focus Series

Pretty much one long running space battle, but with interesting characters and hints at more wild stuff to come.

>221 majkia: How'd you like Fearless, have you listened to any others, or will you? My thoughts on them are mostly the same as your one sentence, but they were interesting enough to keep reading, while hoping they'd get a little more depth.

>222 Karlstar: I read the first one and now Fearless, and yes I'll keep reading. I liked the first book better than this, because it dealt more with stuff other than space battles (well, more than this book does). Hoping the next one will get more into world explaining and maybe intro some other, mysterious folks.

We needed to get away so are camping at Eastbank again.

Beautiful! And I’m jealous.

Still at Eastbank.

>224 majkia: That would be beautiful as an oil painting! I want it on my wall.

69. The Ruin of Kings - Jenn Lyons - Chorus of Dragons #1 - pages 650 - 🎵 (reader: multiple ) - AlphaKIT, BFB,

Not impressed. I found it confusing. Perhaps I'd have liked it more if I'd read it rather than listened, but I'd have still had issues with the confusion of the two main timelines, I think.

Love the photos!
I know parts of Florida are getting hit hard, so please stay safe.

Pretty sunsets :)

70. The Killing Way - Tony Hays - pages 272 - ROOT, RTT Quarterly, MysteryKIT

An okay mystery during the time Arthur is fighting to become the leader of Britain.

>224 majkia:, >226 majkia: That looks beautiful! I am longing to escape the London suburbs ...

>232 Sakerfalcon: I can imagine. I am still shielding, of course, but at least my "exercise in immediate area" takes me to fields and lambs...

71. Chasm City - Alastair Reynolds - pages 704 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, SFFKIT, AlphaKIT , 🎵 (reader: John Lee )

Surprising and complex, great world-building as is usual for this author. Characters are always deeply drawn and motivated by the past and their hopes for the future.

72. Cauldron - Jack McDevitt - pages 368 - 🎵 (reader:Karen Hvram) - ROOT, SffKIT, focus series Series: The Academy #6

I love this series. It's hopeful, and exciting, and I love the characters.