Don't think I will continue with the series. I had high hopes for the premise (What if Atlantis existed?) but rather than a traditional Atlantis with...moreDon't think I will continue with the series. I had high hopes for the premise (What if Atlantis existed?) but rather than a traditional Atlantis with a lost civilization type story, it is simply an island that has not seen any human settlements in its long history.
The history story itself was somewhat interesting but moved slowly in places. The division of the book into three sections separated by generations was reminiscent of Steven Saylor's Roma, but did not seem to work as well. It was hard to feel a sense of continuity between the sections and made the book feel even slower in places.
Not a bad read for an alt-history fan, but I don't think I'd recommend it to a general audience or to someone with an interest in Atlantis type stories.(less)
The latest in the Thursday Next series. This one felt like a bit of a let down. There were some fairly major changes from the previous books. Bookworl...moreThe latest in the Thursday Next series. This one felt like a bit of a let down. There were some fairly major changes from the previous books. Bookworld gets a makeover. The story follows the written Thursday Next, as she stumbles about doing her best to investigate some suspicious circumstances while the real Thursday is conspicuously absent.
Those familiar with the series will probably enjoy the book, though I would start with the beginning of the series if you are new. The story was pretty solid, but I missed the real Thursday and the relationships between the characters introduced in this story did not resonate the same way that some of the earlier books did. Still, all in all, a good book from a great author. (less)
The second novel set in the Clockwork Century universe. While not a direct sequel to Boneshaker, there is some overlap in characters and references so...moreThe second novel set in the Clockwork Century universe. While not a direct sequel to Boneshaker, there is some overlap in characters and references so while reading the first book is not necessary by any stretch, you will probably get more out of the book by doing so.
Clementine is a shorter book, clocking in around 200 pages, and has much less of the world building and setting that Boneshaker did. The novel is a non-stop action story following Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey, an escaped slave from the south trying to recover his stolen ship, and Maria Isabella Boyd, an ex-confederate spy now working for the Pinkerton agency hired to ensure that the stolen ship reaches its destination.
A short, enjoyable read. Not a whole lot of world building or development, but definitely action packed.(less)
An enjoyable steam punk adventure story about zombies taking over Seattle. Like my earlier review of Bitter Seeds the premise didn't sound all that ap...moreAn enjoyable steam punk adventure story about zombies taking over Seattle. Like my earlier review of Bitter Seeds the premise didn't sound all that appealing to me, but favorable reviews led me to give it a shot. The story was interesting and kept me reading till the end. The brown text helped add to the steam punk feel of the novel and was a nice touch.
Boneshaker follows Zeke Wilkes, a boy whose father is responsible for the zombification of downtown Seattle. Zeke sets off for the walled of danger zone for equal parts finding out about his past and trying to clear his father's name. When Briar, his mother, finds him gone, she too takes off for the walled off and zombie filled downtown to try and find Zeke before it's too late.
I found Zeke to be almost too stupid for his own good. He can be a bit annoying at times, talking when silence is clearly the best and safest thing to do. Briar was a bit more compelling to me as the desperate mother.(less)
Another one I'd give 3.5 to. Think Tim Powersish historical fantasy with a more literary presentation. I loved the premise of the book, enjoyed most o...moreAnother one I'd give 3.5 to. Think Tim Powersish historical fantasy with a more literary presentation. I loved the premise of the book, enjoyed most of the story, but the ending left me a bit short. Some of the elements of the book could have been explored more deeply, and overall I feel like the book ended too soon.(less)
An interesting premise: What if the plague had been 99% lethal and wiped out the population of Europe?
Not a bad read, but I felt like the premise had...moreAn interesting premise: What if the plague had been 99% lethal and wiped out the population of Europe?
Not a bad read, but I felt like the premise had so much more to offer. In covering the 900 years from the plague to the present, the story is necessarily broken up into what amounts to a collection of short stories about different people over that time period. The problem for me is that you never really get a chance to connect with any of the characters and just when you get settled in to a story line that is enjoyable, it ends for a new one. Robinson tries to mitigate this by using reincarnation to tie the storylines together with varying degrees of success.(less)
What Douglas Adams did for Sci-fi and Terry Pratchett does for fantasy, Jasper Fforde does for the thriller mystery genre. Set in an alternate world w...moreWhat Douglas Adams did for Sci-fi and Terry Pratchett does for fantasy, Jasper Fforde does for the thriller mystery genre. Set in an alternate world where literature is taken much more seriously than our own, The Eyre Affair follows the exploits of Thursday Next, a LiteraTech operative. It's filled with action, references to classic literature, and a sense of whimsy that just makes the book (and the series) fun to read.(less)
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