Fantasy:
The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb
In terms of characters, I think I can easily feel for Wintrow. Althea at the start was a bit too headstrong for me except when she faced off with Kyle in book 1 and when she showed her determination for her cause. Same with Malta who started off being so selfish that I was annoyed. Out of the Vestrit women, I prefer Ronica even though she did screw up and get everything started. I like Brash and am really really annoyed by Kyle. At the end of it, I’m much more on board with everyone.
I also like the interweaving of the liveships and dragons into this otherwise tale of the plight of the Vestrit family and mostly its women. I was never into dragons that much despite an avid fantasy reader but I think Robin Hobb breathes some new life into the concept that I appreciate.
The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers
I just wanted to read something standalone and fantasy in between a potential future foray into Robin Hobb’s Rain Wilds Chronicles and Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry via audiobooks. The story was engaging up to a certain point but then I feel like the personal urgency for the main character just slacked off. Perhaps I’m the wrong audience for this book since this is supposed to be a supernatural take on historical figures but I had no idea who most of the poets were.
Mystery:
The Ninth grave by Stefan Ahnhem
I did like the book overall. It is fast paced, has many twists and turns. I am slightly confused sometimes when the scene shifts between one of the victims and police officers in Denmark and Sweden but everything does tie together in the end.
I actually started this book because I was interestested in the Fabian Risk novel later down the track. I read one chapter of the next book that this is prelude to and I’m not sure I’m actually that attracted to the premise. I guess I will leave it to my whim.
Blackout by David Rosenfelt
It’s a solidly written cop mystery. There is not a lot of twists but there is one.
Black and Blue by David Rosenfelt
I got onto this book from Blackout because there was a sneak peek of this at the end of Blackout. I did guess the major gist of the book even though as per usual, I was fooled by the author’s misdirection. Nevertheless, I found the premise of this book more engaging than book 1 and I enjoyed the read.
Literary Fiction:
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
My book study group proposed this novel for us. It’s a solidly written book. I’m pleasantly surprised by the author’s smooth prose and the ending even though it’s not really my genre and cup of tea.
Moonlake's Fiction Space 