Fantasy
Venom’s Taste by Lisa Smedman
I haven’t read a Forgotten Realms novel for quite some while ever since they turned the whole from high magic to low. And I picked this up purely because I know the author from the Shadowrun setting and the blurb reads all right. And I’m not disappointed. This is not outstanding fantasy or anything but good sold work if you like the sword&sorcery sub-genre. And I will definitely continue with the trilogy.
A song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
I picked this up because I haven’t read books featuring African lore before. For a romantic fantasy, it has a strong premise- the two lovers are set out to kill each other to fulfill their personal goals.
It has a big twisty ending and it seems like book 1 is just the start of adventures. Not sure I’m out to get more, might snoop the back cover blurb for book 2 to determine this.
Viper’s Kiss by Lisa Smedman
I actually forgot about this series somehow and it’s actually coming back to this post that reminds me of its existence. So initially I thought this is a whole new standalone adventure for our protagonist Alvin and in some sense it is but then it actually connects up to book 1 and it seems like the trilogy actually does have an overarching plot together so I was pleasantly surprised.
Vanity’s Brood by Lisa Smedman
If you didn’t quite like the personal ending for Alvin then you are in for a nice surprise at the start in book 3 and I won’t say more than that to create spoilers. Personally, I didn’t fall into this group but I still was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, I find this a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy.
Mystery
A Sight for Sore Eyes by Ruth Rendell
This book is certainly interesting. I was not sure whether the main plot was the romance or crime until the two-third mark (probably because the author alternates between the boy and the girl and it read a bit like a boy meets girl story up till then) but I kept reading on to find out what happens next. At some point I had decided that the main plot was the romance but after I had finished it, I revised my opinion yet again: I would describe this as a crimes novel but the driving force between the crimes was relationships (failed relationships to be specific).
Fuzz by Ed McBain
I went back to the oldest published pile again and picked this police procedural up. Not bad but probably quite average for the genre. Not sure I’m keen to read more.
All that’s Dead by Stuart MacBride
This mystery does have a powerful premise (not one of a kind powerful but still powerful) and it pulls through on the tension. A quite solid work overall. I might come back for more.
The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
I decided this will be my Curiousity Read for the year because with the dual protagonists, I thought I can steal something from it for my own WIP. It turns out I can’t really because it’s not really a dual protagonist story but I do like it. The story itself is a mystery romance with the romance running center course but mystery also features prominently and for someone who is not usually into romance I do like the particular type of love featured in this story which is the warm/mutually healing type of love as opposed to crazy whirlwind romance that I personally just can’t connect to.
Deal Me Out by Peter Corris
You might have noticed that this is one of my potential Craft and Curiousity Reads for this year and after the Miniscule Mansion I just decided to go back to a more standard type of mystery.
The premise of the book is actually not that interesting in that it’s been used multiple times before. But it reads okay until I figured out the basic premise. Overall, I would say it’s so-so.
Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl by Fiona Britton
I am getting back into audiobooks with this mystery. Too early to say much. Come back to the Dec post for my opinion on it.
Historical Fiction
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell
This novel presents a key change in the protagonist Uhtred’s mindset re: his allegiance despite his unchanged unlying motivation. I had forgotten some of the stuff from book 1 due to having to wait for book 2 but I caught up okay.
Overall, satisfied with book 2 and ready to take on book 3.
The Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell
This is probably the closest that Uhtred has come to his goal before it is snatched away and I feel like this is the one with the most cliffhangers out of the first 3 books (okay cliffhangers, not the ones that annoy you).
There is certainly room for me to explore more of Uhtred’s life if I want. In fact, I looked up the Last Kingdom series and knew which book I should read up to next. I choose to take a short break temporarily and then it’s up to my whims.
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson (audiobook)
I am listening to this right now and I’m not too engaged. I am almost to the conclusion of book 1. I will give it until the end of book 1 until I see whether I will brave it to the end.
Literary fiction
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
This was to be my Craft & Curiosity read to study the omniscient POV but again I think this is really first and third person limited with an omniscient narrative voice. Don’t quite know what to say about it- it’s obviously not my cup of tea and nothing about the story moves me. Then again, I’m neither white nor black and I have a feeling the premise of the book would be more poignant for such readers.
Moonlake's Fiction Space 