Fantasy
Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman
I got curious because His Darkest Materials was the title for the lesson on research for the novel writing course that I did with the University of British Columbia up on the edX platform. As I was reading it, it reminds me a little of one movie that I was watching during my movie marathon stint. As it turned out, that was the Golden Compass, a film adaptation of this very book, I only found out when I was chatting to my good friend and current GM of our gaming group.
This first book is okay, not really absorbing for me so I’m just limiting myself to one session per day. It does set up the series nicely though.
The Moon Goddess’ Daughter by Sue Lynn Tan
This book has caught my interest because I’m always a bit fond of folklore retellings and this book does not disappoint in providing new twists to it. Other than that, it’s okay but nothing more about it really grabs me. Apparently it’s a duology but as yet, I’m not sure whether I will read book 2 or not.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon AND One Hundred years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marqez (audiobooks)
I already talked about them in Broadening Horizon reads so won’t repeat it here. At any rate, I did not finish either.
Wit’ch Fire by James Clemen
The book is okay. It gave me a throwback to epic fantasy with the formation of a party on a quest with a slight twist: many members have their own agenda. I am currently of two minds whether to pursue this series or not. As per usual, I will read the blurb of the second book and see.
Wit’ch Storm by James Clemen
This book introduces a bunch of new characters and maybe because my attention is not fully with it, I do feel like it affects comprehension (not to the extent that I cannot finish it but just sometimes I would get lost and have to exert effort to remember what happened to a bunch of characters earlier on in the book). But other than that, the book is fine. I do intend to go on with this series.
Wit’ch War by James Clemen
This is the last book held by my library out of this quintet and it finally reveals the key aspect on the underlying world/main conflict so that I can guess where the series is heading. I think I will stop here.
About the book itself, it has a twist that I wasn’t expecting from book 2. Solid work from the author but overall not quite my cup of tea. I mean, it’s labeled epic fantasy and I don’t think I can dispute that but it’s just not the same type of epic fantasy that I’m fond of.
Mystery
The Hairdresser’s son by Gerbrand Bakker
I didn’t feel like reading anything too engrossing so a mystery it is. So after reading blurbs, I picked this one up but it’s not quite my cup of tea. I guess I’m still more keen on a murder mystery rather than a generic mystery. The ending is open-ended but because I’m not on board with the story, it doesn’t leave me with anything.
The Lost Choice: A Legend of Personal Discovery
As a mystery, it is average to be honest and I’m not sure that is the genre that my library put it under (then again, I don’t need to rehash that libraries don’t assign books to the right genres and nowadays I think publishers and authors also play with genres and subgenres as a marketing gimmick). But it does have a strong thematic statement that touches me. And it’s done well so that it entices thought rather than bashing you in over the head with it. So overall, I like it.
Gifted Touch by Melinda Metz
I was expecting more paranormal mystery with this book but it is more teen school drama. Having said this, it’s not bad but I’m just not convinced that I’m invested in this book enough to start reading of this series which I know from the Q&A with the author at the end of the book is already all planned out.
Good morning, Killer by April Smith
I felt a little misled by the blurb and had to go back and read it again. My final verdict is that it does not intentionally mislead but isn’t what I expected it to be either. Basically, it diverges off the main case into the protagonist’s complicated love world half way and this might be in response to the new passion in character driven fiction but I personally am not buying it. Having said that, it does read okay, just not really my cup of tea.
Silent House by Blake Pierce
I did not want to start a long novel when I have to go on an overseas trip in October so mystery it is until the actual trip.
Now this is more of my type of mystery book. The book focuses more on the plot but also develops the main character solidly. What is lacking is the twist part but I think that is getting harder and harder to pull off for an experienced mystery reader like myself (I’m still not the most astute but just from the sheer amount of mystery reading I’ve done I have to admit part of the attraction of this genre is wearing off for me). Overall, a solid read for me.
Sleeping with Fear by Kay Hooper
The premise of an investigator with memory loss is not that fresh nowadays but the author does milk it for all it’s worth in terms of tension and stakes. I didn’t guess the twist (culprit). Overall, I like it.
Historical Fiction
The Empty Throne by Bernard Cromwell
The prologue nicely plays (and continues) on the end of the last book and gives it a bit of freshness. The book itself is okay but since I’m going on trip soon this is another nice stopping point for me. Not sure if I will continue with book 9 or not, I guess it depends on my whims.
Moonlake's Fiction Space 