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This is how we fight: throw ourselves at each other and see whose parts give out first: Reviewing All Systems Red (Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well! I also hope you are staying safe, especially if you live in the path of Hurrican Helene or Milton. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. If you have to hunker down, maybe this post will distract you for just a bit. After this review, I will be getting into the spooky stuff so fear not! (Or fear a little because, you know, Halloween and stuff). Either way, I’m sending you all my love. Now, let’s talk about All Systems Red.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language

Corporations rule outer space. Missions are regulated and delegated by these corporations. Safety, though, isn’t much of a concern. Humans rely on specialized robots for protection on dangerous planets. One particular robot, who refers to itself as “Murderbot”, is reluctant to leave its serials and venture out with a team of human scientists. The mission quickly takes a dangerous turn and its up to the Murderbot and humans to figure out the truth.

All Systems Red is a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of classic sci-fi thrills and wry humor. What really helped this novella stand out is Murderbot as the narrator. I related to the Murderbot because I too don’t like being important at my place of work. Martha Wells manages to pack in a lot of interesting world building and concepts in less than 150 pages. I personally would have loved for this book to be longer because I loved Murderbot’s voice and wanted to know more about the world of this novel. I will probably be picking up the sequel some time in the future. If you are looking for your next sci-fi read, look no further than The Murderbot Diaries.

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You must become king. Of Everything: Reviewing Words of Radiance (Book 2 of the Stormlight Archives) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi everyone! I’m back! I have had a bit of a busy month but I am not going to neglect this blog. I still have some other special reviews coming up and then I will finally get into the spooky stuff. Before you read thsi review, go ahead and check out my review for The Way of Kings. Anyways, let’s talk about Words of Radiance.

Content Warning: Intense Battle Scenes, Violence and Gore, Scenes of Domestic Abuse, Some Disturbing Imagery

War is just on the horizon. Kaladin, formerly a slave, is now a captain in charge of protecting the king and Dalinar. The Assassin in White threatens both of these men and Kaladin is faced with a difficult choice. Meanwhile, Shallan has finally made her way to the Shattered Plains where she must find a way to stop the Voidbringers and face her own dark past. The Parshendi, however, are leading an effort against the Alethi with their leader Eshonai. The world will change as they all know it and their destinies will be irrevocably tied together.

It has been a while since I have been this invested in a series but The Stormlight Archives has me in a chokehold. Words of Radiance is a worthy sequel to its predecessor. I am kind of obsessed with these characters and love how Sanderson balances plot and character development. This book was also much funnier than I had anticipated, which made it all the more enjoyable to read. Every detail of this book (and the first one) is so carefully thought out. Even quotes at the beginning of the chapters are relevant to the movement of the plot. I can’t get enough of this series. I bought the third book before I even finished this one. Go and read The Stormlight Archives immediately.

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Welcome to the universe, from which there is no escape: Reviewing Safe Passage by Karen Menezes

Hi everyone! I am super excited today because I have a review by another indie author! It is always a treat to get to do these kinds of reviews. I will link all of Karen’s socials at the very end of this review so you can send her your love and support. Thank you for reaching out to me, Karen! Now, let’s talk about her novel, Safe Passage.

Content Warning: Violence, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Discussions and Depictions of War.

The old-growth forest and the borderlands of Capherayna are a mystery. So are its people, the Xaeltik community. They live in a pre-industrial time warp, unable to defend themselves from the dark forces of the modern world. In the heart of the forest, a vortex of death is rumored to swallow the living, chew on them, and spit out the pieces. The Lightbender stumbles into Xaeltik territory after days of wandering the forest. He is welcomed by a macabre sight that changes the course of his destiny. To save lives, he must let them die.

What I loved about Safe Passage was the mixture of grounded social issues and fantastical sci-fi/fantasy elements that are used to build the narrative. It was as funny in a cheeky way as it was emotional and profound. Menezes doesn’t hold back when it comes to discussing war and the aftermath of it. I loved her use of descriptive language, the minute details, and the overall sympathetic tone that the novel takes. War is never an easy topic to tackle but Menezes shows every facet, from the people fighting the war to the people caught in the middle of the crossfire. Overall, Safe Passage is a refreshing and introspective novel with plenty of fun and interesting science fiction elements

Website: https://karenmenezes.com/the-chronicles-of-capherayna.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.menezes/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50832081.Karen_Menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechroniclesofcapherayna

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Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination: Revewing The Way of Kings (Book 1 of The Stormlight Archive Series) by Brandon Sanderson

Hi all! I’m back! I put aside all of my other books so I could finish this one. I thought it would take me much longer to read this one. I promise that I have more reviews for shorter books coming up soon. I have a couple of weird/spooky books coming up so get excited for that. I need to yap ramble about this book, though, so let’s talk about The Way of Kings

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Intense Battle Scenes, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries

Centuries ago, the Knights Radiant fell in Roshar, a world of storms. They left behind their magical weapons known as Shardplates and Shardblades. Those who wield these weapons have the power of gods and rule as kings. Wars are fought for theses weapons. One such war currently wages on. Kaladin, a surgeon turned soldier turned slave, must fight for his survival and the survival of his man. Brightlord Dalinar Kholin, who leads the armies of Kholinar, begins to recieve visions of the Knights Radiant. Across the sea, a young woman named Shallan plans to steal a powerful artifact from Dalinar’s niece to save her family. Something much bigger and more dangerous lies in wait for all. No one will be ready to learn the true cause of the war.

I understand the hype now. I am now aboard the Brandon Sanderson hype train. I bought book two of this series when I was about halfway through this book. The Way of Kings is an incredible start to such a well-crafted and detailed series. Acoording to what I have read, this book took ten years to plan and it shows. I loved all of the characters and the way the plot fell into place just felt right. This is a super long book (coming in at 1,252 pages) but every single chapter is so well written. In a rare turn for fantasy books, I liked every character’s POV that I read. Sometimes, when it comes to fantasy books that switch character POVs, I get bored with certain characters and skip or skim a bit. Every one felt interesing and crucial, even the interludes. The Way of Kings fully lives up to the hype and I cannot wait to keep reading this series.

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When the world is hard, love must be harder still: Reviewing The Stone Sky (Book 3 of the Broken Earth Trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and keeping cool during this intense summer heat. Before you read this review, read my reviews for the first two books in this trilogy, The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate. I have one more trilogy I am wrapping up after this and then I will be reading mainly standalone books. I got quite a few books for my birthday that I am so excited to read. I’ve been balancing that with some of my own creative writing. It pleases me to report that I am progressing on a potential novel (maybe two). If nothing else, I am excited to be writing again. Now, let’s talk about the final book in the Broken Earth trilogy, The Stone Sky.

Content Warning: Violence, Harsh Language, Grief and Mourning, Graphic Injuries, Grief and Mourning

The Moon is going to return, but that means humanity is doomed. Essun now wields an incredible power. She plans on using her newfound abilities to find her daughter, Nassun. Nassun, however, has discovered her own powers with the help of her mother’s former Guardian. While Essun is trying to save the world, Nassun is trying to destroy the world and, in turn, eliminate anyone who would bring her harm. It is a race against time as mother and daughter fight to try to control an ancient and powerful magic. Only one of them can change the world forever.

N.K. Jemisin has blown me away with this unique sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. The Stone Sky is easily the most emotional of the three books. The world-building is so strong and unique but it doesn’t outshine the characters and their journeys. At the heart of the book are themes of family bonds, self-acceptance, inner strength, and unwavering love. Jemisin explores the complications that come with differences in a society where differences aren’t accepted unless they are useful and/or non-threatening to others. There is an additional character point of view that showcases the fantasy elements of this story that I really appreciated. Granted, the book can be a bit tricky because some of the terminology is hard to follow but it is incorporated in the story so naturally that you forget that these are terms that exist only within the world of The Broken Earth trilogy. The Stone Sky was a strong end to an incredible series that I highly recommend to all of you.

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Eyes held high in pride are less able to see the uneven ground ahead: Reviewing Star Wars: Greater Good (Book 2 of the Ascendancy Trilogy)

Hey everyone! I hope you are keeping cool this summer. It has been a scorcher where I live and I am struggling over here. Before you check out this review, feel free to read my review of the first book in this trilogy, Chaos Rising. I have the third book in this trilogy ready to go. I also recommend checking out all of my other Star Wars book reviews. I’m still trying to find more to read. I might check out the High Republic books because I am watching Star Wars: Acolyte and I am enjoying it so far. Funny enough, I only became a Star Wars fan relatively recently but I rarely like anything casually I love to know about lore and backstories and other characters. Star Wars is the perfect franchise for this. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about Greater Good.

Thrawn’s victories have caught the attention of the Chiss and brought victory to the House of Mitt. Despite his unusual methods, he has earned the respect of his fellow officers. The threat to the Chiss Ascendancy, though, has not been eliminated. Their enemy lurks in the shadows and plays a different game, one that involves espionage and ulterior motives disguised by acts of generosity. This enemy has been sowing the seeds of discord with the goal of turning the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses against each other. With civil war on the horizon, the Chiss must decide between family and the Ascendancy.

Greater Good may not be my favorite book in this trilogy but there was still plenty I appreciated about this book. Timothy Zahn takes full advantage of how vast and interesting the Star Wars universe is and creates these fascinating characters who might not be seen in any other Star Wars media. Thrawn isn’t heavily featured in this book, but there are plenty of other characters who are just as compelling. I like reading about how the Chiss society operates, the alliances, and all of the politics that come with it. It certainly wasn’t boring but I did prefer the battle scenes. Overall, this is a solid follow-up to Chaos Rising and I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy.

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I will be a monster if it means we survive: Reviewing The Rage of Dragons (Book 1 of The Burning Series) by Evan Winter

Hi everyone! I hope you are faring well during these hot summer days. I am so excited to discuss this book because I wanted to finish it before Season 2 of House of the Dragon premiered. It only felt appropriate. Speaking of that, I want to read George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. I may re-read The Song of Fire and Ice series in the future. It has been years since I read them but I may consider doing reviews, just for fun. I think you all know that I love fantasy books, especially fantasy books involving dragons. Needless to say, The Rage of Dragons was calling to me so let’s review it.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Explicit Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery

The Omehi people have been at war for hundreds of years. A select few of them are blessed with the ability to call dragons and others can transform into giant monsters. These gifted people have kept the Omehi people safe for so long. Tau Solarin is not one of these people. He doesn’t want to spend his enter life fighting in a never-ending war. His plans are changed when his father is killed and he decides to take revenge against the men who killed him. He promises to himself to become the greatest warrior. With the war raging on, Tau must make decisions that change his life and the lives of his loved ones forever.

The Rage of Dragons is an absolute must-read for all fantasy lovers. I was initially intrigued by the Game of Thrones comparisons that people were making about this book and I absolutely see the similarities. The Rage of Dragons, though, sets itself apart with its world-building that is inspired by Xhosa culture. This book is relentless and action-packed. I was genuinely surprised by how intense it got but that made me love it even more. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Tau’s character journey. I love how personal his narrative was, even among all of these sweeping battle scenes. If you love an underdog story, then you will enjoy Tau as the main character. I could rave for so much longer but I won’t. Instead, I will tell you to go experience The Rage of Dragons for yourself. I will buy the next book sooner than later.

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All things end, all things change, all things begin again: Reviewing Sunbringer (Book 2 of the Fallen Gods series) by Hannah Kaner

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Quite a few of the books I am reading right now are on the longer side so don’t be surprised if there are some longer gaps between reviews. I am also making an effort to re-read some of my favorites. Before I review this book, make sure to check out my review for the first book in the series, Godkiller. This is going to be a trilogy, which I am very excited for. (I love a good fantasy trilogy). Now, let’s talk about Sunbringer.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Intense Battle Scenes, Harsh Language

The gods have returned to Middren and have declared war. The Godkiller Kissen is presumed dead after sacrificing herself to defeat the fire god Hseth. Gods, though, are not so easily killed and Hseth has returned with a vengeance. Inara and her god of white lies Skedi have set out to discover the true nature of the gods and uncover secrets along the way. Elogast, former knight of King Arren, has made it his mission to defeat his former friend and king. The king is on a mission to kill every god and become the only god in Middren. War is on the horizon and everyone, both god and man, must fight for their lives.

Sunbringer is the perfect sequel in this series. I can’t say it is better than the first book but, in my opinion, they are on the same level as far quality and entertainment. This book moved much quicker and had more battle sequences, that I personally enjoyed quite a bit. I also love how Hannah Kaner has made her story so inclusive through the world building in this series. Even though this is a rather large world, Kaner’s narrative is focused on how the characters develop throughout the events of the book. Every character is so carefully created to feel dynamic, even if they show up briefly. This book also does get intense towards the end and the action sequences are so much fun to read. The Fallen Gods series is definitely worth checking out and I will be waiting impatiently for the third book in this trilogy.

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Did you truly see our gods die?: Reviewing Temple of No God (Sequel to Hall of Smoke) by H.M. Long

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I’m reading some longer books now so bear with me in between reviews. If you want to see what I am reading or my progress, feel free to follow me on StoryGraph (n0vel_ideas). I’m actually enjoying that app and I normally don’t care for many reading/reviewing apps. Before you read this review, check out my review for Hall of Smoke. Without further ado, let’s talk about Temple of No God.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Harsh Language, Death of a Child, Battle Scenes

Eighteen years ago, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – defeated her own god. Now, she is maintaining a fragile peace between rival tribes through marriage to her second husband. Unrest is on the horizon, though, as multiple people are vying for the throne of the Arpa Empire. Whoever wins the throne will have access to raw, untamed magical power that could wipe out Hessa’s people. Along with that, a new cult has arisen and its members can drain life from anything they touch. With the fate of the world in her hands, Hessa must be prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to restore balance and restore peace no matter the cost.

Like its predecessor, Hall of Smoke is an action-packed adventure with plenty of interesting magic and mythology. I like how H.M. Long’s writing is the right balance of straightforward and poetic. Hessa is a great example of a dynamic female lead you continue to root for. While this isn’t a true romance, I did like the relationship between her and her new husband. It didn’t overshadow the rest of the story, though, as there were plenty of great battle scenes and interesting politics. Even though there is a gap in time between this book and the previous one, they did tie together just enough while still standing on their own. Temple of No God is a strong sequel with plenty of its own merits. You should, however, definitely read Hall of Smoke first.

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The Season will always return: Reviewing The Obelisk Gate (Book 2 of the Broken Earth Trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin

Hi everyone! I’m back (again) because I like to read fast. Before you check out this review, check out my review for the first book in this trilogy, The Fifth Season. If I get invested in a series, I try to read them as close together as I can because I want to remember everything that happened in the previous books. I will definitely get to the third book sooner than later. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. It’s time to review The Obelisk Gate.

Content Warning: Violence and Abuse, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Harsh Language

Essun’s search for her daughter continues as the world around her dies quicker with each passing day. Instead, she is reunited with her old mentor who gives her a request that could change the fate of the world. Meanwhile, Nassun, Essun’s daughter, begins training with other orogenes. As her powers grow stronger everyday, Nassun makes a decision that could break the world that her mother is trying to save.

Overall, I absolutely love the unique tone and intricate world building that carries over from The Fifth Season to this sequel. I wouldn’t say that this sequel is stronger than the prior book, though. It was missing some of the initial intrigue that the first book had. I did enjoy, however, seeing the magic system be fleshed out more as that is the best part of this series. I was a little iffy about the additional POV chapters we do get in this book of Nassun. Her chapters did end up being more enjoyable than I had thought and pushed the plot in a direction that I was not expecting. The book does drag a tiny bit towards the middle but really picks up towards the end. I am absolutely going to pick up the third book because I cannot stand to be left on a cliffhanger. I am still absolutely loving The Broken Earth trilogy and cannot keep recommending it to all of you out there.