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Judgement can only focus on actions: Reviewing Star Wars: Chaos Rising (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy) by Timothy Zahn

Hi everyone! I’m back already! I almost put out two reviews yesterday but decided to pace myself. I’m also back into my obsession with Star Wars books, particularly ones about Thrawn. Feel free to check out all of my other reviews of the other Star Wars books. If you are interested in the Timothy Zahn books, I have read the Thrawn trilogy and the Heir to the Empire trilogy. This series is set before the Thrown trilogy, in case you wanted to read them in a specific order. Now, let’s embark into Chaos Rising together.

Content Warning: Intense Battle Scenes, Some Violence

In the Unknown Regions of the galaxy lives the Ascendancy, home of the proud Chiss people who are governed by the Nine Ruling Families. The peace of the Ascendancy is threatened when a bold, unknown enemy attacks the Chiss capital. With little to no option, the Ascendancy dispatches a young, renegade military officer named Thrawn to hunt down this new threat. Thrawn’s methods are unusual and dangerous, but he is effective and brilliant. With the help of Admiral Ar’alani and the Expansionary Fleet, Thrawn’s investigation leads him into a stretch of space that the Chiss refer to as Chaos. Within the Chaos, Thrawn discovers a threat to the Ascendancy that is only just beginning.

Timothy Zahn continues to impress me with how he builds upon his lore, creating a these fully fleshed-out characters and expanding upon the Star Wars universe. I enjoyed seeing how these different cultures operate and the tangled web of politics and war. Thrawn continues to be a favorite of mine because he is such a fascinating character who, while genius, is still imperfect and is constantly learning. The other Chiss characters are interesting in their own ways and serve as good foils or support to Thrawn. I like seeing pre-Empire Thrawn and it is interesting to see his path unfold. With that being said, this is another must read for Star Wars fans and I will be staring book two immediately.

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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.

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Maybe I never stopped screaming: Reviewing Intercepts by T.J. Payne

Hi all! I hope you are all doing well. The weather is finally getting nice and I am ready to read in places that are not indoors. I typically do include indoor reading, though. It’s my dream to make myself a little reading nook one day with a comfy chair and all kinds of cozy things to surround myself with while I read some of the most stressful books I decide to buy. Speaking of stressful books, I am very excited to talk to you all about this one. I have seen Intercepts come up on a lot of recommendation lists so I took that as a sign I needed to check this book out. Now, it’s time to talk about Intercepts by T.J. Payne.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Non-Consensual Medical Extermination, Discussions and Depictions of Self-Harm, Harsh Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness

Joe Gerhard is good at his job. He works at the Facility, which houses top-secret experiments done on human prisoners. These prisoners are known as “Antennas” and can be used to “intercept” someone’s mind. The way to do this, though, is by putting the prisoners in extreme sensory deprivation that drives them to madness. Joe has accepted this as part of his job, though, because they use the “antennas” to catch terrorists and criminals. His life is interrupted by tragedy when his ex-wife takes her own life. Riley, his teenage daughter, comes to live with Joe in the aftermath. Soon after, she starts having terrifying hallucinations of a woman who tears herself apart. Joe comes to the horrifying realization that his daughter has been “intercepted” and must figure out how to save her.

Intercepts was a gruesome and thrilling read that was a mix of sci-fi and horror. This gave me similar vibes to the SCP Foundation if you are familiar. (If you aren’t familiar with the SCP Foundation, it is a fictional government facility that houses all kinds of scary and bizarre creatures. Go look it up.) The novel comes out swinging with the gory horror from chapter one but leaves plenty of room for suspense. There were a couple of times when my jaw dropped because of just how gory the book was. The twists also made me want to get to the end so I could have some kind of answer. Intercepts was an unputdownable sci-fi horror I would recommend for all of you horror fans.

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Could I be a human if you called me one?: Reviewing The Employees by Olga Ravn, Translated by Martin Aitken

Hi everyone! I am back again sooner than anticipated. I have a couple of novellas on my TBR pile to fill in the gaps between some of the longer books I read. I’m watching for new releases and other books to add to my pile. I am unsure if anyone would want this but I know some book-centric influencers put out their TBR list at the beginning of the year. I might do posts like that at the beginning of the year or the beginning of the month. I don’t typically do “reading goals” but I might like to give you all a sneak peek of what to expect from me as far as content. I think I have rambled enough now. Let’s talk about The Employees.

Content Warning: Some disturbing imagery. Brief discussion of infant loss, Brief discussion of sexual content, Some discussion of mental health issues

It’s the maiden voyage of the Six Thousand Ship. The crew consists of human and humanoid workers who all have complaints about the monotonous daily tasks. All of these complaints are carefully tracked by the committee. The voyage of the Six Thousand ship is put in jeopardy when they take on strange objects from the planet New Discovery. The objects begin to have strange effects on the human and humanoid crew members. Tensions begin to boil over, mutiny is on the horizon, and the entire voyage may fall apart.

The Employees is a strange, speculative novella that packs a punch with its chilling narrative and philosophical themes. I do love novels told through unconventional narrative structures. In this case, the entire story is told through statements from the different crew members. It does read rather poetically at times while giving glimpses of the horrifying consequences of the overall mission. Olga Ravn does a great job balancing ambiguity and the concrete aspects of the plot, like the fallout of bringing these mysterious objects onto the ship. I love how the novel questions what defines humanity and what makes someone human. The small details are what really set this novella apart. The Employees satisfied my need for surreal sci-fi, philosophy, and just a touch of horror.

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For you to find something, that thing must also find you: Reviewing Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Hello everyone! Let’s keep the spooky season going with another review. I was particularly excited to talk about this book because I haven’t read any horror novels set at sea before. In my humble and non-scientific opinion, it is best to leave the ocean alone. The same goes for outer space. This book is also not the only horror novel I have that has to do with the ocean. I do plan on reviewing Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield before the end of the month. I have a good array of horror novels I’m planning on reading so I hope you find something you like. Anyways, let’s talk about Into the Drowning Deep.

Content Warning: Graphic and Disturbing Imagery, Violence and Gore, Graphic Bodily Injury, Animal Death, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content

Seven years ago, a high tech ship called the Atargatis set sail to film a mockumentary about discovering mermaids. No one survived. Now, a new ship called the Melusine with a new crew is out to discover what really happened all those years ago. Among the crew of scientists eager to make themselves famous, Tory Stewart is seeking answers to what happened to her sister. Nothing could prepare her or fellow scientists for the horrors that lurk just below the surface.

This book was such a thrill to read and I didn’t want to put it down at a certain point. Into the Drowning Deep was an atmospheric and action-packed horror that felt cinematic. Mira Grant does an excellent job of creating a diverse array of complex characters and balancing that out with truly chilling horror elements. This was certainly a very bloody book with plenty of gore and tension. Survival horror can be a tricky genre and can come across as shallow (pun intended). Creature horror can also be rather trick but Mira Grant’s killer mermaids are just as fascinating as their human counterparts. Into the Drowning Deep balances out the scientific elements with the horror elements. If you are scared of the sea, you might not want to read this. On the other hand, if you are scared of the sea then you might feel a little more justified reading this. Either way, you should definitely consider picking up this book for some thrills and chills.

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Disposable and Finite and Vulnerable: Reviewing Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer

Hello everyone! I am finally back after being gone for longer than I would have liked. There is also a chill in the air and I have a pile of horror novels that I am itching to read. I am pacing myself a bit because I want to save all of the spooky stuff for October. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading the weird and creepy stuff. This is not my first time reading a book by Jeff Vandermeer so make sure to check out my other reviews of his books. Now, it’s time to talk about Dead Astronauts.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Some Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Abuse, Animal Abuse, Animal Death, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness, Violence, Medical Experimentation

Different stories unfold, begin, end, and some never get a chance to be told. A blue fox travels through time and space to complete a mysterious mission. A woman who is haunted by a demon finds a mysterious journal that changes her life. Three astronauts fight in a war against a powerful corporation that has destroyed and twisted nature. A madman wanders the desert, followed by a monster of his own creation whose purpose and name he cannot remember. All stories begin and all stories end, but not always in the way that they should.

Dead Astronauts is a captivating yet disturbing mixture of prose and poetry revolving around a cosmic battle between man and nature. Jeff Vandermeer’s brand of eco-centric sci-fi remains unlike anything else I have read. He does not hold back when exploring an apocalyptic future where nature fights back against humanity’s attempt to tame it. (He some how manages to make a duck into a very creepy character.) From what I can tell, Vandermeer’s books all exist within the same universe, which makes it more interesting. I love how he delves deeper into this topic and isn’t afraid to be abstract. I like when novels blend together different styles of writing to enhance the overall themes and messages. If you love surreal literature, particularly surreal sci-fi, then look no further than Jeff Vandermeer and definitely give Dead Astronauts your attention.

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We keep striking. We keep going. We keep fighting: Reviewing The Blood Gift (Book 2 of The Blood Gift Duology) by N.E. Davenport

Hi everyone! I am really speeding through my TBR much faster than I would like. I’ve been really wanting to finish this sequel, though. I try to stick to standalone reads, mostly because I don’t have enough shelf space for multiple series. I recently heard via the internet that it takes a thousand books to make a library. I am curious but I do not feel like counting my collection any time soon. Now, let’s talk about the highly anticipated sequel to The Blood Trials.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Graphic Bodily Injury, Explicit Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Racism, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Harsh Language

After facing the ultimate betrayal at the hands of the Tribunal Council, Ikenna Amari finds herself on the run with her fellow “deserters” and hopes that one of her Grandfather’s allies might back their rebellion. Ikenna also must get her overwhelming powers under control and she is running out of time. The Blood Emperor has launched a full-scale attack against Mareen and nothing will stop him from killing everyone in his way. Ikenna and her must team must defeat the Blood Emperor to bring an end to his destruction, but that is not the only challenge they face. With war erupting and alliances falling apart, Ikenna must find where her loyalties lie in order to take out the greatest threat against her world.

I absolutely loved The Blood Trials (please check out that review) and The Blood Gift did not disappoint. It was just as intense as the first book but had a dash more political intrigue that helped flesh out the world that N.E. Davenport has so carefully crafted. Ikenna “Kenna” Amari is the perfect example of how to write a strong female character without reducing her to any one category. I actually appreciated how Davenport incorporated romance and other themes of love into the novel without taking away from the incredible battle scenes and a rather realistic look at warfare. This book is so well-balanced and well-paced. I did not want to look away, even when it got gruesome. For those of you who loved The Blood Trials, worry not because The Blood Gift lives up to the hype.

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May warrior’s fortune be ever in your favor: Reviewing Star Wars: Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn

Hi everyone! I’m back! I recently started a new job and am now settled into a new schedule. My TBR pile has grown exponentially because I have no self-control when it comes to buying books. Also, I am still very much fixated on Star Wars at this moment. This will be the last Star Wars related book I read for a bit but I do want to read more in the future. I am just looking for more suggestions at this moment. I won’t go on too much longer because it’s time to talk about Thrawn: Treason. (I did finally finish watching Star Wars: Rebels so this was good timing).

During his time serving the Empire, Thrawn has proven himself to be an invaluable asset, cunning tactician, and fierce warrior. His next goal is to secure the funding for his TIE Defender program but his plans are halted by Direct Krennic’s top secret Death Star program. Knowing that his reputation and rank is at risk, Thrawn must further prove his loyalty to the Empire. Meanwhile, Eli Vanto is working closely with the Chiss Ascendancy as a familiar enemy threatens their home world. With Thrawn’s loyalty in question, he is forced to decide between the future of his people and his duty to the Empire. Either choice means treason and Thrawn must choose which path is worth his life.

Timothy Zahn continues to capture the high stakes action and political espionage of the Empire in a way that is unputdownable. I have to say it is kind of fun reading about all of the Empire higher ups backstab and ultimately destroy each other in the process. Even though most of the additional characters are insufferable, they are insufferable in an entertaining way. I think what I like the most about Zahn is how he captures the tense space battles that are so key to any Star Wars project. This trilogy, overall, has been a satisfying delve into the Dark Side. Also, this is fully cannon to Star Wars which is makes it all the more interesting. Anyways, I am going to give this trilogy my stamp of approval and call it a must – read for any Star Wars fan who wants to spend a little time with the Dark Side.

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This is the way the world ends. For the last time: Reviewing The Fifth Season (Book 1 of The Broken Earth Trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing great. Everything is doing alright in my little corner of the world. I’m about to be pretty busy soon, but I do have some shorter books I can read so there isn’t as much of a lull between reviews. I try to vary the lengths of the books I read since some people have more specific preferences about that. To be completely honest, though, I go into a majority of the books I read with little to no details about the contents. Sometimes, I don’t even know the plot outside of a single line or it’s a genre I like. I prefer to remain as unbiased as possible. I will stop rambling now and get into The Fifth Season.

Content Warning: Death of Children, Harm Towards Children, Graphic Violence, Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Apocalyptic Imagery

This isn’t the first time that the world ended for Essun. It will be the last, though. One seemingly ordinary day, she comes home to find her youngest son dead and her daughter missing along with her husband. The Earth begins to fall apart soon after. With nothing to lose, Essun goes on a journey to find her daughter and must face the past as old wounds are reopened.

I normally try not to be hyperbolic but this was truly an incredible book. N.K. Jemisin does an amazing job creating a narrative that twists and flows in a way that is unpredictable, yet satisfying in the end. The world building is so intricate and it honestly threw me off for a bit. I loved, however, being thrown into such an intense scenario. I also loved Jemisin’s use of second person perspective (“you” pronouns) and the way all of the different stories flow together seamlessly in the end. If I really had to compare to something, it gave me similar vibes to The Locked Tomb series. I am honestly regretting not buying the trilogy as I so want to know where this story is going. Go put this book straight to the top of your TBR. Believe the hype surrounding The Fifth Season.

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I have sensed a disturbance in the Force:Reviewing Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn

Hi everyone! I hope everything is looking up for you all. The weather is finally nice and I finally have some good life updates. I also am kind of hyper-fixated on all things related to Star Wars. I am reading some other books but wanted to finish this one since the first trailer for Ahsoka where Thrawn will be making his live-action debut. I hope you all like my Star Wars-related reviews. There are quite a few more I want to read in the future and I promise that not all of them will have to do with Thrawn. But, for now, we will talk about the sequel in Timothy Zahn’s series.

Emperor Palpatine has sensed that a new threat against the Empire lurks in the Unknown Regions. In order to stamp out this opposition, he orders his ruthless right hand Darth Vader, and brilliant tactician Grand Admiral Thrawn to work together. The two are hesitant to work together as both vie for the Emperor’s favor. This isn’t the first time that the two have encountered each other. Years ago, General Anakin Skywalker went on a mission to find Padme Amidala after she disappeared while visiting a friend. During this mission, he met Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo and together they uncovered a deadly conspiracy together against the Republic. Now, the two find themselves working together once again. Darth Vader must face his past and Thrawn must face his future.

Timothy Zahn has done it again with a compelling and action-packed entry in this particular series. I loved the drama and tension between Vader and Thrawn. I also greatly appreciated the inclusion of Padme in the flashback portions of this novel. While I am normally not a diehard fan of flashbacks, Zahn does an excellent job building on the lore of Star Wars and further fleshes out the characters. I’ve always enjoyed a complicated protagonist and, while you don’t want the Empire to win, you still find yourself fascinated by the inner-workings of one of the most famous villainous forces in pop culture. Overall, this was a successful sequel in this trilogy and I look forward to reading more from Zahn.