book review |Renegades by Craig Alanson | Expeditionary Force 7

Author: Craig Alanson
Title: Renegades
Series: Expeditionary Force 7
Genre: Sci-fi, Military Fiction
Pages: 518
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Man, Craig Alanson is some kind of a banter genius. Seven books into Expeditionary Force, and Renegades is just as good, if not better.

About: Even though the Merry Band of Pirates have saved the Earth yet again, Leaders on Earth are bickering, and met them with suspicion, disdain, mistrust, and determination. Determination to get Joe Bishop off the team, pull together their own teams, and go figure out the current threat. As if they possibly could. Or, as if they could ever possibly get Skippy to cooperate without Joe aboard. But since the threat of enemy coming to finish destructive work on Earth is oh so real indeed, and Joe is not someone who can just sit and wiggle his thumbs… A plan is set in motion. Grand Theft Spaceship, if you please.

Mine: This book is gloriously written. Jokes will get you, banter is amazing, thriller and action will push you off the chair. This time the story-telling was more place-consistent, which I very much prefer. There was no jumping from Merry Band of Pirates to some planet, like Paradise. There were also a few chapters with inanimate objects having a moment, and those killed me. Really, I’d not recommend a cup of tea with this book.

We finally get to see what Elders looked like, and Skippy gets more of his memories from behind the programmed-in wall. Neither of these news are good, for the dread of Rogue AI’s rises yet again. And there’s just too many questions to yet be answered for Skippy the Magnificent.

If you just want to chill a bit with a good, humor and action fueled militaristic fiction type of sci-fi, this is a book for you. No, the whole series is for you. I loved it, 5 out of 5, and now, a long wait for another one. For there really seems to be room for another one.

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book review | The Strain by Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan | The Strain Trilogy 1

Author: Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan
Title: The Strain
Series: The Strain Trilogy 1
Genre: Horror Literature, Fiction
Pages: 403
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

The cover of Guillermo del Toro’s and Chuck Hogan’s book “The Strain” said it’s new vampire classics. To me it felt more like a retelling of many, concentrating onto the common theme: New York city, epidemic that turns people into brainless monsters. I bet you can think of one or two off the top of your head, without thinking.

About: A Boeing lands, dark and silent. All the people inside are still, as if asleep. Dead, their bodies drained of blood. All except four, it seems. But those four survivors are not likely to tell any tales, for they are dead men walking themselves. Whatever killed all those passengers – is eating them up too.

It spreads like a virus. The disease takes over, mutates the body in a matter of days, chucking anything unnecessary. The smallest drop of their blood can turn you, and then you too will hear His voice, and you too will haunt your loved ones in search for easy prey, easy blood, nourishment.

Mine: Remember how Dracula entered England? He steered a ship into a port on a stormy night, with all crew gone but for a corpse or two. All while he himself hid in a crate full of soil. And then disappeared, with the said boxes of dirt. This is a very classic scary monster vampire story. Authors here too did their best to dissuade the reader from wanting to become one of these foul beasts who feed and urinate at the same time, whose very genitals fall off, and body mutates into grotesque horror meant only for feeding. And yet there are still those, in the story, who want this for sheer fact that there’s a certain mental capacity, a form of life, immortality. That’s the good side of this tale. For the rest of it was already told, many times over, with the same brave but annoying characters.

I watched the series, didn’t finish, and am not planning to, but first season and first book seem to be fairly on the same level. So if you didn’t like the series, don’t bother with the book. I can give it a 3 out of 5, no more.

 

Bookish | Because We Read

Let’s face it, it’s not common for me to make simple design. But I love how, in a sense, fancy-minimalist these turned out. Do you need one to hold your thought?

☕ Where you got your favorite bookmark from?

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ETSY

 

book review | Cress by Marissa Meyer | The Lunar Chronicles 3

Author: Marissa Meyer
Title: Cress
Series: The Lunar Chronicles 3
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Pages: 552
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Well, it doesn’t seem like we’ll get a translation to Marissa Meyer‘s The Lunar Chronicles series in Lithuania. They stopped after Scarlet, and Cress doesn’t seem to be happening. I’ll just finish them in English. Really, Marissa Meyer is becoming one of my top favorite authors. I’ve read her Heartless before, it was unbelievable. And so are these. Guess I’ll just have to rampage through the bibliography.

About: On a satelite in orbit lives a young woman, a girl, named Cress. She’s a lunar, a shell, sentenced to die for the crime of being born powerless. But most of those children don’t end up dead. They end up slaves to Queen Levana and her ambitions to rule the whole galaxy. Cress, for instance, is an amazing hacker. Her guardian visits her ever so often to take more blood samples and inquire on any new data about the lost princess Selene. Neither she nor Queen Levana know, that Cress is long as not on their side. With access to Earthen information feed, she learned to love those people, who didn’t just give up their kids because they were born wrong. She loves their romances and drama shows. Especially the ones where a damsel in distress is saved by a charming, morally flexible rogue. Like Captain Thorne, who is now doing his best to save princess Selene… What a hero, right?

Mine: So as you might have already guessed, this is a retelling of Rapunzel. Cress’s hair is long and prone to tangles. Her “stepmother” or guardian, rarely brings her new articles of clothes, so there she is, shoeless, in a child’s dress, hair down to her knees, erasing every trace of princess Selene’s ship from the net, covering their tracks, hoping beyond hope. I can’t put to words of how very impressed I am by the writing, how perfectly fantasy and sci-fi fit here, together, creating something so powerfully unique out of an old tale. I can’t wait to read the final book of Snow White, whom we meet near the end of this book. It’s amazing, truly.

Loved it, so, of course, the book gets 5 out of 5, and I must start remembering to put Marissa Meyer into my top tier favorite authors from now on.

book review | The Lion and the Crow by Eli Easton

Author: Eli Easton
Title: The Lion and the Crow
Series: –
Genre: Historical Romance, LGBT Literature
Pages: 146
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

After the giant book that Mistborn 2 was, I wanted something light, short. So I picked up The Lion and the Crow by Eli Easton. I don’t know this author, nor have I read anything of hers before. But after this one, I’m down to getting more.

About: Seventh son should not be a threat. He shouldn’t concern his brothers. He’ll have no claim to the throne unless all six before him die, and that’s unlikely. And he’ll marry the most profitable bride for the whole family. But the young man is too pretty. His eyes linger on other men too long. And he’s far too dangerous. So when Christian, nicknamed Crow, offers to be the guide for the knight known as Lion, on a suicidal mission to save his sister from a tyrant, there are those in Crow’s family who don’t take this selfless suggestion as such. But in truth, Crow just wants to escape the pressure, the constant watchful eyes, the bullying. And if that can only be achieved on a deadly mission, well, at least the knight he’ll be with is not hard on the eyes.

Mine: I expected many things, but none of the ones I got. The plot twisted on me, making turns where I least expected them. I mean, take the plot: a knight, honorable and brave, is off to save his sister from an abusive husband. He takes another brave young man with him, whom he believes to be a pampered lordling. So you’d expect what? Proving of self, and a honorable entrance into the castle of a tyrannical old man who’d order them cut down instantly. But luck would be on their side and so on, and on. Instead we got planning, clever scheming, daring but weighted plans. The story, if short, was dynamic, serious, and concluded. Hands down, a real well written book, if nothing else. The only thing, and that’s purely my own preference, is indeed that seriousness. I’m more into light-hearted, humorous characters.

I was wondering, should I let you know if there’s detailed love scenes in books? Would that make a difference in choosing the book? Because some just skim over it, others allude to it, and then some are like this one. I, personally, can give this one a strong 4 out of 5, and will definitely check out what else Eli Easton has written.

Bookish | The Un-Dead

I’ve read the “first” book (the newer one), and I can’t say I like Dacre’s style much, but he sure does have great ideas. This one still awaits a turn…

☕ What’s a book at your home that you have for ages now, gathering dusts unread?

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book reviewn | The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson | Mistborn 2

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Title: The Well of Ascension
Series: Mistborn 2
Genre: Epic Fantasy; High Fantasy
Pages: 590
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

I’m always a little worried I won’t be able to recall people, their names, after I abandon series for too long. But so far that has never happened. If slow, you recall everyone eventually. And the second book of Misborn by Brandon Sanderson, the Well of Ascension, was so well written, that you’re practically reminded of everything. It’s a very well woven story.

About: Their God is dead. Killed by Vin who became part of Kelser’s, the Survivor’s religion. She became his heir, the one he trained and led against the Lord Ruler. Yet ash still falls from the sky, and the Mist once again became dangerous, killing, unlike the teachings Survivor preached. And if that wasn’t enough, a good, kindhearted and honest man now sits on the throne, Elend Venture. He tries his best to make everyone equal. But a honest man can’t be a good ruler, it seems, for very soon the Final Empire finds itself surrounded by armies. One of them – not even human. The only hope Vin now has is finding the legendary Well of Ascension that has supposedly given Lord Ruler his power. She could take it, she could set it free, she could fix this broken world…

Mine: This was… This was huge beyond any words. It was beyond any epics or myths I’ve ever read, no matter how layered and interwoven they were. What you were told at the start of the book might change from truth to lie by the end of it. Progress happens before our very eyes, characters grow, evolve, develop, and so do their stories. Truths get unearthed, lies get found, new foundations are built, all in the face of utter horror, destruction. Some were proud as gods, believing themselves too much. Others believed so little, and yet came this far. And then some preached lies, believing them truth. It was amazing.

The best thing I can compare this book too, for there’s nothing similar I have ever read, and I have read a lot by now, is Frank Herbert’s “Dune” but without the dragging flaws. It was very well paced, full of action, puzzles, mysteries, secrets to solve, and the reader is fully allowed to make their own assumptions, deductions, we’re allowed to solve it on our own. I happily give this book a 5 out of 5. It is hard for me to explain a book as huge as this one is, and for that I apologize. It was amazing, that’s all I can say. Definitely among my very top favorites now.

book review | “Packing for Mars” by Mary Roach

Author: Mary Roach
Title: Packing for Mars
Series: –
Genre: Science Literature, Space
Pages: 334
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Mary Roach is something of a delight for me. Way back in the day I’ve read her book “Stiff“, about corpses, their treatment, use, etc. It was very interesting, informative, and yet hilarious. I couldn’t wrap my head around it of how can a book about dead people be this amusing, and perfectly respectful. So when I came across my favorite topic – Mars, by one of my favorite authors of Science Literature – Mary Roach… Well, here we are.

About: We’ve all seen the glory of being an astronaut. You’re a living star, a pioneer of space, almost as famous as Loki or Thor. We even waved the Moon off in want to explore a real planet: Mars.

So, how is your day? What do you eat? Do you exercise? Do you bathe daily, wash your hair? How often does the Nature Call you to the bathroom? Do you have enough clothes to last you a week without washing them, or do you do your laundry more often? And how are all these things done in zero G, in a cramped little space with little to no privacy?

If all these questions can be solved and optimized then, according to this book, a two year voyage to Mars could begin for a human being too. But it really does mean two years of calories that are varied enough to not drive the crew insane for having to eat the same mush day in and day out in a cramped space with no real privacy, not to mention the question of intimacy. All and more will be answered or at least discussed in this book.

Mine: At times I laughed. Other times I hysterically howled. Mary Roach has finessed the art of tackling the less glorious sides of the topics we all love. No one will really tell you how the first astronauts used the bathroom. Mary Roach requested to use one of those herself, since… Well, it takes very specific adjustments. You’ll likely not hear about the ickier experiments either, like how often must you bathe, how much oils does your body produce, when does it stop producing excess of it. From potential rat birth in space, to, ah, different kind of floaters. Truly, if you ever wanted to be an astronaut, or are curious of this topic, give Mary Roach a chance. The book is amazingly written, you’ll never be left to your own devices. She’ll explain everything, joke with you, lead you through it, give you more details, and you’ll have a hell of a time.

This was a fun read. It added to my previous read, Apollo 8 too, since it touched upon those missions, and that smuggled contraband in form of a beef sandwich. Mary Roach remains among my favorites, so this book gets a 5 out of 5 for sure.

Bookish | Anno Dracula

I love these and I also hate these. Author goes to such lengths dropping all the vampire and author, and gothic author name, to make sure you know that he knows a lot, and this story needs this other story for context, and then a little bit of that story for context…

But, still, I really love them, and I wouldn’t part with them. Each one had something real brilliant in it.

☕ How are you with details in books? Is more or less better?

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book review | “On the Come Up” by Angie Thomas

Author: Angie Thomas
Title: On The Come Up
Series: –
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 464
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

I loved “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, so there was no doubt I’ll pick up “On The Come Up” too, as soon as I could get my hands on it. Which isn’t very soon, but hey, not too late yet. The book was absolutely brilliant too.

About: Bri’s life was never easy. A black girl in a pretend-progressive school she witnessed her share of racial profiling, singling out and punishing the kids of color on daily basis, while white kids got away with a lot without even a comment. At home there’s other kinds of problems. Like, her shoes falling apart, gas getting turned off, late rent, constant shortage of everything. Her father was shot, her brother, with all of his education, moved back with his mother and works as a pizza maker to help them meet the ends, and their mother has barely gotten out of a drug slum which she fell into grieving. All Bri wants is to make it, become as great a rap star as her father was, greater even, so she can help everyone out, stop the struggles, get her loved ones off streets, hell, get new shoes… But we all know that path to success is rarely paved with roses. And so, one day she’s singled out, she’s the black girl who didn’t cooperate. She’s on the ground, cuffed. And every phone is pointed at her.

Mine: If you compare American white authors written YA parents, and those of an author of color… I think most of us in Europe will see our parents in the latter ones. There’s this strong love and caring, without the cliche nonsense where a parent is either too understanding, too dumbly kind, or too great of an opposition against their child. Bri’s mother did all she could, sacrificed all she had, and gave her children everything. She lived and survived for them through the worst of it. But it didn’t mean she can now read their thoughts or understand everything, and approve of everything. They spoke, like adults, like child and mother, and they figured things out. You know, the way real world works or tries to work. On top of that, the plot is so amazingly well written, with every side-story so well woven into it, that for once I was just happy to read natural, organic conversations and events. Everyone was their own person, with none of those lines where you read it, you read a response to it, and you just know author wrote all of that just so this character could say this thing. And, I know I’ve spoken in length about it now, but seriously, this is such a good book about real struggles, real poverty, real stressful guilt that you honestly need something when you’ve got nothing… I loved it.

This is a quality read. Especially if you like rap rhymes, oh boy these are nice! Just like The Hate U Give, this one too gets 5 out of 5, and I am sure going to read whatever’s next for Angie Thomas.