Emma Newman: Before Mars

Hi everyone

This is the review for my second time reading the third book in the Planetfall series; Before Mars; written by Emma Newman. I read my own copy.
The first time I read this, I didn't review it so you won't be able to find that review here on my blog.

"After months of travel, Anna Kubrin finally arrives on Mars for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist-in-residence. Already she feels like she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth--and she'll be on Mars for over a year. Throwing herself into her work, she tries her best to fit in with the team.
But in her new room on the base, Anna finds a mysterious note written in her own handwriting, warning her not to trust the colony psychologist. A note she can't remember writing. She unpacks her wedding ring, only to find it has been replaced by a fake.
Finding a footprint in a place the colony AI claims has never been visited by humans, Anna begins to suspect that her assignment isn't as simple as she was led to believe. Is she caught up in an elaborate corporate conspiracy, or is she actually losing her mind? Regardless of what horrors she might discover, or what they might do to her sanity, Anna has find the truth before her own mind destroys her."

I loved this just as much as the first time. I had forgotten what was going on so I felt the suspense as much as the first time. 
Emma Newman's writing style is easy to read, I love her worlds, her characters are full persons and distinct from one another, the plot is really interesting; I really wanted to keep on reading. And I really enjoy her writing about mental illness and trauma in her characters.

Highly recommended!

Happy reading.
Helena

Shelley Parker-Chan: He Who Drowned the World

Hi everyone

He Who Drowned the World is the second and last book in Parker-Chan's series The Radiant Emperor.
I read this on my e-reader.

You can read my review for the first book here.

"How much would you give to win the world?
Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.
But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbor in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband—and she’s strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old enemy: the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father’s killer, the Great Khan.
Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history—and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him.
All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes." 

This was so, so, soooo boring and repetitive. I can't tell you how many times we were told the same things over and over about events or charactertraits. Both the reiterations and being told about them instead of shown angered me. I wanted to finish it to find out how it ends but I had to pace myself because I would either nod off, loose all interest in reading anything or get angry.
Next, it's too sexually explicit. I agree it is part of the story and sometimes necessary but not as much as it is put in the book.
Lastly (I think), it's too dark in tone. There's not one moment with a glimmer of hope. I enjoy grimdark fantasy but I still need something to believe in, to hope for and to root for but there's nothing here.

So yeah, not a great read.

Happy reading!
Helena

Paul van Loon: Birthday Surprise and Full Moon

Hi everyone

My daughter Clara, who's seven years old, (she will be eight this summer) enjoys the Alfie the Werewolf series by Paul van Loon a lot. I asked her if I could read them too just because I want to kow what she likes and she gave me the first and the second book in the series.

"Alfie can't wait to turn seven like his friend Tim, but something strange is happening. When on his birthday, under the light of the full moon, he sprouts fur, grows fangs and develops a wolfish appetite, it's clear he's doing more than turning seven - he's turning into a WEREWOLF! But it's not all bad - now Alfie's great at gym, has the guts to stand up to the school bully and is invited to parties. Maybe being a werewolf isn't so bad after all?"

These were a fast read, very fun, filled with great friendships and loving family, thrilling action and perfect for her age. I'm quite sure I would have loved this series too.

Happy reading!
Helena

Bookhaul

 Hi everyone

I got some new books!

Here they are:

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons 

- Stephen King: Under the Dome

- A. K. Larkwood: The Unspoken Name

- Shauna Lawless: The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

- Ferdia Lennon: Glorious Exploits

Have you read any of these? If so, how did you find it?

Happy reading!
Helena

Jim Butcher: Furies of Calderon

Hi everyone

Furies of Calderon is het first book in The Codex Alera series, written by Jim Butcher. I read this on my e-reader.

"For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious High Lords plot and maneuver to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy - the Marat - return to the Valley, he will discover that his destiny is much greater than he could ever imagine. Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave named Amara. But she is actually a spy for Gaius Sextus, sent to the Valley to gather intelligence on traitors to the Crown, who may be in league with the barbaric Marat horde. And when the Valley erupts in chaos - when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies - Amara will find Tavi's courage and resourcefulness to be a power greater than any fury - one that could turn the tides of war."

I liked this but I didn't love it. 
The characters were great, they were nuanced, relatable and well thought out. The magic is interesting (but I would like to know more about it) and the worldbuilding is nicely done.
The plot however was rather thin and predictable. Some things get repeated too many times and that got on my nerves too. It never gets boring and there's lots of action going on to keep the tempo high and the story interesting.

I will read the second book because it's a promising series and I'm curious to see how it will go on, but we'll see about reading the complete series after the second (or third) book.
Also, I really, really enjoy The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, so that's another reason to continue.

Happy reading!
Helena

Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Mars

Hi everyone

This was my second time reading Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxters The Long Mars; the third book in The Long Earth series. You can find my other reviews here. 

"2040-2045: In the years after the cataclysmic Yellowstone eruption there is massive economic dislocation as populations flee Datum Earth to myriad Long Earth worlds. Sally, Joshua, and Lobsang are all involved in this perilous work when, out of the blue, Sally is contacted by her long-vanished father and inventor of the original Stepper device, Willis Linsay. He tells her he is planning a fantastic voyage across the Long Mars and wants her to accompany him. But Sally soon learns that Willis has ulterior motives ...
Meanwhile U. S. Navy Commander Maggie Kauffman has embarked on an incredible journey of her own, leading an expedition to the outer limits of the far Long Earth.
For Joshua, the crisis he faces is much closer to home. He becomes embroiled in the plight of the Next: the super-bright post-humans who are beginning to emerge from their 'long childhood' in the community called Happy Landings, located deep in the Long Earth. Ignorance and fear are causing 'normal' human society to turn against the Next - and a dramatic showdown seems inevitable . . . "

The first half of the book flew by. But by the time I got over halfway through it became quite boring. It's the same. Both Maggie and Sally go exploring for most of the book and they just step. There are a few things happening but too little to keep it engaging.

I did like the writing and the story. The book is just too long for what's actually happening.

Happy reading!
Helena

 

Wrap Up: April 2025

Hi everyone

April was great, we had a lot of sun in between the typical, Belgian grey days. And I read a lot too!

Here's what I read:

-  Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

- Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

- Stephen King: The Dark Half 

- Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane 

- Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

- Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

Happy reading!
Helena