Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Utopia

Hi everyone

This was my second time reading the fourth book in The Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter.
I have to admit, the experience was just as emotional and thought-provoking as the first time.

" 2045-2059. After the cataclysmic upheavals of Step Day and the Yellowstone eruption humanity is spreading further into the Long Earth, and society, on a battered Datum Earth and beyond, continues to evolve.
Now an elderly and cantankerous AI, Lobsang lives in disguise with Agnes in an exotic, far-distant world. He’s convinced they’re leading a normal life in New Springfield – they even adopt a child – but it seems they have been guided there for a reason. As rumours of strange sightings and hauntings proliferate, it becomes clear that something is very awry with this particular world.
Millions of steps away, Joshua is on a personal journey of discovery: learning about the father he never knew and a secret family history. But then he receives a summons from New Springfield. Lobsang now understands the enormity of what’s taking place beneath the surface of his earth – a threat to all the worlds of the Long Earth.
To counter this threat will require the combined efforts of humankind, machine and the super-intelligent Next. And some must make the ultimate sacrifice... "

I still find the ending difficult to read. Even though I don’t particularly like Sally, the way her story concludes left me surprisingly emotional. It’s one of those moments that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

The scope of this series is staggering. The idea of alien species from another universe aiming to destroy the Long Earth is terrifying—it’s the kind of concept that makes you pause and wonder, What if? 

The shift in perspective for Joshua’s family history threw me off a bit. I think it would have felt more natural if it had been told from Nelson’s point of view or through the narrator’s voice.

Lobsang’s journey, however, was beautifully done. Despite being an AI, he’s so deeply human in his emotions and reasoning. His decision to escape to another world and start anew with Agnes is both heartbreaking and beautiful. They make such a sweet, unlikely couple.

And I’m so relieved Joshua and Sally never became a couple. It would have been too easy, too forced. Their dynamic works much better as it is, and I appreciate that the authors resisted the urge to push them into a romantic relationship.

The Long Utopia is a book that makes you think, feel, and wonder. It’s a great continuation of a series that challenges our perceptions of humanity, technology, and the universe itself.
Have you read The Long Utopia or any of The Long Earth series? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

Brandon Sanderson: Tress of the Emerald Sea

Hi everyone

Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone novel by Brandon Sanderson. It is set in The Cosmere so it is part of his multi-series world but you can read it without having read any of his other books. It's also more of a YA book so it's different in style.
I bought this book from Bol.com.

"The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?"  

I have to be honest; I didn't really enjoy this. The story was ok but I found it boring overall. The plot felt a bit rambling, and the characters came across as dull and mediocre. What annoyed me the most, though, was the POV and the tone of the storyteller. Hoid (who is supposed to be witty and funny) just came off as stupid to me. Even when he was meant to be clever or humorous, he just felt dumb and idiotic. The book tried to be funny, but for me, it fell completely flat.
That said; the worldbuilding was, as is usual for Sanderson, amazing, interesting and unlike anything I’ve read before. The concept of the spore oceans and the deadly Midnight Sea is fascinating and imaginative. However, the main villain in this book was just absurd. Without giving too much away, her sudden departure at the end felt lazy and unsatisfying. She wasn’t in any real danger from Tress and the others, so why would she just leave? It felt like a cop-out, and it left me frustrated with the storytelling.

All in all, Tress of the Emerald Sea wasn’t for me. While the world was intriguing, the execution of the story, the characters, and the humor just didn’t work for me. But if you’re a fan of Sanderson’s imaginative worlds or enjoy lighthearted YA fantasy, you might find something to like here.

Have you read Tress of the Emerald Sea? Did you enjoy it more than I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy reading!
Helena

Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I have some exciting bookish news to share; I bought some new books and received an amazing surprise!
*    happydance    *

My parents went on holiday to the UK, and my dad came back with a very special gift just for me. And it is SIGNED! I was over the moon when I saw it. How cool is that? I’m still grinning just thinking about it. 

- Ben Aaronovitch: Tales From the Folly

 

 

And because no book haul is complete without a little self-indulgence, here are the books I treated myself to.

- Ben Aaronovitch:  The Masquerades of Spring

- Amy Bloom: In Love 

- Benedict Jacka: An Instruction in Shadow 

- Grant Snider: The Art of Living

- Emily Tesh: Some Desperate Glory 

I can’t wait to dive into these! Have you read any of them? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 
Which one should I start with?

Happy reading!
Helena

Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons

Hi everyone

I just finished The Tomb of Dragons, the third and (sadly) final book in The Cemeteries of Amalo series by Katherine Addison. Like the other books in the series, this one has a gorgeous cover that immediately draws you in. This is actually the third book in the series but it's also the fourth book in the larger, overarching series, namely The Chronicles of Osreth. 
I got my copy from Bol.

"Thara Celehar has lost his ability to speak with the dead. When that title of Witness for the Dead is gone, what defines him?
While his title may be gone, his duties are not. Celehar contends with a municipal cemetery with fifty years of secrets, the damage of a revethavar he’s terrified to remember, and a group of miners who are more than willing to trade Celehar’s life for a chance at what they feel they’re owed.
Celehar does not have to face these impossible tasks alone. Joining him are his mentee Velhiro Tomasaran, still finding her footing with the investigative nature of their job; Iäna Pel-Thenhior, his beloved opera director friend and avid supporter; and the valiant guard captain Hanu Olgarezh.
Amidst the backdrop of a murder and a brewing political uprising, Celehar must seek justice for those who cannot find it themselves under a tense political system. The repercussions of his quest are never as simple they seem, and Celehar’s own life and happiness hang in the balance." 

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes this series so comforting to read. The maincharacter, Thara Celehar, isn’t exactly exciting, (he’s actually rather boring) but in the best possible way. He’s honest, always striving to be the best person he can be and to do the best he can. I find him incredibly likable because I can relate to him so much: his introverted nature, his love for reading, tea, and long walks, his insomnia, and his small circle of close friends. His friends, too, are such lovely, warm people that you can’t help but adore them.
The names of places and people are challenging to remember and keep apart because they are so different from ours. But Addison's worldbuilding is amazing, the people feel real, the "magic" is fascinating, and the plot, while simple, is also effective and engrossing. The entire setting is so unique and different from anything else I’ve read.
The story itself is heartwarming in the best way. It’s about learning to rely on others, discovering the value of friendship, opening your heart to love again, and questioning yourself. It’s charming, heartwarming, sad, bittersweet, lovely, and moving; all at the same time. 

The Tomb of Dragons is the last book in The Cemeteries of Amalo series but I truly hope and wish for other books in this world of The Chronicles of Osreth. There’s so much more to explore, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet.
Have you read The Tomb of Dragons or any of the other books in this series? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Vernor Vinge: A Fire Upon the Deep

Hi everyone

I recently picked up A Fire Upon the Deep, the first book in the Zones of Thought series by Vernor Vinge after seeing it pop up on someone’s Goodreads shelf. The premise sounded fascinating, so I decided to give it a try.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Thousands of years in the future, humanity is no longer alone in a universe where a mind's potential is determined by its location in space, from superintelligent entities in the Transcend, to the limited minds of the Unthinking Depths, where only simple creatures, and technology, can function. Nobody knows what strange force partitioned space into these "regions of thought," but when the warring Straumli realm use an ancient Transcendent artifact as a weapon, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence.
Fleeing this galactic threat, Ravna crash lands on a strange world with a ship-hold full of cryogenically frozen children, the only survivors from a destroyed space-lab. They are taken captive by the Tines, an alien race with a harsh medieval culture, and used as pawns in a ruthless power struggle."

This book was… strange.

On one hand, parts of it felt like I was reading a children’s book. The writing and dialogue, in particular, came across as overly simplistic and childish, it really didn’t fit the story. On the other hand, I struggled to fully grasp the scientific concepts because some ideas were barely explained or left very vague. I loved the concept of the Zones of Thought; it’s such an interesting idea, but it wasn’t written in a way that made me feel connected to the story or characters. Instead, it left me wondering how life might be if this were real, without ever making it feel relevant to the plot.

The book was way too long for the story it told. There were multiple chapters where essentially nothing happened that hadn’t already been covered. There was no real character development, and the world-building felt almost nonexistent. Endless conversations about nothing, or the same topics repeated over and over, made it feel tedious and boring.

It has also aged really poorly. The futuristic elements are now dated and, at times, almost laughable.

By the time I closed the book on my e-reader, I’d already forgotten most of it. I had to push myself to keep reading because my mind kept wandering, and I even switched to other books just to stay engaged. The premise is interesting, but unfortunately, that’s about all it has going for it.

So yes, another award-winning novel that I didn’t love or even truly like. Sad, but true.

Have you read A Fire Upon the Deep? Did it work better for you than it did for me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Glen Cook: The Black Company

Hi everyone

For years I've been meaning to read something by Glen Cook. His books were never available in our local stores, and once I started shopping online, I somehow forgot about him; until a few months ago, when I saw a review of one of his books on Goodreads. That’s when I remembered! 
I decided to try his most popular series first: The Black Company is the first book in his The Chronicles of the Black Company.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.
Until the prophecy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her..." 

Unfortunately, The Black Company just wasn’t for me.
The biggest issue I had was that it lacked a central plot. Instead of a cohesive story, the book felt like a series of disconnected events; almost as if Glen Cook had a checklist of scenes he wanted to tick off. There were endless, boring card games and pointless conversations sandwiched between a few action scenes. It made the pacing feel slow and disjointed, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.
Another disappointment was the lack of character development and worldbuilding. The characters felt cliché and predictable, and while a few had interesting traits, most were forgettable. I never felt connected to anyone, and the world itself lacked depth. It was hard to care about what was happening when everything felt so shallow.
And then there were the flying carpets. Really? I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at that one.

Have you read The Black Company or any of Glen Cook’s other works? Did you enjoy it more than I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts; maybe I missed something! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Neil Gaiman: Coraline

Hi everyone

Believe it or not but this was my first time reading Neil Gaiman's Coraline; though I did see the movie when it first came out back in 2009. I remembered the story well, so the plot itself wasn’t a surprise. 
I read this on my e-reader.

"When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.
But there’s another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
Coraline will have to fight with all her wits and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life." 

Honestly, I don’t think I would have liked this book as a child; even though it’s written for kids. I was an anxious child, and this story would have probably scared me more than entertained me. As an adult, though, it was… fine. Nothing special, to be honest.

The book lacked atmosphere for me. It felt too straightforward, like a checklist of events: one thing happens, then another, then another. There wasn’t much depth or lingering tension. And some parts just left me confused or frustrated. What was the point of the old neighbor and his mice? They felt random and didn’t add much to the story.
How did the hand just… 'come' over? That part really didn't make sense to me.
What child gets to choose something else to eat if they don’t like dinner? That felt unrealistic, even for a fantasy story. Though maybe that's the adult in me. :)
Coraline’s character was inconsistent. Sometimes she sounded way too wise for a child, and other times she acted like a typical kid. The shifts in tone and maturity were jarring and made it hard to connect with her.

All in all, Coraline was another mediocre read from Neil Gaiman for me. I can see why some people love it but it just didn’t click with me, neither as a child’s story nor as an adult’s.

Have you read Coraline or seen the movie? Did you enjoy it more than I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts; maybe I missed something!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Tommy Orange: Wandering Stars

Hi everyone

Wandering Stars is Tommy Orange's second book. It's both a prequel and a sequel to his first book There There which I have read before restarting this blog.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion prison castle,where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who will go on to found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution dedicated to the eradication of Native history, culture, and identity. A generation later, Star’s son, Charles, is sent to the school, where he is brutalized by the man who was once his father’s jailer. Under Pratt’s harsh treatment, Charles clings to moments he shares with a young fellow student, Opal Viola, as the two envision a future away from the institutional violence that follows their bloodlines."

This book is difficult to review because the story itself is so powerful, harrowing, eye-opening and deeply human. The characters were real people with real struggles, good and bad choices made and with people around them and circumstances that influence and change them. 
I especially loved the generational aspect, seeing how one family’s trauma, pain, friendships, and choices influence the lives of their children. That depth made the story feel important and meaningful.

But the writing was so, so bad. Tommy Orange jumps from one scene to the next, his prose is almost childish and very rushed, not at all suited to this heavy story.
The characters all blended together because they sounded the same to me. Their voices weren’t distinct enough, which made it hard to connect with them individually.
Tommy Orange also switches from first to third person and back; and every time it changed I felt thrown out of the story. 
Finally, the book felt unfinished. It moves too quickly from one character to the next, never lingering long enough to let me truly understand or care about the characters' lives. I wanted more time with them, more depth, more exploration of both characters and events. Instead, the story felt too shallow, and the writing was weak enough to make the book ultimately forgettable; which is a shame, because the themes and history it covers are so important.

Wandering Stars had the potential to be extraordinary, but the execution fell short. I’m glad I read it but I can’t help but feel it could have been so much more.

Have you read Wandering Stars or There There? Did you connect with the characters more than I did, or did you also struggle with the writing? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

T. J. Klune: Under the Whispering Door

Hi everyone

I've been seeing and reading great things about T. J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door for months so I finally gave it a try.
I read this on my e-reader.

"When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.
And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.
But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days." 

As ever, I’ll be honest.
I didn’t love it. In fact, I didn’t really like it. It’s a combination of things that just didn’t work for me.

First and foremost, I disliked Wallace immensely. From the very first page, he felt like a caricature rather than a real person. He was written as a stereotype; the grumpy, work-obsessed man who suddenly becomes soft and sentimental and it never felt authentic. But Wallace wasn’t the only issue: every character in this book felt shallow. Sure, they all have backstories that get mentioned, but they’re just one-dimensional, black-and-white characters who don’t feel like real people. It’s as if they were written for a children’s book, where characters are either all bad or all good, with no nuance or depth to them.  
Secondly, the writing and pacing felt off. The characters mostly communicate in sighs, stares and Instagram platitudes. It's all Hallmark quotes meant to be put on a fridge or a toiletroomwall. It could be inspirational but it's just trite and boring. The novel was also painfully slow at times; dragging on with tedious details and then suddenly wham, two weeks have passed without warning. It made the story feel uneven and disjointed.
Thirdly; don't get me started on the romance. For the record, I do not care who you love, how you love or if you love someone at all or not. Love is love. But I do care about how love is portrayed in stories, and this romance felt completely fake from start to finish. There was no chemistry, no buildup, no real emotional connection; just a sudden, forced relationship that aggravated me to no end.
And then there’s the ending. Without giving anything away, it was too neat, too simplistic, and didn’t feel earned.

Under the Whispering Door wasn’t a long book, so I finished it; but I wouldn’t recommend it. It wasn’t absolutely terrible, but it wasn’t good either. If you’re curious, you can give it a try, but don’t feel like you have to finish it if it’s not working for you. And sometimes I should just heed my own advice and quit a book that doesn't work for me.
Have you read Under the Whispering Door? Did you connect with it more than I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts; maybe I’m missing something!

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: July 2025

Hi everyone

July was a fantastic reading month for me! We were on holiday for two weeks, which meant fewer chores and more time to relax; especially in the evenings. With two daughters (3 and 7) and plenty of fun activities during the day, finding quiet time to read can be a challenge, but I managed to sneak in some pages whenever the girls were playing together. And, of course, once they were in bed and everything was tidied up, it was my time to dive into a book and my husband's time for gaming or watching a series.

Here's what I read in July:

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Yuval Noah Harari: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

- Ilona Andrews: Magic Burns

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

- Christian White: The Nowhere Child

- Terry Pratchett: Carpe Jugulum 

- David Dalglish: A Dance of Mirrors 

- Marie Brennan: The Waking of Angantyr 

- Margaret Atwood: Surfacing 

How was your reading month? Did you find more time to read, or did life get in the way? Do you read more or less when you’re on holiday? I’d love to hear how you balance reading and relaxation!

Happy reading!
Helena