ALL SYSTEMS RED BY MARTHA WELLS
A re-read so I can catch up with the series. The story, writing, and world building are all still enjoyable, and Murderbot remains adorably, yet suspiciously, relatable. ★★★★☆
MOONSTONE: THE BOY WHO NEVER WAS BY SJÓN
I didn’t care for this at all. Not the kind of writing style I enjoy, and I prefer a narrative that is less slippery and has more substance. Also, I just didn’t find it very interesting, but it gets bonus points for being extremely short. ★★☆☆☆
THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR BY AMAL EL-MOHTAR & MAX GLADSTONE
Another re-read. First read this in 2020, and absolutely loved it but found myself a little less enamoured upon rereading. Still extremely romantic, and full of beautiful prose, but apparently I’ve changed and simply found it less engaging this time. This is definitely a “me” problem, however, and I’d still recommend this to anyone who enjoys lovely words, yearning, and science fiction. ★★★☆☆
DAY 394
Digital gouache of Vi from Arcane.
DAY 393
A study of Silco from Arcane.
ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS BY ROB HART
An, at times, amusing thriller about an assassin who has decided to seek a different path. It was fine, but I didn’t care much for the plot, the characters, or the slightly too many fights described in tedious detail.
Ultimately, I don’t read thrillers often, they’re just not my thing. This one wasn’t layered enough to keep my attention, it felt a bit like eating popcorn, tasty but unsatisfying when what I really wanted was a nice chunk of dark chocolate. ★★★☆☆
DAY 392
A quick, for me (ca. 40 mins), sketch in digital contè. I’m still struggling with proportions, never mind likeness, and hair is definitely something I need to spend time studying this year, but overall I think this is a reasonable attempt.
ONYX STORM BY REBECCA YARROS
The latest instalment of the Empyrean was a bit of a letdown, I found it less fun than its predecessors. It’s shorter than Iron Flame, but so much has been crammed in it feels longer and slower, and drags on at times. Whole chapters could have been skipped without it affecting the rest of the plot much.
The main relationship’s on-again-off-again aspect feels ever more contrived, and it’s tiresome. The gallery of characters expands once again, but they are less well-drawn than before. I still enjoy the use of modern speech patterns, but the writing itself feels less fresh. I’d like a few new phrases, and I’d love to see fewer jaws tick.
The final chapters and the overuse of dragon ex machinas seriously curbed my urge to read more. I’ll probably read the sequel, but I doubt it will be on publication day. ★★★☆☆
CIRCE BY MADELINE MILLER
Another re-read. Following Circe’s account from beginning to bittersweet end, Miller’s reimagining tells the tale that might have, but never would or could have, been told by Homer.
While the prose is pleasing and lush, this retelling of a small part of the Odyssey offers a vastly different perspective than the original. An angle I like a lot, as I am an incorrigible pushover for redemptive reframing of historically (or mythologically) maligned women.
I first read this about six years ago, and though I’m unsure whether I enjoyed it quite as much the second time, it was still a lovely read. ★★★★☆
THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
I’ve enjoyed various works by Christie over the years, but this is not one of them. The characters are flat cardboard cutouts constantly gibbering at one another. The plot somehow manages to be both tedious and ludicrous, and the denouement beggars belief.
I cannot believe this was once considered a good mystery with a satisfactory ending. Only finishing this through sheer pig-headed doggedness I realise now I shouldn’t have bothered. Considering reading a Christie novel? Then I implore for the love of little kittens, please choose anything but this. ★☆☆☆☆
THE HUSBANDS BY HOLLY GRAMAZIO
Absolutely mesmerizing premise. One night Lauren stumbles, slightly drunk, back to her flat and finds a husband that she has no memory of waiting at home for her. The situation escalates quickly.
Interesting read, but unfortunately it’s not an SF&F book. I didn’t much care if there was an explanation to Lauren’s predicament, there isn’t. I did care about a strong finish, however. Sadly Gramazio doesn’t deliver one. In all fairness I can’t see a plethora of other ways it could have ended, but the one chosen was a little too… boring. ★★★☆☆
IRON FLAME BY REBECCA YARROS
Another re-read in preparation for Onyx Storm. The writing and characters are on a par with Fourth Wing, and the juxtaposition of modern speech in a fantasy setting still amuses me, but a lot of what I enjoyed about the first book is missing.
I’m not a fan of the push and pull of the main relationship, some plot points are telegraphed strongly enough to make Violet seem dim, the characters are a bit more foolish, and it veers towards the ponderous at times.
Overall, the worst thing about Iron Flame is simply that it’s less fun than Fourth Wing. ★★★☆☆
FOURTH WING BY REBECCA YARROS
A re-read in preparation for Onyx Storm, which is due to be published at the end of January, and I didn’t review upon finishing it the first time. Originally, I picked this up because I like fantasy and dragons, and was surprised at just how much I enjoyed it.
The writing is fine, the characters are well-drawn and easy to differentiate, the world building is good enough to please (albeit with a wobble or two), and it features a disabled protagonist. Also, dragons!
It’s not Great Literature, but it was a fun read that had me racing through it. A re-read has also been surprisingly rewarding due to the manner in which the plot is structured. ★★★★☆
UNIMPRESSED WITH IMAGE PLAYGROUND
I got access to Apple’s Image Playground today, and so far I’m not impressed. At this point it’s very much Not Good.
I played with it for a few minutes first trying to generate some cute pictures via various prompts, and then trying to generate an avatar using a couple of selfies.
The pictures were ugly. Like offputtingly so. When I ask for cute chubby dinosaurs I actually want CUTE and not monstrosities with too many nostrils or so disturbingly thin as to border on the skeletal.
The avatars were no better. In the animation style they came out super bland, and too smooth. I’m not 17, I’m old, and I don’t want a representation to obscure that fact. I kept asking for age or more wrinkles in a futile attempt to force an older picture but gave up after a while. I find the illustration style too fucking ugly to even bother with, so I didn’t.
Right now, if forced to use either an Image Playground or a Memoji as an avatar, I’ll choose a memoji every time. They look better, are more expressive and actually look a bit like me.
Happily I don’t live in imaginary forced Apple avatar land and can continue being an annoyed little beholder eyebeastie instead.
CHARACTER LIMIT BY KATE CONGER & RYAN MAC
Fascinating account of the Twitter debacle a couple of years ago. Learning more about what actually went on behind the scenes was equal parts illuminating and enraging. Definitely worth a read! ★★★☆☆
SIXTEEN WAYS TO DEFEND A WALLED CITY BY K.J. PARKER
Enjoyable fantasy novel about Orhan the engineer who happens to find himself in a city under siege. Unfortunately for him, it somehow falls to him to figure out how to defend it.
Amusing, interesting, and quite educational for anyone interested in siege warfare! I liked it. ★★★★☆
GIGA TOWN: THE GUIDE TO MANGA ICONOGRAPHY BY FUMIYO KOUNO
Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for providing a DARC.
Brilliantly useful book! I don’t read a lot of manga, but I do watch anime on occasion and sometimes wonder how much I’m missing because I don’t understand the symbolic language of the genre. Though short, this book opened my eyes to subtext I’ve been missing.
Much is self-explanatory to my western eyes, an iconography I’ve been trained to understand via comics and cartoons, but a lot is completely new and will reveal hidden meanings, and deepen my understanding when I see them in the wild. Great book! ★★★★★
