User Profile

Stephen

tinheadned@ramblingreaders.org

Joined 2 years, 1 month ago

I read when I can't sleep, so yes there's a lot of books here. Nearly all SF.

he/him

This link opens in a pop-up window

2025 Reading Goal

15% complete! Stephen has read 7 of 45 books.

Ben Macintyre: Double Cross 3 stars

Found this one the hardest of the Macintyre books

3 stars

I've put off reviewing this as I can't really give a good reason, but I didn't like this book as much. I think it doesn't help is there's a lot of gaps in the story, and the story itself is two sides guessing about the other, and the UK guessing what its agents are doing while they're guessing what the others are doing, and then the author guessing about the gaps in the record. Lots of guessing.

And it's just a bit less cheerful, didn't end super well for the spies.

John Scalzi: Fuzzy Nation (Fuzzy Sapiens #7) (2011) 4 stars

Jack Holloway works alone, for reasons he doesn't care to talk about. Hundreds of miles …

Felt slightly unfinished

3 stars

This is based on someone else's short story, about which I know nothing. Maybe this is better with more context? Anyway, on its own merits, it's a reasonable story. Funny, some obvious twists. Unlike Starter Villain, the protagonist feels more consistent in character. The end just starts to feel a little patchy or thin or something. Can't quite explain it.

reviewed Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes, #0)

Travis Baldree: Bookshops & Bonedust (EBook, 2023, Tor Books) 5 stars

Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.

Wounded during …

Almost as good as the first one

5 stars

I found this one less cozy than the first book. I think there's more explicit threat hanging over it. But still very enjoyable if bittersweet throughout. Goes well with cake.

T. Kingfisher, Kaylin Heath: The Seventh Bride (AudiobookFormat, 2015, Brilliance Audio) 4 stars

Great, but not for me

2 stars

I always feel bad for giving a rating a book by how I enjoyed it rather than its quality. But after suspecting I wouldn't like Kingfisher's teen horror books, I bought one in a sale. And I don't like it. But it's just as well written as her other books, just creepier and more dreamlike.

John Wiswell: Someone You Can Build a Nest In (2024, DAW) 5 stars

Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance—from the perspective of the monster—by Nebula Award-winning debut …

Novel enjoyable idea, monster's perspective

5 stars

This is a love story, but quite a messy one. I'm a bit sad the protagonist didn't get to eat more people! Also quite funny, despite touching on a number of quite sad themes.