November 2020

Book Review: Defending the Galaxy by Maria V. Snyder

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Defending the Galaxy (Sentinels of the Galaxy #3)
Paperback, 477 pages
Published December 2nd 2020 by HQ Young Adult – AU

I’m a bit behind with sharing this review as I was confused about the release date and have been having a hard time reading physical and ebooks, but I am so happy that I was able to put in the effort and finish this one yesterday.

This was such a fantastic end to a marvelous trilogy. I will say that this series reads more like a fantasy science fiction that a hard science fiction story, which I love as fantasy is more my thing. I also enjoyed how the relationships between the characters were developed. Especially between Ara and her parents. Teenagers and their parents have a dicey relationship even when not saving the galaxy, and I think the author did a great job incorporating both throughout this story.

I want to say so much, but yet the SPOILERS! Now that the entire series is out, you really have no excuse not to pick up book one and get it started. (2020 is an acceptable excuse.) So go check it out!

And big thanks to the author for providing the earc in exchange for an honest review!

Summary:

Year 2522. Oh. My. Stars.

Junior Officer Ara Lawrence here, reporting for duty. Again. It’s situation critical for the security team and everyone in the base – including my parents – with a new attack from the looters imminent, a possible galaxy-wide crime conspiracy and an unstoppable alien threat. But this all pales in the face of my mind-blowing discovery about the Q-net. Of course, no one believes me. I’m not sure I believe me. It could just be a stress-induced delusion. That’s what my parents seem to believe…

Their concern for me is hampering my ability to do my job. I know they love me, but with the Q-net in my corner, I’m the only one who can help the security team beat the shadowy aliens from the pits we discovered. We’re holding them at bay, for now, but the entire Milky Way Galaxy is in danger of being overrun.

With battles on too many fronts, it’s looking dire. But one thing I’ve learned is when people I love are in jeopardy, I’ll never give up trying to save them. Not until my dying breath. Which could very well be today…

Audiobook Review: The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill

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The Bright and Breaking Sea
Paperback, 368 pages
Published November 17th 2020 by Berkley Books

I had the pleasure of listening to an audiobook version of this new release via NetGalley once the publisher granted my request. This was my first time getting an audio through NG and listening through their app, and I was impressed. It worked just like any of my other audio apps with the ability to change the listening speed (very important for me) and the volume level was as expected as well! I hope I will have the opportunity to listen to more audiobooks through NG.

As for the narrator, Danielle Cohen, she did a great job! Sometimes a narrator can really take me out of the story, but I enjoyed Danielle’s work very much and will have to see if there’s anything done by her that I can add to my audio TBR.

Down to the story. I liked this book a lot. It had great pacing and a variety of interesting characters. The nautical terminology is worked in quite well and wasn’t overused or underexplained. I was a little worried that the war aspect would creep in as the main climax, which I do not usually enjoy, but it did not. The war clearly influenced the story and characters as well as providing the catalyst, but I didn’t feel like it was the focus. The focus was on the characters trying to prevent a major catastrophe from occurring.

I definitely enjoyed this, but I didn’t love it. And I think the reasons why are particular to me. I didn’t like the romance. It seemed obvious from the beginning, and I don’t know how they will be reasonably able to resolve it in this world. Also, the magic was integral and explored but didn’t do much. This feeling is a bit harder to explain as I’m still not quite sure why it bothered me. Perhaps because it felt more like magical realism in a historical setting? Not sure. The last thing is that the ending felt almost anti-climatic. Again, hard for me to explain but it was obvious this was setting up a series, which I normally love. Maybe it’s just 2020 clouding my enjoyment. It has certainly affected my ability to focus on reading, which is normally part of my self-care.

Looking forward to seeing what else the author has in store for our crew in future installments of this series!

Summary:

Chloe Neill brings her trademark wit and wild sense of adventure to a stunning seafaring fantasy starring a dauntless heroine in a world of magic and treachery.

Kit Brightling, rescued as a foundling and raised in a home for talented girls, has worked hard to rise through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command and become one of the few female captains in Queen Charlotte’s fleet. Her ship is small, but she’s fast- in part because of Kit’s magical affinity to the sea. But the waters become perilous when the queen sends Kit on a special mission with a partner she never asked for.

Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, may be a veteran of the Continental war, but Kit doesn’t know him or his motives- and she’s dealt with one too many members of the Beau Monde. But Kit has her orders, and the queen has commanded they journey to a dangerous pirate quay and rescue a spy who’s been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia.

Kit can lead her ship and clever crew on her own, but with the fate of queen and country at stake, Kit and Rian must learn to trust each other, or else the Isles will fall. . .


November Book Haul

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Back when we were all ordered to stay at home, Penguin Random House held a Virtual Con and offered many fine prizes. I happened to win one of the ten grand prizes with the stipulation that it would be at least six weeks before anything could be sent. Well, those six weeks came and went and I hadn’t heard anything. And then I did. An email that broke my heart as they announced the cancellation of all awarded prizes. I was devastated but understood that safety and health was more important. Long story shortened, eventually they changed their mind and decided to send alternative prizes in place of the ones they could not send. I am happy and grateful that they were so generous. I’m quite excited to read these top ones the most!

These books were also part of the grand prize replacement I received from Penguin RandomHouse. I hope to read these as well some day. But after the others.

I’m excited to read these newly acquired books. Hopefully very soon!

I ventured into my local used bookstore and found the acclaimed The Fifth Season and Obsidian Son. I’ve heard good things about both! And I pre-ordered Unlocked when I discovered that the author created the peacock artwork foiling under the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition. It’s glorious in person and makes me want to catch up on the series. I must make time to do so soon!

Book Review: Fantastic Tales of Nothing by Alejandra Green

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Fantastic Tales of Nothing
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: November 17th 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books

This was a delightful graphic novel full of tension and diversity and gorgeous color! The author did an excellent job balancing world building and plot movement while also developing character relationships and giving us some backstory.

I did find it a bit weird that one of the minor characters appeared to break the fourth wall randomly. I enjoy stories that make use of this structure but the character isn’t introduced until around the half way point, I think, and it doesn’t match anything else in the narrative, so it was more confusing than anything.

I enjoyed how the main character, Nathan, reacts to Haven in both mannerism and using they/them pronouns once he gets used to the idea. The magic is explained in little bits here and there when the story requires and lends itself well to action sequences. Overall, a very enjoyable read that can be shared with younger readers who like a thicker graphic novel and older readers who enjoy great art and story.

Thanks to the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books for approving my Edelweiss request to read the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

In the first book of this full-color fantasy graphic novel series filled with humor and hijinks, the fate of the land of Nothing hinges on Nathan and an unlikely team of magical beings to save the day—perfect for fans of Amulet and Estranged.

Welcome to Nothing! Despite its name, this is a fantastic land where humans and magical volken coexist peacefully—at least they try . . .

This is the tale of Nathan, an ordinary human (or so he thinks) living an ordinary life (or so he wishes). Everything changes when he meets Haven, a mysterious creature who is neither human nor volken. Oh, and the two of them are being chased by volken mercenaries—a grumpy wolf named Bardou and a delightful crow named Sina.

Nathan soon learns he has mysterious powers, even though humans aren’t supposed to have magic. But there’s no time to dwell on that because this discovery sets the group on a perilous quest across windswept terrain, through haunted forests, and in ancient tombs. Nathan and his unlikely friends must prevent an impending war and defeat a dark evil to save their land.

No pressure, of course. If they fail, everything will turn into, well . . . nothing.

Book Review: Odessa by Jonathan Hill

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Odessa
Paperback, 328 pages
Expected publication: November 10th 2020 by Oni Press

I have mixed feelings about this story. This is clearly a volume one and is To Be Continued… but I also feel like I didn’t get enough clues/hints/payoffs on the mother, who instigated this whole adventure. I like the world building with the post-apocalypse California and hints at other things, which we didn’t learn much about in this book. The characters were also interesting even if the main trio felt flat and very black and white. I think it might have helped to see a bit more of them in daily life before they left home. To see the changes better. A lot happened and the pacing was good, but this volume is a little over 300 pages and it felt like we didn’t get very far plotwise.

As for the art. I think the art style worked well with the story and setting; however, the pink color really through me off. It is the only color used, and I think it would be more effective if a bit more orange in hue. To simulate the sky and sun after the apocalypse. But maybe the pink is in reference to something else entirely. I’m not sure.

I wouldn’t give this book to children to read. Teenagers would be fine and maybe even junior high age, but it gets dark as post-apocalypse fiction does and is a bit graphic in places with violence on page. Overall, not a bad read, but I don’t think I’m the right audience for this one.

A big thank you to Oni Press for letting my read this early on NetGalley!

Summary:

Three siblings search for their missing mother across a ruined America in this original graphic novel perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld and Neal Shusterman. 

Eight years ago an earthquake—the Big One—hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back.

Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she’s determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind.

What to Read: November 2020

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I did a terrible job with October releases, and I’m going to be honest with myself that November probably won’t be much better since I am now quite behind in my commitments. However, I am going to use this month to get caught up on some of those that I haven’t had the energy for. In between unpacking and NaNoWriMo work, of course!

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