If you liked any of the previous Witness for the Dead novels, this is highly recommended. It probably makes sense to read the series in order.
Reviews and Comments
computer scientist, mathematician, photographer, human. Debian Developer, Notmuch Maintainer, scuba diver
Much of my "reading" these days is actually audiobooks while walking.
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bremner@bookwyrm.social is also me. Trying a smaller instance to see if the delays are less maddening.
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David Bremner reviewed The Tomb of Dragons by Sarah Monette
Decent, but I think I'm not the target audience
4 stars
Disclaimer: It has a been almost half a century since I qualified as a "young reader". I found the book engaging, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it more reading it to a child of the appropriate age.
I'm more used to the "young adult" trope of the young protagonist who is wiser than their adult peers, even if they undergo some growth in the book. Here the main character is constantly being described in words like "petulant", and mostly comes off as a bit of a twit, even compared to their age group peers. Of course this provides some narrative tension of its own, since it isn't clear young Jin will cope with the responsibilities they suddenly acquire.
There is some gentle suspense, and themes of death or separation of parents and children. Parents might like to read ahead to decide if their small human is ready for …
Disclaimer: It has a been almost half a century since I qualified as a "young reader". I found the book engaging, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it more reading it to a child of the appropriate age.
I'm more used to the "young adult" trope of the young protagonist who is wiser than their adult peers, even if they undergo some growth in the book. Here the main character is constantly being described in words like "petulant", and mostly comes off as a bit of a twit, even compared to their age group peers. Of course this provides some narrative tension of its own, since it isn't clear young Jin will cope with the responsibilities they suddenly acquire.
There is some gentle suspense, and themes of death or separation of parents and children. Parents might like to read ahead to decide if their small human is ready for that.
The world building is interesting, although some of the English terminology seems a bit clunky. "Sacred Sphere" in particular I found a bit inadequate for the central artifact of the story. Characterization is not as strong as the world building and plotting, with most characters being relatively uncomplicated.
David Bremner wants to read Salvagia by Tim Chawaga
David Bremner wants to read Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon (Standard Edition) by Grace Lin
David Bremner reviewed Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
David Bremner started reading Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
David Bremner reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells
Another Murderbot adventure
4 stars
For the first half of the book I was a bit confused, perhaps because it is really a sequel/continuation of Network Effect (and it's been a while since I read that). In the end I did enjoy it, particularly the middle part, where Murderbot does something completely unmurdery to save the day.
David Bremner wants to read Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
David Bremner wants to read The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
David Bremner wants to read A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
David Bremner wants to read Apple in China by Patrick McGee
David Bremner commented on All Is Fair by Emma Newman
I recently listened to the first 3 books in this series back to back, and they certainly held my interest. On the other hand readers expecting things to be wrapped up after 3 books will be disappointed. Similarly, the first three books read more or less like one extended book.