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4 novellas. I think I've read Every Heart before, but it's still the best of the bunch. Oddly placed though as a novella it's slightly too adult for the normal YA market, but all the protagonists are old teeangers and feels young for the urban fantasy audience. There's also a disconcerting jump in narrative voice which is the only blot on this otherwise wonderfully spooky reverse portal fantasy. The children have been through their portals, come back, and now can't make sense of 'our' world. show more Fortunately there's a school to help.

The worst by far was Sorceror of the Wildeep (good name though) which was just a weird blend of purple prose, and afro-bro speak that didn't mesh together. Slightly achronastic occasional flash-backs weren't clearly indicated and led to further confusion. A caravan braves a wilderness protected by guards imbued by ancient techno-now-magics.

The Tempest extrapolation was fun, but just not my sort of thing, Whearas SIsters of the Vast Black was very well worked. There's something clever about nuns-in-space that (Much like GRRM's Knight of Cross and Dragon) appeals, despite my own lack of religion, it made far more sense than the usual assumptions that everything would carry on unchanged. Slightly let down by an obvious and un-believable antagonist.

All the four were gathered together because of the diverse sexuality of the characters, in none of the stories does this actually play any significant role, which probably makes all of them better for it, as it allows the characters to shine for who they are in their own rights. show less

I haven't read the whole book, just the Tamsyn Muir short story set in the Locked Tomb universe. Loved her necromantic spin on a locked room mystery. Sextus and Camilla are a great pair. I'd love to read more stories about them, even if it makes me sad.

Literatae?

I think it's just that anyway. The stories are well enough written I think. They are just,... Weird tangles to me. On the other paw, being an Aspie, it could be that much of the symbolism or human condition stuff is beyond me.

So far only read:

-- Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (pub April 2020)
https://www.librarything.com/work/24502750/book/192560197


I listened to the cast of wonders episode narrated by Diane Severson Mori she did a nice job.

I do love to check out everything by this author but can't say I cared for the story too much. It's a cozy story. The "librarian" is slowing coming to some realizations about her patron through the gifts/correspondence they leave when taking books. We are questioning show more along with her and by the end we get to infer some stuff about who they are.

~ The Ones Who Look" by Katharine Duckett (pub July 2020)
https://www.librarything.com/work/25108692


DNF - it wasn't bad. I quit because I was a little confused/bored/getting creeped out and I read enough reviews to give me a good sense of the story. I'm not keen on finishing it. (keen - my gawd I'm old)

I didn't really like the morality police aspect of it. Maybe that's not the big picture of the story but watching (reading) someone, who has been given authority to judge others is painful to me. Who gave her the right to pass judgement? A corperation did. She decides if you are good enough to get into "heaven". Not touching on the SF aspect due to spoilers.

~ Hearts in the Hard Ground by G. V. Anderson (Gemma) (Sept 2020) - 3.5*
https://www.librarything.com/work/25399343/book/192560219


That cover! Audrey Benjaminsen

I enjoyed reading the story. Most of it checked all my boxes but it was a bit over my head with the author expecting the reader to work some stuff out, or not.

A grieving woman moves into an old house and encounters a few ghosts from some past lives that lived there. Our MC has some leftover guilt from caring for her elderly mother that she needs to work through. The ghosts I suppose help with her recovery. Help her see things from other perspectives.

I'd read more of this story. show less