1Narilka
A new year, a new list - happy 2023! I'm (mostly) freshening up both my lists this year. Aiming for 12 read.
12/12
Primary
1. Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries by Kim M. Watt Read Feb 8
2. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake Read Dec 24
3. The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross Read Jan 20
4. Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson Read Aug 20
5. Terciel & Elinor by Garth Nix
6. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
7. Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo DNF Oct 2
8. Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell Read Aug 31
9. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Read Aug 13
10. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett Read Dec 31
11. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher Read Feb 20
12. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells Read Sept 9
Secondary
1. Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh
2. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
3. A Cat Named Darwin by William Jordan
4. Someone Like Me by MR Carey
5. Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
6. Thud! by Terry Pratchett
7. You Are the Placebo by Joe Dispenza
8. By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates Read Nov 22
9. Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
10. Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan Read Dec 22
11. Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines
12. My Life in a Cat House by Gwenn Cooper
A link to my full reading log: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347130
12/12
Primary
5. Terciel & Elinor by Garth Nix
6. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
Secondary
1. Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh
2. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
3. A Cat Named Darwin by William Jordan
4. Someone Like Me by MR Carey
5. Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
6. Thud! by Terry Pratchett
7. You Are the Placebo by Joe Dispenza
9. Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
11. Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines
12. My Life in a Cat House by Gwenn Cooper
A link to my full reading log: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347130
2Cecrow
Piranesi tempts me a bit, and I should read more Pratchett. Your Jim Butcher marathon continues!
4Narilka
>2 Cecrow: I'll get through the Dresden Files yet!
Yeah, I've been dragging my feet on finishing the Discworld since I know there will not be any new ones :(
Yeah, I've been dragging my feet on finishing the Discworld since I know there will not be any new ones :(
5riida
your list had me at Thunder Dog :D
i like pratchett too but a lot of times i find his writing dense (it strains my imagination too much ^.^) i liked his Nation...not a Discworld novel, easier reading, but still has his wit and humour...also very thought provoking!
i like pratchett too but a lot of times i find his writing dense (it strains my imagination too much ^.^) i liked his Nation...not a Discworld novel, easier reading, but still has his wit and humour...also very thought provoking!
6LittleTaiko
Not familiar with most of the titles/authors on your list so look forward to finding out what I've been missing.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
7Narilka
1. The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Bob Howard is a computer tech who works at a super-secret government agency, the Laundry. Bob is finally offered the opportunity to escape his boring desk job for a night by taking an active-duty op to retrieve some information and does an unfortunately good job - so good it gets him noticed by his superiors and put on full active duty. Now he's off to save the world one physics theorem at a time.
The Atrocity Archives is the first in The Laundry Files by Charles Stross. I'm having a hard time rating this. It took me almost 3/4 of the book to feel engaged. The concept is pretty cool - advanced mathematics can open portals to other dimensions where some not so nice things live and people do this accidentally. The execution though... so much technobabble info dumps! It eventually smooths out into a decent thriller by the end. I'm glad my book club encouraged me to push through.
My copy also contains a short story I plan to read before deciding if I'm continuing the series.
Rating:
Bob Howard is a computer tech who works at a super-secret government agency, the Laundry. Bob is finally offered the opportunity to escape his boring desk job for a night by taking an active-duty op to retrieve some information and does an unfortunately good job - so good it gets him noticed by his superiors and put on full active duty. Now he's off to save the world one physics theorem at a time.
The Atrocity Archives is the first in The Laundry Files by Charles Stross. I'm having a hard time rating this. It took me almost 3/4 of the book to feel engaged. The concept is pretty cool - advanced mathematics can open portals to other dimensions where some not so nice things live and people do this accidentally. The execution though... so much technobabble info dumps! It eventually smooths out into a decent thriller by the end. I'm glad my book club encouraged me to push through.
My copy also contains a short story I plan to read before deciding if I'm continuing the series.
Rating:
8Narilka
2. Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries by Kim M. Watt
Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries is the first in the Gobbelino London, PI series by Kim M. Watt. The story is told entirely from Gobbelino's point of view. Gobbelino is a cat detective who, as we learn as the story progresses, is attempting to keep a lower profile so he doesn't have any other run in's with this world's magical police, the Watch. Still, a cat's got to eat. Gobbelino along with his human, Callum, run a private investigative agency as a way to make ends meet. Cases have been sparse lately so when a mysterious woman wearing Doc Martens and too much perfume offers them a paying job, the detective duo really aren't in a position to turn the work away. The job: recover a stolen book from the woman's ex-husband.
I really enjoyed having the story told from the cat's perspective. I like how the author didn't make it easy for Gobs, being realistic about the difficulties his size and lack of thumbs provides. And the advantages a cat has too. The snarky humor was right up my alley as I found myself chuckling many times as I read. Gobbelino has a poor grasp of human idioms. Callum is a good partner for Gobs, being a genuinely nice guy and has the thumbs that a cat lacks. Callum has a history I hope we learn more of as the series progresses. They make a great duo.
I don't want to go into too much detail about the shenanigans that ensue shortly after our crack pair of investigators take the case so I'll keep it brief. The book features a snarky feline humor, a dubious client, a dentist, a feral book, pastel rats, reality bending buildings, a horribly pleasant old lady and a kraken in a sink. This book was right up my alley. I look forward to continuing the series.
Rating:
Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries is the first in the Gobbelino London, PI series by Kim M. Watt. The story is told entirely from Gobbelino's point of view. Gobbelino is a cat detective who, as we learn as the story progresses, is attempting to keep a lower profile so he doesn't have any other run in's with this world's magical police, the Watch. Still, a cat's got to eat. Gobbelino along with his human, Callum, run a private investigative agency as a way to make ends meet. Cases have been sparse lately so when a mysterious woman wearing Doc Martens and too much perfume offers them a paying job, the detective duo really aren't in a position to turn the work away. The job: recover a stolen book from the woman's ex-husband.
I really enjoyed having the story told from the cat's perspective. I like how the author didn't make it easy for Gobs, being realistic about the difficulties his size and lack of thumbs provides. And the advantages a cat has too. The snarky humor was right up my alley as I found myself chuckling many times as I read. Gobbelino has a poor grasp of human idioms. Callum is a good partner for Gobs, being a genuinely nice guy and has the thumbs that a cat lacks. Callum has a history I hope we learn more of as the series progresses. They make a great duo.
I don't want to go into too much detail about the shenanigans that ensue shortly after our crack pair of investigators take the case so I'll keep it brief. The book features a snarky feline humor, a dubious client, a dentist, a feral book, pastel rats, reality bending buildings, a horribly pleasant old lady and a kraken in a sink. This book was right up my alley. I look forward to continuing the series.
Rating:
9Cecrow
A cat detective, wow! I gotta run straight over to the cat lovers group and make sure they know about this, lol.
10LittleTaiko
>8 Narilka: - That sounds like fun! It remind me a bit of The Cat Who Saved Books - quirky cat fantasy book.
11riida
>8 Narilka: i love me some detective mysteries ^_^ and a cat detective!? this sounded like a lot of fun! i hope i can find me a copy.
12Narilka
>9 Cecrow: Great idea!
>10 LittleTaiko: I've not heard of that one. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
>11 riida: It's a lot of fun :) I hope you can obtain a copy too.
>10 LittleTaiko: I've not heard of that one. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
>11 riida: It's a lot of fun :) I hope you can obtain a copy too.
13Narilka
3. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
"Okay," Mort echoed, evidently speaking mostly to himself. "I mean, it's not like I'm trying to join the Council or anything. It's one hour. Just one little hour. What could happen in one hour?"
And that's how I knew that Mort was telling the truth when he said he wasn't a hero.
Heroes know better than to hand the universe lines like that.
Ghost Story is the thirteenth book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I think any sort of synopsis would be a big spoiler for this installment, especially for those going through the series the first time, so I'm going to skip it. Let's just say that the title is very accurate.
Harry's unique situation gives this installment a very different framing than we're used to seeing in the series so far. It's a lot more introspective and philosophical and includes many flash backs to Harry's past. It also shows us the impact Harry's had on Chicago's supernatural scene and with his friends which makeshis absence combined with the power vacuum left from the Red Court's demise profound. Yet, I can't believe I'm going to say this... I was bored a lot reading this one. How the heck can a Dresden novel be boring?? The story has an intriguing ending which helped though the book felt like a series reboot. Or the biggest transition novel of all time. I just wish it hadn't taken 500 pages to get interesting.
Rating:
"Okay," Mort echoed, evidently speaking mostly to himself. "I mean, it's not like I'm trying to join the Council or anything. It's one hour. Just one little hour. What could happen in one hour?"
And that's how I knew that Mort was telling the truth when he said he wasn't a hero.
Heroes know better than to hand the universe lines like that.
Ghost Story is the thirteenth book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I think any sort of synopsis would be a big spoiler for this installment, especially for those going through the series the first time, so I'm going to skip it. Let's just say that the title is very accurate.
Harry's unique situation gives this installment a very different framing than we're used to seeing in the series so far. It's a lot more introspective and philosophical and includes many flash backs to Harry's past. It also shows us the impact Harry's had on Chicago's supernatural scene and with his friends which makes
Rating:
14riida
>13 Narilka: nice review! i only just discovered the dresden files and have recently finished Storm Front and loved it! I hear fans rave about this series so much, but then same fans would also complain that some books are just meh. i'm looking forward to experiencing the highs and lows myself ^_^
15Narilka
>14 riida: You are in for a great ride :) I'm running behind on reviews... I'm reading Battle Ground right now and sad that I'll be caught up soon. Holy crap has it been a an emotional roller coaster of a story!
16Narilka
I am horribly behind on reviews this year and hoping to knock them out before year end. Life got busy with having to deal with the reality of an aging parent. For that matter I've done a terrible job of keeping up here with what I've completed. I've finished 9 so far with 10 and 11 in progress. I think I can hit my goal of 12 before year end :)
17Narilka
4. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi is a stand alone novella by Suzanna Clarke. I think this is one of those that is best to go into as blind as possible. I feel conflicted about this book. I liked the setting and found the mystery of Piranesi's situation compelling. I felt like the final reveal to be a bit of a let down and the whole thing a depressing and uncomfortable read which made me not want to pick the book up at times. I'm leaving it at 3 stars.
Rating:
Piranesi is a stand alone novella by Suzanna Clarke. I think this is one of those that is best to go into as blind as possible. I feel conflicted about this book. I liked the setting and found the mystery of Piranesi's situation compelling. I felt like the final reveal to be a bit of a let down and the whole thing a depressing and uncomfortable read which made me not want to pick the book up at times. I'm leaving it at 3 stars.
Rating:
18Narilka
5. Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson
As the title says, Thunder Dog is the story of a blind man and his guide dog surviving the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 by taking the stairs down from the 78th floor after the first plane hit. Michael and Roselle's tale is an amazing one. I just wish it had been given more page time. Each chapter starts with some of the story from 9/11 and then segues over to another aspect of Michael's life before eventually coming back to the title premise. It's not a bad memoir. I just had mismatched expectations for the book.
Rating:
As the title says, Thunder Dog is the story of a blind man and his guide dog surviving the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 by taking the stairs down from the 78th floor after the first plane hit. Michael and Roselle's tale is an amazing one. I just wish it had been given more page time. Each chapter starts with some of the story from 9/11 and then segues over to another aspect of Michael's life before eventually coming back to the title premise. It's not a bad memoir. I just had mismatched expectations for the book.
Rating:
19riida
wow, seems youre on target for your reading goal ^_^ go go go \o/
(I am so intimidated by Piranesi...but i feel like it calls to me :p )
(I am so intimidated by Piranesi...but i feel like it calls to me :p )
20Narilka
>19 riida: It's fairly highly rates so your experience will probably be different than mine.
21Narilka
6. Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell
Spellslinger is the first in the YA series of the same name by Sebastien de Castell. The story opens by introducing us to Kellen, a magic student, about to start his mage trials by facing his first mage's duel. There's only one problem: Kellen's magic has faded. In a society that values magical ability above all, this is problematic and Kellen finds himself looking for alternatives to get through these trials before he is declared Sha'Tep, one without magical ability, and cast out from society.
This makes for an interesting start to a series. Kellen is a nice kid, stuck in a bad position that he should never have been in, who does a decent job of relying on his wits to survive. Who doesn't enjoy a plucky underdog? He's eventually joined by Ferius, a wandering Argosi who tends to end up where world changing events are starting, and Reichis, a squirrel cat. Reichis is surprisingly funny in a furious way. Ferius is interesting. I'm curious what it really means to be an Argosi.
The setting is supposed to be in another part of the Greatcoats univerise, which is interesting, and yet seems vastly different than what was presented in that series. Too bad the society Kellen is part of, the Jin'Tep, is pretty awful. Their relationship with the Sha'Tep is equally horrible the more you learn about it. Hell, even Kellen's family, especially his sister, are fairly awful. It made me sympathetic to Kellen's plight and also a little to that of the Sha'Tep, though I don't think their actions can be excused either. Fair warning - there is harm to animals in this book so if you're sensitive to this you may want to steer clear.
In the end Kellen's story show promise of better things to come and I'll likely seek out the second book in the future.
Rating:
Spellslinger is the first in the YA series of the same name by Sebastien de Castell. The story opens by introducing us to Kellen, a magic student, about to start his mage trials by facing his first mage's duel. There's only one problem: Kellen's magic has faded. In a society that values magical ability above all, this is problematic and Kellen finds himself looking for alternatives to get through these trials before he is declared Sha'Tep, one without magical ability, and cast out from society.
This makes for an interesting start to a series. Kellen is a nice kid, stuck in a bad position that he should never have been in, who does a decent job of relying on his wits to survive. Who doesn't enjoy a plucky underdog? He's eventually joined by Ferius, a wandering Argosi who tends to end up where world changing events are starting, and Reichis, a squirrel cat. Reichis is surprisingly funny in a furious way. Ferius is interesting. I'm curious what it really means to be an Argosi.
The setting is supposed to be in another part of the Greatcoats univerise, which is interesting, and yet seems vastly different than what was presented in that series. Too bad the society Kellen is part of, the Jin'Tep, is pretty awful. Their relationship with the Sha'Tep is equally horrible the more you learn about it. Hell, even Kellen's family, especially his sister, are fairly awful. It made me sympathetic to Kellen's plight and also a little to that of the Sha'Tep, though I don't think their actions can be excused either. Fair warning - there is harm to animals in this book so if you're sensitive to this you may want to steer clear.
In the end Kellen's story show promise of better things to come and I'll likely seek out the second book in the future.
Rating:
22Narilka
7. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Artifical Condition is a great follow up to All Systems Red. Our favorite Murderbot is being forced way out of its comfort zone as it has to attempt to pass for human while on it's mission.
This is a very interesting look into humanity. I enjoyed Murderbot's new friend ART (a research transport vessel) a lot and I absolutely loved Murderbot's reactions as it made friends. It both made me laugh and was heartwarming. I hope we get to see ART again in the future. I also enjoyed learning more about Murderbot's past. On to the third novella soon!
Rating:
Artifical Condition is a great follow up to All Systems Red. Our favorite Murderbot is being forced way out of its comfort zone as it has to attempt to pass for human while on it's mission.
This is a very interesting look into humanity. I enjoyed Murderbot's new friend ART (a research transport vessel) a lot and I absolutely loved Murderbot's reactions as it made friends. It both made me laugh and was heartwarming. I hope we get to see ART again in the future. I also enjoyed learning more about Murderbot's past. On to the third novella soon!
Rating:
25Narilka
>23 Cecrow: I'm going to catch up on these reviews just in time to finish #10 :D
>24 riida: Absolutely! I recommend.
>24 riida: Absolutely! I recommend.
26Narilka
8. Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
DNF @ 25%. I think needed to read this a lot closer to the first book as I just wasn't connecting with the story. Perhaps I'll try again in the future.
Rating: N/A
DNF @ 25%. I think needed to read this a lot closer to the first book as I just wasn't connecting with the story. Perhaps I'll try again in the future.
Rating: N/A
27Narilka
9. By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates
Lucy Richardson, realizing she needs a change from her life in Boston, contacts her Aunt Ellen and moves to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to become the assistant librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Only a week into her new life, the chairman of the library board is murdered in the rare books section of the library. Then a first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen. Lucy is determined to solve the mystery before the wrong person goes to jail for both crimes.
By Book or By Crook is the first in the cozy Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. I needed a lighter read and this cozy mystery hit the spot. I enjoyed getting to know the library staff, some of the island locals and liked most of the characters. There's even a library cat! Lucy isn't the greatest sleuth as most of her time is spent over hearing other peoples conversations. This doesn't hurt her likability in the slightest and leaves room Lucy's character to grow. She sort of gets the hang of things in time for the finale.
What dropped my star rating was the odd editing job of this book. For example, in back to back paragraphs our lead "kicks off her shoes" to settle down to read. The other editing errors were less glaring though they added up. Hopefully this will be smoothed out in the second book as I think I'd like to continue the series.
Rating:
Lucy Richardson, realizing she needs a change from her life in Boston, contacts her Aunt Ellen and moves to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to become the assistant librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Only a week into her new life, the chairman of the library board is murdered in the rare books section of the library. Then a first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen. Lucy is determined to solve the mystery before the wrong person goes to jail for both crimes.
By Book or By Crook is the first in the cozy Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. I needed a lighter read and this cozy mystery hit the spot. I enjoyed getting to know the library staff, some of the island locals and liked most of the characters. There's even a library cat! Lucy isn't the greatest sleuth as most of her time is spent over hearing other peoples conversations. This doesn't hurt her likability in the slightest and leaves room Lucy's character to grow. She sort of gets the hang of things in time for the finale.
What dropped my star rating was the odd editing job of this book. For example, in back to back paragraphs our lead "kicks off her shoes" to settle down to read. The other editing errors were less glaring though they added up. Hopefully this will be smoothed out in the second book as I think I'd like to continue the series.
Rating:
28riida
oooh, i love me some cozy murder too, and i love discovering new series like Eva Gates' ^_^ something to watch out for for me.
i wanna get back to leigh bardugo's books too, i have a lot of her works in my backlog! but i think i may have waited too long as well since i last read her and i may have outgrown her already...but im not giving up hope yet
i wanna get back to leigh bardugo's books too, i have a lot of her works in my backlog! but i think i may have waited too long as well since i last read her and i may have outgrown her already...but im not giving up hope yet
29Narilka
I did indeed meet my goal! Finished up Entangled Life, Uncanny Collateral and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents. Reviews will be coming tomorrow. Time to make my 2024 list :D
31Narilka
10. Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan
Alek Fitz is a reaper who collects on overdue debts and extracts payment for a variety of employers, from the Lords of Hell to even completing a jobs for the Tooth Fairy. Death hires Alex to solve the problem of tracking down stolen property. Consequences for not completing this job are high and the clock on the is ticking.
Uncanny Collateral is the first in the Valkyrie Collections by Brian McClellan. It is a series of novellas currently. With so few pages there is just enough world building to get a sense of our characters and setting to kick off the fast paced plot. I like the world that we're introduced to. The main character, Alek, is an anti-hero of sorts and his partner Maggie is a trapped djinni. They have a great working relationship as they balance each other out well. The story is wrapped up nicely and there's a good hook for the second book.
Rating:
Alek Fitz is a reaper who collects on overdue debts and extracts payment for a variety of employers, from the Lords of Hell to even completing a jobs for the Tooth Fairy. Death hires Alex to solve the problem of tracking down stolen property. Consequences for not completing this job are high and the clock on the is ticking.
Uncanny Collateral is the first in the Valkyrie Collections by Brian McClellan. It is a series of novellas currently. With so few pages there is just enough world building to get a sense of our characters and setting to kick off the fast paced plot. I like the world that we're introduced to. The main character, Alek, is an anti-hero of sorts and his partner Maggie is a trapped djinni. They have a great working relationship as they balance each other out well. The story is wrapped up nicely and there's a good hook for the second book.
Rating:
32Narilka
11. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Entangled Life is author Merlin Sheldrake's ode to fungi. Sheldrake's passion for all things fungus is reflected on every page. I can understand why as is turns out to be a fascinating subject. Fungal life is highly complex and touches almost every aspect of our lives whether we know it or not. From growing building materials to creating pharmaceuticals to cleaning up the environment to some species being tasty food and everything in between. I'm glad I read the book.
The most interesting part for me was the environmental aspect. There are species of fungi that will eat/decompose almost everything including used diapers, cigarette butts, plastics, nuclear waste, neurotoxins and even glyphosate. The possibility to naturally clean up toxic spills and other waste utilizing fungus seem endless. I hope this area is given more study and serious consideration as it could change the planet.
Rating:
Entangled Life is author Merlin Sheldrake's ode to fungi. Sheldrake's passion for all things fungus is reflected on every page. I can understand why as is turns out to be a fascinating subject. Fungal life is highly complex and touches almost every aspect of our lives whether we know it or not. From growing building materials to creating pharmaceuticals to cleaning up the environment to some species being tasty food and everything in between. I'm glad I read the book.
The most interesting part for me was the environmental aspect. There are species of fungi that will eat/decompose almost everything including used diapers, cigarette butts, plastics, nuclear waste, neurotoxins and even glyphosate. The possibility to naturally clean up toxic spills and other waste utilizing fungus seem endless. I hope this area is given more study and serious consideration as it could change the planet.
Rating:
33Narilka
12. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents is a Discworld retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is the 28th book in the series, the first aimed at a YA audience, and can easily be read as stand alone.
As the story starts we are immediately introduced to Maurice (a talking tom cat), a group of talking rats (who have taken names from canned goods), and a stupid looking kid (named Keith, not that they've ever asked) traveling by coach to the town of Bad Blintz. Maurice is planning how to scam the town by using the old rat piper routine by first staging a rat invasion and then offering the solution as the kid poses as a piper to lead the rats away for a small fee. This isn't sitting well with the rats as it seems immoral and everyone agrees it will be the last time they perform this stunt. As the group moves into town to get started, they discover all is not as it seems and things turn deadly as Maurice and the Clan uncover the town's dark secret.
Terry Pratchett is a master at working deeper themes into what seems like it would be a simple story. It's also pretty dark for one aimed at kids, showing how nasty humanity can be at times. I enjoyed all of the characters immensely and found the names the rats had chosen for themselves (such as Dangerous Beans and Hamnpork) to be fun and quirky. Even Malicia grew on me with her "Sisters Grim" view of the world and thinking of everything as a story. It's a pretty profound insight into the human. She makes a good point: "If you don't turn your life into a story, you just become a part of someone else's story."
Rating:
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents is a Discworld retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is the 28th book in the series, the first aimed at a YA audience, and can easily be read as stand alone.
As the story starts we are immediately introduced to Maurice (a talking tom cat), a group of talking rats (who have taken names from canned goods), and a stupid looking kid (named Keith, not that they've ever asked) traveling by coach to the town of Bad Blintz. Maurice is planning how to scam the town by using the old rat piper routine by first staging a rat invasion and then offering the solution as the kid poses as a piper to lead the rats away for a small fee. This isn't sitting well with the rats as it seems immoral and everyone agrees it will be the last time they perform this stunt. As the group moves into town to get started, they discover all is not as it seems and things turn deadly as Maurice and the Clan uncover the town's dark secret.
Terry Pratchett is a master at working deeper themes into what seems like it would be a simple story. It's also pretty dark for one aimed at kids, showing how nasty humanity can be at times. I enjoyed all of the characters immensely and found the names the rats had chosen for themselves (such as Dangerous Beans and Hamnpork) to be fun and quirky. Even Malicia grew on me with her "Sisters Grim" view of the world and thinking of everything as a story. It's a pretty profound insight into the human. She makes a good point: "If you don't turn your life into a story, you just become a part of someone else's story."
Rating:
