Wednesday Reading Check-In
Jul. 25th, 2018 08:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
florianschildIt's been a long time since I've done one of these, but I've been picking up the pace on my reading lately so I figured I might have something to report now.
Transformation by Carol Berg
The story of a slave named Seyonne, who is bought to serve as the scribe for the prince of a powerful empire. The prince, Aleksander, is a total brat on the surface, but as Seyonne spends more time in his company we get to know him better and learn that, while he is still a brat, he's also brave, intelligent and willing to be better. And then there are demon possessions.
I really, really adored this book. It was a really tight, well-developed sword-and-sorcery with a creative plot and just the right amount of world-building. And of course there is lots of angsty pain to be had along the way, which tends to bump my rating up a few stars. Seyonne was such a delightful narrator. My favorite characters are always the stoic, principled, hyper-competent, suffering-in-silence type and of course that is Seyonne to a T.
Magic or Die by J.P. Jackson
James is a teacher at a school and/or prison to train magically gifted students and/or prisoners who are *definitely adults* because James keeps having sex with them (well, at least two of them). James isn't happy about being there though, since he knows that the entire system is exploitative and cruel. If the students cannot get control of their gifts withina year six months two weeks (the deadline kept getting changed for ...reasons?) then the students will be killed to preserve the safety of the general population.
Oh god, I really suffered through this one. I forced myself to finish it because I wanted to be able to write a review. It was... not to my taste, to put it kindly.
Unfit to Print by K.J. Charles
A short novel about two men in Victorian London. Gil is a seller of disreputable (erotic) books, a profession with is not just frowned upon but illegal. Vikram is an upstanding, Oxford-educated lawyer. Vikram and Gil were childhood friends and lovers, until they lost track of each other. The novel begins with Vikram being asked to look into the case of a missing boy and in the course of his investigation running into Gil. They rekindle their romance and start working together to solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed this. It was 30% tragic backstories, 30% discussion of the legality of pornography in the late 18th century, 30% relationship negotiation, and 10% solving the mystery of a missing kid. Which I was totally cool with, honestly. Even though the story dealt with serious issues, namely racism, it was still a light-hearted and (spoiler-alert) happily-ended tale.
Revelation by Carol Berg
The second of three in the Rai-Kirah trilogy. I'm almost halfway through this one, and while I'm not as into it as I was with Transformation it's still very good.
Woodwalker by Emily B. Martin
This one is a YA novel, and I picked it up because I follow the author on tumblr. She does *amazing* Queen's Thief fanart and her writing is very good as well!
Half Bad by Sally Green
I'm listening to this on audio, and it's absolutely amazing. The narrator is so good, and I love the story! Unfortunately I can only get the second book in print at the library, but I'll definitely be continuing the series.
Restoration by Carol Berg
Half Wild by Sally Green
If I manage to finish all of that, I might try to finish the audiobook for Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. I started it last summer and got majorly sidetracked.
Just Finished
Transformation by Carol Berg
The story of a slave named Seyonne, who is bought to serve as the scribe for the prince of a powerful empire. The prince, Aleksander, is a total brat on the surface, but as Seyonne spends more time in his company we get to know him better and learn that, while he is still a brat, he's also brave, intelligent and willing to be better. And then there are demon possessions.
I really, really adored this book. It was a really tight, well-developed sword-and-sorcery with a creative plot and just the right amount of world-building. And of course there is lots of angsty pain to be had along the way, which tends to bump my rating up a few stars. Seyonne was such a delightful narrator. My favorite characters are always the stoic, principled, hyper-competent, suffering-in-silence type and of course that is Seyonne to a T.
Magic or Die by J.P. Jackson
James is a teacher at a school and/or prison to train magically gifted students and/or prisoners who are *definitely adults* because James keeps having sex with them (well, at least two of them). James isn't happy about being there though, since he knows that the entire system is exploitative and cruel. If the students cannot get control of their gifts within
Oh god, I really suffered through this one. I forced myself to finish it because I wanted to be able to write a review. It was... not to my taste, to put it kindly.
Unfit to Print by K.J. Charles
A short novel about two men in Victorian London. Gil is a seller of disreputable (erotic) books, a profession with is not just frowned upon but illegal. Vikram is an upstanding, Oxford-educated lawyer. Vikram and Gil were childhood friends and lovers, until they lost track of each other. The novel begins with Vikram being asked to look into the case of a missing boy and in the course of his investigation running into Gil. They rekindle their romance and start working together to solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed this. It was 30% tragic backstories, 30% discussion of the legality of pornography in the late 18th century, 30% relationship negotiation, and 10% solving the mystery of a missing kid. Which I was totally cool with, honestly. Even though the story dealt with serious issues, namely racism, it was still a light-hearted and (spoiler-alert) happily-ended tale.
Currently Reading
Revelation by Carol Berg
The second of three in the Rai-Kirah trilogy. I'm almost halfway through this one, and while I'm not as into it as I was with Transformation it's still very good.
Woodwalker by Emily B. Martin
This one is a YA novel, and I picked it up because I follow the author on tumblr. She does *amazing* Queen's Thief fanart and her writing is very good as well!
Half Bad by Sally Green
I'm listening to this on audio, and it's absolutely amazing. The narrator is so good, and I love the story! Unfortunately I can only get the second book in print at the library, but I'll definitely be continuing the series.
Up Next
Restoration by Carol Berg
Half Wild by Sally Green
If I manage to finish all of that, I might try to finish the audiobook for Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. I started it last summer and got majorly sidetracked.
