Review: Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day

Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You can always trust Seanan McGuire to give you a great story. I loved the dedication in this one, and I think this novella was further evidence of Seanan's ability to weave a story, no matter the length, into a masterpiece.

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Review: The Woman in Blue

The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I very much enjoy Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series. Each new addition brings an interesting plot and the characters are portrayed so real - mistakes and feelings and all.

This one had an interesting twist -- Ruth, as the main character of the series, had a very minor role in the plot. She was really more of an outside party linked very tenuously to the main mystery, and we got a lot more depth from Nelson, which was a refreshing change of pace. We got some Cathbad involvement, which was awesome, because he's, well, Cathbad, but I do miss Judy! She had very little in this one. That provided some of the other police team members to have their turns to shine a little, and we got to know Tanya, Clough, and Tim a little better.

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Review: Chaos Choreography

Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know, I don't really care for reality dance shows. Just like the reality music competitions, I feel like these things have run their course and need to go to where reality shows go to die. But, thanks to Seanan McGuire, I've now enjoyed at least one reality dance competition show this decade -- Dance or Die.

Yes, that's right, ladies and gents, Verity gets a call to be on a special All-Stars edition of the show, which at first seems like a great way to confirm to herself that her decision to give up her Valerie Pryor identity and focus on cryptozoology was the right one. At least, that's what it was supposed to be - luckily for the world, it was kismet that brought her back to the world of dance, because yet another snake cult has decided to attempt their rituals around Verity (you would think they would have learned?) and this time, they make it extremely personal.

My only complaint is that I totally guessed who was involved in the snake cult and was responsible. I really enjoyed the book though, and very much liked the new characters. :)

Like I say every time, do yourself a favor and start reading Seanan McGuire.

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Review: The Bear and the Nightingale

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested this from Netgalley (and was approved in exchange for an honest review) because I heard rumors it was reminiscent of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, which I loved, and that left it with a high standard to meet.

Thankfully, Katherine Arden did a damn good job. She convinced me that I was in the cold north of Russia. She made me believe that, when the winters came and the townsfolks were freezing, I was sitting by the hearth and sharing their warmth. She completely sold me on the supernatural all around, on the growing fear of the town, of the self-proclaimed madness of the stepmother, in the conviction that these spirits were real and had power and had bite.

Mostly, she persuaded me to love Vasya.

Ironically enough, I realized when the action really got going at around 65-70% that the first part of the book had been slow, mundane, day-to-day life and times of these characters... but it didn't matter. I hadn't even noticed the lack of real action because of Arden's writing and making me love the characters. That right there is talent. Couple that talent with the sheer depth of research she clearly engaged in to make this book accurate, and you can color me impressed.

I rarely request first books on Netgalley because I don't want to wait even longer for the next book, so I was disappointed when I found out this was to be the first in a trilogy. Now that I've finished it, my feelings have changed. Bring on book two... I'll do my best to wait patiently, but I want more Vasya!

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Review: Career of Evil

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just can't even with this. Seriously, Rowling/Galbraith, why do you have to trick me every single time? I'm GOOD at solving mysteries. The QUEEN of mystery, Agatha Christie, managed to trick me all the time, but I solved a few of her cases... Maybe one day I'll figure out your angle and solve one of yours. Just keep writing them, okay, Jo? Thanks.

That ending, too. Jeez, I'm glad I waited a while after release to read this, because now I want the next book immediately, and lord knows when it will be out. I'm not sure there's even a release date yet! *wails uncontrollably*

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