Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to my final post of 2019's Sci-Fi Month! (Image credit: Photo by Sebastien Decoret on 123RF.com with a quote from This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone). As usual, I loved taking part in this awesome sci-fi extravaganza and I can't wait to come back next year. I managed to complete all ten books on my tbr. For the most part, I got in a lot of great reading! Read on to see my thoughts on the books I've knocked off my tbr mountain, a listing of the Sci-Fi Month posts I've published this year, and a giveaway (US Only):
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The Illuminae Files is a favorite series of mine and somehow Amie Kafman and Jay Kristoff have done it again with Aurora Rising. This new series opener is a lot of fun and exactly the romp I was looking for. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the diverse cast of characters and everyone really has their own moments to shine, but my favorites hands down are Kal (who is referred to as Elrond and Legolas due to his elf-like appearance) and Finian. This ragtag group are definitely squad goals. The world building is also quite fantastic to explore along with the crew of Squad 312. I highly recommend it to fans of Kaufman and Kristoff's previous collaboration The Illuminae Files, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Broken Angels (Takeshi Kovacs #2) by Richard K. Morgan is a much different novel in comparison to its predecessor Altered Carbon. Either way, it's still a pretty great sequel. As it turns out, this is definitely much more of a military sci-fi novel compared to the cyberpunk sci-fi noir of its predecessor. You could probably go into this novel with minimal knowledge of book one and still follow it. I'm looking forward to see Tak again in the future in Woken Furies (and season two of the tv series).
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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I didn't quite love A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2) by Becky Chambers as much as the first Wayfarers book. I still enjoyed coming back into this world a whole lot but just not as much. Perhaps I set my expectations a little too high, but there was still a lot to love. Either way, though, I still can't wait to revisit this them again in the future with Record of a Spaceborn Few.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Cross Fire (Exo #2) by Fonda Lee is an excellent follow up to Exo. It's close, but I might have actually preferred it actually. I do know one thing for sure though: Fonda Lee is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her characters, world-building, and action scenes are all very vivid and the pacing is just right. This series deserves all the love it can get.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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I feel like I don't talk about how much I love Gail Carriger's brand of steampunk and her sense of humor. I just can't resist Gail Carriger's world and Imprudence (The Custard Protocol #2) by Gail Carriger is wonderful installment. Rue has quickly become one of my all time favorite characters. Plus, it's always delightful to see Lord Akeldama. If you enjoy high-flying adventure, laugh out loud humor, and a dash of romance, you'll need to pick up Gail Carriger's novels. I can't wait to read Competence, the next installment of the The Custard Protocol.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey isn't my usual brand of sci-fi novel, but I really enjoyed this. James S.A. Corey's style is quite addictiing and it's easy to get sucked in. The world-building totally makes the story in my opinion. I'm going to have to continue this massive series and start in on the tv show adaptation, The Expanse.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Night of the Humans (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #38) by David Llewellyn was a fun Doctor Who story set during series five which features Amy Pond and the 11th Doctor. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Arthur Darvill and the production is excellent. I think he's quickly becoming one of my favorite audiobook narrators. The only way this story could be better would be if his character from the tv series, Rory, appeared in this story.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Recursion by Blake Crouch is trippy in the best possible way. I love Crouch's brand of sci-fi thriller with time travel, alternate timelines, and just a dash of romance. Even though I wanted to savor my time in his newest novel, I couldn't put it down because it's so compulsively readable with it's brain-bending twists and turns. I just had to find out what happens to our narrators Helena and Barry. If you're looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend giving this a try - and going in with as little foreknowledge as possible. I can't wait to see what will happen with the forthcoming Netflix adaptation.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
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Max is a great addition to Stranger Things in season two, so I was really looking forward to this prequel/ companion YA novel from her perspective, Stranger Things: Runaway Max (Stranger Things Novels #3) by Brenna Yovanoff. The best part of this novel are the flashbacks set shortly before she comes into the show. It's pretty great getting to see all of her strengths and internal feelings about what's going on in her life and her family. The weakest points of the book are scenes that happen during the course of the show involving the main characters and plot instead of sticking with her and her family. The main reason for that is because the writing really glosses over it, so basically if you haven't watched the tv series you would really out of the loop. Otherwise, though, the writing's quite good and we get some nice character insight on Max. I definitely want to rewatch season two again.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol, 1. Revolutions of Terror by Nick Abadzis, Elena Casagrande, and Arianna Florian is very cool! I'm going tho have to read more of these Tenth Doctor comics. I have to admit it, the cover art initially drew me to them, but the author does a great job of channeling the Doctor's tone and style. Plus, Gabby is a pretty good companion. It could have been cool to see a live action iteration of her character on screen.
My review can also be found on Goodreads.
My Sci-Fi Month 2019 Posts:
The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff + 50/50 Friday
Sci-Fi TV Shows and Movies I Want to Watch
Music Monday: The Phantom Empire (1935)
Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Space Ships
The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): Cross Fire (Exo #2) by Fonda Lee + 50/50 Friday
5 Star Books in 5 Words
Music Monday: Echosmith & Icon for Hire
Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite AI Characters
5 Stunning Debuts
The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey + 50/50 Friday
Music Monday: Altered Carbon & Fringe
Top Ten Tuesday: Classic Sci-Fi Books I Need to Read
Science Fiction A-Z
The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): Recursion by Blake Crouch + 50/50 Friday
Awesome Longcoats
Music Monday: Avengers; Endgame
Top Ten Tuesday: Upcoming Sci-Fi Books I'm Excited to Read
And now for the main event: A GIVEAWAY (US Only - Sorry)!
One lucky winner will win my copy of Recursion by Blake Crouch! This giveaway will last until Midnight (ET) on Saturday, December 7th, 2019. I will alert the winner via email and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to select another winner. Good luck!
Have you been participating in Sci-Fi Month 2019? Have you read any of these books? As always, thanks for visiting and perhaps even commenting down below!
Looks like you had a great month! I'm sad because I only read three SF books but they were really good😁 Good luck to your winner, Recursion is so good!
ReplyDeleteI really did, Tammy! Thanks!
DeleteJust one 3 star read ~ that looks like a great reading month!!
ReplyDeleteI know right. :)
DeleteWell now I might need to get Aurora Rising! I've been wondering how it was given that I really liked Illuminae. And I felt the same way about A Closed and Common Orbit- didn't love it as much as the first one even though it was still good.
ReplyDeleteRecursion was totally a trip!
I bet you'll love it, Greg. I'd like to see your thoughts on it.
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