2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Update #6 & Mini Reviews

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today, I'm sharing my sixth progress update and set of mini reviews for the books I've completed since my last update for the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge.  I've completed 4 books since then, for a total of 40 of 50 books complete.  I can't believe I've only got 10 left to go! Without further ado, here we go in the order I read them in:

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I'm always ready for a cool Sherlock Holmes retelling. I have to admit that I was looking for and expecting something different from what I got here with A Study in Honor (The Janet Watson Chronicles #1) by Claire O'Dell. I was hoping for more of a gender bent Sherlock Holmes retelling with dash of f/f romance, but that never quite came to pass here. Janet herself was an intriguing character who is different from her inspiration (although I'd argue that we didn't need to see the excerpts of her journal with the story being in first person from her perspective) and can easily stand apart on her own. It's Sara Holmes herself that really bugged me. The spy part I could work with, but we hardly get to see her do anything interesting like making deductions. Plus, we barely get to see her partnership with Janet since most of the action happens offscreen or while Holmes has drugged or isolated Watson. Finally, I wanted a lot more world-building out of this character driven story. What we get feels too loose without a whole lot of detail to back up what Holmes and Watson are toward in the first place. Overall, this is more of a thriller than a mystery and while a few elements worked for me I doubt I'll be back to continue the series.

My review is also on Goodreads and on my Pride Month wrap up post.

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It's delightful to be back in the world of the Lunar Chronicles. I loved seeing more of these characters after their main storyline has ended. It's a nice little what comes next here in Wires and Nerve (Wires and Nerve #1) by Marissa Meyer. The characters feel just as spot on here but I wish we got to see some of them a bit more, especially Kai. The art is good and fits the tone of the story, but I wish it was in full color instead. I am definitely looking forward to reading volume two and what comes next in Iko and the other heroes tale.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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The alternate feudal steampunk fantasy of Stormdancer (The Lotus Wars #1) by Jay Kristoff was a lot of fun and exactly up my alley. I don't know why I had been sitting on this for so long since I've loveliest of his other works and collaborations, but I'm glad I finally gave it a shot. It goes very fast and I didn't want to put it down for a second. The story is unique and definitely reeled me in from page one. As a debut novel, it is absolutely outstanding. That said this isn't quite up to the same level that I've come to expect from him, but it's still an excellent opener to The Lotus Wars and I'm looking forward to moving on to Kinslayer.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal is a brand new favorite. I don't know why I've been putting if off for so long since it sounded like exactly the kind of sci-fi alternate history that I'd love. I mean, the lead character was a WASP during WWII and is a human calculator working to put a man on the moon after a meteorite has wiped out a good chunk of the east coast which will soon render the earth inhospitable to human life. If that doesn't sound like a brilliant concept I don't know what would. Luckily the Kowal's execution is fantastic and I didn't want to put it down for a second. The characters and world-building are compelling and they pulled me in right from the start. If you're interested in the WASP of WWII, The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackerman, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, and Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt, this sci-fi novel might be exactly what you're looking for. I can't wait to read the sequel, The Fated Sky.

My review is also on Goodreads.


Are you taking part in this reading challenge?  Have you read any of these books?  As always, thank for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!