Review: Twin-Bred

Twin-Bred (Twin-Bred #1)
by Karen A. Wyle

My rating:         Science Fiction

The Twin Bred Series:
1. Twin Bred • 2. Reach

In many ways, Twin-Bred reminded me of China Mieville's Embassytown. In both, humans have reached out into space, forged a home on a planet already inhabited by another sentient species, and struggled with their limited ability to communicate with said aliens. And in both, the proposed solution is a kind of bioengineering involving twins.

Twin-Bred starts with the conception of this project, and proceeds with great leaps and bounds through the following twenty or so years. The sparse style makes it a little harder to engage with the characters, but Mara Cadell, the main character and the driving force behind the project, is intriguing enough to pull the reader along with her. In the first few pages we learn that Mara lost her own twin brother, who became her childhood "imaginary friend," and it's this experience that shapes her to propose the Twin Bred project.

Every person and group in this novel has their own agenda, and I'm sure the author must be well-versed in the politics around large Government-funded projects, because the layers of complex scheming seem plausible even in the more far-fetched moments of the plot.

All in all, this was an enjoyable and original read, with a novel take on the difficulties of culture and communication which are bound to plague inter-species contact one day.

Review: Cherry Cheesecake Murder

Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is the 8th Hannah Swensen murder mystery, and although they series is of somewhat variable quality, something about the fierce Minnesota winters and cozy baking backdrop keeps me going back for more.

This was one of the better murder mysteries in the series, with a fun supporting cast of movie stars and crew, and plenty going on to keep everyone busy. Although the death is shown in the prologue, it's then over half of the book before that scene actually happens in the natural chronology, meaning there's plenty of time to guess at clues and motivations as the pre-murder scenes play out.

As well as a murder (or several) in each novel, there's a strong "soap opera" element in this series, following the relationships between the Lake Eden residents. This is especially true of Hannah and her various boyfriends. Like many other reviewers, I'm keen for Hannah to just get on with it and marry Norman (that's not a spoiler, merely a guess), but she doesn't look likely to make her mind up any time soon. One of my favourite things about the series is the way other characters react to Hannah's accidental involvement in so many murders: rather than the issue being brushed under the proverbial carpet, everyone comments on the unusual situations. In this book, various characters automatically assume that Hannah will be running her own unofficial investigation in "competition" with the local police, which adds a level of self-aware fun to the proceedings.

Buy Cherry Cheesecake Murder on Amazon

Challenge: 2012 Self-Published Reading

I read a lot of self-published books and enjoy supporting independent authors, so this is a perfect challenge for me. I've already read nine indie books this year, so meeting the 25 book level should (I hope) be an easy enough undertaking. But the next step up is 50 which is quite a big jump!

If you're interested in joining the fun, it's hosted at Workaday Reads.

As usual, I'll update this list throughout the year:

1. Nightworld (fantasy, 5*)


2. The Apocalypse Gene (sci-fi, 4*)


3. The Weavers of Paths (fantasy, 5*)


4. The Forest of Adventures (fantasy, 4*)


5. Lokant (Draykon #2) (fantasy, 5*)


6. Devil's Lair (fantasy, 4*)


7. Inadvertent Disclosure (mystery/thriller, 5*)


8. The Ophelia Trap (thriller, 5*)


9. Wyndano's Cloak (children's/fantasy, 4*)


10. Twin-Bred (sci-fi, 4*)


11. Journey Across the Four Seas (nonfiction, 5*)


12. Sleeping with Paris (romance, 3*)


13. Xenofreak Nation (sci-fi, 5*)


14. A Spy At Home (thriller, 3*)


15. The Amazing Adventures of Agent Auggie Spinoza (children's/sci-fi, 4*)


16. The Rostikov Legacy (fantasy/mystery, 5*)


17. The Guardian's Deceit (thriller, 5*)


18. Unleashed (mystery, 4*)


19. Nightfall in Mogadishu (thriller, 4*)


20. Socialpunk (sci-fi, 3*)


21. Leximandra Reports (fantasy, 4*)


22. After the Cross (thriller, 4*)


23. Secrets From The Dust (historical, 4*)


24. Escape Velocity (sci-fi, 4*)


25. Orlind (Draykon #3) (fantasy, 5*)

Review: Wyndano's Cloak

Wyndano's Cloak by A. R. Silverberry

My rating:

I saw a t-shirt once that read "Self-Rescuing Princess," and that description came back to me as I read this book. Jen is a proper princess, she even has a castle that glows with magic light, but when trouble comes she certainly isn't waiting around for anyone to rescue her. In fact, nothing drives her more strongly than the need to protect her loved ones, and there's plenty of danger to go round.

The novel also follows the story of Jen's best friend Bit, who is quieter and makes a much less likely heroine, but who has her own quest to undertake with young Countess Petunia. I really enjoyed the developing relationship between these two as they both grow up and grow into themselves, away from others' influence.

This is a sweet, gentle-hearted adventure which I think would be well-suited for younger readers (there's no sex or swearing, and the violence isn't any worse than your average fairy tale), especially with the strong female characters which could be a good antidote to the traditional "helpless princess" tales.

Buy Wyndano's Cloak on Amazon

Review: Sowing Secrets

Sowing Secrets by Trisha Ashley

My rating:         Contemporary Romance



There seem to be certain themes common to many of Trisha Ashley's books: single motherhood, careers in the creative arts, large and somewhat dilapidated country houses, and late-blossoming romantic interest in the form of a gorgeous-yet-practical man with land or money or both. So in some sense, this book had exactly what I was expecting, with forty-something artist Fran, her fatherless daughter Rosie, and sexy TV gardener Gabe.

But there's a spanner in the works of romance: Fran's already married, to the thoroughly unpleasant Mal. Add to that the fact that Fran and Gabe had an awkward one night stand when they were both much younger, and the question mark over Rosie's missing dad, and there seem to be a lot of barriers to blossoming romance. Still, Fran and Gabe are both passionately into old roses, which surely makes a happy-ever-after inevitable... if they can just negotiate the complexities of realising it.

Not my favourite Trisha Ashley, but still a fun read.

Challenge: Around the World in 80 Books

I started this challenge in 2011, as part of a group on Goodreads, but I'm posting it here too as I think it's going to be a long one...

The goal is fairly self-explanatory: read 80 books, set in 80 different countries. I'm allowing myself to be fairly flexible about books with international elements, but a country has to be a primary setting for me to count it, and I won't let myself count the same book against two separate countries.

I started out 2011 with 9 different countries, and I'll be adding to the list until I'm done. This challenge doesn't have a deadline, but it would be nice to finish it within the decade!

Bought:

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Besieged: Life Under Fire on a Sarajevo Street
Burma: Finding George Orwell in Burma
Greece: Death on the Agean Queen
Russia: Moscow 1941

Spain: Driving Over Lemons
Uzbekistan: Carpet Ride to Khiva

2013

Botswana: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (2013)
Czech Republic: City of Dark Magic (2013)

India: Tell A Thousand Lies (2013)
Ireland: Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland (2013)

2012 (12 countries) • 2011 (9 countries)

Australia: Secrets From The Dust (2012)
Canada: The Ophelia Trap (2012)
China: The Secret Mandarin (2011)
Cyprus: My Perfect Wedding (2011)
France: Fresh Powder (2012)
Hungary: Mrs Tuesday's Departure (2012)
Iceland: Where the Shadows Lie (2011)
Israel: After the Cross (2012)
Italy: That Summer in Ischia (2011)
Japan: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2012)
Mexico: The Mango Orchard (2012)
North Korea: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (2012)
Norway: 1222 (2011)
Peru: The Travel Auction (2012)
Saudi Arabia: American Chick in Saudi Arabia (2012)
Somalia: Nightfall in Mogadishu (2012)
South Africa: Glass House (2011)
Sweden: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Turkey: Meander (2012)
UK: I, Spy? (2011)
USA: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2011)

Review: The Ophelia Trap

The Ophelia Trap by Kate Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



First, a warning: you could argue that this review contains spoilers, although they're only the same spoilers which are in the blurb. However, if you're particularly spoiler-averse, you may want to stop reading now.

In general, I found this to be an intelligent, well-written thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It's set in a small town in Canada, in the depths of winter; the snow and urban landscape really adds to the feel of the novel, and it's packed full of small inconsequential details that make it seem real. The main character Julia is a likeable and determined woman, particularly when her children are in danger, and the relationship with her husband's ex is a nice touch. And it's very convincing to watch her being drawn further and further into the mystery after she happens to witness her old neighbour, Amanda, plummet to her death.

The events of the plot unfold at a fairly slow pace, which meant that half the time I felt like I was waiting for things which had been mentioned in the blurb. And *because* I'd been waiting for them, some of these things felt rather less substantial when they happened. As an example, the blurb foretells that "one of her daughters is targeted for a brutal attack steps from home," which sounds so very ominous that the import of what actually happens (the girl runs to safety) is somewhat undermined. But this is an issue with the level of description in the blurb, not with the book itself.

If I have one slight criticism, it's that everything is rather too neat, particularly the string of coincidences that lead Julia to witness Amanda's death in the first place. But then, it's an ongoing, semi-serious joke between Julia and her husband that she's a magnet for trouble. The hint that she's an incompetent psychic (with hunches that tend towards 'predictably wrong') is an interesting idea, and just the sort of thing that might turn into a family in-joke.

I hope there will be more from this author.

Buy The Ophelia Trap on Amazon

Challenge: 2012 TBR Pile Reduction

I found another really great reading challenge for 2012. What's particularly appealing about this one is that the challenge is to attack your pile of unread books. You know, those ones that have been waiting for ages to be read.

You'll see from the guidelines (below) that this challenge comes in five levels. I'm going to go for the 21-30 range, on the grounds that two per month (24) seems reasonable.

The official rules state that a book has to have been published in 2011 or earlier, but I'm adding my own rule, for myself, that I have to have bought them before the start of the year, too.

I'll update this post as I go along:

1. Peach Cobbler Murder
2. The Weavers of Paths
3. Devil's Lair
4. Fresh Powder
5. Sowing Secrets
6. Cherry Cheesecake Murder
7. Under Heaven
8. Hollywood Station
9. Key Lime Pie Murder
10. Empire in Black and Gold
11. The Fuller Memorandum
12. The Graveyard Book
13. Un Lun Dun

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

Review: Inadvertent Disclosure

Inadvertent Disclosure (Sasha McCandless #2)
by Melissa F. Miller

My rating:         Legal / Thriller

The Sasha McCandless Series:
1. Irreparable Harm • 2. Inadvertent Disclosure • 3. Irretrievably Broken

This is the second Sasha McCandless novel, and while I'd strongly recommend starting with Irreparable Harm (because it's excellent), this could equally well hold its own as a stand-alone story. I really love the mix of legal drama, thriller, and sleuthing aspects to this series, and in this book Sasha returns as independent and irrepressible as ever, with a new set of legal challenges to face. It's also fun to watch her developing relationship with Connelly, as they manage to snatch odd moments together despite the enveloping chaos. A fast and gripping read, that was over all too soon. I can't wait for the next one.

If you missed my interview with Melissa, around the time Irreparable Harm came out, you might be interested in hearing more about her inspiration and writing style.

Challenge: A-Z in 2012

I've just discovered a fun challenge over at Babies, Books and Signs.

The goal is to read 26 books, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. Despite only just signing up for this challenge, it looks like I've got a pretty good head-start from my January/February reading, quite by chance: I'm already on 11 distinct letters, and have already ticked of a couple of tricky ones like W and Z.

I'll keep updating this list throughout the year to track my progress.

A: The Apocalypse Gene
B: Blackwood
C: Chasing China
D: The Death of an Obnoxious Tourist
E: Escape Velocity
F: The Forest of Adventures
G: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
H: Hollywood Station
I: Inadvertent Disclosure
J: Journey Across the Four Seas
K: Key Lime Pie Murder
L: Lokant
M: May Day
N: Nightworld
O: The Ophelia Trap
P: The Peach Cobbler Murder
Q:
R: The Rostikov Legacy
S: Sowing Secrets
T: Tokyo Vice
U: Under Heaven
V: Voodoo Love Song
W: The Weavers of Paths
X: Xenofreak Nation
Y:
Z: Zhuangzi Speaks

Review: Arthur Tress: San Francisco 1964

Arthur Tress: San Francisco 1964 by James A. Ganz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a collection of shots by established photographer Arthur Tress, taken during his time in San Francisco in 1964, and rediscovered in 2009. The collection has a very distinctive style, with most images focused tightly on a single subject (or sometimes a small group). Each image is carefully composed, and often provides unexpected juxtapositions of people and spaces.

Although these images give an interesting feel for the mood and style of their time, it's certainly only a partial picture. There are no sweeping cityscapes here, nor any hint of any undesirable aspects of society, and the closest thing to an action shot is a young girl clapping her hands. On the other hand, "waiting" is a strong theme, and there are many photographs of political rallies and meetings.

One interesting inclusion, interspersed between the full-size plates, are a few strips of negatives. These give a fascinating insight into the creative process, for example as Tress sometimes concentrates on a single subject - whether a person or a place - until a suitable shot presents itself. There is also an extensive contextual introduction, and an interview with the artist, which adds further to the picture.

Buy Arthur Tress: San Francisco 1964 on Amazon

Review: Fresh Powder

Fresh Powder by Susanne O'Leary

My rating:          Romantic Comedy

I have to be honest: there were several points where I almost put this book down, never to pick it up again. It was littered with typos (and I'm don't mean US/UK differences of opinion), and the first few pages the perspective yo-yos relentlessly between the two main characters without giving the reader time to get to know either of them. But the set-up was intriguing, and I decided to read on despite my reservations.

There are some things that Fresh Powder does really well. Most relationships in the novel are dysfunctional, but in a believable way, and there's plenty of vicious conflict, snarky exchanges, and tense moments. Add in some beautiful Alpine scenery with a constant threat of blizzards, avalanche, or other snow-related disasters, and it should be the perfect recipe for an entertaining romantic comedy.

However, I felt that this book never really delivered. The last few pages are filled with implausible-seeming events, and serious feuds are resolved much too easily with a lot of promises to "forgive and forget". I just didn't believe in it, and found myself somewhat wishing I'd stuck with my earlier instincts to abandon the whole thing after the first few pages.

Review: Devil's Lair

Devil's Lair by David Wisehart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Imagine Dante's Inferno as a travel guide, and you have the basic premise of Devil's Lair. Now, I haven't read Dante, so I was at a disadvantage from the beginning, but this is an incredibly intelligent, well-written book packed with literary references. I enjoyed the mix of personalities of William, Nadja, Giovanni and Marco, and was drawn in by the grimy medieval setting, of which there was plenty of very vivid depiction. The pace is slower than my usual reads; although there's plenty of trekking backwards and forwards, it's halfway through the book before we discover whether our protagonists will make a genuine journey into hell, or whether they are simply deluded, following the dreams of epileptic Nadja. I would have preferred to see more depth in the second half of the book, when the adventures really start, but suddenly everything seemed a bit too easy: it reads as if life in medieval Italy is harder than that in Hell. However, the mystery of Marco's memory loss and the interplay of characters is enough to keep it interesting, and this was certainly a satisfying read.

Buy Devil's Lair on Amazon

Review: Lokant

Lokant (Draykon #2)
by Charlotte E. English

My rating:

The Draykon Series:
1. Draykon • 2. Lokant • 3. Orlind
Short stories: Leximandra Reports

This is the second novel in the Draykon series, and continues shortly after the previous book left off. I love the unique set-up of the Draykon worlds, and the plot keeps me turning page after page, but probably my favourite thing about these books is the cast of believable, determined, flawed-yet-lovable characters. In Lokant we meet a number of intriguing new characters, and there are further adventures for old favourites, along with some more mysteries to unpick.

If you loved Draykon (the first novel in this series) half as much as I did, I think you'll find this a worthy successor.