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Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan, Book Seven of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan is the seventh book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows nine main points of view and many short alternate points of view. The prologue deals with the aftermath of the situation at Dumai Wells from the ending of the previous novel, The Lord of Chaos. Perrin observes Rand at Dumai Wells and accompanies him back to Cairhein and they meet up with Min. Egwene takes her rebel Aes Sedai forces toward Caemlyn on their way to besiege Tar Valon. Nynaeve, Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat search for the Bowl of the Winds in Ebor Dar. Morgase learns more about the situation with the Children of Light. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?

Summary – Prologue

The prologue of the novel covers six different points of view.

Elaida is in Tar Valon. She gets reports about Rand’s situation and the situation in Ebou Dar. She sends Alviarin to enact her plan to deal with the Black Tower. Eladia thinks about how she will break Egwene’s army.

Sevanna of the Shaido clan of the Aiel is at Dumai Wells during the events from the end of the previous novel. This is an alternate viewpoint and flashback scene.

Alviaran leaves Elaida in Tar Valon and confers with Mesaana, the Forsaken. They talk about the Black Tower plan’s likelihood of success.

Pedran Niall of the Whitecloaks is in Amador with Morgase Trakand. She is trying to get his backing for Andor. Omerna arrives and Morgase leaves.

Eamon Vlada of the Whitecloaks is also in Amador. He puts plans in motion.

Gawyn Trakand is also at Dumai Wells and gives an alternate viewpoint to the White Tower Loyalists. He leads his group of Younglings in the retreat back to Tar Valon.

Summary–Groups of characters

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan follows five plot arcs.

Perrin comes back from Dumai Wells and goes to Cairhein to meet with Rand and Min. Perrin makes sure that Faile is alright. Rand has a special mission for Perrin.

Egwene brings her army that she wants to use to capture Tar Valon to the border between Altara and Murandy. She must find a way to gain strength and get through Murandy to get to Tar Valon.

Mat was sent to Enou Dar by Rand to get Elayne to go to Andor to take the throne of Andor. He is not very successful in that quest. He agrees to help Elayne and Nynaeve find a cache of powerful artifacts that may help the forces of Light in their battle with the darkness. Meanwhile, Mat must deal with the sexual advances of Queen Tylin of Altara.

Elayne and Nynaeve enlist the aid of the Kin and Matt to find the artifacts hidden in Ebou Dar.

Rand must deal with the situation in Cairhein. He comes up with a way to strike back at the Forsaken.

Summary–Best Plot Points

Three Plot Points stand out in Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.

In Chapter 31, Mashiara, Lan, and Nynaeve have a long-delayed and important meeting.

Mat showcases his awesomeness in Chapter 38, Six Stories. An important artifact is found and a powerful enemy is encountered.

In the novel’s last chapter, Chapter 41, a Crown of Swords, Rand’s plans come to fruition. It’s worth the effort to get to this point and an iconic image is delivered at the end of the chapter.

Recommendation

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan ends with a series of climaxes that match the other novels of the series. Three plot points stand out for me. Lan’s meeting with Nynaeve, what Mat finds in addition to the Bowl of the Winds, and Rand’s encounter with a Forsaken. There are two plot points I’m having trouble with. The Morgase subplot is short but takes up valuable space from the other plots. The relationship between Mat and Tylin seems icky at best. Otherwise, this novel fits well with the rest of the series for me.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13890.A_Crown_of_Swords

This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time.

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.

Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book three of the Wheel of Time.

Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book two of the Wheel of Time.

Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book one of the Wheel of Time.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #6 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold is the sixth published novel of the Vorkosigan saga. It is also the eighth story of the internal chronology of the saga. Miles Vorkosigan is the protagonist of the novel. Miles suffers from brittle bones because of an assassination attempt on his mother when she was pregnant with him. He graduates from the Service Academy and gets his first assignment as a commissioned ensign. He wanted to get ship duty to follow in his father’s footsteps, but his commander wants him to command ordinary men. The posting is out of the way and boring for him. He gets in trouble anyway and they accuse him of treason. Will Miles play The Vor Game well enough to escape the treason charges made against him and secure the assignment he desires?

Summary

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold begins when Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Barayarran Service Academy. He wants a posting in an interstellar spaceship where he can command men. What he gets is an assignment to replace the weatherman at the remote base on Kyril Island. He sees the posting as a boring assignment beneath his dignity. It becomes a test of his resolve and cunning.

Miles ends up charged with treason and imprisoned in IMPSEC. His fortunes are turned, and he gets an assignment to evaluate the Hengan Hub. He discovers Emperor Gregor which changes everything. Miles must deal with a plot instigated at Kyril Island, match wits with a female mercenary leader whom he fancies, and protect Emperor Gregor from himself, meanwhile defeating the approaching Cetagandan fleet.

Mile juggles these impossible tasks in a way only he could succeed through and saves the day.

Recommendation

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1991. They printed the first six chapters of the novel as the short story, The Weatherman, covering the first part of the story when they stationed Miles at Kyril Island. The rest of the story detailed how Miles helped Emperor Gregor get out of trouble in a manner only Miles would try. I like Miles and want him to succeed. I like he met his match in the mystery mercenary leader, and how she intrigued him. I’m looking forward to reading Miles’s next adventure in my Vorkosigan saga reading project.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68483.The_Vor_Game

In Warriors Apprentice (Book #2 of the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Vorkosigan gets involved in another planet’s war. Can he escape the mischief he started?

Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Barrayar (Book#7 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan faces assassination and the birth of her son. Will she survive the regency and give birth to her son?

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Shards of Honor (Book#1 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayaran Captain Aral Vorkosigan takes Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith prisoner. They take a hike in the jungle. What happens when they fall in love?

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Falling Free (Book #4 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, space engineer Leo Graf must decide between retiring or risking his life protecting his students. The novel is a fun, self-contained space opera romp.

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Trilogy Book #3

Introduction

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie is the third book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, a follow-up trilogy of the First Law World Trilogy. The Trilogy occurs thirty years after the First Law Trilogy. This Trilogy follows an additional set of characters; some are the children of characters from the First Law books. First Law characters also appear in secondary roles in this series. At the end of The Trouble with Peace, the second book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, they defeated a rebellion, but all is not well in the Union. Will the wisdom of crowds start a revolution and bring down the Union once and for all?

Summary – Part One

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie features seven points of view characters from both sides of the Angland and Midderland conflicts. The characters meet and part in this complex narrative which concludes the plot arcs of this generation of characters.

Orso dan Luthar, the first character, is the King of the Union. He is coming back to Adua after his great victory on the battlefield. But the Change has come to the Union, and he must find his place in it or die.

Savine dan Glokta, the second character, is the daughter of Sand dan Glokta, the head of the King’s Closed Council and the head of the Inquisition. Her money and her power are gone and she must find a new way to live.

Leo dan Brock, the third character, has lost his chance for greatness, his dignity, and his health. He must reinvent himself to continue.

Summary – Part Two

Victarine (Vic) dan Teufel, the fourth character, was an undercover agent for the Inquisition of the Union. Her mission has taken her to the city of Valbeck which has fallen to the People’s Army. The Great Change is headed for Adua. She must discover Superior Pike’s role in The Great Change and decide what is the best plan for her future.

Gunner “Bull” Broad, the fifth character, worked for Savine dan Glotka. He had helped Savine in Valbeck and she was grateful, so she employed him. His conflict is with the sort of tasks that Savine requires him to perform. Now he is imprisoned for his crimes and despairs about ever returning to his family. The Great Change will change his fortunes and he must make a difficult decision to achieve his goals.

Rikke, the sixth character, is the Dogman’s daughter. The Dogman was the chieftain of the city of Uffrith and leader of the Protectorate, Angland’s ally in the North. Rikke inherited his leadership. She has the Long Eye, a way of seeing images from the past or the future. She must come to terms with her gift or face going insane like many with the gift have done so before her. Rikke defeated Stour Nightfall, King of the North, and holds his seat at Carleon. She must find a way to hold onto her power or face destruction.

Jonas “Clover” Steepfield, the seventh character, was the advisor of Stour Nightfall, the King of the North. Clover was once a famous warrior but is now an observer of the Northmen’s court. He now serves Rikke and must decide what is the best course for his future.

Recommendation

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie concludes the Age of Madness Trilogy well. The action builds and the plot shifts land hard. Most chapters follow either a single viewpoint or two sequential viewpoints of the seven main characters.

The two exceptions are the chapter titled The Little People, where a series of people react to a devastating event in Adua. And a chapter also titled The Little People, where a series of people react to the climactic battle in Carleon, the capital of the North. In the Carleon chapter, one character observes and then encounters the next character, and then that character takes on the narrative. It continues in the chapter, creating a kaleidoscope where the events build to a greater whole.

Those chapters were my highlight of the book. It was a brilliant book. I liked the love triangle arc of Leo, Savine, and Orso. I wanted more and hope the author will return to this setting in the future.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #3

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56621190-the-wisdom-of-crowds

This is the link to my book review of The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #2

Peace comes after the wars in the previous novel. Intrigues occur. Will the peace prove more deadly than the wars that came before?

Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

This is the link to my book review of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #1

Northmen invade Angland, the northern province of the Union. The Industrial Revolution arrived in the Union and civil unrest increased following unfair labor practices. The city of Valbeck is the center of the unrest. It features seven characters from both sides of the conflict. Will they destroy Angland and Valbeck, or will they survive?

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Introduction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is the author’s most recent novel. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship flying to a destination unknown. He has no memory of his past, of why he is on this interstellar mission, or why his crewmates are dead. He must discover the nature of his mission. If Ryland doesn’t solve these problems, the human race will perish.

Summary

In Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace wakes up to a feminine computer voice. They hooked him up to monitors, and he was tired, so he goes back to sleep. They locked him in a room with two more patients who are dead in their hammocks. Ryland doesn’t remember his name or where he is located.

Ryland tries to get up, and the trauma causes a flashback. In the flashback, he gets an email from a Russian scientist urging him to help her with a problem involving an unusual IR emission headed toward Venus. He drops out of the flashback.

Ryland discovers they connected his chamber to a laboratory. He examines the equipment and performs tests that convince him he is not on Planet Earth.

Ryland must put these revelations together to understand his mission. His life and all the lives of the people on Planet Earth depend on him solving the problems put before him.

Recommendation

I thought this was a great novel. Ryland Grace was an engaging, smart, and resourceful character. He used the resources available to him to try and solve a difficult problem. I was surprised and pleased when the story turned from a problem-solving story to a story about first contact. I thought the ending fit the character and was happy with how it turned out.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-mary

My book review of Artemis by Andy Weir. Jazz, a poor smuggler & thief on the moon colony of Artemis, dreams of being rich. A little sabotage and she can retire with a million slugs. She must improvise or face death. How can she survive and get her money too?

Artemis by Andy Weir

Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Book #1 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Introduction

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin follows three different narratives. It’s set in the Stillness, a post-apocalyptic or possibly a second-world fantasy land. Essun is a teacher in a small town hiding from her past until someone murders her son and her daughter goes missing. These events send her on a quest to recover her daughter. Damaya is a young girl who shows signs of having Orogeny, the ability to manipulate energy. A guardian arrives to take her to a school where she can learn her skill up to her potential. Syenite is a breeder. Her next assignment is to breed with and learn from a stronger male Orogenist. The three tales intersect and come to a dramatic conclusion which is expanded on in the second novel of the trilogy, The Obelisk Gate.

Summary

The novel follows the stories of Essun, Damaya, and Syenite. Each chapter has a different viewpoint and the viewpoints do not intersect, though it is explained by the end of the novel how they are related. Two Interludes provide important information that can’t be contained in the other chapters.

Essun’s story is told in the second person. It’s like an unknown narrator is telling Essun’s story to her. Essun finds out her son is dead and her daughter has been taken. She decides to leave the town of Tirimo to search for her daughter. On her quest, she meets and travels with the mysterious Hoa and Tonkee, a woman without a community. Her quest leads to further revelations.

Damaya’s story is told in the third person. Damaya shows signs of possessing ability as an Orogenist. Guardian Schaffa takes her to the Fulcrum to be trained in Orogeny. She does well in learning and seeks the secrets of the Fulcrum. A still named Binof helps her in her search.

Syenite’s story is also in the third person. She is a breeder. Orogeny is an inherited trait, so there is a breeding program at the Fulcrum. She is assigned to Alabaster. He is a ten-ringer, the strongest level of Orogenist. She travels with him to the town of Allia. Alabaster has a mission in Allia. They learn secrets they should not have learned involving an obelisk.

The three stories are tied together and the stage is set for the second novel of the trilogy.

Recommendation

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. Do not DNF it, please stick with it, because it will make sense by the end. The prologue begins with an unknown narrator who is talking to someone, revealed to be Essun in the first chapter. Essun’s chapters are all in second person and past tense. Usually, the second-person point of view is difficult to read but I like its use here. Damaya and Syenite’s sections are in third person and present tense. These transitions are hard for the reader, but it pays off by the end of the story. I think what hooked me on the novel was Damaya’s tale since she’s in a kind of twisted Harry Potter story. I’m looking forward to reading the other two novels next year.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38213103-the-fifth-season

Another book that reminds me of Fifth Season is Ancillary Justice. One is fantasy and the other science fiction, but they remind me of each other, in the sense that both break old tropes of the genre. They are both kind of like Science Fiction Fantasy in the old-school sense.

In Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Burning White by Brent Weeks

Burning White by Brent Weeks.

Introduction

Burning White by Brent Weeks is the fifth and final book of The Lightbringer series. The three main characters set up their roles for the last book in the series. Gavin has lost his powers, takes on a suicide mission, and faces the god Orholam. Teia must use her skills as a master assassin and destroy the Order of the Broken Eye. Kip must prepare his army to face the White King with their last stand at the Chromeria. Kip must defeat him or risk the colors going out of balance, leading to their destruction. Their missions lead to one ultimate question. Who is the Lightbringer and will the Lightbringer bring balance to the world?

Summary – General

Chromaturgy is the magical system of the Seven Satrapies. They call magicians who use Chromaturgy drafters, and the best drafters live on the Chromeria, the seat of the Satrapies government. Drafters can take a part of the spectrum of light and make a substance called luxin. They can shape luxin into items, with the color of the luxin determining the properties of the item. Most drafters can draft one or two colors, while the Prism can draft all the colors. There is only one Prism alive at one time and the Prism is the military, spiritual, and political leader of the Satrapies.

Summary – Characters

There are three principal viewpoint characters and three minor viewpoint characters.

Gavin was the Prism but has lost his powers. He escaped the special cells under the Chromeria. He must now find the god, Orholam, at the Tower of Heaven and kill him to save the seven satrapies.

Kip has taken the city of Dunbheo in the Blood Forest. Kip must keep his volatile coalition together to protect the city from the advancing White King. The problem is that the White King could get between the Chromeria and Dunbheo. Kip must decide who to protect. The wrong choice could lose the war and end the seven satrapies.

Teia had infiltrated the secret Order of the Broken Eye. It is a dangerous mission, complicated by her interaction with the assassin named Murder Sharp. The Order sends her on an important mission, and she must succeed or they will kill her father.

Karris White Oak is the new White. She must marshal her forces against the White King with the help and hindrance of Andross Guile.

Andross Guile is shown becoming the man he becomes through the use of flashbacks.

Liv Danavis serves the White King and has come into a significant power.

Recommendation

In Burning White by Brent Weeks, the three principal characters have important tasks to perform. The tasks are straightforward but are not complete by the end of the previous novel. In this novel, the author answered all questions about Gavin, Kip, and Teia. I felt like the ending was an unnecessary Deus ex Machina. What happened to Kip bothered me. Maybe it could have gone down another way. I guess my problem with the story as written is that I felt like Kip was the main character in the novel and he would have agency at the end. I was wrong. Gavin is the main character of the series and that clouds the ending for me.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Burning White by Brent Weeks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43100496-the-burning-white

My review of Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks, book 4 of The Lightbringer series. The author sets up the last conflicts for the Lightbringer to bring balance to the seven satrapies.

Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks

Review of The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks, book 3 of The Lightbringer series. Gavin, Kip, Teia, and Karris fight the Color Prince and the Order of the Broken Eye. They face a climactic confrontation at the Chromeria. Another excellent book in the series.

Broken Eye by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of the Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks.

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of Black Prism by Brent Weeks.

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi, Book #2 of the Dispatcher series.

Introduction

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is about Tony Valdez, who is a legal professional murderer. In the future, people who are murdered come back to life in the place where they find most comforting. People who commit suicide and have natural deaths stay dead. 99.99% of all Murder victims return to life naked but alive. So, murderers can keep people from dying an eternal death. Times are tough for dispatchers because legitimate jobs are scarce. Tony needs money, and he takes a shady deal that goes wrong. They implicate Tony in a robbery scheme and people are dying without being murdered. Will Tony discover the criminal’s plans before they kill him by other means?

Summary

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is the second book of the Dispatcher series. In the first book, The Dispatcher, someone has kidnapped one of Tony’s colleagues, another dispatcher. Tony must rescue him, or his colleague may be killed and stay dead. Tony searches for him even though Tony faces his eternal death.

They set this novella in Chicago like the previous novella. Tony lost his role with the Chicago PD and needs money, so he takes a risky job. Mr. Peng is from China and wants a quick way home. Tony can provide that for him. He got the job from Lloyd Barnes, a Chicago lawyer. The translator is Mister Chen. Tony performs the dispatch.

Tony is at the bank and becomes involved in a robbery scheme in which he becomes implicated. People die in unusual ways. Tony has to unravel the mystery or he will be the next person to die and not come back.

Recommendation

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi was originally only released as an Audible audiobook in 2020. I read the hardback novella published by Subterranean Press in 2021. The book is 191 pages long. This, the second story of the Dispatcher series, explores another ramification of the murder mechanism that rules this world. How would you murder someone without murdering them? The solution made sense. It was an enjoyable thriller.

Links

Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi is Book #2 of the Dispatcher Series

This is the link to The Dispatcher’s Goodreads page.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57590084-murder-by-other-means

John Scalzi read the first chapter in his work in progress, the Dispatcher 2, at the science fiction conference ConFusion in Detroit on January 19, 2019. This is a link to my recap of the conference and John Scalzi’s reading.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi is a police procedural set in the future where murder victims return to life. Dispatchers commit legalized murder. Will Dispatcher Tony Valdez look for his kidnapped friend even though Tony may face his eternal death?

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi

Buried Book by DM Pulley

Buried Book by DM Pulley.

Introduction

In Buried Book by DM Pulley, nine-year-old Jasper Leary finds his missing mother’s childhood diary in 1952. He searches for her using the clues in the diary, but faces encounters he never knew existed. His travels take him from his uncle’s farm in Michigan to downtown Detroit and to an Indian Reservation. Will he find her alive or dead?

Summary

The Buried Book by DM Pulley starts with Jasper Leary’s mom taking him to his Uncle’s farm. Jasper is nine-years-old and lives with his mom, Althea, in Detroit, Michigan. Uncle Leo’s farm is in Burtchville, Michigan. It’s 1952. She leaves Jasper at the farm and promises to return after she takes care of some important things. Althea doesn’t trust her husband Wendell to watch after Jasper.

The farmhouse is small. Jasper shares a bed with his twelve-year-old cousin Wayne. Uncle Leo and Aunt Velma have their bedroom. Jasper learns the farm life, does his chores, and goes to school. He has issues with Wayne. As the days go by, he wanders around the farm, looking for answers about his mom’s disappearance. He finds the burned-out family house of Althea and Leo. Inside a drawer, he finds young Althea’s diary.

Jasper uses clues from the diary to search for his mother. He travels to a rough neighborhood in Detroit and an Indian Reservation. What he discovers surprises him.

Recommendation

I liked The Buried Book by DM Pulley. Jasper is an interesting viewpoint character, and I thought the mystery surrounding his mother fits together well. The life on the farm sections was detailed and exciting. I wondered about the age of Jasper. His thoughts read to me like an older child. I don’t see a nine-year-old being as independent and resilient as depicted in the novel. The bus driver’s scene surprised me. It didn’t seem to fit with the story to me. The mob connection to the Indian Reservation seemed to cliché to me. I felt that the strengths of the story overweighed my concerns.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Buried Book by DM Pulley.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29105591-the-buried-book

No Ones Home by DM Pulley

In No One’s Home by DM Pulley, the Spielman family buys a mansion named Rawlingswood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in this ghost suspense thriller. Will the Spielman’s survive the mansion, unlike the four families that preceded them?

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley connects the stories of Ethel from March 1938 and Kris from April 1999 through the Torso Killer of Cleveland. They are targets. Can they survive? Link to review.

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley

This is the link to my review of The Dead Key by D.M. Pulley.

The Dead Key by D M Pulley

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson, Book #3.5 of the Stormlight Archive

Introduction

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson is a long novella set in between Oathbringer (Book 3 of the Stormlight Archive) and Rhythm of War (Book 4 of the Stormlight Archive). The novella follows the mission of shipowner Rysn Ftori and Windrunner Lopen which was not detailed in either novel. Rysn and Lopen must uncover the secrets of the lost island of Akinah or it will doom Roshar.

Summary

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson has two viewpoint characters, Rysn and Lopen. They are minor characters from the series that get a starring role in this novella. In the prologue of the book, a ghost ship appears off the coast of Aimia. Something odd is going on in those waters.

Rysn is a shipowner. She was paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. Her pet is Chiri-Chiri who is a larkin, a type of flying crustacean. Chiri-Chiri is sick and Rysn learns that the larkin must return to its home, Akinah, an island off the coast of Aimia, to be healed. Rysn meets with Queen Navani Kholin to arrange an expedition to the lost city of Akinah. Queen Navani agrees because she thinks there is an unknown oathgate in the lost city that would help them in the war effort against the Voidbringers.

Lopen is part of the group that Kaladin assembles to go on the expedition to Akinah with Rysn. Lopen is an original member of the Bridge Four crew and is Herdazian. He is an optimist, always looking for the positive in life and he uses humor to lighten the mood of any group he is in. He lost his left arm, so he understands the challenges Rysn faces overcoming her disability. Lopen became a Windrunner and regrew his arm using his new powers.

Kaladin also assigns to the expedition: Huio, Lopen’s reserved cousin who Kaladin hopes will balance Lopen’s exuberance; Cord, the Horneater daughter of Rock, and she is also a cook like him; and Rushu, an ardent who is researching using fabrials on a ship.

They sail on the ship Wondersail to discover the secrets of the lost city of Akinah.

Recommendation

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson has two minor characters from The Stormlight Archive shine with their own story. It was fun to see Rysn and Lopen lead an expedition and solve problems. The action in the story was swift and the plot was complete. I liked the development of the secondary characters’ interrelationships. Huio, Cord, and Rushu have their moments. I wanted more but this story was not novel length and I appreciate the story as written.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54511226-dawnshard

My review of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. In book four of the Stormlight Archive, the war between humans and Voidbringers intensifies.

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere interrelated many of the author’s works. He set the stories of the cosmere on a group of worlds that are connected by magical means. He set six stories on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells, Murderbot Diaries Book 6.

Introduction

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells is a novella in the Murderbot Diaries Series. The first four stories are all novellas that complete a self-contained single story. The author set this story is between the novellas and the Murderbot novel, Network Effect. The protagonist of the diaries is a SecUnit (Security Unit), a part organic and part mechanical cyborg, or as it calls itself a Murderbot. In this story, Murderbot is a Security Consultant to Dr. Mensah on Preservation Station. It finds a murdered human and must solve the mystery. Who was the victim, how was he killed, and why was he murdered?

Summary

In Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells, Murderbot examines a dead human. Murderbot reports its impressions to Dr. Mensah and Senior Security Officer Indah of Preservation Station. The human is unidentified. Indah calls it a murder while Mensah wants to call it an accidental death for now. Mensah talks to Murderbot on a private channel because they are worried that the GrayCris corporation (the antagonists for the previous novellas of the series) is involved with the death. Mensah convinces Indah to let Murderbot help her learn about the dead human. Insah wishes Murderbot would call him the deceased or the victim.

Murderbot and Insah investigate the case with help from Tech Tural. Insah confirms Murderbot as a consultant for Station Security. Murderbot must become part of the system to investigate the system to get access to the Preservation Station networks. It’s a hard transition for Murderbot because of her Rogue SecUnit identity. All Murderbot wants is to find out who killed the dead human and then can go back to a normal life watching reruns of the show Sanctuary Moon. Murderbot follows the clues and uncovers an unusual suspect.

Recommendation

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells is a locked room murder mystery set on a space station. As a procedural mystery, the story doesn’t have the fireworks of the previous novellas. This story is a different and interesting experience. I recommend it. Network Effect won the 2021 Locus Award for best novel and I think they should nominate Fugitive Telemetry in the novella category next year. I believe she will write more stories in the Murderbot diaries and I plan to read them when they are published.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page for Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205854-fugitive-telemetry

Book Review of Network Effect by Martha Wells, Book 5 of The Murderbot Diaries, a novel. The diaries protagonist is a SecUnit (Security Unit), a cyborg, or as it calls itself Murderbot. Murderbot must solve a complex mystery or risk the deaths of its human clients.

Network Effect by Martha Wells

This is a link to my review of All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Book 1 of The Murderbot Diaries.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Book Review of Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, a series of four novellas. SecUnit calls herself Murderbot. She has feelings of companionship for her human employers. What lengths will she go to protect them?

Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells