I think this may have been my favorite book in the series so far. Both Ondry and Liam are becoming more comfortable with what to expect from 4.5 Stars
I think this may have been my favorite book in the series so far. Both Ondry and Liam are becoming more comfortable with what to expect from each other. There are less communication errors between the two, but outside forces illuminate just how they've come.
I really appreciated how much Liam had adapted in this story. His thinking isn't quite human anymore. But his past does allow him insights into interpreting the way human nature will push other humans to react. He's adopted much of the way of Rownt way of thinking. It's much more concise and straightforward than most humans would think, but yet the nuances are a language all their own.
I felt like both Liam and Ondry matured in this book. Both in their relationship and in how they related to the outside world. This is a becoming a really fascinating story about the integration of a human into an alien culture. I'm really liking how that is developing.
Merged review:
4.5 Stars
I think this may have been my favorite book in the series so far. Both Ondry and Liam are becoming more comfortable with what to expect from each other. There are less communication errors between the two, but outside forces illuminate just how they've come.
I really appreciated how much Liam had adapted in this story. His thinking isn't quite human anymore. But his past does allow him insights into interpreting the way human nature will push other humans to react. He's adopted much of the way of Rownt way of thinking. It's much more concise and straightforward than most humans would think, but yet the nuances are a language all their own.
I felt like both Liam and Ondry matured in this book. Both in their relationship and in how they related to the outside world. This is a becoming a really fascinating story about the integration of a human into an alien culture. I'm really liking how that is developing....more
This was a little hard to jump back into again as it's been a number of years since I read the first books in the series, but ultimately I was still sThis was a little hard to jump back into again as it's been a number of years since I read the first books in the series, but ultimately I was still sucked in. There's so many things going on it's just so much information, but you can't help but keep reading. The hardest part is really just getting all of the characters iteration straight.
I enjoyed this one and being a shorter novella it just snagged my attention to make the push to read the next book in the series.
Merged review:
This was a little hard to jump back into again as it's been a number of years since I read the first books in the series, but ultimately I was still sucked in. There's so many things going on it's just so much information, but you can't help but keep reading. The hardest part is really just getting all of the characters iteration straight.
I enjoyed this one and being a shorter novella it just snagged my attention to make the push to read the next book in the series....more
This was an interesting read. The author packed a lot in for a novella, you're dealing with the vagrancies of time travel, a romance, and a lot of bacThis was an interesting read. The author packed a lot in for a novella, you're dealing with the vagrancies of time travel, a romance, and a lot of backstory. Still it did an admirable job of not overloading the story or skipping too much to make you feel like anything got slighted. I think the time travel element was the most interesting part of things and I enjoyed that Gavin's choices felt authentic to who he was an what he'd been through. There are some darker elements to this story, but they're not wallowed in so it doesn't bog down this story or make it hard to read. Gavin has had a really rough time of things and has been handed a pretty bad hand. At heart though he's still a good guy. I felt for him and understood why he'd handle things the way he did.
I think the one downside to this story was that I didn't really get to know Cato the way I would have wanted for him to be thrown in as a romantic option. I liked that the author didn't force Gavin's feelings on things, but I wished I knew more about the person Cato is.
Merged review:
This was an interesting read. The author packed a lot in for a novella, you're dealing with the vagrancies of time travel, a romance, and a lot of backstory. Still it did an admirable job of not overloading the story or skipping too much to make you feel like anything got slighted. I think the time travel element was the most interesting part of things and I enjoyed that Gavin's choices felt authentic to who he was an what he'd been through. There are some darker elements to this story, but they're not wallowed in so it doesn't bog down this story or make it hard to read. Gavin has had a really rough time of things and has been handed a pretty bad hand. At heart though he's still a good guy. I felt for him and understood why he'd handle things the way he did.
I think the one downside to this story was that I didn't really get to know Cato the way I would have wanted for him to be thrown in as a romantic option. I liked that the author didn't force Gavin's feelings on things, but I wished I knew more about the person Cato is....more
I'm just going to post my comments to my team as I was reading this as my review as I think it about covers my feelings about this book...WARNING spoiI'm just going to post my comments to my team as I was reading this as my review as I think it about covers my feelings about this book...WARNING spoilers ahead...
(view spoiler)[ I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I'm already confused as hell with book 2 and I'm only 25pgs in. We literally start this book where the MC has a sister that's been with her in the life she has after her parents sent her away "for her own protection" and locked her memories, but suddenly she has another sister who was supposedly sent with her to the moon she was on. But the writing was so ambiguous at first I thought the author'd forgotten the name of her own character from book 1. It's only now as the original sister is being mentioned by name that I see that in reality there were two sisters, one from the birth parents, and one from her adoptive placement parents. *headdesk*
***Update*** (because if I have to suffer you all can bear witness to my pain) I am now 100pgs in and we've essentially thrown aside the entire storyline we'd built up until now and dragged our MC to another moon against her will. Of course as soon as they get to said moon she conveniently forgets that she wasn't there willingly for some inexplicable reason. Even though she's supposed to be the most powerful being, pretty much ever, and is the only person who can destroy the evil people from some other moon that are supposedly trying to enslave them all. I have yet to see her do anything remotely strong. She flip flops between two guys, forgets anything bad that happens so that the plot can be forced down a path the character wouldn't chose to go in on her own, and is constantly betrayed by those she is supposed to trust. (Let's be clear that all factions in this ridiculous epic are not even remotely clear. So far I'm counting 4 factions...I think...and I'm not even sure of who did what and who's on whose side.)
There was still a dragon for about as much time as she had in the first book, which is to say about a chapter. :-p Thank god that's done. I pretty much don't like a single character in this book as they're either duplicitous or have now at this point committed mass genocide. You're the greatest power that's ever existed, but sure you're "forced" into being the "warrior" that will save them all by murdering every last man, woman, and child of this other race.
There's only one person I feel bad for in this story and that's the MC's young daughter who was taken from her and she thought was dead. And of course that's the one piece of the puzzle that's supposed to pull you into reading book 3 as she's still not saved and is off with I guess the ultimate evil, the MC's father. (hide spoiler)]
Suffice to say I wish there was a synopsis of book 3 somewhere out there just so I could satisfy the little curiosity I have about how everything is resolved, but then again it looked like in some of those reviews that maybe that wasn't even supposed to be the last book, though no more have been written. All in all I'm just glad I'm done with this. I read it for the challenge I was a part of, but thank god I read fast. There was even less about this book that I liked than the first book....more
If it wasn't for my inability to read a series out of order I would never have forced myself through this book and I'm admittedly dreading the fact thIf it wasn't for my inability to read a series out of order I would never have forced myself through this book and I'm admittedly dreading the fact that I have to read book 2 for the team challenge. While some aspects of this story were interesting the writing is not. This book is not well written. The world building is practically nonexistent. We're thrust into a fantasy world but aren't guided into understanding anything of the way in which the world functions. Magic exists, mythical creatures exist, but again there's no explanation given for any of it. The writing is not descriptive and the character development is horrid. I swear there's not a character in this story who can maintain the same opinion from one paragraph to the next. The main characters back and forth "I love him" / "I hate him" dialogue in her own head makes absolutely zero sense. Oh there's this strange connection between us, I'm so drawn to him even though he is a horrific human being, is not a good explanation. Not to mention every other friend of Malkia's is fully supporting her as their leader one minute and then giving her side eye and seemingly talking behind her back the next. There's not one constant character in the whole thing. Frankly the only person I'm interested in at this moment isn't even human. Dragon for the win!
I'm dreading reading book two and assume it's going to be no easier to get through with just as many random decisions that seemingly come out of nowhere that change the entire plot of the story....more
Well that was different. Definitely a unique take on the idea of Santa, his reindeer, and the elves. I actually liked the concept a little mo3.5 Stars
Well that was different. Definitely a unique take on the idea of Santa, his reindeer, and the elves. I actually liked the concept a little more than the execution of this story. It felt like a lot of the elements were rushed through and I wanted more from the elements of the story. I liked Ru and Toby just felt like there wasn't as much development of the relationship between them it just kind of was. I wanted more time building things on Christmas. The final build up of all the action between the reindeer and elves just kind of flew by.
Still the story was entertaining and unique. I appreciated a new Xmas story that sort of turns everything on its head. ...more
4.5 Stars Well this was seriously fun. I picked this up as a BOM book and was very unsure about how I felt about it. But this was light hearted and en4.5 Stars Well this was seriously fun. I picked this up as a BOM book and was very unsure about how I felt about it. But this was light hearted and entertaining from the beginning, even as poor Charlie is getting thrust into the world of villains.
Ok it must be stated that the cats are the best part of this book and I would have loved even more because cats are awesome! Give me more Hera and Persephone and I will not be upset. The dolphins are also greatly entertaining. I wouldn't mind living in this evil villain lair, though admittedly I'd probably be making some changes to its mission statement.
Poor Charlie, he's in quite the pickle, thrust into his uncle's crazy life. I enjoyed seeing this whole thing through his eyes. I appreciated that he's not a pushover and he's making choices to the best of his ability.
I'd never read anything by this author before, but I'll definitely have to remedy that now....more
Look I'm going to finish the series as I do want to know what happens, but this series just really isn't for me. I am not enjoying this much loss and Look I'm going to finish the series as I do want to know what happens, but this series just really isn't for me. I am not enjoying this much loss and betrayal. By the end of this book I wasn't even sure who it was worth caring about anymore as everyone has betrayed Nemesis at one point or another. I felt for her as she was really the only person who seemed to have a conscious in this whole bloody story.
I find the structure of this world and the backstory of it all interesting. I just don't like most of the characters much of the time and there's so much going wrong that I struggle to find the bright spots that make a story bleak story bearable for me.
Ultimately I want to see how the author is going to try to redeem this story and dig us out of the dark pit we've descended into. I do like Nemesis as a character and I hope for her sake that some thing starts to go right for her....more
Well wasn't that a whole lot of fun. And a different little piece of the Murderbot world. I absolutely loved Murderbot on the case to solve an actual Well wasn't that a whole lot of fun. And a different little piece of the Murderbot world. I absolutely loved Murderbot on the case to solve an actual murder no matter that the pesky humans really didn't want their help. (Is it weird that I admittedly have a hard time typing "it" in reference to Murderbot and still somehow always change it to some derivative of "they/their" since it's a person for me, not a thing?) Station security doesn't trust them and are going to do their own thing no matter that Mensah wants Murderbot involved. Oh well, they're perfectly content to go about things in their own way, but they're going to make sure there's no threat to their humans before they're going to let this thing go.
I loved watching Murderbot the detective. They've got such different instincts than humans and the places they go for information aren't what a human would think of first. I love their inner dialogue it's such fun. Watching Station Security have to get over their initial prejudices and realize how much of a help Murderbot was, was great. I adored Indah's coming around towards the end and grudgingly extending plans to a future.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT!!! I think this is the fastest I've ever devoured a series, especially a series that wasn't even on my radar initially, and now I'm stuck waiting! Ugh!!!! I need more Murderbot!!!...more
This is a great little short that shows more of the relationship between Murderbot and Mensah. It is from Mensah's point of view and makes it clear hoThis is a great little short that shows more of the relationship between Murderbot and Mensah. It is from Mensah's point of view and makes it clear how the PTSD is really affecting her. I loved the idea of Murderbot sending her data packets just to distract her and help in their own weird little way....more
I can't stop. I don't know that I've ever devoured a series as quickly as I'm pouring through this one. I usually can't listen to audio for any lengthI can't stop. I don't know that I've ever devoured a series as quickly as I'm pouring through this one. I usually can't listen to audio for any length of time without getting distracted, but the narration for this series it's on point and just hooks you along with the story. I love Murderbot's narrative voice so much!
Of course what is supposed to be a simple research trip with Murderbot along for security, under their own contract for once, with Preservation people they actually like, turns into one big epic clusterfuck. All of which wasn't Murderbot's fault, or at least not really, I mean ART's decisions can't really be blamed on them. This was a whole lot of action as Murderbot's trying to protect their own crew, and save not only ART but their crew as well. Alien contamination causes crazy shenanigans and yet as dangerous as things get you know Murderbot's going to find a way to save the day.
I adored the return of ART in this story as well. Murderbot and ART's relationship is just such pure fun and honestly is the best kind of snarky almost sibling like love/hate push pull. Both of them are so convinced they're always right, but at the end of the day they're also both willing to sacrifice most anything to save those they care about. Whether they'll admit to the caring or not.
I am both ecstatic to have read this and devastated at the same time. This was yet another fantastic Murderbot book. I just love this series so much aI am both ecstatic to have read this and devastated at the same time. This was yet another fantastic Murderbot book. I just love this series so much and it's one of the few that I will always go straight to the audio on. The narration in the audio is just so on point that even when I've read sections of the novels I hear Kevin R. Free's voice in my head for everything. He has so pinpointed Murderbot's internal monologue and it's epic. So yeah ecstatic. But, I hate the fact that there's no other books out right now to be getting too! Ugh, the next book in the series can not come out too soon for me!
Murderbot is dealing with a situation he's never been in. His own internal wiring is betraying him. Damn those actual emotions and actual neuro pathways. He's been through some trauma recently and for the first time he's questioning himself and is he capable of doing his job. I adore Murderbot and I find it fascinating how his own understanding of self and what it all means evolves in each new book. He's still learning what it means to be truly autonomous and to have actual feelings. They're dealing with the repercussions of what happened with the alien contamination the last time they were down on the planet, but they're stupid humans getting themselves into trouble again means he's going to have to go back down planetside. This is a great pick up right after everything that went down for Murderbot and ART's humans in their last big adventure.
Add in more ART and Murderbot banter over their humans, while in the midst of danger and shenanigans and well I'm hooked from the first page. There's so much to love about all these characters and Murderbot's observations come from such a unique point of view you can't help but be enthralled. I ...more
This was an interesting start to an alien series. It all starts with the quintessential alien abduction. Lucas is just your normal average human stillThis was an interesting start to an alien series. It all starts with the quintessential alien abduction. Lucas is just your normal average human still trying to figure out what to do with his life. Sure, he could teach history, but dealing with a bunch of students doesn't seem that much more desirable than his current barista job, and now he's got to watch his ex marry the co-worker he was cheating on him with. Ugh. All of a sudden he's being lifted off of Earth's surface and finds himself on a whole nother planet with a group of humans, none of which asked to be there.
This was interesting in that Kaelum and his people need humans in order to be able to continue to produce children. They're not sure why their ability to reproduce started to dwindle, but it's only with humans that they've found a chance to save themselves. But the hybrids aren't exactly looked at as equal in their warrior culture. And as the prince of the people, the doubts about his own ability to lead since he has a human mother are out there.
I enjoyed the innocent appeal that Kaelum puts out there. He's very earnest in his pursuit of Lucas even as the whole situation is weird for Lucas. I appreciated these two doing what was right and needed to be done as the reality of what was going on for the other humans became clear. Of course, figuring out just what they could mean to each other was lovely. The end result really wasn't surprising, but it was a fun journey to get there and I'm definitely interested in more of this series....more
This was an interesting concept, but this story moved a little slowly for me. This took me awhile to get through and not just because I was l3.5 Stars
This was an interesting concept, but this story moved a little slowly for me. This took me awhile to get through and not just because I was listening to the audio. It just never hooked me in to the point where I couldn't put it down. I was interested to see where things would develop, but there wasn't anything about the characters that had me really wrapped up and caring about their lives. Conceptually this story is a fascinating thought loop, and where it ultimately got to was interesting. The writing style is lovely but it's very slow to develop. ...more
Yay for Murderbot! I can't get enough of this series. This time Murderbot has to save his stupid humans from themselves. Dr. Mensah's been stealthily Yay for Murderbot! I can't get enough of this series. This time Murderbot has to save his stupid humans from themselves. Dr. Mensah's been stealthily kidnapped by GrayCris and the news-feeds don't seem to know exactly what's going on or what happened to her. Murderbot's pretty sure she's dead if he doesn't do something to help get her free. This was one big rescue mission that found Murderbot having to be really trust it's new appearance as a human. In order to infiltrate the station holding all the corporate headquarters they've got to do more than they ever have before.
This was fun and it was really great to get a kind of closure on the main storyline for the first couple of books. All the evidence Murderbot collected is finally in the hands of those who need it and they've done their job protecting their humans. The fallout for GrayCris is not going to be minor. The ending of this one is exactly what I needed to make me have to immediately jump into the next book. Choices!...more
Yeah it's official I'm addicted to this series. I'm going to end up just getting each audiobook until I finish it because they're the perfect complimeYeah it's official I'm addicted to this series. I'm going to end up just getting each audiobook until I finish it because they're the perfect compliment for my walks to work. I'm loving this series so much! Murderbot (or Rin as he's calling himself for the human's sake in this one) is just awesome. I love the thought process that goes into everything as they analyze their reactions to everything. Once again Murderbot finds themselves having humans to protect while also hopefully getting some dirt on the evil GrayCris as well.
This series is fantastic so far. And as I was switching back and forth between audio and the ebook as I was walking the picket lines today I got to enThis series is fantastic so far. And as I was switching back and forth between audio and the ebook as I was walking the picket lines today I got to enjoy it in both formats. The audio is as well done as the story is.
I really love Murderbot, or Eden, as he chose as his name to give to the humans who hired him to protect them. I enjoyed the fact that he was still working to protect people even as he is searching for his own answers. His friendship/working relationship with ART was such fun too. The way the two of them felt each other out and their observations on humanity were great. I loved their working relationship. ART really seemed to be having fun helping Murderbot out in protecting the humans. I hope in future books we get more ART. He's a fun ship and with a little trust established these two worked really well together.
This series is fascinating both for the story and characters themselves as well as for the interesting ethical and human nature questions it poses through Murderbot's attempts at understanding humans or being forced to pose as one. :)...more
This book was one of those random adds because it fits a challenge books for me. I never go into those expecting anything to be good, but I was hopefuThis book was one of those random adds because it fits a challenge books for me. I never go into those expecting anything to be good, but I was hopeful with this novel as it had won so many awards. Oh man! I was so pleasantly surprised by how amazing this book was. I was hooked immediately. Murderbot's inner monologue and the way they view the world was just so fun. I love the premise of this series. I love the way this construct is figuring out just what it values and wants out of the life it has. I loved seeing how they weren't defending the humans they were supposed to protect out of a code that said they had to or anything. They really started to truly care about those under their protection even as the entire process of interacting with humans outside the normal parameters made Murderbot so uncomfortable. I can't wait to check out their next adventure!...more
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