Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“The nameless slave shall wear a silver crown.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

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The first time I read this way back in 2008 I gave it five stars out of reflex, and then later I downgraded to four (I even deleted my Goodreads review because it just seemed excessive and ridiculous). My instinct upon finishing the second time was also to just smack five of ’em on there. It’s just so well-written, and so comprehensive, and so epic-feeling. It’s practically got it’s own gravity. And then I stepped away from it for a while, again (in this case […]

Made me excited for the rest of the series. Also ruined my review streak. #CBRBingo – Green

Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2) by Naomi Novik

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I read this book in APRIL. I don’t know what it is about this series, but when I read the first book, it also took me  f o r e v e r  and also ruined my review momentum. I don’t know why! It was perfectly enjoyable, aside from some dragging in the middle. I think I might have to switch to audio on this series, even though I own the first four books in hard copy. I just cannot with them for some reason! […]

I thought this one was better than the first.

The Fated Sky (Lady Astronaut, #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal

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So I never actually wrote a review of the first book in this series. I review-amnestied it late last year, in the 40+ reviews I just gave up on because I let my review backlog get Out Of Control. We read this for my IRL book club, and we were all excited to read about lady astronauts doing science and winning against misogyny, but all of us had very mixed feelings about it. I flew through the book, but also had problems with it at […]

Breaking the Glass Ceiling to Space

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

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Elma York and her husband Nathaniel are on a long deserved vacation in the Poconos after a very busy time at work, when an world altering event happens: a meteor strikes DC and the eastern seaboard, leading to massive destruction, earthquakes and tidal waves.  If Elma and Nathaniel had been home, they never would have survived, and it’s a miracle they make it out of the Poconos alive, using their unique expertise from working in the space program to predict some of the immediate after […]

“I hate to be sanctimonious about it, but it turns out that good conversation solves a great many problems.”

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston

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I don’t read all that much alternative history, so it took a bit of digging through my to read list in order to find something to read for Read Harder’s Task 2. But, sure enough I had one and while I let it sit to very late (although not the latest on my to read list for this year’s challenges) it was an enjoyable, if slightly unexpected, read. For plot summary purposes I’m going to borrow from Goodreads, since I’m not sure I could do […]

History and travel: bingo two for two in a series (#History/Schmistory & Travel)

His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik

Throne of Jade (Temeraire #2) by Naomi Novik

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I’m pretty behind on Bingo, so trying to catch up before it ends! Some quick reviews of two entries in a series I’ve been reading this year, both on audiobook: Temeraire (AKA His Majesty’s Dragon) and Throne of Jade, by Naomi Novik. Temeraire fits the History/Schmistory square, since it’s set in an alternate history, and Throne of Jade satisfies the requirements for Travel. This was the series Novik was known for before she delved into folklore fantasy with Uprooted and Spinning Silver. They’re difficult to compare, as […]



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