strong female protagonist – Cannonball Read 17

I don’t want power. I just object to idiots having power over me.

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

June 27, 2023 by carmelpie 4 Comments

I was so afraid for you, I forgot to be afraid for your enemies. ― Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayar These three novels were my entry into the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. There are a few different entry points, but these three provided the right amount of backstory at the right time. I’ve read that you can begin with The Warrior’s Apprentice, however you would miss out on some wonderful characters that are only referenced within the two earlier books. Shards of Honor is […]

“I like stories where women save themselves.”

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

April 24, 2019 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Gaiman smushes the stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty together in this gorgeously illustrated novella. The setting of the book is sometime after Snow White is awakened from her coffin and at the 100 year mark after Sleeping Beauty’s curse set in. But the stakes are raised when the sleeping sickness that has fallen on the princess and her kingdom is spreading out further and further as the curse lingers. Several of the dwarves bring this to their queen, and conveniently she is looking […]

Dancing About Architecture is Still Hard

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

February 27, 2019 by Cabinderada 2 Comments

Written from the point of view of a down-on-her-luck former guitarist who got kicked out of a heavy metal band on the verge of breaking, We Sold Our Souls follows our protagonist, Kris Pulaski, as she attempts to come to grips with the success of her band’s former lead singer. Compounding the normal issues of self-pity, misogyny and imposter syndrome is a nagging feeling about lost time on the night that they signed their intellectual property contract, removing her, the drummer and the other guitarist […]

Everything is terrible: Why I need to stop reading YA romance

January 17, 2017 by Lindzgrl 6 Comments

I was yelling at this audiobook while I was driving, which was great because it distracted me from my usual road rage but bad because it made me look and feel crazy. Of course, today it’s a crazy world so strap in everybody. Let’s go for a hate ride. First, the synopsis: This (young adult) book is (supposedly) a play on the classic Arabian Nights. It features Khalid, an 18-year-old Caliph (i.e. king) in the kingdom of Khorasan who marries a new bride every […]

Politics and Poison, Oh My!

January 4, 2017 by Ale 2 Comments

A big shout-out to Aviva for sending this book my way during book exchange! This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Francesca Giordano is a woman who needs a job after her father is brutally murdered in the street (don’t worry, you find this out in the first chapter), and she gets herself employed with the very prestigious, inherently corrupt Borgia family. Her employment soon has her on a wild ride through the world of Rome’s political and theological corruption as she follows Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia […]

Djibouti? I recommend you Dji-don’t

April 26, 2016 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

I’m a pretty big Elmore Leonard fan. I have only read one of his books “Cat Chaser” but I adore “Justified,” which is based on some of his short stories. He creates amazing characters and dialogue and is prolific as a crime fiction writer. His books have been made into some exceptional movies: Out of Sight, Get Shorty, and Jackie Brown. I was excited to introduce him to my book club, as none of the other members had read anything by him, and to make […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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