Beemo's Books

The blurb tells you the story and that's exactly what you want. The trick is to find more inside than on the cover and Katherine Addison does that. I gave this 4 stars because I found a lacking of background. I wanted to know why Goblins were less than elves at least to some, why the government is set up the way it was and lots of other questions not answered from reading. None of this of course is important to the story. 

Addison was able to bring to life a young goblin and drop him not so gently into palace politics, just as the blurb described. We feel sorry for Maia and understandably so, and we watch him grow into the role as emperor rather quickly truly but again I felt this is where more could have been told. I do hope there is a sequel but the way the story ended I doubt it because Maia has become his own man. 

Addison's writing was flawless and the dialog seamless even with the royal plurals used throughout. A little lacking with some background descriptions but not horribly so that I couldn't imagine where the story was taking place. 

This would make an excellent movie, made for tv movie anyway and I do recommend reading it and her other works under her real name, Sarah Monette.  

I received this ebook free from joining the author's mail list. Hey I like freebies and space opera so what can go wrong. I wasn't expecting much, but was happily surprised the story was good. 

Space operas fit a nice genre, we get a crew- usually inexperienced in some way; a space ship of some sort or space station, and a little exploration where we meet a bad guy and kick some ass. It's a simple plot line that has given us many episodes of good television and many books. This story did not disappoint. I was surprised actually with the dialog and details. At some points I felt a bit too much detail. Did I really need to know how a space ship's septic system works? Jaimie McFarlane is on book 11 of this series and I recommend reading them all. 

The characters were young to start and I couldn't find myself really empathizing with them, after all they just finished high school and I'm well much older, but McFarlane's writing gave the reader the chance to see through the characters eyes which helps forget the age gap. I'm sure I'm not the intended audience for these stories.

The plot developed easily and at times I knew what was going to happen, but that's the genre more than the lack of story. I liked it and look forward to working my way through the series. It only took me a few days to read, unlike other stories where I forced myself to finish it. This flowed through quickly and even with all the details on space septic tanks I want to know to more about our characters and this new world.  

I was given this story free just for joining the author's reading list. Me and freebies get along great.  Civilly Disobedient, does everything you want a short intro story to do. We meet the characters, at least some of them. We get a brief look into the world being built, in this case one where civil rights aren't guaranteed and food is a bit hard to come by; and we get a glimpse into what is going to happen or at least what might happen. 

I was impressed with this short story by Ginger Booth. So much so I purchased the books in the series just so I can see what happens. I want to know. 

Civilly Disobedient introduces us to Dee, our main character in this story. We see a few days through her eyes. She's a bit privileged and knows it enough to see how lucky she has it but how something needs to be done to help others. 

According to the blurbs on the series there is a whole conspiracy going on and we get to see it from the eyes of those involved from Dee to the military and hopefully it's as good as this first story. 

The author's writing is easy and fast. No big words to bog me down or ideals I can't recognize. There is a bit of familiarity to the writing like, I've been here before but not so much that you put the book down or figure out what happens before the author wants you to. 

If you are looking for a quick dystopian story that isn't cheesy or so convoluted it can't happen then try this out and if you finish the Calm Act series before I do.. don't spoil it. 

To turn my mind off before bed I've taken to listening to podcasts of short stories. Last night I listened to an old episode from Podcastle. Episode 400 was Martha Wells' Night at the Opera. I thought it was great. I've not read anything by this author but I sure am going to look up all her books and stories and hope to find them cheaply. (No offense to her writing but I work at KMart and can barely afford rent let alone my reading habit.)

Our main character, Reynard is perfect. He's your typical anti-hero in the style of Malcolm Reynolds only with more class. I don't know the whole world Martha Wells has built but I sure do want to. From this story Reynard is asked to help an aristocrat family with a sorcerer blackmailer. Just the blurb had me hooked. Throw in excellent dialog and great descriptive settings, not to mention awesome narration from our actors and I wanted more. I was disappointed when it ended only because my appetite for this world was whetted. 

I recommend Martha Wells and Podcastle. 

I got this free and it wasn't horrible. A different genre than I usually read but it hey for free. The premise that China is attacking and how our characters find out is a bit far fetched, in fact that was the main problem for me for this story. The writing was done well and the characters were for the most part believable. I just couldn't get past the way the Red Cell was established, the kidnappings, and how they were used.

I mean really are we all that naive that if someone kidnapped us and said our expertise is needed on a remote island to help plan a war so we can then stop it and we go along? I couldn't accept that so the book for me is only 1 1/2 stars. It might make a better made for tv movie and who knows the second book may be better. The ending was good and it left me almost wanting to go get the second one, but not enough.   

I had such high hopes and I'm not sure why so I felt let down really. I wanted more to this first installment. More on the differences between the Dynasties and the regular people, more about the Priesthood and the TSS. What I got was just a little story. A typical story. The heir doesn't like his planned life so he goes off to see the world and then ends back to the planned life. 

I think the story would have been better for me if the first part of our main character Cris leaving his world and seeing the other 99% live would have been longer. More adventures before succumbing to the planned life. 

There are a few twists in that he doesn't know his life has been totally planned or that he has started that path. And the next book is supposed to investigate more but I'm in no rush to find out. 

The writing was easy and quick. I finished in no time and by no means was the book a struggle to finish like some have. It was just not what I expected so I felt let down and will not rush to finish the story arc. 

This was an odd story. The premise is your typical space adventure. Bad guys trying to rule the universe; a group of rebels trying to stop them; and Earth caught in the middle. The fight scenarios were done well and fun to read. You could almost imagine yourself in the space fighter spinning and shooting. It was fun. Then you bring in a goddess and the story just falls. I almost put it down then but continued on because the fighting was enjoyable and almost made up for the lost Olympian gods.

I felt the author over simplified the story a bit and well dumbed it down. Perhaps the intended audience is much younger but it just didn't seem to flow well. 

I really doubt I will hunt down the rest of the series. But if you like simple action with a bit of love and gods thrown in then check it out. There are four books in the series.