Tak! commented on Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic. "No maids, no …
#SFFBookClub pick for April 2024
Reviews and Comments
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Non-bookposting: @Tak@gush.taks.garden
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Tak! commented on Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering …
The only novel from the Nebula finalists that wasn't already on my list
The only novel from the Nebula finalists that wasn't already on my list
Tak! reviewed City of Pearl by Karen Traviss (The Wess'har Wars, #1)
Three separate alien societies have claims on Cavanagh's Star. But the new arrivals -- the …
City of Pearl
3 stars
Overall good scifi and world building, with what I consider appropriate cynicism/realism around human behavior in first contact scenarios
Tak! commented on Maths: 100 Ideas in 100 Words by Katie Steckles
One of the first titles in a cutting-edge new series created in partnership with The …
Also in exciting today news: my new book is out! Coauthored with @SparksMaths@mathstodon.xyz and @sam_hartburn@mathstodon.xyz, it's called "Maths: 100 Ideas in 100 Words", and what we learned from writing it is that a) there are more than 100 ideas in maths and b) 100 is not enough words to write about them, but we did our best:
Also in exciting today news: my new book is out! Coauthored with @SparksMaths@mathstodon.xyz and @sam_hartburn@mathstodon.xyz, it's called "Maths: 100 Ideas in 100 Words", and what we learned from writing it is that a) there are more than 100 ideas in maths and b) 100 is not enough words to write about them, but we did our best:
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, …
Babel
5 stars
Content warning I don't think I can review this without some vague spoilers
Babel is a story of colonialism, racism, sexism, whiteness, Englishness, loss, betrayal, and despair. It's basically a modern parable grittily illustrating the causes and consequences of colonialism.
I love the translation magic mechanism, and I found the embedded etymology tidbits super interesting.
I also appreciate that the author had the courage to allow Bad Things to happen to major characters - not in a GRRM torture porn kind of way, but just as a kind of natural consequence of the world and the characters' interactions.
Tak! commented on At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard (Lays of the Hearth-Fire, #2)
Cliopher Mdang has been appointed Viceroy of Zunidh by his beloved Radiancy, the Last Emperor, …
The fediverse has broken me to the extent that I read Au'aua as awawa
The fediverse has broken me to the extent that I read Au'aua as awawa
Tak! commented on At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard (Lays of the Hearth-Fire, #2)
Cliopher Mdang has been appointed Viceroy of Zunidh by his beloved Radiancy, the Last Emperor, …
imbrangled
Tak! commented on The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple …
Content warning ending spoiler
The best possible ending to this would have been for the emperor to get hit by a bus (or the in-universe equivalent) immediately upon walking out the door
Tak! commented on The Beautiful Decay by Veo Corva (Tombtown, #2)
Something strange is happening in sleepy subterranean Tombtown. Necromancers are disappearing. The crypt is changing. …
Hi lovely folk,
I am surprised and delighted to say that my novel The Beautiful Decay is up for various awards at the Queer Indie Awards!
If you enjoyed it, it would mean a lot if you'd vote for it. 💙
Discoverability is incredibly difficult as a self-published author and awards can be a big help.
Voting closes 26th Jan!
Hi lovely folk,
I am surprised and delighted to say that my novel The Beautiful Decay is up for various awards at the Queer Indie Awards!
If you enjoyed it, it would mean a lot if you'd vote for it. 💙
Discoverability is incredibly difficult as a self-published author and awards can be a big help.
Voting closes 26th Jan!
Tak! reviewed How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work …
How High We Go in the Dark
4 stars
A series of bleak, gritty glimpses of what's in store for us over the next few decades.
The tone is lightened a bit here and there with injections of optimism, but I think it works against itself a little when the optimism feels unwarranted.
The way that the characters from the different stories are linked reminds me a bit of Cloud Atlas (although I only saw the movie (sorry)).
A series of bleak, gritty glimpses of what's in store for us over the next few decades.
The tone is lightened a bit here and there with injections of optimism, but I think it works against itself a little when the optimism feels unwarranted.
The way that the characters from the different stories are linked reminds me a bit of Cloud Atlas (although I only saw the movie (sorry)).
Tak! commented on How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work …
Wow, the second story is bleak. Do not recommend for people with children in their lives.
Wow, the second story is bleak. Do not recommend for people with children in their lives.
Tak! reviewed Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.
Wounded …
Bookshops & Bonedust
4 stars
I was pleasantly surprised.
My takeaway from Legends & Lattes was that it was a cozy fantasy adaptation of a modern concept àla Pratchett, but I didn't get a particular feeling of depth.
With Bookshops & Bonedust, it's the converse - I felt like it was mainly a story about Viv and her forced journey of self-discovery, while all the rest of it was just set dressing.
I was pleasantly surprised.
My takeaway from Legends & Lattes was that it was a cozy fantasy adaptation of a modern concept àla Pratchett, but I didn't get a particular feeling of depth.
With Bookshops & Bonedust, it's the converse - I felt like it was mainly a story about Viv and her forced journey of self-discovery, while all the rest of it was just set dressing.
Tak! commented on How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work …
The #SFFBookClub January pick is How High We Go In The Dark, by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Thank you to all who voted and/or suggested books.
The #SFFBookClub January pick is How High We Go In The Dark, by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Thank you to all who voted and/or suggested books.
Tak! reviewed Wondrous Journeys In Strange Lands by Sonia Nimr
Award-winning historical fantasy and literary folktale. Winner of the presigious Etisalat award.
In a …
Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands
3 stars
I enjoyed the setting, and some of the substories were compelling, but as a whole it was too rambling and incohesive for me.
I feel like it would have worked better as a series of stories about different people from the same village or whatever instead of repeatedly being like "despite being in the middle of this incredibly urgent life crisis, the main character decides to spend six months teaching an older woman to fold laundry" or "despite having a very bad outcome two chapters ago, the main character decides to engage in exactly the same dangerous behavior with no additional precautions"
I enjoyed the setting, and some of the substories were compelling, but as a whole it was too rambling and incohesive for me.
I feel like it would have worked better as a series of stories about different people from the same village or whatever instead of repeatedly being like "despite being in the middle of this incredibly urgent life crisis, the main character decides to spend six months teaching an older woman to fold laundry" or "despite having a very bad outcome two chapters ago, the main character decides to engage in exactly the same dangerous behavior with no additional precautions"
Tak! commented on Wondrous Journeys In Strange Lands by Sonia Nimr
Award-winning historical fantasy and literary folktale. Winner of the presigious Etisalat award.
In a …
Content warning overall plot arc comment
Ah, so it's a nested stories story