Ooh two choices this time in #BookBracket2025, both were tough!! In the end, I went with Time's Agent as the winner twice. It's a super unique queer science fiction novel about "pocket worlds," aka small alternative universes, wherein time is either slowed down or sped up. It's a beautiful and smart meditation on motherhood, climate collapse, grief, capitalism, colonization, and the nature of time itself. And a great ending!
I finished A CHOIR OF LIES while I cooked and ate kimchi udon, and ooooh boy. Great dish; great book. Rowland digs into some of my favourite themes, including how stories work, who gets to claim ownership over them, and how bias colours first person narration.
I know a lot of people on here consider first person lazy writing, but DUDE. Don‘t be a lazy reader; stay aware that YOU CANNOT TRUST FIRST PERSON NARRATORS, and so many layers open up.
The finished baby blanket. I couldn‘t get it to block as large as I wanted it to with the materials available to me (a stretch frame), but the spirals still stand out better than they did.
Nw, onward through A CHOIR OF LIES. The first Chantiverse novel, A CONSPIRACY OF TRUTHS, had a strong KJ Parker influence, and it‘ll be interesting to see if it carries into this one. Rowland‘s more recent books have rather different vibes. #audioknitting
pickSuch an amazing book! It's set in the Dominican Republic in a science fiction universe where "pocket worlds" aka small alternative universes have been discovered. Time is either slowed down or sped up in these PWs. An archeologist and her biologist wife explore them with enthusiasm, until one day things go horribly wrong. A beautiful and smart meditation on motherhood, climate collapse, grief, capitalism, and the nature of time itself. #QueerBooks
I just started this book yesterday, after it sat on my shelf for more than a year. I'm sorry I didn't pick it up sooner, it's fantastic! As the blurb on the front cover says, "all at once a meditation on motherhood, grief, war, environmental collapse, and the nature of memory and time". Set in the Dominican Republic, a science fiction universe where "pocket worlds" aka small alternate universes have been discovered, lesbian protagonist. So good!
so-so3.5⭐️
For what this was described as, I feel like it didn‘t really live up to what I thought it would be. I did like that both squads were very resourceful and skilled on their own unique ways and the body modifications were a great addition. On the other hand, I feel like there was way too much hope and positivity. I know that‘s weird to say but this is somewhat a post apocalyptic story and it didn‘t always feel like that.
#sff #smut
My #Bookspin choice was a book by K.L. Noone; I intended to start with The Magician but this turned out the be a prequel. It's a short fantasy romance with some lovely writing, and definitely piques interest for the next book.
#JumpStartSummer (this time for sure!) book #1
pickA short but memorable Hugo novella nominee. I finished the book earlier today and the themes have been playing in my mind all day. Which is a more powerful method of control: a heavy physical chain full of tangible links or an invisible one that can be pulled tight without warning? For so few pages there are many layers that I want to peel away via discussion with the author.
Currently my top pick for the #hugoaward novella selection.
pan