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snugglekittyI read Sharon Shinn's new book this week, Mystic and Rider. This book is set in a different world than her Angel books. And damn, it was good! It had some depth and complexity that has been missing in her earlier books. I said this when she wrote Angelica, too - I think she's growing up as a writer, which is really awesome, since I liked her even before that. She also did a plot twist that I was not in any way expecting, but realize in retrospect she did leave some clues for.
Unfortunately, the book as a whole was not very well edited. Hopefully they will fix some of that before the paperback edition. (I'm talking about stuff like typos, and phrases repeated in paragraphs... basic stuff for which I assign responsibility to the editor, not the writer.) I'm really looking forward to future books in this series.
Symptoms of Death, by Paula Paul, represents my latest attempt to find more good Victorian mysteries. Kate Ross set the golden standard with her Julian Kestrel series (Cut to the Quick is the first book.). Unfortunately, she died having only written four, and no one else seems to match her standards. This was much better than Rosemary Stevens' attempt... but still, it was really only okay. I just want someone else to write Victorian mysteries as well as Kate Ross. Is that so much to ask???
Nightmare is the second book in the Silent Empire series. As with the Liaden books, the second book written is actually earlier in the timetable of the universe. I think I would have enjoyed them more if I had read the prequel first. But that's okay. I think these books may be my new fluff crack - the stuff I read for escape, that I just enjoy, that doesn't have many redeeming qualities. Although they do have queer characters and cool aboriginal mythology stuff.
Unfortunately, the book as a whole was not very well edited. Hopefully they will fix some of that before the paperback edition. (I'm talking about stuff like typos, and phrases repeated in paragraphs... basic stuff for which I assign responsibility to the editor, not the writer.) I'm really looking forward to future books in this series.
Symptoms of Death, by Paula Paul, represents my latest attempt to find more good Victorian mysteries. Kate Ross set the golden standard with her Julian Kestrel series (Cut to the Quick is the first book.). Unfortunately, she died having only written four, and no one else seems to match her standards. This was much better than Rosemary Stevens' attempt... but still, it was really only okay. I just want someone else to write Victorian mysteries as well as Kate Ross. Is that so much to ask???
Nightmare is the second book in the Silent Empire series. As with the Liaden books, the second book written is actually earlier in the timetable of the universe. I think I would have enjoyed them more if I had read the prequel first. But that's okay. I think these books may be my new fluff crack - the stuff I read for escape, that I just enjoy, that doesn't have many redeeming qualities. Although they do have queer characters and cool aboriginal mythology stuff.
