[books] Mystic and Rider, Symptoms of Death, Nightmare

[snugglekitty]

I 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.

Comments

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you reviewed the Sharon Shinn book, because I've been thinking of reading it.

How are the Liaden books? I've thought of reading them (in part because one of my favorite actors did the book-on-tape version), but I didn't know if it would be worth my time.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Oh my gods. The Liaden books are fucking awesome. (And how often do you hear me use THAT expression?) But seriously. They're completely terrific.

Here's what I wrote about them in a previous post:

The Liaden series, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Words alone can hardly express how much I love this series. Romance, high protocol, magic, space mercenaries, and eight-foot sentient turtles. Really, what more could you want? Oh, right - female characters that KICK ASS and male characters that are elegant, polite, and loving. Really, people. Read the books. They're wonderful. In the series timeline, the first Korval book is Local Custom. However, Agent of Change was the first book written, so that's a fair first choice as well. If you're anything like me, or the many people I have recommended the series to, you will soon gobble up all nine full-length books currently written, order the chapbooks, and be begging for more.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Hmm, it does occur to me to mention that our reading tastes have not always lined up. So, although I think they're the best thing since sliced bread, you may not.