Christian Reader - Book lists, discussion, writing

Storm Glass - Maria V. Snyder, 4.5/5, 504 pages
This series picks up where the Study trilogy leaves off. While not completely necessary to have read the Study trilogy first, I would definitely recommend it, as it gives a LOT of background which would only be implied or assumed otherwise.

"Poison Study" is still my favourite of all the Maria Snyder books I've read so far, but this one can definitely give the two other Study books a run for their money. I really like Opal and was intrigued by how her magic evolved.

It's very obviously the first in a series. While fortunately sporting no cliff-hangers, the ending is very open-ended and only a few of the threads (but happily the most important ones) are properly tied off. I'm glad I have the next one at hand to dive into right away.


Sea Glass - Maria V. Snyder, 4/5, 472 pages
No doubt about it, Maria Snyder writes very readable books. Just like the first one, I read this in a day and enjoyed it greatly. Sure, it did get a bit old how Opal was constantly stumbling into one bad situation after another, but at least near the end it seemed as if she was starting to learn from her mistakes - I'm hoping that will continue in the last book as well.

There is some slight foreshadowing in this book, which typically annoys me quite a bit. Here, the event foreshadowed always ended up taking place already a couple of pages later, so I didn't have time to get too bothered by it.

Interesting ending. I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes it in the last book.


Spy Glass - Maria V. Snyder, 4/5, 535 pages
An awesome series :) Unfortunately this book does suffer from being the last in the trilogy though. Maria Snyder nicely ties up all loose ends from the previous books, but in doing so she attempts to do too much in too few pages... even though this is the longest book of the three.

I think she would have benefited from either leaving out some of the storylines altogether, or adding an extra book, or allow for enough pagetime for all the different storylines.

Minor nitpick though. In the grander scheme of things I absolutely adored this trilogy, and suffered from severe book-hangover once I finished it. I may just have to return and reread the Study trilogy now!


We Were Liars - E. Lockhart, 4/5, 240 pages
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

This book was mentioned in the podcast, "Books on the Nightstand", and I was intrigued by their disinclination to say anything about the plot at all. Then I found it elsewhere, with the above admonition. I'll admit it, I was hooked. With warnings like that, I had to know more!

It's dangerous to advertise a book like that though, because when you know there's going to be a twist, it's easier to spot it. But while I had guessed some of it, I was still knocked sideways. So do yourself a favour - don't read any spoilers about this book.

I was a bit dubious about the writing style at first. It's the kind of writing that can come across as pretentious and rub me the wrong way. I think it really worked though, because it fit the mentality of the main character, whose POV we see everything from.

Disturbing book.

Brilliant book.


Relish - Lucy Knisley*, 4.5/5, 192 pages
This book should come with a disclaimer: Warning! Will make you HUNGRY! ... and not just plain ole hungry that any apple or biscuit could satisfy. No, hungry for good, high-quality food. Alas all I had available was a bottle of water :-/ So perhaps the disclaimer should be extended to say Make sure you have a snack readily available while reading.

The media worked really well for this kind of book. I was a bit apprehensive about the "comic book style" at first, but it actually really worked! I loved the drawings and the writing style.

Lucy's love for cooking and good food is apparent in every anecdotes she shares with the reader, and it turns this book into a delightfully charming and witty read. I highly recommend it.


Crystal Singer - Anne McCaffrey*, 5/5, 320 pages
Not as good as her "Harper's Hall" trilogy, but still very, very enjoyable. Guess I just enjoy books where people have to learn stuff, because the parts where Killa learns how to sing Crystal are definitely my favourites.

I'd forgotten that we only get to see her out in the ranges once in this book though.


Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce*, 4/5, 299 pages
Wolf Speaker - Tamora Pierce*, 4/5, 281 pages
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man - Tamora Pierce*, 4.5/5, 228 pages
Lioness Rampant - Tamora Pierce*, 4/5, 308 pages
And this concludes my umpteenth reread of my favourite Tamora Pierce books :)

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - Diana Gabaldon, 3/5, 55 pages
A short novella describing what actually happened to Roger's parents. I enjoyed reading what happened, but wasn't too fond of the story as such, because I still knew the final outcome and that it wouldn't be a happy ending.

Does anybody remember what chapter of "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" it refers to?