Review - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I wavered between 3 and 4 stars for this. While it was a solid read, I probably won't pick it up again, although I will read the sequel.

Part of my issue with the book was my expectations, as usual. When your main character is thrust into a scheming, ends-justifies-the-means ruling family, I was set up to read some vicious politicking and clever court intrigue. Instead, this novel is more a story about the enslaved gods' rise to freedom via Yeine's personal beliefs. Also a good story but I kept expecting a double cross or redemption somewhere that never happened.

But. The worldbuilding was excellent. I want to know more, more, more about what happens to this world. And the not-overdone commentary on slavery, lack of gender issues, and especially Jemisin's show-not-tell story on how others expectations shape us were all thought provoking. The secondary characters were a bit two dimensional but Yeine, Nahadoth, Sieh, and Enefa were all interesting.

Worth a read through for fantasy fans looking for something a little different, if you can tolerate the odd moment of extreme violence. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Review - Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was my first ever Terry Pratchett book and if they're all like this, I could be spending many hours with this author in the near future.

The book never takes itself too seriously, which means the reader really can't either. But don't let that belie the solid craft and excellent story at work here. Pratchett has fun at the expense of many a trope or fantasy element and consistently underscores the point of Story: what we learn about ourselves as a result. I have an engineer's brain that likes to find and solve problems, so it's rare for me to say that there's nothing wrong with a book. It was so nice to sit back and just enjoy a story without having to say "except for this one thing...".

This may be a little dense for those not accustomed to fantasy/fairy tales/mythology but if you have even a passing familiarity with any one of those, I imagine you would find something fun here. Not an earth shattering, mind bending read but very enjoyable. I'll definitely be picking up more Discworld books in the future.

Review - Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder

Except the Queen by Jane Yolen & Midori Snyder

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I read this for my book club and hoped that the discussion would let me decide if I liked it or not. Alas, this was not to be.

There's nothing really wrong with this book and I suspect I was simply not the intended audience (not a huge follower of fae/fairy tales, so many of the plot elements left me puzzled). I just never felt particularly connected to the characters. Or the plot. Or the world.

It was an easy enough read and I enjoyed the gentle humor inherent in two people finding their way in an unfamiliar culture.

I've read books by Yolen before and enjoyed them and have several of Snyder's on my "to read" list. This book didn't made me move Snyder's work ahead or behind where it is now.

Recommended to those interested in both fairy tales and urban fantasy.

Review - How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin

How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very useful book, full of practical suggestions for teaching young children. Broken down by subject, Seldin does a credible job of explaining each basic exercise and how the complexity can be increased for children who are ready. The high quality photographs beautifully illustrate his examples. Along the way, he includes a solid basic overview of the Montessori philosophy of education and child-rearing. Topics include discipline, educational windows, helping around the house, social skills, language and mathematical learning, and creating a child-centered space in your home, among others.

The book is also incredibly readable and it would be easy to return to a particular section if a parent wishes to review or focus on a topic. I enjoyed that it begins with infancy, promoting breastfeeding and cloth diapering where possible. The book is a little dated in its safety recommendations, although the emphasis is definitely on creating a safe place for your child to explore. Seldin also takes a grossly simplistic view of family dynamics in his introduction, but don't let that deter you from what is an overall diversity-encouraging, positive book.

This is definitely a book for parents who are pro-Montessori or leaning that way. While Seldin touts the benefits of this educational method, confirming evidence is not presented. However, as a parent whose parenting goals/philosophy lines up well with Montessori practices, I found this a very useful guide to techniques to incorporate into my toddler's routine to enhance his learning.

Review - Hild by Nicola Griffith

Hild by Nicola Griffith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent book that's probably not for everyone, as it is a steady, deliberate sort of read that occasionally provokes confusion (mostly from naming conventions). Griffith evokes 7th century Britain in both setting and character descriptions that slow the narrative greatly but also paint a very vivid picture of a land and culture far removed from our own version of civilization. Yet the genius of the narrative is in the characters, whose motivations are easily recognizable to the modern reader. Hild, in particular, comes alive slowly but surely as she reaches into the role her clever mother creates for her, one of the few where a woman can safely give her opinion. Hild's particular genius is pattern recognition, which she slowly augments with better information gathering as the story progresses. Griffith makes a subtle but undeniable point about the differing powers of written and spoken word and how groups in power use them throughout the plot.

Griffith's tremendous use of relationships between women in the overking's household was the shining highlight of this story for me. She has recreated a plausible world in which higher-born women are expected to run vast households and estates and be conversant in trade, medicine, and husbandry, but where individuals experience the complex ties between themselves and their guests, serfs, servants, and slaves. I was also especially impressed with factual representations of the illnesses that women in particular have battled for millenia; the modern reader will recognize concussions, gangrene, eclampsia, miscarriage, croup, and various children's illnesses, among others.

The reading experience would have been improved with a few more maps (updated as the story progressed to show who was in charge where) and some additional family trees, due to the overwhelming similarity of the names of unrelated figures. The pronunciation guide and glossary provided were both helpful but might have been better placed at the beginning.

I knew nothing about Saint Hilda or 7th century Britain before reading this book. I'm not entirely sure how much I know now, as Griffith is careful to point out that while she did massive amounts of research, it is a work of fiction. Nonetheless, a thought provoking book about power, passions, gifts, the stories we tell, and the age old wisdom that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Recommended to readers searching for a meaningful read who are not scared off by a slower-paced book and some minimal language barriers.

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Review - Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal

Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The very best comment I can make about this book is that Kowal perfectly interweaves Regency sensibilities and modern thought processes without ever making one intrude on the other. Everything I know about the Regency period in Britain meshes perfectly with what she has written but no language or cultural detail slows or obscures the plot. Having followed the author's blog commentary, I know that she has paid particular attention to getting period details of dress, etiquette, vocabulary, and culture correct and it pays of in an immersive reading experience.

Most importantly, it's a fun novel. Equal parts period fiction, fantasy, & mystery, Kowal demonstrates that a well told story is not confined to one genre. The character arcs of protagonist Jane, her husband Vincent, and her sister Melody show realistic growth as each learns about traits that are holding them back. Anyone who enjoys period details will love this novel, which describes dress and social etiquette by making it essential to an understanding of the social tensions within the plot.

This novel can be read on its own but I highly recommend the two previous novels. Watching Kowal develop as a novelist is a truly wonderful journey and I look forward to the concluding volume of this series with great anticipation.

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Review - Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second in a series, Glamour in Glass is an improvement over the first installment. This entry feels more "correct" for the Regency/Napoleonic period, possibly due to the author's focus on using period language. This book has a tighter focus in characters as well; however, the newer characters are still interesting.

I enjoyed the further glimpses into Vincent's past as well as the inclusion of historical background. The cultural juxtaposition that Kowal uses also added tension and interest to the plot. The "mystery" is pretty obvious from an experienced reader's perspective but credible as being confusing to Jane. This is, after all, not a mystery novel, so that is hardly a mark against it.

This is still an easy read, although with the inclusion of the tensions on the continent, Vincent's torture, and Jane's miscarriage it is not as light as the first. Recommended for those who have read the first book; your continued interest will be rewarded. This is actually one series where you could start with book #2 and not be terribly lost.