The Warrior’s Apprentice (Vorkosigan Book 2 of 16) Kindle Edition –Lois McMaster Bujold

 ASIN: B005DNGSUU

Publisher: Spectrum Literary Agency, Inc. (July 19, 2011)

Language: English

File Size: 993 KB

Text to Speech: Enabled

Print length: 372 pages

5 Stars

 

I’ve been told that one of the things all successful writers must learn is to know when to kill their darlings, and then do it. Unfortunately, authors and readers don’t always agree. She killed one of my chosen darlings, one of my most favorite characters. How dare she!!! Well, I guess she thought it was time, and since we’ve never met, she couldn’t have called for my input. Drat! (I’m still hoping he’ll get resurrected, but it’s a fading hope.)

 

Bujold has the perfect timing to write these books. The action never gets bogged down, there is enough humor to chuckle and snort and now and then laugh out loud (even when she does kill the wrong darling!). The sub plots thicken or are other wisely solved. And the adventure just keeps going.

 

Science Fiction at its best!

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical –by Brian Rea

 Publisher: Chronicle Books; Illustrated edition (February 5, 2019)

Language: English

Hardcover: 176 pages

ISBN-13:  978-1452172552

5 Stars

 

Death works in a cubicle farm with a bazillion other Deaths. Who knew? He reports to work and discovers a note from Human Resources telling him he has a great many unused vacation days—a year’s worth, to be exact, and starting Friday this week, he will be on vacation. A year-long vacation. 

 

This book is truly all about living, not dying. He keeps a journal of things he does, from upgrading his wardrobe to attending a carnival where he wins a goldfish and now has a pet, to dating apps to traveling to warm climes and hot spots. He even takes up painting!

 

The journal entries are fun, but the drawings are delightful. At first glance, it almost looks like a child’s book, but as you get into it, the reader will find it is anything but a child’s book. It’s for every workaholic out there. Life is for living, and living is not being crammed into a cubicle farm 24/7, no matter how much you love your job, or how indispensable you are. 

 

I do wish the goldfish played a bigger role, and had shown up on most (all?) pages, once introduced to Death and us.

Sebastian (Ephemera Book 1) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN: B000PC0SD2

Publisher: Ace (February 7, 2006

Language: English

Text-to-speech: Enabled

File size: 705 KB

Print length: 460 pages

5 Stars

 

If I have told myself once, I’ve told myself a bazillion times, “Self, DO NOT BUY the entire series at the same time! You will never pause between books to write your reviews!” I confess, and humbly apologize if this review is also a partial review of Book 2, 3, and or 4. I know better, but I must be honest, if the series is by Anne Bishop, the temptation is too great! And I’ve never been disappointed.

 

Once again, Bishop has come up with a fantastic series, where certain people (Landscapers) can communicate with the world, Ephemera. And there are Bridges who can open gateways/bridges between the countries or lands that are cared for by the Landscapers. And, there are Wizards, who for the most part are not nice people. Oh, and demons. Oh, yes, the demons are wonderful beings.

 

While Bishop’s other universes tend toward darkness, Ephemera has a nice balance, and some downright humorous situations. Sebastian lives in the Den of Iniquity, a land his cousin, Glorianna Belladonna cares for as a Landscaper and built for him. Several sub plots, which get finished before those dreaded words, “The End.”

 

Once started, I had a hard time putting the book/s down. Yes, this book is erotic, and sexy, and I really, really, Really, did not want to reach those dreaded words, “The End.”

Belladonna (Ephemera Book 2) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN:   B000PC0SMI

Publisher: Ace (March 6, 2007

Language: English

File size: 3609 KB

Text-to-speech: Enabled

Print length: 477 pages

5 Stars

 

Belladonna follows Sebastian, another page burner. Sometimes it pays to buy the whole series at the same time and just binge read. Which is what I did. This book was a tad darker than Sebastian, but I couldn’t put it down. Due to some things going on in my life, I needed to binge on books by an author whose work I know, and I chose wisely. There is enough conflict in this book that kept me on the edge of my seat, but not enough that I had nightmares when I turned the light off at night because I couldn’t keep my burning eyes open any longer.

 

The Eater of the World has been set free. He killed most of the Landscapers and Bridges who were close to his cage. Glorianna Belladonna is the only one who can re-cage the Eater. Can she do it? Will her brother, Lee, help her? What can Sebastian do? Well, who wrote the series? 

 

Bishop is one of the best authors, one of the best world builders I’ve ever read. And her universes are not the same one between series. I feel my reviews don’t do her justice, so just trust me, her books are fantastic and great reads.

Bridge of Dreams (Ephemera Book 3) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN: B006LTZJA0

Publisher: Ace; 1st edition (March 6, 2012

Language: English

File size: 1783 KB

Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Print length: 447 pages

5 Stars

 

The trilogy ends. Sebastian had his book, Belladonna hers, and now Lee, the Bridge, has his. I’m truly sorry the series is ended; I enjoyed these books tremendously. Not only did the Devil get his due, so to speak, but it was great fun to see the characters grow into who they truly were.

 

In this book, Lee is captured, tortured, and eventually finds himself in an Asylum. The only ones who know what he is, are cut off from seeing him; but not before they manage to let him know, that he can’t escape, because they will follow him home to kill his sister, Belladonna. Now blind, among strangers, he must learn new ways to trust, to see, to love.

 

I truly didn’t want this book to end, because the next book is a stand-alone novella in the same universe, but not more about the people I’ve grown to enjoy immensely. Alas, the trilogy ended, no matter how slowly I read. Fortunately, they are mine, and I can reread whenever I want.

The Voice (Ephemera Book 4--A Novella) Kindle Edition --by Anne Bishop

 ASIN:  B0071GEUXE

Publisher: Ace (February 7, 2012

Language: English

File size: 1009 KB

Text-to-speech: Enabled

Print length: 60 pages

5 Stars

 

I read The Voice, when it first came out. I was delighted to find it at the end of The Bridge in my version. Like another reviewer stated, reading it now, at the end, it held a lot more nuance. Meeting Nalah, Kobrah and the trauma she endured, the unnamed Shaman, Danyal who is prominent in Bridge of Dreams, and The Voice. This is a well-crafted, haunting story.

 

It can probably be read as a stand-alone, but I’d read it either at the beginning or ending of the trilogy, and it fleshes out some of the characters in the books. 

 

Note to Anne Bishop: PLEASE write more Ephemera books. Please, please, please.

Shards of Honor (The Vorkosigan Saga, Book 1 of 16) Kindle Edition --by Lois McMaster Bujold

 ASIN: B005BH9T86

Publisher: Spectrum Literary Agency, Inc (July 6, 2011

Language: English

File size: 917 KB

Text-to-speech: Enabled

Print length 295 pages

5 Stars

 

If your book club needs some excitement, suggest this book. It’s a fun story, well told, with a bit of space opera, romance, conflict, and an ending. It is the first book in a series, and I appreciate the ending, not a cliff hanger to get me to buy the next book. I seldom buy the next book when I come across an ending like that. I have, however, books 2, 3, & 4 of the Vorkosigan Saga  waiting in my Kindle as I write this.

 

Bujold is a masterful storyteller and this is a master story. There are several quips scattered throughout, which bring smiles to chuckles to laughs out loud. The characters are believable. The good guys are just that, and the bad guys are evil. And, it’s fiction and I love it. Lots of action, no nightmares, so it makes a great bedtime read.

 

The afterward at the end, seems a bit like a set up for another book, but I’m not sure. It was interesting, and a nice ending. I think people who are, at best, iffy on science fiction will enjoy this book.

 

Shards of Honor was the book for this month’s read in the book club to which I belong. I can hardly wait until we meet to discuss it. There is a damaged hero in this book that I hope surfaces in the later books.