Review: Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People’s Council for Nine Thousand Worlds by Darkly Lem

Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People’s Council for Nine Thousand Worlds by Darkly Lem
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ALC and ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Dion Graham was a fantastic narrator!  I enjoyed the different voices he gave the the various characters and he did different accents as each character moved from world to world at times.  Such a fantastic performance!

This is perfect for fans of Caldwell Turnbull's No Gods, No Monsters and the Convergence Saga. Turnbull is a member of the author who make up Darkly Lem, the other authors in the collaboration are Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, and M. Darusha Wehm. This didn't feel like it was written by multiple authors, and felt like a cohesive effort by the five members that make up Darkly Lem. If you enjoy that style of writing and storytelling you will enjoy this sci-fi, speculative fiction. This touches on politics, philosophy, environmental factors, corruption, self-reflection, and more.

Overall I really enjoyed this. It is strange in the best way, and while the pacing is a bit slow that fit the plot as it develops and the characters move about the multiverse. It is told from several different perspectives, but I had a hard time telling the characters apart and perhaps that was by design. There is a definite undertone of self-reflection by the characters as they move from place to place and they question their own identities. A major part of the plot is that characters can travel the multiverse and they inhabit different "husks" in different worlds. Their consciousness travels, while their "prime body" stays put, but don't quote me on that I'm still not 100% clear on that point. Some people have the ability to travel on their own, while others can move multiple people at once and the characters visit something akin to a train station to travel. It wasn't always clear if the character was another person when they traveled or if they were themselves, and that was a bit confusing for me. This is one of those books that I feel like upon re-read I would really understand the world and the science much better. I enjoyed the various characters once I got comfortable with their plotlines and motivations. There is alot going on and I was left with that feeling of "What did I just read?" when I was done. With this book that is meant as a huge compliment to the authors as I want to start over and dive back in because this book was so intriguing and interesting. I want to pick up on all of those things that I missed the first time through and pay closer attention to certain characters. I believe this is the beginning of a series and will 100% continue on.

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Review: The Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story by Alix E. Harrow

The Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story by Alix E. Harrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is a strange little book set in a small Appalachian town, where demons infest the wild lands and knights are summoned to hunt them down.  Information is no longer passed down electronically, but via storytellers, the current storyteller is Shrike who knows more about the town's current demon than anyone as it was once her wife May.  The knight also knows much about demons but he longs to know the secret of their creation for like Shrike, his wife was also turned into a demon.  Shrike is determined to keep May safe and prevent the knight from harming her.  He is surprised by the history lesson given by the storyteller, but knowing what he knows about the toxic lands and the science and medicine available in the cities it all makes sense.

I really enjoyed this short story.  The author packs alot of information into only about 40 pages.  It is rare that I find a short story that feels complete and while the author could probably write and entire novel about this world, I think it is perfect as is.  Harrow's work to date has been hit or miss for me, but this was a real hit!  I loved the push and pull between Shrike and the Knight, they both have secrets and personal motivations.  They both want to protect their loved ones and took their vows seriously.  This also has  commentary on the environment, technology, healthcare, societal collapse, religion, etc.  It certainly made me think.

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Review: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is told from multiple perspectives, and I appreciated that the audiobook had multiple narrators, all of whom I enjoyed.  It really helped to know which person from the island you were with for that chapter based on the voice you were hearing.

This mainly follows Dominic and Rowan.  Dom is a widower and his three children on a tiny island that has been used for research and as a seedbank.  All of the scientists have left the island, as the sea is threatening to overtake the island and the lighthouse Dom and his family live in.  He and the kids are responsible for packing up the seeds and whatever else they can salvage when the last ship comes to get them.  The kids Raff, Fen, and Orly really don't know a home other than the island and spend their days among the plants and seals.  Their lives are about to be completely turned upside down when they have to return to "proper" society, but as they are packing things up a strange woman washes up on shore during a storm.  When Rowan finally wakes up she finds Dominic's strange family nursing her back to health.  As she gets to know them she finds that while they are kind, something strange is going on and she is determined to find out what they are hiding.  Turns out she has secrets and motivations of her own.

As far as thrillers go this was pretty tame, it is atmospheric though.  The themes of isolation, desperation, and loneliness played a much bigger part than the actual mystery elements.  This is very much about the human condition and what each character is going through and their connection to the island.  This is highly character driven, and the characters are well developed.  I felt the pacing was a bit slow, but I chalk that up to the fact that we swap POVs almost every chapter. While  much of the story is told from Dom or Rowan's perspectives, we also get chapters told from each of the children, that tends to slow things down for me because just as you think you are getting somewhere the author takes you somewhere else.  It all does come together in the end.  I wasn't a big fan of the romance element, I didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters.  I feel like the romance wasn't necessary and the story would have been fine without it. I did think that the world building was excellent and I felt like I was on the beach with the seals or in the storms with the characters.  The setting and flora and fauna were all described very well and you can tell that the author did her research which I always appreciate.  

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Review: Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley for the rerelease of this book by Ace/Berkley in February 2025, however I do want to mention that I had previously purchased audiobook versions of the series. As always all opinions expressed in my review are my own.

We pick up where book 2 leaves off with Vor still trying to balance his duties as king and husband while Faraine desperately wants to help her new kingdom and find her place.  In an attempt to help the kingdom Faraine looks deeper into her own growing powers and uncovers secrets about Vor's world that not many know.  Things take a bit of a darker turn as Vor keeps his agreement to help Faraine's father and as Faraine delves deeper into her abilities.  Things also heat up as Vor and Faraine accept their feelings for one another and stop pretending that their wedding was just a political alliance.  

I loved this whole series and very much enjoyed going on this journey with Faraine and Vor.  I really enjoyed the world building and the character development.  There are some spicy scenes for the romance lovers, but as a fantasy lover myself this hit all of the right notes with action, adventure, and magical elements as well.

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Review: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ALC and an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Evelyn and Arden through a thousand years as they have fallen in love and he has betrayed and murdered in each one before she turns 18.  She can't remember why he hunts her or why they are bound to each other, and he won't tell her.  All she knows that in this life, her younger sister is dying and her bone marrow is the one thing that might save her.  She has to evade Arden long enough for the doctors to perform atleast her part of the procedure to give her sister a chance.  The only problem is she hasn't figured out who Arden is masquerading as in this life as he has hidden himself very well this time and she is running out of time before her 18th birthday.

This alternates in varying timelines from the present day to past lives that Arden and Evelyn have lived.  I liked that this takes us back to several different places in history, and Evelyn isn't always a woman and Arden isn't always a man and they aren't always in a traditional heterosexual relationship.  Gender wasn't a preference for either one of them, it was more the connection they shared.  Sometimes they are already together while others they have to find one another and that spark takes hold when they reunite again and they remember who they are.  I do wish we would have spent a little more time in these past chapters getting to know the characters and their backstories a bit more.  They were significant turning points in the relationship between the two main characters and would have lent a bit more to the character development and helped us understand how deep their connection really was and why they were willing to make the bargain they did.  

We eventually find out why Arden murders Evelyn every 18 years just before her birthday, but it comes toward the very end and felt a bit rushed.  I was a bit disappointed with the ending despite very much enjoying the rest of the book.  I thought the reveal was good and the concept was great, I just wanted a bit more development and explanation to go with that plotline. Overall I did enjoy getting to know our characters and their relationship.

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Review: The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton

The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both and ARC and an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Dalton was a down on his luck guy with nothing to look forward to, when he gets recruited to be part of a confederation to spread love and harmony throughout the galaxy. Dalton's crew is Unity, but they have a nemesis group called The Assembly and they really don't get along. Both groups seek out new civilizations and want to broker alliances and they will do whatever it takes to make sure their side wins a new friend.

Dalton finds himself stranded on a new planet and guest of the planet's queen. He and Breaker, a member of the Assembly are both vying for her attention and still attempting to form and alliance, but Dalton has a hard time understanding the culture and strange sense of honor that the their mostly female civilization operates under. At the same time he questions the motivations of his own crew and mission. His survival on the planet hinges on the queen making him her consort, which Dalton doesn't understand, as there is no romance between them. As things become more clear he comes to understand how politics work on the planet and that he may just be a bargaining chip.

I really loved getting to know Dalton as he had to navigate this precarious environment. He can't leave the planet, and he is forced to be the consort of an alien queen for political reasons. He is always offending those around him, mainly because he doesn't understand their culture, which leads to some pretty humorous moments throughout the book. I loved the snark from the AI translator that helps Dalton navigator the various languages. At times this felt like cozy sci-fi as Dalton deals with more social situations and what he feels is moral and honorable and there isn't alot of graphic content when it comes to violence and other content.

I loved this. It was fun, had the right amount of humor, and falls in the more cozy genre that is so popular right now. This has more political intrigue and self reflection themes to it, so if you are expecting epic world building and super technical sci-fi this is not that book. Dalton spends much of his time underground so there isn't a ton of world building or description of the world. The plot is more focused on will Dalton follow the orders of his exploration company, or will he follow his own moral compass. I thought Dalton's relationship with Breaker was great and while this is a standalone I would love to know how they get on in the future.

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Review: On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young

On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

The book reads as a complete standalone, however if you have read the original On Dublin Street series, you will recognize many characters who make cameos.  I love that we have returned to this world with Beth, the daughter of Joss and Braden and hope to see more of the 2nd generation of the Dublin Street characters. 

Beth owns a successful social media company, she grew up with privilege but she always had to work for what she wanted.  One thing that she wanted, but pushed away was Callan Keen.  She thought she was doing the right thing at 16, but things didn't end up the way she had hope and they both ended up hurt in the end.  Callan is now a famous soccer/football star, and he happens to be moving into Beth's building.  Running into each other regularly brings back memories and unresolved feelings, especially when Beth asks Callan to be her fake boyfriend to help her land a big client.  In return, Beth promises to set Callan and his best friend Baird up with a meeting with her dad regarding a property he owns.  This mutually beneficial relationship would be great for their career goals, and it just so happens it is equally beneficial in the bedroom as well.  Things get a bit spicy between these two.  As their casual arrangement comes to a close, neither one of them wants it to end but they both have things from their past that are keeping them from taking the next step.  

This has good mental health rep as Beth deals with anxiety, but she doesn't full open up about it.  She takes on too much and deals with everything on her own.  If you have read On Dublin Street, you will be familiar with Joss' struggles with grief and anxiety.  Joss has conversations with both Beth and Callan about how she learned to deal with those things and that she was there for them both if they needed someone to talk to.  Callan, like Joss, has a hard time letting people get close to him because of tragic loss at a young age and doesn't know how to deal with big feelings.  With the support of the people around them, they are able to take steps to fight for their relationship and build something together.  I really enjoyed getting to know Beth and Callan as they got to know each other as adults and rekindle their romance from high school. This also has great side characters, Beth has a huge family and we meet many of them in the book.  I suspect as this is a 2nd gen series we will see more of them in the future.  Callan's best friend and business partner Baird was awesome, and I hope to see more of him in the future as well.

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