Quick Review: Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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Harrow the Ninth is a sequel and picks up where Gideon the Ninth left off. Harrowhark finds herself a wreck, but in the emperor’s service. She is not well-liked by her colleagues, she has, at best, acquaintance who will keep her around as long as she’s useless, and she lives on a space station that the angry ghost of a planet is heading towards. Her body is also not on-side. How does she survive all this mess?

This was just has fun and engrossing as the prequel. The writing is spectacular and full of little clues to the bigger picture that made it a fun puzzle to work through. These are really enjoyable reads and I can’t wait for the next one.

Quick Review: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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So, Gideon is a trained warrior and orphan in the House of the Ninth on a resurrected planet in a resurrected galaxy and she just wants to get out and join the army. You know, do something with her life instead of finding herself wasting away on a planet full of people who don’t care about her. But then her plan goes to hell and she ends up having to be the swordswoman to her childhood nemesis, the necromancer Harrowhark Nonagesimus. Harrow, and the heads of all other houses, have been invited by the emperor to undergo trials and join him. If Harrow can beat the trials, she becomes immortal and can join the emperor. Gideon isn’t keen on this, but she’s promised her freedom if she helps.

This book was so freaking enjoyable. I couldn’t put it down. I had so many questions that I had to keep listening in hopes of finding out answers. Gideon is delightful. She’s smart and funny and just a wonderful character. I was so into it.

I’m glad so many people recommended this and I can’t believe I waited so long to pick it up!

What I’m Listening to Now: Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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In the beginning of 2023 I asked people to suggest books for me. I wrote them down and put them in a jar so when I wasn’t sure what to read next I could just pull one out and that would be the next one.

Gideon the Ninth was suggested by at least 3 people and I’ve been giving up my first-in-line spot at the library for at least six months. This time, I figured it was time.

Quick Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

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Y’all, this book is so cute. I absolutely loved it. Chloe Brown decides she needs to get a life and become the badass adventurous woman she was meant to be. So, she makes a list of things she needs to do in order to achieve this goal. The first thing on the list is move out of the family home and into her own place. Which of course she does and that’s where she meets Redford Morgan, the building manager/artist/beauty/lovely guy. But, Chloe has fibromyalgia and on high pain days, she has a short fuse and, of course, that is always when she runs face first into Red.

Red is an artist and used to be out there, showing his work, and making waves. But he’s been hiding for a bit after a bad breakup back in his hometown working for a friend. He paints at night and he wonders if he’ll ever feel ready to get his work back out into the world.

I loved both the main characters in this. They both had really great individual arcs and their romance was heart warming and also hot. This is a 2 chili pepper book. I bombed my way through this while it snowed outside. The audio book is read by Adjoa Andoh, who really brought the text to life.

So, if you like novels that involve personal growth and heartwarming and a little spicy romance, give this a try.

Review: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

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This book was so funny. I listened to the audible ebook narrated by Wil Wheaton and it’s just perfection. Charlie has had a string of bad luck. He was laid off from his journalist job and now working as a substitute teacher. He’s divorced and his father just recently died. He is living in his families home that his siblings want to sell. Things are not great. Then his estranged Uncle died and he’s thrown in the world of villains. He founds out that his Uncle may have had a legit business of owner parking lots but his real business was being a villain and messing up the plans of other villains. Charlie is now a head of his Uncle’s business and with cat spies and talking dolphins. He’s a bit over his head. Even more so when a group of other villains want him to join their group or he’ll lose everything.

This is book is ridiculous in all the best ways. His cats Hera and Persephone are spies that were sent to watch him and can communicate with specialize keyboards. The dolphins that guard his Uncle’s volcano island lair want to unionize. Charlie is funny and grounded. He takes everything with an awe and WTF reaction that is appropriate in situations like this. While everyone underestimates him, he outwits all of them with his knowledge and journalistic experience to dismantle his rivals in one fell swoop. To say this book was enjoyable that I was so sad when it was over and there isn’t a sequel. I forgot what it’s like to read a standalone book. Go read the book or listen to the Audible. You will not be disappointed.