Weekly Roundup

This week I’ve finished two books, posted two reviews, and started two more! Read on to get a roundup for the week and find out what I’m reading!

On Tuesday (a day later than I inteded) I posted a review of Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone, a book that I enjoyed but didn’t grab me enough to make me want to read more in the series. Here’s the review. I do think I’ll still try the author’s other work, as I thought his collaboration with Amal El Mohtar, This is How You Lose the Time War was great.

In my regular review slot on Thursday came my review of The Unbroken by C.L. Clark, something that regular readers of my weekly update will know has been a long time coming. Predictably my review was mixed, but I definitely think this book has earned its place – there’s some excellent writing, and I look forward to seeing what Clark puts out in the future. Here’s my review for your convenience.

Early this week I finished A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine, and loved it. It’s the best book I’ve read this year, but does it manage to get that coveted 10/10 rating? I’ll let you know when I’ve figured that out for myself! I also started, then finished Last Memoria by Rachel Emma Shaw, an ambitious story where memories are taken, swapped and forced back, where the narrators are often unreliable even towards themselves. It didn’t completely hit the mark for me, but it was a good yarn.

I’m still working on The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne, which is fun, gritty and action packed. I’m hoping to put a bit more focus on reading it this week along with the other book I’ve picked up – Clay’s Ark by Octavia Butler. This is chronologically the third book in her Patternist series, while being the second written. I also couldn’t resist making a start on Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb. Ever since reading Assassin’s Apprentice, I’ve been keen to dig back into this series, and while I want to finish off the other two books I’ve been reading, I’ll likely be going full steam ahead with this one soon. It’s a chunky book, but I found the first book very moreish, so we’ll see how long it takes me to get through.

I hope to get a reviews for both A Desolation Called Peace and Last Memoria out next week, but I’ll make sure to do at least one in the regular Thursday slot. Both books require a fair amount of reflection on my part to get through, and neither are fully written yet.

I’ve still been reading stories from The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu, although with so many other books on my plate, I’ve not felt the need to dip into them as much. It’s very possible they’ll be put on the backburner for a while, to come back to when I need them later

And now, my TBR shortlist! From last week’s shortlist, I’ve picked up Clay’s Ark and Royal Assassin, which both have the special distinction of being on the top row of my list! Maybe I’m getting better at predicting my short term reading habits.

Here’s a link to my last Weekly Roundup, if you wish to compare the two. The coverless book on the middle row is Stronghold by Kesha Bakunin, an intriguing new ARC. There’s a good chance I won’t be getting to any of these books this week, but I’ve tried to choose books that contrast a little with what I’ve been reading now, along with some books I’ve been planning to read for a while. I’m keen to read The Bone Shard Daughter before or near its paperback release next month, but who knows whether mood reading will let me.

Let me know if there’s anything there you’d recommend!