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CustardRock@bookwyrm.social

Joined 2 years, 6 months ago

About Me

Hello there! I'm someone who has always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with reading. While I struggle with it from time to time, managing to finish even a single book in a year feels like an achievement. Despite the challenges, I'm always on the lookout for books that can teach me something new or whisk me away to fantastical worlds.

My reading tastes are quite eclectic, ranging from science fiction and historical fiction to mystery, crime novels, and even manga. Whenever I find the time, I dive into these genres, always eager to explore new stories and perspectives.

If you have any book recommendations or want to chat about a great read, I'd love to hear from you!

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reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Martha Wells: System Collapse (Hardcover, 2023, Tordotcom)

Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse.

Following the events in …

Trauma and Triumph: A System Collapse Review

System Collapse, the seventh book in Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries, picks up right where Network Effect left off. As a direct sequel, this volume is the second full-length novel in the series and is the least stand-alone of them all. If you’re thinking of jumping in fresh here, think again—you'll want to start at the beginning to fully appreciate the depth and development of the story and characters.

Murderbot has endured a lot, from violent battles and betrayals to emotional hardships. It has witnessed filthy-rich corporations committing heinous crimes with no regard for human life. As Murderbot slowly becomes more "human-like" and grapples with emotions it would rather ignore, it’s about to face one of the most human experiences of all: trauma.

A few months after the events of Network Effect, Murderbot and ART's crews are still stuck, waiting for reinforcements to fix ART's hyperspace drive. Meanwhile, Perihelion's crew works …

reviewed Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries, #6)

Martha Wells, Kevin R. Free: Fugitive Telemetry (AudiobookFormat, 2021, Recorded Books)

No, I didn't kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn't dump the body …

Murder, Mystery, and Media: A Review of Fugitive Telemetry

"Fugitive Telemetry," the sixth book in Martha Wells' acclaimed Murderbot Diaries series, delivers a delightful blend of snark, mystery, and reluctant heroism. Our beloved, misanthropic SecUnit, who would much rather binge-watch media in peace, finds itself embroiled in a murder investigation on Preservation Station.

The story kicks off with a dead body, disrupting Murderbot's plans for a quiet existence. This unexpected murder propels our anti-social protagonist into the role of a detective, navigating the intricacies of a space station murder mystery. With its characteristic wit and dry humour, Murderbot reluctantly engages with the humans of Preservation Station, who not only distrust it but also impose restrictions on its ability to hack systems and move freely.

This locked-room whodunit is packed with sarcastic commentary and clever insights, as Murderbot maneuvers through the investigation, uncovering clues and dealing with the prejudices that still linger despite robots being considered people. The tension between …

reviewed Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #6)

Martha Wells: Fugitive Telemetry (Hardcover, 2021, Tor.com)

No, I didn't kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn't dump the body …

Murder, Mystery, and Media: A Review of Fugitive Telemetry

"Fugitive Telemetry," the sixth book in Martha Wells' acclaimed Murderbot Diaries series, delivers a delightful blend of snark, mystery, and reluctant heroism. Our beloved, misanthropic SecUnit, who would much rather binge-watch media in peace, finds itself embroiled in a murder investigation on Preservation Station.

The story kicks off with a dead body, disrupting Murderbot's plans for a quiet existence. This unexpected murder propels our anti-social protagonist into the role of a detective, navigating the intricacies of a space station murder mystery. With its characteristic wit and dry humour, Murderbot reluctantly engages with the humans of Preservation Station, who not only distrust it but also impose restrictions on its ability to hack systems and move freely.

This locked-room whodunit is packed with sarcastic commentary and clever insights, as Murderbot maneuvers through the investigation, uncovering clues and dealing with the prejudices that still linger despite robots being considered people. The tension between …

reviewed Killing Time by Jodi Taylor (The Time Police, #5)

Jodi Taylor: Killing Time (EBook, 2024, Headline Publishing Group)

A ghost train, lost in Time, hurtles through the night...

Two members of Team 236 …

Time Police's Latest Challenge: An Engaging but Predictable Tale

"Killing Time," the fifth book in Jodi Taylor's Time Police series, delivers the trademark lively dialogue, goofy predicaments, and sharp wit that fans have come to love. While the book has its well-executed moments, it didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

This instalment explores more of the secondary characters from the series, offering a fresh perspective but missing some of those impactful moments that typically bring laughter or tears. Notably, the absence of the criminal mastermind, who has been a central figure in previous books, leaves a void that this standalone story struggles to fill. Nearly all the characters involved are part of the Time Police, which narrows the narrative's scope and reduces some of the dynamic tension seen in earlier books.

The main plotline involving the train starts off intriguing but quickly loses momentum. It becomes predictable, and the most exciting elements are barely explored. The train just …

reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries, #5)

Martha Wells, Kevin R. Free: Network Effect (AudiobookFormat, 2020, Recorded Books)

You know that feeling when you’re at work and you’ve had enough of people, and …

The Heart and Humor of Network Effect: Murderbot’s Full-Length Triumph

"Network Effect," the fifth instalment in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells, is a triumph that will satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers alike. This full-length novel, the longest in the series, continues the adventures of our favourite misanthropic, soap-opera-loving killer cyborg, Murderbot, while introducing new dimensions to its story.

What makes "Network Effect" so engaging is its masterful blend of humour, heart, and action. The story centres on the evolving friendship between Murderbot and ART, the utterly amoral AI of a large spaceship. Their interactions are hilarious and deeply humane, offering a refreshing take on the concept of companionship between non-human entities. Despite their cranky, sarcastic exteriors, both characters exhibit profound growth, developing feelings, friendships, and a sense of responsibility.

While the external plot can occasionally blur, it is the character development and narrative style that truly shine. Wells crafts a deeply emotional arc for Murderbot, making it …

reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)

Martha Wells: Network Effect (Paperback, 2021, Tor.com)

Murderbot returns in its highly-anticipated, first, full-length standalone novel.

You know that feeling when you’re …

The Heart and Humor of Network Effect: Murderbot’s Full-Length Triumph

"Network Effect," the fifth instalment in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells, is a triumph that will satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers alike. This full-length novel, the longest in the series, continues the adventures of our favourite misanthropic, soap-opera-loving killer cyborg, Murderbot, while introducing new dimensions to its story.

What makes "Network Effect" so engaging is its masterful blend of humour, heart, and action. The story centres on the evolving friendship between Murderbot and ART, the utterly amoral AI of a large spaceship. Their interactions are hilarious and deeply humane, offering a refreshing take on the concept of companionship between non-human entities. Despite their cranky, sarcastic exteriors, both characters exhibit profound growth, developing feelings, friendships, and a sense of responsibility.

While the external plot can occasionally blur, it is the character development and narrative style that truly shine. Wells crafts a deeply emotional arc for Murderbot, making it …

Martha Wells: Home (EBook, 2021, Tor Books)

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory is a short story set just after Exit Strategy. Home …

Preservation’s Dilemma: Integrating a Killing Machine in Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

"Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" is a brief but impactful short story set between "Exit Strategy" (Book 4) and "Network Effect" (Book 5) in Martha Wells’s acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries series. This short story, only a chapter long, is not a stand-alone tale but serves as a 50-page exploration into the inner workings of Preservation Station and the Alliance.

Written from Dr. Mensah’s perspective, this story provides a unique vantage point. We get to see Murderbot through the eyes of another, allowing us to contrast Murderbot’s self-perception with how it is perceived by those around it. This narrative shift offers fresh insights, especially as we witness Mensah grappling with her post-traumatic stress disorder following her kidnapping. The rest of Preservation struggles with the tension of having a highly dangerous Security Unit—Murderbot—on their peaceful planet, where the term "killing machine" is often thought, if not outright stated.

One of the story’s …

reviewed Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #4)

Martha Wells: Exit Strategy (AudiobookFormat, 2018, Recorded Books, Inc.)

The fourth and final part of the Murderbot Diaries series that began with All Systems …

A Heartfelt Rescue: Exit Strategy in The Murderbot Diaries

"Exit Strategy" by Martha Wells is the thrilling fourth entry in The Murderbot Diaries series. In this instalment, Murderbot, our beloved human-like construct, has finally gathered enough dirt on the nefarious GrayCris corporation to cause some real damage. However, there's a new complication: Dr. Mensah, the very person who freed Murderbot from a lifetime of slavery, has gone missing.

Despite its tough exterior and claims of indifference, Murderbot cares deeply about Dr. Mensah. Her kidnapping by GrayCris sets the stage for a gripping rescue mission. As Murderbot embarks on this quest, it continues to evolve as a character, slowly shedding its deeply ingrained introversion. Yet, it remains reluctant to fully embrace friendship and connection, adding layers to its complex personality.

What stands out in this novella is Murderbot’s snarky, dry sense of humour and its unique perspective on human behaviour. Its candid commentary, peppered with a few choice expletives, reveals …