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This was a great book; I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. The setting, with it's mix of fantasy, science fiction, mysticism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, is exceptionally clever and well written. The characters and plot are likewise engaging; you really feel like the main character, Sam, is a figure out of legend. I can certainly see why this is an often-cited book among the science fiction community.

For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-lord-of-light-by-roger.html

This was an enjoyable, light read. The premise is very interesting and the humor and story telling are great. The characters are a bit bland, but engaging in their own right- you'll certainly be cheering for the good guys. Overall, this was pretty good book and I would recommend it for people looking for a quick read and lighthearted sci-fi fun. Bear in mind, that this appears to be the first of a series: the stage is set for subsequent books, which I hope Scalzi writes to fully explore the universe he has created!

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-collapsing-empire-by-john.html

This book was just as good as the first one, which was excellent. We continue the story where we left off and learn a lot more about the world, orogeny, the Seasons, and some of the characters. While the characters are still great, it feels much smaller in scope as we spend practically all the book with either Essun or Nassun. The setting is fantastic and the plot is still pretty good, though it feels a bit slower or more confined than its predecessor. Regardless, The Obelisk Gate is a top notch book and a must-read.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-obelisk-gate-by-nk-jemisin.html

This was a very enjoyable book and very approachable despite being so long since I read the prior book, Leviathan Wakes. The setting is cool, as it's futuristic space-based but with plenty of realism. Characters and plot are decent as well and keep the story moving at a fast pace. It's a solid book in The Expanse series and sets the stage for future events in the series.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-calibans-war-by-james-s.html

This was a fun and enjoyable read. I'll certainly continue the series and try to catch up to where it's at currently. The plot, setting, and characters were all pretty good. I'm probably most excited about the setting since Weeks has developed a very interesting magic system based on light and there are plenty of hints at more beyond what we learned in the first two books.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-blinding-knife-by-brent.html

This was an interesting book, but having read it after watching the TV series makes me feel I did not appreciate it as much. While the setting seemed well crafted, the plot and characters suffered somewhat from my comparisons to the series. There are a few odd quirks (notably the emphasis on the I Ching) and a somewhat weak ending, but other than that it's a decent book.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-man-in-high-castle-by.html

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an excellent conclusion to the series. This feels like a book for scientists or people who enjoy science in general. The concepts introduced really make you think about the nature of the universe. The characters really take second place here; I'm sure people will continue to talk about this book for years to come, but when they do they won't necessarily remember the characters. I think I may prefer the second (The Dark Forest) as the best of the series, though.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-deaths-end-by-liu-cixin.html

I'm disappointed at how much the characters dragged down this story. They are weak, static, and barely one-dimensional; such a huge contrast with many of the other books I read and enjoy. The story had some promise, even if the setting was a bit generic. One of the only redeeming features is that it's a short book that can be quickly read to get it over with.

See my blog for my full review: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-tau-ceti-by-kevin-j.html

It is easy to see why this novel was the 2016 Hugo Award winner. The story is just incredible, with plot, setting, and characters all being creative and engaging. It's the sort of story that leaves you wondering what do you want to be and do with life. And then confronts you with what to do when you realize you can't be what you want, but must instead struggle to survive.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-fifth-season-by-nk-jemisin.html

This was an fun, casual book. While the plot or characters aren't incredibly amazing, they are decent and the setting is very cool. I'll certainly be looking into real history to see how this novel and the subsequent ones compare. I did enjoy Temeraire as a dragon and the Epilogue sets the stage for future conflicts that will be interesting to read about.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-his-majestys-dragon-by.html

This was an enjoyable read and, though I read it slowly, I thought about it often. The plot is simple, but engaging, the characters unique, and the setting very interesting. I know the subsequent books are very different in style, but given the ending of this book, I'll certainly have to check out them out.

For my full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-hyperion-by-dan-simmons.html

This was an interesting first book on the life and adventures of Isabella as she sets out to learn about dragons. I found the memoir narrative style engaging, but didn't enjoy much the actual plot. The setting was promising, but not as magical as I expected coming in. I am curious as to how she gets the name "Lady Trent", but not so much that I would immediately dig into the rest of the series. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't like this more, but maybe I overhyped it by having heard good things on it before

For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-natural-history-of-dragons.html