Translation State

Although I could definitely tell that I was missing context because I haven’t read the original Imperial Radch trilogy, to Leckie’s credit I never felt lost. And this was a very fun story with cool, deeply lovable cannibal aliens. What’s not to like??

Pearl

Pearl is a short but impactful look at grief, motherhood (and mothering in the absence of a mother), mental illness, and the lasting effects of all three.

Bear

I loved Julia Phillips’ Disappearing Earth, so I was psyched to read her latest book, Bear. It’s hard to compare them, given their very different subject matter, but rest assured that Phillips’ mastery is once again on full display.

Starter Villain

As you would expect of a book with a cat wearing a suit on the cover, and as you would expect from John Scalzi in general, this book was a HELL of a good time. What a quick, fun read!!

Soldier Sailor

I’m glad that Soldier Sailor was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, because that’s why I read it. What a novel, and what a look at motherhood — raw, emotional, sharp, and a million other adjectives besides.

Witch King

I was excited to finally see what Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot books, is capable of in fantasy. Unfortunately, I’m in the same camp as a lot of other readers: this book had a lot of potential, but it was missing the spark.