Review - Fractal Noise (Fractalverse, #0) by Christopher Paolini

 

 

 

 Title: Fractal Noise (Fractalverse, #0)

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 265

Publisher: Tor Books

 Release Date: 16th May 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

July 25th, 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers the Anomaly.

On the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII:a circular pit, 50 kilometers wide.

Its curve not of nature, but design.

Now, a small team must land and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why.

But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space.

For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, for others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe.

Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last.

And the ghosts of their past follow.

 

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 My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley*

Alex is a scientist on the spaceship Adamura. After the tragic death of his wife, Alex signed up to do survey work alongside the other crew members.

None of them were expecting to find signs of alien life in the form of a 50 kilometre-wide hole in the surface of an uninhabited planet called Talos VII.

A number of the crew are sent to the surface on a mission to discover more about the strange hole.

Who made the hole?

What is its purpose?

What will the crew find on the surface?

I read and enjoyed To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, which is set in the same universe as this book, so I was looking forward to reading this prequel. I have to admit that I read TSIASOS a few years ago, and couldn't remember much of the plot, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment.

It took me a while to warm to Alex, and I never really felt that I fully connected with him - Alex having lost his wife, and being deep in his grief from the start made me feel sorry for him, but it also made it hard to know him as a character because he practically was only grief.

Out of the other characters, Chen was probably my favourite. I felt sorry for him and found him relatable at times.

The interactions between the character were interesting, especially as the situations got more and more stressful.

The setting of Talos VII was interesting, and the concept of the hole was unique.

The plot was good overall, but while the book wasn't very long it did start to drag a little as it felt like not much was happening. The existential and religious questions were interesting, but did get a little repetitive after a while.

I would read more books set in this universe.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Review - The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield

 

 

 

 

 Title: The Valkyrie

Author: Kate Heartfield

Pages: 315

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Release Date: 30th March 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Kate Heartfield comes a glorious, lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics

Brynhild is a shieldmaiden of the Allfather, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile.

Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.

And in the songs to be sung, there is another Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.

As the legends tell, these names are destined to be lovers, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies…

For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.

 Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley*

- Note: While I did receive an e-copy to review, I ended up listening to the finished audiobook -

Brynhild is a Valkyrie, chosen by Odin, the All-Father to enforce his will during mortal battles, both saving and killing those Odin chooses.

Then Brynhild is exiled to Midgard, where she must decide how she wants to live her life.

Gudrun is a princess who loves her home and people. Together with her brother, the king, and her mother, Gudrun fights to keep her home safe from the greedy, war-loving Atilla,

Brynhild and Gudrun are brought together by Sigurd, a man who wants to be a hero and a legend.

Can Gudrun save her home?

What will Brynhild decide to do now she is exiled to live a mortal life?

I like Norse mythology, so I was excited to read this book. However, I ended up being a little disappointed.

I found both Brynhild and Gudrun to be likeable protagonists - they both wanted to help people and put the well being of others before their own. However, I didn't feel that I really connected with either of them. Sigurd was an interesting character, but I felt that he could have been fleshed out more.

The story is told from Brynhild and Gudrun's perspectives, and as if they are telling each other what has happened while they were apart. I found this different and didn't dislike it, but I wasn't sucked into the story and I didn't feel invested.

The plot was mixed for me. There were times when I enjoyed it and found what was happening interesting, but there were also times when I was a bit bored, so the pacing could have been better.

The romance wasn't one of my favourites as I couldn't feel the connection between the characters.

The writing was easy to follow.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

Review - The Luminaries (The Luminaries, #1) by Susan Dennard

 

Title: The Luminaries (The Luminaries, #1)

Author: Susan Dennard

Pages: 305

Publisher: Daphne Press

Release Date: 1st November 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From NYT bestselling author comes a haunting, high-octane contemporary fantasy for fans of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Winnie Wednesday fights to take the deadly Luminary hunter trials in Hemlock Falls' nightmare-filled forest.

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you…

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town—and the rest of humanity—from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night. Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal—and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie must enlist the help of the one person who can help her Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie's ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley*

Winnie Wednesday lives in Hemlock Falls, a place where nightmarish creatures stalk the forest every night.

The town is protected by the Luminaries, who have treated Winnie and her family like they don't exist since it was revealed that Winnie's father was a traitor.

Winnie is determined to become a Luminary hunter and get her family back into the Luminary fold. To do this, Winnie must survive three trials, and she finds herself asking her ex-best friend, Jay, for help.

Can Winnie pass all three trials? The forest may be more dangerous than anyone realises . . .

This book started out as a series of Twitter polls, some of which I voted in, so I was intrigued to see what this finished version would be like. However, I was also a little hesitant to read this, as the only other book I've picked up by the author I ended up not finishing, so I wasn't sure if that would be the same case with this book. Luckily, I enjoyed this book more.

Winnie was a likeable protagonist - I felt sorry for her and was rooting for her to get what she wanted and become a hunter. One thing that really annoyed me about Winnie was how her teeth were always clicking - I didn't even know that teeth could click, but Winnie's seemed to click nearly every page.

I was angry on Winnie's behalf by the way she, her mother and brother were treated by the Luminaries. I think I would have moved away if I were them, but they were very loyal and stayed.

The concept of the sleeping spirits and them dreaming monsters into existence at night was interesting and something I wanted to find out more about.

The plot was interesting and held my attention throughout, but I wasn't gripped. There were a couple of things that happened that I didn't expect.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.