Hello again!!

Haven’t posted much in a while (just realising I didn’t even do my 2022 review post!)… it’s been a busy busy time. But trying to at least keep one tradition alive in my Year in Review post, here are some thoughts on what I read, watched and played in 2023:

What I Read

I read 34 books this year (woo hoo!), which is a strong return to form for me after years of limited reading. And my highlights:

Best book of the year for me… and one of the best reads I’ve had in a long time. Exemplary world building, characters and story. Loved every bit of it and can’t wait for the sequel

Been meaning to get into the Expanse series for years, and finally gave it a go. It did not disappoint! Great set-up surrounding a future humanity having colonized Mars and on its way beyond… it’s really worth a read. Don’t want to get into the TV show until I’ve finally read the full thing

Not sure how keen I am on the whole Romantasy genre, and there where certainly parts of these books that felt unnecessarily gratuitous… but the overall world building and story has been well worth it.

This year, I’ve tried to be a bit more diversified in my reading, trying to read more non-fiction / business books… and these were standouts:

Ben Mezrich has become a new favourite of mine, and will be very much looking at what subject he tackles next.

Some books I was very much looking forward to, such as Justin Cronin’s The Ferryman or The Rook’s follow-up The Blitz missed the mark, which is a shame.

For 2024, I stopped waiting to hear when long-promised books like The Winds of Winter or The Doors of Stone will ever come out… it’s been too long, and no longer care. But there are a few books I know will come out this year that will jump to as soon as published, such as

What I Saw

Have mixed feelings on this one, as no movie really blew me away this year (note: have not seen Oppenheimer yet).

My top films this year would be:

Yes… Barbie. Such a clever film, so well done. Sadly, some highly anticipated movies such as Indiana Jones just didn’t hit the mark. And whilst I enjoyed the new Mission Impossible… just not as good as Fallout. And I still need to see Dune!

So, what’s coming in 2024? Seems like mainly sequels, with the likes of Joker, Deadpool, Ghostbusters and new Gladiator being the only films in my radar… seems like all the good movies are scheduled for 2025… so let’s see.

In terms of TV, my year involved mainly watching shows like:

The Last of Us was amazing (Episode 3 is probably the best example of TV at its finest). Also watched The Boys spin-off Gen V, which was enjoyable enough, but nowhere near as good as The Boys. And Ahsoka was highly enjoyable and fitted quite nicely within the Star Wars universe.

For what’s ahead, very much looking forward to new seasons of House of Dragon (a welcome return to Westeros) and The Boys. And yes, I still haven’t seen Succession beyond the first season… need to give it a go… and need to finish The Witcher!

What I Played

My 2023 was dominated by three games, of which only one was new and the others were long overdue to play:

Hogwarts Legacy was an incredible experience… yes, the gameplay was a bit repetitive and the story could’ve been a bit better, but the open world of Hogwarts and the surrounding area kept me engaged for hours on every side quest, puzzle, challenge, etc… loved it.

I bought Cyberpunk 2077 a few years ago for my PS4… and it was a disaster. Completely unplayable. But this year, after its multiple updates and improvements, it was time to check it out. And it was definitely worth the wait. The game is phenomenal. Haven’t gotten around the new DLC (Phantom Liberty) but it’s very high on my list.

Finally, found my way to playing and completing God of War… and it was great. It’s such an engaging story, very moving and great action. All in all, fantastic game.

2023 was a strong year for gaming, yet beyond Hogwarts I didn’t get to any of the new titles (very keen to dive into Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, God of War Ragnarok, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Diablo IV and the new Legend of Zelda!), but this is mainly due to when I get into a game, I get into a game and spend hours earning every single collectible, trophy, etc… (same happened back in 2022 with Ghost of Tsushima, Hades and Deathloop… amazing games!). I still have some incredible titles from years back such as Elder Ring gathering dust waiting to be played. It does seem that 2024 will be a bit light on new games (beyond the new Final Fantasy VII which I can’t wait to play), so hopefully I’ll be able to catch-up on some long overdue gaming experiences!

So, that’s it from me… wishing everyone the very best for the new year!

Well hello there… it’s been a while. One year in fact since I last blogged… seems like this is becoming a once a year event, which it’s ok as I’m basically the only one reading this. But here it is, my year in review, as usual. 2021 was a challenging year, without a doubt. A year of many changes, moving back to London, changing jobs, and many more. But things are looking up, and here’s to a great 2022. In meantime, a look back at what I read, what I watched, what I played, and what I’m looking forward to this coming year.

What I Read

I read a grand total of 26 books this year… back to my more usual reading levels (around 2 a month). You can check the Goodreads banner on the side to the list of books read this year. Some very good novels, some not so good, but with two main standouts to highlight and recommend:

2021 is the year I met Morrigan Crow. Cannot believe I hadn’t heard of this series before (the series began in 2017), and boy, I didn’t know what I was missing. I read the full three books almost in one sitting. The series has been compared to Harry Potter, and for once I feel that moniker is deserved. The series grows and grows with every instalment, an amazing world filled with magic and “wunder!” If you miss Hogwarts as much as I do, perhaps a visit to Nevermoor can fill that gap. Here’s hoping the next book (which comes out in October) will be as amazing and magical, if not more.

People started talking about Atlas Six (think it got recommended on Tik Tok) and I decided to give it a go… and so glad I did. An amazing story, great characters, and leaving you wanting for more. Seems like the world has caught on to this novel, understand is being republished with all the fanfare it deserves. Very happy it’s getting its due recognition, and looking forward to the next one in the series!

Other books I read worthy of note below:

As for what’s coming in 2022… who knows? Books keep getting pushed back and back, and many of those that have been on my reading list forever (like The Winds of Winter or The Doors of Stone!) have been so long awaited that I no longer care. However, some goodies are theoretically ahead… The Seven Sisters for instance (Neil Gaiman’s sequel to Neverwhere). Seasonal Fears (sequel to the fantastic Middlegame). And Take Flight from Daniel O’Malley (next instalment in the Rook series). Add the new Nevermoor book and we have the makings of a good year. Here’s hoping!

What I Watched

Was fun being able to go back to the cinema this year. Our world is definitely a better place when you can lose yourself in the big screen. Also, now that the kids are old enough to sit through a full movie and actually enjoy it. Having said that, not that many new films did it for me. Was very stoked about the new Ghostbusters, and whilst it was fun, it felt way too much fan service and not enough of a stand-alone story for me to really feel it. No Time to Die was good, and a proper sign off to Craig’s Bond, but wasn’t better than Skyfall or Casino Royale. Then all the superhero films, like Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Venom… they were good but not great. But my final film of the year had it all and saved it for me:

This movie was amazing. Did not think I would feel so moved by a Spider film, but this had it all. Kudos to Marvel, Sony and all involved in bringing this together so neatly. Can’t wait to see it again.

Now, 2022 is shaping like a great year for cinema… the new Batman film looks amazing. Latest in Jurassic World (with the original Jurassic Park back in the fold) looks exciting. If the new Thor is anything like Ragnarok we are in for a treat. A new Top Gun! And the Mission Impossible series keeps getting better and better. So, plenty to look up to!

In terms of TV, I enjoyed the final season of Money Heist, caught up with Cobra Kai (though still haven’t seen the last season), have not been able to see the latest season of The Witcher (to be remedied shortly), enjoyed Ted Lasso, and loved MythicQuest (strongly recommended). But this was the year of Disney+! Wandavision, The Mandalorian, Loki, Hawkeye… all really really good (note… wasn’t so keen on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Such great TV, and very much looking forward to what’s next on the horizon.

What I Played

Nothing of note, really. Cyberpunk 2077 was such a disappointment, but hoping that playing it in next gen will be worth it (will get on it eventually). Did buy Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but haven’t played it enough to rate it just yet. But my inability to secure a PS5 and an opportunity to trade in my old Nintendo Switch (I’m not travelling much, so wasn’t using) for an Xbox Series S was a masterstroke. The Xbox Gamepass is one of the best developments in gaming, and have spent a lot of the last six months catching up on some good old favourites (replayed Batman Arkham City and GTAV), and discovered great new gems. Without question, my game of the year was Hades:

Soooo addictive, so well thought, keeping you coming back and back, always for one more run. Very strongly recommended!

And that’s it… here’s to a very good 2022!

2020… what a terrible year. Across every level. Just ugh. Glad it’s over. Here’s hoping for better times in 2021. Enough said about that…

Anywho… life goes on, and as usual, I try to take the chance to remember what I read, watched and played during the year that’s worth noting. So here goes:

What I read

As I had mentioned in some previous posts, my reading has largely turned to listening since I moved to Colombia, with audiobooks keeping me sane during my long traffic hours in the commute. According to Goodreads, I “read” 32 books this year, though the vast majority of these was before the pandemic. Since, working from home, homeschooling and just trying to keep two little devils entertained under full lockdown for the better part of the year, my reading dwindled significantly. Don’t have much hope for 2021 to increase my reading, as it looks like working from home will become more commonplace (and trust me, no complaining from my end). In any case, will try to be more selective in what I read going forward, as no commute means little time for that.

Looking back, the best book read this year was:

Hmmm… that’s it really. Despite reading a lot of books, none of them really gripped me or felt noteworthy. Contrary to last year when I read some great novels, such as Middlegame, this year was a bit flat. Was really looking forward to Ready Player Two, as I loved the first novel and was very keen to see how things would be taken forward… was enjoyable, but not great. Looking back, nothing else really stands out.

There were a couple of books released this year that I have on my reading list but didn’t manage to go through, like Piranesi (new book from the author of the great Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell) or The Devil and the Dark Water (from the writer of the excellent The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) which I hope to get into early this year. Likewise, understand a sequel to Neil Gaiman’s fantastic Neverwhere is due, so looking out for that one.

Let’s hope 2021 brings a bit more joy in the reading / listening department…

What I watched

Not that many new movies, to be honest… as the pandemic really did a number on the movies available to watch. Was so looking forward to the new Bond, the new Top Gun and especially the new Ghostbusters (that trailer still gives me goosebumps), but alas, it all has been pushed back. Most of the year has been spent revisiting classics and introducing my kids to films like The Goonies, Jurassic Park, ET, and the likes. Thanks to Disney+, some fantastic films like Rookie of the Year and Home Alone have been a welcome distraction.

But from what I did manage to watch new this year, these stood out:

Other films I watched that are noteworthy include Wonder Woman 84 (I enjoyed it, but in the end was just a tad to sappy) and Tenet (great concept and great scenes, but for whatever reason didn’t get so vested as in other Nolan films). I did see Parasite, and did enjoy it, but didn’t think it was as great as others rate it.

With limited new films available, it was in TV (and streaming) where the good thrills and frills where found this year. My favourite shows this year where:

I still need to watch His Dark Materials and catch up with Killing Eve. Also, my wife keeps nagging me for not watching the last season of Dark (which I will get to soon). So still a lot of TV to catch up…

What I played

As I type this, I keep looking for stock updates on the PS5 (it’s impossible to buy, sadly). May be a signal to not buy it just yet. I was so looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077, but people keep saying I shouldn’t play it until on a PS4, so I may hold on for a bit. Did manage to play quite a lot this year, and a few standouts for me included Miles Morales (great follow up to Spider-Man, but just too short) and God of War (finally got around playing it)… but without question, the game of the year for me was:

How the managed to adapt what I consider one of the best games of all time and make it so much better in every way is astounding… loved it to bits, and can’t wait to play the next instalment

So that’s it… a year where every day felt pretty much like the previous, but where we’ve all been healthy, safe and counting our blessings. I’ve got to spend so much more time with my family this year, and despite it all, will look at 2020 fondly in that regard. Now bring on 2021… let’s see how this new normal will really look like.

2020… what a terrible year. Should be just cancelled and we skip to 2021, no coronavirus. Any sense of normalcy would be so welcome.

In any case… day 14 of total lockdown in Colombia… one would think that more time at home has translated to more reading, but alas, between keeping the kids entertained and up to date with schoolwork and actual remote working, my reading time has dwindled significantly the past few days.

2020 had been one of the strongest years I had when it comes to reading time… only 3 months in and I have bested my record from 2019, mainly due to an ever increasing commute (spending 3 hours in a car on average) and devouring audiobooks like crazy. Here are some of the best books I’ve read this year to date:

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Despite having read that many books, none have so far blown me away like some of the reads from last year, like Middlegame. But here’s a list of books I’m really looking forward to in the next year or so (only including those with release dates, bit tired of waiting for the next George Martin or Pat Rothfuss books to come out… sigh):

The Seven Sisters – Neil Gaiman returns to the world of Neverwhere!

Piranesi – Susannah Clarke’s next novel after the great Jonathan Strange & M Norrell

The Iron Season – Helene Wecker’s sequel to the awesome The Golem and the Jinni

A Sleight of Shadows – Kat Howard’s followup to An Unkindness of Magicians

Here’s hoping that when these books come out, the world is back to normal and we can go back to proper reading.

Stay safe, everyone!

And so 2019 ends, and a new decade begins. What to say about 2019… was interesting to say the least. A long awaited move from London to Bogota and the challenges it brought – a year where we thought we would finally settle and realised… not just yet. But a year of many positives as well, being able to share our kids birthdays with their family, seeing them playing with their cousins, definitely worth it. Let’s call 2019 a mixed year, and leave it at that.

Now, this blog is about books (mostly) and maybe some movies and video games to also discuss. So here are my highlights when it comes to what I read, watched and played.

My reading highlights of 2019

My Goodreads tracker signals I read 20 books in 2019… I say read, but actually, since discovering that audiobooks was the only way I could make my new driving commute bearable, it’s been mostly listening rather than reading. And despite being knee-deep into audiobooks over the last 5 months, I’m still unsure how much I like it. Too much of your enjoyment of the novel relies on the narrator, his or her voice, tone, pauses, performance. For instance, I heard Stephen Fry narrate his work, both Mythos and Heroes, and they were wonderful. But I can’t tell if I would’ve enjoyed it that much listening to someone else… You lose a bit of your imagination in the sense of how a character sounds, talks, becomes. I think if I could go back to my Kindle I would, but you can’t deny the benefits from audiobooks, be it in a long drive (unfortunately I keep getting told off for reading while driving, so audiobooks are a neat compromise), the gym (if only I actually went to the gym, could see this working), or other activities that could use with killing of dead space. So, until my commute changes, audiobooks it is.

And my top reads / listens from 2019 are:

The Ninth House and Middlegame were without doubt my top reads. The Ninth House, a mystery thriller in a magical world within Yale, and Middlegame, a tale of Alchemy and the search for power, where both incredible books, and can’t speak more highly of them or recommend them more. Also, A Little Hatred, a welcome return to epic, gritty fantasy, I loved every word, and can’t wait for more. Finally, the Mythos and Heroes books by Stephen Fry, a wonderful retelling of Greek myths and stories.

Honourable mentions towards Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree, a true epic fantasy novel, and The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg, a book I really enjoyed.

And now on to 2020 – wondering if this is finally the year a new Game of Thrones book is published, but finding that I care less and less… or perhaps the Doors of Stone, looong awaited conclusion to the Kingkiller Chronicles (which has been amazing, but can barely remember what happened prior). There’s a new Hunger Games prequel book coming out soon which could be interesting. But to be honest, don’t have any “can’t wait” books for 2020. Here’s hoping for that novel that comes out of the blue and takes me by storm.

My viewing highlights of 2019

Having a bit more help at home has allowed us to go back to the cinema more, which has been a welcome development. However, for whatever reason have been spending less time watching movies this year than the norm – think I just get home very tired and can’t manage a 2 hour film in one sitting.

My top movies of the year:

Joker was incredible – it was always going to be a tough ask to build an origin story for this iconic villain, but Phoenix’s performance and the gritty Gotham City buildup struck the right note and made it my favorite movie of the year. I’ve always been a Batman enthusiast, so this comes as no surprise – but the movie blew away the hype and expectations. Consider me a fan.

Ford V Ferrari was exhilarating, bringing to light a true story I didn’t know and feel better for now knowing. Great performances, filming, story telling. Avengers End Game was a fitting end to the original MCU, I came away from the cinema quite satisfied.

While I did enjoy Star Wars Rise of Skywalker, wasn’t enough to put it on the list – too many disjointed parts and plots – wish they had a chance to do it again and get it right. But still, consider me fan serviced.

Looking ahead to 2020, two movies that really have me hooked – the new Ghostbusters and Top Gun.

My top TV of the year:

Chernobyl was an incredible piece of storytelling – the must follow blueprint for every future history retelling TV show.

The Boys was phenomenal. I had read and enjoyed the comics, and thought the adaptation was quite awesome. It’s not for everyone, but it was for me. Can’t wait for the new season.

I also loved the 3rd season of Stranger Things, the 80’s vibe and lighter tone adapted this time around improved the show considerably compared to the second season.

While I didn’t hate the last season of Game of Thrones as many did, it did feel way too rushed and ultimately left a bit of unsatisfying taste. It had amazing moments (the battle at Winterfell was hands down one of the best TV highlights in years), but overall, wished they had had just two more episodes to make it work.

Really wanted to like The Witcher more, considering how much I love the books, but while it had its moments, it just didn’t feel like it worked for me. Nonetheless, they did a good job of setting up the world and characters, and here’s hoping next season manages to make it work.

There are a few TV shows I really wanted to watch that didn’t get around to – His Dark Materials and Watchmen. Hoping to see them soon!

My playing highlights of 2019

None… it was a dismal year when it comes to video games in my opinion, no new game that really caught my attention – in fact, I’ve been replaying the Arkham games instead on the PS4, and enjoying the Witcher on Switch (which doesn’t really count as new as I played before). Having said that, only recently started playing the new Star Wars game and its been okay so far – maybe will try to finish before coming to the conclusion of a crap year for gaming for me.

But 2020 looks interesting… with a couple of solid games like the new Final Fantasy VII, the Avengers video game, Cyberpunk 2077… and a new PS5 in the horizon! Exciting.

So that’s it… a longer entry than usual on this blog, but then again, I’m not here that often anymore. Hoping 2020 becomes a fantastic year for all.

Yes, I’ve been terrible at keeping this blog updated, but a lot has happened over the last year, so bear with me. In short, we moved to Colombia last month. After 12 years in the UK was time to go home. We are in week 7 of this adventure, and it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but getting there.

Amongst the biggest changes… I now drive to work. And that has destroyed my reading time… spotty at best previously, now close to non-existent. Who knew I would miss the London commute!

But I’m trying something I’ve never really done before – audiobooks. Today was my first day driving whilst listening! It made my drive (1.5 hours in a traffic jam thanks to the lousy driving of most Bogotans – at least three crashes I witnessed…) much more bearable. And I started with a great one: listening to Mythos by Stephen Fry. He’s such a joy to listen to, it really made my day and converted me into an audiobook advocate. This book should not be read, but listened to, and I couldn’t recommend it more. Even if you’re not into mythology (and why aren’t you?) it’s a treat. Give it a go.

Now, it’s been some time, and I can’t remember what was the latest I posted here, but I have read (barely) some great books over the last few months. I’m not going to review much here (don’t have the time to read, let alone review) but will recommend some books for those looking for their next read. Here they are:

Vita Nostra – an outstanding piece of work – could not put it down

The Priory of the Orange Tree – epic fantasy at its finest

Djinn City – so much fun, worth every minute

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – mind-blowing, extremely well done

So that’s it… saying I’ll update this more often might be an empty promise, but will do my best!

Well… it’s been some time. Almost a year since I last posted anything here. Shame on me…

Been trying to keep reviewing books (at least on Goodreads, which tend to appear at the right of the blog page), but quite frankly life and work have taken presedence. Travelling like crazy over the last year (but hey, made it to Gold on BA!)… work has taken me to Singapore, Dubai, New York, Abu Dhabi, and all over Europe this past year. Have also been to Colombia… twice! But somehow, my reading has somewhat (considerably) diminished, replaced by preparing for pitches and deals and such. At home, no less different, after a long day at work or with the kids, two pages and I fall asleep.

But, need to do better (or will stop getting advanced copies to review!). So, here I am stuck in an Eurostar on the way back from Paris (stupid people trespassing on the tracks) trying to update this blog and promising to do better. (Also, bought the IPad Pro, and writing on it as a joy!). Mayhaps I can finally get on writing that novel I’ve been starting for decades now…

Not going to provide any reviews today here… again, my latest are on the right hand side of the page, but perhaps a quick recommendation. If you can, read the Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale… hands off best book I’ve read this year, and for a long time. So good!!

That’s it for me. Till (hopefully sooner) next time!

It's been crazy busy at all levels, with work and life in general going at full speed and very little time to stop and take a breath. Commute still allows me to read, but I've been extremely delinquent in writing reviews. So, been a while, but here are a few quick thoughts on some recent reads:

Fierce Kingdom – Gin Phillips

It's been a tough time for London and the UK in general, following the string of terrorist attacks over the last few months. That made Fierce Kingdom a bit more poignant, focused on the incredible bond between mother and son in face of a terror attack at a zoo. What's interesting is that the author does not bother to stray too much away from the mother and child story… we are provided with little context and little understanding of what goes beyond the two as they hide from gunmen and seek safety. It has its moments, a scene with a trash bin is quite harrowing, which truly showcases the lengths a mother would go to protect their child. Found the book very enjoyable, albeit perhaps a bit short and the ending could've been better developed. Still, recommend it. 4 out of 5.

Sea of Rust – Robert C Cargill (via Netgalley)

An interesting take on the typical robopocalypse… where robots indeed take over the world, but now we get to see the side of the robots and the unintended consequences of their uprising. I'm a fan of Cargill's previous fantasy books, and was interested in his foray into science fiction. However, despite the creativity of the plot, wasn't fully hooked into the story. I blame it on the slightly annoying, and perhaps a bit too human, voice of the narrator / main character Brittle. I'm starting to struggle with first voice stories… and think this would've benefited from a third voice narrator that could tell the story without need of humanising the character. 3.5 out of 5.

The Secret History – Donna Tartt

So I finally got around reading The Secret History… considered a modern classic, it had shot up my reading list after I read The Goldfinch. A different take on a murder mystery, where we know from the start who got killed and by whom, but not the why… and we go through the novel as the characters cope with guilt (or lack thereof) of what they've done. It was good, but I wasn't that blown away. Once again expectations failed to meet reality, and I was left wanting more. 4 out of 5.

The End We Start From – Megan Hunter (via Netgalley)

A beautifully written novel, haunting in every way, a unique take on the end of the world told through the special bond of mother and child… but is this really a novel or a novella? One has to wonder why it was so short, almost as if you read an advanced outline rather than the full thing. If the one critique you get is that you wish there was more, then you're doing something right… but perhaps this took that concept a bit too far. Could've been a great, but in my eyes it fell short. 4 out of 5.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry – Gabrielle Zevin

This one is for all book lovers out there. A simple yet lovely story about a bookseller dealing with the challenges on keeping an independent bookstore afloat whilst dealing with the death of his wife… yet when he finds a special someone left behind in his shop, his life becomes quite extraordinary. A quick, feel-good story that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feel inside. 4 out of 5.

Sea – Sarah Driver (via Netgalley)

"Sea" was being compared to "His Dark Materials"… those are very high expectations to live up to. Nonetheless, Sea is an entertaining story, with a unique character in Mouse and a solid new world where the tribes of the sea, land and sky connect in an interesting story. However, and perhaps this is me being overly demanding, a bit more character development (particularly on the villains) and more background would've made this a much much better book. I enjoyed, and will keep an eye out for the next in the trilogy. 4/5.

The Spider Network – David Enrich (via Netgalley)

David Enrich had unrivalled access to Tom Hayes, and it shows across The Spider Network… perhaps a bit too much, as you can't help to see some bias towards Hayes and how much of a "victim" he was in the LIBOR scandal. Notwithstanding, this is a very very solid book, with unique insights no only to the scandal and the live of Hayes and his cohorts, but also to the wider financial culture post 2008 crisis. And yes… we will never learn. If you are interested on understanding what the LIBOR scandal was, and what repercussions it had on the financial system and the wider world, this book is for you. Very well researched, and very well told. Strongly recommended. 4.5/5.

The announcement that Phillip Pullman is writing a new His Dark Materials trilogy was a very exciting development in an otherwise dire landscape for new books this year. Put me on the “very excited” column for The Book of Dust.

But beyond that, not much to get excited of… got tired of waiting for The Winds of Winter (and in fact, it’s been so long that I rather watch the show instead). Another long-awaited sequel, Patrick Rothfuss’s Door of Stone has not made any type of appearance. Scott Lynch’s Thorn of Emberlain is also MIA…

Oh, and one I was looking forward to, Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology was such an utter let-down.

In other words… pffff.

Nonetheless, despite my usual grumpiness, there are some books I’ve noted coming out this year which I’m sure to give a go. Maybe not on the “will my wife let me go and queue all night outside the local Waterstones to be the first to buy it” category, but more on the “will give it a go” front:

The Book of Dust – Phillip Pullman

Actually, I might queue all night for this one. Such a fan of His Dark Materials (ignore the movie and read the books). My one “can’t wait” of the year.

The End of the Day – Claire North

“The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August” was an amazing book.  Claire North’s follow ups “Touch” and “The Sudden Appearance of Hope” were good but not great. Still, North’s concepts are always worth a look, and this one looks very interesting.

Age of Swords – Michael J Sullivan

Really enjoyed Age of Myth, and keen to see what happens next. Will be looking out for this one come summertime.

Sea of Rust – C. Robert Cargill

I’ve enjoyed Cargill’s previous fantasy novels, and keen to see how he does come Sci Fi. An intriguing concept of a robot alone at the end of humanity… sounds compelling.

Readers to this blog (you precious few) may have noticed a more lengthy interval between posts… well you try juggling a wife, a toddler, a 5 month old, and a very intense job!! But hey, since I’ve moved to the countryside and now have a lengthy trainride to the office, at least I can now make my way through the never ending to-read list on Goodreads. I’ve also discovered that I can post on my mobile (writing on coach 8 of 12 en route to London Bridge!) so hopefully I can write a bit more (though always very short) reviews and recover my Netgalley feedback rating.

As such, without further ado, a few brief reviews of recent reads:

Norse Mythology – Neil Gaiman

Wow… what a let down. How was this any different than looking up Norse myths on Wikipedia? Well done publishing house for making us believe this was going to be a novel. I’m a big fan of Gaiman, and for what it’s worth did read the book start to finish, but what a bummer. Was really looking forward to this… (2/5)

Age of Myth – Michael Sullivan

An unexpected surprise. This was actually very good. Epic fantasy at its core, with an interesting take on the typical men, elves and dwarves structure. Solid world-building, laying down the foundations for an interesting saga. Obviously a series, and noting the premise that the author has written all the books already, a refreshing notion to expect a direct story without losing its way. Consider me hooked. 4.5/5

All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai (from Netgalley)

A very interesting take on time-travel, and a fun read at that. From the get-go, all of my foundations on time-travel are shattered by the simple notion that the earth moves (fancy that) and as such the Back to Future premise that you can go back to the same spot in 1955 is completely flawed. So thank you for destroying a beloved classic. In a further interesting take, the premise consists of time travel gone wrong leading from a sci-fi to utopia to our existing present (we are the wrong timeline) which made for fascinating insights into our world. The story could’ve been told better, the characters a bit more rounded, more empathetic, but nonetheless, out of sheer boldness to write a refreshing take on time travel, this book gets high marks. 4.5/5

Gilded Cage – Vic James (from Netgalley)

The Gilded Cage may get lost among the countless books concerning a magician ruling class in England (from Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, to Sorcerer to the Crown, to the excellent Bartimaeus trilogy). However, the unique worldbuilding, and intriguing concept of a set slavery to the “elite” (wizards) made this a good and fun read. The first of a series, ends in such a clever cliffhanger that will have me looking for the sequel when it comes out. 4/5

The Undoing Project – Michael Lewis (via Netgalley)

I’m a big fan of Michael Lewis (I consider Moneyball one of the most influential books I’ve ever read). The Undoing Project is set up as a spiritual sequel to Moneyball, an understanding that stats can’t be everything, and how to account for human behaviour in decision making, told through the lives and work of two of the most prominent minds in behaviour analysis field. It makes for a fascinating take on the way the mind works. The book gets of to a flying start, showcasing the pitfalls of decision making in basketball management… but it then falls more to the generic biographical genre of the lives of Daniel and Amos… it lost its shine for me then. I had come across heuristics during business school, so nice to see how the circumstances under the concept was developed, but towards the end this felt more and more biographical than insightful. Still, good book. 4/5