Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays

REBEL FLEET

Author: B.V. Larson

Series: Rebel Fleet #1

Source: Audible Daily Deal

Publisher: Audible Studios

Publication Date: August 13, 2016

Summary:

They hunt us. They bomb our worlds for target practice.

A star cluster in the constellation of Orion rotates once every thousand years. Those who rule there have an ancient tradition: When each cycle ends, they train their fleets by spilling the blood of lesser beings.

The enemy fleets are coming again. In response, the Rebel Worlds gather their starships to face the terrifying threat, and this time humanity is asked to stand with them.

The last time they considered Earth, Vikings in longboats were raiding English coastlines. Today, we’re less primitive. Today, we're a target.

One man is chosen to command Earth's single ship in the Rebel Fleet. When the war breaks out, Leo Blake must win it… or die trying.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

This was just really not good. I wish I could give it 0 stars. I got this as an Audible Daily Deal and honestly it just reminds me that sometimes those are misses. I wish I could get more than just my money back for this one because I have some serious book regrets.

The characters were all insufferable. The plot made absolutely no sense. This is probably the worst Science Fiction novel I've ever read - and I've read a lot of bad ones. I normally don't like space opera to begin with but this was just terrible. I think this is an adaptation of a bad fan fic story with the amount that this was self-insert porn.

This had absolutely no redeeming qualities and made me want to stop listening about 100 times but I felt like I had gone too far in the audiobook to stop. Plus, after our main character had sex with a humanoid-cat-alien, I just had to know what that would lead to (more sex with the cat). 

I could go on forever but this book has already taken up too much of my time. Definitely think this is a pass, my friends.

What are some of your favourite Adult SFF books?

THE THINGS WE CANNOT SAY

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

I liked this one as a romance novel but it really didn't feel all that historical imo. I liked the dual narrative and seeing how they connected but I am meh about the historical aspects of it.

I think the synopsis is a little misleading because it focuses so much on Alice's life and the modern setting. The historical aspect felt like an afterthought. In all honesty, it could have easily just been a romance novel of like a grandmother telling her story and a granddaughter living her life and it would have had the same impact, but probably resonated better.

I was waiting for the WW2 aspects to be more fleshed out and really truly delivered to us but they just weren't there. It felt like there was a war in the background and while that made the characters move around and do what they did, it didn't really impact them. We knew that nothing too bad was going to happen and while a lot of it was heartbreaking, it wasn't a war love story but a love story with a background war.

I didn't really like or connect to a lot of the characters but I definitely hated Alice's husband and I hated that she conceeded to him so often, especially at the end. He was a terrible father, supporter, and provider and straight women shouldn't have to deal with shit like that.

Overall, I'm not sure if I would recommend it if you're looking for historical fiction, but if you want a heartbreaking love story with some modern aspects, this is definitely the book for you!

Have you read this one? What was your favourite part?

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays

Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

What are some Adult SFF series you love?

THE SCHOLAR

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

This one was okay. I think if it hadn't been for the fact that I had to read it for the book club, I probably wouldn't have (1) picked it up or (2) finished it.

It was kind of disappointing to me because really I just needed to read the first couple chapters to get the gist of what was going on, maybe one or two chapters in the middle, and then the last five chapters and that's it.

Which is pretty par for the course for mystery/detective novels, but still really disappointing. There was no big "twist" or anything - it was all pretty predictable.

I thought that the semi-queer bait of lesbians was not in good taste though. I thought the fact that it was said because a man was rejected and then it wasn't really proven one way or the other and then said casually like "well they COULD have been lesbians" was really off putting. Either commit to lesbians or leave that section out.

Overall, I am not sure I would recommend this - and while it was a standalone, I'm sure there would have been more context to this story if I had read the first one. This is a meh from me!

Have you read this one? What was your favourite part?

KINGSBANE

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

See what I thought of FURYBORN!

The last bit of the book was really interesting and had a lot of great aspects but everything leading up to that kinda just felt like filler. I feel like it could have been half the length and still done all the same things. Which is a tad disappointing to me. But I'm looking forward to the next one to see how everything comes together a bit more.

I loved the world-building and seeing more of what we had in the first novel. I liked the way that magic expanded in this one so we could see the extent and limitations of what the Queens were able to do. I thought it was a good set up for the next novel.

But that was my main issue: this was a set up novel. It definitely doesn't stand on its own merit but acts as a catalyst for what comes next. And that's fine, but I would have liked some more loose ends tied up and a solid storyline throughout this one that made sense.

I was feeling as though I didn't really have to listen to the middle of this one and could have just read the last 5 or so chapters and been ready for the next book. It felt too much like filler instead of giving more information that would get us ready for the next one.

But I absolutely love this series and am so excited to see how it continues onward!

Have you read this one? What was your favourite part?