imperfectletter | 101-107 (Reply)

Originally posted in September of 2007 in

fiveforsilver:

Last two books from August:

101. *Evolution's Darling by Scott Westerfeld (290)

I got this book from the library because I love Westerfeld's YA science fiction and fantasy books. This, I didn't like so much. I couldn't really connect with the characters, I didn't really care about them. It didn't have anything to do with the fact that one of them is an artificial intelligence - I've read numerous other books with AI characters that I liked or loved. This seemed more like an exercise in how many weird things could be packed in one short novel. And there was a lot of sex. Really strange sex.

I did very much like the end of the book, but it didn't make up for the rest of the weirdness.

102. *Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (643)

I read really liked this book. I enjoyed the unusual kind of magic in this fantasy world, the dynamics between the characters, and the mystery in the plot - they're fighting against something they don't really understand and don't know how to fight. It's also very well-written.

(I left the original of the above entry in place here because there are a couple of comments from the author of Mistborn there :)

103. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (312)

Great book. The writing is excellent, the story is intriguing, and the characters are believeable. It's fun to read a different take on the vampire myths.

Midnighters Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
104. The Secret Hour (383)
105. Touching Darkness (439)
106. Blue Noon (505)

I like these books - I just love Westerfeld's writing style and ability to create distinct, believeable characters in unique settings. Well, ok, the high school setting isn't exactly unique, but the secret hour certainly is.

107. *The Riddle of the Wren by Charles de Lint (289)

This book was disappointing. I read de Lint's urban fantasy The Blue Girl earlier this year and thought it was wonderful, so when I was at the library, I picked up another of his books. This one is high fantasy, though, not urban, and it is...just...blah. Everything is Standard Fantasy; Standard Fantasy main character, Standard Fantasy plot devices, Standard Fantasy help along the way. It's just boring.