A December update to kill some time:
Recently Read:
Monstress Volume 1: Awakening (Majorie Liu, YA fantasy/graphic novel, Nook via Hoopla): In an alternate Asia where the world is split between humans and "arcanics", the arcanic teen girl Maika Halfwolf struggles to figure out who she really is - and what the hungry, alien thing inside her wants. She doesn't remember how it came to be there, but it has a way of killing to satisfy its strange hungers. Her quest for answers takes her into the human city of Zenoba and the stronghold of the Cumaea, powerful matriarchs who derive their power from rendered arcanic bones in the form of miraculous "lilium"... where her search draws the attention of enemies she can ill afford, and may restart an interspecies war.
On the one hand, this art deco/anime-flavored story has undeniable imagination, set in a complex and layered world. On the other hand, it's almost too complex; sometimes it's hard to figure out who is where and doing what for which reasons. Most of the characters tend to be unlikable for various reasons; it took most of the volume for me to begin to warm up to broody, foul-mouthed Maika. I'm intrigued enough by the premise and late developments that I might read the second volume (also free via Hoopla), though it's not quite my cup of cocoa.
On Writing (Stephen King, memoir/writing, paperback): Prolific author King discusses the craft of writing, with notes on what it has meant to him through his life, as well as how it helped him come back after a nearly fatal accident.
An intriguing look at the development of a best-selling writer with a singular career. I found the memoir parts a little more interesting than the writing parts; it's not that the latter bits were bad, but writing advice can be found elsewhere, while the autobiographical snippets and personal connection were unique to this book. His recounting of the 1999 crash serves as a capstone to the book, as his ongoing recovery brings him back to the keyboard and the craft that's as much a part of him as breathing, tying together the theme.
Currently Reading:
Walk the Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer trilogy Book 1, Rae Carlson, YA fantasy/historical fiction, Kindle): Teen girl Leah's ability to sense gold has helped her family scrape a living from the hills of Georgia... but when she comes home to find her parents murdered and their stash stolen, she must strike out on her own. The newly-opened gold fields of California are the logical place to go - plus, it's a continent away from her scheming uncle, who knows about her special gift. But the gold rush is calling everyone, friends and enemies, and even if she had the whole world to run in, it might not be far enough.
A decently paced tale with a strong, if fallible, heroine. If it's not outstandingly great, it's solidly good so far, not shying away from some of the less pleasant aspects of frontier life.
Mort(e) (The War With No Name series Book 1, Robert Repino, sci-fi, paperback): Once, Sebastian was a simple housecat. Then the Change came, wrought by the ant colonies that have risen up to challenge humanity's dominance. Animals begin walking on two legs and speaking, gaining human-level intelligence - and now humans are the hunted. And thus Sebastian finds himself a warrior in the battle to exterminate humanity... but one memory from his pre-awakened life nags at him, the friendship he shared with the neighbor dog Sheba.
Only a chapter in, but so far it's a decent tale that looks to be a good, if dark, ride. Holiday stuff keeps interfering with my reading time, though...