Alyce Caswell - Author
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Book Reviews

Up in Smoke

30/12/2020

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Dreaming in Smoke by Tricia Sullivan

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​Kalypso was bred to assist colonists from Earth who came to T'nane, thinking that the atmosphere would be stable and habitable. To fix what they call the Oxygen Problem, they use Dreaming to sort through data and come up with conclusions - but so far to no avail. Kalypso's assistance in a Dreaming gone wrong will... result in stuff. I don't know.

Lately I've been disappointed by books that have a great premise, but suffer from poor execution. This is one of those. The world-building was chaotic, confusing - and just boring. The writing itself wasn't fluid or decent, so I wasn't able to power through the worst scenes. As a result, this might be one of the worst novels I've ever forced myself to finish. And I did want to like it when I first cracked it open.

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This Girl is on Fire

29/12/2020

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Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg (*draws breath*) married a man who was supposed to be her boring, reliable "Bran Muffin". But after her clumsiness inadvertently leads to his death in an explosion, she begins to unravel her Bran Muffin's secrets - and must somehow clear her name by venturing out into a world she has been sheltered from.

This was a somewhat amusing romp and I'm rather impressed that McCourt made someone who should have been unlikeable into a main character who I might follow into the sequel. You'll have to suspend disbelief a lot with this book and you really need to be in the mood for a vapid MC in the midst of a vapid plot (there are definitely times for this!). I'm not sure I liked how achingly obvious this book was as a setup for a series. It felt a little unfinished because of that. But I am like a moth to the Heiress on Fire and will probably pick up a sequel if there is one.

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Hol' Up

27/12/2020

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​The Bushranger's Wife by Cheryl Adnams

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​Jack the Devil is a bushranger who's in it for the thrill - he's definitely not looking for a wife or anything resembling a settled life. Prudence Stanforth is from a family of title and means, so the very thought of running off with the man who held her up and stole from her should be out of the question. But the heat building between them has nothing to do with the harsh Australian climate.

I intended to read a chapter before bed, but whoops! I ended up far deeper into this story and far more enamoured of it than I had expected. Sure, this was the night before the baby woke up ridiculously early but I have no regrets (okay, maybe I have a few). I was a little worried this would be one of those depressing colonial tales with few glimmers of light - I needn't have worried. It's a lovely, fast-paced romance that is all light and all enjoyment.

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A Rose By Any Other Name

26/12/2020

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The Everlasting Rose (The Belles #2)
​by Dhonielle Clayton

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​Camille is a Belle, which means she has a form of magic that allows her to manipulate the beauty of others. She has been on the run since the ascension of a new queen who intends to subjugate all the Belles, so that Orlean's punishing system of beauty remains as intact as ever.

I hadn't read the first book and I think my enjoyment suffered because of that (the same box of bargain books is to blame!), mainly because I hadn't built up any connection to the characters. The world itself is fascinating. I would love some teacup dragons! But I wasn't particularly invested in the story, since the stakes seemed low and Camille never really encountered what I would consider true danger on her path to revolution. Maybe I've read too many YA fantasy novels like this lately. I don't know. I don't think I'll seek out the first book.

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Lonely Planet

21/12/2020

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The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders

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Sophie feels out of place and invisible beside Bianca, the glamorous roommate that she adores. When Sophie takes the fall for Bianca's small seditious action, their bond will change as much as the planet around them. Humans came to a world they never understood and if they never try to change that, they will face extinction.

Hmm. This had a great premise and I enjoyed the world-building - heck, I was delighted to see a queer neurodiverse main character. But that's all there was to it. I'm not even sure what the plot was after finishing it, though "finishing" is a relative term - there is no ending. The book fails to finish and I see the author does not intend to continue the story unless it's made into a TV show! Wow. Just wow. What a slap in the face. I could go on and on about the problems with this book, but I have better things to do with my time.

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What Happens on Mars

14/12/2020

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No Way (Frank Kitteridge #2)
by S. J. Morden

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Frank was never supposed to survive. Frank was supposed to be conveniently culled by XO, the corporation that promised NASA a base on Mars built by robots (not actual human beings, much less convicted criminals). Now he's the only one left of his crew, a survivor, a murderer, and the sole inhabitant of a planet far, far from home. But XO's secrets run deep. And Frank might not be as alone as he thinks.

I'd never heard of this series and this book came my way via a box of bargain books. But I definitely want to check out the first instalment after this, even knowing how things went. No Way is like a darker version of The Martian, with a bit of Moon sprinkled in. I was hooked from the blurb, if I'm honest, and I'm sure there are flaws, but I just had too much fun reading this book to care. Frank is so easy to root for. XO is so easy to find disturbing and evil. What's more, I could easily envision this happening at some point.

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Water, Water, Not Everywhere

12/12/2020

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​Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick

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In a future that was conceived in the 1960s, Mars is colonised and inhabited by flawed individuals who all seem balanced on the edge of insanity. A Union leader's desire to use an autistic boy to access time in unusual ways (primarily to make money) may not end in the way that he hopes.

Hmm. This was my first Philip K. Dick novel. I was impressed with the writing and how Austen-esque Dick's observations were. His characters are very much people of the time this book was written in, explored, expanded and explained. The way everything came together at the end was just masterful. But, not surprisingly, the outdated views on certain issues (sexism, racism, ableism, etc) hampered my enjoyment of the book. And Dick clearly didn't understand enough about autism or schizophrenia to be writing about them (although that might be because that's what was understood at the time).

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24th Century Classic

7/12/2020

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The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

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​Ben Reich wants a merger, but it seems he'll have to murder his rival instead. But murder is not so simple when the police are "peepers", telepaths capable of plucking motive and truth from your mind. Reich thinks he has a way around this. He isn't ready for Lincoln Powell, however.

This was a fascinating read, mostly because the world that Bester created is established quickly and sucks you in just as fast. I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse antics between Reich and Powell - it was fun and well-paced. But things got a bit too weird for me in the end and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the treatment of female characters (yes, I realise this was written in a different time, but it is hard to ignore something like that). Still, it's easy to see why this was the first winner of the Hugo Award.

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Be Still My Beating Heart

6/12/2020

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Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6)
by Paula Quinn

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Silene Sparrow is a novice who intends to take her vows and become a nun in the spring, in order to help her uncle, but the arrival of Galeren McPherson throws her mind and heart into disarray. Galeren has taken a vow of chastity and intends to see his duty done. If only Silene wasn't betrothed to God. If only she didn't tempt him so much...

What's better than a Highlander romance? A forbidden Highlander romance! Delicious pining and pining-related angst make this one worth a read. Things slowed down a little towards the end when Galeren touched base with the growing family, but it's hard not to enjoy seeing everyone. Another great romance by one of my favourite romance authors.

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    About

    Alyce Caswell, when she isn't buried in a book or drinking her way through a giant pot of tea, is a keen writer of science fiction and romance. She has published two novels and four novellas in her space opera family saga, The Galactic Pantheon Series.

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  • Home
  • Books
    • The Galactic Pantheon >
      • The Tortured Wind
      • The Twisted Vine
      • The Flickering Flame
      • The Shifting Ice
      • The Whispering Grass
      • The Creeping Moss
      • The Galactic Pantheon Novellas
      • The Adventures of Grace Pendergast, Galactic Reporter
    • The Shadow of the Gods
    • Dealing with the Demon
    • Love and Lockdown
    • The Eyes of Charon
    • Sweet Delights
  • Other Works
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact