This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
I’ve been back to teaching this week – although I went down with a cold last Sunday and was too ill to teach Tim on Monday morning. However lots of liquids, homeopathic remedies and vitamin C later, I was sufficiently recovered to go into Northbrook and take my Monday evening class. By Wednesday, it was almost completely gone. I’m currently reading and editing a manuscript for a good friend, which is also giving me a convenient break from Miranda’s Tempest, before I go back to check if the rewrite is successful.
We’ve the grandchildren staying again this week-end, which is always a delight, so I shan’t be around quite so much for commenting, etc. It’s lovely to see the daffodils starting to bloom, despite the damp chilly weather. At long last, I’m beginning to feel that winter’s grip is starting to loosen. Have a great reading and blogging week – I’m wishing you all a glimpse of Spring sunshine to go with it…
This week I have read:
Satan’s Reach – Book 2 of the Weird Space series by Eric Brown
Telepath Den Harper did the dirty work for the authoritarian Expansion, reading the minds of criminals,
spies and undesirables. Unable to take the strain, he stole a starship and headed into the unknown, a sector of lawless space known as Satan’s Reach. For five years he worked as a trader among the stars; then discovered that the Expansion had set a bounty hunter on his trail. But what does the Expansion want with a lowly telepath like Harper? Is there validity in the rumours that human space is being invaded by aliens from another realm? Harper finds out the answer to both these questions when he rescues an orphan girl from certain death.
Den is a likeable chap in a tricky situation, which gets steadily tricker as this fast-paced, enjoyable space opera progresses. This is space opera where the universe is heaving with multitudes of aliens and faster-than-light travels occurs such that zipping between planets takes a matter of weeks. That’s okay – I can happily cope with that. This is great fun.
Twelve Kings – Book 1 of The Song of the Shattered Sands by Bradley Beaulieu
Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings—cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens, and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule. Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings’ laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha’ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings’ mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings’ power…if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don’t find her first.
Bradley’s world is intricate, vivid and engrossing. I love the layers of society and power he has built against this unforgiving backdrop – and the magical elements are woven in with skill to provide plenty of impact when we finally get to learn what exactly is going on during the holy night of Beht Zha’ir. While there are frequent flashbacks, I didn’t find them jarring, as they helped us to understand the motivation of our two main protagonists, who I became very fond of throughout the book and am looking forward to getting reacquainted with in With Blood upon the Sand.
After Atlas – Book 2 of the Planetfall series by Emma Newman
Govcorp detective Carlos Moreno was only a baby when Atlas left Earth to seek truth among 
the stars. But in that moment, the course of Carlos’s entire life changed. Atlas is what took his mother away; what made his father lose hope; what led Alejandro Casales, leader of the religious cult known as the Circle, to his door. And now, on the eve of the fortieth anniversary of Atlas’s departure, it’s got something to do with a brutal murder in a hotel room—and why Carlos is the man in charge of the investigation.
Those of you who know the first book in this series will realise that while set within the same world, this book does not immediately follow on from the events in Planetfall so you can enjoy this one without having read the first book. And enjoy it I did. This murder mystery absolutely gripped me in a near future world where most eat food provided by 3D printers and in England slavery is permitted for those unlucky enough to be stateless, such as Carlos Moreno. He is indentured to the Ministry of Justice as a top-grade investigator after a brutal hot-housing course and is one of their top investigators, having never failed in solving a crime.
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 26th February 2017
Review of All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
NEW RELEASE SPECIAL – Review of Very Important Corpses by Simon R. Green
Shoot for the Moon 2017 Challenge – February Roundup
Friday Face-off – Time Held Me Green and Dying… featuring Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Review of Demon Hunting in Dixie – Book 1 of the Demon Hunting series by Lexi George
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
What a Sensitivity Reader Is (And Isn’t) and How to Hire One http://writerunboxed.com/2017/03/03/what-a-sensitivity-reader-is-and-isnt-and-how-to-hire-one/ I have heard of this growing practice, but thought there might be a number of folks out there who haven’t…
No, I’m Not a Sexual Deviant… https://mistybooks.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/no-im-not-a-sexual-deviant/ This is an issue that children’s authors who want to give talks in schools and libraries where they come into direct contact with children and young people may need to consider…
A Magnificent Library Parking Garage https://kristentwardowski.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/a-magnificent-library-parking-garage/ In an ideal world, every single multi-storey car park throughout the world would feature famous books from their own country…
Photolicioux – Inner Earth https://photolicioux.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/inner-earth/
Regulars to this blog will know this is one of my favourite sites – and this week once more, it doesn’t disappoint…
If I’m Ever Stranded… https://themusingquill.com/2012/07/23/if-im-ever-stranded-2/
The quote says it all, really…
Thank you for visiting and taking the time and trouble to comment – and may you have a wonderful reading and blogging week.
Brainfluff 
Sorry about your cold, but glad it left quickly. And your teaching and editing sound like great activities. Oh, daffodils sound wonderful. The people who lived here before didn’t plant any bulbs so I’m hoping to plant daffodils next fall. They’re my favorite bulb since deer and squirrels don’t bother them (and we have lots of deer and squirrels!)
I want to check out the Weird Space series. I love space operas. Is it necessary to read book one?
I hope you have a great week, Sarah, and that you are enjoying the grandchildren!
Thank you, Jan:). Sadly, I can’t grow daffs in my own garden as the slugs tend to eat the bulbs. The Weird Space series is great fun – I would think that reading book one would be a good move as it sets up the world and the stakes involved. Do let me know if you get hold of it and read it – I shall be reviewing it shortly. Have a good week!
Fascinating books ahead for you…and although they are not my usual reads, I can see how readers are drawn to them. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog. Have a great week!
You, too, Laurel:)
I’m glad your cold didn’t linger too long and that you’re feeling better now. It’s really felt like spring is on its way here the last couple of days – we’ve had all the windows open and it’s been very mild. I love seeing all the daffs everywhere, they never fail to cheer me up.
Here’s my weekly post: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/2017/03/05/weekly-wrap-up-5-march/
Yes – it’s still chilly here with lots of wind and rain, but there are splashes of sunshine in between and the Spring flowers this year are amazing…
I read your review of All The Birds in the Sky and I think I’ll be trying that one. To be honest I didn’t know what it was about, but now that I do I’m intrigued! Also hope you;re feeling better, and that you have a great weekend with the grandkids!
Thank you, Greg – yes, I seem to have recovered from the cold really fast, which is handy as I really don’t have time to be ill. Yes – the grandchildren were a delight, as always:)).
Sounds like vitamin C is the default cure we both have with colds or sniffles. Take a small tablet of zinc, and it will boost the vitamin C. Also Esther C is the most effective form. I’m amazed you did the reading you did, being sick and all.
The vitamin C remedy I take has the zinc already incorporated. Unless I’m suffering from a migraine, I tend to turn to books whenever I’m suffering…
Books, as well as getting one’s hair done can cure anything!
Oh yes – I’m a HUGE believer in the healing power of getting lost in another world – books are definitely great medicine!
Colds are never fun. I had one the week before you did, and while I got over it fairly quickly like you did with yours, the worst day of it was like suffering from a sinus explosion and fatigue suckerpunch.
But I’m glad you’re feeling better now, and that you had a nice visit with your grandsons too.
Looking forward to your reviews of Twelve Kings and After Atlas. I bought the former recently, and am curious about the latter because of the stellar reviews I’ve seen at a few SF&F blogs.
Glad you are feeling better. Your books look amazing too. Hope you have a great week, and don’t push to hard so the cold doesn’t come back. 🙂
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Melissa:). I think we could all do with a dose of sunshine – soooo sick of the rain! Ah well, things aren’t too dire if I’ve a stack of great books by my side – have a great reading week and take care:).
Aww, and you’ve been poorly too! We all need a strong dose of the sunshine – Spring isn’t far away thankfully.
You still managed some impressive reading though.
Lynn 😀
Oh yes! Spring can’t come fast enough as far as I’m concerned! And yes… my reading rate this week was still above my average, given the length of Twelve Kings. I hope you have a good reading week, Lynn:).
I’m glad that you got over your cold quickly: nothing like the sniffles to linger and pester you. You’re supposedly healthy enough to do stuff, but feeling miserable and unproductive anyway.
And I hope you had (have?) a lot of fun with your grandchildren!
Thank you, Joanna:). Yes – I’m very lucky in that I seem to have thrown off the cold very fast with no lingering miseries. And last week-end the grandchildren were a delight, as ever.
Sorry to hear you had a cold! But I am glad to hear you’re feeling better again :). Sometimes a break can help you and you see things more clearly when you get back to it. I hope things progress nicely with your book. I hope you had a lovely time with your grand children. I also noticed some spring flowers are starting too bloom here. I always like the start of spring when everything starts turning green again. I hope this week is a good one so far!
Thank you, Lola:). Fortunately, I was only really poorly for just one day before I managed to throw it off again. Yes, it’s wonderful to see the spring flowers – daffodil are in bloom everywhere now.