L.R. Braden's Blog

Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book picks up right where Skyward Book 2, Starsight, left off, so be sure to read them in order. [SPOILERS] The human world of Detritus is under attack, and Spensa has traveled into the nowhere with M-bot (now housed in a tiny drone body) to escape the Superiority.

Spensa is joined early on by a mysterious adventurer, who she thinks may be M-bot's original pilot. I won't tell you how that works out. ;) Together, the three of them travel across the broken realm of the nowhere on a quest to locate cytonic ruins that reveal old memories in an attempt to piece together what the delvers truly are and why they hate the people in Spensa's dimension so much.

I absolutely loved the descriptions of the floating land masses of the nowhere, each with distinct ecosystems so we get a lot of variety in a very short period of time. I also liked the political makeup of the pirate factions that exist within the nowhere. I will say that parts of the plot felt a little heavy handed--too much convenience for my taste. Though, to be fair, some of those coincidences are explained toward the end. Spensa makes a number of difficult (usually reckless) decisions, faces lots of challenges, and learns some important history lessons, but though it all she remains the same impulsive, loud-mouthed, adrenaline junky she's always been.

While Spensa is off having her grand adventure, the humans she left behind are struggling to survive. There are some changes there, but little real progress. Time flows differently in the nowhere, so it's a little difficult to match up the two timelines. I believe the series of novellas that come between this book and the final book in the series are designed to explain what's happening to the other characters in more detail. But from Spensa's perspective, she doesn't know much about what is happening at home, which creates a sense of urgency for her to get back.

I didn't like this book quite as much as the first two, probably because it had a very "middle book" feel. That said, I still enjoyed it a great deal and will definitely be continuing the series.

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Some of you may have noticed that I haven't had much of an online presence lately. Let’s just say that my life has been rather… lively of late.Among the various personal and professional changes that happened recently, I was informed that Bell Bridge, the publishing house that produces my books, is closing. This is due to the fact that Debra Dixon, the company president and my developmental editor, has chosen to retire. She’s been a wonderful partner in the refinement of my books, and I’ve learned a lot in working with her. I was incredibly fortunate to have her as my editor and friend, and I wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life. However, this means that all of my rights are reverting back to me, and in order to avoid any disruption in my books’ availability, I am currently in the process of figuring out (and implementing) how to republish all of my existing books.Rest assured, I’m still working on my next Magicsmith book. I’ve even secured a new developmental editor so that there should be minimal delay in getting it out for you to read. That said, there are decisions to be made, and new skills to learn, so I appreciate your patience as I make this transition. I’m determined to deliver all of my existing and future books with the highest degree of polish and professionalism, and I’m excited for this next stage of my author journey. I hope you’ll continue to walk this road with me. Here's to the next adventure! PS- If you're currently reading a book in either my Magicsmith or Rifter series, you may want to order the next book or two now to ensure there's no disruption in your adventure. (especially if you're reading on Kobo, Google, or Apple, which may take longer to get transfered.) While I do try to keep all of my accounts up to date, if you want to be among the first to here what's happening, I suggest you sign up for my author newsletter HERE.

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Read these books in order! They will make no sense otherwise.

In this second Skyward adventure, Spensa takes us off planet! We get to learn a lot more about the other races that inhabit the universe and how they all interact, both historically and in the present day. There's only a tiny bit of interaction with the characters from book one, as Spensa almost immediately sets off on a covert mission that takes her to a space colony deep behind enemy lines where she goes undercover with the help of M-bot's holograms and meets an entirely new cast.

A lot of the charm of this particular story comes from Spensa being so far out of her depth. She has a very volatile nature, so covert operations are a challenge for her. There were a lot of great scenes that tackled the theme of empathy and seeing the similarities between all living beings even when they originally seemed entirely alien. I particularly enjoyed Spensa's development as she interacted with her alien housekeeper, whom she originally assumed to be an enemy spy.

I occasionally got very irritated with Spensa for making foolish choices, but she is written as a reckless character with little regard for consequences, so such flagrant disregard for potential fallout wasn't out of character. Still, I couldn't help but roll my eyes when things inevitably blew up in her face.

This story ends on an absolute cliffhanger, so be sure to have the next book standing by if you don't like being left in the lurch. I'm excited to continue the adventure, and a little nervous about the paths of a few of the characters might take.

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It's release day for Dancing with a Demon ! Mira and Ty are off on another mind-blowing adventure as Mira goes undercover among Ty's magic-hating family to hunt down a new threat.

Mira, Ty, my family, and I want to shout out a huge "THANKS!" to all of you who have continued to purchase, read, review, and support my books. We couldn't have gotten here without you! * * * Here's what early reviewers are saying about Dancing with a Demon : "Expect magic, mayhem, surprises and to be thoroughly entertained." "Best book of the year so far for me!" "Well-written, action-filled, and just so much more." "I could barely stop reading until I was done. This was the best one yet!" "I couldn't put it down once I started." "I can't wait to see where this series goes next." "This is a real rollercoaster of a read, a real page turner." "I am just loving this world...So looking forward to more." "I hands down 100% recommend this book (and series)." "Loved this latest, and I want many, many more." "Super action-packed, thrilling, entertaining, and introducing more intrigues." * * * But don't take their word for it. Read it for yourself.  Order your copy of Dancing with a Demon:

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stellar sci-fi romp by one of my favorite authors. Sanderson delivers a new, brilliantly realized world where the last of humanity fights for survival on a hostile, alien world. The descendants of the humans who crashed on this planet three generations ago use scavenged technology to fight back against the Krell--an alien race about which little is known except that they attack and bomb human settlements. Foremost among the humans' defenses are starfighters, giving the pilots who fly them for humanity's sake a special honor and social status. And the best human pilot was call-sign Chaser... until the day he supposedly fled a battle and was branded a coward.

Chaser's daughter, Spensa, grew up under the burden of being a dead coward's daughter. Little wonder then that she developed an urge to fight at the drop of a hat. She wants to clear her father's name, but more than that, she needs to prove to herself that she is not a coward. So she follows in her father's footsteps and, against impossible odds, becomes a pilot. But along the way, she comes to know the truth about what happened to her father, leaving her with only one question. When push comes to shove, will she be a hero or a coward?

This book does a great job of setting up the world, but it's the characters that really shine as we join Spensa, call-sign Spin, her classmates, and an ancient AI with a warped sense of humor as they train together and take to the skies as the next generation of starfighter pilots.

Spin is young, angry, rash, and prone to melodramatic speeches about bathing in the blood of her enemies, but she grows up a lot over the course of the book, and it's delightful to watch her find her place in the world, but this story only marks the beginning for her and her friends. I can't wait to read more.

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Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Patricia Briggs' writing never disappoints. This installment in the Mercy Thompson series is a wild ride through Europe full of detailed descriptions, new characters, and more excitement that Mercy can shake a razor-sharp scythe at. Mercy has been kidnapped by a powerful new foe and carted off to foreign lands where she has no assets and no allies. Meanwhile, back home, Mercy's mate Adam tries to hold his temper long enough to find a diplomatic solution to this highly personal attack. If you're a fan of the series, I'm sure you'll enjoy this story.

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The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars for this series conclusion.

Some familiar faces from the first two books are the main antagonists this time around. There are also plenty of old friends who make appearances. The plot was fun, clever, and quick, culminating in an epic, if somewhat disjointed, multi-kingdom battle. The banter was amusing, especially where Duncan was concerned, and the heroes all made some progress along their paths of personal growth.

However, while I still enjoyed Healy's writing, I found the characters more irritating and less competent in this latest installment of the series, especially in any scene where Liam and Ella were together. Even my daughter, with whom I read these books, would roll her eyes and remark on their over-the-top immaturity and incompetence. Ignoring Liam and Ella, I enjoyed spending time with the rest of the cast, including getting to know a few new faces.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read despite my being a bit underwhelmed by the delivery, and I highly recommend the entire series for middle grade readers.

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Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This conclusion to the Six of Crows duology did not disappoint!
The story picks up right where the first book left off, with Inej in trouble and Kaz and his crew planning a daring rescue. Of course, being Kaz and his crew, nothing is straightforward, and there's always more than one game being played. This book is sure to keep you guessing all the way to the end.

Bordugo does a masterful job of developing the characters in this book. Every one of the narrative protagonists showed depth and growth. So while this was a very fun story full of fast-paced action, twists and turns, and a rich world, what will really stick with me are the characters.

If you love a good heist story woven with magic and loveable outcast characters, you'll definitely want to pick up this series!

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Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Overall, this was a wonderful anthology full of action, adventure, and heart that I would absolutely recommend to fans of urban fantasy who enjoy short stories. Below I've given my brief opinion of each of the individual stories.

Little Things-5 stars
I loved this story! Action. Humor. Light and fast.

Dark Ship-5 stars
This was on the longish side. I loved the writing, descriptions, and world. Believable characters. Heavier themes. I was happy to spend more time in the Others' world.

Comfort Zone-4 stars
I enjoyed the characters and plot, but I'm not a huge fan of 1st-present pov.

Train to Last Hope-5 stars
Annie Bellet was a new-to-me author, and I'm so glad I got to sample her work. While heart-wrenching, this was a beautifully written tale with vivid descriptions and a well-woven plot. I'll definitely be looking up her other work. She packed a lot of emotion into such a small space, though the inner story had a few holes.

Fire Hazard-5 stars
A wonderful story about the true meaning of courage and the reasons people (or in this case, dogs) face their fears. Oberon's voice is so unique and entertaining. This one will definitely put a smile on your face.

Grave Gambles-5 stars
Great premise, fast pace, engaging characters.

Silverspell-3 stars
Bit of an info-dump at the beginning. Intriguing world building. Writing's a bit dry. This one felt a little more like an excerpt of a larger story than a complete tale on its own.

Trollife-5 stars
What a great world! Even though the whole story takes place in one subway station, you get a clear sense of the world and the beings who inhabit it.

The Return of the Mage-3 stars
Interesting world building, but the story fell a bit flat for me and I didn't particularly connect with the characters.

The Vampires Karamazov-2 stars
This story was not for me.

The Necessity of Pragmatic Magic-3 stars
I liked the fact that the protagonists were elderly, and I enjoyed Felicia's personality in particular. The plot was fairly straightforward but jumped around. The details felt a little sparse, but I was left with a sense of a much larger world than what was on the page.

Dating Terrors-5 stars
Briggs' writing never fails to delight. This story was basically a blind date told from both sides, but Briggs packed a heck of a lot into that date! Her characters were both strong and vulnerable, and while the ending was satisfying, I was left wanting more.

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this story!
A fast-paced, heart-wrenching heist story with a smattering of magic for flavor. There's nothing I love more than a complex plot that comes together seamlessly, except when that plot is brought to life by characters who could walk off the page. Six of Crows delivered both.

Six of Crows takes place in the Grishaverse after the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. While reading the original series would provide some general background to the world, I don't think you'd be lost if you just picked up Six of Crows. Everything you really need to know is laid out in this book. I thinks that's partly because the Grisha magic is used mostly as a backdrop rather than a focal point, despite being the catalyst for the story, and partly because the story takes place in Ketterdam, which is barely touched on in the trilogy and therefore brought fully to life in these pages.

There are six main characters who make up the team who participates in this seemingly impossible heist. Each is unique, vibrant, and driven by different motivations. Kaz is clever, calculating, and ruthless. He's the brains of the operation. Inej is nimble, spiritual, and loyal. She's Kaz's right hand, and the one person he might actually trust. Jesper is a sharpshooter with a secret, and a gambler in all aspects of his life. Nina has a loud personality, full of confidence and conviction. Mattias is a soldier who's life and beliefs have been turned upside down. And Wylan is a lost boy looking for somewhere to belong. Together these misfits just might be able to do the impossible, but success will cost them dearly.

This is definitely a YA book (the characters are all teenagers), but I appreciate that it lacks the over-the-top angst so often equated with that genre. There are plenty of emotions present in this book, but they feel grounded and believable. I think anyone who enjoys a well-written fantasy with an Ocean's Eleven type plot will enjoy this book.

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