How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge by K. Eason

The fairies are messing with Rory's life again. It's been two years since the last book closed and Rory Thorne is happy being a space pirate with Thorsdottir, Zhang, and Jaed. She hasn't seen either Gritt nor Rupert nor Ivor. But that's who the fairy has appeared to. Specifically to Ivor. Specifically fairy #3. They are warning of impending war and telling them 

that the Multiverse will fall if they don't take action soon. 

Before Rupert and Gritt can catch up with Rory and team, they encounter a ship that is dead, something that is nearly impossible. And in that ship is something that could kill a world and keep it dead.

I would not read this book without having read the first in the series. But this is a fun series and worth reading both books. Eason has a way of handwaving and saying things like: and there was a big battle but we don't need to talk about that as though this is a historical story that took place long, long ago. 

Four stars

This book came out October 27, 2020

Follows How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty

Mrs. Brown is leaving Eternity for a few days and leaving Mallory in charge. This shouldn't be a big deal but there is a delegation of humans, including the new ambassador who are arriving soon. 

The station has been unsettled and Mrs. Brown is hoping to fix that, but things get worse before they get better including the fact that Mallory knows several of the people who have arrived on this ship and, where there are coincidences for Mallory, there is usually murder.

Her best friend from high school, Amy, and Amy's twin brother Parker are among the group. However, it takes Mallory quite some time to remember Parker at all. Their older brother Reggie and his husband Max are there as well as is Oscar Daye, a basketball coach at North Carolina (where the rest of them are from as well) who also runs a gossip blog. Oh, and of course, Jessica, the new ambassador who seems to know quite a bit about Xan and Mallory.

The story does get  a bit convoluted but so was the first. It's still highly enjoyable and, especially if you loved the first book, you should read this one.

Four stars

This book comes out November 7, 2023

Follows Station Eternity

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston

Alexei Vasiliev is dead. He made escape rooms in life and has one last, grand puzzle left for after his death. The first three chapters introduce the first three players: Henry Hall who is in solitary, a former cop kept separate from the general population; Joy Reese is a movie star and Alexei's widow; Dr. Oscar Evans is an epidemiologist who has been ignoring the signs of his own cancer. Oh, and Henry has a handler named Atkins who doesn't seem to fit in his own skin. These three (four?) come together and solve the first puzzle which gets them the option to either keep playing or to leave the house. All continue to play where they are joined by Dr. Rudyard Thomas, an associate professor of archeology. As they wait, Joy notices a timer counting down and the five of them witness a devastating act which leads to a sixth member joining them, Ileana Athanasiou, a politician. 

I really liked the first three quarters of this book and there were hints about what the end was going to be but it still felt a little like a hard left turn. I think other people would enjoy this book more but I am just grateful that I finished it during the daylight hours. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 15, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

We met both Lexie Bowen and Nilo Shoren in previous books in this series. And I do believe it would help to have read the other two books. I know I've read at least one of the two and still felt like I was missing some information. Besides, Mihalik is a fun writer and you might as well enjoy them all.

So, Nilo took a job from Lexie (and that is, frustratingly, never really talked about to clear up exactly why but maybe it was in the book I haven't read) and she's concerned he's about to do it again. Instead, he is on Valovia to save her from a trap. And they go from one adventure to the next. There is not a lot of relationship building in this story but it is still a fun read and I feel like there might be more coming in this series. 

Four stars

This book comes out June 20, 2023

Follows Eclipse the Moon

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Spare Man Mary Robinette Kowal

I've really enjoyed Kowal's books in the past and, upon hearing that this was like a sci-fi version of The Thin Man, immediately reserved the book from my local library. And this is like the movie (the book didn't have as much comedy) in that you have now "retired" detective who has married an heiress. In this book, we get more from the wife since the book is told from her point of view.

Tesla and her new husband are on a planetary cruise when a murder occurs. Though she is recognizable to the point of creating a horde, she has been able to fly under the radar to this point. The ship's security is less than stellar and, not knowing who she is, immediately pin their gaze on her husband as the guilty party. Tesla is less than impressed and decides (against her attorney's direct orders) to investigate herself. How else is her husband supposed to be freed?

This book is good but it is very much the first in a series and there is a lot of world-building. I do hope there are more in the series though as I have enjoyed Kowal's characters in the past and I think this book will improve when there are more books in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 22, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik

I feel like we missed some character development in this book that I don't remember from the first book. The book starts off sort of slow with Kee Ildez deciding to get off the ship and go to gather information. Does that get her away from Varro Runkow who she is mega-attracted to? Yes. So that will help since he doesn't seem interested in her. There is a little bit of exposition and story building and then, a bombshell. And from there, it is non-stop go, go, go. I enjoyed both parts well enough but it was a little jarring and left little time for us to really see how Kee and Varro connect. 

More of the plot to restart the galactic war is revealed with at least one rather shocking fact thrown in the mix.

Three stars

This book came out July 12, 2022

Follow Hunt the Stars

Followed by Capture the Sun

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

Captain Octavia Zarola has not had good interactions with the Valoff race. So when former general Torran Fletcher asks for her help in finding a thief. Octavia very much would like to turn the man down (Valoffs on her ship for the next two months? Blergh) but he is offering a buttload of money. And her team needs it. She might have been labeled a hero in the war between the Valoffs and the humans but that doesn't mean it came with a monetary reward. Nor does she feel particularly heroic. And that can be a problem since the Valoffs can read minds and Tavi has a lot of secrets.

Of course, she also gets to know more about the handsome Torran. It seems he has a lot of secrets as well. And his secrets are even more deadly. 

This book definitely sets up a series that I think is going to be very interesting but this book definitely suffered from having to do a lot of world building. There were repetitious points that never went anywhere in this book.

Three stars

This book came out 

Followed by Eclipse the Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

I heard about this book on the Book Riot podcast and thought the premise was intriguing. Six clones wake up in space. All of their previous bodies are either dead or close to it. Now they have to find out what happened.
The narrator is third person omniscient and hops around from character to character though we mostly hang out with Maria Arena. As the clones recover their memories, the reader gets to learn more about their lives. 
A back and forth between past and present isn't my favorite narrative device and I thought the ended wrapped up a bit too tightly but I highly enjoyed the book

Four and a half stars

This book came out January 31, 2017

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin

Princess Esofi of Rhodia has been engaged to the heir of Ieflaria since she was three years now. But when they were both of marriageable age the Crown Prince Albion died, about three months ago when the story opens. But Ieflaria needs help and Esofi can't go home so she offers to marry the new heir. Who turns out to be the Crown Princess Adale. Generally, royalty is not allowed same sex marriage (the dynasty, you know) but this situation seems to be different. And Adale seems to be... different as well. Albion was gentle and being reared to be king, taking interest in politics and the happenings around the country. Adale is more concerned with riding horses and drinking than she is of the affairs of rulers and gods. But she's going to need to care because the dragons which had been beaten back for centuries are growing more bold. And she needs to move quickly because her cousins have traveled far to try and convince Esofi that either of them would be a better mate than Adale.

An interesting world in a first story. I had heard about it from several different podcasts and was intrigued. I wish there had been a little more romance and a lot fewer names but it's a nice start to a new series.

Four stars

This book came out February 19th, 2018

Followed by Daughter of the Sun

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Ada von Hasenberg is a child of one of the three head houses of the High Council but, as a younger child, she is of little value unless she marries. And her father did contract a marriage for her to Richard Rockhurst. Ada decided she didn't want to get married and fled. She's got a bounty on her head and, two year later, has finally been captured by a merc ship. But she's not their only bounty. The ship also has the notorious Marcus Loch, the man who was rumored to have killed his entire troop during the Fornax Rebellion. If Ada wants to escape, she's going to need to team up with Marcus so that she can figure out why she has suddenly become so valuable to the Rockhurst house. What she uncovers will shake the entire High Council and lead to a house war.
Great world building and an introduction to a world that is just fun to read. I like the second book in the series just a little bit more but this is second in my heart.

Four stars
This book came out February 5th, 2019
Followed by Aurora Blazing
Borrowed this book from the library
Opinions are my own

Chaos Reigning Jessie Mihalik

As a child, Catarina von Hasenberg was often sick. But what no one other than she, her father, and a handful of scientists know that she wasn't really sick, her family was experimenting on her trying to play with her genes to make her faster, stronger, etc.  She was the youngest in a family of six so she was more expendable and her father is more interested in a way to gain power than keeping his family alive. Her bonds with her siblings are tight and Catarina is willing to help them in the fight against the Syndicate, a group that is trying to take over power from the Royal Consortium of which the von Hasenbergs are one of the three High Houses.
Cat has been invited to a house party at one of the family's that is suspected to be plotting against the Royal Consortium. Her sister Bianca is worried about her safety and sends two people along with Cat, Alex and Aoife. Aoife will be her bodyguard and Alex is going to pose as Cat's newest boy toy. Since no one knows about Cat's skills, she chafes against the restrictions but realizes why her sister might want to send her extra help, especially since she's the youngest and everyone is used to thinking of her as being weak.
I would definitely read the first two books in the series before this one. I don't think you necessarily have to but the series as a whole is amazing and worth reading. Of the three heroines, I think I connected to Cat the least but I couldn't put my finger on why. She is just as kick ass as her sisters  but I think the mask she had to wear annoyed even me. It also took me a bit of time to get into the story but, once it picked up, it really became wonderful.

Four stars
Follows Aurora Rising
This book comes out May 19, 2020
ARC kindly provided by Harper Voyager Trade and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik

Bianca von Hasenberg has done more than enough for House von Hasenberg. She married a monster who changed her in ways no one should have to suffer. But she now uses her differences, the differences she can never tell anyone for fear of being a medical experiment for the rest of her life, to enhance her information network. Also working for her? Woman who were in similar positions until Bianca saved them. Their gossip keeps her in the know, both for her family and for herself. Since her husband died, she has also become a security expert while tucking away money for herself. It is all of her skills that make her think she can save her brother when he is kidnapped. Of course, she was targeted at the same time but that doesn't worry her as much. Nor does the fact that someone is setting her up to be the fall guy for her brother's disappearance. Too bad her path is further complicated by one of her father's security guys, her former love, Ian.
I hadn't finished the first book but my library book was about to expire so I listened to this one and didn't feel like I had missed anything. Mihalik managed to add enough of the first book for backstory but without the info dump.

Four stars
Follows Polaris Rising
Followed by Chaos Reigning
This book came out October 1st, 2019
Borrowed this as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes

I loved the world building of this story. It's a slow build so you're thrown into this alternate universe and left to follow helplessly along as you meet Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Neg They are in the process of dropping off a load of kittens. Psychic kittens. Kittens that are currently running amok on the ship. When they're finally contained, Eva learns that she's not actually going to get paid for this trip. Which is not great since she's balancing on the edge of not being able to pay her crew anyway. So it's not a great day when The Fridge calls. It's a fringe group that kidnaps family members, in this case Eva's sister, and keeps them in cryo-stasis until someone provides them with what they want. In this case, Eva is to run some transport for them.  Her life doesn't get better when she takes just a moment to step out of her life and get stinking drunk. When a totally gross guy propositions her, she beats him down only then to discover that he is a prince of the Galaxy or something equally impressive. Anyway, a guy who is able to make her life a living hell. Er, hell-ier.
Great book. Can't wait to read the next.

Four stars
This book came out September 17th
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A Most Extraordinary Pursuit by Juliana Gray

This book started off sadly (death of character from the prequel) but with the introduction of a new character, Emmeline Truelove, who is snappy and a female secretary. Ooooooo.
Her love interest, Lord Silverton, reminds me of no one so much as Lord Peter Wimsey. Seemingly blithe and a little stupid, his thin veneer hides a deeper pain and intelligence. Silverton is to be Emmeline's chaperone on a trip to discover where the new Duke of Olympia (Max Haywood) is since he seems to have disappeared from his latest archaeological dig. A trip that the ghost of Victoria (yes, the former Queen of England) expressly forbade her from going on. So. We've got snappy dialogue, an intelligent female, light paranormal with the heroine seeing (maybe- she keeps telling herself they're figments of her imagination) ghosts, and a quest. Great start.
I was getting excited about this book and went to Goodreads to start writing my review because I was enjoying it so much and didn't want to miss anything. When I got there, I was puzzled as to why a three-star average (which may, of course, change, and god knows I definitely have enjoyed books more than the Goodreads average). But I was only 100 pages in at that point. And I remained puzzled until the last 150 or so pages. Oofda. I feel like the last part of this book was from some other story and was just copied and pasted on to the end. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason for why a book that was zigging and zagging along gentlly (though Silverton seems turns out to be much more of a rake than I suspect Lord Peter was and Emmeline really was turning out to be TSTL, though I could argue with myself that that was probably closer in character to how a woman of her time would have been) all of a sudden veered off a cliff and nosedived into a completely new genre. Even the writing style changed. It was frustrating. Especially given how much I remembered liking the "Duke of Olympia Meets his Match" (which I only gave three stars but thought that it could have been better as a full-length novel). Both books could have benefited from good editing.

Two and a half stars because I enjoyed so much of the book so much before the ending tanked it badly enough that I'm not sure I would even try to pick up the next book in the series
This book comes out October 4