All posts tagged: novella

My Top Reads of 2017

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5. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuirre Though I had certain difficulties with suspension of belief at times, this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel. I’ve grown to really enjoy Seanan McGuire; her novel concepts are stellar, though her execution sometimes falls a bit short (as in the case of Every Heart a Doorway). I was excited to pick up her latest novella, a speculative take on ghosts and the concept of the Afterlife. Would recommend for some enjoyable afternoon reading, especially if you’re a fan of original supernatural concepts. vvvv vvvv vvvv vvvv vvvv 4. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman I read the trilogy when I was very young and I never remembered much about it, except that I liked it but not that much. In preparation for the sequel trilogy, I decided it was high time I revisited the series. I definitely found Northern Lights inspiring, original and enjoyable. Lyra is a brilliant protagonist and I’m looking forward to getting into the rest of the series – I have next to no memory …

Review: Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire

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I’ve grown to really enjoy Seanan McGuire; her novel concepts are stellar, though her execution sometimes falls a bit short (as in the case of Every Heart a Doorway). I was excited to pick up her latest novella, a speculative take on ghosts and the concept of the Afterlife. Anyone who knows me will agree that ghosts are totally my jam. Protagonist Jenny, bit of a Mary Sue but nonetheless lovable, has an unhealthy obsession with her sister Patty. When it is discovered that Patty has died by her own hand, Jenny feels somehow responsible, and in her grief runs out of the house into a raging storm, killing herself in the process. Forty years later, Jenny is “living” in New York as a ghost. Having become fully aware that every soul is granted a specific time on earth, Jenny must continue to exist on this plane until she reaches the end of her allotted time. In McGuire’s world, ghosts are able to take time from the living, moving themselves closer to their deathday while …

Review: The Pale Dreamer by Samantha Shannon

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Prequel to The Bone Season, this e-novella is a perfect introduction to the series if you haven’t experienced it yet. It’s a future world in which clairvoyants of various sorts are hunted and terminated by the government, spirits are used in combat, and mysterious forces from another world intervene at will. It’s a fabulous series, and The Pale Dreamer is a fabulous bite-sized chunk to stick your teeth into over a cuppa tea. It follows protagonist Paige Mahoney as she first learns to use her clairvoyant powers and seek out a poltergeist to impress her boss, Mime Lord Jaxon Hall. There’s enough to keep you intrigued; there’s a good introduction to the characters, the fiendishly political underworld and the fabulous supernatural world within the series. It’s exactly what I want out of a Bone Season book, a heavy focus on the supernatural with just enough character world, world-building and political tension to mix it up a bit. If you haven’t joined the fandom yet, start today by downloading The Pale Dreamer!