You definitely need to have read other books in the series, have a fondness for the Vorkisigans in general and Miles in particular. Miles investigates a finance scheme involving trading cryogenically frozen people on a planet deeply interested in death and aging. A failed kidnapping attempt sees him stumbling, hallucinating into the run-away heir (and his menagerie) of the force-frozen leader of a cryo reform movement. Shenanigans ensue!

( Spoilers )

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison. Fun, very cheap, supernatural. I’ve been overexposed to hot, dense adrenalin junkie heroines with boyfriend problems. The series is decreasing in attractiveness and I don’t think I have the stamina to read the next book.

The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold. Set in the same world as The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls. This has wonderful layers of intrigue and characters to die for; I’m particularly in love with the warrior-prince-poet Jokol and his pet ice bear. A somewhat cranky swordsman Ingrey collects the body of a murdered prince, custody of the killer (a lovely young lady) and gets plunged into a spiritual, magical and political whirlwind.

Blood Debt by Tanya Huff. Fun, cheap, supernatural. Last in the series and a nice, solid case. I like Vicky Nelson and her personality problems; I also like her supernatural problems. This made me happy.

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. Complex and fabulous character development. Oh Cazaril. I have a girl!crush on Bujold and will cheerfully buy anything she writes. This was engaging, intriguing and romantic in turns. It’s a great piece of fantasy with a unique take on our relationship with our gods. Please ignore the typo *gasp* in the blurb on the back and go read it.

Cassandra by C.J. Cherryh. Re-reading because it’s really good. A short story about a lass who spends her entire life being ‘mad’ because she can see the fires of the future burning all around her.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Re-reading because every time is as funny and interesting as the last.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Post apocalyptic story about a girl with ‘hyperempathy’ – the ability to feel other’s pain as well as her own. I have a bunch of prejudices about this so it was interesting to read Butler’s take on it. Not a style of writing I take to well; in a first person diary format.

Kushiel's Dart and Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey. I’m not going to be able to read book three, I’m having too much trouble with book two. I want to like this far more than I do. I usually have a lot of time for girl_with_gifts_ against_the_world stories but the starting premise in this kinda squicks me. Phèdre is a lass ‘gifted’ with the ability to really enjoy pain and there just seems to be far too much BDSM type literature on my horizon right now for me to be comfortable. We can talk about fantasies not being the same as real life and so on but I’m overdosed and creeped out and the ‘erotica’ section in Elizabeth’s seems to be largely composed of women with cuffs, vinyl and crops. [hides]

A description of Miles and Ekaterin's marriage from the perspective of armsman Roic - that nice young man who still hasn't got over the unfortunate naked-covered_in_bug_butter incident in A Civil Campaign.

Charming and funny with a dash of intrigue and attempted murder.

Amazon loves me and I love amazon

Came home to rejection letter for dream job in the mail, considered sulking but remembered had 10 tennis balls in Cyril's boot and amused self by giving all of them to woofer at once. Oh that was good fun yes it was. Oh humour, oh silliness.

Have also separated Elkhorns and am feeling a bit less obsessed now.

( Reading... )