Review:: The Tropic of Serpents, by Marie Brennan

Title: The Tropic of Serpents

Author: Marie Brennan

Series: The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #2

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:
A Natural History of Dragons

I needed a palate-cleanser after The Forever War, and the delight Marie Brennan gave me last time seemed like just the antidote I needed. I was right.

Review:: A Natural History of Dragons, by Marie Brennan

Title: A Natural History of Dragons

Author: Marie Brennan

Series: The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When a friend wanted a signed copy of The Tropic of Serpents, the sequel to this book, I gladly headed into the City for a reading. After the puppet show and artifacts, I definitely had my interest peaked in this novel; it promised to be something different. And something different it was, something delightfully different.

Review:: The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman

Title: The Forever War

Author: Joe Haldeman

Series: The Forever War, #1

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

I forgot I had already read this book. And I think Joe Haldeman forgot that gay people are real, and might actually read this book.

Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: The Stainless Steel Rat, #8 (Publication Order)

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World

The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!

The Stainless Steel Rat for President

A Stainless Steel Rat is Born

The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted

Another Stainless Steel Rat prequel doesn't deliver the original wit and charm of the series. I'm singing the blues myself as Harrison plays too many tropes straight, and doesn't quite manage to cross the line twice.

Review:: Glamour in Glass, by Mary Robinette Kowal

Title: Glamour in Glass

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

Series: Glamourist Histories, #2

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★☆

Previously:

Shades of Milk and Honey

Wow. I was really unhappy with how Shades of Milk and Honey turned out, but it seems Glamour in Glass is more my taste. Mary Robinette Kowal seems to come into her own with this novel; rather than seeing a Jane Austen homage, I feel like I can really see her own writing shine through. Glamour in Glass deals with all sorts of issues, while being an easy and quick read. Some spoilers towards the end of the review.

Review:: Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett

Title: Wyrd Sisters

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld, #6

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★★☆

Previously:

The Colour of Magic

The Light Fantastic

Equal Rites

Mort

Sourcery

At first I was going to give this one three stars, but then I realized that I'd been laughing aloud throughout the entire book. Even if I have some quibbles, those have to be overridden by legitimate lols.

Review:: The Garden of Marvels, by Ruth Kassinger

Title: A Garden of Marvels: How We Discovered that Flowers Have Sex, Leaves Eat Air, and Other Secrets of the Way Plants Work

Author: Ruth Kassinger

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Considering the subtitle, I expected to learn a lot from A Garden of Marvels. Instead, I ended up only learning a little, as the bulk of the book (which isn't very long) was anecdotes about Kassinger's gardening and how she came to learn what she's teaching us. In some contexts that could have been done well, but in this instance, I found it tiring.