Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?
Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.
But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?
And what will become of it when it’s caught?
Review
I love the Murderbot series and with every book I find Murderbot more and more adorable. This book really shows that Murderbot cares even though Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. In fact Murderbot wasn’t programmed to have feelings at all.
Murderbot has risked it all travelling across the galaxy to get the knowledge it needs to find out about its previous life but then Murderbot finds out that Dr Mensah is in trouble. Dr Mensah is the only human to ever show respect to Murderbot and in a way she is a friend and protector of Murderbot.
I love that even though Murderbot has no idea what to do with the situation it uses its vast amount of media knowledge to find a way to rescue Dr Mensah. Even if the shows it decided to get help from are unrealistic and extremely risky. It also uses its menacing presence to full advantage.
With each novella Murderbot has developed more as a character. Its sense of humour gets more dry and snarky and its language gets considerably more filthy. However, what Murderbot really starts to develop is an unfailing loyalty to those who have been good to it, those who have cared for it but with this also comes an ever increasing hate to those who have treated it as a tool and something to be discarded.
I love the Murderbot series but I always find myself wanting longer books. I can’t wait to continue with this series and give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Martha Wells has been a science fiction and fantasy author since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993. Her New York Times Bestselling series The Murderbot Diaries has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and an American Library Association/YALSA Alex Award. Her work also includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, and several other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023), as well as short fiction, non-fiction, and media tie-ins for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: The Gathering. Her work has also appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, and has been translated into twenty-four languages.
My chosen poem today is by the English writer, poet and essayist G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936).
Elegy in a Country Churchyard
The men that worked for England
They have their graves at home:
And birds and bees of England
About the cross can roam.
But they that fought for England,
Following a falling star,
Alas, alas for England
They have their graves afar.
And they that rule in England,
In stately conclave met,
Alas, alas for England
They have no graves as yet.
G. K. Chesterton
They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbours call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.
When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.
But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina—and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.
Review
This book is easily my favourite read of the year so far. I could not put it down and loved every page. It just made me so happy!
This is my second Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel and it won’t be my last. The book is so beautifully written. This character driven historical romantic drama also has a telekinetic twist. It really had quite a Jane Austen feel for me which is probably another reason for my love of the book.
Nina is an unusual girl who loves beetles and insects and not the usual things that a high society girl of her age is considered. She also has something else which hampers her progress in the Grand Season and that is her telekinetic abilities. These abilities have led her to gain the nickname the Witch of Oldhouse by people in her local village and it is not a nice nickname. Nina is spending the season with her cousin and his wife and things are not going well. However, things begin to change when Nina meets Hector. Hector is like Nina and has powerful telekinetic abilities but he has spent his life showing them off whilst performing on stage whilst poor Nina has been trying to hide her abilities.
This book is full of old world traditions and opinions and these are most prominent in Valerie. I really didn’t like Valerie, she is cold and calculating and loves nobody but herself. She lives to make people suffer and because she is from an old family of a good name she believes she has the right to get her own way no matter what the consequences.
This book is atmospheric, entertaining and very engaging. It is packed full of glamour, love, expectations, hypocrisy of society and gender inequality. The book is beautifully written and has such fantastic characters that I really didn’t want to leave behind. I loved this book and give it 5 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.
My chosen quote today is by Lemony Snicket. Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American author Daniel Handler (1970). Handler has published several children’s books under the name, most notably A Series of Unfortunate Events.
“Reading is one form of escape. Running for your life is another.”
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
I went back to school today which was a bit of a shock and sadly I was still coughing all the time but at least I actually had the energy to do a school day. I thoroughly enjoyed my hour lunch break of reading though.
What I am Currently Reading
I’ve started reading Hauntings by Neil Oliver again after taking a little break. I’m still finding it frustrating and interesting in equal measure. Twelve Caesars by Mary Beard so far is absolutely fascinating.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
Goodbye Mr Chips was a lovely quick read and I know it wasn’t a nonfiction book but as it was only a small book I thought I would sneak it in. The Private Lives of the Tudors was an excellent book that I really enjoyed.
What I Think I will Read Next
Still keeping to my nonfiction theme for November one of these books is highly likely.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Mr Chipping, known fondly to his students as Mr Chips, is the beloved Latin master at a quiet boy’s school. For forty-three years he acts as the heart and the soul of his institution, proving that dedication, love and good sense of humour can make all the difference to generations of children.
The classic story of a quiet, unassuming man and the many lives he touches, Goodbye Mr Chips has sold over two million copies and has never been out of print.
Review
Oh what a beautiful little book!
I picked up this book whilst in Cheltenham and thought this will be a nice quick read. My husband has seen the film but I’ve never seen it so had no idea what the story would be like. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.
I could have easily read this book in one sitting but because of work and sleep I read it over two days. The story is focused on Mr Chipping, who is affectionately known as Mr Chips. Mr Chips is the Latin master at an all boys school but becomes so much more than just a teacher to everyone at the school.
This little book is all about a very quiet man who doesn’t seem to make a big impression on the world but who in his own small way touches so many lives in a big way. Mr Chips is a man that so many people treasure and remember and so many still want to meet.
This beautiful book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me ponder and so much more. For such a small book it certainly packs a punch and I must admit I would have loved it to be longer and sometimes more detailed. I would have loved to have learned more about certain times in Mr Chips’ life but sadly it was not to be and I was left to imagine instead.
I loved this book and will happily read it again and again. It gives you a perfect little snippet of England between the World Wars and the time before WWI. I happily give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
James Hilton (1900–1954) was a bestselling English novelist and Academy Award–winning screenwriter. After attending Cambridge University, Hilton worked as a journalist until the success of his novels Lost Horizon (1933) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934) launched his career as a celebrated author. Hilton’s writing is known for its depiction of English life between the two world wars, its celebration of English character, and its honest portrayal of life in the early twentieth century.
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Hello!
I hope everyone has had a good start to the week so far. I have spent the day reading as sadly I was too poorly to go to school. I’m really hoping I can start to feel better soon as I’m quite fed up of this cough and cold.
My chosen book this week is by one of my favourite authors but one I haven’t read for a very long time. I went through a huge Philippa Gregory phase a few years ago but for some reason it has been a couple of years since I have read any of her books. However, I picked this book up at Sudeley Castle and it has gone straight on my TBR pile and very near the top.
Fleeing rebels in Scotland on Queen Elizabeth’s false promise of sanctuary, Mary Queen of Scots finds herself imprisoned as the “guest” of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. Soon the newly married couple’s home becomes the center of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, and their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman. Using new research and her passion for historical accuracy, Gregory places the doomed queen into a completely new tale of suspense, passion, and political intrigue.
Please drop me a link with your Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.
To be honest this week hasn’t been great for blogging. Sadly, I have caught a rather nasty cold which has left me exhausted most evenings so I haven’t managed to find the energy to blog. I’m still feeling pretty rough but I am hoping I will get back into blogging next week. Thankfully, I have still managed to get some reading done.
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have managed quite a bit of reading today which has surprised me as I really thought I wouldn’t manage to fit any in.
My chosen quote today is by the American novelist and screenwriter Walter Stone Tevis (1928-1984).
“I feel free and strong. If I were not a reader of books I could not feel this way.”
Lady Book Dragon 