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@SallyStrange@bookwyrm.social What are you referring to?

Not just another white gay man, thankfully, possibly just a “bad gay.” 🤣 Arthur Less returns for another journey, but this time, around the U.S. instead of the world. The narrator has palpable affection for him that made me titter constantly; really, one of those voices that draws you in with its teasing warmth. Picked up the first immediately to compare since I didn’t enjoy it as much. Really good.

Not bad: a failed witch wastes away entertaining brats at a dead-end children’s restaurant and is pulled into a murder mystery. The magical system is a bit odd, but along with the Elsewhere (the parallel world), not particularly compelling. Entertaining enough to pick up the second in the series for a quick read.

Chose this first book carefully as it’s the first one I’ve read by Tchaikovsky. Some real standout moments as the titular robot makes its way from the manor of its former employer—things sci-fi does really well. But once more, goes on longer than it needs to. Didn’t regret reading; Tchaikovsky clearly knows his stuff. But as an intro to reading his longer, serialized works, I’m still not sure.

Kuang is clearly smart and has good ideas. Not a very good writer though. Nothing a good editor can’t help, but hers continues to let her down. Seriously, a book where the chapters just follow the story (almost entirely) in a straight line? Great premise—PhD student descends into Hell to retrieve her advisor—but the linearity gets old REALLY fast. 541 pages. Like “Babel,” the writing doesn’t merit this page count.

Twilight for grown-ups. The lead is a Mary Sue/Chosen One who learns again and again that the power was within her all along. It’s unbearably straight and gendered with her vampire man. Goes on too long. Not finishing this series. I am curious, though, if the TV series is any good.

The second Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery. Our crimesolving duo, Jonathan Darcy, son of the “Pride and Prejudice” Darcys, and Juliet Tilney, daughter of the “Northanger Abbey” Tilneys return. But his school chums are introduced, still clinging to childish dynamics and cruelties that complicate the MCs’ increasing regard for each other.

I enjoyed this! The title demands to be uttered aghast at a ball. The usual liberties taken with these beloved characters and their stories—I’ll read them all. Taub doesn’t quite have Austen’s voice down, and it’s a bit overlong, but recommended for fans of witchy books and “Pride and Prejudice.”

I’m not sure this series needed to go on this long. This and the prior book take place in the same world, but not in a material way that matters. It’s just another cozy sci-fi story about people working it out. Which Chambers is excellent at writing! Just make it a standalone.

After five books in this series, what else is there to say besides I plan on buying all of them? And happily re-reading, maybe in sequential order this time, maybe in publication order after that. Only then picking up the new books. There are few series I can think of that bring such perpetual pleasure: Earthsea, His Dark Materials…