clacksee's reviews
1116 reviews

Simon Singh's Numbers by Simon Singh

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funny informative fast-paced

3.0

Each chapter zooms in on a specific number and talks about what it is and why it’s interesting. 

I’ve got a number they didn’t mention: 68%. That’s how far into this book you have to get before you discover that women exist. Many, many (mostly White) men feature in this book. Yet you can count the number of women on one hand. And one of them was only there to read a line from a play (written by a man, naturally).

Interesting? Yes. But it’s interesting that’s about data can manage to present such a skewed picture. 
Surface Tension: Colony Five Mars by Gerald M. Kilby

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Mia and Gizmo are back and there’s another murder for them to solve. 

Imagine, if you can, a world where wealthy corporate overlords buy their way into power, steal as much as possible, and convince the population that it’s the fault of people from over there. Inconceivable, right?
What a Way to Go by Bella Mackie

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Characters you love to hate!

Andrew’s a self-important prick who can’t remember how he died. Olivia’s a status-obsessed woman who can’t believe her husband had the audacity to ruin  her party by dying. Jade’s a true-crime obsessive who can’t believe her good luck when a rich man dies in her village. 

Horrible things happen to horrible people!
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Murderbot solves a murder! This might be my favourite one yet.
The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Rich, complex characters. The gentle pace serves as a foil to the taut storyline.
Jezero City: Colony Four Mars by Gerald M. Kilby

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Fun, fast-paced murder mystery/conspiracy thriller set on a newly independent Mars. 
The Loneliness of the Deep Space Cargoist by J.S. Carter Gilson

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Five enthusiastic thumbs up. 

I’ll be honest: I judge a book by its cover. And this book has a terrible cover. I wasn’t expecting much in terms of story. But I was wrong. 

This is fast-faced, tightly plotted, novel almost entirely focused on one person stranded alone in deep space. Well written, well edited, highly enjoyable!
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

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challenging mysterious
The book description makes this  one sound like a fun, fluffy paranormal adventure involving a vampire, a ghost, and a fraudulent medium. 

In reality, this is a complex, deeply layered story with a cast of thousands and a plot complex enough for Tolkien. It’s very good for what it is … it’s just that that’s not what I was expecting (or in the mood for).
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

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mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

High-energy thriller revolving around a woman dealing with trauma-induced memory lapses and the cops pursuing her as the primary suspect in a murder investigation. 

But also what happened to Shauna and why does no one in this book care? For that matter, there are a number of questions left unanswered. 

All in all, an un-putdownable thrill-ride of a book that’s very slightly let down by a lacklustre ending. 
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The Flesh of the Sea by Lor Gislason, Shelley Lavigne

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This inclusive and  heartwarming tale was billed as a horror, but didn’t feel like one. There was plenty of death, but most of it was sort of hazy and over swiftly. Reminded me of OFMD, which I adore.

There was too much focus on romance for my tastes … but I’m weird like that. 
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