Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

Kivrin is a history student at Oxford who has been training for two years to go back in time to the Middle Ages - the year 1320 to be specific. Her mentor, Mr. Dunworthy, isn't in favor of her visiting since it was an incredibly dangerous time, especially for women. On the day of the drop into the past, things go terribly wrong, and the tech running the drop collapses from a mysterious illness. 700 years in the past, Kivrin is also ill. The next few days are a blur in both the past and the present, with Kivrin and the Oxford crew trying to figure out how to reconnect and get Kivrin home.

Rating this book is a true challenge because there are some pretty intense strengths and weaknesses.
The main weakness of this book is its pace, as so many other reviewers have pointed out. I don't think I have ever read a more repetitive book in my life. There were certain plot points that got repeated so many times that I can probably quote 25% of this beast of a book from memory. Badri, the tech, keeps saying that "something has gone wrong (with the drop)" Dunworthy keeps asking Badri what went wrong: "Was it the slippage?" over and over with no response from the delirious Badri. The doctor keeps searching for the source of the virus and then sets about getting a vaccine. One of the archaeologists keeps talking about getting back to her dig. EVERYONE is having trouble getting in touch with people over the phones, which are all "tied up" because of the quarantine. Back in the past, Kivrin keeps trying to ask a man named Gawyn where the drop site is and keeps missing him or being unable to speak with him. All of the above events comprise probably the first half of the book at least. It's kind of a foggy mess, but it does get a little better after the first half. The pace of the last 25% of the book does somewhat make up for the rest of the book.
The technology of the book bothers me less than it does some readers. It is a little hard to suspend disbelief with their total lack of cell phones or reasonable means of communication in 2055, but it does add to the confusing/depressing nature of the book, which is a plus. If they had been able to communicate with each other, the book would have been cut in half.
One thing that bothered me throughout the book was how Americans were portrayed. The English characters kept making comments about how Americans were wasteful and selfish, which got old really quickly. The elitism of the Oxford inhabitants toward the Americans was a really unnecessary part of the book, but I know it's unfortunately realistic in real life in 2020.
I found the whole virus situation truly fascinating given the COVID-19 nonsense going on currently. They repeated a lot of the same things we are being told now about wearing masks, etc. They were able to quarantine one small area and keep it contained since it was caught quickly. The mortality rate was significantly higher than the COVID mortality rate (17%). They were very serious about finding the source and finding the best treatment and then a vaccine. So it was just interesting to have a modern pandemic to compare this with.
The other thing I found irritating was the book's obvious anti-Christian bias. The people in the 1300s were obviously very religious and prayed often. Then when bad things happened, they commented about how God was punishing them or forsaking them. Kivrin would always make snarky comments in her head about how God had nothing to with any of this because he wasn't real. Dunworthy did the same, even going so far as to compare Kivrin being lost in the past with Jesus being "lost" on earth and being crucified as a result, forgotten by his father. That was really bizarre, and it was overall just annoying to have to deal with their anti-God commentary throughout.
The book did have some significant strengths. Kivrin spends quite a lot of time in what she believes is 1320, though she is not sure if some "slippage" has occurred (that is, she knows she may not be in exactly the right time). After being brought to a village by Gawyn and the village priest, Roche, she spends a long time trying to get back to the drop site, but she ends up becoming a sort of caretaker for two little girls, Agnes and Rosamund. She is able to observe some interesting things about the people in the manor. The family has fled their home in Bath for some reason that Kivrin isn't able to determine right away. The lady of the house, Elwys, appears to be distracted and is possibly having an affair with Gawyn. Elwys's mother in law is a crotchety, cantankerous crone who hates Father Roche because he is not as wealthy/polished as the priests she is used to. The good thing about having a book this long is that it allows the readers a lot of time to develop attachments to the characters. Then...you get your heart ripped out. Things get bad, and I will avoid spoilers in this section, but there was one death in particular that had me crying for a good 15-20 minutes. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if Kivrin would ever get back home. When the book was over, I was genuinely emotionally spent. The book affected me in a really profound way. And THAT is what you want in a good book. We remember the books that make us cry or elicit string emotion with hard content.


 Spoilers below!
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Kivrin finally figures out that she is in fact in 1348, right at the outbreak of the plague. Although she has had inoculations and T-cell enhancements, she has to watch people start dying all around her. In the end, literally every single person around her is dead.
I wasn't too emotionally invested to be honest in most of the adults (except for Father Roche, who was a legitimate saint that the world did NOT deserve) but Agnes was about the same age as my own daughter, so I couldn't help but imagine her with the same likeness. That make it all the more devastating when she died, small and helpless, calling for Kivrin. She was so full of life. I cried and cried during that part. It was obviously so upsetting how everyone else kept dying, but I was able to understand how Kivrin and the Steward eventually became sort of detached and desensitized after a while, as it was just all TOO much. They had to focus on helping anyone they could and digging graves while they had the energy.
By the time Kivrin was able to go home, it was hardly even happy or triumphant. She was broken (I WAS BROKEN!)
One positive aspect of the book is how it gives the reader a really in-depth look at the black plague and how much desperation and desolation there was. People were scared. They fled and spread the plague everywhere. They had no treatments. It was legitimately horrifying. We don't really get that feeling of horror when we learn about it in school. You hear that 1/3 to 1/2 of that area of the world died and think it's pretty awful, but you don't really GET it fully. This book displays that brilliantly, and I think people should read it just for that. </spoiler>

The Book of Atrus by Rand Miller and Robyn Miller

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction

Rating: 5/5 stars

Atrus is a young boy growing up in a desolate desert with his grandmother Anna. Abandoned by his father, Atrus is taught and raised by Anna alone since his mother died giving birth to him. She instills character traits such as integrity, and skills such as observation in him. Anna, who is artistic and vibrant, albeit somewhat melancholic and weary, tells him stories of the great civilization of D'ni -- a powerful and industrious race of people that fell into ruin many years ago. In particular, she tells him of how one woman, Ti'ana, an outsider, made a poor decision that ultimately led to the destruction of D'ni. Atrus is fascinated by the stories, and he grows into a strong and intelligent young man with a passion for learning and building. One day he discovers a tunnel in the inactive volcano. He follows it for a while before returning home. Anna warns him not to go back. But soon, Atrus's father, Gehn, returns and insists on taking Atrus with him into the tunnel. Anna protests, but Gehn promises to let Atrus visit again someday. It is a long and difficult journey underground, but Atrus is astounded to see the ruins of D'ni. He studies the art of writing and observes how his father deals with the writing and the maintaining of his Ages. As Atrus grows, he forms his own opinions and beliefs that differ much from Gehn's. When things escalate, Atrus must stand up to his father.

The way this book is written gives me a peaceful feeling. The descriptions are beautiful, and Anna and Atrus are such kind and gentle people. Gehn, of course, is so chaotic and mad. I love where this story falls in the series because readers may or may not know about how Ages are written and what that really means. In fact, it seems logical at first glance to assume that Gehn is actually writing worlds into existence. His assertion that he is a god of some sort is actually somewhat logical. But the discoveries of Atrus and his discomfort with Gehn's treatment of the natives of the Ages is very important. The books in this series deal with ethical issues very well.

It was delightful to see Riven since I have completed that game. I actually didn't know much about Catherine, so it was nice to learn about her!

I think this book is a wonderful read for any lover of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. People who have played the Myst games will find it particularly enjoyable though! 

Buy on Amazon here. 

The Book of Ti'ana by Rand Miller

Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5

This review does contain some spoilers!

In this installment in the series, we learn more about Atrus's grandmother, Anna. She is a fully human woman who lives on the harsh surface of Earth until one day after her father's death she discovers a tunnel leading to the D'ni civilization. After integrating as best she can into their society (essentially held captive by them) she begins to form stronger connections. In the midst of political upheaval, she makes a decision that has dire consequences.

Each book in this series has such a different flavor. I really have enjoyed that immensely. Anna is a very lovable character. She is strong and intelligent. The same can be said of Aitrus. Although the tunneling and discussions of rock formations get a little boring at times, I can see how it would be integral in their society. He and Anna connected instantly on that, and it did end up giving me a better appreciation for geology.
The writing of Ages was explained a little more in this book, which was nice. I appreciate that it was made clear that Ages are not "created" when a book is written but that a link is established. The whole writing of Ages is wonderfully fascinating, exploring the concepts of parallel universes and travel in the space-time continuum.
One major highlight of this book is the friendship of Aitrus and Veovis. It seems fairly clear from the beginning that Veovis is not really too upstanding. It's little behaviors here and there that raise red flags. But Aitrus is a friend to him regardless, giving him his loyalty and support when he can but also voting against him when he must. The decay of that friendship was not unexpected, but it was sad. Veovis was an interesting character in general. He was treated unjustly because of A'Gaeris, and so his spiral into vengeance and madness was reasonably expected. The D'ni have strong moral objections to the death penalty (and Anna even more so, it seems), but this whole story really challenges that idea. It would certainly have been better for Veovis to have died. It actually seems somewhat inhumane now that I think of it to imprison/totally isolate criminals. This is a really wonderful ethical question (this author really excels at this!).

It was sad to see the downfall of D'ni, and the way it happened was stomach-turning. Another really sad thing was the deterioration of the relationship between Anna and her son, Gehn. It broke her heart to follow D'ni custom to send him away at the age of four, and he never forgave her for that. That was such a terrible tragedy that, among other things, really messed him up (clearly!)

One thing I wish was explained a little more was the state of Earth. We learn about how hard Atrus and Anna's life was in the first book, but there isn't a real explanation of what is going on. I get the impression that they are somewhere in Africa since they are in a desert, but we don't know that for sure. Nor do we know WHEN they are. It could be in the past, present, or distant future really. That "leave it up to the reader's imagination" thing can be frustrating sometimes!

This is a delightful fantasy series I think most people would like. It has beautiful descriptions, good character development, fantastic creativity, and ethical and moral discussions.
Reading this series will definitely help players of the Myst games understand and appreciate Atrus, Catherine, and the D'ni culture more. Highly recommended!

Buy this book on Amazon HERE.

The Book of D'ni by Rand Miller

Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5

This review does contain some spoilers!

Atrus and Catherine, along with some of their students from another Age, return to D'ni in an effort to assess the damage and find any remaining books that are intact. Their goal is to search through the Ages one by one and find any remaining D'ni survivors, tell them about the state of D'ni, and ask for their help in rebuilding. After some difficulty, they manage to find several thousand survivors and then begin the task of rebuilding, despite how daunting it is. As they are in the process of restoring a Guild house, they come across a buried chamber. They break down seals and find an entire library they didn't know existed. They find one particular book that is clearly of extreme significance, and after testing with the maintainer suits, decide to go through. They find to their surprise a stunningly beautiful Age - Terahnee - in which the people speak a form of D'ni. The society seems absolutely perfect. No crime, no sickness. Atrus asks the king to allow his people to settle there, as he feels rebuilding D'ni is basically futile at this point when this Age is here for them. The king agrees, but then a series of events cause all hell to break loose. They discover how this Age is so "perfect" and then a devastating plague spreads throughout the land. Will the D'ni still be able to settle in Terahnee? Should they settle there?

I enjoyed this book because I felt it was action packed and engrossing throughout. During their search of the Ages, I didn't want to put the book down until they found survivors. I was aching for them to find people. The search was really dangerous also, which made for some good reading. Then it was thrilling when they discovered the hidden chamber beneath the Guild house. The discovery of Terahnee was jaw-dropping. And there was a certain sick tension in my gut as it became clearer and clearer that this society was definitely not as perfect as it seemed. The last bit was tragic and violent. Overall, a good balance in my opinion!

One of the only things about this book that bothers me a little bit is the lack of emotion...or the lack of anxiety about certain things. There are a lot of truly devastating things that happen in this book. People die, an entire civilization is nearly wiped out, and Atrus is genuinely responsible for all of it. He is wise enough to realize that although he did none of it intentionally, he still has to bear that burden. Yet to me he doesn't really seem to have an appropriate amount of guilt or something. Maybe he does and this just doesn't come across well in the book. It's not that I expect him to crumple onto the ground weeping, but he (and actually all of the other characters now that I think about it) have this sort of odd stoicism. Maybe it's because their lives have always been hard and tragic. Their lives and environments have been really harsh and difficult.
One thing this book did well was address certain ethical issues. Slavery, of course, and classism are dealt with in a really interesting way. They, in fact, had ethical discussions and dilemmas even when D'ni was flourishing about how the classes were separated. The lower classes in D'ni were not abused as they were in Terahnee, but many of them were unsatisfied. Aitrus and Veovis talked about it a few times and sort of came to the conclusion that it was the way of the world, whereas Anna was more bothered by it. This book doesn't preach about the morality of the Ages, it simply lets the reader come to his or her own conclusion. Atrus is certainly not the most wise or pristine of all heroes. He is so relatable though. Yes, he was swayed by the utopian beauty of Terahnee. Yes, he ignored advice from D'ni elders. But all throughout the book, I kept thinking that when he was presented with hard choices, he just made the choices and then took ownership of them. He never blamed anyone else for his choices. He was kind and fair. I find him fascinating.

I believe this book happens right after the game Riven and before Exile, since at the beginning of that game they have just had Yeesha. I happen to be playing Exile right now, so it was the perfect time to read the series. I am excited to continue on with the game. I think having read the books will make gameplay a little richer. :-)
I think these books could be enjoyed by nearly anyone. But players of the Myst games will find them particularly interesting and enlightening of course. They do have a tendency to be a little slow, but really I think we probably all need a little bit of that in our fast-paced world. Slow down and enjoy the details and the great care that the author put into this series.

Purchase this book on Amazon HERE.

The Onyx Hourglass by Kristy Nicolle

Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars




Hades and Xion travel the world in an attempt to find the book of the dead to resurrect Sephy. Luce agrees to help them attempt a resurrection, though Thane and others warn them that what they are attempting is dangerous. Pandora and Anubis hatch up a plan to use Luce to resurrect Ra, and Luce is drawn deeper and deeper into the darkness.




I always enjoy reading Kristy Nicolle's books, and this one was wonderful just like the rest. This world is easy to get sucked into. One of the things I like about these books is the way the POV is done. Sephy is the "main character," but Luce, Xion, and Pandora might as well be considered main characters as well. I am not a huge fan Sephy even still, but I often find myself thinking about things she has done and said, and I realize that the "imperfect/disliked" character is often the one you learn the most from. I like relating to the main character, but it's a nice change of pace to not relate to her. One of the things that upsets me the most about her is how she is handling her relationship with Xion--it seems very unfair to him. I can see, though, the conflict that Sephy has about it. I am hoping that they can get their happily ever after (though from what Hades has said, that seems unlikely.)




SPOILERS:

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I found it very sad when Hades was killed, and I think he is my favorite character! I love the sass and the wit so much! I am interested to find out what, if anything, he can do from the Higher Plains to help Sephy and the others. I'm hoping we get to see more of what happens in that realm in the next book -- and maybe even see Zeus himself, the big loser.

I was less sad about Thane's "death" because I was getting so frustrated with her while reading this book. I realize that we see inside Luce's mind, and thus we judge her on her motivations, but honestly, Thane really disappointed me with the way she handled Luce's issues.

I am also interested to see how afterlife will be run now that the Mortarian sun has gone out. Can it even exist for long without Hades? Does Sephy have to take over? I think it's possible Pandora has bitten off more than she can chew. And Anubis just needs to die already.

There were some very well-written scenes in this book that elicited some great emotions. I was practically crying when Luce had to sacrifice a goat. I also really felt Luce's pain when she found Thane dead on the chair.

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END SPOILERS




I'm definitely heavily invested in the story now and will be snapping up the last of this trilogy as soon as it is available.

Dead Beat (Dresden Files #7) by Jim Butcher

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

In this seventh installment of the Dresden Files series, the White Council is still at war with the Red Court vampires. Thomas, Harry's brother, is living with Harry in his dinky apartment after his sister disowned him. Mavra comes to Harry with a demand: Bring her the Word of Kemmler or she will hurt Murphy. As Harry begins to look for the Word of Kemmler and the book about the famous Erlking of the Fae, Die Lied de Erlking, he uncovers something that's going to go down on Samhain and meets several people who are Kemmler's followers... the same Kemmler who happened to own his very own friend Bob the skull. Harry is still dealing with the aftermath of burning the living daylights out of his hand, and he is having dreams of Lasciel, the demon whose coin he picked up and then buried. The shade of her is enough to impart a significant influence over him, and she is quite convincing as she tells him of her desire to help him survive all he has to deal with. He has a difficult time standing firm and resisting her.
Can Harry somehow find the Word of Kemmler, stop Kemmler's disciples, and get it to Mavra in time without the White Court finding out and summarily executing him?

A common theme in these books is Harry constantly taking a beating and being near death's door. This book was no different, but I'm really enjoying the Lasciel aspect. She is manipulative, of course, but also SO incredibly believable, and we are watching as Harry is slipping more and more into her grasp despite that he knows objectively that NO good can come from letting her have more power over him. This book almost makes the reader fall in love with her at the same time! She seems so sincere and gentle! I don't blame Harry one bit for his feelings toward her. He is becoming more and more conflicted. It will be interesting to see where that storyline goes.
One thing I really enjoy about these books is the thorough explanation/exploration of the supernatural aspects. The Erlking in particular is a well-known figure in Faerie lore, and it was interesting to see how he was dealt with in this book. Necromancy in general is explained in a fascinating way - such that it sort of makes sense. Really, Jim Butcher always does a good job of presenting supernatural things in a really logical way -- as in, they are just believable enough. I appreciate that, and it makes the books enjoyable to read. Harry's sarcasm is, as always, fun and entertaining, but is it just me or is he getting darker? Less fun? It's inevitable, but I kind of miss his casual playfulness and positivity. He is losing a little more of that in every book. 

I am definitely looking forward to continuing on with the series. 

Buy this book on Amazon here. 

Noah's Lament by Jim Ody

Noah is a young man in love. But he's ripped away from his beloved when it is revealed that his father and his girlfriend's mother are having an affair. He and his mother move across the world from England to Escape, Colorado, where he is forced to start a new life. He realizes that he has to make good choices about which groups of kids he spends time with. After finding a few friends, things start to get worse and worse. He is trying the long-distance relationship thing. Relationships are tested, and friends are not always who they claim to be. This coming of age book will keep you at the edge of your seat and then leave you gaping at the end. This is one of those books that will be memorable.


I am a fan of Jim Ody's books because they always carry you along on eddies of emotions, surprising you, shocking you, and taking you somewhere you might never have anticipated.

This book began in a sort of sweet if sad place. Young Noah has just had to leave his girlfriend and move thousands of miles away. It moves into what you might describe as a typical teen high-school drama. Then it gets a little horrifying! The emotions in this book are so raw, and Ody just has that way of making you feel the things the main character is feeling. This book is an experience.

It's certainly not for the faint of heart. It explores many dark themes, so if you are one who is picky about disturbing, harsh, course, or "immoral" content, you will want to steer clear.

After I read this, I had to put on a happy TV show in order to go to sleep!







This book is published by Crazy Ink and is #28 in the Escape to Reality series!




Order this book on Amazon!