An American Aussie's Imaginarium

I am a voracious reader, and this is my blog dedicated to my book pursuits. Due to working full-time and studying, I do not have as much time as I'd like to spend on reading and blogging, but I try!

 

My favourite genres include: science fiction and fantasy, paranormal, romance, distopia, certain non-fictions, horrors and all inclusive sub-genres.

Strange Horizons Seeking Reviewers

Reblogged from Saturdays in Books:

In a move that is basically the opposite of what I was complaining about, another SFF venue is actively and openly seeking a broad range of reviewers. 

 

Please share this link.

Negative online reviews are now protected by law in California

Reblogged from Karlynp & The Doggone World:

This is such great news! If a business tries to fine you over a negative review, California will give them a $10,000 fine right back.

 

If you’re a business owner with a thin skin in California, you’re about to have a bad time.

The state has had problems with businesses requiring customers to agree not to say anything negative about them online. But this week, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a state bill that cracks down on the controversial practice.

 

“No consumer should ever face penalties for voicing their opinions on the services or products they have purchased, and California law is now clear that no company has the ability to silence consumers,” Assemblyman John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), a sponsor of the bill, said in a statement.

 

Read full article: Negative online reviews are now protected by law in California

Source: http://www.dailydot.com/politics/california-non-disparage-online-review-law-yelp

Reading progress update: I've read 120 out of 352 pages.

Greywalker  - Kat Richardson

So... I don't know if anyone else is liking this book (it's July's book for the Vaginal Fantasy Bookclub), but I am just very meh about it.

 

Also, the dialogue is rather lacking.

Kitty Jikji needs help...

Found this one on a friend's Journal and want to spread the word.

 

Mab wrote:

Chibitoaster's being a hero and rescuing a poor sweet injured kitty cat because that's what you do. But the baby needs surgery to have her hip pinned and leg amputated if she's going to have any sort of life and working overseas on a teacher's salary is hard to cover an emergency surgery like this.




If you can pitch in ten bucks, (or more) or even if you can't, please visit the gofundme page and signal boost the hell out of it to your social media sites. That will help a lot!

Give Jikji a Happy LIFE

Thanks all!

Source: http://mab.livejournal.com/102815.html

Shadowfell

Shadowfell - Juliet Marillier Beautiful book - a big recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy #1)

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy #1) - Mira Grant This book... It was absolutely stellar. Perfection. Best zombie book I've read.

Mistress of the Art of Death

Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin Again, another lem for me. :( Got about 20% in and couldn't really continue.

This really isn't my month in reading books :(

Oh well.

The Lions of al-Rassan

The Lions of al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay I read a little over 50% of this and have lemmed it... It just really wasn't the book for me, and time is to sparse to waste it reading something I am not enjoying (especially a book this long).

The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House

The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House - Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Malcolm Jones III, Steve Parkhouse, Todd Klein, Chris Bachalo, Mike Dringenberg, Michael Zulli As expected, great!

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Mistborn: The Final Empire  - Brandon Sanderson Review from 2014 after third reading:

Even better than the first two readings. This book is perfection.

Review from 2012 after second reading:

When I first bought Mistborn, it was from the Waldenbooks store in our local mall back in Ohio. I was about nineteen years old, and it was common in my life at this time to take a weekly trip to this store and pick up a handful of books for $20 or so. I found Mistborn sitting on a bottom shelf in the Sci Fi and Fantasy section, and it was the only copy of Mistborn on the shelf. In fact, it was the only book by Brandon Sanderson in the whole store that I could see. I remember picking up the book and thinking to myself that it looked really great, but I also wondered why I hadn't heard of this book or even the author in my ten odd years of reading sci fi and fantasy novels. I brought the book home, and from the moment I opened the front cover of that book, Branden Sanderson has become my favourite author of all time.

I decided back in December some time that I was going to reread all three of the Mistborn trilogy in preparation for Sanderson's new Mistborn novel The Alloy of Law. Also, these novels were just so kick ass that I wanted to reread them just to take the adventure again. So, that is what I have done.

There are so many reasons why I love this book. To put the reasons why I loved this book in a very tiny nutshell, it just frankly has everything that I have always wanted in a science fiction/fantasy novel. But since I have made the decision to reread these novels, I should go into more detail about why I love this series so much. So without further wasting time, here are reasons why I loved Mistborn.

The Amazing:

The Magic System

The magic system in this book is unlike any other novel/story I have ever read. It's refreshing and unique, and it incorporates a good balance between providing powerful abilities to those who use it and having a lot limitations to that power. Another aspect of the magic system that I enjoyed reading about was the idea that the characters don't know everything about this magic. There is no one really who does, and it's Vin and her companions who have to make these new discoveries. And the one aspect of this magic system that I appreciate the most is the fact that the magic used is not gender specific. I am getting bored to tears with finding these novels and stories that have to distinguish between male and female magic. I'm not interested. Thanks.

Characters

The characters in this novel feel like living, breathing people. In fact, while rereading Mistborn, I was quite surprised at how much I had forgotten as the years have passed... but the things that I didn't forget were the characters. Vin, especially. Vin is such a great character! She is what I want my main heroine of a novel to be. Exactly. I wouldn't change a thing about her.

The characters go through a surprising amount of development through the book. In particular, the reader can really go on a journey with Vin as a street child to what she becomes by the end of the book. Kelsier's story is the same way, but even more shocking. Marsh and Sazed.... even Elend. These characters are cemented in my mind for years to come, if not even for the rest of my life. These characters' stories are beautiful, and I wouldn't change a thing about them. And I just want to thank Sanderson for making Vin one of the main characters of this book and for making her the way she is. It was a pleasure reading about her.

The World

Anyone who has read any of Sanderson's books will know that one of his best skills is his world building, and it never falls short of amazing. The world contained within Mistborn is no exception. I will not go any further into this as I do not want to ruin the experience for any potential readers, but, believe me, you won't be disappointed.

The Story

The story is really great. Never once was I bored and thinking that I wanted to get to the next chapter as soon as possible. I am no writer... and I am not even a good reviewer or critical reader, but I felt the story was well paced, had it's rises and falls in the right places, and overall, the story was entertaining. I felt emotional during the story, and I know that that is when a story is really great for me.

The Could-Have-Been-Better

There really isn't anything about Misborn that I thought could have been improved upon. The biggest issue with me, as is an issue with most books I read, is that I wish there were a few more female main characters. Vin is amazing... she is what I have always wanted as a female main character, but I just wish instead of the crew being filled with men or only having men as main characters and supporting characters, there was a women or two. Really, Vin is it. It's disappointing in a way. However, it's the only issue I have with Misborn.

Overall, I think that this book is amazing. It's beautiful, and I am so happy that it has become a part of my life.


Deep Naked

Deep Naked - Riley Hill My review of this book is it's shit and don't buy it.

I haz a sad.  And a rage.

 

I recently opened my email.

 

Hey look!  An email blast from an author I like and admire!

 

*click*

 

Oh.  Noes.

 

I don't need to tell the Booklikes community how much this email blast saddened and, yes, angered me.

 

Let's look at the ways this email blast is oh, so wrong:

 

1) Misuse of the phrase "beta readers."

Beta readers are just that - they read the book in beta stage, i.e. before it is ready to be released to the public.  Beta readers give criticism that is used to - hopefully - improve the book in its final draft stage.

 

SENDING A BOOK TO READERS IN ADVANCE OF PUBLICATION IN ORDER TO GENERATE REVIEWS IS NOT A BETA READ.  IT IS AN ADVANCE READER COPY.

 

2) Asking for ONLY five-star reviews to be posted publicly.  

Anything less - a glowing four star review, a "I liked it but" three star review - no, you are supposed to email the author directly. 

 

I CAN'T EVEN...I JUST...I..... *sputters in incoherent rage*

 

3) NO mention whatsoever that the reviews must disclose that the reviewer received the book for free per the FCC rules.  Plus, the author is offering a "gift"if the review meets her criteria, making this in essence a "paid" review - and thus a no-no.

 

This author is a successful professional in a high-powered, competitive industry and has at least one advanced degree.  She is also formerly traditionally published, and belongs to professional writers' organizations.  

 

THIS IS NOT A NAIVE BABY SPA.  THIS IS SOMEONE WHO SHOULD - AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE DOES - KNOW BETTER.

 

And Hugh ("I'm not a misogynist, I just play one on the internet") Howey claims that self-pubbed books are higher rated on Amazon because they are intrinsically of higher quality and value (see my previous post entitled "Announcing..." for more info).

 

Shyeah, right, Howey.  Authors are gaming the system.  Period.

Summer's Crossing

Summer's Crossing - Julie Kagawa I love Puck!

The Iron Queen

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa Holy fuck! That was an amazing read!

I ... I just.... I can't even....
So good!

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2) - Julie Kagawa Pretty good. Ironhorse is (was) a wonderful character. I feel most attached to puck though. He deserves better.

The Iron King

The Iron King  - Julie Kagawa Very good book especially for the genre it is in. Kagawa is quickly turning into one of my favourite writers.

Currently reading

Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Progress: 120/352pages