Review: The Kaiju Preservation Society

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was so much fun!

The author's note at the end of the book likens this story to a pop song - a catchy, fun thing that wants you to sing along to the chorus - and I think that's such a fantastic way to describe this book.

It's relatively basic in it's objective: Jamie is the newest recruit to the KPS - the Kaiju Preservation Society. The sole goal of this organisation is to preserve the lives of Kaijus in a parallel world that few people know exists. Naturally, Jamie and his team are going to encounter some difficulties. Wouldn't make much of a story otherwise, would it?

That being said, so much of the fun of this book is just exploring 'Kaiju Earth'. There's all manner of science being explained and there is a depth to the creation of this world that allows you to easily believe it. I loved hearing about the ecosystem, the biology, and how they function as keepers for these incredible creatures.

It's fairly obvious where things are going to go awry, but the spirit of the book is so good-natured that you can't be mad at any predictable moments. It's such a great, enthusiastic story and the banter of the main characters allows for a rather relaxed approach to everything. Everyone is cracking jokes and generally having a grand time, and even when things go south there is never a sense that things are truly dire.

Mostly, I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other and with this new world. There is a lot of fun to be had, but there is camaraderie and loyalty that adds depth to these relationships and it just becomes a pleasure to see how they grow.

A fun, fast read with plenty of Godzilla and other such references to keep us nerds happy. An absolute pleasure to read, and a wonderful diversion if you've hit a bit of a reading slump and you're looking for some light action to bring you back.

With thanks to Macmillan for a copy

View all my reviews

Review: The Thousand Eyes

The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This went all kinds of unexpected places and, like the first book, was a ton of fun.

Also glad the series is done in two books.

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers for the first book of the series.

This book picks up with Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal doing their own thing after separating from Sethennai. However an expedition to a hidden temple brings all kinds of snake-y trouble and relationships are about to be seriously tested.

I really love this series for how unique and unpredictable it is. The world building is fascinating - even if it crumbled a little for me between books - and there are so many layers to the characters. There are different religions and gods are overwhelmingly present and causing mischief. The story travels such fantastic, unfamiliar paths.

There is a time jump in this book that slowed me down a little, as it was so completely unexpected. But ultimately I appreciated how much more depth came from the intervening time and it did really take the story somewhere I wasn't expecting. Things just started happening and kept on going and before long I couldn't help but be caught up in what was unfurling.

The relationships feel so very real but not so much that you lose a sense of wonder and a desire for them to grow a certain way. For example, I love the way Csorwe and Tal bicker and insult one another, but I still wanted for them to have that unbreakable friendship that is one of my favourite fantasy novel feels. Tal, in particular, was such a brilliant character. He had so many fantastic moments and was a big part in setting the tone of this series.

The writing is succinct and has a wonderful blend of cleverness, poetry and simplicity. The story never gets lost amongst pages of description, but the world still appears vibrant. I never felt like I was wading through pages to 'get to the good stuff'. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever comes next from this author.

A fantastic conclusion to a well-written, unique fantasy series.

With thanks to Macmillan for a copy

View all my reviews

Review: The Last House on Needless Street

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay this was all kinds of addictive and I totally get the hype.

Less horror, though. I'd probably consider it more of a crime/thriller novel.

The story tells of Ted, his cat Olivia and his daughter, Lauren. Ted clearly has some issues, and he's still haunted by the disappearance of a young girl many years ago - a case where he was a prime suspect. Now he's just trying to live his life, but there is definitely something iffy going on.

Not gonna lie - I was pretty thrown reading chapters written by a cat.

But the uniqueness of this story dragged me in and I was so keen to get answers that I devoured the novel pretty quickly. It was fascinating and different and you basically spend the whole novel trying to work out what the heck is going on with Ted. Because you know things aren't what they seem, but you can't figure out how.

I did pick this one up expecting horror so it was a little disappointing on that front, but otherwise it was a highly addictive read and a brilliant thriller. There's plenty of tension and mystery and things that will keep you guessing, and there's plenty to unravel on the other side.

An excellent thriller and highly recommended for those looking for a fresh story with unusual protagonists.

View all my reviews