Justine’s Comments (group member since Jan 27, 2015)

Justine’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

I’m planning to read this; but probably not until later in the month.

Kathi I’m sure lots of people have said this to you but Severance is probably one of my favourite SF Apple TV shows, and there’s no book to spoil. Shining Girls is also good, but I haven’t read the book for that one.

It’s been a long time since I read the books, but I think the show captures the feel of the Silo books well, but of course some of the details are different. Kind of like the way the Expanse captures the feel of the books but has some details that differ.

I contrast that to Murderbot, where for me, I didn’t totally feel like the show captured the book quite as well. I seem to be in the minority feeling that way though.

I’m with you Cheryl, I try putting things aside but usually move them to my DNF shelf. Most between 30 and 40 percent, so really I feel like I’ve put in enough effort that a DNF feels fair.

Kathi wrote: "Gary wrote: "I’m planning to read An Autumn War (Long Price Quartet Book #3) by Daniel Abraham next."

How did you like the first 2 books in that series? It doesn’t seem to get much attention from ..."

This is an AMAZING series! It's completely under-read in my opinion.

Both of those look good, Kathi!

Yeah I don’t have much optimism on people wanting to read brand new releases, but I can’t help myself when I see shiny, new things 😂

Ok I’m going to nominate two new releases that sound super interesting and also like they will provide some material for thought and discussion.

For SF: Terrestrial History by Joe Mungo Reed


Here is a review from the Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/0...

For fantasy: Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou


Here is a review from The Chicago Review of Books: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/...

Anyways, I think these look really interesting!

Shel wrote: "I definitely plan to continue the series!"

Book 2 is a continuation and Book 3 goes back to Earth and stuff happening there. I just really love Burke’s creativity!

I think it is, yes.

Shel I was just going to suggest you read the sequels, Interference, and Usurpation. All are different and equally excellent.

Natalie one of the things I didn’t care for in the first book is what I felt was a saturation in the male gaze. The scene with Kassad you are describing is more of an extension of that, ie it has the feel of male rape fantasy rather than a true violation. So I agree with you, that part was not only kind of gross but I questioned its necessity to the storyline.

If you’ve ever read Daughter of the Forest that’s a book that accurately reflects what rape really is and the effect it can have on the victim.

And yes, absolutely people have different views and tastes so I’m not at all criticizing people who loved this, it just wasn’t for me.

I finished both Son of the Shadows (5/5) and When the Wolf Comes Home (4/5) and just started Wild Dark Shore.

BTW also saw Sinners on Thursday when it opened and would definitely recommend if you like historical/black gothic type stories and music. I went with my senior parents and my teen (16) and everyone loved it. From a film appreciation standpoint it’s also beautifully filmed, excellent lighting and costuming, just a movie that actually feels like a movie if you know what I’m saying.

Ok, sorry, I know this is a much loved book but it just was not for me: 2.5 stars

Hyperion was OK with its various different stories being related, and even though I didn’t love it I was looking forward to getting closure in this second half of the story arc.

Yes, there is closure (mostly), but it is wrapped in way too much musing about the nature of god, empathy, the human condition, poetry, etc. So the big reveal that the post-human ousters are not the bad guys but actually it’s the AIs/Techno Core setting up a Matrix-type situation either farcaster system and not even needing the humans as batteries anymore (so to speak). I would have been much happier to condense all that and just follow Rachel around on what she was doing.

It’s hard for me to believe that this is the same person who wrote The Terror, which I thought was brilliant and absolutely engrossing.

Anyway, not for me, but very clearly for most people given the high ratings generally accorded.

I’m not sure if I can do the last two books in the cantos; I may have to throw in the towel on the rest. Is it just more of the same or is there a change in the way the story is being told?

This was a reread for me very recently. For me the whole section leading up to the final battle was amazing to reread; once you know what the spiders intend to do, all of the ominous talk about what they plan for the battle takes on a completely different meaning.

I have to say also that as much as I love Tchaikovsky’s SF, there is a real depth in this one that is missing in a few of the later books. This one just seems to have had a little bit more time and attention in development.

I’m just about finished the audiobook so will post my comments on the spoiler thread…

Random wrote: "Bird Box is a great example of the kind of horror I tend to really enjoy. I really like that unknown, undefined threat. Especially when it’s not focused. I'm finding this difficult to explain. Cosmic horror I think comes closest."

I’m sure you have read it, but if you haven’t then Annihilation is a good cosmic horror that kept me glued. It’s not the same as Bird Box but there is this building tension of WTAF is going on?

The sequel to Bird Box, Malorie, is also good.

Rereading the Sevenwaters series at the moment and I find those books really hard to stop reading once I’ve started! Currently on book 2, Son of the Shadows, and I got up at 7 this morning so I could read 😂

Just finished The Devil By Name, the conclusion in the Fever House duology. Now rereading Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier, part of the amazing Sevenwaters series.

3.5 stars for me overall.

I felt slightly let down from my expectations of this based on how everyone always raves about it, but overall it was pretty good. I enjoyed Rachel’s living-in-reverse story the most, but as I said before, the last story was also very engaging.

The book has a slightly dated feel, but that didn’t bother me much. More of an issue for me was the way most of the stories felt a bit too saturated by the male gaze, but it seems I’m likely alone in feeling this way.

The audiobook is reasonably well done and I’ll continue on to the next book, ie. the second half of the story, in this format. I’ve just now started book 2…

How is the Crossroads series, Kathi? The only thing I’ve read by Elliott is the Court of Fives series, which I thought was pretty good…