Dave Stone > Recent Status Updates

I usually listen to Drew on audiobook but couldn't wait till December for this one. His long convoluted sentences are a joy to listen to when performed by professional narrators. They are less of a joy to read when the changing tenses and subject make them a challenge to parse.
Still enjoying the book, but going back and rereading so much is slowing my progress.

Walter Koenig says, Whenever something bad happens to him, he's always looking over his shoulder for something even worse to hit him next.
-So here I am, not even 10% into this book when his death is overshadowed by Sir Patrick Stewart 3 days later. That actually fits the theme of this book to a T. maybe this Walter guy was onto something.

Unlikely to finish this book
Whatever enjoyment I found in book 1 seems muted in book 2.
There are also strange 'artifacts' in the writing like this:
-The MC has never shown an interest in drawing before. Then out of nowhere he pulls out a sketchbook that he never had before. hours later the goes to a bar and when he walks in the bartender is sitting behind the bar drawing in a sketchbook.
I'm suspicious

I'm less certain this wasn't AI generated. There are little things here and there that feel like too many fingers

I'm really caught up in these characters and all the layers in this story.
So many illusions we create to keep us from thinking about what we want to forget.

This is pretty engaging

Canada is banning the publication of AI-generated books by refusing to give them an ISBN.
I hope this catches on everywhere.

Ugh, this book is bogged down. I feel like it should be wrapping up soon but I'm only half way through.
Other reviews warned me, well here is that bridge I said I'd cross when I got to it.
I strongly agree with the lefty politics, but ouch is this hard to read about communities destroyed, and lives ruined for the greed, power, and advantage of a small few.

Not Ha ha funny, but interesting.

Trying to figure out if a new author is AI or not is taking a lot of the joy out of reading new authors. Books don't come with warning labels, but the first red flag is AI art on the cover. But what else in a self published indy writer supposed to do? There needs to be somekind of marketplace for indy artist to conect with writers who need cover art.

About to DNF
I think I know why this book is making me queasy. It's the tonal shift. It went from light comedy to deadly uncertainty. One of these cute little muppets might die and I don't like it. These teenage girls are about to pull a heist in a military training academy for a fanatical religious order that has seriously escalated the low key conflict between the gods.

I don't consider myself to be an anxious person, but when a fictional character is about to do something incredibly stupid for a bad reason it makes me want to stop reading and throw the book.
It really pisses me off. Especially if no train of thought or rational is given, just doing it for the plot is lazy ass writing and it makes me mostly mad, but also a little anxious and I do not like that.

Little bits of Cinnamon Bun, but more from Dead Tired.
I like those both so I don't mind.

interesting story idea, multiple POV and timelines.
Still there is something about it that keeps me on the fence

Kinda Weird. The tone of the text keeps changing. sometimes mid-sentence.

This stuff is like nerd crak

I'm really enjoying this, but the new Bobiverse book just dropped, so...
I hope to get back to this late

Not my typical book, but I'm learning a lot of stuff. Not all of it reaffirms my world view but I agree with the author that it's better to use your brains before you use force.

ISTG if they don't get Arwin in the Explorer's Guild in Stormtower with the endorsement of 2 founders I'm gonna write a very strongly worded letter

This has been a difficult read. Very little has happened and it's taking a long time to not happen.
The first 4 books were fast, fierce, & fun. This one is trying to build tension or establish mood or some shit. It's not doing it very well.
I'm reading it to get through it at this point.

This one is kinda' dull for a MSE book.

Mostly cute & sweet, but where this breaks down is when Broccoli is faced with people of bad faith and ill intent. Having a fictional character use positive energy to counter real world evil breaks the suspension of disbelief. If she can't / won't take a stand against real evil than the book shouldn't have any, and stick to cute cartoon adversaries that can be won with hugs & tea parties.

Funny how a little time can make a big difference when you read a book again.

I have been amazed by Raven's ability to walk the fine line in this series.
(especially with how annoying I found some parts of Stray Cat & Dead Tired)
This book has been no exception, ...except. Broccoli has been a bit more dumb than I like in a MC.
Lots of media portrays happy people as stupid. It's an old, old stereotype. Raven has managed to avoid this trap, but came really close in this book.

ah, the first really insufferable character. I could have done without this guy, but in all fairness... He could be much, much worse.
...So, I guess thanks?

I liked this series so much more 4 years ago