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It is a new day in futuristic Austin and another day of fun for 8 year old Ezra and his A.I. tiger nanny Pounce. But when a law decries setting the A.I. free and a tragic event takes place, humans and their machine help are suddenly at war. Pounce loves Ezra and is programmed to protect him no matter what against any danger. Ezra feels the same towards Pounce but he will be forced to grow up very quickly if he wants to stay alive. This is a fresh take on the subject of family vs. employee and A.I. vs human love. This cautionary tale is as violent as it is heartfelt and shows what could happen. Imagine the Terminator as a fully upright tiger and you have a good picture of Pounce. The author does a great job of describing the Texas Hill Country as an apocalyptic war zone. 5 crazy stars 
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Steampunk and magic in old Cairo where a pair of female agents from the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities search for a mysterious imposter suspected of a mass killing. Djinn, ifrits, ghouls, angels and everything in between have them very busy and one step away from danger and this imposter using powerful magic to control the will of djinn and ignite people from the inside out. There is also an added romance between Fatma and Siti an elusive woman of many disguises and great wit. A fast paced story with the charm of a Victorian mystery in a glamorous setting of old Cairo and unlimited adventure from every magical being found in 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS. 4 stars  Vern has run away from the strict cult she was born into. She gives birth to twins alone in the woods and raises them on the run from unseen demons. Always alert to those who would take her or her children she is trying to get to the only people she knows who have escaped. On the run and free for the first time Vern's body is changing and she is learning firsthand the new power she is being given as a host to a fungus. Vern and her children are both strange and familiar in this deep, dark tale of love, community and good vs. evil. Think Frankenstein tripping on some bad mushrooms after escaping Charles Manson's family. 4 1/2 stars  Only Andy Weir can take us to deep space, immerse us in science but explain it in a way "anyone" can understand and tell it with wicked good humor. We begin with a science teacher turned last minute astronaut who is sent out to deep space with little training to save the Earth when the sun stops giving us heat. Easy right? Dealing with problems and variables he can't control he teams up with an unlikely partner to save the world from extinction. So much fun to read and smart - this is the one space book everyone should read. Weir's "Astrophysics For Dummies" approach that doesn't make you feel like a dummy makes us all want to be armchair astronauts. Can't wait for the tv/movie of this one! 5 deep space stars  A new look at the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. In the kingdom there is a truce that balances the Fae and humans from the evil Vila. Wealthy humans buy beauty, grace and good health from The Graces who have been blessed with Fae blood. There is one Grace who has not been blessed but still serves the Briar with her mild curse and tainted blood. Alyce, nicknamed Malice is shunned by all except Princess Aurora who befriends her and seeks her help in breaking the curse that will end her life unless she finds true love. Alyce is starting to understand that she may be more powerful but that might not save her from being used for evil. This is a well thought out retelling and the start of a promising new series. Aurora is not your average Disney princess and Alyce is not your average bad fairy sorceress. This will be a great crossover from young adult to adult fantasy readers. 4 stars  In the fields outside Paris in 1925, a magic circus appears out of nowhere to astonish a few lucky ticket holders only to disappear as suddenly as it came. In present day Virginia the descendant of another European circus is stood up at the alter as her fiancee disappears without a trace. Lara knows her magic abilities have been handed down from the circus past but once she starts to track down the orgins of a special painting and a journal her lineage will bring both answers and great danger. This is a wonderful mix of life in the 20's Paris where creative magic and art flourished as well as the danger of a fantasy circus of cursed performers and illusive magic of the dark side. For fans of NIGHT CIRCUS, DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and lovers of the exciting world of Paris in the 20's. 4 stars  A young boy with the unique ability to see the dead soon after they have passed causes some worry for his single mom while others see only opportunity. Jaime, like other kid characters by this author , has a good heart, a great sense of humor and a trusting nature so when his mom's ex friend a drugged police detective snags him to help her find a dead terrorist's last bomb, he gets in the car. He will regret that car ride for the rest of his life. This slim novel combines all the best elements for which Stephen King is known for - terror, believable vulnerable characters that we identify with and a good dose of humor to let off some steam. For fans of the author as well as those that enjoy a coming of age story that will scare you while it steals your heart. 4 stars  June is obsessed with space travel and the science behind it. She is brilliant which gets her a spot in a coveted space exploration training school where her mind is far beyond many of her peers but she is socially immature. When she is picked for a mission it takes her some time to feel comfortable with the close quarters and physicality of deep space. She ends up running into her Uncle's favorite student James and they fall for each other's brain and body. Finding out what happened to a spacecraft that went off the radar years earlier became her obsession and continues once she is in space. There is a strange lack of punctuation which makes it difficult to read at times and I found myself wanting to skip some of her training to get into space and solving the puzzle. I felt like her attraction to James was due more in seeking his approval much the same way she sought out her uncle's approval and less of a "love match". It is a satisfying look at what it takes to make the leap into deep space and one that fans of 2001 A SPACE ODDESSEY and THE MARTIAN will appreciate. 3 1/2 stars  This is a genre mash-up with a new voice. In post Civil War Philadelphia Hetty and her husband Benjy were once part of the Underground Railroad and now help solve mysteries the police have no interest in. They use the star magic that once helped them stay clear of danger while working on the railroad and the danger that is still present even in the free North. Together they are trying to solve the murder of a friend and keep a low profile which isn't easy. Just the right mix of historical fiction with the added bonus of fantasy and the use of magic. The book moves swiftly with an authentic voice and the marked tension of Hetty and Benjy's arranged marriage adds a slight romantic element. 4 stars  Klara is an artificial friend to a teenager named Josie. Her only task is to provide companionship to this young girl who is suffering from a disease that may end her life and frequently keeps her from doing all the fun things someone her age would be doing. Josie has another friend Rick the boy next door, who like Klara would do anything for Josie. Klara has a mission and attempts to save Josie by asking the sun for a miracle. Ishiguro gives Klara a vast amount of quiet insight and kindness, so that we tend to forget that she is not human. The adults in Josie's life all seem to have ulterior motives and it is Klara and Rick's determination to save Josie that gives the book its heart. Quiet and serene as a Koi fish pond, this book makes us look to a future with AI such as Klara as something we should not fear. He is the master of subtle science fiction. 4 stars  |
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