Booklist 2010
The Equivoque Principle by Darren Craske. I was wondering why the reviewer from the Times quoted on the cover thought this was a comedy and then I got 2/3 of the way through it and it became increasingly more ridiculous. I'll happily accept wacky plot in something inspired by Victorian penny dreadfuls but don't give me wacky plot and then try to make it plausible by demonstrating the worst grasp of chemistry and toxicology I've ever come across!
The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss. This, on the other hand, is a masterclass in how to pull off wacky plot and period adventure with great style and panache! Thoroughly entertaining.
The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss. The 2nd Lucifer Box novel is even better than the 1st; a highly enjoyable pulp thriller set in the 1920s, featuring our hero attempting to foil a dastardly occult plot against the backdrop of the raise of Fascism in Europe.
Black Butterfly by Mark Gatiss. The 3rd and final Lucifer Box story goes all Bond in the early 1950s. In keeping with the style, this is incredibly cheesy in places but I'll let him away with it because Lucifer is such a good character.
By the Sword Divided by Mollie Hardwick. Adaptation of a BBC TV drama from the early 80s, about a family torn apart by being on opposite sides during the English Civil War. My first 'research' novel...
Time of your life: Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8, volume 4. I want to read Fray now...
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (RE-READ). Rather than spend half of An Echo in the Bone trying to remember what happened in this when I read it back in 2007, I thought I'd just re-read it first.
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I did enjoy this but there is no getting away from the fact that it suffers rather badly from pacing problems. Most of the plot happens in the last 100 pages and feels rather rushed and disjointed. Also, I could have done without about 400 pages of the War of Independence...
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory. Rather more racy than I was expecting from only having read a few of her Tudor books - murder, incest and the most wanton heroine I think I've ever come across! Some interesting ideas about paganism (in its original meaning) and the morality of a system which left women with very little control over their lives, and what that might drive them to do. Definitely a more gripping read than some of her other novels.
The Favoured Child by Philippa Gregory. The 2nd Wideacre novel featuring the next generation of residents on the now ruined estate.
The Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. I enjoyed this but not as much as the other Riverside novels, I just don't think the setting needs magic, and Basil and Theron are not Richard and Alec. I did take rather a shine to Jessica though.
Coyote Road: Trickster Tales Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. A mixed bunch but I thought there were a handful of real gems in there.
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. Like many other girls my age, I read most of the Earth's Children Saga as a impressionable teenager but I never got around to reading this when it was finally published 8 or 9 years ago so I've borrowed it now. Enjoyable enjoy read with just enough plot to keep me interested in reading what is basically a stone age survival guide!
Meridon by Philippa Gregory. The final Wideacre book. I've enjoyed this trilogy much more than the two tudor court books that I've read.
Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. A compendium volume of the first 2 novels in the Vorkosigan series. Great stuff - brilliant characters, witty dialogue, fascinating setting and thoroughly entertaining plot, if you like your SF character-based and full of politicking and intrigue, this is definitely for you. Highly recommended, I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. 1st book in her new series returning to the setting of the Assassin and Liveship books - definitely a welcome return after her foray into a new setting in the Soldier's Son trilogy which I still haven't finished because I didn't like any of the characters. I'll definitely be getting the next one when it comes out in paperback.
Holy Fools by Joanne Harris. Set in 17th Century France, this is a tale of religious frenzy, petty jealousies, irrational passions and intricate revenge. Juliette has escaped from the life of a travelling performer and is raising her daughter in the peaceful setting of a remote abbey, until one day the kindly Abbess dies and sets in motion a train of events involving an unwanted reminder of her past, culminating in all hell breaking loose, apparently literally. I did enjoy this but my favourite thing about it was probably the casual portrayal of the main character's pagan faith.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. Eliza is being raised by an English woman in a Chilean port in the mid 1800s when her life is turned upside down by first love. At the tender age of 16 and pregnant, she stows away on a ship to follow her beloved to California where the gold rush is in full swing, and sets her life on a very different path than anyone was expecting. Great story with a very memorable heroine.
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. The Del Valle family saga continues with the story of Eliza's granddaughter, who returns to Chile from California just in time for civil war to break out. Didn't enjoy this as much as DoF, not least because the trouble with happy endings is that they tend not to stay happy if you follow the story for too long, but still a good read.
A Taste of Blood Wine by Freda Warrington (RE-READ). This was always my definitive Vampire Romance although I didn't enjoy it quite as much this time as I remember doing in my early 20s - I guess I just don't identify with Charlotte's angst quite the same anymore. Either way, 1920s set novel with very well done vampires and nice period feel.
A Dance in Blood Velvet by Freda Warrington. I've never managed to finish this before so I'm having a final try before I give up and donate it to charity. The continuing trials and tribulations of Charlotte plus a hefty dose of occult goobiness. Well, I finished it this time, minus the 50 pages that turned out to be missing from my copy due to a binding error (crappy binding at that, it fell apart as I was reading it!). Not as good as the first one, too much metaphysical wierdness for me and not enough 'normal' characters as a counterpoint.
The Maker's Mask: Book 1 of Requite by Ankaret Wells. Highly entertaining SF adventure/romance. Such a shame that publishers like books which fit neatly into genre categories because this definitely deserves a wider audience. Buy it here from Lulu
The Hawkwood War: Book 2 of Requite by Ankaret Well. Very satisfying conclusion to the story, complete with deaths, marriages, intrigue, and much politicking. I love the characters so much!
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. A masterpiece about faith and love, I'm so pleased I finally got around to reading it!
The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Utterly mad 1920s Sci-fi. Once you get past the sexism (the female protagonist is always in need of rescue despite being pretty damn competent and the hero wins her love by doing so despite pretending to be someone else for most of the book), this is a thoroughly entertaining adventure story.
Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold. Second compendium volume of the Vorkosigan saga consisting of The Warrior's Apprentice, The Vor Game and the novella "The Mountains of Mourning". Great stuff - high adventure space opera SF that makes you laugh out loud but also has the depth and characterisation to move you to tears.
Miles, Mystery and Mayhem (Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos and "Labyrinth") by Lois McMaster Bujold. Labyrinth was probably my favourite of the collection as it is both moving and laugh-out-loud funny in places, but I enjoyed all 3.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. A classic to finish the year.
The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss. This, on the other hand, is a masterclass in how to pull off wacky plot and period adventure with great style and panache! Thoroughly entertaining.
The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss. The 2nd Lucifer Box novel is even better than the 1st; a highly enjoyable pulp thriller set in the 1920s, featuring our hero attempting to foil a dastardly occult plot against the backdrop of the raise of Fascism in Europe.
Black Butterfly by Mark Gatiss. The 3rd and final Lucifer Box story goes all Bond in the early 1950s. In keeping with the style, this is incredibly cheesy in places but I'll let him away with it because Lucifer is such a good character.
By the Sword Divided by Mollie Hardwick. Adaptation of a BBC TV drama from the early 80s, about a family torn apart by being on opposite sides during the English Civil War. My first 'research' novel...
Time of your life: Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8, volume 4. I want to read Fray now...
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (RE-READ). Rather than spend half of An Echo in the Bone trying to remember what happened in this when I read it back in 2007, I thought I'd just re-read it first.
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I did enjoy this but there is no getting away from the fact that it suffers rather badly from pacing problems. Most of the plot happens in the last 100 pages and feels rather rushed and disjointed. Also, I could have done without about 400 pages of the War of Independence...
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory. Rather more racy than I was expecting from only having read a few of her Tudor books - murder, incest and the most wanton heroine I think I've ever come across! Some interesting ideas about paganism (in its original meaning) and the morality of a system which left women with very little control over their lives, and what that might drive them to do. Definitely a more gripping read than some of her other novels.
The Favoured Child by Philippa Gregory. The 2nd Wideacre novel featuring the next generation of residents on the now ruined estate.
The Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. I enjoyed this but not as much as the other Riverside novels, I just don't think the setting needs magic, and Basil and Theron are not Richard and Alec. I did take rather a shine to Jessica though.
Coyote Road: Trickster Tales Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. A mixed bunch but I thought there were a handful of real gems in there.
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. Like many other girls my age, I read most of the Earth's Children Saga as a impressionable teenager but I never got around to reading this when it was finally published 8 or 9 years ago so I've borrowed it now. Enjoyable enjoy read with just enough plot to keep me interested in reading what is basically a stone age survival guide!
Meridon by Philippa Gregory. The final Wideacre book. I've enjoyed this trilogy much more than the two tudor court books that I've read.
Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. A compendium volume of the first 2 novels in the Vorkosigan series. Great stuff - brilliant characters, witty dialogue, fascinating setting and thoroughly entertaining plot, if you like your SF character-based and full of politicking and intrigue, this is definitely for you. Highly recommended, I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. 1st book in her new series returning to the setting of the Assassin and Liveship books - definitely a welcome return after her foray into a new setting in the Soldier's Son trilogy which I still haven't finished because I didn't like any of the characters. I'll definitely be getting the next one when it comes out in paperback.
Holy Fools by Joanne Harris. Set in 17th Century France, this is a tale of religious frenzy, petty jealousies, irrational passions and intricate revenge. Juliette has escaped from the life of a travelling performer and is raising her daughter in the peaceful setting of a remote abbey, until one day the kindly Abbess dies and sets in motion a train of events involving an unwanted reminder of her past, culminating in all hell breaking loose, apparently literally. I did enjoy this but my favourite thing about it was probably the casual portrayal of the main character's pagan faith.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. Eliza is being raised by an English woman in a Chilean port in the mid 1800s when her life is turned upside down by first love. At the tender age of 16 and pregnant, she stows away on a ship to follow her beloved to California where the gold rush is in full swing, and sets her life on a very different path than anyone was expecting. Great story with a very memorable heroine.
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. The Del Valle family saga continues with the story of Eliza's granddaughter, who returns to Chile from California just in time for civil war to break out. Didn't enjoy this as much as DoF, not least because the trouble with happy endings is that they tend not to stay happy if you follow the story for too long, but still a good read.
A Taste of Blood Wine by Freda Warrington (RE-READ). This was always my definitive Vampire Romance although I didn't enjoy it quite as much this time as I remember doing in my early 20s - I guess I just don't identify with Charlotte's angst quite the same anymore. Either way, 1920s set novel with very well done vampires and nice period feel.
A Dance in Blood Velvet by Freda Warrington. I've never managed to finish this before so I'm having a final try before I give up and donate it to charity. The continuing trials and tribulations of Charlotte plus a hefty dose of occult goobiness. Well, I finished it this time, minus the 50 pages that turned out to be missing from my copy due to a binding error (crappy binding at that, it fell apart as I was reading it!). Not as good as the first one, too much metaphysical wierdness for me and not enough 'normal' characters as a counterpoint.
The Maker's Mask: Book 1 of Requite by Ankaret Wells. Highly entertaining SF adventure/romance. Such a shame that publishers like books which fit neatly into genre categories because this definitely deserves a wider audience. Buy it here from Lulu
The Hawkwood War: Book 2 of Requite by Ankaret Well. Very satisfying conclusion to the story, complete with deaths, marriages, intrigue, and much politicking. I love the characters so much!
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. A masterpiece about faith and love, I'm so pleased I finally got around to reading it!
The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Utterly mad 1920s Sci-fi. Once you get past the sexism (the female protagonist is always in need of rescue despite being pretty damn competent and the hero wins her love by doing so despite pretending to be someone else for most of the book), this is a thoroughly entertaining adventure story.
Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold. Second compendium volume of the Vorkosigan saga consisting of The Warrior's Apprentice, The Vor Game and the novella "The Mountains of Mourning". Great stuff - high adventure space opera SF that makes you laugh out loud but also has the depth and characterisation to move you to tears.
Miles, Mystery and Mayhem (Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos and "Labyrinth") by Lois McMaster Bujold. Labyrinth was probably my favourite of the collection as it is both moving and laugh-out-loud funny in places, but I enjoyed all 3.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. A classic to finish the year.