Winter (Lunar Chronicles fourth book) by Marissa Meyer 827 pages

This was the final story of the Lunar Chronicles series.  All the characters come together, get split apart, come back in different groups, separate again and there's no time to register calm or relief for any of them.  The end was hard fought, but well worth it.  If you are looking for a very satisfying, female character-driven, sci-fi, light romance, adventure story, you need to jump into the Lunar Chronicles at your very first opportunity.  This was an incredibly well-crafted series with characters that constantly surprised me with their complexity and depth.  I listened to the whole series read by Rebecca Soler who did a fantastic job.

Cress: the Lunar Chronicles book 3 by Marissa Meyer 552 pages

The third book in the sci-fi/dystopian twist on fairy tales that is The Lunar Chronicles ramps up all the pre-existing tension of the first two books.  The romance, violence, and drama are all set to new highs.  This had just the right amount of romance for me, since I don't care for the bodice-rippers.  It really takes a back seat to the adventure and action surrounding all the main characters.  Cress (Rapunzel) has been held captive on a space station for years, using her tech skills to hide Lunar ships, spy on Earthens and do the bidding of the horrible Sybil Mira.  When her story gets woven into the main story of Linh Cinder, everything starts to get buck wild.  I can't wait to read the fourth book!

Scarlet: Book 2 of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 454 pages

Scarlet's grandmother is missing and the police refuse to accept Scarlet's theory that she was kidnapped.  A mysterious street fighter named Wolf offers to help, but how far can she trust him?  Meanwhile, Cinder is going to have to break out of prison and start figuring out how to take down Queen Levana.  This installment is full of action and adventure.  This is a solid sequel that only makes you want to snag the next book immediately!

Artemis by Andy Weir, 305 pages

I am a huge fan of Andy Weir's first book, "The Martian" and was excited to get the chance to listen to his second book, "Artemis."

Artemis is the name of a colony on the moon.  It's a great place to visit but can be an uncomfortable place to live if you are not a gazillionaire and main character Jazz Bashara is doing pretty much anything she can to make some serious cash.  And that gets her in serious trouble.

I enjoyed this sci-fi action romp adventure, but had to mostly ignore lots of technical information that literally went in one ear and out the other.  I ultimately liked this book, but had to make myself stick with it at first knowing I'd get to parts I could comprehend and enjoy.

John Dies at the End by David Wong 384 pages

I decided to listen to this book, because the sequel titles cracked me up and I remember really liking the movie.  The book is insane!  I mean, it's hilarious and awful and twisted and...oh, you wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain...  If you read it or listen to it, don't get distracted and miss even a paragraph, you'll be hopelessly lost in the story.  That much happens in a very short time!  This mix of horror, sci-fi and wacky humor was really fun.  I will say that some outdated and non-P.C. is used frequently, so if that stuff really upsets you, give this one a pass.  If you can skim that over and just roll with the story, I think it's worth the effort, especially if you like roller coasters that move in more than just our 3 dimensions. 

Wool by Hugh Howey, 509 pages

   I found Wool to be a quick and absorbing read. It is a post-apocalyptic, coming-of-age, science fiction novel. 

   Juliette, Lukas, and their entire society live underground after the earth’s surface has been made uninhabitable. Their system of living, the life each had experienced prior to the story at hand, and the situation they must try to survive kept my interest. You’ll find action, mystery, and suspense in this one, the first book of a trilogy with several additional volumes stemming from it. 

   I look forward to stepping back into the world created by Hugh Howey in books that follow someday, perhaps when I’m holed up inside to stay out of winter weather.

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor 335 pages

St. Mary's is full of historians.  Sounds drab to some, I'm sure.  However, these historians aren't your stuffed shirt, elbow patch stereotypes.  In fact, they are a highly trained, physically powerful crew who put themselves in danger with every research project they are assigned.  Why?  Because they use time travel to study history.  Max is new to the facility, but she's well suited to it.  Right up until sabotage and double crossing can make the whole thing fall apart.  This book was so well written.  The dialogue was fast and smart, and the story itself was highly engaging.  I recommend this to folks who love science fiction with humor.  History buffs might like it, too...but don't get hung up on the accuracy!  It's great if you just want to jump on and enjoy the ride.

Archon by Lana Krumwiede 313 pages

Picking up several months after the first book in the Psi Chronicles series, Archon finds Taemon struggling with the aftermath of his decision to remove psi from all of Deliverance.  His motivation was for all the right reasons, but not everyone is adapting to life without telekinesis well.  He and his friend Amma are searching for his parents, rumored to have been thrown in asylums as instigators.  Then Taemon discovers that his father may have been captured and taken by the Republikites.  Taemon and Amma set off to rescue him, even though it is extremely dangerous.  What they discover could make matters far worse than they ever would have anticipated and sets you up to really want to read the third book in the series as soon as possible!  I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a little Fantasy/Sci-Fi.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer, 400 pages

"Stars Above" is book number 4.5 in the Lunar Chronicles young adult sci-fi series.  It is a collection of short stories that mostly consist of back stories about the major characters in the Lunar Chronicles series.
There is also a short story "The Little Android" which is a retelling of "The Little Mermaid" that only tangentially includes one of the characters we know.  There is a nice wrap-up story "Something Old, Something New" about the wedding of two of the characters in the series.  As an added bonus, also included are the first two chapters of the upcoming book from Marissa Meyer "Heartless" that is not part of the Lunar Chronicles series.

Pretty much a must-read for any Lunar Chronicles fan, everyone else can pass it on by.

The Martian by Andy Weir, 369 pages

This is one fantastic book.  Okay, okay it is very technical in parts but if you are unscientific like me just think of it as getting a free pass to skim.  Astronaut Mark Watney is one witty, wicked smart and optimistic guy.  That's all good because he gets stranded on the planet Mars when the rest of his crew think he's dead and abandons the planet in a hurry during a devastating sandstorm.

NASA figures out he survived about 60 days later and Mark and NASA figure out how to communicate close to 40 days after that.  NASA, his old crew and pretty much everyone on earth do everything they can to bring Mark home.  The suspense is fantastically excruciating.  Will they do it?  Luckily, I saw the movie first. Loved the movie, LOVED the book.   Andy Weir, I can't wait to see what you bring us next.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter is the last book of the 4 1/2 part young adult science-fiction series that features different fairy-tale inspired heroines.

Winter is the step-daughter of Levana, the quite nasty queen of Luna (the moon.)  Winter is more beautiful and much kinder than Queen Levana, but she is going insane because she refuses to use the power most Lunar's have, mind control.

Queen Levana orders Winter's prince charming Jacin, a  palace guard, to kill Winter.  Ah, Sleeping Beauty!  We also still have the other fairy tale heroines introduced in the earlier books, Cinder the cyborg who is the true Queen of Luna, Scarlett (Red Riding Hood) and Cress (Rapunzel.)  Each of the princesses also have their Prince Charmings.  All are working together to overthrow the tyrant Queen Levana and get Cinder on the throne.

This was a fun series but would have been more fun if I was 15 and not 49.  I spent a fair amount of time rolling my eyes through this epic last book in the series.  I won't be recommending this series to my adult friends but think my younger self would have totally dug it.

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein 242 pages

This is another title by Chris Grabenstein, author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.  I can't say that this one wowed me the way Lemoncello did.  It was good, a solid story, but it didn't have the vibe that the first one did.  In Island, twelve-year-old Billy fears the worst for his parents...divorce.  He is staying at a cabin with his scientist-mother while his father is off trying to make it big in showbiz.  The two couldn't be more different in their basic outlook on life, it seems.  While at the cabin, Billy unlocks a mysterious book cabinet.  When he begins reading, he would swear he could hear the action from the book taking place somewhere out on the island...Dr. Libris' Island.  When he discovers that he has the power to read things into being...well, you can imagine the kind of trouble a kid could get into.  I love that Grabenstein manages to work in some classic tales, whether just referencing them or actually bringing them into the story.  It was an enjoyable book to listen to, I just like Lemoncello's Library better.

InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves, 239 pages

"InterWorld" is the first book in a trilogy by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves.  It is a juvenile science fiction book.

I always enjoy books by Neil Gaiman and so thought this would be fun.  Joey Harker is a 15 year old boy who gets lost in a fog and ends up in another universe.  He finds out there are many iterations of Joseph Harkers on other universes and they are all valuable to the bad guys.

It was an enjoyable little book and while I'm not desperate to read the next book in the series, I'm sure I will check it out at some point.

Fairest: The Lunar Chronicles: Levana's Story by Marissa Meyer, 272 pages

Levana is the evil Lunar Queen we love to hate.  This novella, which is being touted as Volume 3.5 in the Lunar Chronicles series, tells her story.  I listened to this book, but am putting myself on hold for the print version, because I hear it has stunning artwork.

Did this book make me sympathetic toward Levana?  Heck no, she is one evil B.  But she did grow up with parents who didn't care and a crazy and cruel older sister who maimed her.  The poor little princess only wanted to find love . . . which didn't work out too well for any involved, by the way.

If you haven't started the young adult, sci-fi series, don't begin with this one.  There are some spoilers in the book.  However, if you follow the series, don't miss out on this volume, just because it's a novella.  It did a great job with the back story and is a nice preview to "Winter" the story of Levana's stepdaughter, and the final book in the Lunar Chronicles.  Bonus: it also includes the first 3 chapters of "Winter" which is scheduled for release in November 2015.

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card, 416 pages

I haven't read the "Ender" series of books in order.  I just read them in the order I can get my hands on them.  I knew the broad strokes of what would happen in this book because I've read later books in the series.

Ender is an adult here, in fact he's about 3,000 years old but because he has spent so much of that time traveling in space he is also only about 35 years old.

Ender makes his living as a Speaker for the Dead, meaning he tells the true story of someone's life after they have died.  It's a beautiful concept.  He travels from the planet Trondheim to the planet Lusitania to speak 3 deaths.  The trip takes him 2 weeks, but 22 years have past as he travels there.

Lusitania happens to be the one other planet with alien life and Ender gets caught up in the politics of dealing with an alien race.  The Ender books all seem to start slow but totally hook me about a quarter of the way through.  This one didn't disappoint.

Cress by Marissa Meyer, 560 pages

"Cress" is book three in the young adult Lunar Chronicles science fiction series by Marissa Meyer.

The action is non-stop as Cinder, Thorne, Wolf and Scarlet work to stop the wedding of Emperor Kai, to the evil Lunar Queen, Levana.  Cress - think Rapunzel - is a computer whiz and has been stuck on a satellite circling earth for seven years.  She has been unwillingly helping the Lunars spy on earth.  Cinder and crew hatch a plan to rescue her.  That plan goes awry and the crew gets separated.

The only problem with this book and series is waiting for the next book to be published.  Book 4 is scheduled to be released in November 2015.  In the meantime, look for "Fairest: Levana's Story" to come out in January 2015.  We'll find out if Levana wasn't always so evil . . .

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore, 321 pages

Christopher Moore's books are always witty and funny.  This one also has some sci-fi and Save the Whale leanings.  Nothing wrong there.

Marine Behavioral Biologist, Nate Quinn has spent his career trying to figure out why male humpback whales sing.  He finds that out and more in this novel that includes a cast of zany characters.

First Meetings in Ender's Universe by Orson Scott Card, 208 pages

"First Meetings" is a collection of a few short stories, all related to Ender Wiggins. The book begins with the story of Ender's parents, John Paul and Theresa and their first meeting.

We also get Ender's first meeting with the computer program, Jane and a story of his time at Battle and Command schools.

These short stories give great additional information into Ender's life. Definitely a recommend for fans of the Ender Wiggins' series, of which I am one!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, 512 pages

Scarlet is book 2 in the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.  Cinder, the beautiful cyborg, who just found out she's also Lunar, escapes from prison in the Eastern Commonwealth early in the story, along with fellow prisoner Carswell Thorne.   A parallel story is happening in France with Scarlet, whose grandmother has disappeared, and Wolf, the mysterious stranger who says he wants to help Scarlet find her.  This book seemed to mostly be a set up for book 3 of the series.  I kept waiting for Cinder and Carswell to hook up with Scarlet and Wolf, and it did eventually happen, but right at the end so now on to book 3 to see what fairy tale character will get a sci-fi twist next.  Let the fun continue!

Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card, 384 pages

"Children of the Mind" is book number 4 in the "Ender Wiggin" series.  It immediately picks up where "Xenocide" (book #3) left off. Originally Card intended them to be one book, but it just got too long.

In this book, we're still trying to save the planet Lusitania, the self-aware computer program Jane and figure out what to do with "New Valentine" and "New Peter" whom Ender accidentally created on a trip outside in "Xenocide."

Without sharing any spoilers I will say I liked it and thought it wrapped up the story nicely.