That one where I read all the samples

/ Sarah

I’m stealing this idea in part, from Jolien @ The Fictional Reader, but the concept isn’t too new to this blog. I’ve reviewed opening chapters on some of my ARCs and book hauls in the past, and it usually gets me excited to read the book!

Here I’m just more determining whether I really want to add these books to my TBR.  As if adding another book to a 700+ made much of a difference.

Battlestar Suburbia by Chris McCrudden: The premise of this Battlestar Suburbia by Chris McCruddenone sounded very “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” but the execution is clunky and somehow boring, and the humor wasn’t really my cup of tea.  Are we really saying hair dryers and toasters rule the world? Is that what’s really happening?!  Listen, I know I read Science Fiction and Fantasy, but there still has to be some semblance of reason in it.  I’m guessing this is supposed to be satirical, but I’ll also be the first to tell you, satire is usually not my thing.

Aftershocks Marko KloosAftershocks by Marko Kloos: I was seeing this all over the GoodReads advertisements not too long ago, but I was hesitant because I’d never heard of the author before.  This was actually a pleasant surprise!  On the one hand, I enjoyed Aiden’s character, on the other, the battle scenes were pretty cool.  (Reminded me a lot of Halo, or the power suits in Fallout).  I think I will go ahead and add this one.

Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You by Scotto Moore: This one Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You by Scotto Moore sucked me in the most.  I love the idea of music being used to transmit secret messages or entrance people or whatever that was.  The writing was accessible, and the music blogger aspect of the MC made them instantly relatable (though I still haven’t figured out whether they are male, female, or queer).  Either way- definitely adding this.

The Hunger by Alma KatsuThe Hunger by Alma Katsu: I didn’t even finish the sample of this.  I didn’t realize it was a Donner party retelling.  I thought it was something more modern where a group of people followed the path the Donner party took.  Maybe I just hadn’t gotten to that part yet, but too much of the historical story line was included that I just didn’t want to continue.  Nothing otherwise wrong with it, I just don’t want to read about the Donner party.  It freaks me out.

24 thoughts on “That one where I read all the samples”

  4. I’ve read the first two book in Marko Kloos’ other series, and he definitely can write enjoyable action scenes! From what I’ve read of the reviews, though, I’d suggest Aftershocks in place of the Frontlines series (that I started) because Kloos has had a chance to develop his writing skill more at this point. I enjoyed the Frontlines books, but they did show some signs that they were his debut works.

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      • Yeah sorry- I knew what you meant I just worded my answer poorly. I am wondering if frontlines is related to the war they mentioned in the first chapter of Aftershocks. Different enough to start there but still set in the same universe maybe?

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      • Oh! Got it. It could be the same war, but I guess if you treat it like the general backstory that comes with any good worldbuilding you’ll probably be okay? I haven’t seen it referenced anywhere as the follow-up sequel to his first series, so it’s probably written with the intent that new readers can start here.

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      • They might not be related at all- I just always enjoy when authors stick in the same universe and dedicated readers get a new story and perspective set in a world that can leave Easter eggs for them to find. Or alternatively- if you get a new reader with a new series that reader can double back and be treated to the old new.

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    • Nope not at all! I don’t disagree with anyone’s opinion on any book. If that intrigues you, go for it! There was a fun scene where a smart phone is telling the silly little cleaning human to pull his life together.

      I think on my part I was just expecting something more human styled robots then- the toaster enslaved me. Lol

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  6. Your Favourite Band Cannot Save you looks so interesting, especially if they are relatable. It is great when music is accesible to readers since we can connect more with the book!
    I don’t think that anyone can ever reach and achieve the level of satire that Hitchiker’s guide did, even if not everyone enjoyed it. Anything now seems like a rip off or trying too hard :/
    Awesome post!
    – Emma
    P.S I am so sorry for any spelling mistakes, I’m on my phone

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  8. I think I’m with you on Battlestar Suburbia … science fiction doesn’t mean insane and unrealistic to me. It means the author has to work extra-hard to make the implausible, plausible. That one doesn’t sound like it ticks that box 😞

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    • No – it was just weird and not explained very well at all. I don’t like info dumps- but at the same time, if you are telling me we have colonies in space because hairdryers took over the world, you had better explain.

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  9. The Hunger is indeed a book on the opposite side of the spectrum from the proverbial “unicorns and rainbows” 😀 but the author’s writing kept me glued to the pages until the end and I will never regret reading it – although I admit it was beyond depressing…
    As for Aftershocks, yours is the second very positive comment I’ve read today, so I guess this will be one of my next acquisitions…

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  10. Ahh, there are so many amazing books to read! I could read weeks and weeks worth of samples, just of the books on my tbr, but I’d never get an actual book read (and my tbr would get even more out of control!)

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