Deryni Checkmate
After the brisk, satisfying intrigue of Deryni Rising, its sequel offers little but vague political unrest, religious persecution, endless dowry discussions, and characters who seem as bored as I am. I abandoned the book at page 78.
The Light in Exile
An agrarian colony, a mysterious agent, and an ancient alien race consumed by loss. A beautifully crafted, character-driven science fiction novel that balances cosmic stakes with intimate, believable lives—despite some languid pacing.
King's Dragon
An intricately constructed medieval fantasy with a promising prologue, but its painstaking worldbuilding and a young woman's brutal loss of agency couldn't sustain my interest. After two attempts, I still couldn't finish it.