Book Review

Sci-Fi Worth Reading: Extinction by Douglas Preston Book Review

Book Review, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Not Jurassic Park, But Just as Wild.

extinction book review

Extinction lands squarely in Douglas Preston’s wheelhouse: fast-paced, addictive, and crackling with suspense. It grabbed me from chapter one, and I HAD to keep reading and keep reading. The entire plot is one of my favorites with the revival of extinct animals and mysterious deaths. What is eating the people?

The characters kept saying, “This is not Jurassic Park,” and I’ll admit, I was kind of hoping it would be. The setup flirts with that familiar science-run-amok vibe, but Extinction takes a different and unexpected path. While it didn’t deliver exactly what I thought it might, it still paid off with a twist I didn’t see coming. And that’s part of what Preston does best. He lures the reader in with familiar ground, then shifts the landscape.

Relic is one of my all-time favorite reads, and Extinction definitely echoes that in flavor. It blends science, mystery, and tension with that creeping unease Preston builds so well. There’s always something just out of reach, just out of sight, and the more the characters try to uncover it, the higher the stakes become.

The suspense is top-notch, the science fascinating, and the pace relentless. Preston knows how to keep readers hooked.

If you enjoy thrillers that blend cutting-edge science with high-stakes mystery and sharp turns, Extinction is up your alley. Are you a Preston fan?

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Fantasy Worth Reading: Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Book Review: The Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells

fantasy worth reading

As a devoted fan of Murderbot, I decided to try another of Martha Wells’ books, and I’m glad I did. Wheel of the Infinite shows off Wells’ gift for crafting immersive, layered worlds. I slipped easily into this one, as if I was there, watching the scenes unfold.

The main character, Maskelle, is a force. She’s cranky, complex, and definitely not your typical chosen one. I loved that this wasn’t a predictable fantasy arc. The story swerved in ways I didn’t expect, keeping things fresh.

Wells shifts effortlessly between action and quiet reflection, just like in Murderbot. And while this world is vastly different from her sci-fi work, it shares that same richness of character and depth. The mix of unique magic, religious ritual, and political tension had me turning pages fast.

A great standalone for fans of complex heroines, unexpected twists, and worldbuilding with real depth.

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Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Book Review, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Nnedi Okorafor writes beautifully complex stories that don’t always seem complex at first, but as the story unfolds, she layers in issue after issue, challenge after challenge, until you’re swimming in questions about identity, autonomy, authorship, and what it means to truly be yourself.

Death of the Author is no different. The story mirrors itself in fascinating ways. Zelu’s life and the robot’s story are deeply entwined, and by the end, there’s this intriguing metafictional twist: the robot speaks about its main character, Zelu. It raises the question: Did the robot write the Zelu parts? Did Zelu write the robot parts? Or did they both co-create this narrative? It’s meta and kind of mind-bending in a good way.

Zelu is a deeply flawed human who maybe is learning to accept herself. She challenges societal norms, both in her Nigerian community and in broader American culture. The robot, too, is challenging its own world and expectations. Both stories force the reader to confront big questions about identity, voice, and control.

If you’ve liked Okorafor’s other stories, this one will feel familiar in the best way. It’s thoughtful, subtle, layered, and rewarding.

 

 

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Midnight at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker

Book Review, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Sci-Fi Worth Reading!

My husband gifted me this book for Valentine’s Day, saying my stories always remind him of Chalker. So he made sure I read some Chalker.

This story is a wild ride from start to finish. Imaginative, creative, and well put together, Well of Souls is interesting, fun, and a page-turner. The stuff Chalker comes up with sometimes is mind-blowing. It’s also well plotted and had me emotionally invested in many of the characters.

I don’t think there was such a thing as a boring scene or chapter in this novel. There were twists and turns everywhere. Definitely my kind of story.

I liked this book so much, I ordered book 2 in the series. And a signed copy! I’m excited.

Plus, I find myself thinking of Chalker when writing. If a scene is boring or too predictable, I pause and wonder, What would Jack L. Chalker do?

If you don’t like the same old, run-of-the-mill story, read Chalker.

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A Tale of Two Colonies by Aurora Springer

Book Review, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Sci-Fi Worth Reading!

A Tale of Two Colonies by Aurora Springer delivers a richly imagined world and an exciting adventure that’s perfect for sci-fi lovers who enjoy immersive settings and survival stories. Aurora Springer is a gifted author well worth finding. Her words flow like silk and weave a delicious, creative world I enjoyed getting lost in.

💫 What I loved
The worldbuilding in this book is top-notch. The story starts on an overcrowded Earth, where people are desperate to escape. Lily, the main character, trains hard to secure a spot on a spaceship to a distant colony planet. The journey isn’t easy, and there’s no guarantee that the team will survive the mission—or that the original colonists will still be alive.

The alien planet they travel to is fascinating. I especially loved the discovery of the lost colony’s descendants, who have completely forgotten their Earth origins. The planet is teeming with strange creatures (including ant people!) and unexpected dangers. The exploration aspect was a highlight, and I really enjoyed how the world and its mysteries unfolded.

🧪 Themes to enjoy
If you’re into:

  • Sci-fi with rich, detailed alien worlds
  • Survival stories with high stakes
  • A mystery about lost colonies and their secrets

…then A Tale of Two Colonies is definitely worth checking out.

A Tale of Two Colonies is available now. Here’s the official blurb:

Fight for freedom. Fight to survive. For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.

Nothing will stand in the way of Tiger Lily’s dream of escaping the subterranean slums of Terra and visiting the stars. She enters the fierce competition for a place in the scout team on the next spaceship to the remote planet of Delta, where an earlier colony disappeared. Before the ship departs, a mysterious message from Delta suggests the descendants of the first colonists may be alive.

A risky mission to seek the lost colony exposes the team to unexpected dangers, and they encounter a grim warrior in the isolated valley. Has Tiger Lily met her match in the tortured man? Where is he leading them? And who are the real rulers of this strange world?

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The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Fantasy worth reading!

Cozy fantasy is my favorite fantasy genre (along with weird stuff), and this book did not disappoint. The main character, Kiela, is rather grumpy, but I could relate to her introverted tendencies. Lots. She also loves books. Her BFF, Cal, a betwitched spider plant, balances her out.

There is romance, but the story is so much more. I wouldn’t have liked it so much without the more, and this is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. Every day, I enjoyed returning to these pages and getting lost in this charming world populated by mostly charming characters.

Found family, a little bit of magic, true friendship, a quaint island with quaint people, and a lot of heart, this novel has a lot going for it. This quiet book with a happy ending is a great balm for these trying times. The character arcs are satisfying, and the plot is entertaining. I was never bored (and I am easily bored).

This was a library borrow. I love my library.

 

 

 

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