The Complete Midshipman Bolitho: Richard Bolitho, Midshipman, Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger & Band of Brothers by Alexander KentMy rating: 4 of 5 stars In this collection it was Band of Brothers I had not previously read. As always with Kent’s Bolitho series, impeccable historical research and attention to detail. Character point of view tends to wander a bit, but not so that it’s distracting. Great naval, Georgian/Regency Era escapism. View all my reviews

Anil’s Ghost by Michael OndaatjeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Ondaatje is a master of subtlety, of the ambiguity of life, of the grey that washes extreme situations. He is at his best in Anil’s Ghost. The story itself is a simple one: a woman (Anil) searches for the identity of a skeleton she finds when on an international human rights mission in war ravaged Sri Lanka. But as with most stories Ondaatje tells, simplicity…

Sourcery by Terry PratchettMy rating: 4 of 5 stars As always Pratchett delivers entertaining story-telling with wit and style. In this Discworld tale we return to Rincewind and the legendary Luggage, in a Discworld upheaval caused by the release of sourcery (essentially raw, wild magic) by a son held puppet by his father’s power and consciousness that has been locked into an iron staff. As a reader, it’s refreshing to read a writer’s work that…

The Pattern Scars by Caitlin SweetMy rating: 5 of 5 stars It would be very easy to wax poetic about Caitlin Sweet’s, The Pattern Scars. Deservedly so. From the first sentences Sweet demonstrates her craftsmanship by translating the reader into a richly and perfectly realized world, populated by people who are very human despite extraordinary and sometimes dark abilities. With astonishing subtlety, Sweet presents a relationship between a clairvoyant girl who is employed as a…