TS Chan, Author at Novel Notions

Book Review: The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Wayfarers, #4) by Becky Chambers

May 3, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

ARC received from the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, in exchange for an honest review.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Series: Wayfarers (Book 4 of 4)

Genre: Science fiction

Published: 18th Feb 2021 by Hodder & Stoughton & 20th April 2021 by Harper Voyager

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within concludes Becky Chambers’ wonderfully charming science fiction series with another heartwarming story that is so characteristic of all the Wayfarers books.
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Book Review: Blood of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom, #2) by R.J. Barker

April 23, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

Blood of Assassins by R.J. Barker

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, mystery

Published: 13th Feb 2018 by Orbit US & 15th Feb 2018 by Orbit UK

An impressive sequel to an excellent debut, Blood of Assassins draws upon the compelling character development of Girton Club-Foot to underscore a storyline which is at once engaging and unpredictable.

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Book Review: Age of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom, #1) by R.J. Barker

April 16, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, mystery

Published: 1st August 2017 by Orbit US & 3rd August 2017 by Orbit UK

An excellent debut, Age of Assassins was a well-crafted and compelling coming-of-age tale – one that’s not exactly what you expect a typical assassin story to be.
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Book Review: Wintersteel (Cradle, #8) by Will Wight

April 6, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

Wintersteel by Will Wight

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Cradle (Book #8 of 12)

Genre: Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Xianxia

Published: 6th October 2020 by Hidden Gnome Publishing (Indie)

Wintersteel was yet another immensely addictive, fun and fantastic continuation in the Cradle series, which just keeps getting more epic with each book.
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Book Review: A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough

April 4, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

Review copy received from the publisher, Random House UK, in exchange for an honest review

A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Non-fiction, auto-biography, environmental/climate awareness & science

Published: 1st October 2020 by Ebury Press (Random House UK) and 6th October 2020 by Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book)

Brilliance was what I’ve expected from Attenborough, and brilliance was exactly what I got.
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Book Review: Master Artificer (The Silent Gods, #2) by Justin T Call

March 8, 2021 TS Chan Comments 2 comments

ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Master Artificer by Justin T Call

My rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Series: The Silent Gods (Book 2 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, epic fantasy, high fantasy

Publication date: 6th May 2021 by Gollancz (UK) and 18th May 2021 by Blackstone Publishing (US)

Master Artificer is a bigger and bolder sequel in every way possible; Call has taken The Silent Gods to new heights with an explosion of lore, worldbuilding and compellingly darker characterisation.
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Audiobook Review: Ever Winter by Peter Hackshaw

February 8, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher, Monolith Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Ever Winter by Peter Hackshaw (Narrated by Dan Stevens)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars/

Genre: Dystopia, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi

Published: 9th Jan 2020 by Monolith Books, & 26th Jan 2021 by Podium Audio

Ever Winter is a great revenge story that starts slow, but engages with the gritty realism of its wintry post-apocalyptic dystopian setting.

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Book Review: Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine

February 1, 2021 TS Chan Comments 2 comments

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars.

Series: The Great Library (Book 1 of 5)

Genre: Young adult, alternate history, historical fantasy, fantasy

Published: July 2015 by Berkley Books (US) and Allison & Busby (UK)

Ink and Bone is a fantastic entry in The Great Library series that enthralled me right from the very beginning and didn’t let go. …

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Book Review: To Hold Up the Sky by Cixin Liu

January 22, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

ARC received from publisher, Tor, in exchange for an honest review.

To Hold Up the Sky by Cixin Liu

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science fiction, short stories

Published: 1st October 2020 by Head of Zeus (UK) and 20 Oct 2020 by Tor Books (US)

True to his form as seen in his most renowned science fiction series, The Remembrance of Earth’s Past, Cixin Liu’s imagination in this short story collection, To Hold Up the Sky, was truly remarkable.
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Book Review: Why She Wrote by Lauren Burke & Hannah K. Chapman, Illustrated by Kaley Bates

January 10, 2021 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

ARC received from publisher, Chronicle Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers by Lauren Burke, Hannah K. Chapman, Kaley Bales (Illustrator)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Non-fiction, women’s history, biography, graphic novel, classics

Publication date: 20th April 2021 by Chronicle Books

As I continue my endeavour to read more classics and heading into the new year with fresh reading resolutions, Why She Wrote couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. I wasn’t aware of this book until my co-blogger, Celeste, read and reviewed it most favourably. Furthermore, the first book we picked up in 2021 was Anne Bronte’s debut, Agnes Grey. Knowing that all the Bronte sisters were featured, I thought it would be interesting to read this title in tandem.

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