On an unnamed island, one woman attempts to save her friend from becoming yet another thing that disappears and is lost from memory. ‘The Memory Police’ is promoted as a dystopian novel, but it’s also a creeping horror story. The book’s strength is the sense of growing dread it invokes and will suit anyone who can enjoy a novel for its atmosphere and the questions it asks, without needing all the answers.
Note: This novel was originally published in Japanese in 1994, and was translated and published in English in 2019.
On a mysterious and unnamed island, things are disappearing. Birds, boats and the outside world. For most of the island’s inhabitants, the loss is not just of the object, but also the concept, feelings and memories associated with the missing thing.
‘The Memory Police’ is narrated by a novelist living on this island. When she discovers her editor, R, can remember things after they disappear, she recruits an old family friend to help hide R from the Memory Police.
As the novel progresses there is a growing sense of dread as more things, people and even ideas, are lost from the island. A strength of this book is the sense of creeping doom created by the impact of disappearances on the characters. This eerie atmosphere was something I really enjoyed.
Interspaced in the main story is the narrator’s own novel. It begins as a simple romance about a woman who falls in love with her typing teacher. But like the primary story, this too has twists and turns.
This book’s conclusion won’t please everyone. But if you’re someone who can enjoy a book for the atmosphere it creates and the questions it asks - rather than the answers it gives, then ‘The Memory Police’ is worth reading.
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SPOILER CONTAINING DISCUSSION ON KEY THEMES AND IDEAS BELOW
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Your experiences and frame of reference will shape what you take from this book.
While the interpretation of a novel’s themes and meaning is always a product of the reader’s experience, this feels especially so for ‘The Memory Police’.
The book is promoted to Western audiences as a dystopian novel, and there is a lot here that ticks the boxes for the genre. The titular Memory Police appear as an omnipresent threat to residents of the island, ever vigilant in their duty to enforce the disappearances. The unnamed woman who narrates the story certainly lives in fear of them and the effect of the disappearances on the island. The increasingly isolated and run-down nature of the island also feels right for a dystopian world - the loss of birds, of roses, of certain foods and simple pleasures - all feel familiar to the genre.
However, many of the disappearances also feel supernatural. In researching how others interpreted this book, many referenced the concept of magical realism. It’s why I would describe the book as a crossover of dystopia and horror. It is dystopian but with elements of the supernatural that create the sense that some unearthly horror might be taking place.
The novel in places, especially as it moved towards its conclusion, reminded me of something from The Twilight Zone, X-Files or even Annihilation.
The oppression and dread of dystopia is there, but with an extra unnerving serve of unexplained phenomena. We never know why people forget the things that have disappeared or how some disappearances happen. When roses disappear, the narrator wakes up to find the rivers running red with the petals of roses. The island’s residents then gather up roses from their gardens and dispose of them, in fear that the memory police might ‘disappear’ them next if they are found in possession of roses.
This is just one of many examples of phenomena that just happen (magically) in an otherwise real world, but with no explanation. The ultimate example is the novel’s ending, where the residents of the island forget the concepts of having a leg (and eventually their voice and body). It’s creepy, weird and never really explained.
It’s why some people don’t like the book, but also why I say that if you can simply enjoy the atmosphere, this is still an enjoyable book.
So what does it all mean?
After finishing the book, I was curious to see what others thought the book was commenting on. As it turns out, there’s a lot of different interpretations of this book.
Authoritarianism, information control and censorship - this is the sort of stuff that dystopian novels typically comment on, and there’s plenty of room for this take.
Individual and collective memory and the connection to identity - which ties in with the narrator’s concerns about who they will be if they lose the ability to be a writer and finish their novel.
A commentary on the impermanence of digital information - which is an interesting take given the novel was written in 1994. It perhaps goes to show how widely open to interpretation the book is.
Aging and acceptance of death - the gradual decline of the island is the aging process. The inhabitants acceptance of disappearances is the acceptance of change during life, and of eventual death.
Personally, the story had me thinking a lot about the type of memory loss.
As someone who has family members with dementia, what I found especially interesting was that the island’s inhabitants lost concepts, not just specific memories. In the story, R and the narrator are able to find some disappeared objects, yet the narrator has no ability to name the objects or understand how they are used. Even when R explains them to her, she struggles to recall or understand the objects in question.
The story may not be about dementia specifically, but it did make me wonder if this was the kind of memory loss the author was trying to invoke. And if that’s the case, maybe this is a story more about aging and acceptance of loss than a political commentary. Then again, why not both? This is, after all, a story that leaves many questions unanswered.
The novel also explicitly broaches the idea of abusive relationships and silencing peoples voices as a form of control. This is the subject of the story within the story, where the young typist becomes isolated first by losing her ability to speak, and then by the typing teaching / boyfriend refusing to fix her typewriter and instead locking her in a room full of broken typewriters. As with the main story, there is a supernatural vibe. The message I took from this sub-story was that we should be wary of those who would take and then control our voice, because without our voice we have fewer means of sounding the alarm when future horrors emerge. This ties to the typical dystopian theme of control, but is also an important message at a personal level.
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ (SOTR) is a prequel novel for the Hunger Games series. This novel is the backstory of Haymitch; his trials and subsequent victory in the 50th Hunger Games, and the events that shape the character readers meet in book 1 of ‘The Hunger Games’. Fans of the original series should enjoy this book, and may want to consider it ahead of the upcoming (late 2026) movie.
SOTR is the latest Hunger Game prequel story. Where ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ (BSS) sought to help readers better understand President Snow, SOTR centres around Haymitch Abernathy, who features in the original series as the mentor to District 12’s tributes.
This novel adopts a similar structure to the earlier prequel. In it, we are introduced to just enough of Haymitch’s life in District 12 to understand that the carefree teenager we meet will be irreparably damaged by the Hunger Games.
Similar to BOSS, the action then turns to the Hunger Games, firstly the scene setting of getting to know the contestants, and then the vicious and cruel elimination of all until only Haymitch remains.
As a prequel, we know Haymitch ultimately triumphs. The tension in this ‘Games therefore lies in Haymitch’s own agenda and whether he has the will and capability to follow through with it.
Author Suzanne Collins is again at her best with the build up and action of the Games itself. As with BSS though, I would have appreciated more time dealing with the fallout from the Games and the way those events shape and scar Haymitch before readers meet him in ‘The Hunger Games’.
My recommendation for this book is similar to the earlier prequel.
If you enjoyed the original trilogy, this is worth picking up. This is especially so if you’re planning on rereading the original books or rewatching the movies as SOTR adds to the lore and worldbuilding of Panem., For those without the context of the rest of the series, the book can be read standalone. But Hunger Games fans will likely get more from it and be happier to hand over the asking price.
This book explores the businesses tactics that get you spending the last dollars in your bank account. These are valuable insights at a time when household budgets are stretched. While the book is written for an Australian audience, many of the insights are still applicable in Europe, the US or Canada. That makes this a great read whether you’re looking to save some money or simply fascinated by how companies always seem to find new ways to extend their profits.
‘How They Get You’ examines the business models and sneaky ways that businesses make extra money out of consumers. It explores the psychology and economics of 24 different business practices and how they separate people from their money. Importantly, each chapter concludes with practical tips for how to deal with these different practices, especially if they’re unavoidable.
For the typical consumer, the author’s choice of breadth over depth is the right one. Each topic provides enough detail to understand why businesses are doing these things, and what actions the consumer can take. For business readers or those looking for a deep understanding of the topic, Kohler’s coverage might not be sufficient. However, I found the book a valuable way to get across multiple topics quickly, and it’s already helped me save money.
Readers should be aware this book is written for an Australian audience. Some chapters reference distinctly Australian consumer scenarios and laws. This may require reinterpreting things for their local context. Even with this limitation, the diversity of topics covered means ‘How they Get You’ still offers plenty of valuable insights for everyone.
Overall, I’d recommend ‘How they Get You’ for anyone looking to shop smarter. It's also a good choice if you want to understand the business models of a diverse range of industries. The book is an easy and insightful read, though for those outside Australia you may need to go the e-book (or as I did, audiobook) edition.
‘Sourcery’ is a fantastical adventure story about the clash of power between wizardry and 'sourcery', as the more ancient form of magic is known by in this world. Being a Discworld novel, this is a battle that is absurd and comedic, yet still feels consequential. Fantasy lovers looking for a lighter take on a magical contest will enjoy this book.
This is book 5 in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. While I have read a couple of the later books, I’ve decided to go back to the beginning and start chipping away at the series as something of a long term goal for the next few years. The Discworld novels I’ve read so far are light hearted, fun and relatively quick to read. This makes them an ideal thing to slip in between reading longer novels, heavier subject matter, or non-fiction. Check my Discworld tag for more books from this series.
But back to ‘Sourcery’.
Unseen University is the home of wizardry on the Discworld. It’s a place where magic sometimes happens, but is better known for the drinking, smoking and tomfoolery of its staff and students. It’s a place where the bumbling wizard Rincewind hopes to quietly go about his business, avoiding danger at all cost.
Rinacewind’s quest for a peaceful life is shattered by the arrival of a young boy with the ability to wield the power of ‘sourcery’ - an old and powerful form of magic. This sets in motion an adventure involving luggage, an assassin who wants to be a hairdresser, an entry level barbarian and a magical hat with a score to settle.
If you’re wanting complex plots, you may do better to look elsewhere. But by book five, the Disc is a world with recurring locales, characters who make cameos, and an expanding lore. The book however, can still be enjoyed as a stand alone novel.
If you’re after a light hearted fantasy adventure with elements of satire and parody, then this will be worth checking out.
‘Sapiens’ is a big picture examination of human history, exploring 70,000 years of evolution and civilisation changing developments. Taking such a macro perspective, this book can be both confronting and illuminating. I’d recommend ‘Sapiens’ for anyone seeking an engaging way to quickly take in the long sweep of history.
This is a book that takes on an incredible challenge - retelling the story of homo-sapiens. Though broadly told in chronological order, the book organises its chapters by theme. It explores how key events shaped the tale of humanity, and how in many cases, the world today continues to be influenced by these forces. Across its many chapters, topics include: the agricultural revolution, the role of money, the evolution of religion, and the convergence of capitalism, science and empire building.
Taking such a long term perspective illustrates how easy it is to look at recent events and mistakenly assume that things will continue to change predictably in a given direction, or that things are moving too slowly. A key takeaway from 'Sapiens' is that while change can seem slow in the context of an individual lifetime, change in the last few hundred years has been incredibly fast paced.
Sapiens is written in easy to read language and an engaging manner. I expected it to take longer to read, but instead found myself frequently picking it up to read “just one more chapter”.
The only downside to this book is that it was originally published in 2014. That was a less turbulent and more optimistic time than the world of March 2026. It would have been interesting to see how the author would approach the latter chapters of the book today. Along similar lines, I’ve been left wondering how some of the projections the author makes about the future of humanity and artificial life (AI, cybernetics, genetic modification) might be changed by the technological advances of the last decade.
These are small limitations however, in a book that offers a fascinating take on the history of homo-sapiens. Well worth looking out for in your library, local bookstore or e-book provider.
When a class of graduating students from the Capitol are tasked with mentoring tributes in the Hunger Games, Coryo Snow sees a chance to turn around his personal and family fortunes. This Hunger Games prequel gives readers a glimpse into the origin story of President Snow. Though arguably not as well realised as it could have been, it’s worth reading if you’re a fan of the series.
Some context…
‘The Hunger Games’ (THG) trilogy was originally released between 2008-2010. A dystopian series set in the post-America nation of Panem, the success of the books lead to movie adaptations being released between 2012-2015.
The original trilogy was something I enjoyed, though at the time I felt the writing had room for improvement. The violence was something that really stood out, and I questioned how much was actually needed to convey the brutality of the world versus how much was just there for a shock value.
That said, I am a fan of dystopian novels, and I was looking forward to returning to Panem. So I picked up this novel with both those things in mind - my previous enjoyment that came with criticisms, combined with my overall love for the genre.
A book at its best when it sticks to the games it knows.
The premise of ‘Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ (BSS) is that a group of Capitol students, including a future President Snow (Coryo), must mentor tributes for the tenth Hunger Games.
Coryo is assigned a wily and charismatic girl from District 12. He is at first disappointed with his assigned tribute. She is clearly not going to be capable of beating the other tributes in a direct fight. But over time Coryo comes to realise that Lucy Gray Beard might just be the longshot that helps him gain the glory and power he desires.
The chapters dedicated to the Games and Coryo’s life in the Capitol have the same feel as the original trilogy. This part of the book is engaging in the same way the original book was. Tension is built and then released violently, over and over again until only one tribute is left.
When the second half of the story takes us to District 12, I had high hopes for it giving us deep insights into future President Snow's psyche. The book tries to do this by subjecting its protagonists to a series of escalating ethical dilemmas.
However, the ending didn’t feel well paced. For my mind it would have been more effective with either a shorter and more ambiguous ending, or else extending the book to give more weight to the consequences of Coryo's choices.
Fans will enjoy it, but for me it’s another imperfect book
If you enjoyed the original trilogy, BSS is worth picking up. This is especially so if you’re planning on rereading the book or rewatching the movies. It adds more lore and detail to the world, and some of those small things were as interesting to me as the main story arc. Just be warned, this isn’t a perfect novel and absent the context of the original trilogy, you might find the conclusion unsatisfying.
‘Unruly’ examines the interplay of current trends in technology, politics and law. Emerging trends mean businesses face new risks and a world where established norms will be abandoned. Companies will need to proactively adopt a more holistic approach to managing legal, political and technological risk. This book will be of interest to general readers, but will be especially thought provoking for those in risk management or regulating the corporate sector.
‘Unruly: Fighting Back when Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business’ by Sean West
‘Unruly’ examines the convergence of trends in technology, politics and law that are creating new risks for businesses. Where once businesses could manage risks in each of these areas as separate issues, West argues a triad of convergent risks is emerging.
Geopolitics and technology are increasingly linked as countries seek to use the law to gain an economic and technological edge over rivals. Norms against the targeting of ‘civilians’ (businesses and individuals) are being abandoned in an era where cyberwarfare and abuse of the law are normalised as means of asserting political power.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently argued:
“Over the past two decades, a series of crises in finance, health, energy and geopolitics have laid bare the risks of extreme global integration. But more recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.” (emphasis added)
The increasing weaponization of economic integration is called out by West in ‘Unruly’. The book was published in March 2025, yet the author foresaw many of the norm violations (at home and abroad) of the second Trump presidency. And the prediction is, there’s still potential for things to get a lot worse.
Businesses typically prefer certainty and predictability. West argues the world is not just becoming uncertain and harder to predict, it’s becoming unruly. The rule of law and established legal and political norms are not just being eroded, but completely torn up. That’s a difficult world in which to conduct business, with flow on effects for society at large due to its impacts on investment, economic growth and employment.
Lessons for business: Rethink your approach to the world and especially how you approach risk management
One of the more alarming bits of advice is that businesses should treat legal grey zones like a give-away sign, not a stop sign. That is, they should continue to proceed, but with caution. West argues that a business that ‘stops’ to wait for the law to catch up in areas like AI, will be overtaken by competitors that simply drive on through.
[At this point I would refer readers to my previous review of ‘The Dark Pattern’, a book which analyses some of the biggest corporate scandals in modern history. West’s ‘give way sign’ approach to legal greyzones arguably increases the risk of a company being caught up in a major legal and ethical scandal. There is definitely a balancing act, and some gambling, to be had with this approach.]
The abandoning of norms against targeting regular citizens and businesses in geopolitical power struggles, means all businesses can potentially become combatants. Companies must plan for this scenario by examining their exposure to international and domestic political crises.
West also has an interesting take on companies adopting public positions on social issues. He argues that in a politically fractious and divisive world, it’s better for most businesses to sit on the sidelines. He cites examples of firms who have made things worse by taking a position and then flip-flopping and reversing course, ultimately pleasing no-one. West’s advice seems to be that you should only take a public position if it truly aligns to company values. In that scenario, firms must be prepared to stay the course and stick by whichever group or cause they’ve backed.
Lastly, the book encourages businesses to take an integrated and holistic approach to how they manage risk. Having separate legal, technology and government affairs teams developing their own risk strategies doesn’t work in a world where the biggest risks emerge from the convergence of these three areas.
A business book that will also be of interest to those interested in current events
‘Unruly’ is an airport book primarily targeted at business leaders and those working in risk management. While at times I found the pandering to corporate interests a little too blatant, overall the book is an interesting and engaging read. The history lessons and predictions it contains will interest those looking for a different perspective on geopolitics and corporate regulation. Worth the quick read (or listen) if you’re prepared to brave some of the more alarming predictions for the future.
When the only apprenticeship Mort can get is with Death, mistakes are made and the fabric of reality becomes rather untidy. This sets in motion a series of hilarious events involving wizards, a princess and Death’s exploration of other career options. If you love the idea of a quick and absurd read, then look for ‘Mort’ in your bookstore or library.
‘Mort’ is the fourth book in Terry Pratchet’s Discworld series of fantasy comedies. The book's main protagonists are Death, his adopted daughter Ysabell, servant Albert and recently recruited apprentice - Mort.
When Mort decides to override fate and spare the life of one destined for death, it sets in motion a hilarious series of events. Can Mort make things right? And what even is right in a world where Death seems more interested in a career change than debating the meaning of justice?
If you’ve read any of the other Discworld novels, you’ll know what you’re getting in to. For those who haven’t, the book is a quick and easy read filled with ridiculous characters, absurdist humour and entertaining satire. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then check out ‘Mort’ in your bookstore or local library
‘Invisible Women’ explores how missing or misused data leads to a world that fails women, often with life threatening consequences. Although this book is several years old, it still serves a useful role by identifying areas where data on women has historically been overlooked.
My first book for 2026 is ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado Perez. As someone with a keen interest in the use of data for decision making, I’m always interested in books that examine where the weak points are in the data life cycle.
The default male and missing women
‘Invisible Women’ highlights how research and data collection often assume a ‘default male’, which can lead to decisions being based only on what is optimal for men. This is, as shown through numerous examples in the book, rarely what is optimal for women.
Sometimes missing data arises when, (typically male) researchers cite concerns about the cost or complexity of conducting trials and experiments that include women. In others, the lack of women in government or industry means problems impacting women are not even recognized, and hence no data exists on what may be a long standing issue.
In other cases, there appears no clear explanation for why data on gender wasn't captured or reported on. As someone who has worked in industries with rich data, including data on gender, I was surprised to discover that many sectors didn't collect or publish analysis with a gender split.
Perez also highlights examples of where even when data on women was available, this data was not used properly or was outright ignored.
The assumption of the ‘default male’ perspective means that without a conscious effort to include more women in public, political and corporate decision making, existing blindspots will remain.
Lessons for researchers
The two simplest lessons for researchers that emerge from this book are: 1) don’t assume the ‘default male’ or the gender neutral human will do. Women need to be part of the data set. 2) Once you’ve collected data on women, this should be included as one of the key data splits. Even if there is no difference in results, this should at least be mentioned. Do not simply lump all results into one category of ‘people’.
Sometimes less is more when persuading with data or its absence
For a book about the lack of data on women, ‘Invisible Women’ is at times a firehose of data points and citations. As someone who values data, I appreciate the author’s diligence in bringing together so many examples to back up each of the thematic areas the book examines.
The persuasiveness of the book might potentially have been improved on though by doing a deeper dive on some of the case studies. Examples of highly impactful policy or research proposals being passed over by grants bodies might have benefited from an in text explanation of what alternate proposals received funding instead.
A worthwhile read for anyone interested in improving data driven decision making
Overall I found this to be a broad and helpful exploration of the ways in which women may be missing from the data lifecycle. More importantly the book highlights the significant consequences for women, and society more broadly, from this invisibility. I’d recommend this book for anyone looking to improve their research or decision making, whether they are employed in the corporate, government or academic sector.
2025 - The persistence of “print” and the year of romantasy.
Another year done, and another year of reading ticked off. This year turned out to be my biggest one yet, with 25 books in total consumed.
Print reading was the main way I consumed books this year.
Most of my reading (16/25) was still reading print, either physical or digital. This surprised me since it felt like I’d listened to a LOT of books this year. While my book consumption was definitely boosted by audiobooks, there was a lot of print being read.
I think I will also have done pretty well on the word count of ‘print’ books again. Last year was big due to some mammoth books (Dune + 'Remembrance of Earth’s Past’ trilogy). This year it was the Empyrean trilogy that boosted the word count. I also read fewer and shorter graphic novels, again probably boosting word count.
The year of romantasy (and romance)
Romance and romantasy made up the bulk of my fiction reading. Rainbow gifted me several romance and romantasy books, but it was my choice to add a couple of extras to the list in order to finish the series she started. Dystopian novels still made a showing this year, but far less than in previous years.
In the non-fiction category, it was another mix of business books and self improvement / personal development books, including a reread (listen) of ‘Atlas of the Heart’.
As per previous years, here’s the full list of books.
Fiction
A Darkling Plain - Philip Reeve (audiobook)
Icebreaker - Hannah Grace
Eruption - Micheal Crichton (audiobook)
Five Brothers - Penelope Douglas
The Serpent and the Wings of Night - Carissa Broadbent
Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (audiobook)
Fourth Wing -Rebecca Yarros
The Ashes and the Star Cursed King - Carissa Broadband
Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros
I’m starting to worry about this black box of doom - Jason Pargin (audiobook)
Starter Villain - John Scalzi
Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
Graphic Novels / Comics
The Park - Oscar Zarate
You Must take Part in Revolution - Badiucao & Melissa Chan
Non-Fiction
Mental Mana - Will Jonathan
Draw to Win - Dan Roam
Mono in a Poly World - Tazmyn Ozga
Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke
Sludge - Cass R Sunstein (audiobook)
The Power of Letting Go - John Purkiss (audiobook)
Atlas of the Heart - Brene Brown (audiobook)
The Dark Pattern - Guido Palazzo & Ulrich Hoffrage (audiobook)
The Let Them Theory - Mel Robbins
The Secret Life of Data - Aram Sinnreich & Jesse Gilbert (audiobook)
Onyx Storm is the third book in the Empyrean series, a romance-fantasy (romantasy) series that pits magic wielding dragon riders against mysterious dark magicians. The series brings together an entertaining cast of characters in a war for the fate of Navarre.
It’s difficult to write a spoiler-free commentary on Onyx Storm without giving away key elements of the earlier books. So for the benefit of those planning to read the full series, I’ve tried to keep all the spoilerish content in a separate section at the end of the post.
For those interested in my posts on the first two books:
Fourth Wing
Iron Flame
Spoiler Free: The Empyrean Series and Onyx Storm
The Empyrean is a romantasy (romance-fantasy) series. I’ve personally found the series to be a balanced mix of both genres, though Onyx Storm felt like it leaned more into the fantasy elements.
The romance between the protagonists is well crafted. It helps drive key elements of the plot, shape the characters, and also provides a different kind of downtime between the higher paced elements of the story.
For those more interested in the fantasy genre, the world building and lore of any single book isn’t as deep as one solely focussed on the fantasy elements. However, across the series the details of the world have been progressively built up. Now the world of Navarre is full of history, myths and living cultures. These have been built out as the fantasy plot at an individual and macro level have moved forward.
For those thinking of picking up this series, you should be aware that it contains both explicit sex scenes and graphic violence. Aside from the gore of combat, there is physical and psychological torture.
With that said, I’ve enjoyed the series so far. While the books are relatively long, they’re not a difficult read. If you’re a fast reader or got some downtime coming up, this is a series that could be enjoyed by anyone who likes the idea of combining dragons, magic, an existential conflict and spicy romance.
And now, the spoiler containing thoughts.
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Spoiler containing thoughts beyond. In no particular order
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The cliff-hanger finale
I’m just going to get this out of the way. There is such a thing as too much of a cliff-hanger. Just having Violet and Xaden be married (or a mystery around that) would have been a great hook. Having the aftermath of the battle be a victory that feels more like defeat would also have been a good cliff-hanger for the next book(s). But what we got - personally I feel it took away a bit from the climax of the major battle.
All the adventuring to different lands
If this doesn’t have payoffs in the later books, then it’s going to feel a lot like filler
You get a second power, and you get a second power and you get a second power
Look, at this point any marked one has to be under suspicion of having a second signet/power. And that will surely have implications down the track.
Multiple character perspectives
We needed this in the big battle in order to show its scope and all the world changing events going on. But I wonder if this was also setting us up for how the story may be told in the subsequent books. Or at least until Violet and Xaden are reunited.
Long distance romance… or new romances?
If we assume Violet and Xaden are physically separated until some sort of cure (redemption) is achieved for Xaden, then where does this leave us in terms of romance plots and sexy scenes? I can see this going a couple of ways. Firstly, this will all be in the form of Violet dreamwalking and encounters within their shared dreamspace. Second option, which links back to the introduction of multiple character perspectives, is that we might get to experience one or more of the other romantic sub-plots like the Imogen-Garrick one we get teased with at the end of the book.
Final result - a solid addition to the series
Assuming there is a meaningful payoff to all the adventuring to the Isles, then this is a solid book and finishing with an epic battle never hurts. At the moment, I feel having so much upended and unknown by the cliff-hanger ending wasn’t the best choice, but overall I enjoyed the book. I just hope the next book(s) aren’t too far off as I’m not likely to reread the whole series ahead of the new books.
‘The Secret Life of Data’ (SLD) explores the increasing use of data in our day to day life and what the long term implications of this could be for our society.
The book begins with a brief history of data, then explores the ways data is being collected and used today. This includes the role data plays as an enabler of artificial intelligence (AI) and the various data that is output by AI - such as algorithmic driven decision and insights or generative AI content.
A focus of the book is the ways in which data, though collected for one purpose, can go on to be used for purposes the original user or collector never anticipated or intended. This is the ‘secret life of data’. Sometimes these are innocuous or even beneficial uses. But many of the examples provided - such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal - raise serious ethical questions about the extent of corporate and government algorithmic surveillance.
The book's content is accessible to the general reader, while still offering new insights and perspectives to those familiar with data governance and ethics. It’s therefore a book I'd recommend for anyone who wants to better understand the opportunities and risks associated with the accelerating measurement and quantification of our lives.
When Charlie learns he is to inherit his billionaire uncle’s business, it seems like the answer to all his problems. But when Charlie discovers his uncle was actually a supervillain, he inherits a whole new set of problems - and unionized dolphins is one of them.
‘Starter Villain’ is a hilarious adventure set in the greyzone between the real world and the absurdly improbable. It’s territory that author John Scalazi seems very comfortable working in, with ‘The Kaiju Preservation Society’ being another recent example I’ve enjoyed.
The novel follows Charlie’s introduction to the world of supervillains and his hilarious attempts to deal with the unique challenges that entails. Supported by his rather eclectic team of ‘experts’, can Charlie survive the annual supervillain conference long enough to understand why his uncle chose him for this unusual occupation?
‘Starter Villain’ is a quick, fun and easy read. It’s well paced, with a good mix of comedy, and action. There’s also plenty of not so subtle shots at the mega rich and corporate interests that operate out of sight yet shape our daily lives.
If you’re someone who enjoys satire, absurdity and out of their depth protagonists, then ‘Starter Villain’ might be the book you;re looking for.
‘The Let Them Theory’ is about acknowledging the things you can’t control and empowering action where you can. The book applies ‘the let them theory’ to common life scenarios such as friendships, helping others and finding love. The book offers its own take on how to manage relationships, though it may be wise to supplement it with broader reading.
‘The Let Them Theory’ (LTT) has been in the ‘best sellers’ section of my local bookstores for months. It’s a book that crosses over into a couple of the genres I tend to read a lot of - ‘self help / self improvement’ and airport books. (The books you see in airport bookstores that are just the right length for reading on a short business trip).
LTT teaches that you can’t control other people and how they react to you. To try and do so is only going to lead to frustration. Instead, you should focus on what you can control - which is how you react to the other person and what you do in response to them.
The book has a good analogy for this. If you’re outdoors and a storm blows up, shouting at the sky about the weather is pointless. It’s beyond your control and all you’re going to do is get frustrated. Instead, “let me” choose how I respond. The response could be standing in the rain and enjoying the sensation, it could be getting a raincoat to help stay dry, or it could be going inside and doing something different.
When dealing with other people it’s often necessary to “let them” do what they’re doing or react how they’re going to react. Accept that’s what they’re going to do… then “let me” choose how I respond.
The book applies this concept to a range of situations such as:
Dealing with stress
Fearing other peoples opinions
Dealing with other adult ‘tantrums’
Chronic comparison
Mastering adult friendships
Motivating others to change
Helping someone who is struggling
Choosing the love you deserve
The book is a good reminder of the perils of letting the opinions of certain individuals be your only guide to how you should feel or act. It’s also a reminder as to why we sometimes need to be brave or make choices that at the time may feel very uncomfortable. Again, it’s about establishing your agency through “let me”.
Despite being a best seller, the book didn’t land perfectly with me.
For starters, it felt very repetitive, especially in the early chapters. “Let them - Let Me” is a simple concept. It arguably doesn’t need (what felt like) half a dozen anecdotes or examples every time a new application of the theory is introduced. It may have been better to either shorten the book (making it much more pointed) or use those words on more of the theory or tools connected to LTT.
As someone who has read a number of books in this style, I’m also wary of books that paint themself as the answer to all problems: ‘Follow this formulae in these situations and see amazing success - and if you don't see success it's because you did it wrong’. LTT feels prone to this at times, though it does acknowledge the theory needs to be applied with common sense.
I also feel the ‘let them’ approach to dealing with other people should come with a warning label. If not used with care, it strikes me as an approach to interpersonal relationships that could end in isolation.
LTT offers another perspective on taking control of your life when you feel beholden to the whims of others - but it should be one of many tools in your inventory.
I’d recommend LTT to anyone looking for an additional perspective on how to process their response to stressful or overwhelming interpersonal situations. LTT isn’t perfect, but it does offer another set of tools for anyone who feels their life is being weighed down by the expectations of others. My caution would be to use this book with care and make it part of a balanced book reading diet.
A cross country road trip transporting a mysterious black box. This is not your typical job for Lyft driver Abbot. This novel takes a barely plausible premise and turns it into one of the wildest road-trip stories you’re likely to encounter. If you love conspiracy theories crossed with eccentric characters trying to survive just long enough to get their next dose of anxiety meds - book your next Lyft because this is a story for you.
‘I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom’ (‘Box of Doom’) is one of the wildest road-trip stories you’re likely to read. When Lyft driver Abbot is hired by a woman to drive her from Los Angeles to Washington DC, Abbot’s anxiety begins to rise. That feeling escalates as the mystery woman insists no questions are asked about the big black box she is transporting or the need for complete secrecy. And that’s before Abbott learns an aggressive man covered in tattoos is hunting them, desperate to get his hands on the box.
As Abbottt and the mystery woman journey across the country, they become involved in a series of misadventures. Some are harmless, some are dangerous. Unbeknown to our protagonists, all are wildly speculated on in the various internet forums where people have begun to follow their travels.
Is the mystery woman a Russian agent? Is Abbott an incel terrorist? Does the box contain an alien capable of mind control? Or does it hold the body of a young woman who went missing many years ago?
‘Box of Doom’ taps into contemporary Internet culture, conflicts and paranoia, in order to continually escalate the stakes. These forces also fuel long conversations between Abbott and his travelling companion as they travel the lonely roads of America. Many of those conversations are a commentary on the state of modern America. They are also, perhaps, a bridge to understanding between people on different sides of social-media generated outrage.
These conversations are at times lengthy, with monologues only plausible because of the road-trip scenario and the nature of Abbott’s companion. They are worthwhile though, and add an extra layer to what would otherwise be just a quirky adventure full of improbable events.
If you enjoy mystery stories, improbable adventures, or social satire - ‘Big Black Box’ is probably for you.
‘Iron Flame’ is the second book of the Empyrean romantasy series. This novel takes what worked in the first book and turns up the intensity. Dragons, political intrigue, daring escapes and epic battles are all back and mostly better. Like ‘Fourth Wing’, there’s enough action and adventure to the story that even if you aren’t into the romance, it’s still a fun read.
As it’s difficult to share much about this novel without spoilers for book one, this is going to be a shorter post.
You can go back to my ‘Fourth Wing’ post to see my thoughts on book one.
In Iron Flame, we see the survivors of ‘Fourth Wing’ grow as they are tested by new challenges. Our protagonists are also joined by new squad mates and allies. Hopefully we’ll see these new characters developed more in future books, as at times they felt more like props than a living part of the world. That might well be the role they were introduced to play, but it would be good to see some of these characters more fully fleshed out going forward.
Like ‘Fourth Wing’, this novel concludes by sowing the seeds for the next book. It’s a cliffhanger ending of sorts, which I’m often wary of. But in ‘Iron Flame’, the main plot elements are resolved satisfactorily, so the hook for the next book doesn't feel like an entirely cheap ending.
I enjoyed this instalment of the series for similar reasons to why I enjoyed ‘Fourth Wing’. The novel has a good balance of fantasy story telling mixed with some romance and sex scenes. I found it a fun and entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to reading 'Onyx Storm' (book three) when I have some downtime later in the year.
So who will enjoy this book, and series?
If you enjoy stories in a fantasy world and are ok with some violence (including torture) being mixed in with the romance and sex, then I’d be happy to recommend Iron Flame and its predecessor as something to pick up from your bookstore or library.
