Two sick-day mini-reviews: Ten is a fun YA novel reminiscent of Sense8, with a diverse cast. Ten people with supernatural powers are destined to be the conduit for an epic ancient battle. Can they band together to defeat the darkness instead? The heart of this book lies in the ten well-crafted main characters. My favorite was the bisexual polyamorous Riya, kicked out of her traditional Indian home but with a blazing spirit. The characters are swiftly introduced and not overwhelming, and the book is a quick page-turner. Looking forward to seeing more from author and incredible artist Sin Ribbon. Clouds & Earth by Sayde Scarlett was a solid sci fi story. I was sincerely invested in the story and Sandy's quest. She's a good soldier, a classic character in spy and action flicks, and here she is as cool and tough under pressure as expected. I loved Muro and Natalia as characters. I found myself utterly disinterested in Massi and his attraction to Natalia, and wished she was the point-of-view character, as she is intensely more interesting. I was heavily invested in most of the plot, but found myself wishing it was a standalone. Overall, I enjoyed this novel a lot.
