Welcome to my favourite place, my book-loving corner. I am doing the A to Z reading challenge this year and I have found that some letters are easier to find than others. So, I thought I would bring together the books I have read this year starting with the first letter of the title.
I am going to start off with a look at books that begin with the letter A! I am using some artistic licence here; I will ignore small words at the start like 'the' and 'To' and this list includes only those books I have read starting from this year. So, whether you’re looking for a thrilling adventure, a heartfelt romance, or a mind-bending mystery, I’ve got a great line up for you. My carefully curated selection promises to ignite your imagination and keep you turning pages late into the night. I also plan to update the list as my book journey continues so have a look and discover your next great read but come back to the post to see what I add later and don't forget to sign up for my weekly blog posts to stay in the loop with more bookish delights. Let's embark on this alphabetical journey together and make your reading list as awesome as possible!
Title: Artificial Wisdom
Author: Thomas R. Weaver
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Chainmaker Press
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 386
Format: Hardback supplied to ,e by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: SALVATION HAS A PRICE.
An enthralling murder mystery with a vividly realised future world, forcing readers to grapple hard hitting questions about the climate crisis, our relationship with Artificial Intelligence and the price we would be willing to pay, as a species, to be saved. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, Neal Stephenson, Philip K Dick, Kim Stanley Robinson and RR Haywood.
It's 2050, a decade after a heatwave that killed four hundred million across the Persian Gulf, including journalist Marcus Tully's wife. Now he must uncover the truth: was the disaster natural? Or is the weather now a weapon of genocide?
A whistleblower pulls Tully into a murder investigation at the centre of an election battle for a global dictator, with a mandate to prevent a climate apocalypse. A former US President campaigns against the first AI politician of the position, but someone is trying to sway the outcome.
Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species. But will humanity ultimately choose salvation over freedom, whatever the cost?
My Thoughts: Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver has a gritty start and draws you in. Some of the words and descriptions felt like they could have belonged to our real future and is testament to Weavers writing and thinking making the story all the more authentic.
Some of the chapters are fairly short which I feel builds on the intensity of the drama enabling the story to grow one chapter at time.
Artificial Wisdom is a book about truth and moral dilemma and is a very sombre, thought provoking read.
For me the book held authenticity to what could happen in the future added to the enjoyment of the book.
As I read through there were many twists and turns and Weaver skilfully weaves together a murder mystery with a political thriller challenging us as readers with profound questions about the climate crisis and AI and the sacrifices we might make for the greater good. I’m not even sure I could have done what Tully did and invite someone else into your ego space, I nearly cried when he did it. It was for the greater good and something you don’t really know which way you will jump until you are in that situation.
The book shows an intricate plot full of suspense, with added emotion. It is a must read for those of you who love futuristic fiction that challenges your thinking. Thomas R Weaver will definitely leave you pondering the delicate balance between salvation and freedom long after you turn the final pages. A definite 5* read for me and a book I highly recommend.
Title: The Asymmetric Man
Author: Alex Rushton
Genre: Romance, Action, Adventure, Thriller
Series: Book 1 of 3 The Blake Carter Series
Publisher: Scriptora
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 359
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Embark on a gripping journey of sacrifice and self-discovery in The Asymmetric Man, a thrilling tale set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War. Follow Blake, a young recruit turned undercover agent, as he navigates the treacherous world of espionage, survival, and forbidden love. From war-ravaged Saigon to seemingly impenetrable jungle and the tranquillity of a Buddhist monastery, this riveting novel explores the power of recognising and embracing one's true calling, no matter the cost.
My Thoughts: The Asymmetric man by Alex Rushton is an action, adventure thriller and I found it intriguing fight from the start wanting to know more about the characters which I think is a testament to Rushton’s writing.
The vivid descriptions effortlessly transported me to the places providing a clear sensory experience bringing the narrative to life. The build-up of momentum during key moments was brilliant as I could almost feel the adrenalin soaring through the protagonists veins. I loved the dual time line it offered a much more insight into Blake Carter enabling me to piece together connections and events more clearly.
There was only one negative for me, Hoa once married does not appear much which felt like although there was a start and an end for her that was not much in the middle. However, this is an extremely minor point and did not detract from the story or reduce the overall star rating.
The descriptions of the time in the jungle were perceptive and I could feel the intense drama with each turn of the page. This continued right until the end where the book became a powerhouse of emotion.
In conclusion, The Asymmetric Man was a book full of enlightenment and emotion that keeps you interested right until the very end. The drama ebbs and flows and you are not sure what is going to happen next. A true 5 ***** read that although the book is down as an action, adventure, thriller, romance book it is so much more than that.
Title: 17 Alma Road
Author: Ian Gouge
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Coverstory Books
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 226
Format: E book supplied to me by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating; 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: A house filled with history and secrets is more than mere bricks and mortar; not only a mirror on the past, it can also be a window to the future.
My Thoughts: 17 Alma Road by Ian Gouge is a contemporary fiction book. It starts of in a confusing was, so much so that I had to re-read the first couple of pages and go back to the synopsis to try to understand what I was reading. Them the book settled down and came into its own mixing history with the current period, unravelling secrets making me feel that the house had its own personality at times. But this was a home and if like me you have lived in a house for a very long time you will know what I mean. The book does suffer from some pacing issues at times, but Gouge brings the book to a satisfactory conclusion with a surprise at the end.
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