Book #65 of 2019: The Collapsing Empire | 2019 book: Magyk

[thistlechaser]

The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency Book 1) by John Scalzi
Traditional or self-published: Traditional
Rating: Okay (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



As much as I like Scalzi's writing, his books are very hit-and-miss for me.

Set in the far distant future, all of humanity lives in space. Spread across various worlds, they're all connected by the "Flow". Picture a river through space with a limited amount of locations you can enter/leave it, a river that flows to each of those worlds.

All that is well and good, I'd enjoy that much of the story, but the book was about political conflict between the Houses that control all the trade and stuff. Political intrigue, fighting, etc. Completely not my cup of tea. It was sort of like Game of Thrones set in space, but with 1000% more political correctness.

I finished this book, but I won't be continuing with the two others in the series. It wasn't at all a bad story, it just wasn't a good match for my tastes.

Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1) by Angie Sage
Traditional or self-published: Traditional
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



This book did the most annoying thing ever. It bolded the important words. I guess so that there would be no chance you miss what was important. But it was so distracting to read.

The story, about a magical baby, seemed like it was okay, but the bolding made it impossible to read. I stopped reading at the 9% point. I only got that far because of how short the book was.

Partial book credits:
Point reached in this book: 9%
Previous abandoned book total: 565%
New total: 574% (5 books)

Comments

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

I have seen some strange formatting choices in books before, for emphasis- and usually they annoy- but never one that bolded a bunch of words. I think it would get in the way of enjoying the book for me, too.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It's such an odd choice. And this was a professionally published book, so... I really just can't explain it.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

omg WHY would they bold words. WHY!??? I have never read any of the Septimus Heap books but I'm surprised that it would have such weird formatting.

I've only read 'Lock In' and 'Head On' by Scalzi. And his blog. I want to read more eventually.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I've read the Old Man War from Scalzi (LOVED the first book, but they went downhill from there). I tried Red Shirts, but that didn't work for me. I think I read some others by him? Apparently he just signed a 10 book contract with his publisher, so I guess there will be lots more to try.

I have no idea about the bolding! But the Goodread reviews about it are amusing.