So I received this book as a gift, was told I really should read it, and threw it in Mt. TBR.   Then the Hugo list went out, and I was reading about the books (I either have read them or have absolutely no interest in wasting my time), except for this one.  Which I hadn't read, and was going to purchase, when I was roundly reminded that it had already been purchased for me.  Oops.

And I read it.   And sweet baby octopus, I adore it.  
I had a bit of a rough start getting into this book.  I read on the bus, in 20 minute gulps, and I firmly believe this is not the book to be doing that with.   I actually had to skim the first few paragraphs to get a handle on what the hell I was reading.    It's just not a "few minutes at a time" kind of book.

This book is phenomenally well written.   The world building, I believe, is some of the best I've seen in SFF/spec fic in a long time.   The plot was solid, the switching between back history and current events was smooth and easy to follow.   It's sci-fi with an interesting militaristic bent without being a hard military-sci fi.    It's space-opera without the cheese. There are humans and "humans" and things that are most definitely not humans-dressed-as-aliens.   They're truly alien in their physiology as well as philosophy.

And I really liked and connected with the main characters in the story.

This novel is about a future/different/whatever space-faring expansionist society and what happens with a rather interesting breakdown in the despotic leadership.   What happens when a machine, who is or is not human, is forced to go against their feelings but with their programs.     What *is* human, what side are you on when your leader is on different sides.   It's delightfully complicated.

This novel has already won several awards, and I really believe (and hope), wholeheartedly, it should win the Hugo.   And I'm not lying when I say that when I read that this is the first of a series (whether it's linear or just in the universe), I actually squealed with happiness.   I may have lost Iain Banks, but now I've got Ann Leckie.

This book is probably one of the most difficult I've ever tried to write a review for.

It's not a difficult book to read, but it has a lot going on (now with a lot of characters), and it's like an onion with it's many layers (go, go common metaphor!)

At the most basic level - it's about its two principal characters - the Golem and the Jinni.  It's about their history, their travels, their personalities and difficulties;  their origin stories and how they make their way in the world is all there.

I love that the two main characters are mythological beings from non-mainstream/western cultures (basically, not the popular Greco-Roman gods, nothing Norse or European).   The author uses good material that other authors usually ignore.

And at that basic level, it's a good, solid story.  There's plenty of plot (though it's not fast paced and actiony), but a lot of good, solid character building in there.   The book is both fun and melancholic, and does a fantastic job of making me connect with the characters and caring for them.

At the same time, there are a lot of deeper philosophical issues being explored through the book, through their lives and choices (or lack thereof) and through conversations and debate.

It's a fascinating work - both a good, solid fantasy read, and actual literature.   Probably one of the best works I've ever read.  It's not perfect, but it is fantastic.

Sweet babies, this is one of the most entertaining and interesting books I've ever read.

Read the short blurb for the basics:  Locke Lamora is an orphan who is sold into the priesthood of a thief-god.  He learns a lot (and I mean *a lot*) forms his own gang (the Gentleman Bastards), and proceeds to become the biggest swindler ever.   A lot of reviews liken this book to Ocean's Eleven, and it's not unfair to say so.  There is an amazingly convoluted heist taking place in a Reconnaissance style world with very complete, world building, magical systems and society.

There's lots of cussing, lots of political shenanigans, lots of twists and turns, and lots of good times.   It's a solid book with a couple of WTF/HolyPoops! moments.  It's very much non-PG, but not offensive, at the same time.  I'm in love with pretty much all of the characters, even the "bad" guys.

It's really sad, really hilarious, and really fun.   One of the book world's best roller coasters.

I haven't read this book since college (nearly 20 years ago), and I had forgotten how much I loved it.

The books is, of course, all about the life of Edmond Dantès, his wrongful imprisonment, his return to society with his revenge, forgiveness, and peace.   

It takes place from about the time that Napoleon busts out of Elba-prison and through the reign of Louis-Phillippe, in France (principally Marseilles and Paris), the Mediterranean, and Italy (Rome, mostly).   The historical events taking place in the book are a fundamental part of framework of the story.   Dumas based Edmond's story on a shoemaker who was also (actually) imprisoned under similar circumstances.

I love how far-reaching the story is, how many different kinds of revenge Edmond wreaks, how much thought and foundation work is in play for some of the plots he casts upon the people who have wronged him.   I also like that he has to watch as his revenge sometimes has farther reaching effects than he plans and how he has to cope and come to terms with the collateral damage he creates.   There are a lot of strong themes through the book, and I think they're all plotted (hah!) well and tightly.

The movie is a different animal than the book entirely, but keeps a lot of its spirit, in my opinion, but I'd forgotten how much I loved some of the complexities and longer, more delicious storytelling.

Before Jeffrey Brown won us all over with his Darth Vader parenting books, he was riffing on 80s cartoons in the Incredible Change Bots books. (Also he wrote some books about cats which are top notch, and some autobiographical comics for grown ups which I've never seen because I'm immature.) Brown has become my son's favorite comic dude, which makes me so happy because I want to punch Greg Heffley in the balls so hard he sees stars.