jesse
@voe.bsky.social
coyote • personal • please don't interact unless we know each other
#5 · A Fall of Moondust · 215 p.
A challenging lunar rescue mission where cooler heads prevail. There are sketches of personalities and backstories but really it's about solving (stressful) technical problems. Overall quite satisfying. Just ignore the bit where Clarke solves* reconciliation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A challenging lunar rescue mission where cooler heads prevail. There are sketches of personalities and backstories but really it's about solving (stressful) technical problems. Overall quite satisfying. Just ignore the bit where Clarke solves* reconciliation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
January 24, 2026 at 6:27 PM
#5 · A Fall of Moondust · 215 p.
A challenging lunar rescue mission where cooler heads prevail. There are sketches of personalities and backstories but really it's about solving (stressful) technical problems. Overall quite satisfying. Just ignore the bit where Clarke solves* reconciliation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A challenging lunar rescue mission where cooler heads prevail. There are sketches of personalities and backstories but really it's about solving (stressful) technical problems. Overall quite satisfying. Just ignore the bit where Clarke solves* reconciliation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Unlike many fantasy authors who try to write pastoral settings, McKillip clearly understands the importance of the mundane. People do chores. Weather happens. Seasons change. The middle does feel a bit aimless (a slow burn; everyone tends toward passivity), but the strong ending surprised me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Unlike many fantasy authors who try to write pastoral settings, McKillip clearly understands the importance of the mundane. People do chores. Weather happens. Seasons change. The middle does feel a bit aimless (a slow burn; everyone tends toward passivity), but the strong ending surprised me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
#3 · The Strange Bird · 109 p.
I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
January 11, 2026 at 12:32 AM
#3 · The Strange Bird · 109 p.
I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
I haven't read Borne. On its own, without context, this feels rather experimental. A bioengineered (?), birdlike creature crosses a post-apocalyptic world, gets captured, and generally doesn't seem to have much agency. Some interesting horror elements though.
⭐⭐⭐
#2 · The Orchard Mason Bee · 123 p.
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 11, 2026 at 12:22 AM
#2 · The Orchard Mason Bee · 123 p.
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had a good feeling about this one! People who love bugs tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about it. This little book describes the biology of a common, solitary bee and teaches you how to make your yard a friendlier place for them. Incredibly charming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The characters of Titus Groan were amusing caricatures; Gormenghast somehow, magically, transforms them into tragic figures. The highs of Peake's writing surpass anything else in the fantasy genre. It's absurd that this is a series I need to keep introducing to people. Go forth and read it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 11, 2026 at 12:11 AM
The characters of Titus Groan were amusing caricatures; Gormenghast somehow, magically, transforms them into tragic figures. The highs of Peake's writing surpass anything else in the fantasy genre. It's absurd that this is a series I need to keep introducing to people. Go forth and read it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Convalescing in an isolated house in a small town blah blah blah. Husband requires sex and falls for seductive shopkeeper. New friend is a secret lesbian (this arc goes nowhere). Old friend shops around for silver bullets (tedious). Did Brandner have any fun whatsoever writing this? Hard to say.
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
December 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Convalescing in an isolated house in a small town blah blah blah. Husband requires sex and falls for seductive shopkeeper. New friend is a secret lesbian (this arc goes nowhere). Old friend shops around for silver bullets (tedious). Did Brandner have any fun whatsoever writing this? Hard to say.
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
In a major departure from the first book, this is now LITERALLY Europe with the same timeline and historical figures. But there are still dragons? And magic? (But you need an "account balance"; the rules don't make sense.) Dickson leans into realism and forgets to make anything fun. Book jail.
⭐½
⭐½
November 20, 2025 at 3:53 AM
In a major departure from the first book, this is now LITERALLY Europe with the same timeline and historical figures. But there are still dragons? And magic? (But you need an "account balance"; the rules don't make sense.) Dickson leans into realism and forgets to make anything fun. Book jail.
⭐½
⭐½
#29 · The Dragon and the George · 279 p. (reread)
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
November 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
#29 · The Dragon and the George · 279 p. (reread)
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
A save-the-girl isekai with the gimmick of a protagonist stuck as a dragon. An enjoyable (meandering) ride, but don't think too much about whether medieval England + magical creatures makes sense. It's not quite as good the second time.
⭐⭐⭐½
It's a paleo fantasy I can tolerate because it doesn't deal with humans, but aside from the cat novelty there's not much going on here. Seemingly major events happen off screen and there isn't enough detail on Ratha's world to understand the geography or stakes. But I admire the weird concept.
⭐⭐½
⭐⭐½
October 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It's a paleo fantasy I can tolerate because it doesn't deal with humans, but aside from the cat novelty there's not much going on here. Seemingly major events happen off screen and there isn't enough detail on Ratha's world to understand the geography or stakes. But I admire the weird concept.
⭐⭐½
⭐⭐½
These two books contain shorter mysteries and I lucked out finding them almost simultaneously. They're all excellent - dry, British, carefully constructed, subtle in their worldbuilding. The solutions are always logical; magic is a forensic tool, but never a cheat. I need more of this genre!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
These two books contain shorter mysteries and I lucked out finding them almost simultaneously. They're all excellent - dry, British, carefully constructed, subtle in their worldbuilding. The solutions are always logical; magic is a forensic tool, but never a cheat. I need more of this genre!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't abandon things lightly but there's no reason to keep wasting my time on this piece of shit. The world is so poorly drawn that it doesn't matter if the quest succeeds or not. Nobody wants to be here; nobody is having fun. A soulless imitation of a book. Even the cover art sucks.
zero stars
zero stars
September 7, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I don't abandon things lightly but there's no reason to keep wasting my time on this piece of shit. The world is so poorly drawn that it doesn't matter if the quest succeeds or not. Nobody wants to be here; nobody is having fun. A soulless imitation of a book. Even the cover art sucks.
zero stars
zero stars
#25 · Animal Farm · 95 p.
1984 for kids. (Not really, but there are striking parallels.) Orwell definitely isn't subtle in portraying the slow rot of ideals when revolutionaries become dictators. Some knowledge of Soviet history is useful; the references are pretty obvious. Classic dystopia.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1984 for kids. (Not really, but there are striking parallels.) Orwell definitely isn't subtle in portraying the slow rot of ideals when revolutionaries become dictators. Some knowledge of Soviet history is useful; the references are pretty obvious. Classic dystopia.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 7, 2025 at 5:01 AM
#25 · Animal Farm · 95 p.
1984 for kids. (Not really, but there are striking parallels.) Orwell definitely isn't subtle in portraying the slow rot of ideals when revolutionaries become dictators. Some knowledge of Soviet history is useful; the references are pretty obvious. Classic dystopia.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1984 for kids. (Not really, but there are striking parallels.) Orwell definitely isn't subtle in portraying the slow rot of ideals when revolutionaries become dictators. Some knowledge of Soviet history is useful; the references are pretty obvious. Classic dystopia.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#24 · Jinian Footseer · 284 p.
Jinian shows up in Wizards Eleven and this is her backstory up to that point in the series. No shapeshifting (boo). The wizard magic feels oddly out of place. It's fine; well written but rather aimless, and breaks my rule about characters wanting to be there.
⭐⭐⭐
Jinian shows up in Wizards Eleven and this is her backstory up to that point in the series. No shapeshifting (boo). The wizard magic feels oddly out of place. It's fine; well written but rather aimless, and breaks my rule about characters wanting to be there.
⭐⭐⭐
August 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
#24 · Jinian Footseer · 284 p.
Jinian shows up in Wizards Eleven and this is her backstory up to that point in the series. No shapeshifting (boo). The wizard magic feels oddly out of place. It's fine; well written but rather aimless, and breaks my rule about characters wanting to be there.
⭐⭐⭐
Jinian shows up in Wizards Eleven and this is her backstory up to that point in the series. No shapeshifting (boo). The wizard magic feels oddly out of place. It's fine; well written but rather aimless, and breaks my rule about characters wanting to be there.
⭐⭐⭐
It even retroactively improves Malarkoi by explaining many of its non sequiturs, though I have lingering questions about Nathaniel. I'd call it a masterpiece if it wasn't so committed to its tiresome, high-minded musing. The character moments are wonderful, so why aren't there more of them?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It even retroactively improves Malarkoi by explaining many of its non sequiturs, though I have lingering questions about Nathaniel. I'd call it a masterpiece if it wasn't so committed to its tiresome, high-minded musing. The character moments are wonderful, so why aren't there more of them?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#22 · The King in Yellow · 154 p.
Four more-or-less-okay stories of mild horror connected only by their references to a sinister play ("The King in Yellow"). As a concept it's pretty neat; clearly an inspiration of Lovecraft's mythos. Not much to say beyond it filling a literary blank for me.
⭐⭐⭐
Four more-or-less-okay stories of mild horror connected only by their references to a sinister play ("The King in Yellow"). As a concept it's pretty neat; clearly an inspiration of Lovecraft's mythos. Not much to say beyond it filling a literary blank for me.
⭐⭐⭐
July 31, 2025 at 5:30 AM
#22 · The King in Yellow · 154 p.
Four more-or-less-okay stories of mild horror connected only by their references to a sinister play ("The King in Yellow"). As a concept it's pretty neat; clearly an inspiration of Lovecraft's mythos. Not much to say beyond it filling a literary blank for me.
⭐⭐⭐
Four more-or-less-okay stories of mild horror connected only by their references to a sinister play ("The King in Yellow"). As a concept it's pretty neat; clearly an inspiration of Lovecraft's mythos. Not much to say beyond it filling a literary blank for me.
⭐⭐⭐
#21 · One for the Morning Glory · 319 p.
A self-aware fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride. Various quests and existential threats to the kingdom. It's clever and unpredictable, dark but hopeful. Absolutely wonderful cover art. A real hidden gem; possibly my book of the year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A self-aware fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride. Various quests and existential threats to the kingdom. It's clever and unpredictable, dark but hopeful. Absolutely wonderful cover art. A real hidden gem; possibly my book of the year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
#21 · One for the Morning Glory · 319 p.
A self-aware fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride. Various quests and existential threats to the kingdom. It's clever and unpredictable, dark but hopeful. Absolutely wonderful cover art. A real hidden gem; possibly my book of the year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A self-aware fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride. Various quests and existential threats to the kingdom. It's clever and unpredictable, dark but hopeful. Absolutely wonderful cover art. A real hidden gem; possibly my book of the year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I reached an inflection point when Schlanger cited an obscure nonscientific essay to support her idea that wasps 'enjoy' their encounters with orchids. The book is full of anthromorphizing statements that cheapen the uniqueness of plants, etc. Journalism out of its depth; interesting if true.
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
July 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I reached an inflection point when Schlanger cited an obscure nonscientific essay to support her idea that wasps 'enjoy' their encounters with orchids. The book is full of anthromorphizing statements that cheapen the uniqueness of plants, etc. Journalism out of its depth; interesting if true.
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
#19 · Entangled Life · 282 p.
In which Sheldrake makes a convincing case that fungi are incredible (I knew this, but now I know more). Impeccable writing. It meanders, of course; there's a bit of memoir and a bit of musing. Ninety pages of notes and citations! Wonderful in the wonder sense.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In which Sheldrake makes a convincing case that fungi are incredible (I knew this, but now I know more). Impeccable writing. It meanders, of course; there's a bit of memoir and a bit of musing. Ninety pages of notes and citations! Wonderful in the wonder sense.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
#19 · Entangled Life · 282 p.
In which Sheldrake makes a convincing case that fungi are incredible (I knew this, but now I know more). Impeccable writing. It meanders, of course; there's a bit of memoir and a bit of musing. Ninety pages of notes and citations! Wonderful in the wonder sense.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In which Sheldrake makes a convincing case that fungi are incredible (I knew this, but now I know more). Impeccable writing. It meanders, of course; there's a bit of memoir and a bit of musing. Ninety pages of notes and citations! Wonderful in the wonder sense.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The prose has that "first novel" feel of someone writing beyond their experience and falling back on vagueness, which I tend to dislike. A few deaths are laughably foreshadowed. All of Switzerland seems lovely though. Look, it's a classic. Doesn't it really matter how many stars I give it?
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
July 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The prose has that "first novel" feel of someone writing beyond their experience and falling back on vagueness, which I tend to dislike. A few deaths are laughably foreshadowed. All of Switzerland seems lovely though. Look, it's a classic. Doesn't it really matter how many stars I give it?
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
The 'story' is about author/reader wish-fulfilment, free of compromise. At best it's competently structured. Klune solves bigotry and systemic abuse with a few limp speeches about open-mindedness and a few lawful-good NPCs in positions of power. We did it, guys. DoN't yOu WiSh YoU WeRe HeRe.
⭐
⭐
June 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The 'story' is about author/reader wish-fulfilment, free of compromise. At best it's competently structured. Klune solves bigotry and systemic abuse with a few limp speeches about open-mindedness and a few lawful-good NPCs in positions of power. We did it, guys. DoN't yOu WiSh YoU WeRe HeRe.
⭐
⭐
It's an odd mix, not nearly as dark as the Bluth adaptation but not pastoral-charming in the way you expect from a setting with talking mice. NIMH has that "book two" feel of a shocking reveal, but without a prior low-stakes story to establish the world. It's fine? I was hoping for more.
⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐½
June 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It's an odd mix, not nearly as dark as the Bluth adaptation but not pastoral-charming in the way you expect from a setting with talking mice. NIMH has that "book two" feel of a shocking reveal, but without a prior low-stakes story to establish the world. It's fine? I was hoping for more.
⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐½
There's something to be said here about, say, a dependence on fossil fuels or the introduction of invasive species. It's all harmless fun until very suddenly it isn't. It would've been nice to have more information about newt civilization, but the length feels right for a cautionary tale.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
June 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
There's something to be said here about, say, a dependence on fossil fuels or the introduction of invasive species. It's all harmless fun until very suddenly it isn't. It would've been nice to have more information about newt civilization, but the length feels right for a cautionary tale.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Most dystopian novels dress things up a little with hypocrisy and decadence, but Orwell takes a brutalist approach that's so brazenly direct at times as to border on satire. Newspeak is a chilling, if flawed, interpretation of Sapir-Whorf. Not recommended for bedtime reading. Fuck this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Most dystopian novels dress things up a little with hypocrisy and decadence, but Orwell takes a brutalist approach that's so brazenly direct at times as to border on satire. Newspeak is a chilling, if flawed, interpretation of Sapir-Whorf. Not recommended for bedtime reading. Fuck this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#13 · The Crazy Man · 212 p.
Mutual healing for a young girl and a farmhand in 1960s Saskatchewan—with all the bigotry of the era intact. It leans more prose than poetry but it's a book for kids and therefore needs to be accessible. A sweet story and a good introduction to the literary form.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mutual healing for a young girl and a farmhand in 1960s Saskatchewan—with all the bigotry of the era intact. It leans more prose than poetry but it's a book for kids and therefore needs to be accessible. A sweet story and a good introduction to the literary form.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 23, 2025 at 4:41 AM
#13 · The Crazy Man · 212 p.
Mutual healing for a young girl and a farmhand in 1960s Saskatchewan—with all the bigotry of the era intact. It leans more prose than poetry but it's a book for kids and therefore needs to be accessible. A sweet story and a good introduction to the literary form.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mutual healing for a young girl and a farmhand in 1960s Saskatchewan—with all the bigotry of the era intact. It leans more prose than poetry but it's a book for kids and therefore needs to be accessible. A sweet story and a good introduction to the literary form.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alas, I guessed the secret of "rebirth" very early and Silverberg wraps things up with a series of vague, messianic gestures. Moral complications conveniently disappear for the sake of Gundersen's redemption. Only one species per planet gets to have a soul? Hard disagree. Great writing though.
⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐½
May 20, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Alas, I guessed the secret of "rebirth" very early and Silverberg wraps things up with a series of vague, messianic gestures. Moral complications conveniently disappear for the sake of Gundersen's redemption. Only one species per planet gets to have a soul? Hard disagree. Great writing though.
⭐⭐⭐½
⭐⭐⭐½