Witchmark by C.L. Polk (4/5). An interesting fantasy world, with witches and magic in hiding… but WWI technology and mores. A very different feel to the world, even from Victorian settings. Dr. Singer is a grounded doctor, disturbed, but harnessing it.
Stormsong by C.L. Polk (Kingston #2) (4/5). A much faster read, with the world already familiar. A new POV, and a fast moving duel of politics. Fortunately, our heroine is learning about the new power structure and allies, just as we are. Romance spins her head…
Soulstar by C.L. Polk (Kingston #3) (4/5). Robin is very differently situated, with much less sympathy for aristocratic heritage. Revolution, without being stamped out or falling into France-like terror is a hard line to walk, but fascinating to watch.
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi (4/5). I’d never heard of Piper’s books, but like the situation that develops and the characterization. I suspect that the modern take helps a lot with making it feel future instead of retro-futuristic.
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (4/5) – Focused on Exodus Fleet, a great introduction to the deeply humane Galactic Commons universe. Several interesting POV characters — no stinkers, and some surprising choices. A lot of focus on escaping and feeling trapped, returning and reinventing.
Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear (4/5) – A bold future, featuring a lot of neurochemical tuning, and a recovery tug that gets in way too deep. Haimey is a great POV character – she has a lot of layers. She’s distracted, and struggles, but is not immeasurably removed from today — her troubles are comprehensible, and gravely worrying as layer after layer is revealed.
Machine by Elizabeth Bear (White Space #2, sequel to Ancestral Night). -Currently reading.