Time to Read
Here's the October edition of BLURBOMATIC. As usual, I'm reading several books at once. The Windup Girl, by Paolo Baciagalupi, which is brilliant, and Moonbound, by Robin Sloan: totally original and enjoyable.
In today's edition, you'll find my review of the young audiences book Legendbound, which entwines magic and legacy; a book of short stories called Exhalation, which takes a clear-eyed look at the future, and a positive review of my novel, Resist.
Book Reviews
Lee Schneider's review of Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle, #1)
At 16, Bree Matthews is in UNC Chapel Hill's Early Program, a high schooler trying to adapt to college life and mourning the recent loss of her mother in a mysterious car accident. On campus, Bree discovers and infiltrates a secret and historically white, magic society, with the aim of uncovering the secret of her mother's death. She discovers terrifying demons, spirits from the afterlife, and her own power as the descendent of a long line of Black practitioners of rootcraft. This young adult novel is filled with vividly realized characters and high-stakes drama. Read more at the Goodreads link.
goodreads.com
Exhalation, reviewed by Lee Schneider
The stories of Exhalation are mind-blowing for their raw storytelling craft, their disruptive ideas, and their complete characters. Chiang has a realistic view of technology, showing us how it’s part of our lives, and something we will never escape, and something we must still struggle to master before it masters us. (Maybe it already has.) He’s a totally original thinker. Read more at the Goodreads link.
goodreads.com
Resist, Reviewed by Christian Sia for Reader's Favorite
by Christian Sia
5 Star Review
In Resist, Lee Schneider offers an enthralling narrative that intertwines the fight against corporate tyranny with the deeply personal struggles faced by its protagonist, Kat Keeper. Accused of murdering the CEO of MIND, the formidable AI corporation, Kat must navigate the treacherous landscape of a New York City besieged by extreme weather and relentless enforcement bots. Kat’s journey into the Northlands—the last refuge not under MIND’s control—is a powerful metaphor for her quest for healing. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of characters: a healer with magic hands, a former NASA employee innovating sustainable habitats, a culinary revolutionary, and a conscious AI therapist. Each character enriches the narrative, representing the multifaceted resistance against a climate-damaged world and an encroaching digital dystopia.
Lee Schneider's portrayal of this dystopian world is vivid and immersive. It captures the urgency of Kat’s plight and the oppressive nature of corporate greed. MIND is a formidable foe out to control everyone. The author excels in weaving together individual stories to highlight vulnerability, resistance, and the need for community. Resist is a spellbinding story with a likable protagonist whose internal struggles enhance the story's pathos. As Kat confronts her painful past involving family trauma and romantic betrayals, Schneider skillfully digs into the notion that personal healing is intertwined with collective action. This exploration of self-discovery enhances the broader socio-political commentary, reinforcing that change begins with the individual. The writing is gorgeous, the setting is vividly drawn, and the characters are robust. This is an enjoyable read.
Blurbomatic