Rachel Coleman

Recently finished:

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (library book)
Sherlock Holmes, in beekeeping retirement in Sussex, meets and trains up a brilliant young woman, Mary Russell in the shadow of the First World War. Together, they fight crime! I had picked up the second in this series (A Monstrous Regiment of Women) on impulse at the library a few weeks ago, and enjoyed it enough to determine to work my through the series. I think I probably enjoyed the second slightly more than the first, which is a good sign for onward reading.

Bearista (Bodyguard Shifters #1) by Zoe Chant
She's a single mum who accidentally witnesses a robbery on her way to open up the coffeeshop. He's the shapeshifting bodyguard assigned to protect her. Together they fight crime! I mean, take down the shapeshifting criminal on her trail, while also keeping a cute kid and a hilarious grandmother safe.

A Memory of Empire by Arkady Martin (audiobook)
Once I started this, it took over all my listening time. It's absolutely gripping and keeps ratcheting up the tension and I organised my evening yesterday to listen to it in every possible moment in order to finish. Mahit Dzmare is the new ambassador from her little space-station republic to the giant space empire next door, and on arrival she finds herself swept up into political intrigue and personal peril. Her predecessor has been murdered, there's something wrong with her station's secret technology, there are multiple attempts on her life, and she keeps running up against culture shock and the reality of always being Other to the empire and its citizens.

I really enjoyed the Aztec-derived giant space empire, and the interactions of Mahit with everyone, but especially her cultural liaison. (The disadvantage of audio-only is that I have no idea how anything is spelled, and had to google Mahit's name to get it right.) I want to listen to it all over again, or maybe get hold of it in actual text and read it.

Currently reading:

Pet Rescue Panther (Bodyguard Shifters #2) by Zoe Chant
More shapeshifter bodyguarding, this time involving some very cute kittens.

The True Queen by Zen Cho
Also audiobook, only just started but liking so far!

Up next:
The latest instalment in Clorinda Cathcart's Circle is released on Friday. (I got very confused last Friday and wondered why it hadn't arrived when I woke up, but I was one week out on my calendar.)