Book Review: The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

 I was really prepared to not love this book.  To begin with, the cover was too appealing. I loved it and even though I knew that Bao was not the topic of the book, the cover called to me. Secondly, as I read the description, it seemed to involve some sort of time manipulation. I may have mentioned it before, but I am not generally a fan of time travel, as it makes things...strange and often convenient. So, what did I do? I hit the Request button at and hoped that I might get a copy from Macmillan Audio. 

Even after I downloaded the copy, I was hesitant. WELL, I LOVED IT.  So much so that I actually went looking for more stuff written by the author. (As if I do not have a stack of books waiting in the wings!)

Chu is a Hugo and nebula award winner for former works, and this full length novel really pulled so many things together. 

With no plot spoilers, Ellie- our main character is a grad student who is juggling school, and caring for her ill mother in another state, as well as her place in the universe as a Builder and maintainer of space as we know it. It's a lot for her to handle.  Luckily she has some support in her cousin Daniel, a gentle mountain of a man. Unfortunately, she also has to contend with Chris, her elder sister who is a bit... toxic. All of them are involved in one way or another in the delicate balance of the Universe, and it seems that some are more committed to this balance than others. 

   When Ellie's Mother passes, she must return for the funeral, and finds herself facing a series of tests and challenges as she unravels some truths about the world she inhabits, her relationships and the way of the universe at large. 

   Chu handles many large topics with ease, while also building an entire world and fleshing out his characters to make them very VERY real for readers. I was really transported to a world where room size could shift, secret trails could be left, and the workings of the universe could be adjusted with the flick of a wrist all the while the world continues on with people living, loving and loathing and finding time to indulge in some delicious pan fried fish.  The construction of the novel allowed me to absorb all of these elements and enjoy them for what they were rather than feeling confused by the concepts or relationships. 

Narration was done by Katherine Chin.  She did a really great job, and when I write this, I mean... OUTSTANDING.  It was so outstanding that I went to look up the Narrators- plural because I believed that a man had narrated Cousin Daniel.  Nope. just Katherine Chin. Her ability to modulate her voice and use certain accents really made it feel like a multi-narrator book, so I'm now going to see what other books she's narrated! 

While Science Fiction isn't always for everyone, I feel like Chu has created a novel that could be an excellent entry point for people wanting to get into Sci-Fi.  The setting is real world and real world adjacent, and the struggles faced by Ellie, Daniel and the crew are intensely relatable to anyone who has had a family at some point in life. 

I don't really give star ratings that often, but.. 5/5 stars.  in fact. 8/5 stars. 

I'm so excited to read more from John Chu!  Thank you to Macmillan Audio/Tor for the Advanced Listener Copy.  It was a joy to read. 

STATS

First Published :  4/7/2026

Pages: 240

Available as an Audio Book :  YES (~ 7.5 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Death, illness, toxic family, brief mention of unsuccessful suicide, attempted murder (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

  

Book Review: A Whisper of Secrets and Ashes by Jada McCrary

 

 Jada McCrary is an Indie author who writes mainly fantasy/romantasy. When I saw this very short novella in audiobook format on Net Galley I rushed to request it! I love a short read, or listen! It gave me an opportunity to get to know McCrary as an author without diving in to a full length novel.  

 

  

     I very much enjoyed A whisper of Secrets and Ashes!  While it clocks in at 52 pages and about 58 minutes of audio, McCrary shows her ability as an author as I didn't feel like there was much missing from this novella. With the details sprinkled into the novella, I was able to visualize the world with ease, and while I didn't have ALL the tea on the two main characters, I felt like they fit the mold of many romantasy characters, so I kind of felt like I understood the motivations of both female and male leads.  In some ways, this was much more enjoyable than having to read through a character having a flashback or dream (to show readers why they have come to be who they are at the time). Instead, we jump right into an adventure.

No Spoilers here:  Our FMC is a healer facing down a plague that seems to have no cure, while our Main man has lost something that is may be quite related to the current plague. Faelynn (FMC) is in service to the Fae God who directs her to Dreythis (MMC) as she works for a cure. Neither is really interested in love, but in a world of magic and mayhem, sparks will fly. 

  The novella is done in dual narration and it was very well done. Narrated by Jacci Prior and Anthony Palmini, the quality is high, and I felt like both narrators really hit it out of the park, imbuing the story with lots of emotion, and propelling it forward without going into the maudlin- which is pretty easy to do with romantasy content! The dual narration was extra special, and I always enjoy a dual narration! 

I enjoyed this novella, and I will be looking for more from this author! I'm invested, and I found this to be a lot of fun interspersed in between some of the heavier reading!  If you are interested to learn more about the author, HERE is a link to her actual webpage.  Her novels are some of the most beautiful ones I've seen in a while. 

                                                                               STATS

First Published : 2025 in an anthology, now as a standalone. 

Pages: 52

Available as an Audio Book : Yes (58 min) 

Trigger Warnings: strained family ties, magic, references to God (a Fae god) - please read responsibly.

Book Review: You Sexy Thing By Cat Rambo

 This Space Opera book has been floating around in the back of my TBR for quite some time. 

The TITLE- just draws one in.  It is so audacious, and I certainly found myself wanting to tell everyone about what I was reading...all the time, just for the reaction. 

Billed as a Disco Space Opera, and published in 2021, I honestly can say this lives up to the billing and I wish I'd read it in 2021. 

This is the book that I wished was Becky Chambers very popular Long Way to a Small Angry Planet was. Nothing particularly wrong with Chamber's novel,  but it was far too cozy for me. 

You Sexy Thing however...has just enough bite mixed in with the cozy.  It has the action I was craving, along with the found family, unusual aliens, interesting food, and an all around good time with a quite satisfying ending. 

Without any Spoilers- Niko, a retired Space warrior has been establishing a cozy little eatery with her former soldiers in a station at the edge of the known universe.  She's fairly settled, but has a plan to rescue someone important to her, it's just taken a lot longer than she expected. 

Readers join up with this rag tag crew on the eve of a fancy critic review evening where the main dish is going to center upon the rare and precious vegetable- the eggplant. 

  DO things go as planned?  Well- if they did it wouldn't be very interesting! Instead of dining at an out of the way station, Niko and the crew embark on a trip across the galaxy on a VERY FAST SHIP (that's maybe a bit sexy) that seems to have some opinions. There is skullduggery, magic, some treachery and trickery, as well as heart break, and new beginnings. 

LOVED THIS ONE. 

MAYBE my Favorite Space Opera of the year, which is saying something as I've been dabbling in the Space Opera quite a bit. 

  I did listen tot he audiobook. Narrated by Vivianne Leheny it was fantastic.  Given the amount of alien beings on board, Leheny certainly had the opportunity to really go all out with various voices and dramatic effects.  The narration did use some special voices, and effects, but really just enough sprinkled in there to remind me, the listener that some of our characters really had tentacles, or were oracles, rather than being cheesy or too over the top. 

  I am now a SOLID FAN of Cat Rambo.  Already pulled book two from the library. 

May Rambo provide us with more Disco Operas in the future!

First Published :  2021

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book :  YES (10 hr 22 min) 

Trigger Warnings: Death, violence, war, torture, Captivity, trauma, mental health,  body horror (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

 

   

Book Review: The Iron Garden Sutra By A.D Sui

 Many Thanks to Recorded Books (RB media) for the Advanced Listener Copy of The Iron Garden Sutra. 

This book is definitely one that hits with perfect timing, addressing many issues that are top of mind these days.  And even though it has a lot of similarities with other already published novels, Sui was able to use these commonalities between other novels in unique and interesting ways, giving readers an entirely different story.   For me I was a bit stunned at the surface similarities between it and Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather.    As I started to read, I did start to wonder why we seem fascinated and interested to imagine and create religious orders in space.  I have no good answer to that one.  If there is one thing I'd like to leave behind- it would be societies that dictate 99% of a person's day and night - but here we are.  

This novel despite the surface similarities, is entirely different and unique when compared to other sentient ship/religious orders in space books that I have read.  I think it is one worth reading! 

The Iron Garden Sutra is a very different novel, and one that will appeal to many different kinds of readers. It is definitely Science Fiction, but it also contains a bit of a closed room mystery for readers who like to untangle and uncover who/what dun it, and a little bit of a budding romance of sorts  as well as a literary fiction vibe that takes the entire book up a notch if you will. 

   Without any spoilers, we follow Iris, a monk  who's order mostly performs death rites for the dead in space. Much of the novel is told from his perspective - as a report from his private journals. As we meet Iris he is suffering from ennui  and he's very excited to attend to a Generation Ship - which is essentially an ancient space craft.  He's hoping to get a lot of time on the ship to search for artifacts, and also- if he's being honest- spend time away from the "monastery" When he arrives he finds the ship is occupied by scientists who also want to search the ship. It's also full of bones, and the bones tell a definite story. As the crew tentatively get to know each other, strange things start to happen and the AI used by Iris, starts to note indications that they aren't exactly alone on the ship. The narrative for this unlikely band of researchers and monk changes from curiosity to terror and from dreams of academic accolades to survival nightmares.   One by one, members of their party start to die at the hands/vines of the Generation Ship. Iris teams up with Jan, a gruff engineer, to make a desperate attempt to leave the ship.  

    For me the book is filled with ethical dilemmas, thought provoking ideas regarding AI, and how it's developed, a heart wrenching romance, and an actual space adventure.  It starts of a bit slow, with a lot of detailed background building, and some light world building.  As one continues to read, the intensity of the situation continues to build until it bursts in a crescendo of action and coming down to a surprisingly gentle conclusion.  

    One thing I've noted in a few reviews that were poor was that they were all from people who did not, in fact finish the novel, so I can say that the latter chapters definitely made the novel for me. 

   I had an advanced copy of the audio book from Recorded Books. The narrator was T Ryder Smith- who is a new narrator for me.  I felt like he did a pretty good job drawing me in, using some different vocal tones to indicate the AI voice as well as the voice of Iris.  I never felt that the narration took me out of the story, so for me this is an excellent narration. 

First Published :  February 24, 2026

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book :  YES

Trigger Warnings: Abuse, trauma, mental health, violence, eating disorders, death, body horror (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

         

Book Review: The Disordered Cosmos: By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

 I picked up this book as part of my Outer Space reads for my 2026 theme of Outer Space. 

It is billed by the publisher as " . Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shares her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter—all with a new spin informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek."

 Having thought about this for a few days now, I don't know that I really felt the love of physics or the universe cut through.  I do feel that I've gained an understanding of how very difficult it is for people who aren't white to be heard and seen in the world of physics. It was not at all surprising to me to read that frankly, the world of science is also very content to enforce the status-quo, rather than to seek to really engage in what would surely be the messy and challenging work or re-imagining how science could indeed become more inclusive overall. 

Prescod-Weinstein skillfully blends her own experiences in with experiences of other persons working in the same or similar fields, and in that blending comes a new way of thinking about how others can best support those interested in and currently working in science fields.  I was particularly struck by her ideas of freedom- which resonated so heavily with me. She should not, indeed, have to be contemplating the secrets of the universe while also attempting to help housekeeping services at her institution get paid a living wage.  All children should indeed be able to study the cosmos with appropriate resources regardless of their talent. 

     This was a book I did have to engage with heavily, as it was dense and went in directions that the blurb and cover didn't exactly advertise. I think it was well put together, and had many interesting ideas. It is a perfect book for professors and teachers who work with students who are interested in STEM fields. In fact, it is so perfect for this, that Hachette does offer Desk/Exam copies for those wanting to use this in their classrooms.  ( Look HERE  for the form to request Desk copies).

So... I don't think I do recommend this as a book to bump up your physics knowledge. I do recommend it as one for readers who are curious about how science shapes their every day life, and how it could be done better. 

First Published :  March 2021 

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book :  YES

Trigger Warnings: racism, sexism, rape, mental health, medical trauma, misogyny, systemic oppression.  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Jitterbug by Gareth L Powell

 A big thanks to Net Galley and Titan Books for the Advanced reader copy of Jitterbug!  This comes out March 4th and I'm sure it will appeal to many Sci-Fi/Fantasy readers! 

The cover design is awesome! I love the depiction of space, the person in the vast void and the overall feel of the cover. It goes very well with the actual story line so that is also very cool.

  This will appeal to readers who have enjoyed Becky Chambers novels and those who have liked Adrian Tchaikovsky as well. 

    Readers are given a fast paced quasi-first contact story from multiple points of view. Our main character is a bounty hunter who was born within a new settlement that isn't bound by earth! He's accompanied by a rag-tag crew of folks who are all (of course) low key geniuses at their jobs. Each character has a backstory which is presented usually in a monologue form when the character themselves is ruminating on their life so far. I will admit that even with the backstories, I did find it a bit hard to feel a bit of attachment to any particular character. This is possibly due to the speed of the book itself. 

    As they travel, making deals and squeaking by their story is told through the bounty hunter, a government official, the actual space ship (it's sentient!!!) and a legendary space pirate that they pick up on the way. The crew and their "guests" are placed in an almost impossible situation and must make adjustments and choices rapidly, leading readers breathlessly catching up to the twist at the end which reveals quite a lot- and one I didn't particularly predict.

    This one would be perfect for a new adult audience looking for new Space based fantasy!  There's lot of action, compelling characters and surprising twists all the way through. 

First Published :  March 2026 

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book : Coming soon from Recorded Books   

Trigger Warnings: parental death, sibling death, murder, piracy, child death, (please note, most deaths are minor part of this novel, but they do occur), space battle, near death,  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

 

Book Review: Son of the morning by Akwaeke Emezi

 Son of the Morning was a total surprise. 

  I blame it on the cover that accompanied by audiobook from the Library. 

Frankly, I had very little idea about what to expect, even after I read the blurb. Emezi has been hit or miss with me.  I have always felt that their writing was tight and sparkling, but I didn't always enjoy their novels.  So frankly they write exceedingly well, my brain may not always be equipped to accept what they lay down! So despite that, I thought why not try this one out, it seemed different from the others. 

And YES, this is different. 

Firstly - after I started to dig around a bit I found THIS cover...

This cover indeed reflects the novel much better. 

  In some ways (hear me out people), this novel reminded me of the first book in the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L Armentrout.  Our main character Galilee has been raised to know she's special, but not to quite understand how special. Her family is dismayed that she decides to move off sanctified land to pursue a life that seems less protected.  Gali thrives in the city, making new friends, and she's honestly loving her space from her family, when she meets Lucifer Helel.  Is he really *THE* Lucifer?  Well, you'll want to read this steamy spicy paranormal tale to find out.  While Gali thinks she's just a "regular girl" Lucifer knows immediately that she isn't quite human. Does he tell her this? Err well, much like The Blood and Ash series- and Poppy and Cas- things remain pretty muddled for a while. 

   

I am taking a pause here to note that while I love The Blood and Ash series and JLA,  the two books are very distinct, no one would ever- reading both- believe that they were really related.  I just did note that one theme- (ordinary girl discovers super powers- which have been apparent to others prior to her discovery)  which is fairly common in romance/supernatural literature. The two novels are...otherwise incomparable.  One of the biggest things that I adore is that Son of the Morning is a complete story in itself.  No cliff hanger, no onward battle. There is some room for a second or third novel featuring the same characters/world, but there is no desperate need created by the conclusion. 

 

  The novel takes place almost entirely over one day where Galilee's true self is revealed, alliances are shattered and remade, as a literal unseen war for souls is occurring. Characters are well developed and there is a lot of diverse representation. 

    It was amazing to read as Galilee stepped into her whole self, owing it with confidence. Along the way there are deep friendships, true familial love, and some steamy love triads and more. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and spent a bit of time texting my romance girls to let them know not to sleep on this one. I feel that this will have a bit of a broader appeal than some of her other novels might have, but it still is distinctly Emezi.  The writing is sparkling, the plot moves at a good pace with enjoyable ebbs and flows- highs and lows as one travels through a whirlwind of time/emotion - with some room to contemplate moral situations and obligations. 

In short, this is a fantastic novel.  I recommend it for someone looking for well written romance with a fantasy element. The audiobook was well narrated and I do recommend it, I had no issues with the narrator. 

First Published :  November 2025

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings: paranormal beings,  war violence, child birth, murder, supernatural beings, (this is not a full list, read responsibly)