Books read recently: Camp Damascus, The Incandescent, Queen Demon

[schneefink]

I have an e-book-reader with many many unread books on it. But when I'm e.g. on the underground, taking out and turning on my e-reader would be an extra step, and it's easier to read things on my phone. Which used to be fic, but now I also have the library app on my phone so I can read books I'm currently borrowing from the library. Convenient, but a side-effect is that which books I read next is more often determined by which books I finally got from my wait lists. And sometimes it is almost stressful when I get several at the same time ^^
But they were good books :)
(Spoilers hidden separately.)

Camp Damascus, by Chuck Tingle
I read this due to a rec by rachelmanija. I'm very picky when it comes to horror, and I almost regretted it, but then the focus shifted from horror more to mystery and the horror of growing up in a cult and I enjoyed that more. I liked the main character and the twists and the finale worked well for me.

The Incandescent, by Emily Tesh
I listened to the audiobook (I got this from the wait list right as I got sick, good timing because I couldn't read for very long) and enjoyed it a lot, and I think it also helped with the voice of Dr. Walden, who I really liked as a character (from a certain distance.) She is only a few years older than me and at times I had strong reactions to her cloaking herself in adulthood so much. Mostly familiarity, some wry recognition, some "oh, Saffy." I also appreciated how clearly it was shown that she has her own, flawed perspective on things, but that she tries to at least be aware of the limits of that. (Emphasis on "tries.") I liked her work as a teacher and administrator, and also the worldbuilding in general.
I did not anticipate the major twist around 2/3s through (the best kind of twist, the kind where I thought back and could see where it came from) and was delighted by it, and how it played out, and by the resolution.

Spoilers

I also really liked the narration of the Phoenix, and its very specific perspectives and priorities.

I mostly liked the romance but I did think the conversation at the very end was very fast, for both of them, but tbf it was one talk.

Queen Demon, by Martha Wells
It's been 2.5 years since I read "Witch King" and I wish I'd reread it before reading this one because I think I would have enjoyed it even more. There were several things where I wasn't sure if they were meant to be mysteries or if I'd just forgotten something, and others that I'm sure would have been richer. But even with less clear memories I enjoyed it a lot, more than the first one in the series. Possibly also because I originally thought the first one was a stand-alone (and I had high expectations) and was unsatisfied with where it left several things, while this time I'm fairly optimistic there'll be a third one in the series: surely there has to be future pay-off to

spoilers

the Bashat & Kai confrontation, and also Arnsterath using Tenes' body. Though really, how did that work, because if she got out of it it wasn't really a sacrifice – was it enough that she thought it was? Even in a situation where she thought she was going to die anyway; and that was enough to close the Well of the Hierarchs, for good? Then the Wells are a very vulnerable source of power, huh… Plus, there is still Highsun on the loose as a major new threat, with a grudge against many of the Blessed and now with that knowledge…

I think that also makes me consider the two timelines more favorably because they do still not feel closely connected but I think I can see where they're both going towards, fingers crossed.

Spoilery speculation

Namely, surely the storyline in the past is all about Kai's relationship with Bashasa, which I already love (Kai is so loyal but not blindly so and Bashasa clearly cares about him so much but is also willing to use him, mm) and the storyline in the present is about the aftermath of Bashasa's death. I really wish I remembered more clearly how much we already got about that in the first one, I'm tempted to reread but otoh I might wait until the next one comes out eventually, fingers crossed.

More spoilers

Good job making Dahin juust frustrating enough not to be completely unlikeable but man I felt for his friends and especially Tahren many times.