Reviews and Comments

Robin Phillips

Robin@books.babb.no

Joined 9 months ago

Military history author (writing as Russell Phillips). Tabletop RPG and board game player. Lapsed wargamer.

Non-binary. They/them pronouns.

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reviewed Frozen Heck by Si Clarke (Starship Teapot, #4)

Si Clarke: Frozen Heck (EBook) 5 stars

STRANDED IN DEEP SPACE ... BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE DONUTS.

When a warp engine …

Cozy horror

5 stars

I'm really enjoying this series. As the description says, this book is a cross between The Thing and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The term "cozy horror" seems like it should be a contradiction in terms, but that's what this book is. It's also very funny.

It's not remotely scary, but nonetheless kept me wondering what was happening and how things were going to be resolved. The ending was unexpected but also very believable.

reviewed Past Imperfect by SI CLARKE (Mars Colony, #2.5)

SI CLARKE: Past Imperfect (EBook) 5 stars

Katya should be on top of the world. She’s overcome a traumatic past and now …

Great short story

5 stars

A great short story. I read it when I had almost finished Livid Skies. It was interesting to see events that I'd recently read from Georgie's perspective, told from Katya's side.

Si Clarke: Devon's Island (Paperback, 2020, White Hart Fiction) 5 stars

other stories will take you to mars. this one will take you inside the boardroom, …

very geeky, very good

5 stars

As the author says, this is a very niche book. There's a lot of science (and there are notes about the science at the back), but if you're a geek, you'll probably love it.

Personally, I really appreciated and liked the representation of the autistic character Devon. It was sympathetic and most of all, it felt right.

reviewed The Unveiled Lady by Elliott Hay (Vigilauntie Justice, #2.5)

Elliott Hay: The Unveiled Lady No rating

What’s a bit of blackmail between friends?

In a quaint café in the heart of …

The Unveiled Lady

No rating

I was surprised that the blurb said this one only featured Peggy and Baz. I thought it odd that those two were left alone, but the explanation makes sense.

The characters work well together in the story, and it was good to see a little more of Peggy's family and background. Overall, it's a fun short story that fits with the canon.

Elliott Hay: All Tea, No Shade, and a Bit of Murder (EBook, White Hart Fiction) 5 stars

Murder’s never been such a drag.

In vibrant south-east London, a group of grannies stand …

A great addition to the series

5 stars

I really like the concept of this series, and this book delivers. The characters are all interesting, but very different, and I feel like I'm starting to get to know the Aunties better, especially Baz.

The idea that drag queens are targeted for violence is all too realistic, and there are some very unpleasant individuals, but the author manages to keep the tone light.

As a fan of both Douglas Adams and Dharma Kelleher, the references to them made me smile :)