Highlights and Lowlights - January 2026

I am slow getting this out - February has been very busy. Still
pondering if/how to change things up for this monthly report moving
forward, but for now, same old same old (mostly). Moving on?

Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
?+? are good, and more ?+? are better
?-? are not good, and more ?-? are worse

I?m happy to answer questions about anything here.

Highlight: Twelve Months - Butcher [Harry Dresden #18]

Lowlight: The Lies Arcana - Stewart [Starship?s Mage #17]

January 2026
( +++ ) Twelve Months - Butcher [Harry Dresden #18]
( ++ 1/2 ) The Year of the Quiet Sun - Tucker
( ++ - ) The Lies Arcana - Stewart [Starship?s Mage #17]
( ++ 1/2 - ) A Judgement of Powers - Jacka [Inheritance of Magic #3]
( ++ 1/2 ) Brigands & Breadknives - Baldree [Legends & Lattes #3]
( +++ ) Carousel Sun - Lee [Archer?s Beach #2]

Now Reading:
Long work - The Dragon Never Sleeps - Cook [Re-read Project #5]
Collection - A Liaden Universe Constellation Vol 4 - Lee & Miller

===========================================
January 2026
( +++ ) Twelve Months - Butcher [Harry Dresden #18]
Nice to read Harry Dresden again. This one is similar to the rest, with
one exception:
This one covers a time span of 12 months, while Harry slowly pulls out
of PTSD and depression following the battle that took up most of the
previous book. It?s well done; it?s not all depression all the time;
important things happen along the way. A lot of them. As Harry gets
pulled ever-deeper into Mab?s plans, he also makes progress on many
fronts. Here?s hoping #19 comes out within the next year or two.

( ++ 1/2 ) The Year of the Quiet Sun - Tucker
****Very special thanks to the rasfw participant who sent me their copy
of this book. Much appreciated.
Interesting time travel story focused on 3 protagonists and the current political scene (national and international). Government-funded
researchers created a device that can take one person into the future,
where they can spend 50 hours, and then return to the present 61 seconds
later than they left. This is thoughtful, well-written, and ? along the
way ? the author?s literary deconstruction/explanation of an ancient
text translated by a protagonist was really well done. Not surprisingly,
it?s a bit dated (published 1970), but not horribly so.

( ++ - ) The Lies Arcana - Stewart [Starship?s Mage #17]
Completely focused on Ambassador Connor O?Hannagain and spyship pilot
Mike Kelzin. There?s zero Roslyn here (even after the situation she was
in the middle of at the end of the previous book), and very little
Damien. And nearly this entire book was about diplomacy and a stealth reconnaissance mission, with a battle tossed in at the end. Yawn.

( ++ 1/2 - ) A Judgement of Powers - Jacka [Inheritance of Magic #3]
( ++ 1/2 ) Brigands & Breadknives - Baldree [Legends & Lattes #3]
The above are two books I read in January 2026. I can say more about
them if someone is curious. I anticipate reading the next book in both
series.

( +++ ) Carousel Sun - Lee [Archer?s Beach #2]
This picks up a few weeks after #1, with Kate Archer getting the
carousel ready for Early Season at the amusement park, and also fretting
about her wakened-and-thriving Gran, her returned-but-weak mother, and
her friend-maybe-more Borgan, who is missing, but who is hopefully
healing in the sea. In addition to these worries, Kate is also trying to
adapt to her new powers and to her role as guardian of Archer?s Beach. I
will read the next entry.

Now Reading:
Long work - The Dragon Never Sleeps - Cook [Re-read Project #5]
Collection - A Liaden Universe Constellation Vol 4 - Lee & Miller

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