Daniel Dvorkin

Speaker for the Dead is one of those books that hit me hard in all the right ways. It's so close to perfect that I'd easily put it on my short list of favorite books ever. I liked Ender's Game a lot, but this one takes everything to a whole new level. The writing, the emotional depth, the way the characters develop—it all feels so much more mature. Ender feels like he grew up along with the story. This book stayed with me long after I finished it.

The worlds and cultures Card creates are so detailed that they feel real, like you could book a flight there if you had the right tech. The alien race in this story was described so vividly that I could easily imagine them. And while the sci-fi elements are super creative, the heart of the book is its people (well, ramen). Card's known for writing “hard science fiction,” but what makes his work special is how completely character-driven it is.

If I had to nitpick, the only thing that pulled me out of the story now and then was how every character seemed ready to spout wisdom like they'd been rehearsing it in front of a mirror. Card wanted to make sure we got the message, and sometimes that made the characters sound a little samey. Still, this is a tiny hiccup in a story that's otherwise incredible.

Speaker for the Dead is the real deal: a thoughtful, layered story that takes everything Ender's Game set up and digs much deeper. It sets the bar so high that Xenocide will have a hard time not being disappointing. We'll see.

Reading Me Talk Pretty One Day right after [b:The Best of Me 53487334 The Best of Me David Sedaris https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598245328l/53487334.SX50.jpg 83709164] probably wasn't the best idea. Sedaris's humor, assholeness and sharp observations are still there, but this book doesn't have the same punch as the “best of” collection, obviously. Still, his way of turning everyday moments into something funny is impressive. But his style works better for me when I take breaks between his books, as it can get pretty repetitive and boring. I'll give his work some time before coming back to check out his diaries. For now, I'd give Me Talk Pretty One Day three stars—fun, but not amazing.

I'll be honest, I wasn't too excited to start this one. A lot of the online reviews made it sound like a chore, and I went in thinking I'd have to power through just to get to Dark Age. But lesson learned! I need to ignore online reviews. As I kept reading, I found myself getting more and more into it. By the end, I really enjoyed it and gave it a solid 4 stars.

“I will love you until the sun dies. And when it does, I will love you in the darkness.”

Pierce Brown has outdone himself with Dark Age. If Iron Gold was his transition into a grander, more complex narrative style, Dark Age is his full mastery of it. The pacing is relentless from the very beginning, a full-throttle, no-breathing-allowed kind of read. It's an absolute page-turner that had me sacrificing sleep, telling myself “just one more chapter” over and over.I know a lot of people were put off by the use of multiple POVs in Iron Gold, but I actually liked it. In Dark Age, Brown takes it to another level. In Part I, he masterfully bounces between Darrow and Lysander, showing both sides of the same brutal conflict. The sheer scale of the battles, the way they unfold through different perspectives—it's nothing short of cinematic. The Institute in Red Rising feels like child's play compared to what Brown is doing here. He's fully stepped into the realm of grand space opera, with a complexity and scope that keeps you wondering what's next.Speaking of Lysander, I'm fully on board. He was already my favorite character in Iron Gold, and now, there's no doubt—he's my absolute favorite. His battle against Seneca and his men? I was practically jumping out of my chair. I know I might be in the minority, but I find myself deeply rooting for him, even when I probably shouldn't.Virginia's chapters, though, might have been my favorite POV. There's something about her introspection, her constant questioning, and her balance of intellect and leadership that resonated with me. “Or would I grow to be the villain in someone else's story?” That's the kind of question that lingers in your mind long after you put the book down.Ephraim really surprised me. He was already funny in Iron Gold, but here, he's even better. His humor doesn't feel out of place, and I genuinely enjoyed his chapters. More than that, his arc feels like one of the emotional cores of the book—this could easily be called his redemption story.Lyria, though, might be the biggest improvement. I didn't dislike her in Iron Gold, but she felt more like a plot device than a fully developed character. Dark Age completely changes that. She's full of personality now, and I found myself loving her journey. I'd be so excited for a spin-off about her adventures as a freelancer.And then there's the big twist— the Jackal clone. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it's a wild, exciting development. On the other, it does feel a bit like a cheap plot device. The fact that the clone is ten years old and so brilliant immediately made me think of Ender Wiggin. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I'll give Brown the benefit of the doubt.Finally, the ending. No massive, shocking revelation, but a rock-solid setup for what's next. Brown leaves a lot of threads open—more than in any of his previous books. It's not a conclusion; it's a launching pad. And I can't wait to start [b:Lightbringer 72174599 Lightbringer (Red Rising, 6) Pierce Brown https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691857705l/72174599.SY75.jpg 49466217].

The pacing in this one is fantastic—there's never a dull moment, and the plot is a notch above the previous two books for me. Knowing now that this was actually the first book he wrote, I had to rethink my take on his evolution as a writer, but either way, this one feels like a step up.

The book is packed with action, political maneuvering, and the kind of high-stakes drama that makes Mitch Rapp such a great character to follow.

Overall, it's just a really fun read. The pacing, the stakes, and the action all come together in a way that kept me hooked. Solid 4 stars.