The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Year of Sanderson is over (book-wise anyway).

This book is the most Cosmere book of the year. Both Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter were basically standalone stories that happened to have Hoid in them. The ending of Tress is slightly inscrutable if you don’t know The Cosmere, but it mostly work. I’m pretty sure 99% of Yumi works without any knowledge of the Cosmere. This book, on the other hand, is comprehensible without Cosmere knowledge, but a lot of the main character’s thoughts and motivations won’t make any sense.

House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Hickman at his most Hickman. There are repeated timelines, conspiracies, and a semi-non-linear story that goes out 1000 years from the time of the first book. It’s more sci-fi than a typical X-Men book. It’s also, almost 100% setup. Interestingly, I heard this is just phase 1/3 and Marvel hasn’t even begun phase 2 yet. (COVID and other stuff got in the way, I think)

Compulsory by Martha Wells

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Almost too short, it’s definitely microfiction. Murderbot is still Murderbot, but doesn’t get to shine with such a small word count.

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Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything by Kelly Weinersmith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A popular science book about emerging technologies. I’m not sure if it’s because Kelly Weinersmith is actually a scientist, but they do a good job probing potential downsides to each of the technologies. Zach provides cartoons (in the style of his Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic) and some humor in the explanations of the technologies.

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

And so it appears we have finished the most recent Arc of the Dresden files. We tied together everything that has come before and just like the previously named book Changes this one changes a whole bunch. We’ve now left the world as it exists to us (the readers) to a new world that’s split off into its own timeline where there was a confrontation with supernatural creatures.

Brief Cases by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Overall, these stories are more relevant to the main storyline than the Brief Cases stories were. Definitely recommend reading where it takes place in the timeline.

A Fistful of Warlocks - Lots of fun with wizards in the wild West. Would like to see Butcher do as he says he wants and set more stories in this part of the Dresden timeline.

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a way to end a book. Thank goodness I’m reading this when book 17 is already out. That said, I’m not sure the next book isn’t going to have a cliff-hanger based on what’s supposed to happen in that book.

In these reviews I’ve been talking about overarching plot arcs. This appears to be the penultimate story before the third arch finishes. Afterwards, if Butcher maintains his original plot pace - we’ve got about 3 more books worth of setup leading to a trilogy that is all climax. (Total of 23 books)

Skin Game by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Putting aside any feelings you, dear reader, may have about Rick and Morty - I have to say that their episode parodying heists had ruined me any time I come across a heist in any narrative media. That’s right, folks - Harry Dresden is going to be part of a heist!

The plot is mostly a lot of fun. It does continue a few plot threads, including closing one out from the book my wife just finished - I think she’s on book 10). There isn’t too much to say without spoiling the story, but I enjoyed the crew assembly. It was interesting to see their interactions as the plot went on. Butcher is also having fun with the tropes, even having Harry call the item they’re after The MacGuffin.

Cold Days by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I won’t know until the next book, but this one seems like the end or Arc 2. We finally learn what was happening with a bunch of loose plot threads. We learn why Rashid has the title he has. Harry and a bunch of his relationships level up to the next level.

Butcher does a good job balancing the overarching book with a more traditional detective plot as Harry has a problem (or 3) to figure out in order to make the right choice at the end. Also, and I’ve been saying this for a few books now - this book REALLY benefits from a reader having read the short stories that take place before this one.

Peter Reinhart’s Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor by Peter Reinhart

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reinhart brings his expertise to the topic of whole grain breads. He’s been a champion of these healthier breads for a while, but here he bring his latest knowledge to bear to create tastier whole wheat and whole grain bread.

I’ve made 2 recipes from this book so far - the whole grain naan and the 100% whole wheat sandwich bread. The naan was great. I had no idea that whole grain naan could taste so good. The whole wheat sandwich bread tasted good, but I made some kind of mistake with the shaping and it ended up with a part in the middle of the bread that would easily rip.