I’m trying to think if there could be any three books that appear more different at first glance. We have a YA fantasy, a Regency romance/adventure story, and a scifi novella about a depressed murderbot. But on reflection, they’re all about characters coming into their own and taking control of their lives (existences?) in really heartwarming ways. And they do all have a strong adventure element, too, so there’s action.
First up is Six Crimson Cranes (Six Crimson Cranes #1) by Elizabeth Lim. A clever, adventure-filled reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s story of the wild swans (one of my favorites). Lim did a great job of retaining key elements of the narrative while also making it wholly her own, and Shiori is a heroine for the ages. Her growth from spoilt princess to selfless protector is wonderfully done, with subtlety and pathos. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale retelling!
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (Ill-Mannered Ladies #1) by Alison Goodman: A wonderful work of historical fiction, blending adventure, comedy and drama, and romance. I fell in love with Augusta and Julia and their indomitable determination to help people, and Goodman did a great job raising the stakes with each escapade. I’m already looking forward to the next book. How WILL they clear Lord Evan’s name? Will Kent’s affection for Julia bring him around to our side? And most important: who’s going to plant Duffy that well-deserved facer? My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells: I know, I know. How have I only just gotten around to reading this? Especially when my most trusted book club friends rave about it? It might be because none of those friends ever told me it was only a novella and not a full-sized tome! Once I realized that, I jumped right in and had a great time. Murderbot’s reluctant caring for (some) humans and intense desire to avoid overwhelming humanity by immersing itself in soapy TV is extremely relatable. I love that Wells both plays into and subverts some of the self-aware robot tropes we’re used to in scifi, and I’m interested to see where Murderbot goes next.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
—b
Book It With Becca 
I have read Six Crimson Cranes and Murderbot and loved them both. I hope you continue to enjoy Murderbot. It is my current favorite scifi series! I will have to take a look at the other book, it sounds interesting.
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Benevolent Society was definitely the biggest happy surprise of the bunch, as I knew something about the other two going in but didn’t know what to expect with this one.
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