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Space Unicorn Blues
Space Unicorn Blues | TJ Berry
A misfit crew race across the galaxy to prevent the genocide of magical creatures, in this unique science fiction debut. Having magical powers makes you less than human, a resource to be exploited. Half-unicorn Gary Cobalt is sick of slavery, captivity, and his horn being ground down to power faster-than-light travel. When he's finally free, all he wants is to run away in his ancestors' stone ship. Instead, Captain Jenny Perata steals the ship out from under him, so she can make an urgent delivery. But Jenny held him captive for a decade, and then Gary murdered her best friend... who was also the wife of her co-pilot, Cowboy Jim. What could possibly go right? File Under: Science Fiction [ Rocks in Space | Stand Up to Reason | The Human Experiment | Last Unicorn ]
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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BethM
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Thanks for the tags @Kshakal @TheSpineView
1- I know a bunch of random stuff
2- Space Unicorn Blues !
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView I get it on that quirk. I think a lot of readers have that. You read, therefore you know. 12mo
27 likes1 comment
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peanutnine

@BethM I'm sorry I never got a chance to read your #lmpbc book last month and felt really bad still holding on to it so I've sent it back to you unread. It's been really hard for me to focus on physical books lately 😔
You should get it by Monday

BethM Seriously no big deal! 1y
24 likes2 comments
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CSeydel
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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Mehso-so

#LMPBC
Oooooof, this was so disappointing! It had all the ingredients for a rip-roaring space adventure, but unfortunately it just didn‘t work.

What I liked:
- character diversity
- spectacularly creative world building
- good blend of humor & action
- pacing/tension

Problems:
(cont‘d)

CSeydel - the MC‘s redemption arc was forced and not believable; I was never on her side/couldn‘t get past her previous atrocities
- plot (and dialogue, at times) was contorted to hammer political points rather than letting the story unfold and letting readers grasp the political points organically
1y
CSeydel @BethM @Johanna414 @peanutnine I don‘t want to spoil it for Sara but if those of you who have read it want to discuss, feel free to comment … I have some unresolved questions 🫤 1y
CSeydel For instance, it was bothering me the whole time, how did Jenny get control of Gary‘s ship in the first place? Did I somehow miss that? 1y
CSeydel Also, I found it very hard to believe that, Jim being as awful as he was, that Cheryl Ann would have ever married him! I get that he represents the “entitled old white men” who get everything handed to them without earning it 🙄 but I think the story would have benefited if he had been a little more nuanced character. 1y
BethM She won it from the bar owner. And previous to that she basically stole it when she kidnapped Gary. I agree Jim could have been more nuanced, but people marry shitty people all the time 🤷‍♀️ 1y
40 likes5 comments
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Johanna414
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Pickpick

Well Gary is certainly nothing like the unicorns 🦄 my 5 year old loves so very much! I can't say that I loved this, but it was definitely entertaining! I will get it in the mail ASAP #lmpbc @cseydel @peanutnine @bethm

Johanna414 Also, I haven't been able to download the Litsy app on my new phone and have to use the web version. For some reason, it keeps spinning my photos sideways... 🤷‍♀️ 2y
BethM I can‘t say I loved it, but it was nuts and I was enthralled 😂 2y
CSeydel I‘m looking forward to it! Sounds like it will be different anyway 😃 2y
Johanna414 @CSeydel I forgot to post the other day, but this is in the mail & on its way to you 2y
CSeydel @Johanna414 terrific, thanks! 2y
33 likes5 comments
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BethM
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I am so freaking bad at editing these 😂 #readingbracket2023

CoverToCoverGirl Lol 😆 2y
AmyG Hahahahaha. I thought it was just me. 2y
BethM @AmyG it‘s like my fingers are too big 😂 2y
31 likes3 comments
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Johanna414
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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My brother is visiting for the first time in years, so my reading time has been seriously limited in the last couple weeks... I am slowly making my way through this wild ride of a book - and sneaking in a few chapters during middle school state testing today. #lmpbc @bethm @cseydel @peanutnine

CSeydel Take your time! I‘m glad you‘re getting to reconnect with your brother. There will be time for reading. 2y
39 likes1 comment
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Johanna414
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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It‘s here!! I can‘t wait to dive in! #lmpbc @BethM @CSeydel @peanutnine

Bette I liked this. She wrote a 2nd book too, but that was a while ago. I keep looking, hopeful. 2y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BethM
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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1- I‘m stealing @JenReadsAlot - caution - no filter ahead
2- jenny from the tagged book- morally ambiguous- trying my best

#two4tuesday

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BethM
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#readingbracket2023 I almost forgot about this.!

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BethM
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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Pickpick

This book was completely banana pants. I was totally captivated. I‘m definitely reading book 2! #lmpbc

Mandoul I loved this too 🙂 Thoroughly recommend the next one in the series, which was just as wild and great fun! 2y
31 likes1 comment
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BethM
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Decided on a full hour of puppy snuggles, reading, and hot cocoa for lunch on the dreary day.

dabbe Never ignore da puppy snuggles! ❣️🐾❣️ 2y
42 likes1 comment
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BethM
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Did some lunch yoga and some #lmpbc reading. Snuggled these goons who both have allergies, UTIs, and giardia per their yearly check up 🤦‍♀️

dabbe Da snuggle puppies! Hope they feel better soon! ❣️🐾❣️ 2y
33 likes1 comment
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Avanders
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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Pickpick

Honestly, I‘m almost a little mad at how much I ended up liking this book. I was in no way in the right headspace for a super space opera‘y sci fi book with a convicted murderer asexual half-unicorn hero, a lesbian wheelchair-bound angry ex-military antihero with a tree (dryad) for a wife, little gray aliens, stoneships that are alive with gnome guardians, and…. Um, literally everything else? (See comment for rest of review) 👇🏽

Avanders Way too much world building for my current exhausted mental abilities … but fed to me in the right-sized pieces and all the right amounts of “humanity” (species-ity?), and I just … loved it. 🤷🏽‍♀️ What‘s a girl to do? 4.5 stars. Thanks again @BookwormAHN !! ♥️♥️ (edited) 2y
Lizpixie I loved this too! Did you know there‘s a sequel? (edited) 2y
Avanders @Lizpixie yes! I mean, as of yesterday I did 😜 Have you read it? As good? 🤩 2y
See All 11 Comments
Lizpixie It‘s not quite as good but it‘s still pretty crazy. It‘s mainly set on the planet all the magic folk disappear to at the end. You‘d think they‘d be happy. Not so much😂 2y
Avanders @Lizpixie lol folks are never really happy, huh 😅 Can‘t wait to read it! 2y
BethM That sounds like quite the ride… 2y
Avanders @BethM lol 😂 get ready for it! 😁 2y
BethM Hahaha thank you! I just got it! 2y
Avanders @BethM oh yay! That was fast! 👏🏽👏🏽 2y
tokorowilliamwallace Sounds like this would complement the Drew Williams' The Universe After series I found. 2y
Avanders @tokorowilliamwallace ooh sounds fun! Added 😄 2y
80 likes6 stack adds11 comments
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Lizpixie
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#JumpStart2021 #2020ReadYouNeverGotTo #GenreBusting I missed yesterday‘s prompt coz I was out most of the day(birthday lunch with the MIL then movie & dinner with hubs)so it‘s a double whammy today. Bk5 of the Cormorant Strike series has been on my TBR for a few months, I will get to it this year🤞, Bk1 of the Space Unicorn series is a strange mashup of fantasy with SciFi. There‘s unicorns, fairies, dryads etc all gallivanting round the universe!

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HeyT
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Pickpick

I don‘t know what I was expecting but this was a little darker than I thought it would be. There were still light hearted moments and relationship growth between characters that I loved but man this is scathing towards humanity. That said I enjoyed the whole thing and am glad to have already checked out the next one.

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HeyT
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#BookReport
Managed to finish off three books this week including the chonk that is A Crown of Swords.

#WeeklyForecast
I plan on continuing with Space Unicorn Blues and #TheWheelOfTime with The Path of Daggers before heading into Seanan McGuire's Ghost Roads in Sparrow Hill Road.

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HeyT
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Today‘s #LibraryHaul. I own The Collapsing Empire in ebook format but have been more productive reading physical books lately so I went to borrow it and came out with two more. The tagged book is one I often pick up at the bookstore but never quite commit to bringing home so when I saw the library had it and its sequel I couldn‘t resist.

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Mandoul
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Super excited to finally have these, after a long wait. Thanks @Reggie for recommending the tagged book!

Reggie Yayyyy, I really hope you like it!! 5y
15 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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#AyUpAugust #Day14 #Animal This one is right up there with “Most unique SciFi ever written” Gary is a half unicorn space pilot who has his ancestral stone ship stolen & is put in chains so Captain Jenny can use his ground down horn to power the faster-than-light drive. Years later,when he‘s finally free,he gets involved in a doublecross & is rescued by the very person who held him captive and has to make a deal with the devil to get his ship back.

Cinfhen Like I said before you post the most unique books 😜 5y
mcipher Hwa?!? People‘s imaginations are so amazing!! 5y
squirrelbrain This one sounds *really* bizarre! 🤔🤪 5y
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Lizpixie @Cinfhen why thank you Cindy! @mcipher they certainly are @squirrelbrain it is but it‘s also very good. The sequel, Five Unicorn Flush, came out recently. There goes my #bookbuyban💸 5y
Katerina I started this book, when the hype was still going strong, but couldn't get into it. I'll give it a second chance soon. 5y
Squidapus Squidapus loved this book. You think it'll be a silly adventure but holy crap does it get dark and emotionally heavy. 5y
46 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Lindy
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Pickpick

It‘s science fiction/fantasy mashups like this that make the spec fic label so useful. It‘s got vile humans stomping across the universe spouting Manifest Destiny rhetoric, enslaving & harvesting parts from magical creatures like unicorns, dwarves, dryads & fairies. It‘s not all doom & gloom. In fact, it‘s more of a bonkers romp with a diverse spaceship crew of misfits. Entertaining #audiobook narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross. #LGBTQ

Lindy Thanks to @Reggie and @saresmoore for bringing this delight to my attention. 😊🚀 🦄 (edited) 5y
Reggie Yayyy!!! So glad you liked it! 5y
Lindy @Reggie 😁🦄 5y
39 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Lindy
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Humans are never more persistent than when they are in the wrong.

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Lindy
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“I have no idea how to figure out which bars are for gay people. They should put a sign outside so people know.”
“You didn‘t see the six rainbow flags hanging from the roof?”
“I thought they were just being festive. Lots of people like rainbows. I like rainbows. Leprechauns like rainbows.”

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Lindy
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Survey a thousand cultures from throughout the universe and each would have terrifying stories about thin grey aliens with huge black eyes who visited their planet to poke at them.
(Internet photo)

37 likes1 stack add
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saresmoore
Space Unicorn Blues | T. J. Berry
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This #RealLifeLitfluence credit goes to @Reggie whose magnanimous reading tastes know no bounds! Reggie‘s compassionate life outlook is paired with a sharp eye for great storytelling and his reviews rock my socks off every time.

I‘m super stoked for this fun hybrid SF/F to bring me a new perspective and an extra jolt of joy.

AmyG I love reading his reviews, too. 5y
saresmoore @AmyG He always has something unexpected & insightful to say. I love that fresh perspective. 5y
Lindy This one caught my eye thanks to @Reggie too. 5y
See All 15 Comments
Cathythoughts Love @Reggie yes , compassion comes through in his reviews & comments 5y
batsy @Reggie 's reviews are the absolute best. Such a generous and voracious reader. 5y
Reggie Omg, this made me tear up. This is too kind and now I hope the book lives up to my hype. You have no idea how you all have changed my reading life. And before this starts to sound too academy award speechy, lol, just thanks. This was very nice. @saresmoore @AmyG @Lindy @Cathythoughts @batsy 5y
TrishB Totally agree. Look forward to @Reggie reviews all the time 💕 5y
saresmoore @Reggie ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
Reggie @TrishB 💕 5y
Christine I love and agree with everything about this. ❤️ (Including your acceptance speech, @Reggie!! 😁❣️) 5y
DivineDiana And I agree with @Christine ! ❤️ (edited) 5y
Centique Beautiful 💕 There is nothing better than seeing bookish friendships bloom 🌹 You guys are both bookstars 💕 5y
Suet624 @Reggie I recently discovered that somehow I had stacked 2,000 books in Litsy. 50% of them have to be books you recommended. Your reviews are the bomb. 💕 5y
Branwen This looks very interesting! 🦄🚀 I hope you enkoy it! Can't wait to hear all about it! 5y
Moray_Reads I have this on my TBR, can't wait to hear what you think! 5y
87 likes4 stack adds15 comments
review
Reggie
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Pickpick

This science fiction/fantasy mashup had everything. It made me laugh, I saw a clear movie with all the action going on in my head, and it even punched me in the heart a couple of times. It all starts off with Gary, a half unicorn half man getting out of jail after having been there for 10 years on a murder charge. He hooks up with his old ragtag crew and they head off into space hoping their pasts won‘t eat them ALIVE!!!Super Pick!!!

Reggie @Squidapus Thanks for putting this out there. 6y
Cathythoughts Sounds completely mad ... in a good way ♥️👍🏻 (edited) 6y
Reggie @Cathythoughts it‘s so good and I‘m not even doing it justice. Check it out. I preordered the sequel as soon as I finished it and I never preorder anything. 🙂 6y
See All 18 Comments
JennyM Sounds a hoot!!! 6y
Reggie @JennyM it is. But it had a lot to say about humanity and it got real dark in some places. The feels sneak up on you in this one. So good. 6y
Mandoul Thanks, i'm sold! 6y
Reggie @Mandoul I‘m glad, because it deserves to be read. I hope you like it! 6y
Mandoul You had me at unicorn chimera in outer space! 6y
saresmoore This sounds like it might be exactly what I need right now. 6y
Reggie @saresmoore go for it!! 6y
Centique Space unicorns - this is something I didn‘t know I needed! 🦄🌓💫 6y
readordierachel Yay! I have a copy of this on my shelf right now! 6y
Reggie @Centique not only is the universe super diverse with mythical creatures, his copilot is a lesbian, Maori woman in a wheelchair!!! Lol, it‘s got a lot going on. 6y
Reggie @readordierachel The whole thing sounds super silly but it‘s totally worth it! (edited) 6y
Centique @Reggie whoa! That‘s awesome! 6y
Lindy I‘m sold. I‘ve just started listening to this today. 👍 5y
Reggie @Lindy I hope you‘re liking it so far. 5y
Lindy @Reggie Yep. It makes me more likely to go out and work in my garden even though I‘m feeling old and stiff, just so I can have uninterrupted listening time. Right now, however, I‘m rereading the print books I‘m going to talk to Jenny about on the next @Readingenvy podcast. 5y
82 likes12 stack adds18 comments
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Squidapus
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Okay, so I can't overstate this enough; read this book! 450 characters was not nearly enough to describe how good this is. It's a story about whether people are capable of change through trauma or perspective. It has incredible diversity and representation (asexual Indian half-unicorn, handicapped Maori lesbian, trans Asian crime boss, bigoted white guy). It takes a silly premise, treats it 100% seriously AND IT WORKS. This book is an frickin ride

12 likes1 stack add
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Squidapus
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Pickpick

Stop Squidapus of you've heard this one before; a half-unicorn just out of prison whose horn powers FTL travel, a wheelchair-bound Maori woman who imprisoned him for two years, the man whose wife the Unicorn killed and ate and a trans bar owner who used to be an anthropologist have to travel on the unicorn's asteroid ship to reach a meeting that will determine the fate of humanity in 24 hours. A SHOCKINGLY good novel, surprisingly dark and heavy

Reggie Lol, I haven‘t but it‘s definitely stacked!!! 6y
Squidapus @Reggie Tale as old as tiiiiimmmme~ 6y
Reggie Were you bothered at all with the anti-humankind slant this book had? It‘s not that it was unfounded or undeserved. Maybe the truth just hurts. 6y
Squidapus @Reggie Honestly, Squidapus and I are pretty cynical so the answer at the end just made us nod and go "Yeah, that's a fair assessment." 6y
10 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Squidapus
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Instead of reading a book he bought yesterday (...which keeps happening) Squidapus is gonna tap into his backlog and grab a book he grabbed a while back. A Maori shuttle captain teams up with a half unicorn who's horn powers faster than light travel. After such a serious book as Luminous Dead, a comedic, ridiculous adventure seems like the right choice!

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PJPeski
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There is an NPR news reporter in this book. #lakshmiSingh

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PJPeski
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Moodier, more introspective, and sadder than I thought. Every species, Baka and human, has regrets.

4 likes1 stack add
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Lizpixie
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Pickpick

Well that book was fantastic! One of the strangest I‘ve read, but so much fun to read. Take a big jar, pour in a dash of Firefly, a touch of Star Trek, a bit of Piers Anthony & some unicorns. Shake before sprinkling in a pinch of Terry Pratchett. Serve. That is this book. If you‘ve always wanted Sir Terry & Neil Gaiman in space, then this is the book for you. It‘s got more of a dark side than Discworld but it has his touch of the bizarre. 5⭐️

JanuarieTimewalker13 My first reaction to the title was “WHAT???!!!!” Hahaha...I‘m so stacking this! 6y
Shadowfat I'm even more excited to read this now! 6y
66 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Lizpixie
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#BookMail Pt9 Finally,the last book in today‘s haul. A book I‘ve already almost finished(I‘m on pg330)This book is freakin fantastic!Think Firefly.With Unicorns. And various other mythical creatures who are actually aliens that have been visiting earth for millennia. Throw in spaceship drives that run on unicorn horn,a living eco-ship & Sisters who worship the Pymmie, a race of godlike aliens about to put the whammy on humans for being dicks. Fun!

52 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
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Yesterday was sister in law day. The very first place she wanted to go? The #bookstore. How could I saw no? 😜

Sace 💙💙💙💙💙 The covers 6y
azulaco Ooh, The Mermaid is out? I applied to read it on NetGalley, but I got turned down. I love Christina Henry - excited to get this one! 6y
LibrarianRyan @azulaco I thought it had been out for a month but hadn't seen it. I tripped over it trying to help someone else. 6y
77 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Daughter-of-words
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Pickpick

Fairytale creatures in space! This was a fun, fast paced and action packed read with a diverse cast of characters. For fans of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. 🦄🦄🦄🦄/5

20 likes1 stack add
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Daughter-of-words
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#bookmail and #happybookbirthday to my cousin T. J. Berry on her debut science fiction novel💜🦄 I‘m so excited to read this book! Knowing the author it‘s sure to be hilarious!

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AmyReadsAlot
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Pickpick

This story is a fascinating blend of science fiction with fantasy elements! Also, it was not all unicorns and rainbows, there were lots of difficult situations that occurred as well as a few rather gross incidents, yuck. There is a lot to love with this story and the ending was nothing like I was expecting on so many levels but it was so right! I could not get enough of this misfit crew! Full review at www.thegenreminx.com #TheGenreMinxBookReviews

LibrarianRyan Yeahh. I have a digital galley and just have not gotten to it yet. Glad you liked it. 6y
AmyReadsAlot @LibrarianRyan 😊 I hope you like it when you do. Some reviewers loved it and some were meh. I‘ll be curious to see how you like it (or not). 👍🏻 6y
7 likes2 comments