Boba Fett: A Practical Man by Karen Traviss

In this novella we see the Mandalorians get caught up with the Yuuzhan Vong just before they invade the galaxy. I enjoyed the perspective on the Mandalorians and getting to see Boba Fett again. I also enjoyed reading about the Yuuzhan Vong war from a non-Jedi perspective.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

This book tells the story of Kamila Sidiqi, a young woman whose studies to become a teacher were interrupted by the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul. Instead of rolling over and accepting their strictures, Kamila developed a dressmaking business to provide for her family. The story read like fiction (the prose was fairly smooth), but the drama was all in anticipation--it seemed like Kamila and her family basically were able to run their business without major setbacks. It's a very powerful story, but I'm not entirely convinced that the way it's told was the most effective or best choice.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I enjoyed reading this book the second time even more than I liked it the first time. The story takes place in two times: a present at the Wayside Inn, where we quickly learn we're hearing Kvothe, a man whose story has already become mythic and who has disguised himself as the simple innkeeper Kote, tell his story his way. The story is an entertaining bildungsroman, and I was much more able to get over Kvothe's early ban from the Archives this time around. I also enjoyed the drug-addicted Draccus interlude more. I am really waiting to hear what becomes of the Chandrian....

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell

In this mystery Inspector Kurt Wallender finds an old couple killed for apparently no reason in rural Sweden. But, as he continues his investigation, he discovers links to a secret double life and anti-immigrant sentiment that threatens to have explosive public consequences. This story had some great twists. I liked the way that the mystery had so many constituent parts.

The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan

This book felt clunky to me: the names sounded made up, the plot tried to move around a little, but not enough to make me feel like the author really cared about the Sachakan stories, and the magic system didn't make a whole lot of sense. The development of healing magic felt clumsy as well. All in all an OK way to pass the time, but not one that I'd rush out to buy.

Affinity by Sarah Waters

I enjoyed this book, though I found the ending completely surprising. It really examines the way that people related to each other and why people help each other. I found Margaret's family hideous, but I was left wondering whether her choices didn't contribute to her misery. I enjoyed the twist at the end, but if this book were a mystery, I would think the author had left a bit too much out for the reader to be able to make a fair conclusion.

Angelica by Arthur Phillips

I enjoyed this story, which is told four times and remains ambiguous at its end. I appreciate that Phillips leaves it for the reader to decide whether there really was a ghost, whether Joseph Barton is cruel, Anne a con woman, or Constance hysterical, or a little of all. The story did not hang together quite as well as The Tragedy of Arthur or The Egyptologist, but it certainly leaves the reader with something to think about.