Book Review: eMortal by Steve Schafer

eMortal is a thought provoking science fiction novel that explores  the concept of sentience in AI.

 

Olivia has entered a prestigious coding competition where the contestants must develop an artificial intelligence that will have a week to complete a set of challenges. Each challenge is designed to pass through to another of Paiget's five stages of development.

The story is delivered through the dual narrative of Olivia, the developer, and Brek, her AI.

With Olivia we follow her home life and her disconnect with her mother who doesn't understand her passion for coding. Olivia's mother has her own shattered dreams to contend with.

 

I found Brek's narration a lot more engrossing as he starts to evolve, questioning the challenges and the purpose of what he is doing. As Brek becomes more self-aware he questions his reality and mortality, forcing Olivia to face what she has created and the morality of it. 

 

Steve Schafer really pulled me into the story and had me fully invested in Brek's situation, raising questions of existence. Who am I? Why am I here? Can an AI learn and develop emotions or are they simply programmable reactions?

 

I really enjoyed eMortal and it was great to delve into a story that was completely out of my normal reading range.

A gifted programmer, an extremely likable coded character and a twist that had my head spinning all made eMortal a story not to be missed.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher:  Koehler Books

Publication date: 19th November 2024

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 346

Source: eCopy courtesy of the author

 

Other books by Steve Schafer

THE BORDER 

Book Review: Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell

Kookaburra Cottage is set in the wine region of rural South Australia. I love that Maya Linnell showcases different types of agriculture in her books, such as wineries, horticulture and floriculture.

 

April Lacey is a horticulturist and her produce wins many awards at the local Penwarra Show each year. Her father owns and runs the Lacewing Estate winery.

April hopes to bring the tired looking winery up to date but is facing resistance from her father. She decides to start on the old cottage turning it into a B&B.

Connor Jamison has arrived from England to learn all he can from Australian wine makers and secures a job at Lacewing Estate.

 

Kookaburra Cottage is a gorgeous heart-warming story filled with the most fabulous characters. I loved the fun of the baking disasters and the cooking classes taken by April and Connor. The lead up to the Penwarra Show and all the events of the day were a delightful part of the story.

 

There are ups and downs for April and Connor to work through and a disastrous event that has everyone pitching in to help out.

Both April and Connor have old hurts to overcome. Can they let go of their past to start over again?

 

Kookaburra Cottage is a heart-warming story filled with sweet country charm, perfect to sit back, relax and immerse yourself in rural South Australia's wine country.

Kookaburra Cottage would have to be my favourite of all Maya Linnell's novels.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st January 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 376

Source: Own Copy

 

Other books by Maya Linnell

PAPERBARK HILL

MAGPIE'S BEND

BOTTLEBRUSH CREEK 

WALLABY LANE

 

 

Book Review: Paperbark Hill by Maya Linnell

Paperbark Hill is Maya Linnell's fourth novel featuring the McIntyre sisters Lara, Diana, Penny and Angie. 

 

Paperbark Hill is Diana's story. Two years on from her husband's tragic death from an accident Diana is realising her dream of growing dahlias on a commercial level whilst also caring for her four young sons.

 

Ned Gardiner and his two children are off to their next stop for Ned's locum work as a pharmacist when he gets a call that his father has died. Putting his job on hold he returns to the family farm to sort out his father's affairs.

 

Paperbark Hill is such a fun story. I loved Diana! She is bubbly and confident, speaks her mind and is not afraid to ask for help.

Ned and Diana both have tragedy in their past and whilst Ned needs to reconcile with his mother and forgive the past, Diana is wracked with feelings of betrayal when she thinks about spending time with Ned. She also must deal with her eldest son's antagonism toward Ned as he feels he will take his father's place.

Paperbark Hill is not only Diana's story but a story about the whole community and how they come together and help each other.

 

Maya Linnell's sweet, slow-burn romance reads are very realistic. Spend a country Christmas with the McIntyre clan. I enjoyed being back with Diana, Lara, Penny and Angie. 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 31st May 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 384 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Magpie's Bend by Maya Linnell

 Magpie's Bend is Lara McIntyre's story and as with the previous books all McIntyre sisters pop in and out of the story showing what a close-knit family they are.

 

Lara is a single mother to teenager Evie, who is at boarding school. When the general store owner has a fall and ends up in hospital the whole town , led by Lara, pitches in to help run the store.

Journalist Toby Paxton is new to town and Lara has caught his eye. Their first meeting didn't go so well and now he is eager to make a good impression volunteering to help out at the store.

 

Magpie's Bend is a fabulous story that showcases country community spirit with everyone helping with the store and fundraising events including a singles ball.

I love that Maya's love for baking makes its way into all her books.

 

We get a little of Lara's backstory and find out why she values her privacy. The community is tight-lipped as they close around one of their own. Can Lara put her trust in someone again and find love? 

 

Magpie's Bend is a super sweet, clean romance story that is more about the community than the burgeoning romance between Lara and Toby. It's a slow burn romance but we still get that much anticipated HEA.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st June 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 360

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Previous books by Maya Linnell

BOTTLEBRUSH CREEK

 

Book Review: Bottlebrush Creek by Maya Linnell

I've had a pile of Maya Linnell books on my shelf, crying out to be read, for a while now. So, I decided to read the four books back-to-back.

There is nothing like immersing yourself in an author's characters knowing you will be back with them all again as soon as you open the next book. 

 

First off is Bottlebrush Creek where I was introduced to the McIntyre sisters, Lara, Diana, Penny and Angie.

Bottlebrush Creek is Angie's story. She has moved away from her family with her husband Rob Jones and their young daughter Claudia. Rob and Angie have purchased a cottage that needs extensive renovations. It is not until they move that Angie finds out it borders Rob's parents farm.

Bottlebrush Creek is a highly engaging family centric story about compromise, the stress of money worries and the involvement of well meaning grandparents.

Angie finds it hard to cope with Rosa's over zealous grandparenting and constant advice, always comparing her actions to what she thinks her deceased mother would do. All Rosa wants is her whole family together again and is overjoyed to spend time with her granddaughter.

 

Bottlebrush Creek is a heart-wrenching story of a family at breaking point that will have readers eager for a second chance for the whole Jones family.

 

Maya Linnell focuses her novels on country communities and the problems that can be faced in rural areas. However, her readers can always be assured of a happy ending.

 

Bottlebrush Creek is a delightfully sweet story about family, forgiveness and helping each other.

 

My rating 5 / 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 2nd June 2020

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural romance

Pages: 352

Source: Own Copy

Book Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry

I purchased Funny Story for this year's Dymocks Reading Challenge. The prompt was: a book from the Dymocks Book of the Year shortlist. 

 

Daphne and Miles are thrown together when Daphne's fiance dumps her for Miles' girlfriend and with nowhere to live Daphne moves in with Miles.

Drowning their sorrows with tequilas they hatch a plan to post photos of a happy 'fake' relationship together.

I did enjoy Daphne's growth from having low self esteem and no real friends of her own to opening up, speaking up and making friends. Daphne worked in a library and I loved all the library events and mentions of staff and customers.

 

The story is filled with lots of humour and flirtatious banter between Daphne and Miles.

What I didn't enjoy was all the outpouring of emotions Daphne and Miles heaped on each other. I suppose they were a good match here. I had no empathy for either of them, and rolled my eyes a lot, which made me feel like a bad person and really, I don't want to be the baddie in the books I read! 

 

For the most part I found Funny Story to be a humorous, slow burn, fake relationship RomCom. A good choice for  a relaxing holiday read.

 

My rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

Spice rating 2 / 5 🌶🌶 

 

Publisher: Penguin Viking

Publication date: 25th April 2024 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Pages: 384

Source: Own purchase

Wishing You a Merry 2024 Christmas from The Burgeoning Bookshelf

  A big thank you to all my followers for all your support. I appreciate every comment and giveaway entry. I hope to have more giveaways in 2025. I will be back soon with my 2024 challenge update (let's see how I went).

 

2024 was a big year with a new grandchild arriving in April and the wedding of my youngest child in July. We also have another grandchild due in January 2025. Nothing like getting the new year off to a good start.

 

Lately I've been binge reading Maya Linnell's books. I read four of her books back to back and enjoyed each one. If you are after I nice romance read for the holidays I would recommend any, or all, of Maya's books. They are a slow burn romance with a main focus on farming and small country communities. Reviews will be coming in the next week. I have also read a great Science Fiction book called eMortal by Steve Schafer which delves into AI and sentience. My review of that will be posted soon.

Have a wonderful Christmas and I hope you find a favourite book, or two, under the Christmas tree.