We're back baby! I am glad we came back to the Patternists instead of staying with the Clay Arks - I'm much more interested in their storyline and developing society than any other part of this universe.

There are a lot of parallels between Wild Seed and Patternmaster, and that makes sense both in terms of Patternmaster being written first and Butler having to work backwards, and in making a cohesive story that closes the threads opened in the beginning.

I enjoyed Amber as a main character and could have spent much more time with her. I do wish we had gotten a little more about the world at large; I'm so curious how things have developed beyond the immediate scope of this book, but over all I think this might be my favorite in the series.

After recently having a chance to read Renée Nault's graphic novel adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, I knew I loved her watercolor painting style. Therefore I thank Ten Speed Graphic for granting me access to an advance reader copy of Salvage via NetGalley.

This is another dystopian story, but a completely novel one this time, where the rise of water levels has pushed refugees to live in the Flats, surviving from diving, collecting, and restoring lost items under water from the past world, and selling it to the folks in the Uplands, who still enjoy all the riches.

When Paolo, a boy from the Flats, will try to experience the Uplands, he will become torn between living two lives and understanding where he belongs and where he's accepted just as he is. Will he succeed in achieving more than others believed he could?

This is a story about family, friendship, class, art, and forgiveness, with beautiful artwork, a rich set of characters, touching story, and adorable animal companions.