The Many Selves of Katherine North by Emma Geen. A science-fiction tale in which people (children) hook their consciousness into artificial animal bodies to better study the environment. This is the author's first novel and I think it shows; the mixed time-lines and flashbacks mean it can get rather confusing, particularly at the start. Some parts are over-done and there are some details that jarred ... and yet, despite those complaints, I really enjoyed the book. As an exploration of our sense of self I think it worked well, and the conclusion was both apt and convincing. 4/5.
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay. First book of the "Fionavar Tapestry". I just couldn't do it. At 1/3rd I decided enough was enough. The opening was probably adequate warning: a mage turns up and asks five college students to come with him to a magical world and they say "right-oh" (or words to that effect), and so it goes on. Everything is written on the assumption of a sense of wonder that is never earned. Things happen amid lots of information dumps, but there is little sense of story, nothing seems to be driving or motivating any of the actions. I didn't finish so will refrain from offering a score, maybe it gets better.
Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Science-fiction with genetically and cybernetically engineered animals used for warfare. Aside from some distractions*, I enjoyed this. The first half of this was excellent sci-fi, an interesting idea exposed in an entertaining story and told in a slightly quirky manner that suited it very well. But while the narrative style and interesting ideas continued in the second half, the story was slower, less well defined and much less compelling. Overall probably 3.5/5.
* Disclaimer: the content in this spoiler may disrupt your reading of this book. You have been warned.
Spoiler:
This book is not comical, quite the reverse, however it's opening line is: My name is Rex. I am a Good Dog.
And what immediately jumped into my head was Dug the dog (voiced by Bob Peterson) from the animated movie Up. And it stuck. Poor Rex had the voice of Dug for the rest of the book, which was quite inappropriate.
My brain, not content with just that, immediately associated lizard creature, Dragon, with Randall (voiced by Steve Buscemi) from the animated movie Monsters, Inc.. Dear Honey got the voice of Signourney Weaver (could have been from any of a number of movies), so things could have been worse. Bees didn't get anything very definite, but if pressed I'd say EVE (voiced by Elissa Knight) from WALL-E.
This doesn't normally happen to me. I don't know why my brain decided to make a thing of voice associations in this book. I can only put it down to that first line: I am a Good Dog.