Matthew's Journal

Black Sun, Rebecca Roanhorse. This is the first of a series (I don't know of how many; a sequel is due out next year); it's a fantasy novel set somewhere that isn't obviously European (if you see what I mean); there is magic, a conflict between old a new gods, four POV characters, and a lot of flashback. I was a bit worried at the start that I'd not be able to keep all the various elements organised in my head, but that didn't turn out to be an issue. I liked the different voices of the POV characters, the sense of a coherent world (though there was the odd bit of "let me show you how much world-building I've done"), and that the plot had some interesting twists without feeling contrived. It builds nicely to the climactic scenes, too.

The Relentless Moon, Mary Robinette Kowal. Another prequel novel to "The Lady Astronaut of Mars", this is later than the events of The Calculating Stars. I broadly liked this, and the plot had more tension than The Calculating Stars, although I felt that an infectious disease outbreak and governmental failure relating to climate change were perhaps a bit too contemporary right now!

I just have Piranesi to go from the Novel shortlist now...