THE SAMUEL PARADOX by John Westley Turnbull #RBRT

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: The danger of allowing an autonomous 'agent' into your house.  Set in Australia.

I enjoyed this book.  The writing is very accessible, and it flowed very well, throughout.  A good 'easy read'!

The basic plot: In the near future, Arthur and Patricia purchase an AI controlled robot to help with jobs around the house.  Before long they're talking to it as if it's human.  Naming it.  Introducing Samuel to the rest of the family.  Allowing it to make certain decisions itself, beyond their instruction.  What could possibly go wrong?

This is the second novel I've read recently about people thinking they can control AI, only to discover how wrong they are.  A warning to us all, if it's not already too late.

I had a couple of issues with the book, one of which is purely subjective - I found the ending a bit too cosy, and the twenty years later epilogue too long and detailed.  I must underline that this is only my opinion, and I am sure that many readers will like the way in which it is all wrapped up.  The other thing was Arthur and Patricia.  They're only in their early sixties, but they felt older, from times past, rather than a few years into the future.  I'm older than both characters, but I couldn't relate to them at all.

I liked that there was a certain amount of humour within the narrative and dialogue - that worked very well, as did the chapters from Samuel's POV.  This novel is definitely worth reading, and subtly emphasises the the craziness of relying on technology to undertake tasks that humans can do themselves.

IN DARKNESS BORN by Gemma Lawrence

 5 GOLD stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: A favourite author

In a Nutshell: The early life of Katherine Parr, sixth and final wife of Henry VIII.

I loved this book, a very promising start to a new series, and I can't wait to read the next instalment!

Book #1 covers the period from childhood to the beginning of her second marriage, to John Neville, Lord Latimer.

I was looking forward to this series as Katherine Parr had such a varied and interesting life, with her four marriages and somewhat daring approach to religion (for the time), which of course she had to keep hidden from so many people in her life, not least of all her husbands. She was known as being educated, a thinker, an intelligent woman, but fewer men appreciated a woman such as she in the early 16th century.  

One important new friend she made was her first father-in-law's chaplain, Matthew, who did much to simplify the basics of religious reform for her, and showed her how she could truly submit to God away from all the pomp and corruption of the Catholic Church.  I loved the religious detail in the book; Katherine's thoughts echoed many of mine. I was fascinated by the extent of the avarice amongst the Church VIPs.  One of the main reasons for this hadn't occurred to me until I read this book - younger sons of landed gentry or aristocracy, who would not inherit, often faced a future in the Church whether they had strong faith or not, so they made the most of the opportunities available.

If you're interested in the religious reform of the 16th century, do read this! 

At the time, what happened at the court of Henry VIII affected and enthralled everyone, especially those born into nobility like Katherine, so there is a fair bit of talk about Henry's Great Matter, but it doesn't take over the story any more than it must have featured in their lives.  I particularly liked Katherine's mother's take on the proceedings.  A sometimes unreliable but at the same time wise narrator.

I noted how Katherine, with all her dreams of love and passion like that between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was level and wise enough to accept that she could still find happiness in her good life with Lord Latimer. 

Well done, Gemma!