Tag Archive: Cidney Swanson



Knavery (Ripple #6)Knavery by Cidney Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After being given book 7, the final book in the Ripple series, free for review, I realized I hadn’t read book 6 yet. So, in spite of lack o’ funds, I picked it up as I didn’t want to read yet another book series out of order. This series does build on the book before. And, who knows? I may want to read this series again. Best to own it!

I do love this author, Cidney Swanson, and how she writes. Of course, my favorite of her two series, is Saving Mars. How I wish there were more of these. I understand that it came to a satisfying end, but how many books are out there written by women about space travel that isn’t center on wars or male characters?

Now back to the Ripple series.

Science + trauma = rippling. Rippling is invisibility. At the beginning of the series, we know of just one person who can do this. Sam/Samantha. But now there is a nice little community. But someone we didn’t know before becomes the star of this book. His hero is Loki. What would Loki do? He is an emotionally stunted guy raised on a fat-campgrounds. (By the way, there are no judgments of the overweight teens that are there in this book.) His invisibility has been something he used for tricks on campers and family. He is a sweet guy, but hasn’t been kissed or had relationships with anyone but his family. He’s decided to get a job far from family to see if he can become his own person. I like Skandor Dusselhoff. Yes, it is a stray away from my goal of reading books written by and starring females. But since most of the rest of the series qualifies, this works. Exceptions prove the rule, you know!

I didn’t mean to finish reading it in the wee hours of the morning, but it grabbed me and wouldn’t let me put it away. Then I wanted to start the next book because I couldn’t sleep, still, at 5 AM. But I got tough with myself and turned everything off and tried to sleep. And, okay, it could have been the extra caffeine while hanging out with my daughter having a wonderful day, and not the book. But do you want to take the chance that a book THAT exciting goes unread by you?

Now on to the final book of the series…

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Immutable (Ripple Series Book 5)Immutable by Cidney Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I am sad. I am nearing the end of a great series. It has been so much fun to read the Rippler series by Cidney Swanson. You may remember her name from the Mars series I went so crazy about.

The Rippler series isn’t space travel but I consider it to be sci-fi rather than fantasy as the condition that causes one to ripple into invisibility is caused by a certain gene, as I understand it. Scientists discover these genes and work with a multitude of medications to control the side effects and or the people that are able to vanish. As in all groups of people there are good scientists and bad/evil scientists. The results push the main characters and plot of this series.

What I don’t yet do like about this series is that even though you have the oldies but goodies from former books, each book or so introduces a new point of view. The reason I like it is because you can travel to new places and see things you might not have had Ms. Swanson kept the same main character for all the adventures. I like getting to know characters in their depth so that is why I don’t like a new character every time. I know, I’m hard to please. 🙂

At any rate, what I am left with is a case of wonderment. What if one could go invisible, hide in walls or in plain sight? What if one could read another’s thoughts? And how fun would it be to hitch a ride in an airplane anywhere in the world by hiding in the wall? And not only can you be invisible, but you can fly! Or you can take a dip in the ocean with a school of dolphins and not get wet or cold. These are just a few adventures the main characters have in this series.

I’d say try either the Rippler series or the Saving Mars series if you want to have some fun.

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Review: Mars Rising


Mars Rising
Mars Rising by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am SO SAD! This is the end of the series. I could live in this series forever. I want to be Jess, or Harpreet. They are my favorite characters. Both are pilots who fly between Earth and Mars and globally on either. Oh, include the moon in that for Jess.

REAL science fiction. Real research involved in the science. These things are all possible and hopefully the space travel will be something we do.

Mars as a colony is grand! Its a believable world peopled according to what is possible in the beginnings of populating another planet.

Creepy things have taken over the political system of Earth. Such a marvelous planet to an outsider. Rain, oceans, breathable air. But recycling bodies? ‘Rebodying’. Ew. Although some of the science might be worth looking into for incurable diseases.

I know. You are looking at what I am saying and wondering what in the world I am talking about. Sorry. I should stick with reviewing. I try so hard not to make spoilers that I find relaying what the book is about nearly impossible. Meanwhile, these are the books I would have died to have to read when I was a kid. Still they hold up for me at 64. Though a little heavy in males, I find that the author has included all ages and sexes which is refreshing. And they learn from each other.

Okay, there is a bit of romance, but Jess isn’t all googly she holds on to herself and the couple completes each other intellectually and emotionally. That, too, is refreshing.

Cidney Swanson, also took a chance an included a sibling that has a disability. Jess’s brother, Ethan, seems to be a bit of a savant or has autism or Asberger’s Syndrome. She never labels his differences as such, just describes him with his assets and problems in ways that he is just human like all of us. Ms. Swanson is amazing in how she portrays this character.

In fact, the writing of these books is fantastic. I think I found an editing oops, but it was so minor that I can’t remember it at all. THAT’s how an author writes!

The series ended very well. I was glad to stick it out to the end. I didn’t have that incomplete feeling I often feel at the ends of books. Even still, I feel I will have to reread them all again and again! I recommend everyone who is a sci-fi buff to read them all. By the way, The first book, Saving Mars, is free right now. But for once I don’t feel bad about spending the money on the rest of the series. I think Ms. Swanson’s promotions of her books are very well done. Please, find these and enjoy them like I did–do.

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Review: Visible


Visible
Visible by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, that’s sad. I am officially out of Cidney Swanson books to read. This was such a fun romp. After finishing all the Saving Mars I could find, I decided to read this fourth book of the Rippler series. This one was from the best friend, Gwen’s point of view. That caught me off guard at first. I hadn’t read the rest of the series for a while so I felt I missed something. But after reading reviews and blurbs I finally got back on track and enjoyed the rest of the book.

This story is more fantasy, though, I suppose there is an element of science here, it felt much more the fairy-tale. In fact, you will find a few fairy-tales retold in this book that were very apropos to the plot and characters. Speaking of plot and characters, Ms. Swanson did her usual believable, lovable characters in an enchanting, exciting story.

For me, Visible wasn’t as fun as the space sci-fi of Mars, but the Rippler series does offer enough adventure to help me ease back to other books and stories. Visible is aimed at young adult. Saving Mars didn’t feel dedicated to one group or another. Oh, and though there wasn’t a cliffhanger and all plot strings were clean up, there was enough left that should she decide to, Cidney could write more to this series. I look forward to reading more!

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Striking Mars
Striking Mars by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the best sci-fi series I have ever read. Lots of space travel and well researched situations to keep the reader engaged. Check out my reviews on the previous four books to feel my glow. I am so excited that there is going to be yet one more book that I totally turned ‘Fan Girl’. As soon as I finished reading this book last night I wrote to the author to gush and beg for the next one. Gosh, I can’t wait to read six. It is supposed to be out this Spring, yet another reason I want Winter to LEAVE!

Once again, I am so impressed with the main character Jess and her autistic (?) hacker brother, Ethan. There is a lot of enjoying time on Mars through the family left there, time on Earth, and even time on the Moon. It was just so much fun!

Please do yourself a favor and grab the triology for $2.99 Then enjoy a great adventure. Then follow up with the science links that Ms. Swanson puts in the back of the book. It is worth every penny!

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Review: Mars Burning


Mars Burning
Mars Burning by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a hard review to write. Why? Because I have to take time out of the next book in the series to write it. I absolutely love this series! It is the most satisfying science fiction that I have read in my entire life! I don’t want it to end! In my 64 years, I have read a lot of sci-fi. Much of it made me want to be an astronaut. But almost all of it was written by males with male main characters. That didn’t stop me from reading it. Had this been my reading diet as a young person I might have pushed myself beyond my bad math skills to aim for that dream. Fly to Mars and be a Martian citizen.

What I like most about this series is what I liked of Asimov’s books. The research is there. Cidney Swanson does one better, she gives the reader the opportunity to follow suggested links at the end of the book to learn about Mars, NASA, and other wonderful sciencey goodness.

But don’t get hung-up on the science. Ms. Swanson creates strong characters and builds believable worlds. Jess, the spit-fire pilot and her brother Ethan, a savant hacker, are flying to Earth, back, and beyond to save their home-world of Mars. The depth of characters and their relationships astounds me.

I could go on and on but book five is calling me. Please, if you get the chance, read the Saving Mars series. I think the trilogy is still $.99. Enjoy!

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The Saving Mars Series
The Saving Mars Series by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh. My. Goodness. I love, love, love this series! Oh, how I wish this would have been around when I was a young adult. I think it would have been the motivation I needed to pursue being an astronaut, math skills be damned!

Don’t be afraid to read it if you are a little younger than a “young adult”. I think even as young as a 10 year old could read it as this is a fairly benign story. Still it is a great adventure with space travel and futuristic life on Mars and Earth. I’m 64. I can’t get enough of these books. There are older characters to relate to in the story, too.

Speaking of characters, as much as I love the girl from Mars, Jess, her brother, Eth, is even more fascinating. He is a highly functioning autistic person or maybe he has Asberger’s syndrome. The author never applies a label, which I find refreshing. Eth uses what he knows and plays the role he is assigned in the mission even through his own disabilities. But then the rest of the crews does the same thing. Each character has their own short-comings and strengths. That is why the series works so well.

As I have stated in the reviews of the first two books, I think guys would like this as much as the gals as there are characters they can relate to, and the action and adventure just keeps coming.

On this, the third book for me, I found it a little less action and more setting the stage for more to come. I can hardly wait for the next book, but I have to wait for my next paycheck as I have spent my allotment for books for this month. By the way, this three volume set is still $.99.

I think everyone, especially science fiction buffs will love this series. The author has done her homework and even gives websites for Mars fans to look up all they need to know about Mars and spaceflight. Enjoy!

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Review: Defying Mars


Defying Mars
Defying Mars by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is so much fun, so exciting, that I read book 1 and this book 2 straight through. Then I was stranded without book 3. Yikes! As luck would have it the boxed set came on sale for $.99 so I picked it up and started to read the #3.

The first three are still on sale:

It is often the case that a sequel isn’t as good as the first book. In this case I think this one was even more exciting. I read until 4 in the morning just to see what would happen. The characters and worlds are well built and believable. In this book we get to know more about the support team and the depth of the antagonist.

So far in the series there are no cliffhangers. The reason to keep reading is that you care about the characters and worlds. Cidney Swanson’s writing style works for me. I had already read the Rippler series by her, and I think Saving Mars is even better.

Though this is considered Young Adult I think anyone could read it and have a great adventure. And it isn’t just for teen girls. I think guys of all ages would like this, too. All you need to be is a science fiction fan to love it!

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Review: Saving Mars


Saving Mars
Saving Mars by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my! I finished this book two days ago. Why haven’t I written a review yet? Because it was so good I couldn’t wait to read the next book. Oops! I have no self-control when it comes to good books!

If you love science fiction with a spot of fantasy thrown in this is the book for you.

It fit all my criteria for my recent reading goals. This had a strong main character, who happened to be female. This character was flawed as were the other folks that people this novel and its planets. This story is quite accessible to male readers, too. And though I tagged it as Young Adult, I think any age would love it. It may have a few concepts too strong for little ones, but even those could be conversation starters. I would say this is easily rated G. Not to mention this old lady LOVED it!

All that said… As I mentioned before, I have book two already started, but I worried. I didn’t have book three. Today I saw that the box set of the trilogy was $.99. Grabbed it! Hope it is still on sale tomorrow for the rest of you! Sorry I am so late to let you all know.

Now back to reading.

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The Ripple Trilogy Books 1-3
The Ripple Trilogy Books 1-3 by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading the first book, I found I wanted to read the rest of the series. Luckily, this three book deal came out for $.99 so I grabbed it up and continued reading. I have to admit that the rest of the series was even better than the first book. Much more exciting! I cared more deeply for the characters. I found myself skipping meals to see what could happen next.

Lately, I have found myself bored with YA books. They seem to have similar themes regardless of sub-genre. Teen angst thrown onto another planet or fantasy world. AND, why is it called Young Adult when it should really be adolescent girls? AND where are the books like this for older adults? We don’t even have a genre unto ourselves. Anyway, I have been reading these YA books as there were few strong-fem main characters in my youth. It was the boys that got the adventures and had to solve the problems. I am so happy that today’s young women are able to find gems like these written by Cidney Swanson. By the way, I think guys would like these books, also, as there are scenes from both of the main characters’ points of view.

Oh, the intrigue! I felt my palms sweating toward the end. What if this could happen? I would hope there are smart people out there who can outsmart any ‘bad-guys’ that may pop up in real life. Great writing. It was so much fun!

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