Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

The Blurb On The Back:

Cas Lowood is no ordinary guy – he hunts dead people.

People like Anna Dressed in Blood. A beautiful, murderous ghost entangled in curses and rage. Cas knows he must destroy her, but as her tragic past is revealed, he starts to understand why Anna has killed everyone who’s ever dared to enter her spooky home.

Everyone, that is, except Cas …

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills people story.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kendare Blake’s YA novel (the first in a series) is a creepy gothic romance with fascinating characters, a great pace and a terrific atmosphere. I did think that the romance was a little undercooked (but I’m not a romance fan anyway) but the plot had more than enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages and I’ll definitely be checking out the sequel.

How To Survive A Robot Uprising by Daniel H. Wilson

The Blurb On The Back:

The robots are coming. Are you ready?

How do you spot a robot mimicking a human?

How do you recognize and deactivate a rebel servant robot?

How do you escape a murderous “smart” house, or evade a swarm of marauding robotic flies?

In this essential survival guide, roboticist Daniel H. Wilson teaches worried humans the secrets to quashing a robot mutiny. From treating laser wounds to fooling face and speech recognition, outwitting robot logic to engaging in hand-to-pincer combat, How To Survive A Robot Uprising covers every possible doomsday scenario facing the newest endangered species: humans.

Based on extensive interviews with prominent scientists working on the cutting edge of the latest robotics technology, and including a thorough overview of current robot prototypes – everything from humanoid walkers to insect, gecko, and snake robots - How To Survive A Robot Uprising is a perfect introduction to contemporary robotics.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Roboticist Daniel H. Wilson has written a part humorous/part state of the nation summary of modern robotics and where it’s going with a view to providing guidance on suitable strategies in the event of robots gaining sentience and trying to take over the world. It’s a slim book and as such can’t offer more than a superficial look at the topic. This is a shame that Wilson doesn’t offer a further reading list for people interested in the subject matter to check out because although this is obviously a tongue in cheek guide, it covers a lot of ground and has certainly made me want to find out more on the subject.