Booklog 43/2023: John Scalzi: Agent to the Stars

Tom Stein is a smart-ass Hollywood agent who's just pulled off a major coup - getting a milti-million dollar deal for one of his actress-clients. He's feeling a bit smug when his boss drops a bombshell. The space-faring Yherajk are in orbit around Earth and they want the agency to negotiate for their entire alien race. Rhey want to be introduced to humanity in a non-threatening way. The problem is that they're ugly blobs of jelly and they communicate by farting. Oh joy! Enter Joshua, Yherajk ambassador and nmow Tom's most important client. Part satire, part quirky comedy with a science fictional core (aliens!) . This is light, fast-paced and enjoyable. The audio book is well read by Wil Wheaton.

Booklog 44/2023: Hannah Nicole Maehrer: Assistant to the Villain

Evie Sage is unemployed after walking out on her last job (for reasons), and she needs to earn to be able to look after her ailing father and her younger sister. So when circumstance occur and he's offered the position of assistant to The Villain, she takes the job and goes to work in his evil lair.. He's terrifyingly murderous but extremely good looking, and Evie discoveres she can overlook a lot of his foibles (such as hanging severed heads in the hallway) because he's nice to his staff, and she's developing feelings for him. He's not always so villainous as the local populace thinks. She finds that she's quite good at villainy herself, or at least supporting his. He, in turn finds himself affected by Evie's eternally sunny attitude to life. But something's rotten in the state of Rennedawn. Someone is desperate to take down the Villain, and they don't care who gets hurt. There's a traitor in the Villain's organisation and Evie is the only one the Villain trusts enough to help him discover who.

This is quirky and amusing, with interesting characters and a plot that fairly zips along. The developing romance is sweet. There are also surprises, of course This is a light, fast read. Recommended.