I finished Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik. I liked her standalones, and decided to try one of her series. (Her new standalone The Summer War is coming out in September!). It’s an interesting second book, because it pulls back on a he military focus/stakes of the first book and becomes a diplomatic intrigue with personal stakes while still keeping the fish-out-of-water/curiosity themes. And it still manages to slip in a few dragon fights and action scenes as gripping, if not more so, than in first.

Then I picked up Wild Seed by Octavia Butler. Very different vibe. Good so far.