​Persuasion, by Jane Austen
This is my favorite Austen novel next to Pride and Prejudice. So you can imagine how delighted I was to find that that a version had been made with the letters written and inserted into the text—like the one I read last year for P&P. Loved it, of course. It was a delight to physically read the most romantic letter in all of Austen’s work.
 
Dragonfruit, by Makiia Lucier
A really interesting fantasy about sea dragon eggs that grant wishes when consumed, vile dragon hunters, and an island nation that grows spices and where the people have symbiotic relationships with animals that appear as tattoos on their skin. We follow the exiled Hanalei who reluctantly returns to her home island when dragon hunters threaten her beloved people. This description is in no way comprehensive. There is a lot going on, but the world is well thought out and Hanalei is an interesting, well-rounded character. I read this for book club and, for once, I was the one who liked a book the most. Though, we all rated it at least a 3.5.
 
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales, by Heather Fawcett
The third book in the Emily Wilde series. It was a lovely end to the series. I didn’t like it quite as much as the first two. I think it was it took place primarily in Faery. That mystical land in this world is more interesting when it was just glimpsed as in the previous books. I still loved Wendell and Emily’s relationship (and the audio reader made it come alive). All-in-all a satisfying ending to their story.
 
Dead Silence, by S.A. Barnes
I really enjoyed this space horror. Mysterious with a maxed out creep factor. A quick summary, repair crew finds a luxury space liner that has been missing for 20 years. To claim salvage, they have to prove they found it and so go inside. But what they find is terrifying. The main character—its told in first person—is a bit whiny and needs to get over herself in some places, but she does do some badass things.
 
We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman
Osman has quickly become a beloved mystery writer from his Thursday Murder Club series. This is the first book by him that I read (listened to) and I really enjoyed it. The three main characters were delightful—kickass Amy, thoughtful Steve, and hilariously dramatic author Rosie. When the security company Amy works for is set up for failure and she is framed for murder, she turns to her father-in-law for help figuring out what is going on. Along for the ride is the fabulously wealthy and storied author, Rosie, whose snarky humor and up-for-anything attitude makes her a standout character.
 
Unraveller, by Frances Hardinge
A reread. The worldbuilding, as usual, is stunning in this book. The story is so well-plotted, there is barely a moment of downtime. But, it’s not my favorite book by Hardinge. I think it’s because, while similar in tone to her middle grade work, it is overall kind of sad. Things turn out all right but not particularly happy. I think it’s the tone of a terrible compromise that leaves me kind of sad.
 
The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy, Megan Bannen
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it sure wasn’t this. It was a fun ride though. Ostensibly an enemy to lovers romance, there is also a lot of zombie action going on. Undertaker Mercy is working herself to the bone to keep her family’s mortuary business afloat. Hart is a marshal who patrols the liminal land of Tanria—home of the deposed gods. Both are ridiculously lonely and start up an anonymous correspondence to find solace. When the undead begin to attack mercilessly the humans in the real world, they have to figure out how to save their homeland.
 
The Big Fix, by Holly James
A quick listen with a bit of romance and a lot of mystery. When Penny and her sister find a dead body at a neighbor’s estate sale, Penny is thrust into a deadly situation as she has been misidentified as the girlfriend of the man hosting the sale. Which leads her to being kidnapped by a billionaire’s henchmen, being rescued by the man she is supposedly dating (who she wouldn’t mind dating), planning to get the billionaire’s wife secretly out of the country, and a gun battle on the Las Vegas streets. Yes, it is a rollicking good time. 

​A Marvellous Light, by Freya Marske
Fun and frivolous, this is a light read and while the stakes are high, the tension is not. Robin thinks his new government post has relegated him to an unimportant role. But when he meets Edwin, the ambassador between the magic and real world, it’s not only magical sparks that fly. There is a plot afoot and Edwin and Robin must work together to find out what it is and stop it. Not life changing but definitely delightful.
 
Lolly Willowes, by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Published in 1926, this is the story of the life of Laura, who comes to be known as Aunt Lolly, everyone’s friend and helper. When she decides to strike out on her own by moving to a remote, rural village, her family thinks she has lost her mind. But it’s in this village and countryside, with the help of the strange villagers, that she comes into her own. I really liked this book. It explores ideas how being a misfit doesn’t put you out of society, it means you need to find the society welcomes you. There is an element of folk horror (not scary) used in a philosophical way. I highly recommend this story.
 
The Book of Cold Cases, by Simone St. James
Simone St. James is becoming one of my favorite authors. This is the third book of hers that I’ve read and I’ve liked all of them. Shea is obsessed with true crime and spends her nights on the internet searching for clues to help find lost women. When the subject of the most famous crimes in her town crosses her path, Beth Greer, she asks to interview the woman. So begins the true story of those unsolved murders from the 1970s. Good creeping story with enough tension that makes you want to plow right through the story.
 
My Salty Mary, by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
This was an enjoyable romp, although, the in-jokes and fan service got to be a bit much. Mary is a mermaid who gave up her tail to be with her love, who after a year shirks her off to marry a ‘real’ princess. Mary joins a pirate crew and works her way up to being captain. When a chance to be the pirate king comes around, she jumps at the chance, but no one is going to let her win easily, or without some backstabbing.
 
The Last Seed Keeper, by Paul Russell
Disclosure: this book is from the publishing company I work for. And, I don’t have to say this here, but I found it a quick, action-packed, dystopian-lite middle grade novel. Ivy and Skyler come from opposite worlds—one of safety in the sky and one of poverty on the ground. When Ivy finds a plant growing it sets off a series of events that leave her, Skyler, and a double-crossing boy on the run for their lives.
 
Strong Poison, by Dorothy L. Sayers
This was a reread. After finishing the first four Peter Wimsey novels on audio, I wanted to keep going. This is our introduction to Harriet—who is accused of murdering her former lover. Harriet has become one of my favorite recurring characters. Peter instantly falls for Harriet and goes to great lengths to figure out who really committed the murder. Even the second time around it was really good.
 
The Dollmakers, by Lynn Buchanan
Book club read. I liked this one all right. The worldbuilding was terrific—it reminded me of my favorite Frances Hardinge. But the main character was an absolute chore to read and there was so much of the story that was just her justifying to herself all the shitty things she was doing. I think it would have been better as a YA title. The MC was supposed to be 21, but felt like a spoiled 15-year-old. Still the setting and world was enticing.
 
The Prince & the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang
A reread. I loved this as much the second time as I did the first. It’s an absolute delight.
 
Prosper’s Demon, by K.J. Parker
I would describe this as weird fiction—not really horror or fantasy. An exorcist who can sense and speak to demons travels a pseudo-medieval world extracting demons and often killing their human hosts. When he stumbles upon Prosper of Schanz—a genius who wants to raise a baby prince to be a philosopher king—he makes a gambit to free both Prosper and the infant of the demons that possess them. It was okay, not my favorite by any means. I think I need to try a longer story by the author to see if I like their work or not. 

​A Pirate's Life for Tea, by Rebecca Thorne
Second in the series. What a crazy, lovely, cozy read. Kianthe and Reina’s search for the dragons’ eggs take them to the Nacean River where Diarn Arlon rules with an iron fist. He is being pestered by a pirate and demands Kianthe, in her role as mage of ages, apprehend the pirate. But they kind of feel like the pirate is in the right. Hijinx ensues. A lot of fun!
 
Frieren, vols 3 & 4, by Kanehito Yamada
I’m really enjoying this tale of an elf mage as she travels back along the roads she took 100 years before as part of the party that defeated the Demon King. In these books, she defeats Aura the Guillotine—one of the King’s servants. They meet another elf and encourage a village priest to join them for part of their journey. These are easy reads that are more about character development than action. Perfect for me.
 
The Mimicking of Known Successes, by Malka Older
Queer, gender-flipped Holmes and Watson on Jupiter. Loved it before I even began. In the future, the earth is uninhabitable so people colonize a large ring that has been built in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Pleiti is an academic at the most prestigious school on the planet, Valdegard. Mossa is a special investigator. They are old lovers from their time as students, but the spark of attraction remains. Mossa comes to Valdegard in search of answers about a missing person. Working with Plieti, they travel the length of Jupiter to stop a plot that could set humankind back by years.
 
Nine Liars, by Maureen Johnson
The fifth Truly Devious book. Stevie Bell is one of the best characters in fiction. She is so utterly herself, that she feels very real. In this standalone, Stevie and her friends get an opportunity to go to London for a week. And almost immediately, she is given a mystery to solve. This one is twenty years old. Nine friends were celebrating their college graduation when two were mysteriously murdered. Stevie solves it, of course, but at the expense of her relationships. Loved it.
 
To Shape a Dragon's Breath, by Moniquill Blackgoose
In an alternate history of the world where Vikings conquered and settled North America, the indigenous people are still treated badly. In fact, the domineering Scandinavian settlers have killed off all of the indigenous dragons on the east coast of the continent. When Anequs discovers a dragon egg and the hatchling chooses her, she is lucky that she and the dragon aren’t killed outright. Instead, she goes to a school that teaches students and their dragons. Having never lived outside her own culture, she has trouble adjusting, but she always stays true to herself. I liked this book. There wasn’t a ton of action, but the world-building and narrative were enough to really catch my interest.
 
We Do Not Welcome Our 10-year-old Overlord, by Garth Nix
While I love Garth Nix’s writing, I find his middle grade to be hit-or-miss. This is a fantastic HIT. When a mind-reading orb lands in their quiet town, and begins to change Elia, Kim and his friends have to resist the urge to join with the orb as it tries to take over the world. Wonderful adventure with high-stakes that are never too distressing.
 
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, by Malka Older
The second in this series. I didn’t mean to read both of them in a month, but what can you do when they are so good? In this mystery, in searching for one missing student, Mossa finds that there are dozens of people missing from Valdegard. Plieti uses her university contacts to dig for more information, even as her life is put into danger.
 
Black Sheep, by Georgette Heyer
A reread, of course. I love this one as the heroine is older and has a wicked sense of humor. Plus it’s a grand old farce.
 
Beneath the Sugar Sky, by Seanan McGuire
This is the third in the Wayward Children series of novellas. This book felt almost like a conclusion to a loosely tied trilogy. Maybe that was its original intention, but there are 7 or 8 books in the series now. Each that I’ve read so far have been a solid story. Rini falls from the sky at the Home for Wayward Children looking for her mother Sumi who died before Rini could be born. Cade, Cora, Christopher and Nadya—inhabitants of the school—travel to different worlds with Rini trying to find the pieces of Sumi’s soul so they can bring her back to life. I love me a good portal story and this one was a delight. 

Jingo, by Terry Pratchett
This is the fourth book in Discworld’s Watch subseries. I had only read this one once before and had forgotten a lot of it, so it was lovely to read again. The title, Jingo, pretty much tells you what this book is about—jingoism and going to war to prove that you’re the better country. This one has more political intrigue than we usually get in a Discworld novel, with the added bonus of a lot more Vetinari. We actually get to see him outside his office, getting his hands dirty. So. Tons of fun!
 
Fox Tales, by Tomihiko Morimi
I didn’t realize when I picked this up, but this is the same author as The Tatami Galaxy which I read in December. It is VERY similar to the novel. This book is made up of four short stories—just like Tatami Galaxy—that are not connected. Or, really, connected in a very loose sense. Each one has a supernatural element, gods and spirits. None of them were truly scary—the author’s writing is too vague—and only some of them were interesting. I felt like just when the creepy bit was revealed the story would end. The novel was better.
 
The Steerswoman, by Rosemary Kirstein
Rowan belongs to the order of Steerswomen, who are basically a group of women who travel to make maps and establish historical fact. She is intrigued by jewels that she’s come across and starts to investigate. With the help of a barbarian from the Outskirts, she finds that there are those who will do anything to keep her from finding the truth of their origin. Read this for book club and really got into it. So much so, that I immediately read the second book in the series. My book club all really liked this book.
 
The Outskirter's Secret, by Rosemary Kirstein
In the second book, Rowan and Bel—the outskirter barbarian—go into the outskirts to travel the violent dangerous veldt to find the source of the jewels that Bel wears. This book is a deep delve into the world of the outskirters—violent nomadic goat herders that make a life in a inhospitable land. While the worldbuilding is super interesting, the book didn’t do much to move the story forward from the first book. I did like it, but I’m debating whether or not to read the rest of the series as it’s not complete yet (twenty years since the last installment!!!). I don’t want to be left hanging.
 
Cloud Missives, by Kenzie Allen
Poetry. This one has gotten rave reviews, but I didn’t connect all that much with it.  The poems about Allen’s ethnicity were the most interesting. Her poems about toxic love—there were a lot—were less interesting. Those I felt were the poet working through her own issues rather than finished poems.
 
The Corinthian, by Georgette Heyer
This was my first reread of this Heyer. I liked it better the second time, but it will never be one of my favorites. While a fun read, as all Heyer books are, this one didn’t quite do it for me.
 
The Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao
I reread (listened) to this one in anticipation for the second book in the duology. I loved it when I read it as Zetain is so full of rage, anger, and revenge that I loved following her story. But listening to it now, man, it is so violent—in all the best ways. I just love this character’s unapologetically ruthless behavior. Granted, everything she wants to change is corrupt and despicable, but the extent to which she goes to tear down the patriarchal system is just Wow.