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.
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.
