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.
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.
