June 2025 reads
 
The Crescent Moon Tearoom, by Stacy Sivinski
A nice story about triplet witches who open up a successful tea leaf-reading café who find that they have been cursed. Also threatening their livelihood is the local Council of Witches who demand the sisters help three witches find their purpose. As the sisters begin to find their own path in the world, it seems like all they have worked for will fall apart. This is definitely a book of cozy magic. I listened to it and it was entertaining. I realized during this book, that I don’t like stories about, or with, circuses. I mean, I tend to avoid them, but realize now that I don’t like circus stories. Weird.
 
The Railway Conspiracy, by John Shen Yen Nee and S.J. Rozan
Book two in the Dee & Lao mystery series set in 1920s London. A riff on Holmes and Watson, this mystery involves a plot to restore the emperor as ruler in China that Judge Dee Ren Jie has followed clues leading him back to London, where he again involves the young professor Lao She in his escapades. Good mystery, well-written setting, and a really talented audio book narrator makes for a great read.
 
Cascade Failure, by L.M. Sagas
A mismatched group of people on an advanced AI ship, Ambit, set out to foil a new technology that could destroy planets. A fun adventure with well-developed characters in a filled-in world. It moves POV among the characters and got a little wordy when people were thinking about their problems, but overall I enjoyed it. Will likely read the next in the series.
 
The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses, by Malka Ann Older
Third book in The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series set in a far future Jupiter the last humans live on a ring built around the planet. I read the first two in February and loved them and was excited for the third. Now I’m bummed because if there will be more, a new one won’t be out for a year or more. Pleiti joins former classmates to investigate threats to one of them on the cusp of being made a full professor. Mossa can’t help but be lured into the mystery. I just realized this one is another mystery riffing on the Holmes/Watson relationship.
 
The Village Beyond the Mist, by Sachiko Kashiwaba, transl. by Avery Fischer Udagawa
An enchanting children’s tale about a girl who is sent for the summer to a remote village which turns out to be magical. Apparently Spirited Away, one of my favorite films, was inspired by this story. Simple and engaging, it reminded me of stories for younger readers by Dianna Wynne Jones. I loved it.
 
Pashmina, by Nidhi Chanani
A graphic novel about a teenage American-Indian woman, Priyanka, who wants to know about her roots and family in India. When she discovers a beautiful pashmina hidden in her mother’s closet, it gives her visions of the India she’s always wanted to know. Her mother lets her go to visit her sister still living in India. There they research the history of the magical pashmina. I’ve had this book for years and kept forgetting to read it. A truly lovely story about family history and generational trauma.
 
Death of the Author, by Nnedi Okorafor
This is a major departure for Okorafor’s usual sci-fi/fantasy. I didn’t love it, but I liked it a whole lot. Until the end, it seems like a straightforward story of a Nigerian-American woman’s struggles for identity and independence, interlaced with excerpts from her own novel, Rusting Robots. And it is, but it also isn’t. It is very readable, though, just like all of Okorafor’s writing, and there is a big twist at the end which I did not see coming.
 
In An Absent Dream, by Seanan McGuire
This is book #4 in the Wayward Children series. It was more unconnected than the first three. It definitely wasn’t my favorite. A girl in the 1960s finds a door to a fairy world and in that world of the Goblin Market she gets to be brave and willful. Over the rest of her youth, she comes and goes between the worlds, but has to decide which she wants to remain in before she’s 17. As with all these books, this choice is edged on either side.   
 
Sabriel, by Garth Nix
For years, this was my comfort listen, but I haven’t read or listened to the series in at least ten years. Usually, I stop reviewing books that I read/listen to over and over. *cough* Murderbot *cough* But since it’s been awhile, I though I would include this relisten. Loved it. Still love it.
 
Lireal, by Garth Nix
Ditto. And the Library!!!
 
The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchett
I’m still working on my reread of all the Watch series of Discworld books. In this book, Sam and Sybil travel to Uberwald for the crowning of the new dwarf king. There they quickly come into a plot by a family of werewolves to break a long-standing peace treaty. Sam kicks butt as usual. Not my favorite in the series, but we do get to know many of the recurring characters much much better.

May Reads
 
The Ogre Downstairs, by Diana Wynne Jones
A very early Diana, that has magical elements and is very much for middle grade readers. It is a Diana Wynne Jones book, though, so was still delightful. When Casper, Johnny and Gwinny’s mother marries ‘the Ogre’, they are saddled with not only a demanding step-father, but two extra brothers and none of them get along. When the Ogre buys two magical chemistry sets—one for each pair of brothers—the mayhem that ensues means that the new siblings need to bond to stay out of trouble with the Ogre.
 
The Unknown Ajax, by Georgette Heyer
Reread, of course. This is one of my favorites as the action, romance, and humor balance each other perfectly. And some of her very best side characters!
 
A Letter from the Lonesome Shore, by Sylvie Cathrall
This is the follow-up to A Letter to the Luminous Deep—one of my favorite books in 2024. This is a wonderful end to the duology where we get more of E. and Henerey’s true love and understanding. Action from their siblings who are looking for a new gate to find them, and just a jolly good time. Highly recommend both books.
 
Where Peace is Lost, Valerie Valdes
I loved Valdes’ Chilling Effect series of hilarious space capades. This one is a standalone and is more serious and has more romance that the other series. It was good. Her worldbuilding is very well thought out and her characters have a lot of depth. In this story, former elite warrior Kel, must help to save her new planet home from a dormant war-machine, which, in the process, might reveal her deeply held secret.
 
Hemlock Island, by Kelley Armstrong
A super scary horror set on an isolated island in Lake Superior during an early winter storm. It’s got the ‘stranger where they shouldn’t be’ vibe, supernatural elements, maybe a little eldritch something something, dark family secrets, and characters who you can’t help but root for. Perfect for horror fans.
 
The Other Bennet Sister, by Janice Hadlow
Partially a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from Mary Bennet’s POV, and partially a story of Mary coming into her own. This book fell into the problem I have with so many P&P retellings—I know the book far too well. On the whole it was mostly a good read. The first full half was super slow, but it really picked up when Mary went off on her own. There were some liberties taken with the original storyline that was explained by Mary’s perception of things. However, some liberties were just not in character. My book club compatriots liked this more than I did. It is a very good retelling, I admit.
 
The Bell in the Fog, by Lev A.C. Rosen
This is the second book in the Evander Mills detective series. I really enjoyed the first, The Lavendar House. This one was very good too as we got to delve deeper into Andy’s history. Andy is a former police detective and he is now a PI after he was fired for being gay in 1950s San Francisco. He caters to the queer community, who haven’t yet learned to trust him. When an old lover comes to him about being blackmailed, Andy has to come to terms with his time in the Navy while uncovering blackmailers harming the queer community. I recommend this series highly.

​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.