The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao Narrated by Sneha Mathan
Genre: historical fiction Telangana, India, 1955-1970
This was a gorgeous, difficult read.
VijayThe Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao Narrated by Sneha Mathan
Genre: historical fiction Telangana, India, 1955-1970
This was a gorgeous, difficult read.
Vijaya is the least beloved daughter. She'll never be as perfect as her younger sister Sree. Daughters of prominent landowners in Irumi, India in the latter half of the 20th century, they have privilege and comfort where the sharecroppers and servants struggle. Vijaya befriends Krishna, the son of a servant, and his older brother Ranga. When, as children, the 4 of them trek to the jungle in search of a legend, disaster strikes. This sweeping novel follows them through the next decades of their lives, where some are better able to escape the burden of the past, set against a backdrop of class warfare and communist party rebellions in southern India.
The Fertile Earth is an impressive and expansive debut. As primarily a romance reader, my heart clenched for the pining between Krishna and Vijaya, but as someone fascinated by mid-century politics, watching the rise of differing political interests and the immediate impact on the lives of people from different classes held my interest. The writing is beautiful, with lush, descriptive prose and strong character development. That said, it was my second book in a row where a mother has specifically degraded her least favorite daughter causing the main character desperate heartbreak and the inability to see herself as anything better than her younger more perfect sister. It's not an adjacent theme I love reading, but it is critical to Vijaya's character and her choices throughout the novel.
The audiobook narration by Sneha Mathan is as beautiful as the prose by Ruthvika Rao. Anything this sweeping deserves a listen.
The Fertile Earth is a book you can pick up without much knowledge of 1960s post-partition India, as Rao supplies all political background necessary for the narrative from village life to the bustling cities of Madras and Hyderabad.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC for review. The Fertile Earth is out 8/13/24!...more
Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Victoria Villarreal, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, JavierNarrated by: Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Victoria Villarreal, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, Javier Prusky, Fred Sanders, Lee Osorio, Cassandra Campbell
Genre: historical fiction Hollywood, 1950s
Nancy Hartley firmly believes she's destined for stardom and the role of Salome in the sword and sandals flick Seventh Veil of Salome is hers. She's perfect; she just knows she is. But when the studio casts Vera Larios, a dental receptionist from Mexico, Nancy is livid. Vera has little confidence, thanks in part to her mother, who has always believed her younger sister should have been the star, and naivete serves no one in Hollywood.
A stunning story about rage, jealousy, love, and passion in 1950s Hollywood. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the master of the unlikable characters and the complexity of women on page. Anger and passion rule the narrative, as she weaves perspectives of Vera, Nancy, and Salome herself together towards what only feels like it could be tragedy. I couldn’t put this book down. Sometimes, SMG’s prose can veer on weighty, but the propulsion of the plot and intricacies of the characters kept me hooked on Seventh Veil.
I listened to the audiobook once released in conjunction with the eARC, and the full cast narration works really well for the format. The book vacillates perspectives between the three primary women - Vera, Nancy, and Salome - with interspersed POVs from supporting figures such as the script writer, other Latinx Hollywood folks, and juicy gossip columns.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia makes my blood boil in the best way. The rage she evokes from the realistic nature of her characters is a reflection on the truth of human emotion. Her writing is piercing and relentless even as it strikes the perfect narrative chords.
Thank you to Random House - Del Ray for an eARC for review. The Seventh Veil of Salome is out now. ...more
Olivia Sterling, graduate of Oberlin, proud spinster and business owner, left the city fNarrated by Kim Staunton
Genre: historical romance Kansas, 1889
Olivia Sterling, graduate of Oberlin, proud spinster and business owner, left the city for Kansas, to establish a new life away from the marriage her father wants to arrange to a man who wants to buy out her business. She's robbed at gunpoint on a train by infamous Outlaw Neil July. She then runs for mayor against another man trying to buy out her business, and wins! But she can't seem to stay away from July, who draws her in. The action packed story pits a brilliant and wonderful woman and her stalwart friends against the men who try to do her and her town harm.
This is an exciting and plot filled book from Beverly Jenkins! When I pick up a book from her, I know generally now what to expect: brilliant characters, adventure, plot to the brim, and an excellent history lesson. I tend to find myself disconnected from the romance, based on her writing style (more tell than show), but again, knowing what to expect I enjoy that.
Neil July is a Black Seminole, once decorated with a Congressional Medal, and now forced to live off of robbing trains in order to feed his family. What a perfect opposite to Olivia Sterling, intelligent upstanding Black churchgoing woman who accidentally wins her mayoral election. Their underlying character, of course, is the same: caretakers with big souls.
This book does feel like it was written in 2005 - Olivia is a little too "not like other girls" and the reason July is attracted to her is her innocence, intelligence, but also upbringing as a proper lady. On the other hand, it features sexytimes in a tornado shelter, a gunslinging sister, and a cast of characters so totally Jenkins-like (including Preacher, the MMC in my favorite Jenkins book, Night Hawk). ...more
Before Kit and Theo split up, they had planned to take a multi-week food tour of westNarrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers
Genre: contemporary romance
Before Kit and Theo split up, they had planned to take a multi-week food tour of western Europe. 4 years later, and at the end of the limit of the travel voucher, Theo takes a risk and hops on a plane, only to find Kit doing the same. Theo, the daughter of famous movie producers and sister of two movie stars, finds their own life a series of failures and is looking to reclaim joy through food. Kit has been working in Paris since he finished pastry school, but is looking for another spark. While it seems as though the only way these exes can get along is in direct competition sleeping with the attractive men and women of France, Spain, and Italy, their trajectory will inevitably bring them back together.
There's a lot going on in this book (in a good way) so there are a lot of components to unpack. I love Casey McQuiston's adult books, and this feels the most mature and most exploratory (both with the food tour plot literally, but also with experimenting with gender and sexuality and expression of self). It's both a comfortable and also a challenging read, because of the topics it tackles. The rich descriptions of food and wine are amazing, and I dare you to read it and not want to grab a fresh baguette with cheese and a glass of French wine.
The relationship between Kit and Theo is messy... it's second chance, and they are still so young, but it's fully believable. The reason for their breakup was a little tough to swallow, but its aftermath is very very realistic. I kind of love how this book breaks the cardinal rule of most romances - Kit and Theo spend a lot of time sleeping with other people -on page- in direct competition with one another to see who can get laid more on this food tour. And yet, it works, because of the type of people they are and the type of romance they have.
The Pairing is a very queer bi4bi M/NB romance with beautiful expressions of love, sex, and romance. And food. Truly, the food is the third character in this relationship, and it works well.
Thank you to SMP for an eARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC for review. This is out 8/6/24. ...more
Eveen is an undead assassin, guild bound and sworn to the Matron of Assassins, her memory wiNarrated by Lynnette R. Freeman
Genre: speculative fiction
Eveen is an undead assassin, guild bound and sworn to the Matron of Assassins, her memory wiped clean and trained to execute just contracts. But her latest contract jars something loose - memories and knowledge she shouldn’t have - kicking off a sequence of events to topple everything she knows, against the perfect backdrop of the Festival of the Clockwork King.
One of the reasons I enjoy picking up P Djèlí Clark's work is that I never quite know what to expect because every novel or novella takes on something new. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins gives us an incredibly rich fantasy world in only 200 pages, thick with legends and intricate worldbuilding all critical to the short plot arc. It's an impressive feat to bring to life...or afterlife, as it were, with our undead assassins.
Clark’s shorter works lean on vibes and atmosphere, rather than intense plot. He paces the novella well, with fragments of storytelling, reflection on circumstance, and a little bit of deadly action. They are assassins after all.
The narration by Lynnette R Freeman gives the book a snarky and playful edge, which I enjoyed, cutting some of the serious themes.
Thank you to Tordotcom and RB Media for an eARC and ALC for review. The Dead Cat Tail Assiassins is out 8/6/24. ...more
Ada Lamarr is a space looter, but she’s on her last gasps of oxygen and beaming distrNarrated by Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena
Genre: sci-fi romance
Ada Lamarr is a space looter, but she’s on her last gasps of oxygen and beaming distress signals to anyone who might save her. Once safely on board her rescuers’ ship, she’ll do anything to ingratiate herself to the crew who saved her, but especially the gorgeous government agent in charge, Rian White.
I had a great time reading Full Speed to a Crash Landing. I'd read a Beth Revis book many years ago and was lukewarm on it, but when @Plottrysts couldn’t stop raving about this one, I listened, and this book paid off. It's a really fun setup novella, building groundwork for a new series. Ada is snarky and unrepentant, making for a very fun POV who hit the spot. I love a heist, I love a romantic arc, and I love when that all clicks in a SF setting.
It translates remarkably well to audio, with Ada’s snark and Rian’s starchiness coming through from Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena.
I enjoyed this ARC so much that I immediately requested the second in the series. There’s just something outstanding about a fun, sexy space heist novella with a tone like this.
Thank you to DAW and Dreamscape Media for an eARC and ALC for review. Full Speed to a Crash Landing is out 8/6/24....more
Kiela, blue skinned & blue haired librarian, escapes her city library by just the skin of her teeth when Narrated by Caitlin Davies
Genre: cozy fantasy
Kiela, blue skinned & blue haired librarian, escapes her city library by just the skin of her teeth when rebels set fire to it. She and her assistant Caz, a sentient spider plant, flee with the spellbooks they can grab and return to the island wear Kiela was raised. Kiela has always been a loner (truly, since her only real friend is a spider plant), so when her handsome neighbor Larran shows up to help her unasked, Kiela doesn’t know what to do. Slowly the island starts to creep back into her bones though, and she decides she needs to find a way to stay, which means setting up a jam shop as a cover up for the magical spells she’ll do to help heal her islandhome.
If you like cozy fantasy you'll enjoy this one. I, on the other hand, need to stop requesting cozy fantasy ARCs. I keep trying, but they aren't for me. I need more conflict or better character development. And look, i knew what I was getting into when I requested a book called The Spellshop, but can we please find other central plots for cozy fantasy besides running away from the central kingdom and settling in a small town to open a shop?
That said, the Spellshop is still good writing, and, again, if you enjoy the subgenre you'll eat this book up. There's just a gentle dose of romance, too. The narration is pleasant, as suits the cozy subgenre, and Caitlin Davies reads the story as if we’re all in on the jokes together.
Thank you to Bramble and MacMillan Audio for the eARC and ALC for review. The Spellshop is out 7/9/24. ...more
Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, is a very powerful Sorceress with the ability to control Narrated by Eliza Foss & Jennifer Pickens
Genre: fantasy horror
Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, is a very powerful Sorceress with the ability to control people. Unfortunately, this sometimes means controlling Cordelia, but it's all for her own good. When Evangeline's benefactor no longer suits her needs, she decides to take matters into her own hands and approach a squire of some means and worm her way into his heart. But the squire's sister, Hester, is an insightful woman who recognizes that Cordelia needs more than just someone to watch out for her....
Part fantasy, part murder mystery, this has a delightful gothic tone in the signature style I come to expect from T Kingfisher. It's just the right amount of horror to give you chills but not enough to keep you up at night. It’s a house party, a murder mystery, a coming of age story, and a love story all at once.
The split perspective - where Cordelia knows what her mother is and is too afraid to say anything and where Hester has strong suspicions but doesn’t entirely know what to do about it - frames the pacing of the novel well. From Cordelia’s nervousness and need to hide behind every door imaginable from her mother to the keen observations from Hester, we get these different views that feel like peeking around corners in a clever way. The duet narration by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, taking on Cordelia and Hester’s perspectives works really well splitting the perspective for the novel, almost as if the listener is being transported from one of their minds to another, even though the book is written in third person.
This is the longest work I’ve read from Kingfisher, and I think her experience in writing novellas with her judicious word choices and plot arcs translates well into novel length.
Thank you to Tor and MacMillan Audio for an eARC and ALC for review. A Sorceress Comes to Call is out 8/6/24! ...more
Anahrod has been in Exile for 17 years. Now in her 30s, she has lived in the jungle while people have assumedNarrated by Lauren Fortgang
Genre: fantasy
Anahrod has been in Exile for 17 years. Now in her 30s, she has lived in the jungle while people have assumed she's dead, and her name is equated with the darkest kind of treachery. But, it's kidnap Anahrod season, and a Dragonrider and random band of people have snagged her as a part of an elaborate heist plan... to raid the dragon lair Anahrod was originally put to death for allegedly robbing 17 years ago.
The Sky on Fire is a standalone fantasy novel with a strong sapphic romantic arc, but the romance isn’t the central plot-driver. The central plot revolves around planning the heist, and the central conflict revolves around the dragon’s protecting their hoard and controlling their riders. Dragons require riders only to maintain their own sanity, their minds balance on the razor thin line between control and the unhinged plunge into uncontrolled rampage and destruction. Nothing is worse than a rampaging dragon who has lost their mind.
For a standalone novel, The Sky on Fire has expansive worldbuilding. Jenn Lyons is a seasoned writer, and she gives us the right amount of detailing for daily life and the backdrop of this world dominated by dragons. She weaves more modern components, such a rings to signify gender and sexual preferences, into a classic-feeling fantasy with mountain and cloud dwellers.
The audiobook is narrated by Lauren Fortgang, and I found the audio to be an engaging way to read The Sky on Fire, immersing myself in the world.
Thank you to Tor and MacMillan audio for an eARC and ALC for review. The Sky on Fire is out 7/9/24! ...more
Emiko Soong has recently become the Sentinel for San FPhoenix Hoard book 2 Narrated by Natalie Naudus
Genre: contemporary fantasy San Francisco & Tokyo
Emiko Soong has recently become the Sentinel for San Francisco; the protector of the city. It’s not exactly the life away from her powers she hoped she’d have when she left her clan of magic wielders descended from dragons. Emiko has difficulty with her magic. She can tap into the power of San Francisco while she is there, but familial duty takes her to Tokyo where she’ll have to unravel the mystery of her powers and origin, while thwarting a deadly assassin.
The writing in this series is very cinematic. Told in first person from Emiko’s perspective, the action scenes are all vivid, the landscapes prettily expressed, and the magic system thoroughly explained as each new component is revealed. That said, as a non-visual reader, I actually struggled at the level of description. Readers who love to imagine a well-thought-out world will love this though. The writing is infused with Japanese folklore and legends. Thematically, it feels like The City We Became by NK Jemisin and Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews, though stylistically, it’s dissimilar to both.
I actually picked this series up because it’s narrated by Natalie Naudus. Her character work with the voices is excellent, and when I got tied up in the prose style, I was glad to have Naudus’s narration to fall back on.
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an eARC and ALC for review. Blood Jade is out 7/16/24. ...more
Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella Genre: historical fiction Venice, 1538
Valentina is one of the famous courtesans of Venice. She collects secrets and works Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella Genre: historical fiction Venice, 1538
Valentina is one of the famous courtesans of Venice. She collects secrets and works for the Council of Ten - a subset of the Venetian Senate responsible for protecting Venice from foreign influence - and does their bidding as an assassin. She's taken their orders without question, but the deathbed confession of one of her targets makes her wonder if her orders are as meaningful as she'd once thought.
I don't pick up as much historical fiction anymore (preferring my guaranteed HEA in a historical romance), but 1538 Venice caught my eye. I've long been a fan of the famous Venetian Courtesans (The Honest Courtesan, which was some of the research material for Palombo was a favorite nonfiction of mine 20ish years ago), and the political machinations of the powerful of Venice of the 16th century are uniquely situated for a plot like this.
While this isn’t a historical romance, it’s both romantic and open door. Valentina is a businesswoman first and foremost, and her trade is her body, but she’s unabashed in her experience of pleasure. The book is written from Valentina’s perspective, and Palombo gives her a strong narrative voice where it’s easy to see Valentina’s motivations and emotions. She distinguishes the intimate scenes where Valentina is with her lover Bastino and those with her clients showing Valentina’s emotional engagement, sometimes her affection and friendship, and sometimes her detachment through the physical intimacy.
For the historical romance reader - this is romantic but not a romance. That said, it has a satisfying ending, and I was pleased with the conflict resolution, which I thought might be nearly impossible to pull off. Palombo builds a gorgeous world of Renaissance Venice with a network of strong female friendships among courtesans and perhaps a love for which Valentina is willing to risk it all.
I picked this book up on a whim from NetGalley, and I’m really glad I did. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC for review. The Assassin of Venice is out 6/18/24. ...more
Maya is a *reformed* art thief. She’s trying really hard at the reformed bit, now that she’s a graduate student studying comparGenre: science fiction
Maya is a *reformed* art thief. She’s trying really hard at the reformed bit, now that she’s a graduate student studying comparative culture (rare artifacts, er, space archaeology) at Princeton. A settler from the Outer Worlds, relocated to New Jersey to connect with her ancestral roots, Maya is struggling to remain focused on her studies, so when her erstwhile co-conspirator, the Frenro alien called Auncle, reaches out in need, she jumps at the opportunity. Joining their crew are Wil Jenkins, a former soldier, and her companion Medix (Med-IX), medical robot with Class III sentience. Their mission: locate and retrieve the potentially mythical artifact The Stardust Grail, which may unlock the secret to the Frenro’s ability to procreate, but may also contain a much darker secret.
Kitasei leans into her worldbuilding with her sophomore novel. The interstellar web - actually connected through a node network - has components of well thought-out believability. She never info-dumps, only builds the details out as you need to understand them, particularly as you learn about the diseases that affected so many civilizations and the wars ravaged between interstellar races, leaving the lingering after-affects of socio-political devastation (with a bigger impact for some of the characters than others).
I love a good space crime, especially one that forces the main characters to evaluate their morals and sense of identity. Similar to Kitasei's first novel, the tone of Stardust Grail is more serious than whimsical (though it has its moments, considering Auncle is a potato-shaped aquatic ancient alien). Unlike in The Deep Sky, Kitasei keeps The Stardust Grail primarily in one narrative timeline, which improved the reading enjoyment and cohesion of the book overall. Interstellar politics and high stakes death of a civilization are always a good listen.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio, Flatiron, and NetGalley for an ALC and eARC for review. The Stardust Grail is out 6/11/24!
Ruthi Johnson is a woman on a mission. She and her sister are con artists, and on their last big con on a luxury starliner, JuleGenre: sci-fi romance
Ruthi Johnson is a woman on a mission. She and her sister are con artists, and on their last big con on a luxury starliner, Jules falls hard for their target, and unfortunately things go sideways fast. Unfortunately for Estaben Mendez-Yuki, that is. Ruthi plans to con this heir to his family fortune out of as much money as possible. Donning the identity of provincial debutante Evelyn Ojukwu, Ruthi makes a splash in New Monte trying to impress Estaben, and instead catches the eye of his sister Sol, a lady rake with the brains, beauty, and poise to stop hearts, including Ruthi’s.
A genre mashup of science fiction, romance, and screwball comedy, Lady Eve’s Last Con is witty and humorous. In her own words, Fraimow is looking for the spaces between the margins of the genres to find the interesting moments, tropes, and plot points recognizable to genre fiction fans but truly unique in execution. There are points of reflection throughout informed by diasporic Jewish identity and religion, queer normativity, and commentary on excess consumerism. For me, successful science fiction is a commentary on society (now and in the future), and Fraimow uses her reflection points to support a wildly funny and unputdownable romantic screwball comedy love story.
One of my favorite things about picking up any romance is the way an author navigates the HEA. The best thing about setting one 200-300 years in the future is that the social rules are different - and so are the people - but human nature doesn’t ever fully change, and Fraimow gives us a sapphic romance that not only suits her characters but feels real and attainable to 21st century readers, too.
Lady Eve is informed by classic works of science fiction, different historical eras - though predominantly 19th and early 20th century because all human trends go through cycles - and the glimpses of worldbuilding are enough to spark the imagination but not bog down the writing. It’s zany and fun, with the appropriate level of conning, grifting, and heisting to keep the plot moving at all times.
I had the pleasure of hearing Rebecca Fraimow speak about this book last night, and it was clear she had a lot of fun writing it, and readers will have a fun time reading it.
Thank you to Solaris and NetGalley for an eARC for review. Lady Eve’s Last Con is out now!...more
Genre: historical fiction West Africa, 15th century
Òdòdó, a powerful blacksmith, is kidnapped from her home of Timbuktu by the Narrated by Ariel Blake
Genre: historical fiction West Africa, 15th century
Òdòdó, a powerful blacksmith, is kidnapped from her home of Timbuktu by the powerful Aláàfin leader Àrệmọ. Even as she is shocked that this handsome and dangerous man wants to marry her, she recognizes the comfort and power afforded to her in her role as beloved by the king. Òdòdó refuses to marry Àrệmọ until her mother can be found to give her blessing, so she bides her time training as a warrior under Àrệmọ. Changing political tides and warring kingdoms give her a chance to utilize some of this power, giving her fiance strategic advice that he then passes off as his own.
I have mixed feelings on Masquerade. I loved the setting: a fantastical 15th century West Africa with lush worldbuilding that avoids being info-dumpy. But the story itself leans towards all-vibes with little overall driving plot in a way that didn't work for me, with side plots popping seemingly out of nowhere. We are in Òdòdó’s POV the whole book, and yet I didn’t understand her motivation for her choices, or Sangoyomi’s decisions to put Òdòdó in certain circumstances. It’s being marketed as fantasy, but there are not a lot of magical elements in the story itself. On the one hand, there’s no magic system to figure out. On the other hand, I was hoping for a little more of the fantastical.
There are elements of great storytelling, but it reads like a debut with the need for more well-rounded character development and one major plot thread. I'll be excited for Sangoyomi's next book, because her prose is strong, even as all of the elements aren’t there yet.
The audiobook is narrated by Ariel Blake, and I recommend this format to hear the rich West African names. I love listening to books that come from a narrative storytelling tradition like this. The narration kept me invested in this story.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Tor for ALC and eARC for review. Masquerade is out 7/2/24. ...more
Julia Addison is a paid companion to her brother’s wife’s aunt. Her brother may reNarrated by Elizabeth Jasicki
Genre: historical romance London, 1810
Julia Addison is a paid companion to her brother’s wife’s aunt. Her brother may recently have inherited a title, but Julia’s roots as the daughter of a clergyman are modest and her prospects slim, so her chances at the freedom of the city and a Season are as a companion. She’s an avid playgoer, and anonymous critic, writing a column for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, and her most cutting critiques are for the plays by Ransome Blackadder, a Scottish playwright. Graham McKay, Earl of Dunstane, is in fact Ransome Blackadder, and while Miss on Scene may be his foe, he doesn’t know that Julia is behind those words when he chances upon her at Covent Garden.
The focus of the plot is the conflict between playwright and critic, all while the relationship between Julia and Graham evolves. He may have had a reputation as a rake and a scoundrel, but as soon as he meets Julia, he can’t think of any other woman. His desire to be open and communicate both his identity and his feelings is valiant, and prevents the miscommunication trope in what is essentially a hidden identity romance. I loved the amount of time we spend on the stage and in rehearsal, emphasizing the importance of the theater to Graham and Julia, but also centering the conflict as something ultimately so essential to each of them.
The Lady Plays with Fire is a solid historical romance with a fun plot, great characters, and a swoonworthy relationship. This is the second book in the series, but I never found myself lost. It’s clear that Mrs Goode’s Magazine is the main connection for the series, and we find out enough information without it feeling as if Craig is leaving us in the dark.
The narration for the book is enjoyable; I find that Elizabeth Jasicki is a fine narrator well-suited to reading historical romance.
Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an eARC and ALC for review. The Lady Plays with Fire is out now! ...more
Sage Byrd loves her life in her small town of Spunes, Oregon. She’s a teachNarrated by Karissa Vacker, Zachary Webber
Genre: contemporary romance Oregon
Sage Byrd loves her life in her small town of Spunes, Oregon. She’s a teacher who lives on a hobby farm collecting stray animals and optimistic about most situations. Fisher Lange isn’t so much a grump as he is burned out and frustrated: he was a chef at a formerly Michelin Star rated restaurant. Was, and formerly rated, being the keys. Now with his sulky teenage niece over whom he has custody he’s in Spunes for a summer to consult on starting a new restaurant and, at the orders of his boss, trying to sort out his feelings about life. Fisher rents the house next door to Sage, where she’ll do what she can to protect him from the nosey townspeople and get him back on his feet.
As someone who has experienced professional burnout in the past and who is currently researching burnout prevention methods for others, I found DeWitt’s depiction of Fisher highly relatable, even though my industry is very different from the restaurant business. Even if you are sensitive to burnout, while it’s a deeply embedded part of Fisher’s character, I think readers will find that the book is very gentle overall. The relationship angst is comparatively low, and the small town setting feels comfortable (rather than stifling, which is how I typically feel about small town romances).
Sage and Fisher start out as neighbors, and while there is attraction, their relationship first shifts to a protective friendship. They see kindred spirits in one another and recognize their vulnerabilities, and reach to one another to support those needs. Of course, that support leads to kissing which leads to more-than-kissing. The conflict in Savor It is realistic and doesn’t hinge on miscommunication; in fact the high level of communication in fact causes some of the heartache. Ultimately one of the reasons this worked for me as a contemporary romance is that DeWitt embraces a level of realism and still keeps the romance sweet and swoony.
The audiobook was a pleasure to listen to. Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber bring the characters to life in a way that supports the comforting overall tone of the book.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress and NetGalley for ALC and eARC for review. Savor It is out 5/21/24! ...more
This is a fascinating book to pick up about reproductive health! It's geared towards transparency in medical practice, structured with history and somThis is a fascinating book to pick up about reproductive health! It's geared towards transparency in medical practice, structured with history and some present-day medical context, including current terminology around gender affirming care. The bulk of the book is then split into two additional parts: "what's the situation" and "what are the treatments." It's easy to jump around and find specific sections relevant to issues a reader may be facing. In each case, Tang gives the reader series of questions that a patient can ask a doctor, and ways of pre-planning for education for a doctor's visit, noting that much of the time a doctor has is limited to a short appointment window.
As a white cis-woman, I found the information nonjudgmental, which is the author's goal, but I'd be interested to hear what readers of other racialized backgrounds or gender identifications think of Dr Tang's approach. She's clear that she isn't speaking to only cis-women, but anyone who has or has had a uterus, identifies as female or woman or nonbinary with female reproductive organs.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, and she presents her ideas clearly and personably, which I think is critical for a nonfiction book on a topic so sensitive to so many readers. She relays her facts in a practical and approachable manner, taking a lot of the potentially scary mystery out of the equation.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this book! It's Not Hysteria is out 5/7/24....more
Maddileh is a knight on a quest. As one of very few women of the order, her fall from favor is sudden Narrated by Helen McAlpine
Genre: fantasy novella
Maddileh is a knight on a quest. As one of very few women of the order, her fall from favor is sudden and over very little. In order to regain her honor, she plans to retrieve the Fireborne Blade, a legendary sword, from the dragon the White Lady, powerful and legendary in her own right. This quest is a dangerous one, and she’s accompanied by a seemingly unprepared squire as she faces her destiny.
I love the trend of fantasy novellas - we get a hint of worldbuilding to give background and a light touch of a magic system that doesn't have a lot of complexity. Charlotte Bond gives us broad strokes of the world without any extraneous details via a split timeline and interludes of writings and histories of former knights. In one timeline, Maddileh is on her quest looking for the White Lady, and in the other, she is gathering information about magic in the city. She gives us the two settings - a home base and a questing location - so we don’t feel closed in as readers, and just enough sense of a broader world.
A simple plot arc with broken timelines and epigraphs extend the pacing of the book without dragging it. Once you start reading wholly complete fantasy novellas, it’s hard to imagine why they need to be three times this long. It’s a quick and satisfying bite. The audiobook is just as satisfying, with a strong narration by Helen McAlpine. I’d never listened to a McAlpine narration before, but I’d listen to her again in the future.
If Fourth Wing is the legacy of Dragonriders of Pern, The Fireborne Blade is the legacy of The Hero and the Crown and Robin Hobb.
Thank you to Tordotcom, MacMillan Audio, and Netgalley for an eARC and ALC for review. The Fireborne Blade is out 5/28/24. ...more
Genre: urban fantasy + Slavic mythology Chicago, present day
Set in contemporary Chicago, the short arc of this story follows Ala, a zmora, Dymitr, a lGenre: urban fantasy + Slavic mythology Chicago, present day
Set in contemporary Chicago, the short arc of this story follows Ala, a zmora, Dymitr, a leszy, and Nikodem, a strzygi, Slavic creatures of dreams and nightmares living off of pain and other emotions. They carry their own curses, though Ala’s is the most traditional. Dymitr is in search of Baba Jaga, and for Ala’s help, he may be able to offer her a cure.
This is a very Meg-coded book. Polish mythology blended with gritty contemporary aesthetics wrapped up in a tight novella arc was the perfect change of pace for me after some of the longer books I’ve been reading. It’s a skillful novella, with just enough character development and plot movement and mythological exploration to keep the book moving but not overwhelm the reader. I always love a good Baba Jaga story, and loved Roth’s interpretation of her house (obviously), but also of her myth generally. There is also a queer romantic story line, with just enough to keep any romance reader engaged.
I listened to parts of the audiobook but found myself more drawn to the written prose. While it’s lovely to hear the Polish spoken to me with really wonderful narration, it was easier for me to get my bearings as a reader seeing some of the words on the page. I found that Roth made some really great choices with how much to explain versus reference in the mythologies to keep the novella shorter. A reader unfamiliar with Slavic lore (this includes me!) will want to have a search engine on hand to look up images and stories of the demons and witches that stalk pages.
I have loved Veronica Roth’s transition from YA Fantasy (Divergent) to sharp, smart novellas and short stories. When Among Crows and Arch-Conspirator have a more mature approach to storytelling and craft than her early works, and I am here for it.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio, Tor, and NetGalley for audiobook and eARC for review. When Among Crows is out 5/14/24. ...more
A great nonfiction read diving into the lives of women Egyptologists who worked through the Victorian and Gilded Age and in to the middle o4.5 stars.
A great nonfiction read diving into the lives of women Egyptologists who worked through the Victorian and Gilded Age and in to the middle of the 20th century.
Sheppard acknowledges the colonialism inherent in the field of Egyptology, and the role these women played in it; it's an undeniable component of 19th and 20th century Egypt. But the women who worked alongside and even managed some of the more famous men also found themselves erased from history or confined to simple footnotes in scholarly citations. (It's hard for this historical romance reader not to think of The Countess Conspiracy where in her author's note, Courtney Milan says she was inspired in part by a footnote in a scientific paper that thanked the scientist's wife for what amounted to almost the entirety of the labor and work of the paper.)
The book is organized chronologically, with the understanding that not only did the field of Egyptology progress, but that the achievements of each of these women built upon one another. She highlights 11 specific women from Amelia Edwards and Marianne Brocklehurst in the 1890s - a queer couple!! - to Caroline Ransom Williams, who was an active academic from 1908 through her death in 1592 and had a PhD in a field where many of her predecessors were not even allowed undergraduate degrees. Most of the women highlighted were solidly middle class Brits, and many of them suffered from autoimmune diseases which sent them from the cold damp of England to the warm dry air of Egypt to recover, and give them energy that sparked their imaginations.
The book is written as a narrative, placing the reader in the time with each of the women. As a nonfiction style, this doesn't typically work for me, but it's a popular style that will draw many readers. As many of these women were erased or mentioned only in passing in academic papers, Sheppard pulls her research from their journals and correspondence, which paints fuller lives than the stark academic journals of the male Egyptologists alongside whom they worked and lived. Assiduously researched and with nearly 500 footnotes, Sheppard gives us an incredible history. The eARC did not have any of the images, but there are citations throughout, so pick this book up in print if you can! If you've ever watched The Mummy on repeat or memorized the lines of Amelia Peabody or Mr Impossible, this book is for you.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an eARC for review. I ended up also listening to the audiobook because that's where my brain is right now. It's narrated by Elizabeth Wiley, who makes it feel both academic and engaging. Women in the Valley of the Kings is out now. ...more
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