libraryperilous continues to turn the pages of her own books, 2nd edition in 2022
Dit is een voortzetting van het onderwerp libraryperilous continues to turn the pages of her own books in 2022.
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1libraryperilous
Hi, everyone:
I'm Diana, and I read sci-fi, historical fantasies, and middle grade adventures. I like marine science and the history of WWII Resistance groups. Lately, I've discovered that I like historical fiction with Gothic overtones.
I'm happy to receive recommendations in these genres or of any titles you think I might enjoy.
Welcome to this edition! The thread now is open.
I'm Diana, and I read sci-fi, historical fantasies, and middle grade adventures. I like marine science and the history of WWII Resistance groups. Lately, I've discovered that I like historical fiction with Gothic overtones.
I'm happy to receive recommendations in these genres or of any titles you think I might enjoy.
Welcome to this edition! The thread now is open.
2libraryperilous
74. The Gingerbread Witch: Eleven-year-old Maud lives an idyllic life with a kind witch, Agatha, in a gingerbread cottage deep in the forest. Maud's best friends are Grim, a violet-colored wolf pup, and Nuss, a bossy and vain squirrel made of gingerbread with hazelnut mousse for a tail. Maud also is made of gingerbread, but she's a witch, too. At least, she would be if Mother Agatha would teach her anything. One day, Maud returns from berry picking to find that two witch hunters, Hansel and Gretel, have pushed Agatha into the oven. Time will run out for Maud and Nuss if they don't find a way to bring Agatha back. The cottage and all of Agatha's creations are tied to Agatha's magic—and Maud and Nuss would prefer to stay soft gingerbread. They'll have to stray far from the cottage and into the Shadelands' Abandoned Forest to find the right spell.
This is a delightful, cozy middle grade fantasy, with fractured fairy tale elements and a couple of interesting side characters who might feature more prominently in the sequel. The gingerbread cottage, with its sugar mice, peppermint bunny, and coconut grass, is adorable. The story ends on a heartwarming note, but I look forward to further adventures.
I liked the connection the author draws between magic and recipes. Maud loves to bake, and Agatha has taught her to focus on one step of the recipe at a time. I especially enjoyed all the baking- and candy-related metaphors. "Warmth spread through Maud, like butter melting slowly on a hot crumpet." Of the villain, they "smiled a smile that was all sharp lemon and sherbets."
Five stars.
This is a delightful, cozy middle grade fantasy, with fractured fairy tale elements and a couple of interesting side characters who might feature more prominently in the sequel. The gingerbread cottage, with its sugar mice, peppermint bunny, and coconut grass, is adorable. The story ends on a heartwarming note, but I look forward to further adventures.
I liked the connection the author draws between magic and recipes. Maud loves to bake, and Agatha has taught her to focus on one step of the recipe at a time. I especially enjoyed all the baking- and candy-related metaphors. "Warmth spread through Maud, like butter melting slowly on a hot crumpet." Of the villain, they "smiled a smile that was all sharp lemon and sherbets."
Five stars.
4Karlstar
>1 libraryperilous: Hello and happy new thread!
5Sakerfalcon
Happy new thread! May the quality of your reads continue as well as they've started!
7libraryperilous
75. Assignment in Brittany: All four of MacInnes' spy thrillers written during WWII have an immediacy and poignancy impossible to replicate. This one was written in 1942 when the outcome of the war was far from determined. One can picture MacInnes banging angrily on the typewriter's keys every time she wrote of the Nazis or their French collaborators. Ambler is the king of writing about an Every Man in prewar society's decaying decadence. MacInnes focuses on stories of everyday people, thrown into WWII, quietly trying their best to resist, and then digging deeper and doing a little bit more. Her later spy thrillers are typical Cold War fare.
MacInnes' mind was (correctly) made up about the Nazis, Fascists, and collaborators. Her conscience was clear, so she wrote characters who similarly were uncomplicated in their "strange mixture of idealism and practicality" and forthright in the righteousness of their cause. Her WWII-era novels start from this simple truth: "It costs three times as much to retrieve a position as it takes to hold it." From there, she explores both small and large acts of resistance: their costs and their rewards.
In Assignment, she parachutes British special agent Martin Hearne into Nazi-occupied Brittany. His mission is to impersonate Bertrand Corlay, a French farmer who was injured at Dunkirk. Hearne will use this as an excuse to spend a lot of time walking around—so he can gather intelligence about the Nazis' troop movements, armaments, and invasion plans. Unfortunately, Corlay neglected to tell Hearne about either hiscollaborator mistress or his Fascist activities .
I love Above Suspicion and Horizon. I'd recommend starting there. This novel adds some light and silly romance, plus it's sexist. The descriptions of the Breton coast, especially Mont Saint-Michel, are vivid. MacInnes made up the small villages, in case the Nazis got a notion to look for Resistance cells in Brittany. The je ne sais quoi of Breton culture remains in spades.
I've not seen the 1943 film of this novel, but it only loosely follows the novel's plot.
Four stars.
"He looked at the pile of Fascist literature on the floor: at least the air was clean."
MacInnes' mind was (correctly) made up about the Nazis, Fascists, and collaborators. Her conscience was clear, so she wrote characters who similarly were uncomplicated in their "strange mixture of idealism and practicality" and forthright in the righteousness of their cause. Her WWII-era novels start from this simple truth: "It costs three times as much to retrieve a position as it takes to hold it." From there, she explores both small and large acts of resistance: their costs and their rewards.
In Assignment, she parachutes British special agent Martin Hearne into Nazi-occupied Brittany. His mission is to impersonate Bertrand Corlay, a French farmer who was injured at Dunkirk. Hearne will use this as an excuse to spend a lot of time walking around—so he can gather intelligence about the Nazis' troop movements, armaments, and invasion plans. Unfortunately, Corlay neglected to tell Hearne about either his
I love Above Suspicion and Horizon. I'd recommend starting there. This novel adds some light and silly romance, plus it's sexist. The descriptions of the Breton coast, especially Mont Saint-Michel, are vivid. MacInnes made up the small villages, in case the Nazis got a notion to look for Resistance cells in Brittany. The je ne sais quoi of Breton culture remains in spades.
I've not seen the 1943 film of this novel, but it only loosely follows the novel's plot.
Four stars.
"He looked at the pile of Fascist literature on the floor: at least the air was clean."
8libraryperilous
I did it. I deleted everything but forthcoming titles from my TBR. I feel much better already.
Long live the pleasures of browsing the stacks!
Long live the pleasures of browsing the stacks!
9libraryperilous
76. Captain Kempton's Christmas: second chance Regency romance set during the Christmas season. Captain Kempton, home from the British navy now that Boney has departed, broods about Anna Tremayne's marriage to a rich elderly lord. Anna, now widowed, is hurt and angry that Kempton didn't read her letter explaining the circumstances. What we have here is a typical failure to communicate, along with that tried-and-true historical romance subplot: the jealous debutante.
I enjoyed the festive setting of this story, and I would read a drawing room drama or murder mystery set during at a Christmas house party. This novella is fine. It's well-written, with likeable main characters, and they quickly learn to communicate with each other. I'm just not much of a Regency romance fan unless Carla Kelly is telling the story.
Three stars.
I enjoyed the festive setting of this story, and I would read a drawing room drama or murder mystery set during at a Christmas house party. This novella is fine. It's well-written, with likeable main characters, and they quickly learn to communicate with each other. I'm just not much of a Regency romance fan unless Carla Kelly is telling the story.
Three stars.
11libraryperilous
>10 curioussquared: Thank you! I did impress myself, tbh. :)
12libraryperilous
77. Miss Moonshine's Emporium of Happy Endings: On Market Street in the Yorkshire village of Haven Bridge, inside a fine stone chapel converted into a home and shopfront, lives the eccentric and stylish Miss Moonshine. She has a little dog, remarkable hazel eyes, and an uncanny way of knowing what you need before you do. Over the years, her shop, which sells both tat and treasures, attracts people who might be in need of a little companionship.
The emporium isn't a large part of these short stories. I had expected the stories to take place mostly in the shop itself. I adore shopgirl and department/general store fiction, but there's so little of it! Still, I enjoyed this collection, which is more chick lit than romance. The stories recount single women finding a way to follow their dreams with a cute new guy by their side. The village and its countryside are a charming locale, and only one of the stories has that terrible "the city is hollow, I must go to the country" trope.
In "The Last Chapter: A Bookish Romance," a woman reading a pulp novel finds that has been annotated. Her sense of humor matches the annotator's, but will she find him? Even if she doesn't, she's inspired to start a Book Defacers' Club at the coffee shop she owns, complete with colored pens for writing snarky marginalia. Glitter pen marginalia for the masses! We shall conquer! In another story, a concert pianist arrives in the village to track down who left a music box on his grandfather's grave. Another story finds a bookstore owner and a journalist trying to track down the local woman who might have had an affair with an Old Hollywood star. I liked all but one story. This was a cute, sweet way to pass the time.
Four stars.
The emporium isn't a large part of these short stories. I had expected the stories to take place mostly in the shop itself. I adore shopgirl and department/general store fiction, but there's so little of it! Still, I enjoyed this collection, which is more chick lit than romance. The stories recount single women finding a way to follow their dreams with a cute new guy by their side. The village and its countryside are a charming locale, and only one of the stories has that terrible "the city is hollow, I must go to the country" trope.
In "The Last Chapter: A Bookish Romance," a woman reading a pulp novel finds that has been annotated. Her sense of humor matches the annotator's, but will she find him? Even if she doesn't, she's inspired to start a Book Defacers' Club at the coffee shop she owns, complete with colored pens for writing snarky marginalia. Glitter pen marginalia for the masses! We shall conquer! In another story, a concert pianist arrives in the village to track down who left a music box on his grandfather's grave. Another story finds a bookstore owner and a journalist trying to track down the local woman who might have had an affair with an Old Hollywood star. I liked all but one story. This was a cute, sweet way to pass the time.
Four stars.
13libraryperilous
78. Ophie's Ghosts: Twelve-year-old Ophie is awakened in the middle of the night by her dad, who tells her to get her mother and the tin of cash under the floorboards and then to run out the back door to Ophie's special hiding place. Some angry white men show up a few minutes later and burn down Ophie's home. The next morning, Ophie finds out her dad was murdered for voting, and that's how Ophie discovers she can see ghosts.
Ophie and her mom migrate north to Pittsburgh, where they find work in a mean old white woman's household. Pittsburgh in 1922 is a city where the fingers of Jim Crow still manage to reach, the ghosts of both the Great War and the Civil War walk the streets, and Mrs. Caruthers' Virginia plantation upbringing strikes fear in her staff's hearts. Ophie's newfound talent means that the secrets of Daffodil Manor aren't as hidden as Mrs. Caruthers might like, and there's a beautiful and high-spirited ghost named Clara who wants to be Ophie's new best friend. Ophie, lonely and sad—and angry that her father's murderers never will be brought to justice—sets out to solve the mystery of Clara's death.
This is such a wonderful middle grade novel. The human ghosts and the ghosts of history leave us all in limbo: The good among us can't move forward and the bad among us can't ever become better. Ophie's Ghosts is a thoughtful exploration of the weight of history. It also is a fantastic Southern Gothic with a cool Northern twist. I especially like that the author gave the house and the city chapters from their perspectives. The clever and determined but lonely Ophie is a relatable heroine, and I hope Ireland writes more mysteries featuring Ophie and the haints she can see.
Five stars.
Edited: grammar, words
Ophie and her mom migrate north to Pittsburgh, where they find work in a mean old white woman's household. Pittsburgh in 1922 is a city where the fingers of Jim Crow still manage to reach, the ghosts of both the Great War and the Civil War walk the streets, and Mrs. Caruthers' Virginia plantation upbringing strikes fear in her staff's hearts. Ophie's newfound talent means that the secrets of Daffodil Manor aren't as hidden as Mrs. Caruthers might like, and there's a beautiful and high-spirited ghost named Clara who wants to be Ophie's new best friend. Ophie, lonely and sad—and angry that her father's murderers never will be brought to justice—sets out to solve the mystery of Clara's death.
This is such a wonderful middle grade novel. The human ghosts and the ghosts of history leave us all in limbo: The good among us can't move forward and the bad among us can't ever become better. Ophie's Ghosts is a thoughtful exploration of the weight of history. It also is a fantastic Southern Gothic with a cool Northern twist. I especially like that the author gave the house and the city chapters from their perspectives. The clever and determined but lonely Ophie is a relatable heroine, and I hope Ireland writes more mysteries featuring Ophie and the haints she can see.
Five stars.
Edited: grammar, words
14libraryperilous
79. Christmas at Miss Moonshine's Emporium: a collection of festive short stories. At Miss Moonshine's emporium, single people who might be in search of companionship find items or nudges from Miss Moonshine to aid them. I liked this collection better than the first one, partly because the festive backdrop is, well, festive. "I've overdosed on Dickens or something," one character moans, and Haven Bridge goes all out for Christmas, including with a Victorian-inspired street fair, a long-running nativity parade, and caroling on Christmas Eve.
Some of the stories feature the emporium's items more prominently, including a haunted typewriter and fortune-telling advent calendar. I enjoyed these stories the most. Alas, none is a shopgirl story.
Each of these stories takes around 20-30 minutes to read, and they all have good characterization. Sometimes it's hard to feel connected to characters in short stories, but these authors engage your sympathy and interest. The stories are more chick lit than romance. They mostly feature happy new beginnings, not happily ever afters. There's not enough page space in short stories to make intense romances ring true, and the authors don't try. There are offhand mentions of characters from previous short stories. You'd expect a village to know each other, so I appreciated that touch.
4.5 stars. There are nine stories in the anthology, and I liked eight of them. Not bad for someone who doesn't like short stories that much.
Some of the stories feature the emporium's items more prominently, including a haunted typewriter and fortune-telling advent calendar. I enjoyed these stories the most. Alas, none is a shopgirl story.
Each of these stories takes around 20-30 minutes to read, and they all have good characterization. Sometimes it's hard to feel connected to characters in short stories, but these authors engage your sympathy and interest. The stories are more chick lit than romance. They mostly feature happy new beginnings, not happily ever afters. There's not enough page space in short stories to make intense romances ring true, and the authors don't try. There are offhand mentions of characters from previous short stories. You'd expect a village to know each other, so I appreciated that touch.
4.5 stars. There are nine stories in the anthology, and I liked eight of them. Not bad for someone who doesn't like short stories that much.
15libraryperilous
80. Always, Clementine: Clementine is a lab mouse bred for intelligence and smelling of raspberries when she thinks. She's a genius who loves puzzles (especially mazes) and green vegetables (especially Brussels sprouts). Most of all, she loves Rosie, her chimpanzee best friend. A guilt-ridden lab worker frees Clementine and another mouse, but all Clementine wants to do is go back to the lab and Rosie. Gus and his grandfather, Pop, teach Clementine how to play chess and help her see that she's more than just a lab mouse. Can Clementine be true to herself and her newfound freedom yet still find her way back to Rosie?: "You will forever be the best thing at the end of the maze."
Five stars. 10/10 perfect mouse fiction: a heartwarming adventure for the ages. For anyone who thought the ending of One Rat Short was too sad.
"Despite everything that's just happened to me, Rosie, I am an optimist. A very difficult thing to be, sometimes, at three inches tall."
Five stars. 10/10 perfect mouse fiction: a heartwarming adventure for the ages. For anyone who thought the ending of One Rat Short was too sad.
"Despite everything that's just happened to me, Rosie, I am an optimist. A very difficult thing to be, sometimes, at three inches tall."
16curioussquared
>13 libraryperilous: I enjoyed Ireland's YA novel Dread Nation (and intend to read the sequel at some point) -- this one sounds excellent!
17libraryperilous
>16 curioussquared: I may try her new YA series, set in the 1930s. I hope she writes some more middle grade books, too. She handled the genre's conventions super well.
18libraryperilous
I completed my radiation today. Yay! Freedom!
Unless they spring something else on me, that completes the active cancer treatment. I'll still have monthly lab draws + injections, but I can relax now.
I'm still being treated by the oncologist (who also is a hematologist) for anemia. Fingers crossed that gets sorted soon.
And now, back to posting about books—as soon as I can decide what to read next ...
Unless they spring something else on me, that completes the active cancer treatment. I'll still have monthly lab draws + injections, but I can relax now.
I'm still being treated by the oncologist (who also is a hematologist) for anemia. Fingers crossed that gets sorted soon.
And now, back to posting about books—as soon as I can decide what to read next ...
19LibraryLover23
>18 libraryperilous: Yay! Great news. I, too, hope your anemia gets sorted soon!
20clamairy
>18 libraryperilous: Congratulations! Hopefully that anemia will be a thing of the past soon.
21hfglen
>18 libraryperilous: Great news! Happy reading now that the worst is over.
22curioussquared
>17 libraryperilous: Ooh, I'll have to look into her new series!
>18 libraryperilous: That's so great! Congratulations :)
>18 libraryperilous: That's so great! Congratulations :)
24Karlstar
>18 libraryperilous: Congratulations!
25haydninvienna
>18 libraryperilous: What Peter said.
26libraryperilous
>19 LibraryLover23:, >20 clamairy:, >21 hfglen:, >22 curioussquared:, >23 pgmcc:, >24 Karlstar: Thank you! I feel freeeee, oh so freeeee!
I ordered some books to celebrate, and my dad took me to lunch and shopping for an additional book today. Monday I have to crack down on the job search, but this weekend is for relaxing.
>22 curioussquared: It sounds fabulous. The magic system is interesting, and it plays off the Great Depression: an unusual setting for fantasy, to say the least.
I ordered some books to celebrate, and my dad took me to lunch and shopping for an additional book today. Monday I have to crack down on the job search, but this weekend is for relaxing.
>22 curioussquared: It sounds fabulous. The magic system is interesting, and it plays off the Great Depression: an unusual setting for fantasy, to say the least.
27libraryperilous
>25 haydninvienna: Thank you!
28Narilka
>18 libraryperilous: Congratulations!
29Bookmarque
Phew! I hope it has the desired effect and you can get on with life. And reading. And the job search. But weekend first!
30libraryperilous
>28 Narilka:, >29 Bookmarque: Thank you!
>29 Bookmarque: The weather even cooperated for my celebration. :)
>29 Bookmarque: The weather even cooperated for my celebration. :)
31libraryperilous
I'm not counting this toward my total, because it's a pamphlet of around eleven pages, but I enjoyed perusing Zulu Place Names in Natal, courtesy of our hfglen, who kindly scanned it and emailed me a download.
The introduction notes that "All these names are descriptive, and some are poetic and joyous while others are bluntly earthy." The foreword further explains that the names were as descriptive as possible in order to serve as accurate guideposts. They might even serve as cheeky warnings, such as Ngcobo's Hill, "named after a member of the Ngcobo clan mauled there by a leopard in early times."
A couple of the landmarks I Googled had meanings that have been translated differently. Of course, poetic license occurs all the time and translation is an art. I think I find this pamphlet's translation of the Ngagane River as 'corpse river' more interesting than the 'skeleton river' noted on Wikipedia.
We cannot escape the ghosts of colonialism, even in a short and charming pamphlet. Some royal and military kraals were named for colonial figures, including one Mbabazane, translated in the pamphlet as "Mr. Stinging Nettle," because he was a "magistrate who meted out punishment in a quiet, gentle manner, but whose sentences always had a sting in their tails." Another was known as Khipikhasi, Mr. Remove the Thrash, because that was the only Zulu phrase he bothered to learn.*
Thank you, Hugh! This was both delightful and useful for trip planning.
4.5 stars
*Translation of the authors' "A cane farmer whose knowledge of Zulu was limited to this phrase" is mine.
The introduction notes that "All these names are descriptive, and some are poetic and joyous while others are bluntly earthy." The foreword further explains that the names were as descriptive as possible in order to serve as accurate guideposts. They might even serve as cheeky warnings, such as Ngcobo's Hill, "named after a member of the Ngcobo clan mauled there by a leopard in early times."
A couple of the landmarks I Googled had meanings that have been translated differently. Of course, poetic license occurs all the time and translation is an art. I think I find this pamphlet's translation of the Ngagane River as 'corpse river' more interesting than the 'skeleton river' noted on Wikipedia.
We cannot escape the ghosts of colonialism, even in a short and charming pamphlet. Some royal and military kraals were named for colonial figures, including one Mbabazane, translated in the pamphlet as "Mr. Stinging Nettle," because he was a "magistrate who meted out punishment in a quiet, gentle manner, but whose sentences always had a sting in their tails." Another was known as Khipikhasi, Mr. Remove the Thrash, because that was the only Zulu phrase he bothered to learn.*
Thank you, Hugh! This was both delightful and useful for trip planning.
4.5 stars
*Translation of the authors' "A cane farmer whose knowledge of Zulu was limited to this phrase" is mine.
32Sakerfalcon
>18 libraryperilous: That's great news! Hope the anaemia is cured soon too. And I'm glad you got to celebrate with a relaxing weekend.
33Sakerfalcon
Duplicate post
34Bookmarque
Raspberry toast!
35libraryperilous
>32 Sakerfalcon: Thank you!
36libraryperilous
A middle grade roundup
81. Violet and Jobie in the Wild: Sibling mice Violet and Jobie are trapped and taken from their cozy living room digs to the wilds of a state park. They learn how to survive, which means lots of things: foliage is good cover; maple seeds are tasty; memories are forever; and JKL: Just Keep Living.
Five stars: funny and wise mouse fiction
82. The Haunting of Aveline Jones: Ghost-obsessed Aveline Jones stays with her aunt in the decrepit seaside town of Malmouth. She buys a book of local ghost legends and finds herself intrigued by two mysteries. First, there's the disappearance of the book's previous owner, Primrose Penberthy, a girl about her own age who went missing on Halloween night in 1984. Then, there's the mystery of why Primrose marked out the words to the last legend in the book, one about a lady and the sea ...
4.5 stars: I love a good seaside mystery, especially when the town's slightly shabby
83. Odder: Odder is playful and a bit reckless. After all, she's survived being orphaned, rehabbed, and released back into the wild. She lives in the slowly recovering Monterey Bay ecosystem, and it's her life's ambition to execute perfect dive twirls and avoid going back to the aquarium. After a shark attack renders her incapable of living in the wild, Odder must find a way to recover her playful spirit while contributing to the aquarium's own 'ecosystem.'
Five stars: Odder is adorable, and the novel-in-verse matched her playfulness
84. Cece Rios and the King of Fears: Two months after rescuing Juana from Devil's Alley, Cece discovers that her sister is missing part of her soul. Cece heads toward the ocean to find help from the Ocean Sanctuary. Juana is tired of feeling helpless and is angry that she was abused by El Sombrerón. She heads to Devil's Alley on a mission to take back her soul and burn it all down. Of course, all is not what it seems in either Devil's Alley or among the criaturas, and Coyote has some buried memories that might need to surface before they can fix things.
Is vengeance justice? Do you have to fix someone to love them wholly? Can you make your own choices on a quest? These questions and more are answered in this fantastic sequel to one of my favorites. It's rare that the second book of a trilogy is a complete story of its own, sets up high stakes for the next installment, and enhances the worldbuilding of the first novel. I wanted to live inside this beautiful country and help Cece and her friends build a just world. The folklore is so carefully rendered and spooled out. I literally got chills and fist-pumped the air whenQuetzalcoatl made his entrance . This series is fabulous. It's unique and asks smart, tender questions of its characters. Also, there is an axolotl criatura in this one, and she is adorable, like pink bubble gum come to life.
Five stars
81. Violet and Jobie in the Wild: Sibling mice Violet and Jobie are trapped and taken from their cozy living room digs to the wilds of a state park. They learn how to survive, which means lots of things: foliage is good cover; maple seeds are tasty; memories are forever; and JKL: Just Keep Living.
Five stars: funny and wise mouse fiction
82. The Haunting of Aveline Jones: Ghost-obsessed Aveline Jones stays with her aunt in the decrepit seaside town of Malmouth. She buys a book of local ghost legends and finds herself intrigued by two mysteries. First, there's the disappearance of the book's previous owner, Primrose Penberthy, a girl about her own age who went missing on Halloween night in 1984. Then, there's the mystery of why Primrose marked out the words to the last legend in the book, one about a lady and the sea ...
4.5 stars: I love a good seaside mystery, especially when the town's slightly shabby
83. Odder: Odder is playful and a bit reckless. After all, she's survived being orphaned, rehabbed, and released back into the wild. She lives in the slowly recovering Monterey Bay ecosystem, and it's her life's ambition to execute perfect dive twirls and avoid going back to the aquarium. After a shark attack renders her incapable of living in the wild, Odder must find a way to recover her playful spirit while contributing to the aquarium's own 'ecosystem.'
Five stars: Odder is adorable, and the novel-in-verse matched her playfulness
84. Cece Rios and the King of Fears: Two months after rescuing Juana from Devil's Alley, Cece discovers that her sister is missing part of her soul. Cece heads toward the ocean to find help from the Ocean Sanctuary. Juana is tired of feeling helpless and is angry that she was abused by El Sombrerón. She heads to Devil's Alley on a mission to take back her soul and burn it all down. Of course, all is not what it seems in either Devil's Alley or among the criaturas, and Coyote has some buried memories that might need to surface before they can fix things.
Is vengeance justice? Do you have to fix someone to love them wholly? Can you make your own choices on a quest? These questions and more are answered in this fantastic sequel to one of my favorites. It's rare that the second book of a trilogy is a complete story of its own, sets up high stakes for the next installment, and enhances the worldbuilding of the first novel. I wanted to live inside this beautiful country and help Cece and her friends build a just world. The folklore is so carefully rendered and spooled out. I literally got chills and fist-pumped the air when
Five stars
37curioussquared
>36 libraryperilous: I keep delaying my hold on the first Cece Rios when it becomes available and need to stop doing that!
38libraryperilous
>37 curioussquared: Yes! Get in on the ground floor of this fandom!
39tardis
>36 libraryperilous: My library doesn't have the second Cece Rios yet, but I loved the first and will keep an eye out for it!
40libraryperilous
>39 tardis: I hope they acquire it soon. It's a great sequel!
41libraryperilous
Happy Victober!
42curioussquared
>41 libraryperilous: I've never heard of Victober before! Do you have any reading planned to celebrate?
43libraryperilous
>42 curioussquared: A Booktuber I like, Katie from Books and Things, started it a few years ago. They have several reading challenges each October, but I'm only participating in the 'read a Victorian work' portion. This year, I'm going to give The Picture of Dorian Gray another try. I also plan to reread David Copperfield.
44curioussquared
>43 libraryperilous: I like it!
I'm still mostly just focusing on getting through the list of books I want to read this year, but BuzzFeed Books posted this cute Fall book bingo that I might try to do: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjN6E7-rTqi/?hl=en
I'm still mostly just focusing on getting through the list of books I want to read this year, but BuzzFeed Books posted this cute Fall book bingo that I might try to do: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjN6E7-rTqi/?hl=en
45libraryperilous
>44 curioussquared: Oh, this is super cute and the challenges are easy. I may try a few, perhaps that just happen to be in the row with the book purchase challenge, whoopsie. Great find, and thank you for sharing it!
46curioussquared
>45 libraryperilous: Right? I mean, if it's a challenge, I guess you'll just have to buy a book....
47libraryperilous
85. How to Heal a Gryphon: Giada comes from a long line of guaratrice, doctors trained to use magic in the healing arts. She'd rather spend her time healing animals, especially the magical creatures like gryphons and mermaids that hide along the Amalfi coast where she makes her home. Giada's family believes abandoning Apollo and pledging to Diana will bring bad luck, so Giada has to hide how skilled she really is with potions and using her magic to communicate.
All of this secrecy has made Giada a bit cranky. She makes a reckless wish for her usually supportive brother to disappear after they have a fight. The next day, her brother's gone, a walnut is in his boat, and there's a large black cat meowing at her that he's her familiar. Oh, and she can understand the cat, who tells her his name is Sinistro and that her brother has been kidnapped by the Streghe del Malocchio, grim witches who live below Amalfi in a mirror city, Malafi. They're tired of living in darkness and want Giada to create the moon and stars for them. Giada has to marshal her animal friends and her talents in order to satisfy the streghe before they steal her brother's heart for good.
This is such a unique middle grade fantasy! I loved the Amalfi coast setting, the unusual potions Giada creates, and the Roman-inspired magic system. Giada also has a pet tarantula who nests in her ponytail for their journey to Malafi. Plus, Sinistro. The story stands alone, but the ending sets up further adventures.
Five stars.
All of this secrecy has made Giada a bit cranky. She makes a reckless wish for her usually supportive brother to disappear after they have a fight. The next day, her brother's gone, a walnut is in his boat, and there's a large black cat meowing at her that he's her familiar. Oh, and she can understand the cat, who tells her his name is Sinistro and that her brother has been kidnapped by the Streghe del Malocchio, grim witches who live below Amalfi in a mirror city, Malafi. They're tired of living in darkness and want Giada to create the moon and stars for them. Giada has to marshal her animal friends and her talents in order to satisfy the streghe before they steal her brother's heart for good.
This is such a unique middle grade fantasy! I loved the Amalfi coast setting, the unusual potions Giada creates, and the Roman-inspired magic system. Giada also has a pet tarantula who nests in her ponytail for their journey to Malafi. Plus, Sinistro. The story stands alone, but the ending sets up further adventures.
Five stars.
48Sakerfalcon
>47 libraryperilous: This sounds lovely!
49curioussquared
>47 libraryperilous: Perhaps this will fill the Amalfi Coast gap cancelling my trip created until I'm actually able to go :)
50libraryperilous
>48 Sakerfalcon:, >49 curioussquared: Did I mention the lucciole, the magical fireflies? :)
51libraryperilous
86. The Matchmaker's Gift: While on a ship traveling to New York City, ten-year-old Sara Glikman sees a golden thread leading from her sister to a man on the boat. Sara's new neighborhood, New York City's Lower East Side, is filled with fellow Jewish immigrants who strive to hold on to Old World ways while embracing life in the New World. Sara's matchmaking gifts are popular with the people she matches, but the men who perform traditional matchmaking are angry and scared of her focus on romance, not dowries. 84 years later Sara dies. Her granddaughter Abby, a rising divorce attorney in the cutthroat NYC of the mid-90s, inherits Sara's matchmaking diaries. Did Abby also inherit her grandmother's gift?
I absolutely loved this wonderful blend of historical fiction and old school chick lit. It's also a sensitive and gentle look at turn of the twentieth century immigrants' lives, including the ways a young woman might navigate between old and new traditions. It skillfully moves between the tenements of the LES and Abby's life in monied, bitter New York 80 years later. I moved to New York in the 90s, so this is the city as I first saw it and fell in love with it (not the rich part, lol). The Tenement Museum is one of the best museums on the planet, and the way this book gently brings to life the tenements is incredible. When I say it's old school chick lit, I mean that it's like The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing or similar titles: concerned not with romance, per se, but with helping its protagonist through her growing pains and giving her a fresh, interesting new beginning.
My second-favorite book of the year, after The Wild Hunt. What a pleasure it was to read this book!
Five stars.
edited: html error
I absolutely loved this wonderful blend of historical fiction and old school chick lit. It's also a sensitive and gentle look at turn of the twentieth century immigrants' lives, including the ways a young woman might navigate between old and new traditions. It skillfully moves between the tenements of the LES and Abby's life in monied, bitter New York 80 years later. I moved to New York in the 90s, so this is the city as I first saw it and fell in love with it (not the rich part, lol). The Tenement Museum is one of the best museums on the planet, and the way this book gently brings to life the tenements is incredible. When I say it's old school chick lit, I mean that it's like The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing or similar titles: concerned not with romance, per se, but with helping its protagonist through her growing pains and giving her a fresh, interesting new beginning.
My second-favorite book of the year, after The Wild Hunt. What a pleasure it was to read this book!
Five stars.
edited: html error
52clamairy
>51 libraryperilous: I think you got me right between the eyeballs. I'm putting it on my OverDrive wishlist.
53libraryperilous
>52 clamairy: I hope you like it! The story feels fresh but also a throwback to 90s-era novels.
54libraryperilous
"as long as I breathe, I will scheme."
87. Strike the Zither: Xin Dynasty, year 414: Three swornsister warlordesses duke it out with an Empress' prime minister for control of the North, while the warlord of the west rests on his laurels and the teenage warlordess of the south maintains her studied neutrality. Can the rigidly proud and arrogant Qilin, swornsisters' strategist, move all the pieces in a way that will help her kind and ethical leader, the beloved by the trampled peasantry Xin Ren? Also, since this is a YA novel, can she overcome her feelings for a rival strategist whoplays both ends from the middle , flirts with her constantly, saves her life, and also poisons her?
Whew. This one opens in medias res and we're off to the races before we even reach the starting gate. By the second movement of this one, there are so many double- and triple-crosses that everyone is a martyr to someone else's machinations. And that's before we even get to the wildplot twist a few pages later. Said plot twist sends us careening into a ouroboros of star-crossed , double-crossed alliances. There's a little bit of a breather, and then ... we reach the end, but really the middle. This book doesn't so much end on a cliffhanger as it just faceplants us yet again into the in medias res weeds and says, "Wait 'til the next volume, suckers."
Whelp. As someone on Goodreads wrote, "Sleeping on the highway tonight. It was nice knowing you guys. Joan He, why did you do this to me?" This is an excellent YA historical fantasy, perfect for fans of Crown Duel or similarly political stories. It doesn't so much pastiche or deconstruct its source material (The Three Kingdoms) as go off on its own tangents to create something newly clever and seriously badass.* The author's note provides excellent context, including a closing paragraph that turned the way I had interpreted Strike the Zither on its head. Kudos to the publisher for allowing the author a free rein here, as well as for providing a map and stunningly gorgeous character illustrations.
"I bite into the fig, let the honey sweetness wash over my tongue. My chess master mentor always ate plums. When cornered, amateurs feel limited by what's on the board, she'd say, one hand holding a piece, another holding the fruit. Masters see potential in existing conditions."
Five stars. You guys, five-star reads are amazing.
*I complain sometimes about girlboss, Slay Queen! stories and mock them as bad feminism. This is how you do a great one.
Edited: spelling
87. Strike the Zither: Xin Dynasty, year 414: Three swornsister warlordesses duke it out with an Empress' prime minister for control of the North, while the warlord of the west rests on his laurels and the teenage warlordess of the south maintains her studied neutrality. Can the rigidly proud and arrogant Qilin, swornsisters' strategist, move all the pieces in a way that will help her kind and ethical leader, the beloved by the trampled peasantry Xin Ren? Also, since this is a YA novel, can she overcome her feelings for a rival strategist who
Whew. This one opens in medias res and we're off to the races before we even reach the starting gate. By the second movement of this one, there are so many double- and triple-crosses that everyone is a martyr to someone else's machinations. And that's before we even get to the wild
Whelp. As someone on Goodreads wrote, "Sleeping on the highway tonight. It was nice knowing you guys. Joan He, why did you do this to me?" This is an excellent YA historical fantasy, perfect for fans of Crown Duel or similarly political stories. It doesn't so much pastiche or deconstruct its source material (The Three Kingdoms) as go off on its own tangents to create something newly clever and seriously badass.* The author's note provides excellent context, including a closing paragraph that turned the way I had interpreted Strike the Zither on its head. Kudos to the publisher for allowing the author a free rein here, as well as for providing a map and stunningly gorgeous character illustrations.
"I bite into the fig, let the honey sweetness wash over my tongue. My chess master mentor always ate plums. When cornered, amateurs feel limited by what's on the board, she'd say, one hand holding a piece, another holding the fruit. Masters see potential in existing conditions."
Five stars. You guys, five-star reads are amazing.
*I complain sometimes about girlboss, Slay Queen! stories and mock them as bad feminism. This is how you do a great one.
Edited: spelling
55curioussquared
>54 libraryperilous: OK, you definitely got me with this one... going on the list!
56libraryperilous
On the verso, I only read three books in October. On the recto, all three were off my own shelves and were five-star reads. Success?
>55 curioussquared: Ha! I thought of you when I was reading it. I think you'll eitherlove it or hate it . ;)
>55 curioussquared: Ha! I thought of you when I was reading it. I think you'll either
57libraryperilous
88. That Quail, Robert: When Mildred and Tommy Kienzle retired to Cape Cod, they looked for inland property on a wooded acreage—the better to indulge their fascination with nature. Their seashore spurn paid off after Tommy noticed a quail hen marching her new brood of chicks into the woods. He went in search of the nest and discovered an abandoned quail egg. The Kienzles erred on the side of caution and took the egg home to place under a lamp. They were rewarded with Robert, a quail with no interest in returning to the wild but lots of interest in eating wild rice from one's hand. Robert also enjoyed fresh orange juice, V-8, eating house spiders, the color red, and "generally participating in the project." It must be noted that Robert was perhaps just a teensy bit spoiled.
The gregariously affectionate little bird drew attention first on Cape Cod and then nationally. A visitor's log was kept and local newspapers often informed their readers of Robert's latest social goings-on. In true family pet fashion, Robert remained at the toddler stage of development, but this did not reduce their charm or the family's fascination with the 5-oz bundle of feathers and affection. "After all, families accept the awkward stages of their offspring with more or less equanimity and with no diminution of love and affection." In fact, only once was Robert grounded, when, in a desperate bid for the attention of an indifferent dinner guest, Robert launched themselves into a bowl of buttered broccoli and began bathing in the sauce.
This is the utterly delightful story of a charming bird, a quainter time, and the small ways we comfort and keep each other. The author, a friend and neighbor of the Kienzles, witnessed many of Robert's exploits in person. There is a cozy intimacy to this story. Reading of the love and care the Kienzles had for Robert is like being wrapped in a warm hug on a crisp autumn day. Each time I read a book set in old-timey Cape Cod, I'm tempted to overthrow all my grand city schemes and move to a whaling town on the Massachusetts coast. Such days are long gone—if they ever existed—but I enjoy armchair traveling them.
Five stars.
The gregariously affectionate little bird drew attention first on Cape Cod and then nationally. A visitor's log was kept and local newspapers often informed their readers of Robert's latest social goings-on. In true family pet fashion, Robert remained at the toddler stage of development, but this did not reduce their charm or the family's fascination with the 5-oz bundle of feathers and affection. "After all, families accept the awkward stages of their offspring with more or less equanimity and with no diminution of love and affection." In fact, only once was Robert grounded, when, in a desperate bid for the attention of an indifferent dinner guest, Robert launched themselves into a bowl of buttered broccoli and began bathing in the sauce.
This is the utterly delightful story of a charming bird, a quainter time, and the small ways we comfort and keep each other. The author, a friend and neighbor of the Kienzles, witnessed many of Robert's exploits in person. There is a cozy intimacy to this story. Reading of the love and care the Kienzles had for Robert is like being wrapped in a warm hug on a crisp autumn day. Each time I read a book set in old-timey Cape Cod, I'm tempted to overthrow all my grand city schemes and move to a whaling town on the Massachusetts coast. Such days are long gone—if they ever existed—but I enjoy armchair traveling them.
Five stars.
58Marissa_Doyle
I live on Cape Cod. Alas, it's been years since I've seen quail marching around... :( But this sounds lovely.
59curioussquared
>57 libraryperilous: This sounds rather delightful!
60clamairy
>57 libraryperilous: I have quail here. I hear them calling "Bob White, Bob White!" I think this one was one of my mom's favorite comfort reads. I'm pretty sure I found her copy (and it was coming apart) when I moved in here. I don't remember what I did with it. :(
61libraryperilous
>58 Marissa_Doyle:, >59 curioussquared:, >60 clamairy: It's a short and sweet book. I read a couple of chapters at a time.
>58 Marissa_Doyle: Is it as windswept and sea-salty as nature writing makes it seem? Disappointing that the quail are gone. :(
>60 clamairy: It's a very comforting story! I hope you can track your mom's copy down someday.
>58 Marissa_Doyle: Is it as windswept and sea-salty as nature writing makes it seem? Disappointing that the quail are gone. :(
>60 clamairy: It's a very comforting story! I hope you can track your mom's copy down someday.
62libraryperilous
It's time for my annual SantaThing entry!
https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=107
As always, suggestions are appreciated. They're my favorite part.
I've returned to my SF/F roots this year, including branching into YA fantasy. I've added mysteries with Gothic elements.
Thank you!
https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=107
As always, suggestions are appreciated. They're my favorite part.
I've returned to my SF/F roots this year, including branching into YA fantasy. I've added mysteries with Gothic elements.
Thank you!
63libraryperilous
89. Heart of the Sun Warrior: The sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess finds Xingyin's peaceful life on the moon interrupted by the appearances of: a lost relative, a former lover, and a coupist. Said coup plotter wrecks Xingyin's home, and the pieces are set in motion for a clash of the immortals.
As with the first novel, the action runs fast, with the characters leaping from set to set in search of peace. But really, they are searching for something always just out of the grasp of immortals: mundanity.
This yearning for the quotidian plays an important role in the resolution of the love triangle. So does Xingyin's stubbornness. She doesn't know how to process her emotions unless she feels something immediately. The quieter, more thoughtful feelings that creep up on you as you sort through your days? Those scare her, and her stubbornness and pride cause her to view them as of lesser value.
Longtime readers of my thoughts know I don't favor romance and particularly disdain love triangles. And yet, I had Strong Feelings about this one. I think the romance outcome is telegraphed early, but the wringer definitely is wrung. Xingyin learns a sad lesson for an immortal* to learn: We will always want more time with the people we love, even those for whom time is infinite.
Really, really liked the low-key philosophical undercurrents to this story, but I was to busy fangirling over one of the boys and gasping at the action to process it all.
Anyway, the last 48 pages of this book killed me, and I am posting this from the Celestial Realm.
Five stars.
*They can die in battle, etc., just not of old age or mortal diseases.
Edit: spelling
As with the first novel, the action runs fast, with the characters leaping from set to set in search of peace. But really, they are searching for something always just out of the grasp of immortals: mundanity.
This yearning for the quotidian plays an important role in the resolution of the love triangle. So does Xingyin's stubbornness. She doesn't know how to process her emotions unless she feels something immediately. The quieter, more thoughtful feelings that creep up on you as you sort through your days? Those scare her, and her stubbornness and pride cause her to view them as of lesser value.
Longtime readers of my thoughts know I don't favor romance and particularly disdain love triangles. And yet, I had Strong Feelings about this one. I think the romance outcome is telegraphed early, but the wringer definitely is wrung. Xingyin learns a sad lesson for an immortal* to learn: We will always want more time with the people we love, even those for whom time is infinite.
Really, really liked the low-key philosophical undercurrents to this story, but I was to busy fangirling over one of the boys and gasping at the action to process it all.
Anyway, the last 48 pages of this book killed me, and I am posting this from the Celestial Realm.
Five stars.
*They can die in battle, etc., just not of old age or mortal diseases.
Edit: spelling
64curioussquared
>63 libraryperilous: I need to read these!
65libraryperilous
>63 libraryperilous: They're so good! I think you'll like them.
66libraryperilous
90. A Christmas Deliverance: Dr. Crowe was one of my favorites in an earlier Anne Perry Christmas mystery. He's back in 2022's outing, searching the docks near his free clinic for evidence that will help a former patient escape an unhappy engagement. Crowe's apprentice, Scuff, spreads his wings and runs the clinic while Crowe investigates. Scuff (a mudlark who was adopted by a river policeman) finds himself inviting an orphan and her kitten to live with them at the clinic.
Somehow, all these parts are neither heartwarming nor interesting. I used to look forward to these Christmas novellas as a holiday treat, but Perry's been phoning them in for a few years now. There's little investigating or solving of the mystery. Instead, we get chapters full of Crowe's inner thoughts, written in the form of question after question. Authors do this when they're too lazy to fill in an actual plot line. It also is disappointing to see her turn Crowe into a lovesick man repeatedly walking past the house of a woman (former patient!) twenty years his junior.
Three stars.
Somehow, all these parts are neither heartwarming nor interesting. I used to look forward to these Christmas novellas as a holiday treat, but Perry's been phoning them in for a few years now. There's little investigating or solving of the mystery. Instead, we get chapters full of Crowe's inner thoughts, written in the form of question after question. Authors do this when they're too lazy to fill in an actual plot line. It also is disappointing to see her turn Crowe into a lovesick man repeatedly walking past the house of a woman (former patient!) twenty years his junior.
Three stars.
70libraryperilous
91. Even Though I Knew the End: In a slightly alternate, very noirish 1940s Chicago, Helen Brandt—PI, in love with Edith, warlock—makes a hasty deal with her client Marlowe: Helen can have her soul back in exchange for information on the White City Vampire. Look, any chump on any corner will tell ya: You can't sell your soul unless it's worth buying. Unfortunately, Helen's overlooked this and some other important details, like why her mysterious benefactor even cares or why Helen's estranged brother keeps showing up at the crime scene. Still, Helen will trade anything for more time with Edith, even if "hope felt a little painful, on account of it not being a sure thing."
This is a stylish, polished urban fantasy and noir mashup. It successfully transfers the Chandler vibes to Chitown. It nails the stylized verbal cadences, playing fast and loose with the quips and hardboiled terms of endearment. Most crucially it both plays with and upholds that cardinal noir rule: "Dead men are heavier than broken hearts."
This is a novella, so it necessarily sketches in the narrative and the characters. It uses readers' familiarity with noir and fantasy tropes to backfill the worldbuilding. It relies onThe Great Gatsby (!) to reframe Helen and Edith's relationship. Perhaps it's because I love noir and all its trappings, but I was swept away. On pgmcc's and haydninvienna's threads, there have been interesting discussions about lovely prose and whether or not pretty turns of phrase can replace plot or characterization. Well, this is my kind of prose: "There was only one thing left to do, and I was the only damn fool in the room left to do it. ... I shot them again for want of a snappy comeback."
Way back in the day, in Witchmark, Polk had a very noirish, throwaway line in that novel: "They wore sack suits and sinuous silk gowns in the non-colors of the cinema, all fog and smoke and deep coal shadows, their hair combed back in shiny, careful ripples." Cool to see that Polk was able to indulge their love of noir after finishing the Kingston series!
Five stars.
This is a stylish, polished urban fantasy and noir mashup. It successfully transfers the Chandler vibes to Chitown. It nails the stylized verbal cadences, playing fast and loose with the quips and hardboiled terms of endearment. Most crucially it both plays with and upholds that cardinal noir rule: "Dead men are heavier than broken hearts."
This is a novella, so it necessarily sketches in the narrative and the characters. It uses readers' familiarity with noir and fantasy tropes to backfill the worldbuilding. It relies on
Way back in the day, in Witchmark, Polk had a very noirish, throwaway line in that novel: "They wore sack suits and sinuous silk gowns in the non-colors of the cinema, all fog and smoke and deep coal shadows, their hair combed back in shiny, careful ripples." Cool to see that Polk was able to indulge their love of noir after finishing the Kingston series!
Five stars.
71curioussquared
>69 libraryperilous: I need to read these too :)
>70 libraryperilous: I'd seen buzz for this one and was intrigued -- glad to see you liked it!
>70 libraryperilous: I'd seen buzz for this one and was intrigued -- glad to see you liked it!
72libraryperilous
The Wild Hunt (still my favorite of this year!) is on sale for $2.99 on the Kindle here in the US.
73clamairy
>72 libraryperilous: I didn't buy it, but I added it to my Libby wishlist. Thanks for the heads up.
74libraryperilous
>71 curioussquared: They're also so good. I think you'll like them too.
75libraryperilous
>73 clamairy: You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it when the mood strikes.
77libraryperilous
Happy holidays, everyone!
I'm heading to Florida to visit my mom (and the beach) for three weeks. She and my aunt collected a pile of library holds for me on Saturday.
Thank you all again for your kind thoughts and support during my surprise medical thingy. I'm thinking of pilgrim and wishing that her outcomes had been similar to mine.
I hope all of you have a relaxing holiday season, full of good reads and delicious snacks!
I'm heading to Florida to visit my mom (and the beach) for three weeks. She and my aunt collected a pile of library holds for me on Saturday.
Thank you all again for your kind thoughts and support during my surprise medical thingy. I'm thinking of pilgrim and wishing that her outcomes had been similar to mine.
I hope all of you have a relaxing holiday season, full of good reads and delicious snacks!
78curioussquared
Sounds lovely! Enjoy your trip :)
79clamairy
>77 libraryperilous: Oh, have a warm, wonderful and relaxing time! Enjoy those books, and the company of your mom and your aunt.
80Sakerfalcon
Have a wonderful time! You've earned a relaxing holiday after this year!
81libraryperilous
>78 curioussquared:, >79 clamairy:, >80 Sakerfalcon: Thank you! A cat was involved as well, so it was perfect.
82libraryperilous
Vacation round up, part one:
92. Christmas at the Grange: a festive Lady Hardcastle novella, with a twist we can all see coming. The fun's in attending the holiday parties along with her lady's maid, Florence Armstrong. This is a cozy historical series that's well-written and features a fun (and fun-loving) detective duo. I especially like the way Kinsey works interior design and architectural details into his stories. 4 stars
93. Into the Riverlands: Another successful novella in the Singing Hills cycle, made better because Absolute Brilliance (ETA: Whoops, her real name is Almost Brilliant) is back. While the first entry still is the strongest, I like the quiet way this series explores stories: Who gets to tell them? Whose story is one recorded as factual? Who is responsible for keeping memories of the stories alive? 4.5 stars
94. Goblin Market: interesting middle grade historical novel that riffs on the Goblin Market to tell the story of sisters' love for each other—and the secrets the elder one is keeping to herself. I loved the inclusion of synesthesia. 4.5 stars
95. Isla to Island: gorgeous, virtually wordless graphic novel that tells the story of a Cuban girl's immigration to New York City in the 1960s. Cuba is full of colorful life and her family's hopes and dreams. New York City is gray and shabby, until, inch by inch, Marisol finds a way to be both Cuban and a New Yorker. May we someday have a humane immigration system again. 5 stars
96. Crema: visually interesting graphic novel about a barista who can see ghosts after she drinks enough coffee and the Brazilian coffee plantation owner's granddaughter who wants to save the plantation. Can they overcome a malicious ghost and their distrust of each other in time to save the life they've built together? 4 stars
97. Ride On: super sweet middle grade graphic novel about a horse-loving girl who also likes other things (specifically, a Star Trek-inspired show). When she falls out with her best friend over her commitment to competitions, Victoria finds a new stable. The other girls (and cute boy) who ride there also like other things (specifically, the same TV show), but Victoria is afraid to trust her new friends. I loved this, although I do want to warn horse girls that there's not really much about riding in this. It's about how it's okay to grow up and have new passions and hobbies. 5 stars.
98. Katie the Catsitter and 99. Best Friends Never: Clever and funny middle grade graphic novels about a girl who gets a job catsitting her upstairs neighbor's cats—all 217 of them. The cats all have unique skills, including welder The Cuteness and Moritz, who excels at creating distractions with well-timed swipes at moveable objects. The cats are superheroes, you see, and it isn't long before Katie notices she's catsitting on the nights when supervillain The Mousestress is out and about inGothamNYC. But the Mousetress might just be the real hero the city needs, and Katie is thrilled to be her new sidekick. If all this cool stuff is happening to Katie at night, why is it so hard to be a good friend during the day? 5 stars and 4.5 stars
100. Swim Team: Bree and her dad move from Brooklyn to Florida, and Bree, who loves math, is dismayed to find herself in swim class instead of in the already-full math club. Bree learns to love swimming, along with the history of discrimination of and barriers to Black swimmers. Her swim team longs to win the state championship. They'll have to put aside their differences. Bree's neighbor, a former swim champ, agrees to coach the team, but Edna has her own sad memories of what it's like to be Black in the pool. This is such a thoughtful story, and it blends the history lessons and contemporary girl power storylines so well. 4.5 stars
92. Christmas at the Grange: a festive Lady Hardcastle novella, with a twist we can all see coming. The fun's in attending the holiday parties along with her lady's maid, Florence Armstrong. This is a cozy historical series that's well-written and features a fun (and fun-loving) detective duo. I especially like the way Kinsey works interior design and architectural details into his stories. 4 stars
93. Into the Riverlands: Another successful novella in the Singing Hills cycle, made better because Absolute Brilliance (ETA: Whoops, her real name is Almost Brilliant) is back. While the first entry still is the strongest, I like the quiet way this series explores stories: Who gets to tell them? Whose story is one recorded as factual? Who is responsible for keeping memories of the stories alive? 4.5 stars
94. Goblin Market: interesting middle grade historical novel that riffs on the Goblin Market to tell the story of sisters' love for each other—and the secrets the elder one is keeping to herself. I loved the inclusion of synesthesia. 4.5 stars
95. Isla to Island: gorgeous, virtually wordless graphic novel that tells the story of a Cuban girl's immigration to New York City in the 1960s. Cuba is full of colorful life and her family's hopes and dreams. New York City is gray and shabby, until, inch by inch, Marisol finds a way to be both Cuban and a New Yorker. May we someday have a humane immigration system again. 5 stars
96. Crema: visually interesting graphic novel about a barista who can see ghosts after she drinks enough coffee and the Brazilian coffee plantation owner's granddaughter who wants to save the plantation. Can they overcome a malicious ghost and their distrust of each other in time to save the life they've built together? 4 stars
97. Ride On: super sweet middle grade graphic novel about a horse-loving girl who also likes other things (specifically, a Star Trek-inspired show). When she falls out with her best friend over her commitment to competitions, Victoria finds a new stable. The other girls (and cute boy) who ride there also like other things (specifically, the same TV show), but Victoria is afraid to trust her new friends. I loved this, although I do want to warn horse girls that there's not really much about riding in this. It's about how it's okay to grow up and have new passions and hobbies. 5 stars.
98. Katie the Catsitter and 99. Best Friends Never: Clever and funny middle grade graphic novels about a girl who gets a job catsitting her upstairs neighbor's cats—all 217 of them. The cats all have unique skills, including welder The Cuteness and Moritz, who excels at creating distractions with well-timed swipes at moveable objects. The cats are superheroes, you see, and it isn't long before Katie notices she's catsitting on the nights when supervillain The Mousestress is out and about in
100. Swim Team: Bree and her dad move from Brooklyn to Florida, and Bree, who loves math, is dismayed to find herself in swim class instead of in the already-full math club. Bree learns to love swimming, along with the history of discrimination of and barriers to Black swimmers. Her swim team longs to win the state championship. They'll have to put aside their differences. Bree's neighbor, a former swim champ, agrees to coach the team, but Edna has her own sad memories of what it's like to be Black in the pool. This is such a thoughtful story, and it blends the history lessons and contemporary girl power storylines so well. 4.5 stars
83libraryperilous
Vacation round up, part two:
101. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistance: Mira loves science, her fun-loving parents, her best friend Thomas, and her cat, Sir Fig Newton. But Thomas has moved from Florida to DC, her parents are worried after her dad has been laid off, and Sir Fig is displaying some scary health issues. Mira researches his symptoms and discovers that her cat has diabetes. When the vet confirms it, Mira's parents make plans to rehome Sir Fig. Mira begs for the chance to raise money for his treatment, and it turns out that her science fair rival might have some good ideas, and also be a good new friend. I liked this STEM story that also tackles what faith can mean to different people. I did want Sir Fig to have more of a presence in the actual story, but he's referenced mostly in terms of Mira's commitment to him. 5 stars
102. Catherine's War: middle grade graphic novel that explores the life of a Jewish girl in France during WWII. As she's sent from one safe house to the next, Catherine maintains her passion for photography. She finds herself recording important moments in her own life and the lives of people who helped her. This was a really unique way to explore both the instability of life in hiding and the small acts of kindness and resistance that fueled the underground. 4.5 stars
103. The Immortality Thief: fabulous start to a cool sci-fi series, with a haunted spaceship, a reluctant found family, ineffable aliens, and a seedy quest for immortality that our motley crew runs afoul of. I'm looking forward to the next volume. 4.5 stars
104. The Art of Prophecy: great start to a wuxia fantasy series. Chu has fun deconstructing common fantasy tropes, like the Chosen One, the wise mentor, and ninjas. This had a lot of action, peril for our main characters, and some heavier things deftly worked in. 4 stars
105. Hold Fast Through the Fire: next in the NeoG (Coast Guard in space) series. This one focuses on a sabotage operation that runs to the highest levels of government. 4.5 stars
106. A Clash of Steel: Tired of trying to impress her cold and distant mother, Xiang runs away with Anh to seek a legendary pirate treasure. Xiang holds the key to the map, but pirates don't give up their booty so easily, and neither domothers . I liked this, especially its description of the markets of Canton and the camaraderie on Anh's boat. 4 stars
107. The Elephant in the Room: Sila's mom has been gone for months, stuck back in Turkey trying to clear up immigration paperwork. Sila's loneliness lifts a little bit when she meets elderly widower Gio and becomes friends with a classmate, Mateo. Gio buys a retired circus elephant, and Sila fills her summer with taking care of Veda, researching Veda's family tree, and learning that small steps can have a big impact. 4.5 stars
108. Marchwood: cute start to a middle grade-ish fantasy series that obviously was influenced by Middle Earth and Redwall. Nova the squirrel's village is a peaceful but insular place, but war is coming. Nova and her friends set off on various quests around the kingdom, always stopping to enjoy the forest and snacking on plenty of delicious foods. I especially enjoyed the magical fungi creatures and the rabbit sailors. 4 stars
101. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistance: Mira loves science, her fun-loving parents, her best friend Thomas, and her cat, Sir Fig Newton. But Thomas has moved from Florida to DC, her parents are worried after her dad has been laid off, and Sir Fig is displaying some scary health issues. Mira researches his symptoms and discovers that her cat has diabetes. When the vet confirms it, Mira's parents make plans to rehome Sir Fig. Mira begs for the chance to raise money for his treatment, and it turns out that her science fair rival might have some good ideas, and also be a good new friend. I liked this STEM story that also tackles what faith can mean to different people. I did want Sir Fig to have more of a presence in the actual story, but he's referenced mostly in terms of Mira's commitment to him. 5 stars
102. Catherine's War: middle grade graphic novel that explores the life of a Jewish girl in France during WWII. As she's sent from one safe house to the next, Catherine maintains her passion for photography. She finds herself recording important moments in her own life and the lives of people who helped her. This was a really unique way to explore both the instability of life in hiding and the small acts of kindness and resistance that fueled the underground. 4.5 stars
103. The Immortality Thief: fabulous start to a cool sci-fi series, with a haunted spaceship, a reluctant found family, ineffable aliens, and a seedy quest for immortality that our motley crew runs afoul of. I'm looking forward to the next volume. 4.5 stars
104. The Art of Prophecy: great start to a wuxia fantasy series. Chu has fun deconstructing common fantasy tropes, like the Chosen One, the wise mentor, and ninjas. This had a lot of action, peril for our main characters, and some heavier things deftly worked in. 4 stars
105. Hold Fast Through the Fire: next in the NeoG (Coast Guard in space) series. This one focuses on a sabotage operation that runs to the highest levels of government. 4.5 stars
106. A Clash of Steel: Tired of trying to impress her cold and distant mother, Xiang runs away with Anh to seek a legendary pirate treasure. Xiang holds the key to the map, but pirates don't give up their booty so easily, and neither do
107. The Elephant in the Room: Sila's mom has been gone for months, stuck back in Turkey trying to clear up immigration paperwork. Sila's loneliness lifts a little bit when she meets elderly widower Gio and becomes friends with a classmate, Mateo. Gio buys a retired circus elephant, and Sila fills her summer with taking care of Veda, researching Veda's family tree, and learning that small steps can have a big impact. 4.5 stars
108. Marchwood: cute start to a middle grade-ish fantasy series that obviously was influenced by Middle Earth and Redwall. Nova the squirrel's village is a peaceful but insular place, but war is coming. Nova and her friends set off on various quests around the kingdom, always stopping to enjoy the forest and snacking on plenty of delicious foods. I especially enjoyed the magical fungi creatures and the rabbit sailors. 4 stars
84curioussquared
Looks like you had quite the excellent vacation!
85libraryperilous
>85 libraryperilous: Most definitely!
86libraryperilous
109. A Rover's Story: Mars rover Resilience (Res for short) is made of code, but that doesn't stop it from catching human feelings about life, the universe, and anything else that crosses its mind. Res' drone, Fly, is its best friend, and when they finally hit Mars they have two goals: Avoid dust and see stars. One of these goals is something NASA had in mind. The other is Res' own. Will Res find enough gold in the red planet's dust to be worthy of a NASA mission to retrieve it and bring it home?
I'm not selling this novel well. It's one of the best books I read this year! I loved Res, Fly, their journey, and their hopes and dreams. I liked and admired the author's decision to leave some things unexplained. In her author's note, she writes that she wants readers to remember how hopeful scientific progress can be—especially the little unsolved mysteries that propel us to keep searching for answers.
Five stars
I'm not selling this novel well. It's one of the best books I read this year! I loved Res, Fly, their journey, and their hopes and dreams. I liked and admired the author's decision to leave some things unexplained. In her author's note, she writes that she wants readers to remember how hopeful scientific progress can be—especially the little unsolved mysteries that propel us to keep searching for answers.
Five stars
87haydninvienna
>86 libraryperilous: “… especially the little unsolved mysteries that propel us to keep searching for answers”: as said by Isaac Asimov and many others, the most exciting words in science aren’t “Eureka!” or some variation, but “That’s funny …”.
