Tag: book review

• Book Review: “A Secret History of Witches” by Louisa Morgan

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on September 4, 2018

  A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

  Publisher: Redhook
  Published: May 2018
  Genre: historical, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780316508582
  Rating: ★★★★

  A sweeping historical saga that traces five generations of fiercely powerful mothers and daughters – witches whose magical inheritance is both a dangerous threat and an extraordinary gift.

  Brittany, 1821. After Grand-mere Ursule gives her life to save her family, their magic seems to die with her.

  Even so, the Orchieres fight to keep the old ways alive, practicing half-remembered spells and arcane rites in hopes of a revival. And when their youngest daughter comes of age, magic flows anew. The lineage continues, though new generations struggle not only to master their power, but also to keep it hidden.

  But when World War II looms on the horizon, magic is needed more urgently than ever – not for simple potions or visions, but to change the entire course of history.

  This book is covered in sand and stained with salt water from the Aegean Sea––it was the only book I managed to read on my trip to Greece, and I took it everywhere with me. It’s not only a history of witches, but a history of one of the best experiences of my life!

  A Secret History of Witches is a unique historical fantasy that has multiple perspectives and narratives across different time periods, but it is not a parallel narrative story like most historical fantasy novels. Instead we watch five generations of witches across roughly 120 years, how magic played a role in their lives, and the consequences of the women’s use and interpretation of their magic. It was a little difficult giving this book a rating as two of the narratives I probably could’ve done without (but I understood their purpose and read through them anyway), but overall I was very impressed with everything about this story––the structure, the style, the distinctions between the women in their voices and narratives, the way outsiders saw the witches, the roles magic played with each generation’s wants and needs––that I left feeling fulfilled and enchanted.

  Five very different women take the stage in this saga. This began as a very matriarchal, feminist narrative, with a close-knit family of Romani escaping Brittany and persecution for the safety of a permanent home in Cornwall. Nanette, our first narrator, is the last granddaughter of a great witch and recalls the persecution and her family’s flight. She is determined to continue the Orchiére line and finds guidance in magic. As the generations continue––through skeptical Ursule to vindictive Irene, sweet Morwen to determined Veronica––the life of the outsiders, the ones with no understanding of magic, a life of gender roles, a belief and desire for war, start to leak into the Orchiére women’s lives. With each generation magic becomes weaker and fades; with the rise of technology and steps toward integration into modern society each Romani woman takes, their feminist nature and matriarchal respect dies away.

  I found this to be an incredibly interesting study. When we think of magic––or faith, for that matter––we see it as something archaic, ancient, to be set in history, to have no place in the modern world, especially in the blind reliance and belief in it. (Think of Harry Potter and how archaic the wizarding world seems in comparison to Harry’s Muggle life!) We also find feminism to be forward-thinking and progressive, and not at all something that existed in history (though we do find examples of powerful women, and men who treated women with respect/as equals). Push these two together: the power of magic and the power of women, both dying off thanks to the integration into the modern world. What does this say about us? What does this say about our society?

  I’m probably reading too deeply into it, but I was genuinely fascinated with the themes and progression of the novel as each woman stated her piece in history. If you’re looking for something different in historical fantasy, pick up this book. This would also be a good novel for fans of Paula Brackston’s The Winter Witch, as well as the family aspects from Discovery of Witches.

  This qualifies as book 8 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman

  Posted at 6:40 am by Laura, on August 6, 2018

  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

  Publisher: Penguin
  Published: May 2017
  Genre: contemporary
  ISBN: 9780735220690
  Rating: ★★★★★

  No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

  Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

  But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

  Hannah’s review kick-started me reading this book, a book that I would pause to stare at on the shelves, tempted to check out or purchase, but kept walking by. I’m glad I bought it. It’s now the fourth book I’ve given 5 stars to in 2018, and it deserved every single one of them and more.

  I was concerned this would be another curmudgeonly-character book, one of the many hitting shelves lately like a trend, but that’s not the case. Eleanor is truly a book from the heart and soul of introverts, of the lonely, of the scared. There were many moments throughout the novel that I could relate to Eleanor so strongly — such as the times her social commentary was so spot on, I’m sure other introverts thrust in many social situations feel the same (we just don’t speak out on it like Eleanor does) — and other times it was achingly clear that she had boxed herself into isolation out of fear, and thus didn’t realize she had become a lonely person. Yes, she’s fine (she has a job, she has food, she has shelter), but her moments of shock and sadness at basic human touch (a hairdresser running fingers through her hair, a hug from a motherly stranger) just…hit me right in the feels, for lack of a better phrase.

  Numerous reviews will tell you this is a heartwarming novel, or humorous, or curious. I’m not sure it’s any of those, but I can certainly see why people would review it as such. There are moments in Eleanor’s interactions with others and her internal thoughts that were funny (the way she would find certain aspects of social expectations bemusing, for one thing), but more often than not I found them relatable. Perhaps it stems from my own thoughts and experiences as an introvert, as someone who has felt deep sense of loneliness and fear. There were parts that certainly made my heart melt, like Sammy’s family or Raymond’s mother, but this is not a light-hearted novel. It’s certainly a curious one, and it made me wonder about all the quiet individuals in my life, the ones who were bullied more than I was as a kid, and how they’re faring now as adults. It made me think about all the elderly people in homes, who call their libraries or local stores or a nearby relative just to make conversation.

  The most compelling aspects of the novel, for me, were the numerous Jane Eyre parallels (apart from the obvious social worker history sheet we see early on). Jane and Eleanor are so similar — traumatic childhoods, fires, repression of emotion and identity, crushing losses, determination to rise up and be true to who she is, making first steps forward of her own volition. My heart ached for Eleanor, rooted for her in her triumphs, wanted to love all over Raymond and Sammy, and kick Mummy out the window. Her experience and emotional arc in this novel was astounding — you can see her lightening and relaxing as the novel progressed, simply by her thoughts and dialogue with others — and the twist at the end blew me away. You have a friend in me, Eleanor! You are not alone.

  I may love Eleanor as much as I love Jane. That’s how much I loved this book.

  This novel was deeply moving and profound for me. It now stands on a shelf of books that have heavily influenced my reading, a shelf full of books I’ll reread for the rest of my life.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review

• Book Review: “Royals” by Rachel Hawkins

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on June 29, 2018

  Royals by Rachel Hawkins

  Publisher: Putnam BFYR
  Published: May 2018
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781524738235
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

  While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

  Daisy just wants to live a normal American teenage life, thank you. She wants to go to nerdy conventions and meet favorite authors with her best friend, tell boys to get lost, and make enough money with her low-stress minimum wage job to do what she pleases. But nope, all hope of that was dashed aside when her older sister became engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland––which in turn meant tabloids, paparazzi, and the inevitable meeting-of-the-families. Prom photos and ex-boyfriend scandals reached a spotlight a bit too quickly though, and to make amends Daisy agrees to spend a portion of her summer in Scotland to meet her future royal in-laws––only, some of the family and their closest friends aren’t so sure about Daisy and her blunt American-ness.

  What a riot!!! I loved it! Loved it. This is how you write American-meets-royal fiction. There are other YA novels out there recently where the girl is just one giant dunderhead, and I promise you, even people who have no interest in royalty know a thing or two about the culture, expectations, etc of the monarchy. Hawkins nailed it! It was like reading a YA The Royal We, and I ate it up.

  Though there is no such royal monarchy of Scotland and Scotland only anymore, this reimagining of the isles felt so spot on. The hype surrounding the family, the history, the competitiveness between Scotland and England, it all felt so real and tangible. Kudos to Hawkins for really making this authentic and believable. It makes me wish Scotland still had their own monarchy! (Although that’s another political debate I’ll not go into at the moment…)

  Daisy was absolutely fantastic. I want to be her friend! She’s so witty and funny––even in the super tense moments when humor is not the best tactic, she reminds me of people who laugh during funerals or giggle when others are sad. She just doesn’t have a filter and has so much energy and expression ready to burst forth, so when Miles (friend of the Crown Prince Alexander’s younger, reckless brother Sebastian) is trying to show her the ropes and teach her how to behave in public, shenanigans out of Daisy’s control ensue. My favorite is when she takes a dig at an older woman’s gigantic yellow-feathered hat, and the woman turns out to be a member of the royal family (Camille’s hat from Harry and Meghan’s wedding popped into my head and I couldn’t stop laughing).

  I especially appreciated the romance in this novel. It wasn’t insta-love, but it also wasn’t hate-to-love either. More like wary-dislike-to-love. Hawkins took a jab at the insta-love trope when Daisy meets Sebastian in person for the first time, saying “I get a handshake instead of a hug, which is probably for the best as I think a hug with this boy might count as sexual contact.” Died. DIED. The fact we have a character here who can recognize and acknowledge lust versus love and handle it normally, authentically, realistically was like a breath of fresh air for me when reading YA. Massive thank you to Hawkins.

  Seriously, what a ride. I loved every bit of it. For anyone looking for YA contemporary royalty reads, or something to tide you over to the next British royal event post-Harry and Meghan wedding, this is definitely the book for you. I can’t wait to read the companion!

  This qualifies as book 10 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Spinning Silver” by Naomi Novik (ARC)

  Posted at 6:20 am by Laura, on June 26, 2018

  Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

  Publisher: Del Rey
  Publishing Date: July 10
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780399180989
  Rating: ★★★★

  Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders… but her father isn’t a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife’s dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem steps in. Hardening her heart against her fellow villagers’ pleas, she sets out to collect what is owed–and finds herself more than up to the task. When her grandfather loans her a pouch of silver pennies, she brings it back full of gold.

  But having the reputation of being able to change silver to gold can be more trouble than it’s worth–especially when her fate becomes tangled with the cold creatures that haunt the wood, and whose king has learned of her reputation and wants to exploit it for reasons Miryem cannot understand.

  Miryem’s family is falling further into poverty as winter continues to wage battle on her village. She takes it upon herself to collect the debts owed her father the night it seems her mother may die. As she brings in wealth for her family, the Staryk — the creatures of bitter cold, snow, and ice — take notice of her abilities to turn silver to gold, and bargain with her. One bargain turns into another, and soon enough Miryem has trapped herself and others in the kingdom in a vicious battle between humanity and demons.

  This was immensely darker, far more rooted in Eastern European lore, and heavy with Jewish custom and atmosphere, than Uprooted ever was (and you know how much I loved the idea of a forest as the enemy). And though a part of me wondered if anything good would ever happen for these characters, any ounce of hope, I have to say it: this was even better than Uprooted. If that was even possible.

  The women in this novel were so varied, so strong, and so kickass! Miryem takes up the family business out of survival and necessity. Soon Miryem’s family hires Wanda, a young woman who needs to be away from her father and save her brothers from his wrath. Miryem and a family friend design Staryk silver jewelry to sell to the duke’s daughter Irina, to help her become tsarina. Irina’s servant and motherly figure watches with pride and anticipation as Irina battles the demon inside the tsar.

  There are other voices in this novel, and it was so neat to see the way Novik weaves them together throughout the chapters. Each person truly had a different voice, without chapter name indicators as is so often done in multi-POV, depending on their socioeconomic status, age, and level of education. These context clues (up until their name is addressed by another character) add so many layers to the story. It was a beautiful and enchanting read.

  At its core, it’s more than an Eastern European spin on “Rumpelstiltskin.” It also has the beating heart of Jewish history and culture. The novel has this pulsing ache of despair coupled with the determined urgency to find hope. The characters, most especially Miryem, will do whatever it takes to save family, friends, and loved ones, and to find that sense of peace, hope, and joy at the end of this long tunnel of desperation and doubt. To see it played out like this — and how the consequences of one character’s actions impact a whole country, an entire kingdom — was an adventure in and of itself.

  Those final sentences? Slay me. I die.

  Spinning Silver will capture your heart and hold fast from beginning to end.

  Thank you, Del Rey, for providing this book at PLA for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review

• Book Review: “The Queens of Innis Lear” by Tessa Gratton

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on June 4, 2018

  The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

  Publisher: Tor
  Published: March 2018
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780765392466
  Rating: ★★★.5

  The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.

  The king’s three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm’s only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

  Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

  Gaela is determined to become a king of Innis Lear, and she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal. Reagan wants nothing more than to be a mother and resorts to magic to create a child. Elia wants to do what’s best for her kingdom and the land, utilizing the stars for guidance. When their father––whose obsession with the stars’ prophecies has driven Innis Lear to ruin––is ready to name an heir for the kingdom, the stars and his daughters leave him surprised, tearing the kingdom apart instead of uniting. With husbands, kings, and diplomats from other lands all sharing their insight with the sisters, the kingdom’s fate is hurtling toward inevitable collapse if one sister does not come out as the true queen of Innis Lear.

  I loathed the Shakespeare play, which the skeleton of this novel is based on. I found King Lear selfish, narcissistic, unjustifiably crazy, frustrating, and obnoxious, so I felt he and his kingdom deserved to collapse. In Gratton’s epic reimagining, I’m still deeply bothered by King Lear, but she really humanizes him––he is a king gone mad with grief, relying on one particular aspect of faith (faith in the stars) to guide his decisions, with no allowance for logic or reasoning. In many ways his madness reminded me of the elderly stuck in ruts, on the brink of dementia even. You’re frustrated, and yet you also pity.

  This fantasy was more political, theoretical, gossipy, and religious than it was plot-and-action. We see each sister’s motivations, desires, and sorrows; we see the king of a neighboring country, their mother’s brother, the bastard son of an earl, and a forest witch. All of these views, all of their conversations and experiences with each other and with King Lear, really paint a full picture of the political and religious turmoil going on in Innis. I wouldn’t necessarily say I liked any particular character, as they all had their strengths and flaws, but Elia and Mars probably take the cake––they were the most calm and reasoning of the bunch, which we all know I gravitate toward even in life (haha)!

  I keep bringing up religion, and it’s true, this does have religious connotations to it that anyone with any familiarity with any faith can identify with. There’s faith, and then there’s zealous passion that, more often than not, is full of corruption and blindness. King Lear is zealous. The land, the kingdom, the neighboring kingdoms, either recognize the faith of the land (working in unity with the ground, the water, the trees, the air, the stars) or respectfully none at all––Lear’s actions indicate that fervor in one aspect of the faith (in his case, the stars and only the stars) causes more famine and destruction than no faith at all. There’s respect for magic, for witches and wizards, in the lands with full or no faith, while King Lear respects only the star priests. It’s so fascinating watching all of this discussed and explored, because we can easily apply this in our world too.

  The book could have cut another 100-200 pages, in my opinion, but it was still an enjoyable epic fantasy of intrigue and world-building. This is probably the first Shakespeare fantasy reimagining I’ve read that’s actually…worked.

  This qualifies as book 7 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “From Twinkle, With Love” by Sandhya Menon (ARC)

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on May 8, 2018

  From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

  Publisher: Simon Pulse
  Publishing Date: May 22
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781481495400
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.

  When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.

  Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?

  Twinkle has so many stories she wants to tell to inspire and empower, but she sees herself as a lowly “groundling,” someone too low to aspire to new heights. Especially since it feels like her BFF, Maddie, is already up there with the rich and popular crowd, leaving Twinkle behind. But when Sahil, twin brother to Twinkle’s crush Neil, offers to be a producer for one of her directed films for the local film festival, Twinkle sees this as her chance: to get closer to Neil, to win Maddie back, and to shine in the light. But as she works closely with Sahil and interacts more with the catty crowd Maddie’s around, she starts to wonder if what she wants is really worth the price to pay for fame.

  This was a good, fun, clean YA that fans of When Dimple Met Rishi and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before will enjoy. Secretive emails, misunderstood romantic gestures, losing oneself in the midst of a big project, and finding ways to repair friendships and their growing pains are all packed into this novel. I enjoyed the way we read Twinkle’s thoughts in her diary, interspersed with Sahil’s texts with his friends and his infrequent blog posts. This is primarily Twinkle’s story though, with her fully understanding first love versus first crush, and her spiral as she wants to misguidedly rescue her best friend.

  Though I didn’t enjoy it as much as Menon’s debut, I still enjoyed and appreciated the representation in here. The dynamics of friendship are always important to explore, and the ways in which we change and grow and adapt. Most of all, I liked the poverty rep in here. As someone who grew up in a thrifty family in the middle of an immensely wealthy community, I can understand Twinkle’s dilemmas. In fact, many of her interactions with classmates and their commentary on her poverty felt like exact conversations I experienced too — and my family was not as poor as Twinkle’s. This was refreshing to see, and I loved watching how Twinkle navigated “the system” with her head held high.

  Sahil, though. I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy. Ugh, what an adorkable ball of witty and intuitive fluff. 12/10 would’ve totally crushed on this kid in high school.

  For anyone looking for a clean read, with adorable romantic bumbles and great commentary on maintaining friendship and the pains of social hierarchy, pick up this book!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Simon Pulse for review! 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Now That You Mention It” by Kristan Higgins

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on April 23, 2018

  Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins

  Publisher: Graydon House
  Published: December 2017
  Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781525811364
  Rating: ★★★.75

  One step forward. Two steps back. The Tufts scholarship that put Nora Stuart on the path to becoming a Boston medical specialist was a step forward. Being hit by a car and then overhearing her boyfriend hit on another doctor when she thought she was dying? Two major steps back.

  Injured in more ways than one, Nora feels her carefully built life cracking at the edges. There’s only one place to land: home. But the tiny Maine community she left fifteen years ago doesn’t necessarily want her. At every turn, someone holds the prodigal daughter of Scupper Island responsible for small-town drama and big-time disappointments.

  With a tough islander mother who’s always been distant and a wild-child sister in jail, unable to raise her daughter–a withdrawn teen as eager to ditch the island as Nora once was–Nora has her work cut out for her if she’s going to take what might be her last chance to mend the family.

  But as some relationships crumble around her, others unexpectedly strengthen. Balancing loss and opportunity, a dark event from her past with hope for the future, Nora will discover that tackling old pain makes room for promise…and the chance to begin again.

  After Nora is hit by a van and witnesses her boyfriend cheating on her, she has a bit of an awakening, packs her bags, and moves back to Maine for the summer. She didn’t exactly leave her home island with relationships intact, and wants to patch up things with her mother, her sister (albeit through Nora’s niece), and the people still there. But while she’s patching up her life, she must face the impacts of the past, and learn how to face old traumas and disappointments head on.

  This is the kind of women’s fiction I enjoy. Here’s this woman who has her life together on the surface — great job, nice home, cool city, boyfriend — but underneath it all are past fears, disappointments, and trauma. Nora was once the target for bullying, and was also the victim of a break-in and assault (trigger warnings). But she didn’t let these things prevent her from moving forward in her life. I really like how she handled everything, maturely even though the temptation to lash out at others or go on a binger would feel best in the moment. Nora is smart and intelligent, with deep empathy for others despite their treatment of her. That’s not to say she’s not facing struggles or that her life is rosy-perfect and she’s unaffected — she absolutely is impacted by everything. But it was refreshing to read from this perspective. Not everyone needs to go off the edge to tell a good story.

  The small town atmosphere was perfect, and I loved the variety of characters in this novel. I especially liked the relationships between Nora, her niece Poe, the love interest Sullivan, and his daughter Audrey. Each of them have such interesting journeys from the last fifteen years, and it’s so neat to see them come together. Oh, and Sullivan? Swoon. What a sweet and caring man, without being macho or overbearing. I liked that he was partially deaf too — a result of his own car wreck over a decade ago — as it added an interesting dynamic with Nora, with the town, and with his daughter. More deaf narratives, please!

  This was good. It’s not a light read by any means, but the pages certainly turn. Nora’s wit and humor, and her tell-it-like-it-is attitude made for an entertaining read, even in the dark moments.

  This qualifies as book 5 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Between Two Fires” by Mark Noce

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on March 28, 2018

  Between Two Fires by Mark Noce

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Published: August 2016
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781250072627
  Rating: ★★★

  Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King. But the fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen becomes the target of assassination attempts and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan, her world threatens to tear itself apart.

  Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.

  Branwen is a pawn in a king’s game, the target for marriage, bearing children, assassinations, and kingdom destruction by Saxons. She’s more than aware that her life isn’t entirely in her own hands, so she plays like a chess master, navigating the numerous courts throughout Wales to unite the country, be with the one she truly loves, and defeat the Saxons.

  I’m always eager to read books similar to Hild or Shadow on the Crown, stories that are set in medieval or ancient Britain / Europe, when countries were still torn apart in tiny little kingdoms. Bonus points for those women navigating and influencing this incredibly patriarchal and sexist time.

  Noce’s writing style forced me to slow down and take in every single scene word for word. I fell in love with Branwen slowly but surely, beginning as a naive yet frightened young woman and growing into the “Fairy Queen” she became to Wales by the end of the novel. I savored each moment with Artagan, and worried for his safety each time he rode off to battle. And, speaking of battles, I was *gasp* totally invested in all those battle scenes. The Welsh castles and fortresses I could picture in my head and it still blows my mind how people were able to defend themselves in those spaces. There were also a few twists here and there that I was able to predict, but the twists within the twists left such an intriguing trail of deceit that I was impressed.

  I enjoyed this enough that I’m eager to see what Dark Winds Rising has in store!

  This qualifies as book 4 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The City of Brass” by SA Chakraborty

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on March 19, 2018

  The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty

  Publisher: Harper Voyager
  Published: November 2017
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062678102
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

  But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass?a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

  In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

  After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for . . .

  On the streets of 18th-century Cairo, Nahri gets by on her cons and finds joy in deceiving Ottoman nobles. Sometimes she helps others with reassurances of good health, even when death may be near, so as to give them some sense of peace. When she accidentally summons a djinn warrior during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept the magical world she thought only existed in stories. The djinn, Dara, tells her about mythical creatures in air and water, of mountains and sands full of terrifying beings, and a city of brass called Daevabad. It is here that Nahri enters a whole new world of court politics, finding herself bound to the city’s ancient history and conflict, and where schemes can prove to be deadly.

  Hands down my favorite book of 2018, and the year has only just begun. I’m still reeling from a book hangover, and I finished this book in January. I’m writing this in mid-March and I still don’t know how to put this book into words. Bear with me as I attempt this feat…

  The City of Brass is so layered and complicated, it forced me to slow down to read. Imagine yourself a foreigner to a whole new world. There will be racism, elitism, sexism, centuries of war and development and culture, and you are thrown into this world as a savior for some (in a most complicated way) and a signal of downfall to others (in a most complicated way). Nahri is literally thrust into a role she cannot comprehend or begin to understand, and is expected to know this world like the back of her hand, with all of its intricacies and history.

  So yes, it’s complicated. Especially when the warrior she’s summoned is the last of his kind as well, bound for centuries to the kind she’s descended from, and he’s basically sentenced to death upon entering Daevabad for his centuries’-past treason. Who do you believe when it comes to describing the history and significance of Daevabad? The royal family, the people, the warrior?

  I haven’t read a book like this in a long time, if ever. It’s not easy to tell who the good and bad guys are. The characters provide ample moments of humor in the midst of heart-pounding adventure. The political complications throughout the novel — from the variety of djinn races, to the fascinating mythological creatures, to the cultural and historical clashes — only heighten the emotional intensity between Nahri and Dara. Their romance simply burned and I was left in tatters at the end of the novel. Avid readers of historical fantasy will enjoy this Middle Eastern debut, inspired by one of the stories from 1001 Nights. The world is imaginative yet feels incredibly authentic and tangible. I was surprised at every turn!

  I cannot recommend this enough. The City of Brass is a must-read.

  This qualifies as book 3 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 6 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan

  Posted at 6:10 am by Laura, on February 19, 2018

  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

  Publisher: Anchor Books
  Published: May 2014
  Genre: contemporary, women’s fiction
  ISBN: 9780345803788
  Rating: ★★★★

  When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees on a summer in Singapore to visit her boyfriend’s “traditional” Chinese family, she expects the trip to be relaxing, if a little dull. She has no idea…

  Nick’s childhood home is a palace. He grew up riding in more private planes than cars. He and Rachel will be attending the wedding of the year. Oh, and Nick just happens to be one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors — and his formidable mother isn’t so sure Rachel is the right one for him.

  Rachel is under the impression she’s jetting off to Singapore with her boyfriend for the summer — something fun between semesters of professor life. Little does she know, his family is wildly, outrageously, crazy rich, and they have their own set of standards for this mystery girl he’s bringing home.

  I loved this. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s satirical novels, imagine her sassy, snarky, sarcastic commentary in a modern setting and you have Kevin Kwan. The extreme detail put into the characters’ seemingly superficial lives was hilarious. Everyone played a role in this novel, from Nick’s mother, to his cousins, to Rachel’s BFF from college, to passersby in Singapore. Toss in the [admittedly very little] research I did on Singapore lifestyle and culture, and holy crap this book [seems to] nails it.

  I mean, come on. Look at this quote. (From the mind of a guy I think is Nick’s cousin by marriage.)

  “But then his parents were always so selfish. Sure, they raised him and paid for his education and bought him his first apartment, but they failed him when it came to what was truly important — they didn’t know how to flaunt their wealth properly.”

  These people. My goodness. It was brilliant.

  Among all of this extravagance are three down-to-earth characters: Astrid, Nick, and Rachel. Astrid is Nick’s cousin, and she lives the high life as well — but she knows enough about heartache, budget cuts, and experience-over-materials that you can’t help but like her frank and honest character. Nick is one of those “I’m wealthy but I don’t flaunt it” types, living in a small apartment in NYC and living paycheck to paycheck rather than dipping into an account overflowing with decades of family coin. You’d think he’d be the spoiled type, but he wants nothing to do with the family money despite wanting to please his mother and father. And finally, Rachel. Our normal, totally average, super funny, head-on-her-shoulders Rachel, who is just trying to wrap her brain around all the crazy superficial things going on around her and Nick on this trip. You can’t not love her. She’s such a refreshing voice.

  In the end, though, even the most surface-level characters had depth to their motivations and desires. For example, Nick’s mother claims she’s not happy her son never told her about his dirt poor, possibly-a-gold-digger girlfriend and that’s the only reason. But as the story progresses, it digs deeper: she’s concerned the girlfriend’s background, her family ties, honor, values, tradition. She mentions money as an excuse to not like Rachel, but so much of this novel has threads of Asian family expectations and values. It’s an excellent cultural read.

  I should’ve read this book sooner — like, the day it published. I can’t wait for the film!

  This qualifies as book 1 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review, rock my TBR

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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