Tag: books

• Book Review: “The Bird and the Blade” by Megan Bannen

  Posted at 7:05 am by Laura, on September 19, 2018

  The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Published: June 2018
  Genre: historical fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062674159
  Rating: ★★★★★

  As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom … until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love.

  Jinghua’s already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand—and if they fail, they die.

  Jinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf’s kingdom—and his very life—on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she’s capable of … even if it means losing him to the girl who’d sooner take his life than his heart.

  Jinghua, a Song slave in Kipchak Khanate, mourns the loss of her family and is haunted by their hungry spirits. A part of her would wish nothing more than for the Kipchaks to disappear, but Prince Khalaf was once so kind to her she cannot hate them all. When an unlikely and terrible opportunity arises for her to escape, she chooses to flee the Khanate with Prince Khalaf and his father, seeking assistance from neighboring kingdoms to take back their land and stand up to the Great Khan. But Khalaf does not seek warfare, and instead makes his father and Jinghua chase after him across the great Mongol Empire, in an attempt to stop him from answering the dangerous Turandokht’s riddles and face imminent death. Jinghua must find the balance between honoring her family and past, and protecting her heart.

  I thought my familiarity with the opera Turandot would numb me from the tragedy, but nope. Bannen still made me cry. This is my fifth 5-star read in 2018, and it deserves all of it and so much more. I absolutely loved it — from the inspiration for the story, to the language and descriptions, to the timeline jumps, and everything in between. This is an excellent crossover novel, and I’d love to see more books like this out in the world.

  The opera is based on a Persian-translated-into-French story about a Chinese princess and her fall into slavery, combined with a folktale about a princess who locked herself away in a palace on a mountain asking suitors riddles. The Bird and the Blade is the slave girl’s story. Because let’s be real, her story is infinitely better than Turandokht’s. Knowing the opera will not fully prepare you for this immensely emotional journey. Jinghua’s grief, anger, turmoil, fear, and love are so tangible, so authentic and so powerful, that I could not put this book down. Likewise Khalaf’s maturity, intelligence, patience, and kindness made my heart ache. When we get to the end of this tragedy, I was already weeping.

  Bannen makes a huge disclaimer in her notes about the historical and fantastical elements in this novel. Because it’s based on an opera, which in itself is based on a translated text on Mongolian culture and history, it can’t necessarily be taken as fact, nor can it be seen as complete folktale. These people, this story, really comes down to Ghengis Khan’s rule and the division of his descendants, and Bannen tried to stay as true as possible to elements of Mongolian Empire history, religion, and culture across Asia and Europe in that time. Needless to say, I was blown away. What a tremendous undertaking. This is every folklore historian’s dream in one book.

  What an overwhelmingly, wonderfully descriptive and gorgeous book, full of love and fear and guilt and honor. It’s a tremendous accomplishment.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Kings of the Wyld” by Nicholas Eames

  Posted at 6:25 am by Laura, on September 12, 2018

  Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

  Publisher: Orbit
  Published: February 2017
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780316362474
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best — the meanest, dirtiest, most feared crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

  Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk – or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help. His daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

  It’s time to get the band back together for one last tour across the Wyld.

  These men are legends, rockstars, and shouldn’t be fighting battles anymore but here we are. 20 years after disbanding, Gabe’s daughter is trapped in a city on the other side of the Wyld, death knocking. His only hope is Clay Cooper, our MC, to help him bring the band of warriors back together, beer bellies and aching backs and all. And you know what? They follow. They know it’s crazy, they know death is far more inevitable now that they’re out of shape and older, but for the first time in their lives, they actually have something worth fighting for.

  What a riot of a good time! The language is funny and accessible, and Eames does an excellent job of grounding the characters and really making the relationships feel long-established. Plus, how often do you get to see a grown child shout “Dad?!” when one of those bandmates — your friends — does something weird or stupid? It’s like Robin Hood twenty years later, rehashing the glory days while try to adjust to this older body and familiar moves. So fun. So hilarious. And so…vivid. Real.

  I would highly recommend this to someone new to fantasy as well as a long-time fan. Yes there’s a map, and funny names and interesting history, plus hordes of creatures familiar and brand new, but the magic of this realm is not the point of the story: it’s about survival, adjustment, standing together with your friends even when it feels like a lost cause. I’m really looking forward to reading Bloody Rose!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review

• Book Review: “China Rich Girlfriend” by Kevin Kwan

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on September 10, 2018

  China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

  Publisher: Anchor
  Published: May 2016
  Genre: contemporary
  ISBN: 9780804172066
  Rating: ★★★★

  It’s the eve of Rachel Chu’s wedding, and she should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond, a wedding dress she loves, and a fiancé willing to thwart his meddling relatives and give up one of the biggest fortunes in Asia in order to marry her. Still, Rachel mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won’t be there to walk her down the aisle.

  Then a chance accident reveals his identity. Suddenly, Rachel is drawn into a dizzying world of Shanghai splendor, a world where people attend church in a penthouse, where exotic cars race down the boulevard, and where people aren’t just crazy rich … they’re China rich.

  If you haven’t read Crazy Rich Asians, there might be spoilers of that book in this review!

  With Nick on the rocks with his family and Rachel planning their intimate wedding, Rachel can’t help but feel the relationships with their parents need some mending. She wants to find her birth father and invite him to the wedding, and Nick’s mother wants to be involved (though, understandingly, not as crazy-involved as he’s worried she’ll be). When Eleanor’s digging unearths Rachel’s true father — and he’s filthy, mind-blowingly, extraordinarily rich — Rachel and Nick are swept up on a trip to Shanghai. But their appearance shakes things up for friends and family in China, and Rachel must decide what’s really important: a life of extravagance in her father’s world, or a life she’s built with Nick knowing that she may never see her father again.

  This was just as fun, if not more over-the-top than the last novel! China Rich Girlfriend explores Chinese bajillionaires and “new money,” family secrets, living up to society’s expectations, and so much more. Rachel, Nick, Charlie, and Astrid continue to ground the narrative in reality while the rest of their crazy world spins out of control.

  Some of our favorite characters from the first book appear again here, and others who were more secondary (such as Kitty Pong!) take center stage. New characters are introduced, and their wild lifestyles and interesting backstories shed light on the constraints of society that still exist today. For example, Kitty Pong wants to do good in society, but instead of throwing money everywhere like she wishes to, she “needs” to learn how to be restrained, quiet, demur, and behind-the-scenes. New characters, such as Carlton and his instagram-famous “girlfriend but not my girlfriend” have interesting dynamics, in that both are pressured to marry and they likely will, but they want to find themselves as individuals first (both, essentially, wanting to pursue their careers).

  In many ways this made Rachel, Nick, and their relationship more two-dimensional. They sit and watch the drama unfold, like the reader. But Astrid and Charlie — and likewise Astrid and Michael — really propel the novel interspersed through all the drama. They try so hard to maintain a good and safe friendship, but Michael (understandably) is swept up in his sudden self-made fortune and is obsessed with appearances in a way Astrid’s family never was. The tension was palpable and the dynamics were great with this! Astrid is the shining star of this installment.

  I’m curious what Rich People Problems will bring!

  This qualifies as book 9 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review, rock my TBR

• 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

• Just a Bit of Light Reading

  Posted at 6:55 am by Laura, on July 5, 2018

  My choir was given the wonderful opportunity to be a featured choir at an international choral festival in Greece, with top direction by one of the biggest of the big wigs in the conducting world. So of course I threw my money toward it and said I’d go!

  But my usual form of planning (researching everything about the area, coming up with a list of places to visit, costs, hours, travel, etc) rerouted to just planning over reading material––we’re spending most of our time on one island, with morning rehearsals, evening concerts, and free afternoons. I expect to get a lot of reading done!

  

   

  So here I am, sharing with you the books that I’m hoping to start, read, and finish while abroad in the sunshine! (Yes, yes, I know this is not realistic, but I don’t care.)

  FANTASY

  Royal Airs || Book Two in the Elemental Blessings series. I read Troubled Waters last year and enjoyed it enough to want to continue on. I’m curious to see where Shinn takes us with Josetta’s narrative.

  Child of the Prophecy || Book Three in the Sevenwaters series and the original ending of the originally-intended Sevenwaters trilogy. I adored Daughter of the Forest and enjoyed Son of the Shadows, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the child!

  Dreamer’s Pool || I don’t have much of a reason other than I really want to begin Marillier’s latest completed trilogy!

  FANTASY/HISTORICAL BLEND*

  *also known as, Where Laura Starts to Flail

  A Secret History of Witches || I was chatting with an editor about what we love most in historical fantasy blends, and she mentioned this book. When I told her I hadn’t heard of it (assuming it hadn’t published yet, silly me), she completely gushed over it, convincing me to buy it and hopefully read on this trip!

  The Little Shop of Found Things || I really enjoy Paula Brackston’s novels (here & here), and this new series will be available in the fall. The thing is, I can’t take it on the trip if the Goodreads giveaway doesn’t send it…*stares at the Thomas Dunne marketing department*

  

  Sweet Black Waves || Ohhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyy goddddddd, a Tristan and Isolde epic retelling/expansion/adaptation/inspiration for YA?! YES PLEASE YES PLEASE. *jumps*

  Once Upon a River || WHY WOULD I NOT BRING THIS BOOK DIANESETTERFIELD IS QUEEN I CANNOT WAIT TO GET STARTED ON THIS I AM SO EXCITED I JUST MIGHT DIE IN THE AEGEAN SEA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

  (which would be quite fitting, upon reflection, considering a girl is pulled from the water dead in this novel…hmmmm)

  (LOLZ omg no worries I WILL NOT DIE IN THE AEGEAN SEA.)

  (I will die in the English Channel because it meant I made my way to England in my final days and I’ve found my resting place.)

  (Let’s move on to some realism…)

  CONTEMPORARY

  China Rich Girlfriend || I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to start Crazy Rich Asians, so I’m hoping to catch up on the trilogy (or at least get through 2/3) before the movie comes out in August. I love how truly crazy it is––the lifestyle is obnoxiously rich, the people seem so very shallow, and here comes Rachel, totally average, bopping around and trying to make sense of it all. Kinda makes me wonder if Meghan Markle (or at least her mother) felt anything like this around the royals initially…

  Riverbend Road || I’m branching out into the contemporary romance sector in my everyday reading, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked Kristan Higgins (based on Lauren and Hannah’s recommendations) that now I’m trying out another: RaeAnne Thayne (based on Lauren and Kelly’s recommendations). I know I chose a book in the middle of the series, but it was very much a cover-love situation!

  

  I know, I know. It’s a lot. And I don’t care. I’ll probably throw all of these into the suitcase and stare at them till 5 minutes before we have to load the car and head to the airport, and toss out a few impulse choices in the end. We’ll see! Keep an eye on my travels by following my Instagram. I’ll have some quick snippet reviews up––and you can see which books made the last-minute cut. *wink*

  Have you read any of these books? What are your trip planning and packing habits? 

  Posted in books, Update Post | 4 Comments | Tagged books, personal

• 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

• Mini Reviews

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on May 30, 2018

  Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey

  Publisher: Gallery Books
  Published: April 2017
  Genre: women’s fiction
  Rating: ★★★.5
  Summary: Caroline Murphy swore she’d never go back to Peachtree Bluff. But when her New York high society husband cheats on her with a high-profile model, Caroline escapes the gossip with her daughter for the safety and quiet of her mother’s home. Ansley is the proud owner of a waterfront interior design business in Peachtree Bluff. She welcomes Caroline with open arms–and finds her second daughter Sloane, a military wife with two young sons, and third daughter Emerson, an up-and-coming actress in town for a film shoot, joining them for the season. Ansley lovesher daughters, but the chaos of their lives upends the steady constancy of her own carefully constructed life. Just as she’s beginning to get the hang of new responsibilities, someone from her past appears, one who can shed light on her daughters’ history and potentially tear the threads of Ansley’s family apart.  

  Mini Review: This novel explores the dynamics between sisters and mothers and daughters, what it means to be in a successful marriage, and the many ways one can live life on their terms. While Caroline and Ansley have their opinions of how to be happy (and I’m erring on the side of Ansley for Caroline’s decisions, and I’ve no clue what I’d do if I were Ansley in her situation), the events surrounding the women in Peachtree Bluff prove there is no one correct answer to life’s surprises. The small-town atmosphere, Southern charm, and emotional core are at the heart of this enjoyable beach read.

  This qualifies as book 6 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

  Publisher: William Morrow
  Published: April 2018
  Genre: women’s fiction
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

  When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

  Mini Review: I really enjoyed the first half of this novel and wasn’t too pleased with the second half of the novel. Mostly because I kept thinking, “This story trope again? Why? This could’ve been so much more!” I enjoyed the writing of the first half as well, while the second half seemed to have a more cinematic quality to it rather than its more literary beginning (which makes sense, since it was written primarily as a screenplay–sink into the location and set-up and meet all the cast, then focus on minute details in conversations during The Event). That said, I love stories set in Oxford, I love Victorian literature, and I loved Ella’s political leanings and believe in education and the arts. Getting to be with this character (at least for the first half!) was an absolute joy.

  This qualifies as book 4 of 5 in my fun library books challenge.

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

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent and librarian, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I have a passion for Victorian culture, Gothic lit, and music. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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