Tag: rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Reluctant Queen” by Sarah Beth Durst

  Posted at 8:55 am by Laura, on June 24, 2019

  The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst

  Publisher: Harper Voyager
  Published: July 2017
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062413352
  Rating: ★★★.75

  Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.

  Naelin is one such person, and she couldn’t be further removed from the Queen—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that’s all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin’s ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife’s ability to control spirits—magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves.

  But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he’s certain he’s done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen’s power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened—even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north—does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.

  The new, young queen is dying, and Renthia is on the brink of war with neighboring queendoms and from within: if the spirits of Renthia are not harnessed and controlled by a healthy, strong queen, they will attack the citizens within. Ven heads out once more to find the right person for the job, and it just so happens to come in the form of a mother, reluctant to leave her family and reluctant to use her power. Naelin just wants to have a quiet and simple life, but the needs of the country are much larger than she could ever know.

  I loved The Queen of Blood for having a world in which nature was literally violent against humans. Nature was the enemy. Every element had a spirit (think Celtic fairies) with a thirst for human blood; they are controlled and maintained by a human queen whose powers weaken over time and a new young woman would compete to take over. With the queen, the spirits are docile and live in harmony with humans. This continues that premise, but now instead of a young woman who was trained and schooled in the arts, we have a very reluctant woman who is also a mother. She has no interest in controlling spirits—she just wants them to leave her and her family in peace. But the kingdom needs her, for the queen is dying.

  It was so refreshing to read of a hero(ine) who wants nothing to do with the role. Truly, nothing. Naelin’s reluctance and feet-digging was expressed throughout in a very natural and understanding way. She felt so authentic to motherhood, to common life, that when she’s thrust into this new lifestyle and pushed into the role, I felt I could relate to her 100%. Meanwhile, the mystery regarding the queen’s illness, and the subsequent impending battle with the country to the north, fell a little short for me. The battle seemed rushed, the excuse weak, and the mystery not so mysterious, but this book also read like a stepping stone for The Queen of Sorrow. I’m especially intrigued by where this book ended, and I’m hoping the next installment is prepared for the big showdown!

  This qualifies as book 4 in my TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2019, Rock My TBR | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Kingdom of Copper” by SA Chakraborty (ARC)

  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on January 8, 2019

  The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty

  Publisher: Harper Voyager
  Publishing Date: January 22
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062678133
  Rating: ★★★★★

  With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..

  Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

  And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

  Five years after the traumatizing attack on those Nahri held most dear, Nahri is married to the emir, trying to establish a home for herself in a kingdom run by a controlling madman, and searching for that spark of inspiration and hope for Daevabad’s inhabitants. Ali, meanwhile, has been exiled to the sands, and is struggling to control his new water magic, twisting it to be useful for the people of the desert rather than something to cause destruction. As a generation celebration draws near, Ali is summoned home and Nahri must work alongside him to restore a ruined hospital, a symbol of peace and hope for the city. Little do they know that a warrior is in their midst, and every fine thread they’ve grappled to hold onto will snap in the blink of an eye.

  The Kingdom of Copper was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. I adored the first of the trilogy, and this book held up to my expectations. It’s just as heart-pounding, adventurous, political, humorous, and heart-breaking! Nahri is fully immersed in court culture, trapped in a golden cage and struggling to find a way to express herself without fear of Ghassan’s wrath and tyrannical power. She’s also grown in her magic as well, and I thoroughly loved the way the palace speaks to her and answers her call. While The City of Brass introduced us to the politics and magic of this world, Kingdom of Copper immerses us further into its history, the way prejudices run deep, and introduces us to the vast array of creatures and their abilities. From beginning to end, I was immersed in the magic of these pages. The fate of Daevabad lies in the family drama at the heart of the city.

  Thank you, Harper Voyager, for providing the galley for review!

  The rest of the review will contain spoilers. If you have not read The City of Brass yet and would like to remain unspoiled, please do not read below the break.

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  Continue reading →

  Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Girl in the Tower” by Katherine Arden

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on November 29, 2018

  The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

  Publisher: Del Rey
  Published: December 2017
  Genre: historical fiction, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781101885963
  Rating: ★★★

  Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

  The Girl in the Tower, the second book of the Winternight trilogy, starts immediately where The Bear and the Nightingale ended. Vasya is free from her village and wants to see more of the world. Her desire leads her to trouble in Moscow, and the rumbling undercurrents of war and oppressive religion. Is she to be trapped as a boy and become a warrior for the Grand Prince, or locked in a tower as a girl to be wed or sent to convent? And what does the prince of night, winter, death, and darkness have to say about it all?

  Of these two books so far, the first is my favorite. It stands out in my mind because it was full of medieval Russian culture, mythology, history, and lore. It was a commentary on religion mixed with paganism and magic. However, this book was far more political and battle-hungry, and it worked well with Vasya’s character and her need for adventure and freedom. While The Bear and the Nightingale has a clear-cut villain, with a tangible beginning, middle, and end in plot arc, and a cast of recurring characters, The Girl in the Tower felt far more realistic to life (even with its magical elements). Characters come and go depending on the location and political situation, all the characters from her village do not appear in here (of course they wouldn’t — Vasya’s left them all behind!), and newer, more immediate events take place that require Vasya to look deeply into herself and her motivations and goals. The romantic thread is far more prominent in this novel as well, and it felt appropriate to Vasya’s character growth — I was pleased to see that.

  By the end of the novel, Arden has set the stage for what’s no doubt going to be a spectacular showdown. I’m curious to see where Arden takes us next.

  I’d recommend this book — this trilogy! — to anyone who loves Eastern European history, folklore, and fantasy. Uprooted, Spinning Silver, and The Sisters of the Winter Wood come to mind…

  This qualifies as book 11 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 9 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, review, rock my TBR

• 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: “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

• 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

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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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