The sequel to Over the Woodward Wall, Along the Saltwise Sea does not disappoint. Though not as magical and whimsical as the original, this is certainly a solid sequel in the series and propels the story of Zib & Avery along an adventurous path.

A. Deborah Baker (AKA Seanan McGuire) has an immense talent for telling stories. These characters are rich and realistic and even the crazy upside-down world feels magically tangible. Written for a middle grade audience, Along the Saltwise Sea keeps the prose relatively straightforward and the plot can be a smidge predictable, but it is fun to read and a story where you consistently root for the protagonists because they are just so darned lovable.

The character writing in these book is just magnificent. Avery & Zib are perfectly written for their age, complete with anxieties, things they need to learn & experience, and some fearlessness. They are incredibly different, but work together so well and present so much of a range in terms of audience access. I love that the author does not shy to have her characters have imperfections. I also enjoy that sometimes these imperfections are shortcoming and sometimes they are strengths. There is just so much wonderful inclusivity in these books.

The plot moves incredibly swiftly and there is always something going on. There is a good recap of the first book at the beginning, which I think will work especially well for middle grade readers but also allows readers to jump in at the second book if they are so inclined (though I don't recommend because you will miss out on some enchanting writing and a wonderful story). The narrative is straight to the point in this installment and it almost felt too short for me. Things just flew by.

These stories remind me very strongly of the Oz series and I love their imaginative style. Though written for middle grade readers, they are easily enjoyable enough for adults. I'm totally here for them and I'm looking forward to what Avery & Zib find next along the Improbable Road.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novella from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

This was a slow starter for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The beginning is a lot of world-building and character introduction that fell a little bit flat and had a bit of a wooden feeling to it. But, once I got my feet underneath me, started figuring out how the worlds worked, and got used to the writing style, the story just flowed.

The personalities of the characters began to expand and become more vibrant quite quickly once the footings were set, filling the pages with a greater amount of intrigue and making me care about what they were doing and what might happen to them. Kell starts out pretty stiff, which really does fit for his personality, but I grew to love his dark side and the conflict of character he faces. Lila was just a blast from beginning to end and I love her piratey feel and unflagging spirit. Let's face it...she pretty much carries the book. I was pretty intrigued by Holland and actually wanted more of him through the narrative.

Once I was in, I was all in. The story sailed by quickly and I just wanted to keep reading. The world is fun and dark and complex. I'm so glad this is a trilogy, as I feel like there is so much more to explore with these different Londons. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series...especially since I hear the other two books are even more gripping.

Okay...I'm in. I will read anything this trio decides to write. I have read the first of their Lady Janies series and now this one and BOTH have been 5-star reads for me. I love the hilarious nature of their writing and the way the story mixes fantasy and historical fact. It's just so much fun to read and listen to.

These books are BIG, but they definitely don't feel like it. The pages just fly by. I didn't want to put this book down and found myself intrigued and highly entertained. I laughed out loud at more than one point in the story and also stayed up way too late reading. Double thumbs up.

I honestly find myself amazed that this is written by three authors. The writing is seamless and feels like one cohesive voice. I appreciate the flippancy of the writing and how there are often nods to modern culture or other items in history. It's like having an Easter egg hunt in your novel.

I originally tried reading this using the synthesized voice audio and quickly found that it was not for me. I need feeling in my reading and the awkward cadence and tone of the AI audio grated on me somewhat. However, the actual reading and the completed "real person" narrated audio were both fantastic.

These quirky novels are right up my alley and I loved this read. Now, if you'll excuse me...I have to go track down the two Lady Janies reads I haven't gotten to yet...

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

In March of 1984, a rogue storm resulted in the loss of the Wind Blown and her four man crew. An experienced captain, his trusted first mate, and two young crewmen lost their lives to the freezing waters off Montauk, New York. The captain was skilled, but the seaworthiness of his vessel was questionable, and the town mourned the life that had been lost...it still carries the scars of losing fishermen at sea.

Fairbanks delivers the story of these men and their families, including their lives leading up to their fateful journey and the lives of those who loved them following their disappearance. There is a lot of great historical information and family history present in the pages, along with a very atmospheric description of the fishing life and the dangers that these men faced every day as they rode out to find their catch.

While the story is very obviously heavily researched and Fairbanks has to be given credit for the amount of background that she managed to obtain on these men's families as well as their chosen profession, the final product was unfortunately a bit lackluster for me.

There is a lot of information present, but not all of it is necessarily pertinent. There is a LOT of back history on prior generations and wandering anecdotes that sometimes paint extraneous characters in more detail than some of the four lost men. The story isn't told in any particular organizational style, as it moves from time to time, place to place, and character to character, without a lot of cohesive sense. This led to a bumpy and disjointed read that sometimes had me lost in the pages and confused about whose story was whose.

The writing itself was good and there were some great family histories told, but the organization seemed to be the sticking point. Though plenty of time was taken in the gathering of information, it almost feels as if the narrative was thrown together in a hurry to meet a deadline rather than following the painstaking detail that was taken with each individual piece.

Points for the information given, as I did learn a lot about the area, the profession, and the four men who disappeared. It just didn't hit the mark for me.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina was so much fun to read. A magically-tinged creepy story that includes family secrets, a curse, a circus, AND some portal magic? SOLD.

The story is told is a dual narrative approach with both a past and present POV. The past is from Orquidea's own perspective and the future focuses primarily on her granddaughter, Marimar. These two pieces of the story were woven together really well and gave small glimpses into the past that slowly, but mysteriously unraveled the story.

The magical realism component is fun and intriguing. It pulls in some South American folklore and mythology, adding some regional color to the story and adding to the atmosphere (which by the way, is awesome). I loved the descriptions of Orquidea's house and the magic of the valley as well as the Orquidea's own fabulous bruja character.

The characters in this book were a really good time. The primary characters are super vibrant with strong personalities that shine through the pages. There were a lot of family members to keep track of and there are a few who really only act like red shirt characters, but for the most part it was easy to remember who was who thanks to some individualized traits. Orquidea herself has a wonderful character arc that takes her from meek to strong with some bumps along the way. This is somewhat paralleled by the future journey of her granddaughter, Marimar, and I enjoyed watching both of these characters work through issues with their pasts and who they are. There is a great message of family and love woven throughout the narrative.

Beyond the family and the magic, there is a LOT going on in the plot and it can sometimes get to be a little confusing, but it mostly straightens itself out as it goes along. It's one of those somewhat complicated reads that begs for a second perusal, but gives you a good time regardless. Don't stress too much about the details or uncovering the story on your own. Just enjoy the ride.

The ending felt a little bit rushed and I definitely could have used a little bit more to the conclusion, but most of the details get wrapped up well and in a way that both makes sense for the remainder of the story and is satisfying for the reader. I really enjoyed this from start to finish. In fact, I wanted (and would eagerly read) more.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

4.5 stars.

Oh my, Maggie O'Farrell has a way with words. The writing in this book is GORGEOUS.

A historical fiction with a heavy literary feel, Hamnet does move at a bit of a languid pace and is more character-centered than plot-centered, but the atmospheric description is beautiful. Granted, there is a bit of magical realism tossed in with the historical fact, but I still very much appreciated this view of the life of William Shakespeare's family and the tragic loss of his young son.

I loved the fact that the entire story was from Agnes's point of view and that Shakespeare himself is in fact never mentioned by name. It's a clever, quirky little stylistic choice that redrew the lines of focus and made it a much more emotional read rather than simply a historical tale. With regard to this content, it has to be said that the title is a bit abstract. Hamnet is indeed a part of the tale and his death is crucial to the plot, but the whole of the novel is primarily focused on Agnes, her coming-of-age, and her experiences as a woman, wife, and mother. But let's be honest...a book titled Hamnet was always going to get more attention than one titled Agnes.

There were a few holes in the plot and some questions that went unanswered, but the emotional journey was well-investigated. The effects of the event on Agnes and her two daughters, in particular Hamnet's twin Judith, were explored in a way that was gut-wrenching and really made me feel the helplessness that they must have endured over the situation.

Though I did indeed LOVE the prose, I will admit that there were times when it felt a little overdone and made the story drag a bit. But it was just so darned pretty. That being said, if you don't like lyrical writing, this book will likely drive you crazy. If you do enjoy a flowing linguistic style, Hamnet may be just what you've been looking for.

The Family Plot is a psychological thriller about a cultish family living secluded on a small island. They are shunned by the rest of the society there, as the children grew up home schooled by a mother who taught them based on stories and evidence from murders. The children have fled as they came of age, but the death of their father has returned them to the island. All except Andy, who long ago left a note indicating that he likely would never return. When a body is found already buried in the father's burial plot, the question of who the body belongs to and who killed them begins an investigation. Just how odd is the Lighthouse family afterall?

I enjoyed the writing and the setting of this novel quite a bit. It had a nice gothic feel to it and I liked the ambiance of isolation. The characters were okay for me, but I didn't really like them. They seemed a bit over the top and not as fully fleshed out as I would have liked. The pacing was solid and the story moved well from beginning to end. I didn't feel bored with the story and any point and it held a moderate amount of intrigue.

The suspense was pretty good overall, though I had the first twist pegged immediately and found the handling of it to be a little juvenile. The story got better after this moment and I really enjoyed the suspicion and red herrings thrown in along the remainder of the story. I did have the big twist partially figured out, but there was still a good part of it that wrenched my stomach hard.

The ending was a little blase, but it worked for the story and I didn't hate it. It didn't pack a punch, but it wrapped up things fairly nicely.

An enjoyable, moderately paced thriller with a creepy family.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

4.5 stars.

What a fantastic debut! Falling is a seriously fast-paced thriller that had me on the edge of my seat by page 2. There is so much packed into this novel and I had a fantastic time reading it. Newman's writing is accessible and atmospheric. The prose moves incredibly smoothly and each page packs a ton of information with a punch.

I do not recommend reading this book when you are planning a trip or while you are on a flight. The writing and set up is incredibly realistic (not terribly surprising since Newman is a flight attendant) and I can absolutely envision it creating a strong sense of paranoia and anxiety.

The characters in this book are incredibly vivid and well-developed. There are a few characters who have personality traits that don't quite fit, but overall things felt realistic and believable.

There are some great twists and turns and some incredibly intense moments that unfold with masterful precision. I had a great time with this read and really enjoyed it. I could have done without the epilogue, but I find that's often the case for me in thriller reads, so that's more of a personal preference.

Recommend? Absolutely.