purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)

Another excellently cozy low-stakes, high-fantasy read — this time with a save-the-bookstore theme that's absolute catnip (griffit-nip?) for book lovers.

Originally a little disappointed that this was a prequel, I quickly revised my opinion. Viv is as fun to follow here as a rash young orc convalesing in the seaside town of Murk as she was in Legends & Lattes as a battle weary orc taking a chance on changing her career and building her second act. With an open-minded knack for gathering interesting characters around her, she and her diverse group of new friends fix up a rundown bookstore, win the affections of the bookshop pet, drool over amazing baked goods, and maybe save the world from a necromancer. Not too shabby for a side quest!

Also, I could read a whole book about Satchel, a skeletal Terry Pratchett-esque gentleman homunculous. More than a whole book, actullly. If he ever decides to, say, solve a series of cosy mysteries, I'm in!

A fascinating and fast-paced Bonnie-and-Clyde story. Master rationalizer, art lover, and compulsive thief Breitwieser and his longtime girlfriend and accomplice Anne-Christine stole priceless art from European museums at a staggering rate until finally caught, and caught again. The author established access to Breitwieser and key people in the case that allows him to round out some of the drama and psychological aspects that make this such a compelling read. He also (though not until the author's note) draws a comparison between Breitwieser and the only other class of thieves that seems to fit — book thieves, or bibliomaniacs, like Stephen Blumberg. 

 There's a lot going on here, and the jaunty rom-com cover doesn't capture, well, any of it really. This isn't a rom-com or a romance, though there is a romance within it. It's the coming-of-age Bildungsroman tale of Arlo Dilly, a DeafBlind college-age man under the guardianship and care of a strict Jehovah's Witness uncle and a devout JW interpreter. It's also the coming-into-focus and coming-into-courage tale of Cyril Brewster, a gay middle-age ASL interpreter with an aversion to the tactile ASL required to communicate with DeafBlind clients. Their paths cross when Arlo attends an English language class at the community college and needs a second interpreter to help with it. He chooses Cyril because Cyril follows best practices for accessibility and actually tells Arlo what's going on and being said (his longtime interpreter takes a more selective/paternalistic approach). Despite his aversion to tactile, Cyril takes the contract, hoping it will finally give him the financial cushion he needs to move on and move out of Poughkeepsie. Through the class and through Cyril's interpretations, Arlo begins to see and understand more of the world, of his family, of his friends, of himself. Cyril's own story of self-discovery runs parallel to Arlo's.

This is genuinely one of the best books I've read — in fiction or nonfiction — for introducing a reader to the world and experiences of a person who is living a very different kind of life from the reader's. The story, at times heartrending, heart-pounding, and joyous, lagged in the middle for me and some of the JW content may be difficult to read for those who have experienced controlling religious groups. The writing, however, carried me through. The author does a beautiful job of conveying the voice and experiences of these characters and it's full of information about DDBHH (Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing) communication. It also avoids, calls out, and subverts lazy tropes and stereotypes (including the savior trope) and avoids lapsing into inspiration p*rn. It is inspiring, though — it's an inspiring look at the kinds of discussions we should be having and services we should be expanding for our disabled communities. 

Finley Donovan meets Dial A for Aunties in a mystery caper rom-com (romp-com?) with an Oceans Eleven heist and an Indiana Jones love interest. Perfect for readers searching for an updated Stephanie Plum. 

I could've done with just a little less thirst and a lot less torture, but in general this was a frothy rollick that delivers what it promises.