Ahoy there mateys! I adore this author and featured her in me Broadside No. 18. So image me surprise when I read Matey Briana’s review of this book:

"Before Aunt Becky dies, she tells her clan that she’s going to leave a cherished heirloom jug to one of them–but they won’t know the beneficiary until one year after her passing. Even worse: she’s not going to tell them how she’s deciding who gets it, so they’ll have to be on their best behavior just in case she’s instructed someone still living to decide who gets it in a year. Shenanigans ensue as everyone competes for chance at the jug. It’s a ridiculous-sounding premise when you say it’s a novel about people fighting over a jug, but the book is magic and one of Montgomery’s strongest works. It’ also the only one written with multiple points of view."

The problem – nothing other than I had never heard of this book! Embarrassing but true. So I got a copy and read it. The blurb does sound ridiculous but this is a fantastic book which really does highlight the talent of L.M. Montgomery. I absolutely loved all the quirky characters and story. It was endearing and fabulous. I am so glad to have gotten to read this one. Literally the only downside (a big one) was the very last paragraph which used an awful racial slur that was so unnecessary. So the last thought of the book was distaste. But the rest of the book is a gem. Makes me want to reread the Jane and Emily books. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys! So I absolutely loved the author’s tomorrow and tomorrow. So when I heard that he had written another book, I immediately got me hands on a copy. And it was absolutely wonderful.

This book is a sci-fi, thriller, and murder mystery dealing with space travel, Lovecraftian themes, and multi-universes. It bears some resemblance to dark matter at very first glance but it very, very different to me way of thinking. Part of that is based on how the humans try to save the world from destruction. Part of that is because the author can really do some stark world building. Part of it is based on how dense the plotlines can be at times. I don’t even like Lovecraftian stuff and I thought it was used extremely well in this.

The other aspect is the protagonist, Shannon. She simply rocks. The set-up for how ye get to know her is awesome and weird. But hang with it and things do (mostly) get explained. Going with Shannon on her journey to catch a killer and save the world was exhilarating. How the time travel is used in this book and how it affects Shannon was crafty and twisty and so much fun.

This is a book that takes some mental wrangling. I read a hardcopy and did do some light flipping back and forth to clarify details. But I was completely and utterly engrossed by this book. I have to say that I didn’t really read the blurb or reviews about this book before reading. I trusted that the author would give me something worth reading and he did. I don’t suggest ye read it. I do suggest ye read both of Thomas Sweterlitsch’s novels though. Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys!  This be me third book by the author and me third five star read.  What I find amazing about all of the author's books is that they feel so different from each other.  The first was a vampire story with stunning vampire culture and history.  The second was a Mayan fairy-tale set during the Jazz age in Mexico.  And this book was a romance with a hint of fantasy set in the Belle Époque era.

Now I don't normally do romance but I be determined to read all of this author's novels.  I didn't even look up the blurb of this one before reading.  I just tucked in and devoured it.  This romance ended up floating me boat.

This is a character driven book.  Hector has returned to the city of Loisail after a ten year absence.  He is determined to look up his old love, Valérie Beaulieu, and rekindle their relationship despite the fact that she be married.  He knows that she still loves him.  While at a party, Hector ends up inadvertently meeting Valérie's niece, Nina.  With this introduction a bold plan is concocted to get Valérie back using Nina as bait.

Aye, Hector be a sod at first and I kinda hated him.  But of course, Moreno-Garcia doesn't make things easy and turned me thoughts all about during this read.  Nina herself is awesome.  She is having her first Season and Valérie is supposed to help the country bumpkin find a husband.  But Nina makes things difficult.  She has no ideas about proper fashion, etiquette, or social standards.  Nina is blunt, intelligent, and naive.  She would rather be collecting beetles and butterflies.  Plus she be telekinetic.  Her fortune should have overcome these obstacles but the real problem is that Nina cannot control her powers.  Gossip is flowing and Nina's marriage prospects cannot handle the scandal.

And really that is the backbone of the book - societal standards.  Hector is an entertainer making a living by performing with his telekinesis.  His money is no match for his lack of noble title and birth.  Nina cannot fit herself into the mold of modern, rich society despite her wealth.  There is the double standard of her talents being horrible just because she is a woman.  And Valérie is the epitome of good society and sets all trends.  Though she isn't all sparkling on the inside.  I hate her.  The complicated relationships in this book are what made me not want to put it down.  As Matey Mogsy says:

I won’t lie, I wanted to throttle nearly everyone in this book, but in this they have something in common with characters in a soap opera—you just love to hate them. Likewise, I found it impossible to tear myself away from the drama . . . because Silvia Moreno-Garcia knows how to spin a good yarn, and more importantly, she knows what it takes to capture the reader’s attention. Rather than shy away from the usual conventions of the fantasy of manners genre, she instead revels in them, offering up a lavish feast of romantic melodrama, high societal punctilio, and weaponized etiquette.

Aye, that Mogsy knows how to capture me thoughts in her own words.  At times I wanted to strangle all three of the main characters but still ended up wanting the happy ending.  This is not like me normal grumpy self.  But here I was rooting for all the miscommunication to be resolved and for true love to triumph.  Mostly I just wanted silly, yet wonderful, Nina to be happy.  It's not like the plot truly surprised me but I was delighted all the same.

This is a slow-burn type of story.  Sort of Austen-like in the portrayal of manners and the other characters outside of the main three.  The telekinesis is present but mostly plays out in the background.  The writing continues to be superb.  Not that I expected different.  The world building was awesome.  The romance element was unexpected (as I skipped the blurb) but ultimately I loved it.  Arrrr!

Ahoy there me mateys! Aye, this is a review of a book two where I will try to post no spoilers but read at yer own peril. But this is also a reflection of what me foray into the works of Elizabeth Bear has been like since reading the first book of the Lotus Kingdom series.

The first book I read by the author was karen memory way back in the days before I had a blog. I loved that and so requested the stone in the skull from Macmillian-Tor/Forge and luckily got an eArc from the publisher. As I said about book one: “The beginning was an explosive entry into the world and while the pace slowed a little after that, I was obviously engrossed. The world building is fantastic, the characters are extremely diverse, and I couldn’t guess many of the plot twists. The relationships between characters stood out for me and I loved getting further hints into backstories and motivations as I read.”

That review was from 10/9/17. The only problem after reading book one was the long wait until book two. So I went looking for Bear’s other works to read during the waiting period. Between reading the stone in the skull books one and two, I have read five other books by the author. Reviews are linked below. But I want to focus on the Eternal Sky trilogy.

Ye see, this Lotus Kingdoms series is set in the same world as the Eternal Sky trilogy. Only I somehow missed that completely until this latest book. Having read the original trilogy completely enriched me reading the second book of the newer related series. Both trilogies are meant to stand independently. But I be very glad to have gotten the back story of the Steles of the Sky kingdom before returning to the Lotus Kingdom.

Part of this stems from a couple of characters that were featured in original trilogy and then make smaller appearances here. I not only loved seeing them again but I understood how they had ended up in the Lotus Kingdoms. In the cases of the wizards in particular, I knew how their magic worked. Those details were glossed over when dealing with the Lotus Kingdoms in the first book. But the major part stemmed from the fact that the world felt much more real to me having read the others. I think in having read so many of Bear’s other books, I have a much better understanding of her style and particularities.

I was worried when getting to the red-stained wings that I would have a problem with remembering the details because of the time between books one and two. Not a problem at all. I was quickly sucked back into the drama and politics of the Lotus Kingdoms. The Gage and the Dead Man continued to be favourites and are in fact the highlights of the book. I say this even though there be many strong female characters throughout. And there be a dragon! This was a strong middle book that kept me attention from start to finish. The only small problem I had was how long it took the traitor on the Queen’s court to be discovered. It was obvious in this book from very close to the beginning but wasn’t resolved until the very end. That small irk aside, I cannot wait for the final book in this trilogy. Arrrr!

Ahoy there mateys! I tried multiple times (3+) to get into this book and just wasn't excited to keep reading. I am not really sure if this was because of me mood or the translation or the story itself. I am not adverse to trying again in the future because it sounds awesome. But I have come to terms with the fact that I am not going to read this before its release date of 9/17/19. I am however grateful to the publisher for the review copy. Happy reading and sailing!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I wanted to read this book because of the tagline "How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?"  I thought this would be fun.  Instead, this book was heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and vitally important.  Because this book focuses on the real monsters in our own world hiding behind the pleasant masks and titles and opinions of others.

This book was published by the imprint, Make Me A World.  I hadn't heard of them but went looking as soon as I was finished this book.  Their website says:

"MAKE ME A WORLD is an imprint dedicated to exploring the vast possibilities of contemporary childhood. We strive to imagine a universe in which no young person is invisible, in which no kid's story is erased, in which no glass ceiling presses down on the dreams of a child. Then, we publish books for that world, where kids ask hard questions, and we struggle with them together, where dreams stretch from eons ago into the future, and we do our best to provide road maps to where these young folks want to be. We make books where the children of today can see themselves and each other.  When presented with fences, with borders, with limits, with all the kinds of chains that hobble imaginations and hearts, we proudly say—no."

For me, this book certainly epitomizes this philosophy.  It asks hard questions, has hard answers, and still provides hope. 

Set in a future utopia called Lucille, the children have been told that there are no longer monsters.  There are no police, no politicians, no jails, no uneven distribution of wealth, or even much fear.  Diversity is welcomed.  The protagonist, Jam, is black, trans, and has selective mutism.  Families come in all shapes and sizes.  Parents actively care about and love their children.  Society at large believes in hope and comfort.  The adults made hard, horrible choices so that their children can grow up in a better world.

The problem with the society lies in the fact that in order to protect their children, the adults have chosen to ignore reality.  Selective education is in play.  Children supposedly don't need the harsh truths of the past.  The information isn't hidden, it just isn't taught and children are encouraged not to go looking.  The world is better now.  As Matey Acqua puts it:

"Pet is a story about how evil – any kind of evil – thrives in plain sight when people start refusing to look for it, to acknowledge that it can and does exist. It’s a story about how this refusal of any kind of discomfort, this hiding from the world’s truth, hurts and silences victims."

Discomfort is the key word.  This book showcases that when people chose to ignore the problems of the world and live in a bubble of their making, it allows evil more freedom to silently hurt without repurcusion.  Parents may want to shield their children but unfortunately humans are flawed and bad things can and will happen in the world.

For me, the highlight of this book seems to be the message that young adults can be a force for change and have a responsibility to stand up for each other and care about the world around them - good and bad.  I thought the author did an especially good job showcasing both positive future changes and the idea that people cannot grow too complacent or stagnant.

Part of this is reflected in how the story is set up.  There is a blend of magic which awes but cannot fix and mixed with the very harsh truths.  The "pet" referenced in the title is a magic being that comes out of a portal in a painting to hunt the evildoer.  His very existence challenges societal truths about belief.  It is a hard lesson for Jam who has to face her fears and decide what justice means to her.  Because after all, whatever happens, the victim and those around them will be changed and the hurt cannot be undone.

The highlights of this book were the diversity and Jam's relationships.  I adored how the evil looking pet challenges and changes Jam's perceptions even as I was sympathetic to Jam's struggles.  Also Jam's relationship with her best friend, Redemption, was beautiful.  This was a book with no romance between the teens and postive adult relationships.  I appreciated that.

The only minor flaw for me is that the child abuse in this book is glossed over just a tad in terms of what the symptoms are other than bruises.  I understand why this was done.  I am sympathetic to younger readers' sensibilities.  But I also wonder if there was a message lost to possible abuse sufferers in terms of identifying abuse in their own lives.  I don't have a good answer for this question but thought I would throw that out there.

Overall, I can say that this is a powerful book packed into a shorter length.  I am glad this is now out there in the world.  We need more books like this.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Random House Children's / Make Me A World!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this middle-grade fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

When I was offered an eArc of this book, I jumped at the chance.  The premise be awesome.  The story centers around Indira Story who has been a character-in-waiting who yearns to be a protagonist in an author's book one day.  But to do so, she has to be selected to go to Fable to attend the Protagonist Preparatory.  Indira is excited to get her chance but be upset to discover herself in the side-character tract.  Indira is determined to earn protagonist status.  But everything seems to be going wrong . . .

On the novel's Goodreads page the author says, "This book is a love letter to the world of literature. I wrapped up everything we love about books and shoved it all inside a breathless adventure story about a girl trying to figure out what it means to be a hero."

This love of literature can certainly be seen in the lovely world-building.  I really did like the idea of a school where characters train to be more rounded, to develop interests and quirks, and to broaden their horizons in order to catch the eye of a potential author.  I loved that famous characters from other stories are teachers.  Particular favourites include Alice, Mr. Darcy, and Romeo Montague.  I loved the set-up for the book with its different towns and jobs for the characters.

I also think that Indira Story was a fantastic character.  I was rooting for her the entire time.  I absolutely adored her host family and thought many of their scenes were some of the strongest of the book.  Her other character friends were fun but I do wish they had a more page time and were fleshed out further.  I especially would have liked Peeve to not have disappeared for the entire second-half of the story.  But this being a first book of the series, maybe those characters will make bigger appearances in later books.

I did think the first half of the plot was much stronger than the second.  Once Indira got to the school and had her first day of classes, the story did get a bit muddled.  Also the world-building suffered after this point too.  There was never really enough description of the town of Fable or the inside of the school itself.  The classes themselves weren't discussed in much detail either.  The evil character in this book did have a believable backstory which I enjoyed.  I just think that the mystery plot elements and resolutions weren't particularly strong.

Also the comparison of this to the Phantom Tollbooth is over-reaching.  While the concepts are fun, the story is not overly clever and certainly doesn't have the magnitude of the magic of language like that classic.  It lead me to having high expectations that weren't fulfulled.  That said, I do think this be a story that kids should love.  This adult did like it and would certainly be willing to read the next installment of the series.  As the author says:

"As you enter a world where everything about books has literally come to life, I'd encourage you to keep a few things in mind::

1. Bookmarks are bad at giving advice, because they miss entire chapters in the story.
2. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
3. Mr. Darcy's class, Love by Page 12, always takes place in the Rainy Courtyard.
4. Down in the Sepulcher, one can find every Unfinished story that's ever been written.
5. Every story YOU write creates new jobs for these characters. It'd be a shame for you to leave them unemployed. So go ahead and write the story that only you could write. These characters are training hard in school to make sure they're ready for the day you do."

Arrrrr!!!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Crown Books for Young Readers!