Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

Available Now

Seanan McGuire is back with another installment in the Wayward Children series. In this stand alone novella, Regan discovers a doorway leading to the Hooflands after facing a devastating betrayal by her best friend. In a world inhabited by centaurs and unicorns, Regan’s appearance can only mean that something big is going to happen as humans are seen as true heroes and must begin their heroic journey immediately. But as time goes on, Regan convinces her new centaur family that she isn’t a hero, merely a young girl who wants to be accepted for who she is and to find a place where she truly belongs. 

This novella truly can be read without any knowledge of the previous installments in the series, though all of the books are definitely worth reading. Like the other books in this series, McGuire takes great care to create relationships between characters that are loving, kind, and accepting. Regan learns from her parents that she is intersex after an emotional discussion about her lack of physical development as compared to her friends. Her parents are incredibly honest and supportive in answering Regan’s questions and remind her repeatedly that she is perfect as she is. After Regan shares this information with her best friend Laurel, Laurel’s shameful and outraged reaction sends Regan reeling. It’s through this haze of hurt and disbelief that Regan discovers her doorway, as all the series’ characters do. On the other side, Regan is seen as a hero and any differences she may have from her new family solely stem from her being human and have little or nothing to do with her gender. Regan’s humanity makes her a target for other centaurs to capture and be taken to the fabled queen, but Regan’s newly found family accepts her belief that she isn’t a hero and provides her protection and training. The world building is incredibly well done and I loved the support and love found among the cast of characters. One of my favorite parts of the world is in the Hooflands, Regan learns that unicorns are silly creatures that need constant attention from their farmers, the centaurs, and this information is a delight to watch unfold.

McGuire has given us a wonderful twist on the classic “horse girl” trope and plays with the classical hero’s journey. Regan has no desire to be a hero, even as all the centaurs around her firmly believe that she is the harbinger of some big change as all humans are heroes. It’s an honor for Pansy to have been the first to see her and claim her as her own. It’s no surprise then, that when the time comes for Regan to fulfill her hero’s duty, she does it her way without any regrets. 

Perfect for young adult fantasy readers, this is a wonderful invitation to pick up this amazing series. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Available Now

I loved this book! It is a thrilling ride from start to finish and I could not put it down. It’s one of those unique novels where every single character has something to hide and it’s impossible to trust anyone. 

Jane, plain and unassuming, has left her previous life behind her and is looking forward to a fresh start in Alabama. A new job walking the dogs of the city’s wealthiest residents has allowed her to not only have access to their homes, and small personal items that are easily pawned, but also to their gossip and secrets. When she finds herself dating the newly single Eddie Rochester, she discovers that there is much more to his previous wife’s disappearance than anyone is willing to let on. When her old life threatens the safety and comfort of Eddie’s wealth, Jane will stop at nothing to hold on to her new life. 

This is one of those great books where I disliked every single character-and that made the book even better. Everyone, truly everyone, is hiding something. Affairs, money problems, snarkiness, and even some criminal behavior can be found amongst this cast of characters and Jane uses all of this to weasel her way into their lives. She manipulates every situation and person to her benefit from the very beginning and she never once feels guilty about it. She is completely true to herself and incredibly self-aware and while I still didn’t like her, I did respect her and felt she stayed true to character throughout the entire novel. We never get to see inside Eddie’s point of view and I think that was very smartly done. We never get to see his true motivations so he always remains a mystery even while we get to see more from other characters within their inner circle that paint different pictures of Eddie. As we watch Jane manipulate her way into money and comfort, we also learn more about the mystery around Eddie’s first wife and the death of her best friend and again, with everyone hiding something, it’s impossible to trust anyone. 

I loved how fast paced and well written this story was. I was immediately sucked in and couldn’t put it down. If you love mysteries with unreliable characters, with a heavy dose of rich people problems, this one is perfect for you. 

If you’d like a copy for yourself, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Releases for January 12, 2021

Happy Tuesday!

Remember how I said last week I had a new way to do this? Yeah…that was a ridiculous idea and I’m going back to my old standby. There’s enough chaos going on, let’s keep things simple. There are some big books coming out today, like the new Patricia Cornwell and my new favorite middle grade novel, City of the Plague God. Seriously, go check it out. It’s great. You can find more information about each title by clicking on the covers.

Kids:

Adults:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda

Available January 12, 2021

This is an incredible magical adventure for all fantasy lovers. Set in New York City, Sikander Aziz discovers there is more to the stories his family has been telling him his whole childhood. Spending his days split between school and his family’s deli, Sik wants more out of life, but his brother’s accidental discovery of an ancient flower leads to his brother’s even more accidental immortality. Now, ancient gods have waged war between each other and Sik, along with all of NYC, is caught up in the middle. With an uncontrollable plague taking over the city. Sik and his new ally Belet must discover a way to bring back peace and stop the plague. 

This is a fast paced adventure full of action that will keep younger readers riveted. Sik is not only smart and quick-witted, but he’s also a bit mouthy and tells it like it is. He misses his older brother fiercely and young readers will easily relate to his expressions of grief, especially with the current events taking place. I really liked Belet and her ability to be so loyal to her cause but also so prickly! She doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone and when paired with Sik and the talking sword, Kasusu, the three have a great dynamic.  That’s right, a talking sword. And, Gilgamesh makes an appearance in the most unlikely of ways.

This story is centered around a plague god that spreads a horrible and disgusting disease around the city and that may be a bit too on the nose for some readers right now, however, I think the theme of protecting and fighting for family and our community will win over reluctant readers. Knowing that Sik will overcome and defeat a plague god, when we are currently living through our own pandemic and watching scientists and medical professionals fight to overcome this virus, keeps the tone hopeful.   

I’m very glad that a novel based on ancient Mesopotamian myth is now out in the world and you can feel the author's love for the story and characters. This book is full of interesting historical and mythological facts and characters that will grab the reader's attention and keep them enthralled until the very end. This will be great for readers that have loved other books in the Rick Riordan Presents series and for the readers just getting into the fantasy genre. 

Want a copy for yourself? You can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Push by Claire McGowan

The Push by Claire McGowan

Available Now

Content warnings for pregnancy loss, failed adoption, fertility issues, domestic abuse, and parental death. Apologies for those I missed. 

https://books2read.com/u/3JXlvQ

What appears to be an accidental death at a backyard barbeque quickly reveals itself to be far more sinister in this gripping psychological thriller from Claire McGowan. A group of parents, with nothing in common besides their upcoming parenthood, come together every week as a prenatal support group. There are couples struggling with fertility, some with unplanned pregnancies, some planned, and some waiting on babies to adopt. The more DS Alison Hegarty investigates the death, she uncovers secrets from every couple involved, with some secrets far more sinister than others. Dealing with her own fertility issues, Hegarty is quickly swept up in the drama and secrets of the group, and struggles to find out who is actually telling the truth. 

The story jumps back and forth through time, from the viewpoints of all the characters. It is no exaggeration to say that every character has something to lose in this story, and so it’s incredibly difficult to tell if and when anyone is telling the truth. While I found myself reading through the story very quickly, it did feel like there were some parts that did slow the story down a bit, but overall, it’s a well written thriller. 

I really enjoyed the variety of characters included in the novel. From an ultra wealthy couple who seemed far too perfect, to a lesbian couple with a strained relationship, to the devout Muslim couple who married quickly and didn’t seem to every speak to each other. Our main character Jax, seems to have the most secrets to hide. She was involved in a highly publicized legal scandal and has tried to put the past behind her. Now working at a nonprofit and unexpectedly pregnant by her much younger boyfriend, she is convinced that someone is using her past to jeopardize her career and soon-to-be family. Watching her juggle the stress of pregnancy, the uncertainty of her career’s future, and the strain it all put on her relationship with her boyfriend was intense. Oh, and I didn’t even mention her relationship with her mother. That’s a doozy! This was a tense novel and Jax’s character sure bore the brunt of it. 

If you are a fan of locked-door mysteries with a dose of rich people problems, this is a great pick for you. I highly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this author. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find it at your favorite retailer by clicking on the cover:

https://books2read.com/u/3JXlvQ

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Releases for January 5, 2021

We made it! 2021 is here! There is light at the end of the looong tunnel that was 2020 and what better way to celebrate than with new books? All books were set to be published today as of the making of this post, but as always, check those pub dates when you click on the covers for more detailed information. I found a different way to link books so you should have more ordering options and remember, ask your local Library to order any book that looks interesting to you. We love getting reader requests and it helps share the book love with others.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Available Now

https://books2read.com/u/49l57X

What a wonderful book to come out on my birthday! This is an absolutely delightful locked-room mystery full of steampunk elements. Set in the 1950’s, we are introduced to the intelligent and resourceful Marion Lane. Single, to the great disdain of her Grandmother, she is far more interested in pursuing her career as an Inquirer for the secret organization known as Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries than she is in pursuing a husband. When her Grandmother sells the family home without consulting her, Marion has no choice but to live full time in the underground facility where she works. When an investigation into a colleague’s murder leads to the arrest of someone close to Marion, she and her best friend Bill, must work to clear his name. As their investigation progresses, Marion and Bill discover there is more to Miss Brickett’s than even they were led to believe. 

I am a huge fan of steampunk and this is my first historical set in London after the second world war. Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries is an interesting setting and truly a character itself. The Agency has a unique and seemingly magical system of collecting tips and clues into all types of criminal behavior and is incredibly effective at dropping those criminals, literally, on the steps of the police. There are so many secrets inside the agency, both amongst the employees and found within the building itself. It had a very Warehouse 13 feel to it, just set in the 1950s. Secret rooms, hidden compartments, objects are that are definitely more than they seem-it’s all here. 

Marion is an excellent character who has to deal with family expectations, a difficult and stressful work environment, and trying to find a place for herself when society still believes that women are at their best when they are at home. I really enjoyed following her investigation into helping her colleagues and the way that she was able to stay true to her own goals and feelings. 

The story itself moves quickly and without sacrificing any worldbuilding. I really hope this is the beginning of a series because there is a lot to explore. While there is a murder, and some fight scenes, none of it is excessively violent.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I truly hope there is more to come! 

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, you can purchase it from your favorite retailer here:

https://books2read.com/u/49l57X

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

This post contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

How Many Books Can I Read In A Week?

If you make them mostly novellas and short stories, eleven.

Way back in April, we received an email from our favorite cabin rental advertising some pretty great discounts. Now, I know it’s very controversial to post about any travel that happened this year and we did take two vacations this year. Both were to remote cabins where our main goal, as with every vacation, is to be as far away from people as possible. We were very lucky that on both trips, we really never saw anyone. We counted six people on our hikes last week and everyone was very good about staying as far away from people as possible. I was very lucky to have an entire week where the most stressful decision I had to make was which book I was going to read next. It was truly, the best trip we’ve taken. Also, weird story. The last time I donated blood, I received a $10 gift card to Amazon and bought as many holiday novellas and Tor novellas that gift card would buy. And because I’m horrible about buying books, I ordered a few more. So if you need a nudge to help out blood centers, many do give you a small incentive for donating and who doesn’t love free books?

Here’s a round up of all the books I read last week; some may get their own longer post later on, but seeing as how today is also my birthday, I have more reading I want to do so short and sweet it is. This coming week, I’m hoping to work my way through Library holds so be prepared for a wild collection of books.

In no particular order:

We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen

A wonderfully written, hopeful look at how people can grow and change through the power of friendship. This doesn’t come out until 1/26 but get your preorder in-this one is great.

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The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

A tense, gripping thriller about cloning, marriage, and closely held secrets. This was a three bourbon book because my shoulders were hurting by the time I finished-so tense! If you love Blake Crouch, here’s your next book. In February. Sorry.

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Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor

Don’t let the young protagonist fool you-this is not for kids. First contact with an alien species leads to a difficult and harrowing life for a young girl who becomes Death’s adopted daughter. This is a novella that packs a lot of punch. But again, sorry, it’s out 1/19.

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The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

You only have to wait until next week for this one! Everyone has a secret, everyone is lying, and no one is who they say they are. It’s a modern take on Jane Eyre (which I’ve never read) and it’s wild. Loved every minute of it. Available 1/5.

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City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda

Also out next week, snag this for your middle grade fantasy readers. Sikander Aziz discovers that many of the stories his brother told him are real when a real Plague God comes and takes over his city. Magic, history, mythology, and lots of action combine into an excellent and thrilling adventure.

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The Longest Night by EE Ottoman

Free short story! A very sweet love story about two people who were pen pals for years and find themselves living together unexpectedly during Christmastime in 1904. The author includes a content warning about language used in a historical setting and several others that you may want to check out before reading.

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Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue

My first Melissa Blue! Super steamy romance about a gorgeous single dad who has dated too many teachers at his son’s school. When the son ends up in Bailey Thorne’s class, she refuses to be charmed by the grumpy single dad. But he’s super hot, has a tragic past, and there’s some major sparks after they are stuck together in an elevator. Very hot.

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Mangoes & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

A food competition show, filmed in a Scottish castle and THERE’S ONLY ONE BED!!! Amazing food descriptions, a grumpy heroine, a bubbly heroine, AND ONLY ONE BED! Super, super hot. It’s never too late to read a holiday romance so read this one now!

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The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor

The absolute best $0.99 you’ll spend this year, this book is equal parts hilarious, ridiculous, and incredibly hot. Older heroine, she’s 43, gasp!, finds herself alone on Christmas after her ex takes the kids on a last minute cruise. She wakes up on the couch after some one-handed reading to discover that Santa is a fucking snack and they take full advantage of an empty house. Two words: Sleigh. Sex.

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Beyond the Dragon’s Gate by Yoon Ha Lee

I read this completely cold-no idea it was part of an existing universe. It’s only 20 pages so it’s an incredibly fast read, and I really enjoyed it. A scientist who specializes in AI is brought in to “speak” to some spaceships. Because, you can speak to spaceships. I dug it.

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The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho

Another free short story, this was a great historical romance. Set in the 1920’s, Jade is living on her own, supporting herself by writing about women’s fashion when she takes a risk and writes a harsh review of a popular new novel. When she meets the author at a party, her entire world is thrown upside down. I really, really liked Jade. She knows what she wants, she doesn’t settle, and can take care of herself. Very well done.

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All the links in this post do link to Amazon as many of the novella’s are only available in ebook. As an Amazon Associate, I do earn from qualifying purchases.

Need a Gift for a Really Cool Kid?

If you are still struggling with figuring out the perfect gift for someone on your list, may I suggest a book? Or, better yet, a stack of books? Here is a quick round-up of some last minute books that would make great gifts. You can click on the covers for more information and ways to order. As always, support your local indie bookstore whenever possible.

Young children who love silly stories:

For kids beginning their reading adventures:

Side note-the Acorn and Branches series from Scholastic are really great for beginning readers. They have loads of pictures for text support and are very bright and colorful. The Ready-to-Read books are my favorites for leveled readers because they seem to be the truest to their reading level description. That was really wordy, but basically, the Pre-Reading and Level 1 are generally good for Kindergarten, Level 2 for 1st and 2nd grade, and so forth.

Kids who are more confident in their reading:

Kids who LOVE Harry Potter by J.K. is a trash baby so let’s explore more authors:

Kids who watched Enola Holmes and fell in love with mysteries:

Need something more specific? Drop it in the comments and I’ll see what I can dig up for you!

This post contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Available Now

If I have learned anything in 2020, it’s that I end up reading and enjoying books that reflect current events, only dialed up 500%. I started the pandemic reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig. Dug in deep with that one. Finally read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Again, bring on the world destruction due to disease and government negligence. The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher was all about a portal to an evil world lurking behind some drywall in a home. Doing a wee bit of construction here and nothing like constantly checking for portals to other worlds while building walls to freak out your husband. So of course I stayed up all night to read Alyssa Cole’s first thriller about an insidious force overtaking a neighborhood during a time when everyone has been asked to stay home as much as possible. Because why not give yourself nightmares over your own home not being safe during a time you’re not supposed to leave your home. 

This book is incredible. Sydney Green has returned to her childhood home in Brooklyn to nurse her wounds after a nasty divorce and to care for her ailing mother. What was once a tightly knit community of longtime residents and small businesses is quickly changing due to a housing boom caused by a new research facility opening in the area. What began as a trickle of new homeowners grows to a flood of very white, very wealthy faces buying out the current residents, most of whom are people of color. 

After taking a walking tour of her neighborhood, which Sydney is a near expert on, her anger and frustration over the white washing of history grows into the development of her own tour that will coincide with a neighborhood block party. While researching for the tour, Sydney comes across an unwanted research partner-her neighbor Theo. Theo’s wealthy girlfriend has begun to show her true colors as a racist, classist, garbage person, while Theo has grown to like the neighborhood and having grown up constantly moving and mostly poor, doesn’t have the same trash perspective. The more that Sydney visits with her elderly neighbors, the more she realizes how the neighborhood is changing in dark and dangerous ways. On top of all of this, Sydney is receiving increasingly harassing phone calls, pressuring her to sell her mother’s home. As Sydney and Theo’s friendship grows, the feeling around the neighborhood grows more and more sinister. 

Alyssa Cole is an incredible writer. This book has some of the best writing I’ve read this year and the twists got me every single time. There is not a single scene that doesn’t move the story forward. It’s so tightly written and fast paced that it’s very easy to get sucked in and stay up all night reading. I loved how much detail and history is included about the important Black residents of Sydney’s neighborhood. There are some great discussions about gentrification, redlining, and the white-washing of the local history. Sydney is my favorite type of character. She’s smart, has a complicated past, takes no shit from anyone, and is completely fearless. The way that Sydney puts Theo in his place, over and over again, was a beautiful thing. In Theo’s defense, I think he was trying his best with what knowledge he had, and was willing to listen and grow. Theo’s girlfriend, I don’t care what her name was, is a complete trash baby. As we see her more and more, Theo learns alongside us how racist and classist she is. Cole does an excellent job pointing out the ways that racism exists in subtle ways that are often overlooked by white people. Nothing’s held back. 

If you love thrillers, mysteries, and insightful looks at how society needs to do better, you’re going to love this book. Cole also writes romance novels, both historical and contemporary, and they are excellent. I really love her Loyal League series set during the Civil War. She’s also a great follow on Instagram as she lives on an island with her hot husband, kitties, and chickens. 

If you would like to add When No One is Watching to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Releases for December 15, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

As the end of 2020 draws closer, the new releases are getting fewer and fewer. But, a smaller selection doesn’t mean lesser quality or excitement. I bought For Better or Cursed for the Library and I’m really excited to read it. Witches who are babysitters? Yes, please! Click on the covers for more information and ordering information.

Happy Reading!

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Available Now

I have absolutely fallen in love with this author’s books. They are this fantastic blend of horror, humor, and incredibly relatable characters. I loved the Hollow Places and couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Twisted Ones.

In The Twisted Ones, Melissa, who always goes by Mouse, is asked by her ailing father to help get her recently deceased grandmother’s house read for sale. What seems like a simple task quickly becomes overwhelming when Mouse discovers her grandmother was actually a hoarder. Piles of junk weave in and out of newspaper towers and the stench of mice and insects nearly cause Mouse to walk away and forget about any potential money from the sale. But Mouse knows her dad’s health isn’t good enough to take on this task, so she does her best to get started. As Mouse spends time in town buying supplies and hanging out at a coffee shop for the wifi and great drinks, she finds that she isn’t the only person who believed her grandmother to a terrible, horrible person. Dislike of her grandmother was a common theme amongst her neighbors and it became more and more puzzling why her step-grandfather every married her.

While cleaning out her step-grandfather’s room, she discovered that Frederick Cotgrave was obsessed with the idea that his wife had stolen and hidden a green book that belonged to him. Uncovering a typewritten manuscript, Mouse discovers that Cotgrave was convinced that there were creatures that lived in the woods and they were out to get him.

Cotgrave wasn’t wrong. As Mouse investigates further into what she believes are delusions of an unwell man, Mouse discovers that there are places within the woods that lead to dark, and terrifying lands full of the Twisted Ones. After her beloved dog Bongo goes missing in the woods, Mouse must save him from whatever fate the Twisted Ones have planned for him.

SPOILER

The dog lives.

I love how T. Kingfisher is able to write a horrifying novel that is also hilarious. There is the perfect balance of both in the two novels I have read and it’s just so well done. Again, my favorite trope of a book within a book plays out. Cotgrave describes in his journal a manuscript he wrote based on his memory of the Green Book that was given to him by a friend. Within that book is a story of a young woman who discovers small creatures that live in the woods and the journeys they go on together. By trade, Mouse is an editor and the way that she picks apart Cotgrave’s writing was so funny juxtaposed against the horrors he described in his writing. As Mouse uncovers more and more about the Twisted Ones, and her experiences become more and more unworldly, she is still cleaning out her grandmother’s house and describing what a horrible person she had been while throwing out multiple microwaves. The humor is very dark, and I loved it.

Kingfisher is able to create horror stories that are so close to reality that the terror level goes up with each page. Like in The Hollow Places, the threat to Mouse and Bongo is very close to home. It’s literally in their backyard and can attack at any time. Mouse is in a new area without any friends or family close and knows that it’s incredibly unlikely that anyone would ever believe her story. She doesn’t know if she believes her story. And worst yet, her dog goes missing! This book is so stressful and engrossing that it was one sitting read for me. If you love horror that contains more suspense, mystery, and fear of the unknown, as opposed to blood, torture and gore, this is a great book for you.

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find more information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Releases for December 8, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s time for new books! Click on the covers for story details and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Available Now

This book is so good! I’m pretty sure I read the majority of it aloud to the Hubs and giggled through 90% of it. It’s so, so, so good. So good. It’s so good that I know that anything I have to say about it won’t do it justice so just know, it’s amazing.

Ok, we have the three Eastwood sisters: Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth, and James Juniper. It’s 1893 and the three of them grew up with a horribly abusive father who drove them apart, and because of many different events, they haven’t seen each other for over seven years. Agnes has been working her fingers to the bone at the cotton mill, keeping her head down, and trying to stay out of reach of the disgusting and grabby foremen. Beatrice has found a comfortable job as a university librarian and has lived a simple and quiet life on her own. After Juniper finds herself on the run from the law and wandering the city of New Salem, she discovers that her sisters have been in the city all this time, completely unaware of each other. The three of them are drawn together when Beatrice unknowingly recites a spell that creates a mystical connection between them and opens up the gateway to the magical library of Avalon, the center of all magical knowledge. Hurt and betrayed that her sisters left her alone with their abusive father while they began new lives, Agnes sets off to join the newly formed suffragist movement, but not to earn the right to vote. Agnes wants to bring back magic. 

That’s right-witches are real and Agnes and her sisters are all witches. With the help of women from all over New Salem, the three sisters set out to bring back the black tower of Avalon and restore magic to all women. 

I absolutely love alternate history, especially when it’s alternate history with magic. Magic is a known element in this version of New Salem and the men fear nothing more than a female witch. Men are allowed to practice magic but women are threatened with burning if they dare to cast any type of spell, even one as simple as making your hair look good. You can’t have a witch uprising without an evil witch hunter, and that part is played by Gideon Hill, a mysterious man of power that has a cult-like following in New Salem. This book also contains my absolute favorite catnip - books with hidden stories. The stories that were told to the girls by their grandmother held vital information disguised as fairy tales. As the story progresses, these hidden stories become a shared theme amongst many of the women who join forces with the sisters.

Of all the sisters, Juniper is my favorite. She is fearless, driven, and wants nothing more than to tear down the patriarchy. She runs headfirst into every situation and never backs down. Even though she feels her sisters betrayed her, she’s still willing to sacrifice herself to keep them safe. The relationship between the three sisters is very complicated. They all have their own secrets to protect, but they also have some serious misunderstandings about each other’s motivations. The sisters find support for their cause from women all over New Salem. I really enjoyed how it was such a diverse group of women, and a few men, who were so supportive in providing shelter, spells, ingredients, and moral support and there are some interesting ties to the history and lore of the underground railroad. 

This is another chunker of a book, coming in at over 500 pages in the hardcover version. My last few reads were all big books, but all moved very quickly and this one just flew by. In between many of the chapters, there are fairy tales from the sisters’ childhood that provide clues to the source of the witch’s magic and I loved seeing how they fit into the story. While the story itself is pretty grim, the women face torture and death if they are caught practicing magic, the book never feels bleak. If anything, Juniper’s drive to smash the patriarchy and her complete lack of regard for authority help to keep the tone lighter and it’s there are many parts that are downright hilarious. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to hear what others have to say about it. If you would like a copy for your own collection, or as a gift for the witchy book lover in your life, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases. 

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

Available Now

I have been on a creepy book kick lately and I’ve been lucky to have read a string of excellent books. Plain Bad Heroines kicks it up even further by being a creepy book about a book. Actually, it’s a book about a movie being made that is based on a book all about an obsession with another book. 

I swear. 

So, in the early 1900’s, at the Brookhant’s School for Girls, two girls became obsessed with a memoir written by Mary MacLane. Their obsession led to not only their own tragic and horrific deaths, but the deaths of three more people tied to the school. A century later, the abandoned school is now the center of a novel written by the brilliant and precocious author, Merrit Emmons, who was only 16 at the time. Her novel about the young women obsessed with not only each other, but the writings of Mary MacLane, is going to be adapted into a gothic horror film. As production begins on the movie, tensions between Merrit and the two young movie stars rise and mysterious events put everyone in danger. 

This book is a chunker - the hardcover edition clocks in at 617 pages and there is a lot of story to be found in those pages. I’m not exaggerating on the book about a movie about a book about a book. A lot of story. The book is constantly changing. In one chapter, you will be reading about the brutal murder of a young woman decades in the past, and in the next, read about a romantic and chaotic first date between two enigmatic young women in the present. There are so many elements of a classic gothic horror. There’s the dark and dilapidated boarding school where young women are sent to become ladies, but really discover that women are great at kissing. There are tragic and mysterious deaths that could be explained away as male violence, or, a curse. Layered on top of our gothic horror story is a coming of age novel about a young actress who needs to break away from her mother and make her own way in Hollywood. But how do you keep your wits about you when it seems that a curse is following you, you’re possibly in love with your co-star, and you know that writer thinks you’re unqualified? Like I said, there’s a lot of story.

I absolutely loved the writing style in this book. It read like you were listening to one of your best friends tell their famous local legend, while sitting by a fire and enjoying a boozy cocktail. It’s very conversational and snarky, with such compelling and campy writing that you are instantly swept up in the soap opera feel of what is really, a quite tragic story. The book is it full of black and white illustrations of our young, plain, bad heroines in all their tragic glory and has some of the best footnotes ever included in a book. Many provide historical context, many are just the narrator being sarcastic and hilarious and I’m pretty sure I sent screenshots of at least 10 pages to my boss within the first 20 pages of reading the book.

The characters are very well developed and incredibly interesting. Merrit is very prickly and slightly obnoxious while Harper Harper, yes that’s her name, is a glamorous and gorgeous chameleon of a character. To me, Harper was the hardest to figure out. Was she just an excellent actress and we never saw the real woman within? Was she just such a quick thinker that she could turn the acting on and off? She’s a puzzle. Meanwhile, Audrey is in a little bit over her head but really wants to make it as an actress and is far stronger than she believes. All three women are smart, interesting, and driven. They’re also all gorgeous, queer, and know that there is something going on at Brookhants. 

This book checked off a lot of my reader wheelhouse boxes-there’s a creepy school full of rich girls and their rich girl problems. It’s fast paced and the multiple timelines slowly reveal all the deliciously creepy scariness that follows everyone involved with Mary MacLane’s book. The characters are interesting and compelling and I was quickly invested in everyone’s survival. This book is also incredibly fun. It never takes itself too seriously, is very campy, and was an absolute delight to get lost in. I highly, highly recommend this for anyone who loves gothic horror, star crossed lovers, and a ton of snark. 

If you would like a copy for yourself, or to buy as a gift for your favorite book lover, you can find ordering information here: 

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New Releases for December 1, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

Get ready to check some gifts off your shopping lists, this week has some great picks for kids. If you have anyone who loved Dog Man, they’ll love Cat Kid. Similarly, Max & the Midnights and The Smartest Kid in the Universe would be great picks too. If you haven’t seen Jingle Jangle on Netflix, stop what you’re doing and watch it right now. I’m not much for movie tie-in books, but I’m super excited that we have some for Jingle Jangle. It’s a delight, don’t miss it. Click on the covers for more details and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

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New Releases for November 24, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s a new week, we’ve got the lack of turkey on the brain because it’s 2020 and everything is cancelled. So, instead of being sad over missed turkey, let’s go buy some books. Click on the covers for more information and ordering options.

For Kids:

For Adults: