or, my new favorite book!
It’s a new week so let’s add some new books to our never-ending TBR piles! Click on the covers for more information and ways to order.
For the Kids:
For the Adults:
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This just might be my favorite book of the year. I’ve read some pretty great stuff in the last month, but I really think this book was written just for me. Reader friends, we are given a foul-mouthed, whip-smart, magical badass who has to survive by her wits and ability to manipulate others, and of course, succeeds.
Please don’t comment on my misuse of commas. It’s a quirk. It’s charming. I promise.
Dellaria is short on her rent, her mother’s rent, and needs a job fast. After having a “hard promise” put on her by her landlady, Dellaria must come up with rent or risk having her face covered in magically applied pustules. When a shady card game leads to her arrest, Dellaria falsely claims she is expected at an interview for a powerful and wealthy family, and is completely surprised when a Lady from said powerful and wealthy family comes and retrieves her from the jail for her supposedly fake interview. Turns out, Dellaria is a pretty powerful fire witch and would make an excellent bodyguard for a wealthy woman if Dellaria can only keep her focus and not run off to have drinks and shenanigans with the local men. When Dellaria’s employer is attacked through magical means, Dellaria and her fellow bodyguards discover that they are in far more danger than they were led to believe. Now, Dellaria is caught up in the mystery of who wants to attack Dellaria’s employer, how that connects to the rising drug problems in the area, her growing attraction to one of her wealthy colleagues and should she pursue her for love or the possibility of wealth and safety. The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry is an engaging and thrilling adventure full of humor and action. It has a delightful cast of characters, nearly all women with magical abilities and all incredibly interesting. Dellaria develops what seems to be her first set of real friends and she really struggles to learn how to accept help and positive encouragement. The world found within this story is very interesting. While it appears to be set in old-timey England, with its social classes and fancy dress shops, it’s actually quite progressive. Those with money and social power can “household” another person which I took to mean a relationship similar to marriage. I could be wrong, but that’s how I understood it. These household relationships don’t have to be male-female. Same sex relationships are completely ordinary, happen all the time and it was just so nice to see it treated that way. Slight spoiler-when Dellaria finds herself in the position of potentially be householded, she is all flirty eyebrows and waggly eyebrows and her potential partner is all, slow down girl, we have all the time in the world and Dellaria is just floored! Who turns down Dellaria’s advances? There are some references to a prestigious school for magically gifted children that would make an excellent prequel. Fingers crossed that this book is written as well as many, many more in this world.
I swear a lot. A lot. It’s a miracle that my son’s first word was “dog” and not an f-bomb. Dellaria has at least two swear words in every sentence and it never feels performative, it’s just truly her personality. But even with all of her swearing and questionable grammar, Dellaria is still a smart and empowered character. She really does believe in herself and her worth and she works her butt off throughout the entire book. Everytime that she should just give up and give in, she rises to the occasion and pulls through.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of it. I loved the world, the magic, the characters, it’s all just so good! If you would like to add this amazing book to your collection, you can get 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.
We did it! We made it another week so let’s celebrate with a new book! You can click on the covers for more information about that title and ordering information. As always, Libraries love to hear reader recommendations and Librarians love to order books. Trust me, I just ordered nearly 100 new titles for the Library this month. It’s amazing.
For Kids:
For Adults:
This post contains affiliate links and as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I am so happy to share this amazing novel with all of you! This is one of the many books that I devoured while hiding out in the forest over Christmas and I tell you what, it made for a wonderful present to me! As someone who loves superheroes and superhero movies, I already knew I would love it, but I think this book is perfect for all readers who enjoy mystery, complicated friendships, and excellent storytelling.
From the Publisher:
$27.99 USD, $34.99 CAD
336 pages
ABOUT THE BOOK:
An emotional adventure about two misfits who have extraordinary powers, but have forgotten who they were before. The vigilante and the villain must team up to stop a mad scientist who threatens the city, while trying to figure out who they really are.
Jamie woke up two years ago in an empty apartment with no memory and only a few clues to who he might be, and also with the power to read other people's memories. In the meantime, he's become the Mind Robber, holding up banks for quick cash. Similarly, Zoe is searching for her past, and using her new extraordinary abilities of speed and strength...to deliver fast food. And occasionally beat up bad guys, if she feels like it.
When the two meet in a memory-loss support group, they realize they are each other's best chance at discovering what happened to them. The quest will take them deep into a medical conspiracy that is threatening to spill out and wreak havoc on their city, and maybe the country. As the two get past their respective barriers, they'll realize that their friendship is the thing that gives them the greatest power.
BUY LINKS:
We Could be Heroes is funny, full of action, and compelling. It’s not every day that you read a superhero story that has the superheroes trying to make rent by delivering take-out instead of coming from great generational wealth. The mystery around Jamie and Zoe’s memory loss drives the story, but it’s their friendship that really holds it all together. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Jamie and Zoe and their easy banter. There’s a great cat that Jamie can’t stop spoiling, a secret organization that wants to do evil, and enough hijinks to keep it light and delightful. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
Want to check this out for yourself? Read on for an excerpt:
Chapter 3
Jamie stopped, catching himself. He’d gone too far this time. Close eyes, deep breaths, count to five, and then open eyes to see the damage.
Damn it. He’d really done it. He looked at the grout brush, then the lines between the countertop’s tiles, then back at the brush. Yes, he’d gotten the coffee stain out, but he’d also scrubbed too hard, wearing away some of the grout.
Twenty minutes ago, he’d arrived home, throwing his cashfilled backpack on the futon cushion. It landed with a thump, startling Normal out of her cat tuffet next to the window. And though he stopped to give Normal a calming pet, his instincts took over, starting with a meticulous cleaning of the litter box, then a complete vacuum of the small apartment. Then organizing his stack of library books into a preferred reading order, putting away the neatly folded clothes in the laundry basket, cleaning the pour-over coffee carafe and kettle before brewing a fresh cup. As it settled, he noticed some drips of coffee had absorbed into the grout lines adjacent to his row of ceramic mugs, thus kicking off his quest for a completely clean and reset kitchen. All of the fear and concern and guilt from the day funneled into his end-to-end cleaning spree even though it wasn’t Sunday, the day he typically reserved for getting his home in order.
But this. Flecks of dried grout stuck to the brush bristles, and Jamie squinted, examining them as if he tried to break into the memory of the synthetic fibers. He blinked when Normal mewed at him, snapping him back into the present. He had to slow down. He had to regroup. He’d gone too far this time, and though the counter looked clean, a closer examination showed a tiny degradation in the grout.
Damn it. Jamie blew out a sigh and surveyed the room.
So neat. So organized. In fact, it was nearly identical to when he’d woken up here, standing in the middle of a barely furnished apartment two years ago. On that morning, he had blinked as he came to, his eyes adjusting from blurry to focused, taking in the sun shining through the cheap tan drapes onto the futon in the middle of the living space. Once he’d realized where he was, it had dawned on him that he didn’t know who he was. He’d walked methodically through the semifurnished apartment, looking for triggers. Coffee table, bread, water, sink, bed, toothbrush. He knew what those were, their purpose, but none offered clues about himself. Even the mirror produced zero recognition; he didn’t know what history lay behind those eyes, what the story was behind the scar on his palm.
So neat. So organized. In fact, it was nearly identical to when he’d woken up here, standing in the middle of a barely furnished apartment two years ago. On that morning, he had blinked as he came to, his eyes adjusting from blurry to focused, taking in the sun shining through the cheap tan drapes onto the futon in the middle of the living space. Once he’d realized where he was, it had dawned on him that he didn’t know who he was. He’d walked methodically through the semifurnished apartment, looking for triggers. Coffee table, bread, water, sink, bed, toothbrush. He knew what those were, their purpose, but none offered clues about himself. Even the mirror produced zero recognition; he didn’t know what history lay behind those eyes, what the story was behind the scar on his palm.
And now? What he wouldn’t give for that blissful ignorance, free from knowing that the injured woman from today was all his fault.
How could he have been so stupid, so reckless?
As with each of his bank robberies, he’d taken his time, planned a strategy, even wrote out his script beforehand and memorized it. He still lacked in execution, but that was why he had checked out some acting books from the library. The whole goal, the entire focus was to get in and out as quickly, as cleanly as possible. That meant brain-stunning the people in the building in a very specific order under a very specific time frame, all while cackling like a cartoon character and reciting over-the-top lines in a not-quite-there American accent.
If he controlled the entire situation, then no one got hurt and he did his job.
Except when one of them had a medical condition.
Jamie cursed at himself, cursed his fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude, cursed the whole damn situation. Not once, not a single time had he ever considered the possibility of a medical issue.
He finally broke, forcing himself to move. A click on the remote control brought his small TV to life, flashing a news report about electrical surges throughout the city before turning to the bank heist. His fingers fumbled to hit the power button again, taking several tries before the screen thankfully went to black, leaving only the sounds of a hungry cat meowing to remind him that he hadn’t given her dinner or her nightly treat of coconut water yet. Jamie set the grout brush in the sink, and obliged the demanding cat.
Seconds later, the room filled with a content rumbling of purrs.
But even Normal’s happy noises failed to remove the trauma of the day. The sound of the woman’s head hitting the tile. The sight of the blood pooling. The desperate cries of her coworker.
Don’t think about it don’t think about it don’t think about it.
Onward. Next task: the money. He grabbed the backpack and headed to the bedroom. The backpack’s large top zipper got caught as he tugged on it, and the stress of the day gnawed at his patience, skipping past his normal mode of meticulously fixing it and jumping right to forcing it free. On the underside of the zipper, the corner of a hundred-dollar bill clung in between the metal clasps.
Jamie sighed, a sound soon mimicked by Normal yawning at his feet. “You have no idea,” he told the cat before reaching in and starting his post-robbery sorting process for cash.
A buzzing sound rattled the room, causing a handful of loose coins on the end table to dance; it broke his focus, jolting his shoulders and neck in surprise. From the hallway, he heard Normal’s claws catch in the thin carpeting before dashing off to find a hiding spot from the abrupt noise.
He picked up the phone, heart pounding that it might be someone on his trail. But a glance at his screen caused a sigh of relief. Reminder: Support Group. San Delgado East Side YMCA. Six o’clock.
Right. The weekly support group—more specifically, San Delgado Memory Loss & Dementia Support Group.
Not that Jamie cared about the giant gap in his personal life, the big cloud of nothing stemming from the moment he awoke in this apartment all the way back to, well, his birth. Something pulled him away from those thoughts whenever he even approached the matter, like staring into a bright beam of light until the intensity forced his eyes away. Every time. That avoidance happened so frequently it felt instinctive at this point, skirting whatever that was and whoever truly stood behind the impenetrable fog.
It didn’t matter. No, the support group was for learning more about memory loss in general, to guard himself from any further memories vanishing.
The irony of the Mind Robber dealing with all that didn’t escape him.
He resumed unloading the cash, first putting the stacks by denomination from left to right, then counting and rubber-banding any loose ones complete with a Post-it note with the total on each makeshift bundle. In the closet sat a safe—something that had been absolutely terrible to get into his apartment. He pulled off the blanket hiding it and turned the dial. Left with click click clicks. Then right. Then left again.
It opened up, revealing a larger version of the stacks assembled on his bed. Jamie took new bundles, two at a time, and neatly set them in the appropriate spots, making each tower of cash grow until the backpack and the bed were clear of evidence. A notebook leaned on the cash; Jamie pulled it out and opened it to the ledger he’d crafted, filling out the columns with the latest tally of earnings, anticipated expenses, safety-net cash and overall savings.
At the top of that column was a little drawing he’d made of a palm tree and a beach. Based on today’s earnings, he was nearly 80 percent to his goal. Depending on the size of each haul, a few more robberies—especially if he remembered to ask for the stacks of hundreds specifically—would provide enough financial comfort to retire on a tropical beach at a much lower cost of living. He’d read that the coffee in the Caribbean was excellent.
A comfortable permanence, as long as the Throwing Star didn’t track him down. That further complicated things, and Jamie wondered if he’d jinxed it all by invoking her during his bank performance. He gritted his teeth.
So close to a fresh start. For him and Normal, and he wouldn’t let the Throwing Star jeopardize that.
Normal gave an urgent meow, which translated in cat speak to “Where is my bed?” Jamie folded the blanket exactly and draped it over the safe, then put a small cat tuffet back on top of it. A gray-and-orange blur zipped by, and in one leap, landed on the tuffet, turning his trail of crime and/or source of income into the world’s most valuable cat bed.
Jamie exhaled, and his mattress bounced as he flopped on his back, eyes glued to the ceiling but brain refusing to shut off. One blink and he saw the woman fall again. Every time he closed his eyes, the image reappeared, except each instance seemed to intensify in its color and sound, the sheer vibrancy of his mind seemingly taunting him.
He could lift the memory out. He’d done it before as an experiment, including writing a note with steps and details as proof that he’d removed his immediate recall of the moment. It left him with what he presumed to be the same nausea that his victims experienced, and other than a few follow-up trials, he hadn’t done it for any practical purpose.
A small price to pay to be relieved of the guilt.
Jamie raised his hand, this time pointed at himself, and he closed his eyes, digging deep to flip through his own memories. Bright and fresh, full volume and movement, no haziness or missing pockets of moments. One wipe and it’d be gone.
But what would that make him? A possible murderer without a conscience? He treated his villain persona and robberies as a job, an income. Not to hurt people, not with malevolence or sociopathic apathy.
No.
This memory had to stay.
Jamie lowered his hand.
There was a knock at the door, jolting him to his feet.
He closed his eyes and stretched out with his mind, sensing the ghostly silhouette of a single form at his door.
No one ever came to his door.
“San Delgado police. Is anyone home?”
The very idea of having law enforcement at his door caused Jamie’s hands to tremble and a thin layer of sweat to form on his forehead. He could brain-stun the officer and run. He could dive into the officer’s memories, see what happened, why he was here—maybe it was just a fundraiser for the Police Athletic League.
Another knock rattled the door.
If he brain-stunned the officer, that wouldn’t exactly be inconspicuous. You couldn’t just leave gawking, unresponsive police on your doorstep. And the officer’s location was probably tracked by SDPD, which meant that lifting memories and sending him on his way would only lead to more trouble.
No, the only way out of this was through it.
Jamie took a deep breath, put on a baseball cap with a logo of the local San Delgado Barons hockey team, then marched to the door. He opened it halfway to find the very serious, very professional face of a plainclothes officer. Despite the fact that he stood shorter than Jamie, his sturdy build made him far more intimidating.
“May I help you?” Jamie held the door ajar. “Sorry,” he said, native English accent in full display, “I have a cat that tries to get out if I open the door all the way.” As if on cue, mews came from behind him and Jamie scooped up the pudgy feline. Mental note: she deserved extra coconut water tonight. “Be nice, Normal.”
The detective tilted his head at the name, then chuckled, sunlight gleaming off the light brown skin of his shaven bald dome. “No problem. Sorry to bother you this evening. Detective Patrick Chesterton. I’m the lead on the Mind Robber case.”
No reaction rippled through Jamie. Which was probably a reaction in itself. He waited, seconds stretching into vast chunks of time, and though he somehow managed to keep a polite expression on his face, the pounding in his chest might have given him away.
“We get anonymous tips all the time about the Mind Robber. Some people even claim to be him. But this one was very specific. And since we know he left on a train heading eastbound about ninety minutes ago, I thought I’d check it out.” He glanced over his shoulder, eyes tracking past the courtyard and toward the parking lot. “Traffic is going to be hell getting back to the station.”
Jamie told himself to laugh, though in a completely different way from the forced maniacal display of the Mind Robber. Calm, quiet, a little nervous—the natural kind of nervous anyone got when questioned by law enforcement. Normal must have agreed, as she continued mewing in his arms.
“Well, aren’t you a nice cat?” the detective said, his voice softening. He reached up to pet Normal’s round head, but the cat replied with a hiss. Before Jamie could stop her, she swatted at Chesterton. The cat kicked out of his arms, and Jamie turned to see a streak of pudgy fur dashing for the bedroom.
“Oh, I’m so—” Jamie stopped himself at the realization that the detective nursed a fresh scratch across the knuckles.
If they weren’t going to get him for being the Mind Robber, what about assault via cat scratch?
“I’m so, so sorry. Normal usually loves strangers.” That was a lie, or it might have been a lie. Normal never met anyone, regular or stranger, so the sample size on that remained small. “But she gets weird occasionally.” That part was true. Jamie held up his hand, palm out. “See this scar across my palm? Normal got me good one time.”
Flat-out lie: Jamie had no idea where that scar came from, though whenever he focused on it for too long, a strange mix of nausea and embarrassment would flood over him.
“It’s okay,” Chesterton said. “I had a cat growing up. They can be temperamental. I should know better than to do that. Anyway, the tip said that someone who fit the build and look of the Mind Robber was in this area. This block, actually.” He looked Jamie up and down. If Jamie decided to risk it, he probably could have poked into the detective’s memories and seen specifically what he was thinking, even the source of the tip. “Have you seen anyone who fits that profile?”
In the courtyard, Jamie caught sight of the old couple across the way trying to get their mini schnauzer puppy to obey commands. They looked over at Chesterton, then Jamie, and Jamie offered a reassuring wave. Despite being a theoretical villain, he still wanted to be a good neighbor. “I, um, actually don’t watch the news much. I find it triggering.”
“Ah, got it. He’s Caucasian. Around six feet tall. Thin build. Strong chin. That’s about it, really, though. His hood and mask obscure everything else.”
“Well,” Jamie said. A response came to mind, and he debated whether or not he was being too clever. His arms extended and a wry smile came over his face a little too easily. Maybe learning to play a villain had turned the gesture into muscle memory. “That sounds like me.” The words came out smooth, just enough of a joking lilt that they threaded the needle between bullshit and levity. It came naturally, almost uncannily so.
For a moment, nothing happened. Neither man blinked, and even Normal stayed quiet. The only noise came from squeaking brakes as a car pulled into the adjacent parking lot.
Then the detective burst out laughing. “I like you,” he said, before reaching into his back pocket. Jamie’s hand moved into position, a subtle gesture that only he could detect should he need to brain-stun. His fingers raised ever so slightly in preparation when a buzz in his back pocket caused both men to stand at attention.
“Sorry, just my reminder,” Jamie said after pulling out his phone. The device’s blinking screen gave him an idea. “My weekly support group. I, uh, need to get going.”
“Oh, of course. Good for you,” he said. “It takes a strong person to seek out help.” Jamie’s head bobbed at the compliment, and the detective finished reaching in his back pocket. He held up a business card. “Do me a favor and call if you see or hear anything that strikes you as suspicious. About him or the Throwing Star. We’re no fan of vigilantes, extraordinary or not. You can’t just run around in a suit beating up people. I don’t care if they’re good or bad. You know, if either of them just called us first and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got these abilities,’ you can bet we’d have found a job for them.” Chesterton glanced at the cat scratch on his hand before letting out a short laugh. “I heard she tripped in the Metro station and let the Mind Robber get away,” he said with a headshake. “I guess ‘extraordinary’ comes in many forms.”
All forms. That skepticism, if not admirable, at least provided some cover. “Right,” Jamie said, taking the card. “I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Even if you hear anything about weird crimes in Hartnell City. Their PD asked us about the Mind Robber. Guess they’re seeing some strange activity too.”
“Of course, Detective.”
Jamie’s exhale was nearly as loud as the slamming of the door. He’d never been that close to getting caught before.
Who could have possibly tipped the police? He’d wiped the memories of any OmegaCars driver that took him close by, and even then, he’d always walked the last few blocks, taking different routes each time. Could the Throwing Star have tracked him? Possibly, but she seemed more like the “punch in the teeth” than “call the cops” type.
Questions circled as Jamie heard the roar of the detective’s car coming to life. Through the blinds, Jamie watched a dark blue sedan pull halfway across the parking lot before pausing for a handful of seconds and then finally rolling away. Chesterton was gone for now, but if he suspected anything, the best course of action would be for Jamie to act as any normal civilian would. In this case, it meant going exactly where the detective expected him to be.
Normal meowed a farewell as Jamie grabbed a jacket—not his black hoodie—and locked the door behind him.
It was almost time for the support group. Even if he didn’t want to go.
Excerpted from We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen, Copyright © 2021 by Mike Chen. Published by MIRA Books.
Mike Chen is a lifelong writer, from crafting fan fiction as a child to somehow getting paid for words as an adult. He has contributed to major geek websites (The Mary Sue, The Portalist, Tor) and covered the NHL for mainstream media outlets. A member of SFWA and Codex Writers, Mike lives in the Bay Area, where he can be found playing video games and watching Doctor Who with his wife, daughter, and rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter
SOCIAL LINKS:
Author website: https://www.mikechenbooks.com/
Twitter: @mikechenwriter
Instagram: @mikechenwriter
Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for the opportunity to share this title with you! I received an ARC of this title and all opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.
Available Now
Set in a near-future Ghana, Remote Control tells the story of Death’s adoptive daughter and her quest to find the mysterious object that gifted her with her deadly touch. As she travels across dirt roads and through the villages, Sankofa fills the people she encounters with fear and dread. Her powers are widely known but, even to Sankofa, a great mystery as to how they work and why. Her journey is made even more difficult by her inability to interact with the large amounts of technology found in each city and town she comes to. As she closes in on her final destination, we learn how Sankofa began her transformation from innocent child to a powerful and determined young woman. Through her imaginative and descriptive writing, Okorfar transports readers to a beautiful and intriguing world full of fascinating technology and interesting characters. Remote Control is an engrossing and compelling story of family, acceptance, and finding your place in the world.
I absolutely love Nnedi Okorafor’s writing and thoroughly enjoyed every page of this novella. The story is so well crafted and the slow reveal of Sankofa’s transformation from young Fatima who loves watching the stars from the branches of a shea tres to the determined and deadly Sankofa who travels across the country alone to seek out her goal is stunning. Okorafor’s writing is incredibly descriptive and you find yourself walking along with Sankofa on the hot, dusty roads and you can feel the anger and fear emanating from the people she encounters.
Remote Control is an incredible story and don’t let the young protagonist fool you, this is hardly a book for children. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Nnedi Okorafor’s work before, this is an excellent place to start. She recently had a story called Mother of Invention read on two episodes of LeVar Burton’s podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, about a smart house that takes on an important role in the birth of a young woman’s baby. Highly recommend-it made painting my new bedroom far more enjoyable.
If you would like to add this book to your collection, or recommend it to your favorite Librarian, 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 as an Amazon Associate.
Happy Tuesday everyone! We survived another week so let’s celebrate with a new book. Here’s a round-up of books releasing today. Click on the covers for more information and ways to order.
For the Kids:
For the Adults:
This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.
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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.
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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.
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:
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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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Welcome to Seven Acre Books! A home for discussions on books, life, and living with a menagerie.
Many of these posts contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.
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