Category: Mini-Reviews

Mini-Reviews: Mistress, Princess, Death

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Mary Balogh, The Secret Mistress

Lady Angeline Dudley has no interest in marrying a rake like her brothers; she just wants a steady, responsible man who will nevertheless love her passionately. So when Edward Ailsbury, the earl of Heyward, chivalrously rescues her from the improper attentions of a rake, she falls in love with him at once. Meanwhile, Edward knows he needs to marry, and Angeline is certainly eligible, but her outspoken, slightly wild behavior horrifies him. He’s also drawn to her despite himself, but he has trouble reconciling his feelings with his long-held image of the perfect wife. This is the final book of Balogh’s “Mistress” trilogy and, in my opinion, the most enjoyable. Angeline is a somewhat unconventional heroine in that she’s not particularly deep or intelligent; rather, she’s a flighty chatterbox with terrible fashion sense but a very warm heart. Edward isn’t a typical hero, either — he’s very responsible and practical and not rakish at all. I loved them both and was rooting for them to get together, although the last few chapters got a bit too flowery and sentimental for my taste. Still, overall I quite liked this one, which is a bit lighter than Balogh’s usual fare!

Philip Pullman, The Tin Princess

This final book in the Sally Lockhart series doesn’t actually have much Sally in it. Rather, the plot centers around Adelaide, who vanished at the end of The Ruby in the Smoke but has now resurfaced as the wife of the crown prince of a tiny Central European country. Accompanied by intrepid detective Jim Taylor and German tutor Becky Winter, she must travel to Razkavia and learn how to be a princess. But court intrigues, foreign interference, and assassination plots threaten both their own safety and that of Razkavia as a whole. As with the other books in this series, this is an entertaining adventure novel that’s chock-full of plot. The characterization is a bit less convincing; I didn’t believe Adelaide would become an expert politician so quickly, and the romance between her and Jim is barely sketched in. So while this is a fun series and I’m glad I read it, I won’t be keeping it on my shelves.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Kurland Hall

Lucy Harrington is back in Kurland St. Mary to help her best friend, Sophia, with Sophia’s upcoming wedding. One of the wedding guests, Mrs. Chingford, is a conniving widow who delights in spreading malicious gossip and antagonizes several of the other guests. On the wedding day, Mrs. Chingford falls down a flight of stairs and dies, and Lucy is convinced it’s no accident. She and Major Robert Kurland must once again work together to discover the killer — and sort out their complicated feelings for each other. This is another enjoyable installment of the Kurland St. Mary series, though it’s not a particularly memorable one in terms of the mystery. But I do like the way the world is being built out and how some of the recurring series characters are being developed. Lucy and Robert’s romance also takes a step forward in this one, though I wish the book had focused on it more…there was so much buildup, but the resolution fell flat. Regardless, though, I’ll certainly continue with the series.

Mini-Reviews: Curse, Moonflower, Pearls

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Elizabeth C. Bunce, A Curse Dark as Gold

Charlotte Miller has been struggling to run Stirwaters, the mill she’s inherited from her father. Stirwaters is plagued by bad luck; the local townsfolk say it’s cursed. Charlotte is far too practical to believe in curses, but as mishap after mishap befalls Stirwaters, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to save the mill — even accept the help of the mysterious Jack Spinner, who claims he can spin straw into gold. But his help comes with a price, and eventually he’ll ask for something Charlotte is unwilling to pay. I really liked this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin when I first read it; this time around, I still think it’s very well done, but it might be a bit too slow for me. Most of the book is just Charlotte becoming more and more miserable as Stirwaters is threatened, and she pushes all her loved ones away to deal with the problem alone, which I found frustrating. But Charlotte’s community is well portrayed, there’s a sweet romance with realistic ups and downs, and I liked the resolution to the curse. I’d recommend this for fans of atmospheric fairytale retellings who don’t mind a slower pace.

Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower

The final book in the Pink Carnation series focuses on the Carnation herself, Miss Jane Wooliston, who is on a mission to locate the missing Portuguese queen before the French do. But since she doesn’t know the country or the language, she’ll need the help of Jack Reid, a British agent (and former French agent) known as the Moonflower. But will she be able to trust him with the mission — and her heart? The plot of this book is even less substantial than usual; even the climactic scene doesn’t have particularly high stakes, and the matter of the missing queen feels like an afterthought. The meat of the book, though, is Jane and Jack’s relationship, which I think is quite well done. Since Jane’s been a pivotal series character since book #1, it was important that she have a love interest worthy of her, and Jack definitely fits the bill. The book also gives us one last look at several of the other series couples, which was fun but a little overkill. I also appreciated Willig’s “where are they now” note at the end of the book, which did a pretty good job of wrapping things up. Overall, I think this is one of the better books in the series and definitely a fitting end to the Pink Carnation’s adventures.

Darcie Wilde, The Secret of the Lost Pearls

In this installment of the Rosalind Thorne series, an old school friend requests Rosalind’s help to discover who stole her valuable pearl necklace. The woman fears that the thief is her youngest sister, Nora, who’s recently returned to the family after a scandalous and ill-fated elopement. But when Rosalind goes to stay with the family, she senses many secrets and soon identifies several other plausible suspects. This book has the same strengths and weaknesses as the previous books in the series: a likable main character and an interesting look at the fringes of Regency high society, but an overly complicated plot that made the book feel like a slog. I think the next book in the series just came out, or will shortly; but while the series has its good points, I’m no longer interested enough to continue. Thankfully, Rosalind and her friends end up in a reasonably good place here, so I won’t feel like I’m abandoning their stories unfinished.

Mini-Reviews: Chocolate, Red, Mistress

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Charlotte Armstrong, The Chocolate Cobweb

When Amanda Garth, an aspiring artist, learns that she was almost switched at birth with a painter’s son, she impulsively seeks out her “almost” family and befriends them. But when she’s invited to stay at their home, she soon discovers a sinister plot that threatens the life of one of its members. Amanda warns the intended victim, but he doesn’t believe her, so she devises an outrageous — and dangerous — plan to trap the evildoer in the act. I was surprised that the evildoer’s identity and basic plan are revealed quite early in the novel, but the book still manages to be suspenseful and exciting as Amanda and the villain play their cat-and-mouse game. The climactic scene, in which Amanda sets her plan in motion, is particularly thrilling. This the second book I’ve read by Charlotte Armstrong, the first being The Unsuspected, and so far she’s two for two! I’m definitely interested in reading more of her work.

Antoine Laurain, The Red Notebook (trans. Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken)

This short novel, set in contemporary Paris, begins when bookstore owner Laurent Letellier finds a woman’s handbag. It’s obviously been stolen — the wallet, ID, and phone are gone — so Laurent goes through the rest of the bag’s contents, hoping he’ll be able to discover the identity of its owner. Among the items is a red notebook filled with the owner’s thoughts, lists, dreams, and so on; as Laurent reads these miscellaneous entries, he becomes more and more fascinated by the woman who wrote them. But will he ever find her, and what will happen when he does? This is a charming book full of literary allusions, Parisian atmosphere, and understated romance. The fact that the main characters are in their 40s lends a nostalgic air to the story; even though the setting is modern-day, it feels timeless and a bit idealized. I enjoyed it and will likely read more by this author.

Mary Balogh, More Than a Mistress / No Man’s Mistress

In More Than a Mistress, Jocelyn Dudley, the duke of Tresham, is injured in a duel and hires the sharp-tongued Jane Ingleby as his nurse. Their constant bickering masks a mutual attraction, and when Tresham no longer needs a nurse, he offers Jane employment as his mistress. In No Man’s Mistress, Tresham’s brother, Ferdinand, wins a country estate in a card game. When he goes to inspect his new property, he’s shocked to find Viola Thornhill already living there; moreover, she claims the house is hers and refuses to move out. In both books, the women are hiding their true identities, and when the secrets come out, they unleash a lot of angst and conflict. I didn’t love either of these novels, mostly because I felt they went on too long after the secrets were revealed. I also found all four protagonists frustrating at times, as none of them were good at communicating their true feelings and opinions. My favorite character in both books was Tresham and Ferdinand’s sister, who fortunately has her own book! But these two novels are not among Balogh’s stronger offerings.

Mini-Reviews: Wager, Cadenza, Check

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Virginia Heath, Never Wager with a Wallflower

Miss Venus Merriwell has made some mistakes in the area of romance, but she’s still hoping an intellectual, high-minded gentleman will come along and sweep her off her feet. Of course, that gentleman will be nothing like Galahad Sinclair, a charming but apparently frivolous and ignorant gambler. In reality, Gal is intelligent and kind, and he finds himself reluctantly attracted to Vee. But conflict over a desirable London property (Gal wants it for his new high-class gambling establishment, while Vee hopes to expand the orphanage she helps run) may derail their romance. Eh, this book was fine, but I never really got invested in it. Something about the writing style didn’t quite work for me; the dialogue felt stilted and modern. I also didn’t particularly connect with either Gal or Vee, which is a problem for me in a romance! Overall, this book (like the rest of the series, really) is just OK — there’s much better historical romance out there.

Stella Riley, Cadenza

Speaking of much better historical romance! Julian Langham is a brilliant harpsichordist about to embark on a career as a concert musician in Vienna, when he learns he’s the distant heir to an earldom and is forced to return to England. Julian has no clue how to cope with his new responsibilities, especially the three illegitimate children of the previous earl, so he decides to hire a woman as his housekeeper/governess. But the girl who shows up on his doorstep, Arabella Brandon, gives him much more than he bargained for. I’m a huge fan of this series, and this is definitely one of my favorite installments! I adored the shy yet passionate Julian and the slowly deepening intimacy between him and Arabella. There’s also a secondary romance involving Arabella’s cousin, Elizabeth, which I wasn’t initially as invested in but which got a lot more compelling as it went along. My only complaint is that I kind of wish each romance had gotten its own book! I’m now even more eager to read Midwinter Magic, the novella that caps off the series, as I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet.

Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate

Hazelwood’s YA debut is a rivals-to-lovers romance between chess prodigies. Mallory Greenleaf hasn’t played chess for years, but when her BFF asks her to play in a charity tournament, she reluctantly agrees — only to beat “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer, who is currently the No. 1 ranked chess player in the entire world. Now Mal is facing unwelcome media attention and all kinds of pressure to continue playing, and Nolan seems surprisingly eager for a rematch. Will Mallory be able to find a renewed love of the game, and more importantly, will she allow herself to ask for what she truly wants? For me, the best part of this book by far is all the behind-the-scenes information on the world of elite chess. Hazelwood clearly did her research, and I found the ins and outs of training and tournaments fascinating. However, the romance fell flat for me, mostly because I found Mallory so exasperating. She’s completely obnoxious to almost everyone around her (when she’s not playing the martyr for her family) and makes the wrong choice at almost every turn. I honestly couldn’t see what the way-too-amazing Nolan saw in her, and I’m weary of the “perfect guy falls in love with deeply flawed girl” trope. I think I’m ready to acknowledge that Hazelwood just isn’t the author for me.

Mini-Reviews: Tiger, London, Coffee

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Philip Pullman, The Tiger in the Well

Two years after the events of The Shadow in the North, Sally Lockhart is doing well; her business is thriving, and she’s built a happy life with her daughter, Harriet, and their household. So she’s shocked when she receives divorce papers from Arthur Parrish — a man she’s never met — and he demands custody of “his” daughter. As Sally tries to fight back, she is overwhelmed by the evidence against her, including a forged marriage certificate. Her troubles turn out to have roots in the distant past, and they’re also connected to a larger plot against the Jews in London. Like the other books in this series, this one is a page-turner, but I found Sally’s plight almost too stressful to read about! The depictions of the seamier side of London life are vivid and fascinating. I missed some of my old favorite characters, particularly Jim Taylor, but I liked the new cast as well. That said, I don’t think this series will be a keeper for me, but I’m certainly looking forward to reading the final book next month!

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to London

This second book in the Kurland St. Mary series finds Lucy Harrington traveling to London with her sister for the Season in hopes of finding a potential husband. Meanwhile, Major Robert Kurland is also in London at the Prince Regent’s command; he’s to be made a baronet for his heroism at Waterloo. There he reconnects with an old army acquaintance, Lieutenant Broughton. When Broughton’s grandmother suddenly dies in the middle of a ball at Almack’s, both Lucy and Robert suspect foul play, so they once again team up to solve the mystery. Like the first book, this is a pleasant historical mystery with likable main characters and a world I enjoy spending time in. The mystery itself is a bit thin — I guessed the culprit fairly early — but it’s well presented and the solution makes sense. As a romance reader, I also enjoyed the development of Lucy and Robert’s relationship and am eager to see what happens next! I’ll definitely be seeking out book #3 soon.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Before the Coffee Gets Cold (trans. Geoffrey Trousselot)

Somewhere in Tokyo there is an old basement cafe with an unusual quality: If you sit in a particular seat, you’re able to travel back in time. But nothing you do in the past can change the present, and you must return before your cup of coffee gets cold. Because of these rules, the cafe isn’t overrun with would-be time travelers, but occasionally someone arrives who wants to sit in that seat. And despite not being able to change the present, those who visit the past usually come back with a new perspective and a lighter heart. This is a quiet, contemplative read that’s short on plot but full of relatable, poignant moments that emphasize our common humanity. Some of the time travelers’ stories are heartbreaking, but the book is ultimately hopeful. It’s not my usual type of read, but I’m definitely glad I tried it!

Mini-Reviews: Midnight, Counterfeit, Blonde

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Lauren Willig, The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla

It’s 1806, and the successful publication of Miss Gwen’s gothic novel has sparked a vampire craze in London society. Rumor has it that Lucien, the reclusive duke of Belliston, is one such creature of the night. Sally Fitzhugh thinks that’s nonsense and seeks out an acquaintance with the duke to prove it. Meanwhile, Lucien is determined to discover the truth behind his parents’ tragic deaths several years ago. When a young woman is found dead with red “fang marks” on her neck, it seems clear that someone wants to frame Lucien for murder, so he and Sally team up to investigate. I find myself with nothing much to say about this book. It’s a cute, fun read, like the other Pink Carnation books, but nothing about it stands out to me. The villain is pretty easy to spot, and Sally and Lucien, while likable, feel a bit generic. I did enjoy seeing Turnip and Arabella again, though!

Darcie Wilde, A Counterfeit Suitor

In this fifth book in the series, Rosalind Thorne continues her work as a a “useful woman” helping society matrons. A rich widow with social aspirations has asked Rosalind to investigate her daughter’s suitor, fearing the man may be a fortune hunter. But Rosalind is distracted by the news that her forger father has fallen into the clutches of Russell Fullerton, a blackmailer with a grudge against Rosalind. Family drama and murder ensue, with a side helping of possible Bonapartist intrigues. I’m conflicted about this series; I like the main characters, particularly Rosalind and Adam Harkness (her Bow Street Runner beau), but the mystery plots are always too long and overly convoluted. There’s currently one more book in the series, and I’ll read it in December, but I doubt I’ll continue with the series after that.

Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity

A woman wakes up on the snowy streets of Paris with no memories. Then a bunch of people start shooting at her, but fortunately one man comes to her rescue. He calls her Alex and thinks she’s a spy — which is how she learns that she has an identical twin who’s managed to piss off a bunch of intelligence agencies, not to mention some very dangerous criminals. Now the woman and her rescuer must team up to outrun the bad guys and find Alex, all while navigating their strong mutual attraction. I read this book with the most enormous grin on my face! I love the blend of spy adventure plus romantic comedy, and the novel gleefully embraces all the tropes of those genres: only one bed, amnesia, kissing “to maintain our cover,” etc. It’s funny, breezy, and just a delightful romp. I think the first half is better than the second, which becomes a little too bogged down in relationship angst. But if you’re in a reading slump or just looking for something fun, I highly recommend this one!

Mini-Reviews: Sugar, Widow, Scorpio

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Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is expected to live at home, take care of her aging mother, and always behave with perfect propriety. While she outwardly conforms to those expectations, she secretly rebels by stashing sweets, junk food, and romance novels in her bedroom closet. Then one day, a local woman named Della Lee Baker moves into her closet and refuses to come out until Josey starts making changes in her life. With Della Lee’s encouragement, Josey finds friendship and even love, but her newfound community is threatened by a sinister stranger. I always like Sarah Addison Allen’s books, which are set in Southern small towns with a hint of magic. This one is probably my favorite because I find Josey very relatable (though thankfully I have a much better mother than she does!). It’s got multiple romances, cozy fall/winter vibes, and a strong emphasis on relationships between women. Recommended, especially for this time of year.

Diana Biller, The Widow of Rose House

Alva Webster has recently returned to America after several years abroad. She’s bought an old house and plans to publish a book about the process of renovating and decorating it. But the house is allegedly haunted, and she can’t convince anyone to come work on it until she does something about the ghost. Enter Professor Samuel Moore, a brilliant scientist with an interest in the supernatural. As he and Alva investigate the possible ghost, they also fall in love, but Alva’s traumatic past may derail their romance. I’d heard good things about this book, and I’m happy to say it lived up to the hype! I enjoyed the relatively uncommon setting of 1870s New York, and I loved the banter between Sam and Alva. Sam is a bit too good to be true — he always reacts perfectly to Alva’s emotional turmoil — but he’s very charming and likable nonetheless. Recommended for fans of historical romance, and I’ll definitely be seeking out more by Biller!

Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races

Life on the remote island of Thisby revolves around the Scorpio Races, an annual event in which men (it’s always men) ride the dangerous, man-eating water horses native to the seas surrounding the island. Sean Kendrick has won the races several times, and he hopes this time he’ll win enough to finally be able to buy his beloved mount. Meanwhile, Puck Connolly is racing for the very first time, in hopes of somehow convincing her older brother, Gabe, not to move to the mainland. As Sean and Puck train together, they grow closer, but to get what they want — including each other — they’ll have to survive the races first. This is a book of my heart, and it was sheer joy to immerse myself in its world once again. I’m not usually a person who reads for setting, but Thisby is magical and feels as though it must be real. The book is slow and subtle and, while it contains a love story, it doesn’t feel romance-y at all, if that makes sense. For my money, this is Stiefvater’s best book, and I highly recommend it if the premise interests you.

Mini-Reviews: Fight, Familiar, Village

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Maureen Lee Lenker, It Happened One Fight

Joan Davis has worked hard to become a famous and beloved movie star, and her goal is nearly in sight. Her only problem is her costar, Dash Howard. Audiences love “Davis and Dash” films, but she can’t stand him, and he’s constantly pranking her on set. When one of his pranks goes spectacularly awry, leaving Dash and Joan legally married, the answer is simple: move production of their current film to Reno, where they can divorce after residing there for six weeks. But as Joan and Dash get to know each other better, they reconsider their plan to separate. This book is obviously inspired by the screwball comedies of the 1930s, and I enjoyed the setting and the movie allusions very much. However, the romance itself fell a bit flat. Mostly, I thought the book dragged on too long — there were several points when Joan and Dash overcame a big conflict and the book could have ended, but instead they had to confront yet another obstacle. I just got a bit tired of it. I’d love to read more historical romance set in this time period, but this one wasn’t as enthralling as I hoped it would be.

Lish McBride, A Little Too Familiar

This cozy paranormal romance centers around Declan, a werewolf, and Lou, an animal mage who specializes in bonding humans to animal familiars. When Declan moves in with Lou and her housemates, the two are immediately attracted to each other, but Declan has a traumatic past that’s left him distrustful of animal mages. When that past comes back to haunt him, he and Lou (and their other housemates and friends) must team up to stop Declan’s enemies. I don’t read a lot of paranormal romance, but I liked this book a lot. All the main characters are kind, well-intentioned people, and the “found family” vibe is strong. The romance worked for me (though it’s definitely racier than I’d prefer), and the suspense plot provided some stakes for the novel, but it’s pretty low-conflict overall. Some of my favorite scenes were when Declan, Lou, and their friends were just hanging out and bantering. There’s at least one sequel to this book, and I definitely plan on picking it up at some point!

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Village

After being seriously injured at Waterloo, Major Robert Kurland is back at his estate near the village of Kurland St. Mary to recover. One night, looking out his bedroom window, he sees an unidentified figure carrying a heavy load. Meanwhile, Lucy Harrington, the vicar’s oldest daughter, is disturbed when one of the young female servants disappears without even collecting the wages she’s owed. When Lucy visits Robert (an errand of mercy on her father’s behalf), they compare notes and team up to discover what’s going on, soon uncovering evidence of theft and murder. I really enjoyed this cozy historical mystery! While Lucy seems to have a bit more freedom than is period-appropriate (conversing with the major in his bedroom, gasp!), she’s not just a progressive 21st-century heroine in period garb. The mystery is solid, though not brilliant, and I appreciated that the plot wasn’t overly convoluted. I’m definitely interested in continuing with the series; it looks like there are seven more books, and luckily my library seems to have them all!

Mini-Reviews: Widow, Conspiracy, Rake

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John Dickson Carr, The Red Widow Murders

“Do you believe that a room can kill?” The people gathered at Lord Mantling’s London home are about to answer that question. One particular room in the house, dubbed the Widow’s Room, has been the site of four previous violent deaths. All the victims were alone in the room and apparently poisoned, though no one could discover how the poison was administered. Now Lord Mantling and his guests draw lots to see who will spend two hours locked inside the Widow’s Room — and when the unlucky loser dies like his predecessors, detective Sir Henry Merrivale must figure out how, and by whose hand, the death occurred. I have mixed feelings about this book. The solution to the locked-room puzzle is ingenious, but the book really plods. Also, none of the characters feel or behave like real human beings, and the murderer’s plan is incredibly farfetched. This is my second encounter with Carr’s work, and so far I’m not really clicking with him, but I hope that future reads will work better for me.

Michelle Diener, The Emperor’s Conspiracy

Charlotte Raven started life on the streets, but she was rescued from poverty by a warmhearted noblewoman. Now she lives among the upper classes, but she still maintains ties to her roots. When she warns a society friend about a vicious gentleman she encountered in her old life, she’s plunged into danger, along with the friend’s brother, Lord Edward Durnham. Charlotte and Edward team up to figure out who’s trying to do them harm, falling in love in the process. But Charlotte’s oldest friend, who is now a London crime boss, isn’t ready to let her go. So many things annoyed me about this book, from the utter implausibility of Charlotte’s situation to the anachronistic prose to the insta-love between Charlotte and Edward. What kept me reading was the fast-paced plot, and I’ll admit I was mildly entertained. But I definitely wouldn’t recommend this one and won’t be keeping my copy.

Mary Balogh, The Notorious Rake

Mary, Lady Mornington, has been terrified of thunderstorms ever since a traumatic event in her past. So when she’s caught in one with only Lord Edmond Waite for company, she clings to him in terror, even though she despises him because of his terrible reputation. Desperate to block out the storm, she sleeps with him — but when the intrigued Edmond wants to pursue a relationship with her, she wants nothing more to do with him. As he persistently seeks her out, however, she slowly discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye. This book definitely has its flaws: The thunderstorm thing is a bit ridiculous (although Balogh does a pretty good job of selling it), and Edmond is a problematic hero in that he keeps bothering Mary even after she repeatedly tells him to back off. And yet, I can forgive a lot in a romance novel if I find the central relationship believable, and I definitely bought the connection between Edmond and Mary. Plus, Edmond grows a lot throughout the book and reveals surprising depths, which for me redeems him as a hero. Balogh’s books can be hit or miss, but this one is a winner!

Mini-Review: Bridge, Hazard, Stardust

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Barry Hughart, Bridge of Birds

Number Ten Ox is a peasant living in the Chinese village of Ku-fu. When all the village children suddenly contract a mysterious illness, Ox must find a wise man to discover the cause of the sickness and its cure. He finds Master Li, a very old man with “a slight flaw in his character,” and the two of them travel throughout China seeking the Great Root of Power that will supposedly cure the sickness. Along the way, they have a series of adventures involving thievery, beautiful women, murderous dictators, divine entities, and the occasional ghost. This is a fun picaresque novel full of improbable stories and sly jokes. Master Li and Number Ten Ox are the only characters with any depth, but I enjoyed them both immensely, and I also liked how some of the secondary characters kept reentering the narrative. I’m glad I finally got around to reading this one; it isn’t particularly deep or life-changing, but it’s certainly an entertaining read!

Stella Riley, Hazard

Aristide isn’t interested in love or marriage; right now he’s more focused on running the high-class gaming hall he co-owns. Meanwhile, Genevieve is a recent widow who’s desperate to marry again and escape the clutches of her overbearing brothers. Seizing upon a slight prior acquaintance with Aristide, Genevieve makes a shocking proposal, and Aristide is surprised by how tempted he is to accept. Meanwhile, the long-brewing romance between Aristide’s sister, Madeleine, and Nicholas, the duke of Rockliffe’s brother, finally comes to a head. I liked this book a lot, though I found Aristide’s story much more interesting than Madeleine’s. He’s learned to hide his true feelings under an iron mask of self-control, and it’s lovely to watch his growing affection for Genevieve transform him. Genevieve is also a deeply sympathetic character, though I felt she healed awfully quickly from her traumatic past, which includes an abusive husband as well as the aforementioned brothers. Overall, though, a great read in a great series!

Neil Gaiman, Stardust

The village of Wall has long stood at the border of Faerie, but none of the villagers has dared to cross that boundary — until 17-year-old Tristran Thorn vows to bring back a fallen star to impress the prettiest girl in the village. He didn’t count on the fact that the fallen star is actually a young woman, Yvaine; further, he’s not the only person seeking her. Also on the star’s track are the sons of Stormhold, who want a magical token she possesses, and a witch who needs the star’s heart to restore her youth. This novel is very atmospheric and brilliantly conjures up both the beauty and danger of Faerie. Tristran is a likable everyman hero, not too brave and not too clever. The book’s pacing is a bit off, for me — a ton of time is spent setting up the world, and I don’t think Tristran even gets to Faerie until about halfway through. Then he and Yvaine have some adventures that are briefly mentioned in a throwaway sentence or two, but I would have loved to learn more about them! If you’re looking for a book that gives gothic fairytale vibes, this is an excellent choice, but if you prefer a snappier plot in your fantasy novels, I’d look elsewhere.