Review: Polaris Rising

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Polaris RisingJessie Mihalik, Polaris Rising

Ada von Hasenberg is a princess on the run. The universe is ruled by a Consortium of noble Houses, of which the von Hasenberg family is one of the most powerful. As a result, Ada’s duty is to marry for her House’s political advantage, but rather than accept her fate, she’s determined to carve her own path. Unfortunately, she’s captured by a mercenary ship and forced to share a cell with Marcus Loch, the so-called Devil of Fornax Zero. Loch is said to have butchered his regiment in a past military action, so he has a price on his head almost as big as Ada’s. Now, Ada and Loch must work together to escape captivity — but when her fiancé, the son of a rival House, comes looking for her, Ada begins to suspect that more than a marriage is at stake. To figure out what’s going on, she’ll need Loch’s help, even though she’s finding it harder and harder to fight her attraction to him.

I found it hard to summarize this book because it’s chock full of plot. All you really need to know is that this is a very entertaining, page-turning sci-fi/romance adventure, and I really enjoyed it. Ada is a strong heroine, but not one of the obnoxious variety; she’s not incredibly amazing at everything, nor does she rush into decisions without thinking carefully about them first. One of my favorite details was how she always (smartly) checks for bugs and tracking devices when she enters an unfamiliar environment. I also found the overall plot compelling, albeit a little predictable. I wasn’t as enthralled with the romance — Loch is a pretty stereotypical alpha male (although not a jerk, which is nice!), and since the book is only told from Ada’s point of view, I felt I didn’t get a good insight into what makes him tick. Their relationship doesn’t seem to be based on anything more than physical attraction, so it fell a little flat for me. Nevertheless, this was a really fun read for me, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out this fall!

Review: The Golden Tresses of the Dead

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Golden Tresses of the DeadAlan Bradley, The Golden Tresses of the Dead

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series***

Flavia de Luce is at it again in this 10th book of the series. Her older sister Feely is finally getting married, and Flavia is surprised to find that she has mixed emotions about Feely’s leaving Buckshaw. But her inner turmoil soon becomes the least of Flavia’s concerns when, at the reception, she discovers a human finger in the wedding cake. Of course, Arthur W. Dogger and Associates are on the case — and of course, a second mystery presents itself soon afterward, involving a famous homeopathic doctor and two female missionaries who have recently returned from West Africa. As Flavia investigates, with the help of faithful Dogger and annoying cousin Undine, she realizes that the two cases may be connected.

Is it just me, or did the mystery plot of this book make even less sense than usual? One character dies in the novel, but I don’t think we ever find out for sure who the murderer was or how the killing took place. Another dies off-page, and it’s not actually clear what the cause of death was — murder, natural causes, something else? Maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention, but I felt like there were a lot of loose ends with this plot. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed the book for Flavia’s voice and her relationships with the other characters, particularly Dogger. I also like the fact that she’s slowly gaining more self-awareness as she grows up, and I hope to see that trend continue in subsequent books. So I actually did like this novel overall, but it’s not a book (or series, really) to read for the mystery.

Review: True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop

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True Love at the Lonely Hearts BookshopAnnie Darling, True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop

Despite her job at a bookstore specializing in romantic fiction, Verity Love is happy being single. But her well-meaning friends continue to set her up with every single man they know, and Verity’s tired of it—so tired, in fact, that she’s invented a fake boyfriend to deter their matchmaking. When her friends insist on meeting him, however, she quickly realizes she needs a real person to substantiate her scheme. Enter Johnny, a handsome stranger who also wouldn’t mind having a fake girlfriend to prevent being set up by his own interfering friends. Verity and Johnny agree to be each other’s dates to various social functions for one summer, at the end of which they’ll amicably part ways. But of course, the more time they spend together, the more blurry the boundaries of their relationship become.

Every chapter of this book begins with a quote from Pride and Prejudice, which immediately told me that I’d either love it or hate it. I’m happy to say that I mostly loved it, although occasionally the book does get a bit too twee and cutesy for its own good. But I really liked and related to Verity as a character; she’s an extreme introvert who needs alone time to recharge, but with her large, loving-but-noisy family, she never gets enough of it. As an introvert myself (though definitely not to Verity’s level), I empathized with her when she just couldn’t handle any more socializing. I also love a good “fake relationship” plot, so I was on board for Verity and Johnny’s romance. I was very pleasantly surprised by the writing style as well, give or take a minor copyediting error. Overall, this novel is just the charming, fun romance I was hoping for, and I’m definitely interested in reading the other books in this series at some point.

Review: King of Scars

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King of ScarsLeigh Bardugo, King of Scars

***Warning: SPOILERS for the Grisha trilogy and the Dregs duology!***

Nikolai Lantsov, King of Ravka, is trying to lead his country in the wake of its devastating civil war. But he faces threats of invasion by the powerful Shu and the Grisha-hating Fjerdans, the rise of a new cult that worships the Darkling as a saint, plus the possibility that Kerch might call in Ravka’s staggering debts. And then there’s the fact that Nikolai is sharing his body with a demon that hungers for human flesh. Hoping to rid himself of the monster inside him, Nikolai and his Grisha general, Zoya, travel to the heart of the Fold to perform an ancient—and possibly deadly—ritual. Meanwhile, Nina Zenik is a Ravkan agent helping to rescue Grisha from Fjerda. She’s also grieving the death of Matthias, but she finds a new purpose when she discovers a new atrocity the Fjerdans are committing against Grisha women. As Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina encounter various surprises, reversals, and betrayals, who will be left standing in the end?

Phew, there is a LOT going on in this book, and I think that’s the main reason I didn’t like it as much as I expected to. I adore the character of Nikolai—for me, he’s the best part of the original Grisha trilogy by far—so I was disappointed that he didn’t get more “screen time” in his own book! Instead, half the novel follows Nina’s story, and I have to say, I wasn’t terribly interested in it, especially since it ended up having no relevance to Nikolai’s story. I wish Bardugo had just written two separate books! I did enjoy learning more about Zoya and seeing the events of previous books from her point of view. She’s an intriguing character, and I liked seeing her spar with Nikolai…I just wish there had been more of it! This book also dives deep into the religion and mythology of the Grishaverse, which was interesting but also caused the plot to get lost in the weeds, I think. Overall, I’m a bit irritated with this novel…but I’m sure I’ll still read the sequel when it comes out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Wallflowers

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This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is an interesting one: 10 books you love that have fewer than 2,000 ratings on Goodreads. I tend to read a lot of backlist and otherwise unpopular books, and it was still hard for me to come up with 10 titles! But I’m glad to have the opportunity to praise some lesser-known books that I really enjoyed. So without further ado, my list is below; the number of Goodreads ratings (as of February 13) is in parentheses after each title.

1. Aline, Countess of Romanones, The Spy Wore Red (1,666) — A delightful memoir that reads like a spy thriller! My review is here.

2. Walker Percy, The Thanatos Syndrome (1,599) — Probably my favorite novel by this author. It’s about a contaminated water supply, a modern-day hermit, and an extremely nasty conspiracy. Fans of Southern literature should definitely check this one out.

3. Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager (1,508) — If you’re looking for the next Georgette Heyer…well, nothing is going to quite measure up, but Loretta Chase’s traditional Regencies come pretty close! This is my favorite so far, about a rake who tries to seduce a prim and proper bluestocking, only to find himself (of course) falling in love.

4. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (1,136) — A very short book that explores how people can obtain interior freedom, from the perspective of a Catholic priest. This book made a huge impact on me; my review is here.

5. McKelle George, Speak Easy, Speak Love (773) — Does the idea of a Much Ado about Nothing retelling set in the 1920s appeal to you? If so, you need to pick this one up! I enjoyed it SO much more than I thought I would. My review is here.

6. Emily Gee, The Laurentine Spy (771) — Fans of fantasy and political intrigue will enjoy this book about courtiers (who hate each other) with double lives as spies (who…don’t hate each other). My review is here.

7. Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, No Bed for Bacon (180) — The movie Shakespeare in Love is actually based on this hilarious sendup of the Elizabethan era. My review is here.

8. Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets (172) — Historical fiction plus fantasy plus con artists plus romance is totally my catnip. If it’s yours too, check out this book (and author) immediately! My review is here.

9. Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives (151) — This ingenious detective novel parodies three of the most famous fictional detectives: Lord Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown. The book really only works if you’re familiar with these three characters, but if you are, the spoof is absolutely spot-on! My review is here.

10. Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan (82) — I really enjoyed this historical mystery set in an unusual time period: the Jacobite rebellions of the early 18th century. It’s the first in a series, and I’m eager to read the rest! My review is here.

Review: The Devil’s Delilah

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Devil's DelilahLoretta Chase, The Devil’s Delilah

Delilah Desmond is coming to London to make an advantageous marriage; but because her father is the notorious “Devil” Desmond, she knows being accepted by high society will be an uphill battle. Adding to her difficulties, the Devil has written a highly improper and scandalous memoir; though he’s promised not to publish it until he truly needs the money, Delilah knows that even a whiff of scandal will destroy her matrimonial prospects. When the memoir goes missing, she immediately flies into a panic. Luckily, she has the dependable, albeit absentminded, Jack Langdon to lean on. Jack has always been more comfortable with books than with people, especially women. But Delilah attracts him like no one else, and he’s determined to help her, even though the far more charming Lord Berne has his eye on the young beauty as well.

I’m really enjoying making my way through Loretta Chase’s traditional Regencies. Though she’s not quite Georgette Heyer, she’s definitely the next best thing. But I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as Viscount Vagabond (to which this novel is technically a sequel, though it can be read as a stand-alone). I loved the idea of Jack as a hero — someone who seems bookish and absent-minded but who comes through when it counts. But I felt like his character was a bit inconsistent; he doesn’t spend very much time enjoying his scholarly pursuits because he’s always in turmoil about his feelings for Delilah. I also thought the scenes between Jack and Delilah were quite repetitive; they keep having the same fight over and over, which is frustrating. The book is still a fun, fast read with some witty dialogue — I especially enjoyed the Devil’s character — but it’s not my favorite by Chase.

Review: Dear Mrs. Bird

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Dear Mrs. BirdAJ Pearce, Dear Mrs. Bird

In 1940 London, Emmeline Lake is determined to do her bit for the war effort. She volunteers at a local fire station, but she dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, diving into the midst of the action to get a big story. When she sees an advertisement for a job at the Evening Chronicle, she jumps at the chance, only to realize that she’s actually applied for a job with Mrs. Bird’s advice column at Woman’s Friend magazine. Her main duty is to sort through the letters that come to Mrs. Bird and throw away any that mention “unpleasantness.” But Emmy can’t help thinking that these women ought to be helped; and when Mrs. Bird refuses to respond to their letters, Emmy decides to take matters into her own hands. In the meantime, as bombs continue to fall on London, the war affects the lives of Emmy and her friends in profound ways.

The voice of this novel hooked me from the very beginning. Emmy is young, somewhat naive, and relentlessly cheerful, and I really enjoyed her as a narrator and protagonist. (Her quirky voice may not be for everyone, but you’ll know within the first couple of pages whether it’s for you or not.) I also loved Emmy’s relationship with her best friend Bunty, which turned out to be a much bigger focus of the novel than I was expecting. Even though I love a good romance, it’s refreshing to read a book in which the most significant relationship is a friendship. The secondary characters are also delightful, particularly Emmy’s colleague and mentor, Mr. Collins. (I may or may not have developed a crush on him . . . but sadly, Emmy’s romantic destiny appears to lie elsewhere.) Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people who like their World War II fiction on the lighter side, à la The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Review: One in a Million

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One in a MillionLindsey Kelk, One in a Million

Annie Higgins is a master of social media, and she co-owns a digital marketing company that manages the social media accounts of various internet content creators. Unfortunately, the company isn’t doing so well, and Annie’s getting desperate for a way to turn things around. Then a conversation with her office landlord turns into a bet: she has to make a random stranger Instagram-famous in 30 days, and if she wins, she doesn’t have to pay rent for a month. Annie jumps at the chance — until she realizes that winning the bet will be a lot harder than she thought. Historian Samuel Page, PhD, is stiff, socially awkward, and absolutely hates social media. But the more time Annie spends with him, the more she genuinely enjoys his company, and the less important the bet seems.

This was a cute, enjoyable chick-lit read with more than a few nods to My Fair Lady, but I liked that the makeover wasn’t all one-sided. Annie helps to give Sam a more marketable public persona, but he also helps her to realize that there’s more to life than the perfect Instagram selfie. (Come to think of it, Eliza Doolittle also changes Henry Higgins in a much more profound way than he changes her.) The central romance is adorable, and I love that Sam is an unconventional hero with his awkward, slightly too formal demeanor. I also enjoyed Annie’s funny first-person voice. I didn’t love all the emphasis on social media; at times the book reminded me of those thinkpieces about whether technology is ruining our lives, which I found tedious. But overall, I liked this fun and breezy rom-com, so I’d recommend it if you’re into that kind of thing!

Top Ten Tuesday: Love is in the air

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In honor of Valentine’s Day, this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is favorite couples in books. I’m a sucker for a good romance, so the hardest thing for me was narrowing my list down! But here are 10 of my favorite romances in books:

1. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) — Obviously these two are my absolute top OTP. The greatest thing about their romance is that love makes both of them better people. Darcy learns that he needs to get over himself and be a kinder, more generous person, while Lizzy realizes that she needs to be less judgmental.

2. Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley (Emma) — I don’t want to fill this entire list with Austen couples (although I could!), but I had to include Emma and Mr. Knightley. My favorite thing about their friends-to-lovers romance is that Emma subconsciously reveals her feelings for Mr. Knightley long before she actually recognizes them herself.

3. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables series) — Looking back, I’m pretty sure this was my first OTP; I shipped them before shipping was even a thing! Gilbert is the perfect “boy next door” type, and I love that he and Anne are both so smart and competitive (especially with each other!).

4. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series) — These two are just so adorable together! I know some people think Ron’s not good enough for Hermione, but I think he’s exactly the right person to balance out all her type-A neuroticism. She’s obviously going to be the alpha in their relationship, so it’s a good thing that Ron is excellent at taking a backseat and supporting her.

5. Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane (Lord Peter Wimsey series) — I adore watching these two banter and bicker their way into true love. I also love how Sayers examines some of the difficulties facing women of her era through Harriet’s eyes; though Harriet is attracted to Peter, she really struggles with the idea of giving up her independence and autonomy as a single woman with a career.

6. Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado about Nothing) — Speaking of banter, this couple is the quintessential example of the hate-to-love trope, wrapped in an incredibly fun and witty package. When Benedick says, “Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably,” that really says it all!

7. Anna and Rupert (A Countess below Stairs) — If there were an award for Sweetest Book Ever, I’m pretty sure I’d give it to this one. The story contains elements of forbidden love — Anna is a maid, while Rupert is an earl (and an engaged one, at that) — and it’s just a delight to watch them struggle to suppress their feelings. I let out the happiest sigh every time I finish this book.

8. Gen and [spoilers] (Queen’s Thief series) — Sadly I can’t talk too much about this couple without revealing spoilers. But I will say that Gen is a wonderful hero: he’s a thief (and I love a good thief hero!) who is super smart and witty and always a step ahead. And his love interest is more than a match for him. Their relationship starts in a pretty dark place, so it’s amazing to see how their complex feelings for one another grow.

9. Sean and Puck (The Scorpio Races) — This is one of my favorite books, and I love Maggie Stiefvater’s subtle, magical writing style. This romance is so delightfully understated; it’s all about what isn’t said.

10. Lincoln and Beth (Attachments) — This book has such an adorable rom-com plot: Lincoln’s job is to monitor workplace email, and he ends up falling in love with Beth through reading her correspondence with her friend Jennifer. I can absolutely see why this storyline doesn’t work for some people, but Lincoln is such a sweet and likable character that I was totally along for the ride. And I adored Beth’s snarky voice . . . I really believed that she and Lincoln were well matched.

What are your favorite literary love stories? Please share your recs, because I’m in the mood for all the romance!

Review: Hunted

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HuntedMeagan Spooner, Hunted

Yeva has a comfortable life as the youngest daughter of a prosperous merchant: she is a lady-in-waiting to the local baronessa and has a chance at a good marriage. But Yeva has always been happiest hunting in the nearby forest, following in the footsteps of her father, who was a skilled hunter before becoming a merchant. So when her father loses his fortune and must return to hunting to support his family, Yeva is not heartbroken — until her father begins raving about a mysterious, cunning beast in heart of the forest. When he does not return from his latest hunting trip, Yeva goes after him, only to find that the mythical Beast is real . . . and that he has plans for Yeva.

So, that plot summary pretty much covers the setup of the book, but I feel like it leaves out all the interesting parts, which of course happen after Yeva encounters the Beast. I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this is now one of my favorites, along with Robin McKinley’s Beauty. The Beast is appropriately terrifying at first, and Yeva has a very good reason to hate and distrust him (she thinks he killed her father, though the reality is more complicated), yet he can also be thoughtful and kind. I loved how their relationship develops throughout the novel and how the Beast’s human side becomes more prominent the more time he spends with Yeva. I also really enjoyed the magical setting with its nods to Russian folklore. In short, if you’re a fan of fairy tale retellings or of this fairy tale in particular, I highly recommend this book!

Also, thanks to Angie for the wonderful review that inspired me to pick up this one!