Mini-Reviews: Sorceress, 84, Duchess, Gathering

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T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call

Cordelia has always feared her mother, Evangeline, who has the power to take over Cordelia’s body and manipulate it like a puppet. They live an isolated life in a small village, but Evangeline wants to marry a wealthy man and soon sets her sights on a nearby squire. When they move into the squire’s home, his sister, Hester, immediately senses something wrong about Evangeline and tries to help the terrified Cordelia. But Evangeline’s dark powers soon threaten Hester and everyone she holds dear. This is another absolutely outstanding novel by Kingfisher – sort of her take on a Regency romance, but with a dark fantasy edge. Evangeline’s abuse of Cordelia is terrible to read, and there are a few scenes that veer into straight-up horror. But Hester and Cordelia, the two viewpoint characters, are wonderful, and I also adored Hester’s friends and love interest. So for me, there was enough light and humor to balance out the dark stuff, and I can’t recommend this novel highly enough!

Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street

American writer Helene Hanff first writes to the British bookstore Marks & Co. in 1949, sending a wishlist of books she can’t find closer to home. Frank Doel, one of the store’s employees, promises to hunt for her requests. The ensuing correspondence, collected in 84, Charing Cross Road, reflects a friendship spanning two decades, as Helene and Frank discuss their work lives, their families and friends, and the books they love. In 1971, Helene finally travels to England and meets Frank’s wife (Frank himself had sadly died by that time), recounting her adventures in The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. These books are perfect little gems for literature lovers, funny and bighearted and brimming with goodwill. They also provide a snapshot of the late 20th century, from postwar rationing (Helene has meat and eggs sent to her British friends) to the popularity of the Beatles (Frank “rather likes” them – “if only their fans didn’t scream so”). I will definitely revisit these books whenever I need to feel some joy or restore my faith in humanity!

V.E. Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows

***Warning: SPOILERS for A Darker Shade of Magic***

Four months after Red London was nearly destroyed, Kell is angry and restless. To save Rhy’s life, he tied it to his own, but now anytime Kell is hurt, Rhy feels it in his body – and vice versa. Rhy also resents this bond and feels guilty for living on borrowed time. Meanwhile, Lila has achieved her ambition of sailing on a pirate ship but doesn’t trust her newfound happiness. When her ship returns to Red London for a magical tournament, the stage is set for dramatic meetings – and an unexpected threat from White London. I must confess, I found this book something of a slog. Nothing actually happens to move the plot forward until well over halfway through. I still like the main characters, including Lila’s captain, Alucard Emery, and I appreciated Rhy’s development. But I wanted more of Kell and Lila actually interacting with each other! Unfortunately, I think this book makes the common “book 2 of a trilogy” mistake – it’s basically just a setup for book 3. Not sure I’ll be keeping this series on my shelves, honestly.

Mini-Reviews: Like, Gentleman, Aristocrat

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Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Mini-Reviews: Dance, Star, Strange

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Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance

In high school, Shiloh and Cary were inseparable—best friends who knew they were destined to be in each other’s lives forever. But 14 years later, they’ve completely lost touch. Shiloh has been married and divorced, and now she and her two young children live in her childhood home with her mother. Meanwhile, Cary joined the Navy and hardly ever comes home. But when they both attend their good friend Mikey’s wedding, they get a chance to figure out what went wrong between them and possibly build a future together. I’ve long been a Rainbow Rowell fan and was delighted to discover she’d come out with another adult romance, so I snapped up the hardcover immediately. Overall I liked it a lot; she’s such a good writer, and she does a great job of depicting complex emotions in a relatable, realistic way. There’s not much of a plot, nor is there as much humor and joy as in my favorite of her books (Attachments), but I’d still highly recommend this one to fans of contemporary romance.

Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed

Digger is a street thief in a country that’s being unjustly oppressed by both the king and his fanatical Inquisition/secret police. She has no interest in politics – she’s just trying to stay alive and not get caught – but after a job gone wrong, she falls in with a group of young nobles and becomes a lady-in-waiting to one of them. At her employer’s mountain castle, Digger is blackmailed into spying on the castle’s owners and their guests, who are concealing many secrets that could have ramifications throughout the kingdom. I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, which combines a streetwise, fish-out-of-water heroine with some solid political intrigue. It’s well written, with several twists and turns of the plot to keep things interesting. While the book has a reasonably solid ending, there’s plenty of room for a sequel, which I’m excited to read next month!

Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World

The decline in traditional religiosity in America over the past several decades is well known, but along with this decline has come a surge in Americans who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” or as religiously unaffiliated. Burton’s thesis is that many contemporary Americans do still acknowledge a spiritual component to their lives; they just look for it in places other than traditional religious institutions. She discusses several ways in which contemporary Americans pursue spiritual fulfillment, including fandom, wellness culture, witchcraft, and political activism. I find Burton’s central thesis compelling and her examples incredibly entertaining – once you start to look for the oddly spiritual language in modern marketing, you can’t unsee it! The book does feel a bit dated now; it was published in 2020, and much of the data is from the mid-2010s. Still, I’d recommend the book to those interested in the subject, and I plan to read Burton’s next book, Self Made, at some point.

Mini-Reviews: Heiress, Sailor, Uprooted

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Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress

Guy Farne is a foundling who has overcome his lowly origins and is now a multimillionaire. He’s just purchased Pfaffenstein, Austria’s most famous castle, and is determined to present it to his beloved, Nerine, as a wedding gift. But complications ensue when Guy meets Tessa, a lowly assistant at an opera company who turns out also to be the princess of Pfaffenstein. They are drawn to each other right away, but Guy’s engagement and Tessa’s quasi-betrothal to a German prince hinder their romance. I adore Eva Ibbotson’s books, which are the literary equivalent of a hug. This one has gorgeous descriptions of the Austrian countryside, vivid secondary characters with endearing quirks, loving depictions of the pleasures of music, and a heartwarming romance at its center. It’s very sweet and sentimental, perhaps too much so for some readers, but for me Ibbotson’s novels are the ultimate comfort reads.

Lillian Marek, Home Is the Sailor

Captain Will Dormer’s naval career came to an abrupt end when he lost a leg and an eye in battle. Fortunately, he’s just inherited an estate and a title – but he has no idea what he’s supposed to do in this new role. What he needs is a wife, someone practical to help him manage his household and smooth his way socially. So when he encounters Maria Garland, the daughter of his former captain who has fallen on hard times, he proposes a marriage of convenience. As Will and Maria slowly grow accustomed to their new lives and fall in love, they are also threatened by someone who apparently wants them dead. I liked this closed-door historical romance, although it’s not particularly focused on Will and Maria’s relationship. Rather, most of the plot involves them learning what it takes to run a large estate (interesting), as well as pursuing justice against the villains (a bit boring, as the villains’ identities and motives are never in doubt). Overall, an enjoyable read, and I wouldn’t mind reading more by this author.

Naomi Novik, Uprooted

Agnieszka lives in a poor village that’s overshadowed by the Wood, which is full of evil, dangerous magic. The villagers therefore rely on a mysterious wizard called the Dragon for protection, though they pay a terrible price for it: Every ten years, the Dragon takes a village girl and keeps her in his tower as a servant. Now it’s time for the next girl to be chosen, and everyone expects it to be Agnieszka’s beautiful and accomplished best friend, Kasia. But shockingly, the Dragon chooses Agnieszka instead. As she adapts to her new life in the Dragon’s tower, she slowly discovers her own magical gifts and realizes she can help defeat the Wood. I fell in love with this book the first time I read it and loved it again this time around! It’s an immersive fantasy with superb world-building and a wonderful heroine, reminiscent of Robin McKinley at her best. Honestly, I can’t be objective about this book; it feels like it was written especially for me. Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy and fairy tales!

Mini-Reviews: Frederica, Crusade, Perils

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Georgette Heyer, Frederica

The Marquis of Alverstoke is rich, influential, and sought-after in London society, but he’s also jaded and quickly grows bored with most people. That changes, however, when he meets the Merrivilles, distant family connections who have just moved to London. Frederica, the eldest, wants her beautiful younger sister to have a Season so that she can make an advantageous marriage, and she asks Alverstoke for help. Somewhat to his own surprise, he agrees – and soon finds himself invested in the welfare of all the Merrivilles, but perhaps Frederica most of all. This is such an enjoyable Heyer novel, with schoolboys Jessamy and (especially) Felix Merriville stealing every scene they’re in! I also love how the romance between Frederica and Alverstoke develops; they become good friends first, and they often find common ground as the only two rational adults in the room. I’m glad I revisited this one – it’s always a treat to immerse myself in Heyer’s Regency world!

Poul Anderson, The High Crusade

This is a “first contact” story with an unexpected twist: The aliens come to Earth, expecting to conquer it with minimal trouble, as they’ve done with many other planets. But it’s the Year of Our Lord 1345, and when the spaceship opens, it’s immediately stormed and overrun by Sir Roger de Tourneville and his band of merry Englishmen. They plan to use the ship to invade France, and then perhaps take it on crusade to the Holy Land. But a treacherous alien survivor takes them into outer space instead, where they encounter strange planets, hostile aliens, and baffling new technologies. I really enjoyed this book, which is written in the style of a medieval chronicle. The narrator, Brother Parvus, is earnest, religious, and sincere in his belief that despite the aliens’ superior knowledge and technology, they’re no match for true God-fearing Englishmen. The book is full of adventure and humor, with creative battle sequences and even a love story. I’d definitely recommend this one if the premise appeals to you!

Claudia Gray, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney—now known in their social circles as talented amateur investigators—receive a summons to Rosings, where Lady Catherine de Bourgh has recently endured several attempts on her life. She orders them to find the person responsible, but the only possible suspects seem to be family and close friends—Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne; her son-in-law, Colonel Fitzwilliam; her neighbors, the Collinses; or the servants, who have been with the family for many years. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Juliet have developed strong feelings for one another, but each is convinced the other doesn’t reciprocate. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, which does a good job of imagining the continuing lives of Austen’s characters. I liked the decision to pair Anne with Colonel Fitzwilliam and was interested in their relationship. I also really enjoyed the side plot of the antagonism between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Henry Tilney—both great guys, but I can see how they’d rub each other the wrong way at first! Recommended for fans of Austen-inspired mysteries, but start with book 1, The Murder of Mr. Wickham.

Mini-Reviews: Rom-Commers, Art, Undermining

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Katherine Center, The Rom-Commers

Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her career on hold to care for her disabled father and younger sister. So when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, she can’t believe her good luck – that is, until she reads his script. Charlie has won fame and fortune for his gritty, dramatic screenplays, but this latest project is a rom-com, and it’s terrible. Charlie is terrible too, at first, but as he and Emma work on rewriting the script, they also grow closer to one another. This book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief – Charlie seems implausibly famous, he’s an abysmal romance writer but somehow genius in every other genre, and the reason for him writing the rom-com doesn’t really make sense. But the relationship between Emma and Charlie is charming, and I liked their back-and-forth, which is indeed reminiscent of classic rom-com banter. I also loved that, contrary to many characters in this genre, Emma is actually great at communicating her needs and feelings. So despite a few quibbles, I really liked this one and would recommend it if you’re interested in the premise.

Mimi Matthews, The Work of Art

Phyllida Satterthwaite isn’t a conventional beauty, but in her first London Season, her unique appearance attracts the attention of a duke known for his relentless pursuit of one-of-a-kind possessions. Now he’s determined to possess Philly as well, but she fears and dislikes him. In desperation she appeals to her new friend, Captain Arthur Heywood, for help. Arthur proposes a marriage of convenience, which will give her the protection of his name, but it’s not long before he and Philly develop real feelings for each other. But when Philly is the victim of some suspicious “accidents,” Arthur worries that the duke is out for revenge. I’m a fan of Matthews’s historical romances, and this one is no exception. The romance is sweet and develops naturally, and the steam is minimal (mostly fade-to-black). I also liked the resolution to the suspense plot, which nicely subverts reader expectations. I’m definitely planning to continue with the series this year!

Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Twyla Banneker enjoys her job as a Tanrian Marshal, especially working with her longtime neighbor and friend, Frank Ellis. The job has been a little boring lately, but things pick up when one of their fellow marshals is found dead and covered in a thick, glittery mucus. Shockingly, the glitter seems to have originated from a dragon, though dragons are supposed to be extinct. Twyla and Frank investigate, with the help of a renowned dracologist who soon shows an interest in Twyla—which Frank doesn’t like one bit. I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and snapped up this sequel as soon as I could. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, because this book was a slight letdown for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still a good read, with charming characters and adorable dragons. But the love story, which is by far the biggest part of the plot, wasn’t compelling for me. We don’t get Frank’s point of view, and Twyla sees him as a platonic friend for most of the book, so the pacing feels slow. That said, I still liked this one overall and am definitely on board for book #3 when it comes out next year!

Mini-Reviews: Sonya, Benedettos, Magic

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Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door

Born to German Jewish parents in Berlin in 1906, Ursula Kuczynski grew up sympathetic to left-wing politics and joined the German Communist Party in her teens. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Shanghai, where she was approached by a Soviet intelligence officer and recruited as a spy. She accepted the work eagerly, her ardent communist beliefs intensifying as the Nazis rose to power in Germany. Using the code name Sonya, Ursula engaged in espionage for the USSR for decades, her missions taking her all over the world and eventually leading her to the UK. I don’t generally gravitate toward nonfiction, but Ursula’s life is so fascinating that this biography reads like a novel. Macintyre weaves in plenty of history to give context to Ursula’s actions and also paints a vivid picture of her personal life, using her own writings and those of her family, friends, and associates as sources. This is definitely another winner from Macintyre!

Katie Cotugno, Meet the Benedettos

A few years ago, the five Benedetto sisters were living the high life in LA as stars of a successful reality TV show. Now, their fame and status are fading, and they’re even in danger of losing their house. Lilly, the sisters’ de facto leader, is determined to hold her family together but doesn’t quite know how. And things get even more complicated when movie star Charlie Bingley and his friend Will Darcy move into their neighborhood – especially when Charlie seems interested in Lilly’s sister June, and Lilly herself is simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by the snobbish Will. I couldn’t resist this Pride and Prejudice retelling and devoured it in a day. I like how this novel centers the relationships among all five Benedetto sisters; they’re very different people, but it’s obvious how much they love each other. I also loved the chemistry between Lilly and Will and especially loved getting inside Will’s head. Some things didn’t quite work for me – the ending was a bit anticlimactic – but overall I enjoyed this one, and it’s reminded me that I really want to read P&P again soon!

V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic

This novel is set in a universe in which there are four different Londons: Grey London, in the ordinary world; Red London, in a prosperous world with abundant magic; White London, where magic is scarce and used as a weapon; and Black London, which devoured itself long ago. Kell lives in Red London but has a unique ability to travel between the worlds. Lila, a Grey Londoner, is a thief with ambitions to become a pirate. They meet when Lila picks Kell’s pocket, but the item she steals turns out to be an extremely powerful and dangerous artifact from Black London. Together, they must return it to its proper world before it falls into the wrong hands. I really love the creative world-building of this novel, and Kell and Lila are both compelling characters. Once they meet up, the book becomes a page-turner after a somewhat slow start. I first read this novel eight years ago and wondered whether it would hold up, but I still enjoyed it this time around and am excited to continue with the trilogy.

Mini-Reviews: Counted, Daemon, Elephant

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Noelle Adams, Counted

Jude has just learned that he has an inoperable brain tumor and has about three months left to live. He’s determined to achieve a few of his bucket-list goals before dying, and the most important one is to get married. So he decides to propose to Eve, a family friend who’s known him for years, though they’ve never been close. Eve has some misgivings but wants to help Jude, so she accepts. But they’re both caught by surprise as their marriage of convenience slowly turns into something real. I saw this book mentioned online as a gender-swapped retelling of The Blue Castle, so of course I had to try it! Really, it’s not very similar except for the premise – it’s much racier, for one thing! – but I still did enjoy this book. Both Jude and Eve are introverted, emotionally reserved people, so it’s nice to watch them slowly open up, and the development of their relationship feels realistic. It’s a quiet book with not much happening, and it might be a tough read for those who’ve been seriously ill or cared for someone who was. But despite the book not being quite what I expected, I’m glad I read it.

Carol Berg, The Daemon Prism

Two years after the events of The Soul Mirror, Dante is visited by a solider suffering from a magic-induced dream, in which a beautiful woman offers him a jewel that will give him his heart’s desire—but once obtained, the desire is then corrupted. When Dante removes the dream from the soldier’s mind, it enters Dante’s consciousness instead, tempting him with ever-greater magical knowledge. His quest to find the woman and discover the secrets of the jewel soon becomes part of a much bigger magical journey involving an ancient prophecy and the souls of the dead. This is a very satisfying conclusion to the Collegia Magica trilogy; after seeing Dante through the eyes of other characters in the previous books, it was fascinating to get his own perspective here. The plot itself is convoluted, and parts of the story drag a bit, but I loved Dante’s character development and the way things were resolved with the other main characters in the series. Overall, I’m glad I finally read these books, and fans of thick fantasy sagas should definitely check out Carol Berg.

Hannah Ledford, Elephant and Castle

Years ago, American student Nora spent a summer in London, where she fell in love with up-and-coming musician Hugh, though their relationship ended when she went back to the US. Now Nora’s job has brought her back to London, and when she encounters Hugh again, she finds herself wondering what might have been. Complicating matters is Hugh’s best friend, Julian, who liked Nora before and whose feelings come rushing back when he sees her again. But how can he pursue a relationship with her when she and Hugh might have unfinished business? This was a cute little contemporary romance that I read in a day. I like a hero who pines for the heroine, and the obstacles to Nora and Julian’s relationship felt legitimate – in fact, perhaps a little too legitimate given how easily they were ultimately brushed aside. The book ultimately felt light and superficial; I never really got emotionally invested in the story. Still, it’s a pleasant read with an enjoyable London setting, so it’s potentially worth a read if you like the premise.

Mini-Reviews: Summer, Tryst, Prince

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Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job

Birdy’s best friend, Heather, is a master sommelier who’s accepted a position at a hotel restaurant in Scotland for the summer. But when Heather bails on the job without notifying the hotel, Birdy, who’s between jobs, decides to take her place – despite knowing nothing about wine. Of course, she soon realizes she’s in way over her head, but she becomes genuinely interested in the work – and in the restaurant’s chef, James. But what will happen when the truth comes out? This book, while entertaining on a micro level, actually stressed me out because Birdy made so many terrible, thoughtless decisions! Not only was she horrifically incompetent while (initially) making no effort to improve, but she also lied to her employer and her best friend and didn’t ’fess up even when she realized how badly she could damage said friend’s professional reputation. The book does its best to make Birdy likable despite this awful start, but I never quite came around. The Scottish setting is lovely, and James is a dreamy romantic interest, but honestly, he deserves better!

Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble

Lord Beningbrough, “Ben” to his friends, prides himself on being emotionally detached and is in no hurry to marry. Strong-minded Lady Barbara Jeffords has a low opinion of men in general and, after their first meeting, of Ben in particular. But they’re forced to work together when Ben’s cousin and Barbara’s sister, who are recently engaged, are both implicated in the murder of a footman. Ben and Barbara know neither of their relatives can be the killer, but as they team up to find the true culprit, their mutual annoyance/attraction evolves into something quite different. I’ve enjoyed a couple of this author’s other Regency romances and am happy to say I liked this one as well! Ben and Barbara are an enjoyable pair, whether they’re trading insults or slowly letting their guard down with one another. And they take turns narrating the book, so it’s fun to get a peek inside their heads and see how they view the same events differently. The mystery itself is slight and utterly predictable; it’s really just a device to get these two crazy kids together. But I’d still recommend this book (and author) to fans of lively, well-written historical romance.

Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince

This “romantasy” centers around Ro, a farm girl plucked from obscurity because of her psychic abilities to become the wife of Prince Corrado. Ro and Corrado don’t get along at first, and they’re awkward and shy with one another, but mutual feelings soon develop. Meanwhile, Corrado’s kingdom is under threat by his odious cousin, who will inherit the throne unless he and Ro can produce an heir. And as Ro adjusts to being a princess, she begins to consider how to use her power for good in the world. If you’re expecting a fantasy novel with strong worldbuilding and a well-thought-out magical system, this book is not for you. It’s 100% a romance, and probably the first half of the book is just Ro and Corrado enthusiastically, ahem, “getting to know” one another. There’s not much plot to go along with the sex scenes, and the book’s editing leaves a lot to be desired. I did like the main characters, especially their early awkwardness, and I feel like there’s the kernel of a good book here. But it’s not one that I’d enthusiastically recommend, unfortunately.

Mini-Review: Luminous, Cherry, Green

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Sylvia Cathrall, A Letter to the Luminous Deep

Set in a fantastical underwater universe, this epistolary novel centers around the correspondence between E., a reclusive but curious young woman, and Henery Clel, a scientist who answers her letter about a potentially undiscovered species. As E. and Henery write to each other, they forge a deep connection and fall in love. But one year later, something bad has happened and they’ve both disappeared. So E.’s sister, Sophy, and Henery’s brother, Vyerin, begin their own correspondence to figure out what happened to their missing siblings. I liked the premise of this novel but was disappointed by the execution. There seems to be a trend these days for books that are “no plot, just vibes,” and this book definitely falls into that category…in fact, it’s apparently just the setup for a sequel, complete with cliffhanger ending! The writing style is stilted and overly formal, and the four main characters all have the same voice – and essentially the same blandly pleasant personality. Honestly, I found this book a bit of a slog, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

Jackie Lau, Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie

Emily Hung hasn’t figured out her life yet and feels vaguely ashamed of it. Her writing career seems to be stalling, she doesn’t own a home or a car, and she’s “still” single at age 33. Her meddling mother is determined to “help” by setting Emily up with Mark Chan, the perfect-on-paper son of family friends. Emily is sure she won’t like Mark and immediately writes him off as too boring. But to get her mom off her back, she proposes a fake-dating arrangement, to which Mark surprisingly agrees. As they spend more time together to keep up the charade, they grow closer until Emily begins to see Mark with new eyes. This was a cute contemporary rom-com; Emily is a relatable character, and I enjoyed the development of her relationship with Mark, though he’s not quite as nuanced a character as she is. There were a couple steamy scenes that felt superfluous, and the third-act “breakup” was a bit forced, though thankfully it didn’t last long. Overall, a fun but forgettable summer read.

Christianna Brand, Green for Danger

This classic mystery novel takes place during World War II at a military hospital in Kent. Joseph Higgins, an elderly postman, is injured in an air raid and brought to the hospital for treatment. It’s supposed to be a simple surgery, but Higgins unexpectedly dies on the operating table. Was it natural causes or murder? A second death confirms the latter, and there are only six people who could possibly be the killer – six doctors and nurses who’ve worked and socialized together for months, and whose relationships are slowly poisoned by mutual suspicion. I love a Golden Age mystery, and this one has all the classic elements: a closed circle of suspects, an ingenious murder method, and an abundance of hidden motives. But what elevates this novel is the strong characterization of the six suspects, who feel like real people with realistic emotions and reactions to the book’s events. When the guilty party was identified, I was both surprised and a bit heartbroken, as I’d come to care about all the characters. Highly recommended for fans of this genre, and I will definitely seek out more by Brand!