Tag: fantasy

Mini-Reviews: School, Remember, Secret

Leave a comment

Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil

Every year, two children are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon. One, beautiful and kind-hearted, is sent to the School for Good, and the other, ugly and malicious, goes to the School for Evil. This year, Sophie is determined to be the one selected for the School for Good, where she’ll become the heroine of her very own fairy tale, complete with Prince Charming. But when she and her friend, the plain and all-black-wearing Agatha, are chosen, she’s shocked to end up in Evil, while Agatha is sent to Good. Can the two girls figure out how to fix this mistake – and what happens if they want to go home? I loved the first sentence of this book (“Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped”), but unfortunately it was mostly downhill from there. The plot lurches along unsteadily and is surprisingly hard to follow, and I found Sophie so awful that I wondered why Agatha (or anyone) would want to be friends with her! There are some interesting ideas in the book, but they never quite gel into anything substantial. Not recommended, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

Mary Balogh, Remember That Day

Winifred Cunningham is close friends with Owen Ware and has been invited, with her family, to his family’s estate of Ravenswood for a few weeks. Winifred wonders whether Owen will propose to her; they share a passion for helping others and might do a lot of good together. But she’s not in love with him, and as the visit proceeds, she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to his brother, Colonel Nicholas Ware. Meanwhile, Nicholas is about to make a pragmatic proposal to his commanding officer’s daughter, but meeting Winifred throws a wrench in his plans. This is another mildly pleasant installment of the Ravenswood series. I liked the central love story but felt it lacked depth; too much time was spent on the myriad supporting characters in both Nicholas’s and Winifred’s families, and I just don’t find them interesting! I really hope the next book is Stephanie’s story, which still intrigues me, but after that I’ll probably stick with Balogh’s earlier titles.

Tana French, The Secret Place

This fifth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series is set at St. Kilda’s, a posh girls’ boarding school where a student from the neighboring boys’ school was found dead a year ago. The case was never solved, but now Detective Stephen Moran has received an anonymous note saying, “I know who killed him.” Hoping for a permanent spot on the Murder Squad, Moran teams up with Antoinette Conway, the abrasive detective who worked the case the first time around. As they delve deeper into St. Kilda’s mysteries, they’re shocked to discover just how much these teenage girls are hiding. I liked this book a lot more than Broken Harbor, though a few things still bugged me: The narrative switches between the present-day investigation and the months leading up to the boy’s murder, and I found the present-day story much more interesting. The teen speak felt inauthentic, and I didn’t like the supernatural element. But I did really love the insights into teen friendship and psychology, as well as the development of Moran and Conway’s partnership. I’m interested to see how that dynamic continues and changes in the next (and final) book.

Mini-Reviews: Blue, Nothing, Wish

Leave a comment

Lia Louis, Dear Emmie Blue

Emmie has been best friends with Lucas since high school, and lately she’s been hoping they can become more than friends. So when Lucas plans a nice dinner at their favorite restaurant with a big question to ask her, she’s ecstatic—until he asks her to be “best woman” at his upcoming wedding. Emmie is devastated, but ultimately she agrees and tries to suppress her feelings. Meanwhile, she finds herself unexpectedly growing closer to Lucas’s brother, Eliot, who helps her with some difficult family issues of her own. Has she been in love with the wrong brother all along? This was a reread for me, and I still enjoyed it this time around. There’s nothing groundbreaking about the plot, but I like that Emmie has important relationships and problems that don’t involve her love life at all. And without spoiling the romance, I’ll just say I enjoy a man who pines!

Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl

Growing up in the shadow of a strict aunt and malicious cousins, Jenny Dove has always faded into the background. Now she’s dissatisfied with her small life—always at home, never allowed to pursue an education or career—but doesn’t know how to change it. Enter Russell Checkland, a chaotic artist who’s just been rejected by the love of his life. He shocks Jenny by proposing a marriage of convenience: Her money (inherited from her parents) will help restore his dilapidated estate, and in return he’ll help her to try new things. But Jenny’s growing confidence and delight in her new life are threatened when it seems that someone is trying to kill her. There is so much plot in this book, and I didn’t even get to the magical talking horse! But this is a delightful little fairy tale, somewhat in the vein of The Blue Castle but with a modern setting and a bit more spice. I loved it, and it will definitely be in my top 10 books of the year!

Louise Allen, His Housekeeper’s Christmas Wish

Alex Tempest runs (literally) into Tess Ellery on the streets of Ghent and causes her to miss her boat back to England. He therefore offers to escort her to London, where she hopes to find employment as a governess or companion. Unfortunately, a society matron spots them together on the boat and assumes Tess is Alex’s mistress, ruining her chances of a respectable job. With no other options, Alex hires Tess as his housekeeper, but their mutual attraction makes everything more complicated, especially when Alex is forced to visit his estranged family at Christmas. Louise Allen’s historical romances have been hit or miss for me, and unfortunately this was one of the misses. I found the plot contrived and unrealistic, and I never really bought Alex and Tess’s romance. I also don’t love stories where family dysfunction is magically healed just because it’s Christmas. Not a terrible book, but definitely not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Physicians, Trickerie, Promise

Leave a comment

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of Vilnoc

Penric is summoned from his cozy home in Vilnoc with wife Nikys, baby daughter Florina, and mother-in-law Idrene to deal with a mysterious disease that’s broken out in the local army camp. It’s nothing the army healer or Penric has seen before, and they can’t figure out how (if at all) the illness is passed from person to person. As the cases and fatalities multiply, Pen begins to despair—but timely assistance from his god brings new insight and helps turn the tide of the disease. This novella came out in 2020, and while Bujold’s “outroduction” says she started writing it before Covid was on her horizon, it’s certainly an impactful coincidence of timing! I think she does a great job of illustrating a healthcare worker’s experience of a pandemic, though obviously it’s not fun to read about. A well-written but somber installment of the Penric and Desdemona series; I’m hoping the next one will have a little more lightness and humor!

Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie

In the year 1500, Tibb Ingleby and her Ma are vagabonds in search of a permanent home. When Ma’s plans to get them a roof go awry, Tibb is left on her own and must navigate her way through a challenging and hostile world. Her adventures include living off the land with a troubled friend, performing with a group of traveling players, being kidnapped by a dangerous man, and faking a miracle (the “trickerie” of the title). I have mixed feelings about this book. I really liked Tibb’s irrepressible and unique voice—the author was definitely going for A Style, and I think it mostly worked. But I wasn’t a fan of the chapters told from another character’s POV; they took me out of the story, and I always found myself wanting to get back to Tibb. Also, the Catholic Church (and religion in general) doesn’t come off well in this book, which rubs up against my biases as a Catholic myself. Still, lovers of historical fiction will likely find a lot to enjoy here, and I’m glad I ventured a little bit outside my comfort zone for this one.

Mary Balogh, A Christmas Promise

Randolph Pierce, the new Earl of Falloden, is struggling to pay his predecessor’s considerable debts. A rich merchant has purchased all those debts and says he’ll write them off if Randolph marries his daughter, Eleanor. Randolph reluctantly agrees, not knowing that Eleanor isn’t happy with the match either—she’s only consenting because it’s her father’s dying wish. Initially, both Randolph and Eleanor are cold and distant, but as Christmas approaches and Eleanor’s boisterous, loving family comes to visit, they begin to see each other in a new light. I like Mary Balogh’s marriage-of-convenience romances, and this one is well done. The holiday setting is fun and not too cloying, and I enjoyed the slight secondary romance as well. Not my favorite Balogh, but probably my favorite (so far) of her Christmas romances.

Mini-Reviews: Orphans, Systems, Bookshop

Leave a comment

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Orphans of Raspay

Penric is sailing home from what should have been a routine journey, but naturally his ship is captured by pirates, and things only get worse from there. Among his fellow captives are two young orphan girls who will almost certainly be sold into slavery, so Pen takes responsibility for them as he engineers a prison break. But between pirates, corrupt merchants, and a local distrust of sorcerers, it’s all Pen and Des can do to keep themselves and their charges alive. This is another enjoyable installment in the Penric and Desdemona saga, heavy on adventure and light on character development. I wonder if we’ll see the two orphans, Lencia and Seuka, in subsequent books. Otherwise, I don’t have much to say about this one – it’s entertaining but doesn’t really feel like a crucial (or even particularly necessary) installment of the series.

Martha Wells, All Systems Red

This novella is narrated by a SecUnit, a robotic “construct” made of both organic and inorganic materials, whose job is basically to provide security for whoever hires it. It’s currently accompanying a crew on a mission of planetary exploration, but all it really wants to do is watch soap operas on its entertainment feed. The longer the self-designated Murderbot spends with this particular crew of humans, however, the more it begins to care about them. And when it senses something off about the mission, it must figure out whether and how to help the humans. The Murderbot series has gotten a lot of hype, and I can definitely see why; the concept is fascinating, particularly now that AI is so prominent in our society, and Murderbot is a snarky yet sympathetic character. I’m just not sure if it’s my thing, you know? I did enjoy the story, but I haven’t decided whether I care enough to continue with the series—with apologies to all the Murderbot lovers out there!

Jenny Colgan, The Christmas Bookshop

Carmen has just been laid off and is struggling to find work in her dying Scottish town. She ends up moving to Edinburgh to stay with her sister, Sofia, who seems to have the perfect life — which Carmen both mocks and envies. Sofia gets Carmen a job with Mr. McCredie, who owns an unprofitable bookstore and expects Carmen to turn things around somehow. At first, Carmen hates everything about her new situation, but she eventually finds things to love about her job, the city, and even her sister. This book is like a warm hug; it’s cozy and Christmassy and makes me want to visit Edinburgh in December, despite what sounds like horrific weather. I loved Carmen and Sofia’s relationship, which felt very realistic and nuanced, and there’s a sweet romance as well, though it doesn’t get much page time. I would definitely recommend this as a great read to get into the holiday spirit!

Mini-Reviews: Peace, Murder, Dreadful

1 Comment

Leif Enger, Peace Like a River

Narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land, this book tells the story of a tragedy and its aftermath. Reuben’s older brother, Davy, commits an act of violence and subsequently runs away. Reuben, along with his father and his sister, Swede, head west from their home in Minnesota and travel across the Badlands to find him. They encounter many dangers on their journey, from the unforgiving winter weather to the FBI agent who’s on their trail, hoping they’ll lead him to Davy. But they also find friendship and help in unexpected places. I really enjoyed this novel, which is part coming-of-age story, part Western adventure, and part pilgrimage narrative. It’s a book that feels uniquely American; I don’t think it could have been set anywhere else. I loved the humor sprinkled throughout Reuben’s narration and absolutely adored the character of Swede. Recommended if the premise interests you, and I’m now interested in trying more by Enger.

Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home

English couple Jane and Dagobert Brown are on holiday in the US and find themselves in New Mexico, where Miranda Ross, an old friend of Dagobert’s, now resides. He manages to obtain an invitation to Miranda’s house for the weekend, and he and Jane soon feel that something is off about the seemingly happy, prosperous household. The next day, Miranda is murdered – but who could have wanted to kill a woman who was (apparently) universally beloved? Last year I read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series; this book is a decent follow-up, but it didn’t have quite the same sparkle for me. Jane is the narrator, and her snarky voice is one of the novel’s highlights. Her relationship with Dagobert is often fun, though I occasionally found myself thinking she’s way too good for him! The mystery is fine but didn’t really grab me. I did love that the seemingly ignorant county sheriff is much shrewder than he lets on! Overall, this is a pretty good read, and I do plan to continue with the series.

Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful

This novel opens with a man who has lost all his memories (and his eyebrows). He appears to be trapped in a dark wizard’s lair, which is worrisome – until he realizes he is the dark wizard, the Dread Lord Gavrax. He’s kidnapped a princess, and he’s in league with three other dark wizards to do some kind of evil ritual. But Gav isn’t sure he actually wants to be evil anymore. Can he hide his memory loss from those around him, thwart the evil ritual, and learn how to be a good person? I really enjoyed this charming comic fantasy, which raises some surprisingly complex moral questions as Gav tries to fight his evil tendencies. He’s a flawed but sympathetic character whom I found extremely relatable, and I just wanted good things for him. His goblin minions are wonderful as well, as is the princess, who’s more than she appears to be. Definitely recommended for those who like a spin on the usual fantasy tropes.

Mini-Reviews: Fake, Falling, Prisoner

Leave a comment

Lynn Painter, Fake Skating

Every summer, Dani used to visit the small town of Southview, Minnesota, where she and her best friend, Alec, were inseparable. But then she moved away, and their friendship came to a painful end. Now Dani’s back in Southview full-time for her senior year, but the sweet, dorky Alec she once knew seems to have disappeared. The new Alec is a popular hockey star who wants nothing to do with Dani. But when circumstances force them into a fake-dating arrangement, they need to confront their shared past and deal with their true feelings. Lynn Painter excels at banter and great chemistry between her main characters, so the romance between Dani and Alec really worked for me. They’re obsessed with each other to a possibly unhealthy degree, but since they’re teenagers, I’ll give them a pass. 🙂 The setup to the fake dating is pretty absurd, and some peripheral plot lines and characters didn’t totally gel for me. But I’ll forgive a lot in a romance if I like the central couple together, so overall I really enjoyed this one!

Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars

In this eighth novel of the Green Rider series, although Sacoridia has defeated Second Empire, its troubles are far from over. Mornhavon the Black, growing ever stronger in Blackveil, summons an evil wraith to find Karigan—who is also being harassed by an enemy she thought she’d already defeated. Moreover, she’s trying to deal with her merchant clan’s business while her father is off rescuing Laren Mapstone, as well as decide what to do about her feelings for King Zachary. I was hoping this would be the last Green Rider book, but alas, there’s clearly still more to come. This book is 650 pages of not much happening, and while some storylines are fun (the Berry sisters), others are tedious and repetitive (everything at the D’yer Wall, Karigan’s mysterious enemy, the threadbare love triangle). I do still have some curiosity to see how things turn out, but since it’ll probably be at least three years till the next book, I feel reasonably confident in saying I’m done. I can always read a spoiler-filled review of subsequent books if I really need to know what happens.

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos

Penric has finally gotten General Arisaydia and his sister, Nikys, safely out of Cedonia and into the friendly country of Orbas. But then they learn that Nikys’s mother has been taken prisoner, which means Penric and Nikys—and Desdemona—must return to Cedonia and rescue her. As they attempt a prison break from a fortress sacred to the Daughter’s order, Penric and Nikys also consider whether they have a future together. This series continues to be delightful, and of course I’m a fan of the romance, which takes a step forward in this novella. I also love the well-thought-out and convincing theology of this world; Nikys’s encounter with the Daughter, and her subsequent conversation with Penric about it, is one of the highlights of the story. I’m still happy to be continuing with the series—although I do hope we get to see Inglis and Oswyl again at some point!

Mini-Reviews: Luck, Bar, Summer

1 Comment

Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw

Winning the lottery has enabled Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a high-powered lawyer, but she’s felt stuck in her life since then. After a tipsy night spent thinking about her regrets, she decides to apologize to the people she feels she’s wronged. At the top of the list are the O’Learys, whose son overdosed on prescription pain meds; Zoe’s firm represented the pharmaceutical company and settled the case out of court. When Zoe shows up at the O’Leary house, she’s confronted by their other son, Aiden, who isn’t interested in her apology. He does, however, need someone to pose as his fiancée for plot reasons; Zoe, viewing this as her penance, agrees. But as she and Aiden spend more time together, they form an unexpected bond. I really liked this book and read it in a day. Clayborn excels at writing believable, nuanced characters, and I was rooting throughout for Zoe and Aiden, who are both lonely and dealing with a weight of grief and guilt. So this isn’t a light, fun read by any means, but I liked it a lot and look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar

In this Golden Age mystery, a game of darts at the pub turns deadly when one of the players is hit by a dart—and almost immediately dies of cyanide poisoning. A trace of cyanide solution is found on the dart, but who had the opportunity to put it there? And why should anyone want to murder Luke Watchman, a celebrated London barrister? I’m continuing to enjoy the Inspector Alleyn series—this is the ninth installment—but I find that the beginnings of the novels are stronger than the endings. The first several chapters of this book are entertaining as they establish the various characters and relationships. But once the death occurs, Alleyn and his associate Fox spend most of their time interviewing suspects and searching the pub (but not telling the reader what they discover). So the second half drags a bit, and the slight romantic subplot among secondary characters isn’t terribly convincing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall and will certainly continue with the series.

Naomi Novik, The Summer War

Celia is 12 years old when she inadvertently curses her oldest brother, Argent, to a life without love. Argent leaves home and soon gains renown as a great knight, but Celia is racked with guilt about the curse and knows she must find a way to break it. But that means entering the summerlands, the fairy realm bordering her kingdom, where many dangers await. I’m a big fan of Naomi Novik in general, and my favorite of her books are the ones with fairytale elements: Uprooted and Spinning Silver. This novella has a similar flavor, and there are some enchanting scenes and bits of world-building. But I wanted so much more from this world and these characters. Celia herself is pretty passive for most of the story, as well as being a child—I want to know what happens after she grows up! I’d love to see more of her overlooked middle brother, Roric, as well. So on its own, this novella isn’t fully satisfying, but I’d love to see it expanded into a full-length novel!

Mini-Reviews: Dance, Babel, Thief

Leave a comment

Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira’s Last Dance

Penric’s rescue mission continues in this novella, as he flees to safety with political target General Arisaydia and his widowed sister Nikys. They need to leave the country without being discovered, which means they must travel in disguise. When their journey leads them to shelter in a brothel, Penric poses as a female courtesan, drawing on the experience of Mira, one of Desdemona’s previous riders. But this masquerade is dangerous in more ways than one, as it complicates the mutual attraction between Penric and Nikys. This series continues to be enjoyable, though this installment is very short on plot. Penric’s gender-bending disguise is the main event, and it causes Nikys to reflect more deeply on the relationship between Penric and Desdemona, and what that might mean for a possible romance. The novella ends on an ambiguous note, so I’m interested to see what happens next!

R.F. Kuang, Babel

Robin Swift is a half-Chinese boy plucked from the slums of Canton and raised to study at Oxford’s prestigious Babel Institute of Translation. Babel scholars are trained to work silver magic via their powers of translation—and this magic in turn powers the might of the British Empire. When Robin first comes to Oxford, he falls in love with the university and the people in his cohort, who are all outsiders like him because of race, gender, or both. But the more he learns about silver magic and its ties to imperialism, the more conflicted he becomes. This is a novel I really wanted to like, and I did enjoy parts of it, like the Oxford setting and all the information about linguistics. But this is a novel with a clear message (imperialism is bad and must be resisted with violence), and I felt like I was reading a polemic rather than a story. The characters we’re supposed to like are not very likable or nuanced, and the villains are absolutely pure evil. So overall, I found this book disappointing, though I think I’m in the minority with that opinion.

Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief

In the penultimate book of the Cadfael series, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has led to the destruction of a Benedictine abbey in Ramsey. Some of its brothers come to Brother Cadfael’s abbey in Shrewsbury to request their aid. Meanwhile, a troubadour from the South of France and his entourage, which includes a beautiful young woman, are also staying at the abbey. When a saint’s relics are stolen and a witness to the theft is murdered, Cadfael must once again investigate these mysteries and determine how justice can best be served. It’s always a pleasure to escape into the world of these novels, and I liked that after taking a backseat in The Summer of the Danes, Cadfael is back at the center of the action, finding clues, interviewing suspects, and talking things over with Hugh. I also liked the callbacks to A Morbid Taste for Bones, although if you don’t remember certain events from that book, you may have a little trouble following this one. But if you love the Cadfael series, this novel won’t disappoint.

Mini-Reviews: Style, Hemlock, Scene

Leave a comment

William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

I somehow made it through an English degree and almost a decade as a professional editor without reading this book, which is a classic (maybe even the classic) American work on writing and grammar. I expected it to be stuffy and out of date — and it is, a bit. The authors resist using “hopefully” to mean “it is to be hoped,” but that ship has definitely sailed at this point. And their brief mention of that newfangled invention, the word processor, is adorable. But most of this book is still helpful and relevant, and I was surprised by how funny it is too! “Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It’s in the dictionary, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it.” Overall, I think this book would be useful for students or anyone whose job requires a lot of writing, editing, or both (notice how I didn’t use “and/or,” which the authors call “a device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often lends to confusion or ambiguity”). It deserves its classic status.

T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver

Since childhood Anja has been obsessed with poisons and their antidotes, and now she’s expert enough that the local townspeople turn to her for help with poisoning cases. Nevertheless, she’s shocked when the king himself comes to her with a problem: His 12-year-old daughter, Snow, is sick from no obvious cause, and her condition is worsening. Anja travels to Snow’s residence and attempts to discover if and how the princess is being poisoned. What she actually discovers is a portal to a mysterious other world; but will she be able to thwart the evil lurking there and save Snow’s life? I’ve loved every one of Kingfisher’s books that I’ve read so far, and this one is no exception. Blunt, tactless Anja is a delight, and her narrative voice keeps the book from being too dark or scary despite a few horror-adjacent moments. I also really liked the desert setting, which evokes Mexico or the American Southwest rather than the traditional quasi-medieval-European fantasy kingdom. There’s a bit of romance too, which is always welcome. Definitely recommended if the premise appeals to you!

Laura Wood, Let’s Make a Scene

Cynthie Taylor is a famous actress who’s just been dumped, and press coverage of the breakup has been merciless. To turn things around, her agent suggests that she sign on to a sequel of the film that launched her career. Unfortunately, that means reuniting with her costar, Jack Turner-Jones, with whom she has a tempestuous history. Even worse, her agent wants them to fake-date each other to create good buzz for the new film. As Cynthie and Jack grow closer in the present, they also have to come to terms with the past. I love a good fake-dating rom-com, and this one is funny, well written, and pure wish fulfillment in a good way. I liked how the narrative alternates between the present and 13 years ago, when Cynthie and Jack first met; the switches happen just often enough to give context and complexity to their relationship. I also liked all the behind-the-scenes acting stuff, especially since the movies are Austen-esque period pieces—it made me wish I could actually watch them! It looks like Wood has already written a book featuring Cynthie’s friend Theo, which I’m now interested in checking out as well.

Mini-Reviews: Blonde, Accomplice, Wager

Leave a comment

Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold

Alex Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley III are spies with a complicated history. In the present, they wake up in an unfamiliar pitch-black room in an unknown location, with no idea how they got there—and they’re handcuffed to each other. The book jumps back and forth in time between their present predicament and the history of their relationship, from when they first met 10 years ago to their first joint mission to the various covert ops they’ve done together. It’s clear from the outset that Alex and King have amazing chemistry, but it’s less clear that their romance could ever have a happy ending. I adored The Blonde Identity—the previous book in this series, featuring Alex’s sister, Zoe—and this book is a similarly well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable spy romance. I cared about both Alex and King as characters, and though they’re frustrating and stubborn sometimes, I was rooting for them all the way. I do think this book is less fun than The Blonde Identity; there’s a lot more drama and angst in the romance, and the stakes of the spy plot feel higher. But if you love a good romantic caper and don’t mind the constant time-hopping, you should definitely check this one out.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain

In this third installment of the Villain series, the entire villainous gang is on a quest to find the magical items and people that will allow them to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, defeat King Benedict, and save the kingdom. But Trystan’s magic is malfunctioning, Kingsley is losing his humanity and becoming pure frog, and there’s a traitor inside the Villain’s ranks (again). Meanwhile, Trystan tries to keep his distance from Evie because of a prophecy that they’ll destroy each other, but obviously Evie is having none of that. This book, and the series as a whole, is a hot mess. I honestly have only the faintest idea of what’s going on with the plot, and I’m not sure it matters; clearly the only thing readers are supposed to care about is the romance. And I’ll admit, I do care about Trystan and Evie’s relationship, which takes a big step forward here. And some of the side romances are also adorable (Gideon and Keeley!). Apparently the author plans one more book in this series, and I will read it just to see how everything turns out. But quality-wise, I can’t say I’d recommend this series.

Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager

Lilith Davenant is a widow of icy demeanor and unquestionable virtue. Julian, the Marquess of Brandon, is a notorious rake. For plot reasons, Julian wagers that he can seduce Lilith within eight weeks. But as he uses every tactic at his disposal to woo Lilith, he begins to genuinely enjoy her company. Meanwhile, Lilith dislikes and distrusts Julian at first, but as she gets to know him better, she realizes she’s seriously at risk of losing her heart. I’m a fan of Chase’s romances in general, but I think this one might be my favorite. It’s very reminiscent of Heyer in its language and plot, but with a bit more angst and drama in the romance. Love makes both Lilith and Julian better people, and Julian’s transformation from callous seducer to sincere lover is particularly great to watch. Highly recommended for historical romance fans, this one was a pleasure to reread!