en-US Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:57:23 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 236056089
Yet an even darker threat is growing. In Florence Friar Savonarola’s movement is burning books and priceless works of art, determined to purify society and destroy the Renaissance itself. Giulia’s own abilities as a seer make her a target for Savonarola’s purifying zeal. The repentant concubine of a Borgia Pope would be the perfect tool to bring Pope Alexander VI to his knees.

In a web of deceit, assassination and betrayal, Giulia must face her most dangerous enemies without Rodrigo by her side. To prevail, she will need all her wits and courage to descend into the darkness of the underworld – and return if she can.]]> 346 Jo Graham Sherwood 0
At the same time, University of Chicago professor Ada Palmer’s multi-layered, perceptive Inventing the Renaissance was published, which touches on the people and events of this momentous period of history. (Palmer’s yearly “POPElarp 1492” class was covered in the New York Times, []. And this summer, the third book in Jo Graham’s saga centering around Giulia Farnese, mistress to arguably the most colorful and controversial of the entire line of popes, Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI.

This book begins with Rodrigo and Giulia at the height of their respective powers. But of course there are threats not only from within the papal college, but from other city-states—and most threatening of all, the French army on the march toward the Kingdom of Naples.

There are also personal threats; it becomes apparent that someone within the Borgia household is furnishing information to the enemies of the family, and one of their targets is Giulia, as a way to get at Rodrigo. Then there’s Rodrigo’s nature…

In this volume, the author draws on the myth of Persephone and Hades. It’s period-specific; Pope Alexander was frequently likened to the devil for his lechery, his political acumen, as well as his love for art. But the story is Giulia’s, as events propel her to the depths of despair and danger, and she has to find her way back to life and light.

In reviewing the previous volume in this saga, The Borgia Dove, I mentioned how much I appreciated how Graham avoided making these well-known historical figures into 21st Century people stuffed into Renaissance clothing in order to appeal to today's readers. I love the way the characters navigate between their own passions and what they believe will get them to heaven, or kicked down to hell. Add in a touch of the fantastic, which I think emphasizes the liminality of that worldview, and an appreciation for the women of the time, and I’m riveted to the pages.

I relished the evolving relationship between Giulia and Lucrezia Borgia—a fascinating woman about whom much has been written, including reams of vilification. In Ada Palmer’s Inventing the Renaissance, there is an entire chapter focused on Lucrezia—incidentally a tour de force in academic writing. Modern people tend to forget that Lucrezia was married off before she turned fourteen; girls became women at very young ages, learning how to navigate between powerful men whose passions too frequently ended with blood and death.

But Graham never forgets to permit her characters to look toward the stars—as did Persephone.
I found this unputdownable novel graceful, vivid, and passionate, infused with a kerygmatic hint of the numinous.
]]> 0.0
author: Jo Graham
name: Sherwood
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/07/02
shelves: alternate-universe, historical-novel, history-renaissance, mythology
review:
In one of those peculiar moments of synchronicity that happen sometimes, this spring the eyes of the world turned toward the Vatican as one pope passed away, and—in strict traditional conclave—a new pope was elected.

At the same time, University of Chicago professor Ada Palmer’s multi-layered, perceptive Inventing the Renaissance was published, which touches on the people and events of this momentous period of history. (Palmer’s yearly “POPElarp 1492” class was covered in the New York Times, []. And this summer, the third book in Jo Graham’s saga centering around Giulia Farnese, mistress to arguably the most colorful and controversial of the entire line of popes, Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI.

This book begins with Rodrigo and Giulia at the height of their respective powers. But of course there are threats not only from within the papal college, but from other city-states—and most threatening of all, the French army on the march toward the Kingdom of Naples.

There are also personal threats; it becomes apparent that someone within the Borgia household is furnishing information to the enemies of the family, and one of their targets is Giulia, as a way to get at Rodrigo. Then there’s Rodrigo’s nature…

In this volume, the author draws on the myth of Persephone and Hades. It’s period-specific; Pope Alexander was frequently likened to the devil for his lechery, his political acumen, as well as his love for art. But the story is Giulia’s, as events propel her to the depths of despair and danger, and she has to find her way back to life and light.

In reviewing the previous volume in this saga, The Borgia Dove, I mentioned how much I appreciated how Graham avoided making these well-known historical figures into 21st Century people stuffed into Renaissance clothing in order to appeal to today's readers. I love the way the characters navigate between their own passions and what they believe will get them to heaven, or kicked down to hell. Add in a touch of the fantastic, which I think emphasizes the liminality of that worldview, and an appreciation for the women of the time, and I’m riveted to the pages.

I relished the evolving relationship between Giulia and Lucrezia Borgia—a fascinating woman about whom much has been written, including reams of vilification. In Ada Palmer’s Inventing the Renaissance, there is an entire chapter focused on Lucrezia—incidentally a tour de force in academic writing. Modern people tend to forget that Lucrezia was married off before she turned fourteen; girls became women at very young ages, learning how to navigate between powerful men whose passions too frequently ended with blood and death.

But Graham never forgets to permit her characters to look toward the stars—as did Persephone.
I found this unputdownable novel graceful, vivid, and passionate, infused with a kerygmatic hint of the numinous.

]]> 211003692 Carpet specialist Dorothy Armstrong tells the stories surrounding twelve of the world’s most fascinating carpets.

Dorothy Armstrong’s Threads of Empire is a spellbinding look at the history of the world through the stories of twelve carpets. Beautiful, sensuous, and enigmatic, great carpets follow power. Emperors, shahs, sultans and samurai crave them as symbols of earthly domination. Shamans and priests desire them to evoke the spiritual realm. The world’s 1% hunger after them as displays of extreme status. And yet these seductive objects are made by poor and illiterate weavers, using the most basic materials and crafts; hedgerow plants for dyes, fibers from domestic animals, and the millennia-old skills of interweaving warps, wefts and knots.

In Threads of Empire, Armstrong tells the histories of some of the world’s most fascinating carpets, exploring how these textiles came into being then were transformed as they moved across geography and time in the slipstream of the great. She shows why the world’s powerful were drawn to them, but also asks what was happening in the weavers’ lives, and how they were affected by events in the world outside their tent, village or workshop. In its wide-ranging examination of these dazzling objects, from the 5th century BCE contents of the tombs of Scythian chieftains, to the carpets under the boots of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the 1945 Yalta Peace Conference, Threads of Empire uncovers a new, hitherto hidden past right beneath our feet.]]> 368 Dorothy Armstrong 1250321433 Sherwood 0
My only problem is not a problem for someone who buys the book: NetGalley did not include illos.

That said, the writing is an arabesque swooping from ancient history to the present, covering a broad range of geographical distance and historical figures, including a precis of the state of the world when each particular carpet was created. The human side is there: the conflicts involved inweaving it, owning it, claiming it, then tracing its history.

A truly worthy book!]]> 4.24
author: Dorothy Armstrong
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/26
shelves: art, history, history-asian, netgalley
review:
Twelve exquititely-written chapters, each focused on a specific carpet.

My only problem is not a problem for someone who buys the book: NetGalley did not include illos.

That said, the writing is an arabesque swooping from ancient history to the present, covering a broad range of geographical distance and historical figures, including a precis of the state of the world when each particular carpet was created. The human side is there: the conflicts involved inweaving it, owning it, claiming it, then tracing its history.

A truly worthy book!
]]> 231272134
When threats emerge from unexpected quarters, the team must brave the legendary Ivory Palace, a dungeon whose reputation for horror is matched only by its beauty. With time running out for both her team and the kingdom she’s sworn to protect, Aderyn discovers the dangers of the surface world are nothing compared to what lurks within the ocean’s depths.]]> 444 Melissa McShane Sherwood 0 fantasy
This volume centers more tightly around my fave of the characters, though everybody on the team gets at least one chance to shine. My favorite bits are three: without going into spoiler territory, the System is slowly becoming the Paul Lynde* of computer personalities.

Second, the entire visit south. The worldbuilding was just a delight.

Third, the arc of a certain general, and the battle payoff. (That ought to be sufficiently spoiler free.)

I'm looking forward to the next adventure!


* if the name is unfamiliar, he was Uncle Arthur on BEWITCHED.]]> 4.48
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/05
date added: 2025/06/05
shelves: fantasy
review:
Another absorbing, delightfully enticing entry in this series!

This volume centers more tightly around my fave of the characters, though everybody on the team gets at least one chance to shine. My favorite bits are three: without going into spoiler territory, the System is slowly becoming the Paul Lynde* of computer personalities.

Second, the entire visit south. The worldbuilding was just a delight.

Third, the arc of a certain general, and the battle payoff. (That ought to be sufficiently spoiler free.)

I'm looking forward to the next adventure!


* if the name is unfamiliar, he was Uncle Arthur on BEWITCHED.
]]> 231643511 Brigadoon meets Buffy

In this latest addition to the Dobrenica series, Ruli, a new vampire, is trying to adjust to this change in…can you call it a life? She’s lost everything. But that including her old reputation for weakness and lack of direction, as she discovers the lure of badassery.

At the same time, Kim and the crown prince of Dobrenica are on their honeymoon at last, but just as she and Alec are relishing the magic of Venice, they find themselves cornered and nearly grabbed by goons. Whose? More important, why? They have to figure out the roadmap to royal marriage while on the run.

Kim reaches out to Ruli for answers, and so begins a wild adventure as ancient enemies redefine what it means to be human. And inhuman.
]]> 381 Sherwood Smith 1636323278 Sherwood 0 fantasy, my-books
In this fourth Dobrenica story, I break the single POV of the earlier books into two.

Ruli, a new vampire, is trying to adjust to this change in…can you call it a life? She’s lost everything. But that including her old reputation for weakness and lack of direction, as she discovers the lure of badassery.

At the same time, Kim and the crown prince of Dobrenica are on their honeymoon at last, but just as she and Alec are relishing the magic of Venice, they find themselves cornered and nearly grabbed by goons. Whose? More important, why? They have to figure out the roadmap to royal marriage while on the run. Kim reaches out to Ruli for answers...

I thought I'd play around with why vamps are attractice to readers. Seems me me it's not just the monster aspect, but the fascination with apex predators. I thought it might be fun to give all that power to someone who has been squashed and overlooked her entire life, despite being born to a wealthy and powerful family. Ruli, in gaining power and losing her humanity begins to reflect on what it means to be human. And inhuman.

But this is meant to be a fun beach read, like all of them, so I threw in some hijinks and some humor. My hope is always, if I have fun writing it, could be someone will have fun reading it.]]> 4.25
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/28
shelves: fantasy, my-books
review:
When I wrote the first of the series, a couple friends said, you can’t ignore the vampires. So I put them in because yeah, they were a thing in Eastern Europe.(Maria Theresia sent investigators, even, in the mid-1700s...) But I don't read horror, and I'm indifferent to vamps unless they are characters, not monsters, so I tried to play around with the uncanny valley/alien idea.

In this fourth Dobrenica story, I break the single POV of the earlier books into two.

Ruli, a new vampire, is trying to adjust to this change in…can you call it a life? She’s lost everything. But that including her old reputation for weakness and lack of direction, as she discovers the lure of badassery.

At the same time, Kim and the crown prince of Dobrenica are on their honeymoon at last, but just as she and Alec are relishing the magic of Venice, they find themselves cornered and nearly grabbed by goons. Whose? More important, why? They have to figure out the roadmap to royal marriage while on the run. Kim reaches out to Ruli for answers...

I thought I'd play around with why vamps are attractice to readers. Seems me me it's not just the monster aspect, but the fascination with apex predators. I thought it might be fun to give all that power to someone who has been squashed and overlooked her entire life, despite being born to a wealthy and powerful family. Ruli, in gaining power and losing her humanity begins to reflect on what it means to be human. And inhuman.

But this is meant to be a fun beach read, like all of them, so I threw in some hijinks and some humor. My hope is always, if I have fun writing it, could be someone will have fun reading it.
]]> 1376768 239 Anthony Powell 0445200553 Sherwood 0
Related to that, his first person narrator, Nicholas Jenkins, observes roughly halfway through this book when a pair of young women enter that he is going to marry the second one, is in line with those attitudes. He speaks now and then of "falling in love," which today is easy to translate to falling in lust. In all these cases, he doesn't know the woman in question. He's talking with the little head, basically. But before slamming him for sexism, it must be remembered that Powell's wife was a well-known writer, and she read everything of his. She was his chief critic. She might have held that view as well--it's certainly supported by literature of the day.

Which brings me to another observation, the remarkable conversation at the end, between Nick and General Conyers, which uses the latest Freudian jargon in an effort to piece out the motivations for some surprising actions by a third character. What that reminded me of was George Eliot's earnest reliance on phrenology when presenting "scientific" evidence for certain character traits in characters.

Another observation, this book is almost entirely made of of dinner parties and late-night scenes at bars. And everybody, from the first page, is gossiping about other people. Most of all Nick. He's the chief gossip. If he's not getting enough of the good stuff, he asks questions about this or that person. Let those who claim that women's fiction is all about gossip take a gander at this book. Fron first to last, GOSSIP. As this roman fleuve is also pretty much a roman à clef, it must have been riveting for British novel readers aware of the models for the various characters.

The language is contemplative, lovely strings of prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses, often with an elegiac feel. Other times a sly wit.

I'm reading these one a month because there's a monthly Zoom discussion going on, that I've really enjoyed. So. Lining up the next volume in anticipation for June's discussion...]]> 4.09 1957
author: Anthony Powell
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1957
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves: roman-a-clef, historical-novel, history-20th
review:
I sense that with this volume in Powell's 12-volume roman fleuve the story threads are now established, I might count up some observations. (I might redo this later, as well as add thoughts on the earlier volumes; there are post its all over either 2 or 3 about his period attitudes toward women, for example.)

Related to that, his first person narrator, Nicholas Jenkins, observes roughly halfway through this book when a pair of young women enter that he is going to marry the second one, is in line with those attitudes. He speaks now and then of "falling in love," which today is easy to translate to falling in lust. In all these cases, he doesn't know the woman in question. He's talking with the little head, basically. But before slamming him for sexism, it must be remembered that Powell's wife was a well-known writer, and she read everything of his. She was his chief critic. She might have held that view as well--it's certainly supported by literature of the day.

Which brings me to another observation, the remarkable conversation at the end, between Nick and General Conyers, which uses the latest Freudian jargon in an effort to piece out the motivations for some surprising actions by a third character. What that reminded me of was George Eliot's earnest reliance on phrenology when presenting "scientific" evidence for certain character traits in characters.

Another observation, this book is almost entirely made of of dinner parties and late-night scenes at bars. And everybody, from the first page, is gossiping about other people. Most of all Nick. He's the chief gossip. If he's not getting enough of the good stuff, he asks questions about this or that person. Let those who claim that women's fiction is all about gossip take a gander at this book. Fron first to last, GOSSIP. As this roman fleuve is also pretty much a roman à clef, it must have been riveting for British novel readers aware of the models for the various characters.

The language is contemplative, lovely strings of prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses, often with an elegiac feel. Other times a sly wit.

I'm reading these one a month because there's a monthly Zoom discussion going on, that I've really enjoyed. So. Lining up the next volume in anticipation for June's discussion...
]]> 217388104 After decades of silence, the last surviving World War II British spy reveals the real, untold story of her time as a secret agent in the deadly world of Nazi France.

From a unique and singular voice comes the incredible true story of the last surviving undercover British female operative in WW2. Pippa Latour parachuted into occupied France in 1944 to conduct sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines. Selling soap to German soldiers and hiding codes on a piece of ribbon, she sent back crucial information about troop positions in the lead up to D-Day, and continued her work until Paris was liberated. From her childhood as an orphan in South Africa to her years as an undercover agent, Pippa's story is that of a woman determined to honor her principles and risk her life to fight against the greatest evil of the 20th century.

The Last Secret Agent is a posthumously published memoir, co-written with journalist Jude Dobson. Pippa was decorated highly for her actions, including being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and receiving the Légion d’Honneur in France. For years, Pippa kept her involvement in the war effort secret from everyone, including her family, but for the first time, her story can now be told in full.]]> 304 Pippa Latour 1250384346 Sherwood 0
It wasn't until she saw some incorrect facts float about that prompted her to come forward; she hadn't even told her kids about her experiences.

The writing was clear and brought out her voice with vividness and clarity, glimmering now and then with wry humor. But that didn't mask the grimness of her experiences. Those were rough, and the fallout was rough--the cruelty to the helpless, such as animals, perpetrated by the oppressed as well as the oppressors, and the sometimes revolting extremes people went to to get food, never enough.

Her early years were so amazing that I was enthralled far before the war happened. The story illustrates with frank clarity the courage it took for this woman (and the women she knew, most of whom didn't make it out) to live covertly, sending messages while continuously hunted by the Gestapo.]]> 4.32 2024
author: Pippa Latour
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: autobiography, history-ww-ii, netgalley
review:
Pippa Latour lived to a ripe old age, dying while this book was in the publishing pipeline. She had kept silent for well over half a century, stating that she'd signed a NDA, but also I suspect from the lingering effects of the PTSD she suffered after the fact.

It wasn't until she saw some incorrect facts float about that prompted her to come forward; she hadn't even told her kids about her experiences.

The writing was clear and brought out her voice with vividness and clarity, glimmering now and then with wry humor. But that didn't mask the grimness of her experiences. Those were rough, and the fallout was rough--the cruelty to the helpless, such as animals, perpetrated by the oppressed as well as the oppressors, and the sometimes revolting extremes people went to to get food, never enough.

Her early years were so amazing that I was enthralled far before the war happened. The story illustrates with frank clarity the courage it took for this woman (and the women she knew, most of whom didn't make it out) to live covertly, sending messages while continuously hunted by the Gestapo.
]]> 211080534 From the New York Times bestselling author of The Romanov Sisters comes the story of a courageous young Imperial Grand Duchess who scandalized Europe in search of freedom.

In 1795, Catherine the Great of Russia was in search of a bride for her grandson Constantine, who stood third in line to her throne. In an eerie echo of her own story, Catherine selected an innocent young German princess, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, aunt of the future Queen Victoria. Though Julie had everything a young bride could wish for, she was alone in a court dominated by an aging empress and riven with rivalries, plotting, and gossip―not to mention her brute of a husband, who was tender one moment and violent the next. She longed to leave Russia and her disastrous marriage, but her family in Germany refused to allow her to do so.

Desperate for love, Julie allegedly sought consolation in the arms of others. Finally, Tsar Alexander granted her permission to leave in 1801, even though her husband was now heir to the throne. Rootless in Europe, Julie gave birth to two―possibly three―illegitimate children, all of whom she was forced to give up for adoption. Despite entreaties from Constantine to return and provide an heir, she refused, eventually finding love with her own married physician.

At a time when many royal brides meekly submitted to disastrous marriages, Julie proved to be a woman ahead of her time, sacrificing her reputation and a life of luxury in exchange for the freedom to live as she wished. The Rebel Romanov is the inspiring tale of a bold woman who, until now, has been ignored by history.]]> 336 Helen Rappaport 1250273129 Sherwood 0
On the other hand, if you want an engaging look at the weird tangle of dynastic marriages as borders got drawn and redrawn before Napoleon blustered through, then retreated again, leaving the map of Europe to be redrawn yet again, you might find this book as worthwhile as I did. There just isn't much written in English about that end of Europe during the late eighteenth century and early-mid nineteenth; Napoloeon seems to take up al the real estate history-wise. Though glimpses into Julie's inner life pretty much all are supposition, there is enough quoted from period letters and memoirs to furnish us vivid glimpses of the other major players, plus what it was like to travel at that time.

This book is a great glimpse of the end of Catherine the Great's life, the tangle of her descendants' lives, and how yet another hapless daughter of nobility/royaltie got cut adrift, her life pretty much shipwrecked by politics and the rotten behavior of men. And julie's husband Konstantin, to whom she was married at age fourteen, is a prime example of a thoroughly nasty piece of work.]]> 3.79 2025
author: Helen Rappaport
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: biography, history, history-18th-c, history-19th-c, history-napoleonic, netgalley
review:
The title is misleading, I'll say up front; if you're looking for a rousing tale of an early campaigner for the rights of women a la Mary Wollstonecroft or Olympe de Gouges or even Queen Christina, you're going to be disappointed. Julie is a very minor figure on the Eastern European/Russian scene before, during, and after the Napoleonic ructions, about whom almost nothing has been written, her scant letters mostly lost, even her grave lost.

On the other hand, if you want an engaging look at the weird tangle of dynastic marriages as borders got drawn and redrawn before Napoleon blustered through, then retreated again, leaving the map of Europe to be redrawn yet again, you might find this book as worthwhile as I did. There just isn't much written in English about that end of Europe during the late eighteenth century and early-mid nineteenth; Napoloeon seems to take up al the real estate history-wise. Though glimpses into Julie's inner life pretty much all are supposition, there is enough quoted from period letters and memoirs to furnish us vivid glimpses of the other major players, plus what it was like to travel at that time.

This book is a great glimpse of the end of Catherine the Great's life, the tangle of her descendants' lives, and how yet another hapless daughter of nobility/royaltie got cut adrift, her life pretty much shipwrecked by politics and the rotten behavior of men. And julie's husband Konstantin, to whom she was married at age fourteen, is a prime example of a thoroughly nasty piece of work.
]]> 217388109 Status is hereditary, class is bestowed, trust must be earned.

When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen―once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall―is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination.

When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn’t heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn’t the same man who entered.

The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?

The Witch Roads is the latest epic novel by fan favorite, Kate Elliott.]]> 448 Kate Elliott 1250338611 Sherwood 0 fantasy, netgalley
What worked so well for me? Kate Elliott can always be trusted to fashion an interesting world. This one is no different. The science fictional world of the Sun trilogy was like a TV show on speed, fast, complicated, tough to keep up with, though always worth the effort. In this book, we begin a lot more slowly, with Elen (or just El) who has been living with her head down as a courier, tramping the same route for ten years in the ever-necessary hunt for Spore, which is deadly to all life.

El is showing her nephew Kem the route, as the nephew, a teen, will soon arrive at his Declaration Day, which means picking a career. And Kem’s not sure which one to pick. The two are one another’s family, as his mother vanished under an avalanche. Kem senses that his aunt has secrets, which explodes with the arrival of the nasty Lord Duenn, who recognizes El—and claims Kem as his child, to the latter’s utter horror and betrayal…

And then a visiting prince arrives, and things really begin to pop. The story is an exquisite balance between mysteries and discoveries, introducing characters who each have their own story, rather than existing to provide a chorus for the protagonists. I found all the characters interesting, even those who appear for a few pages—they all had “lived-in” lives.

Most of the book is travel. Quest fantasy has been a tough sell for me when it's on-the-road hardship broken by monster fights broken up by unloading reams of bad poetry at campsites. This story 's on-the-road hardship is woven with good character dynamics, making it intriguing, sparked with tiny glimpses of the numinous as well as mystery. There’s clearly a lot to come in further volumes, bringing us to the cliff-hanger.

In the hands of a deft storyteller, the cliff-hanger can be enticing when woven with some level of resolution. I found the ending to this first book to be perfectly balanced between the promise of the next segment—sure to be very different—with the beautifully done emotional resolution of a main character arc. Growth achieved, giving promise for the future, the lens widens, the mystery deepens, making me desperate to get my hands on the next.
]]> 4.28 2025
author: Kate Elliott
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: fantasy, netgalley
review:
I read this book in three sessions, though I’d meant to make it last. But I couldn’t stop reading. Despite it being a book one, which usually means a cliff-hanger. (Not that I mind cliff-hangers if all volumes are out, but this book isn’t even out yet!)

What worked so well for me? Kate Elliott can always be trusted to fashion an interesting world. This one is no different. The science fictional world of the Sun trilogy was like a TV show on speed, fast, complicated, tough to keep up with, though always worth the effort. In this book, we begin a lot more slowly, with Elen (or just El) who has been living with her head down as a courier, tramping the same route for ten years in the ever-necessary hunt for Spore, which is deadly to all life.

El is showing her nephew Kem the route, as the nephew, a teen, will soon arrive at his Declaration Day, which means picking a career. And Kem’s not sure which one to pick. The two are one another’s family, as his mother vanished under an avalanche. Kem senses that his aunt has secrets, which explodes with the arrival of the nasty Lord Duenn, who recognizes El—and claims Kem as his child, to the latter’s utter horror and betrayal…

And then a visiting prince arrives, and things really begin to pop. The story is an exquisite balance between mysteries and discoveries, introducing characters who each have their own story, rather than existing to provide a chorus for the protagonists. I found all the characters interesting, even those who appear for a few pages—they all had “lived-in” lives.

Most of the book is travel. Quest fantasy has been a tough sell for me when it's on-the-road hardship broken by monster fights broken up by unloading reams of bad poetry at campsites. This story 's on-the-road hardship is woven with good character dynamics, making it intriguing, sparked with tiny glimpses of the numinous as well as mystery. There’s clearly a lot to come in further volumes, bringing us to the cliff-hanger.

In the hands of a deft storyteller, the cliff-hanger can be enticing when woven with some level of resolution. I found the ending to this first book to be perfectly balanced between the promise of the next segment—sure to be very different—with the beautifully done emotional resolution of a main character arc. Growth achieved, giving promise for the future, the lens widens, the mystery deepens, making me desperate to get my hands on the next.

]]> 217420633 Book Lovers meets Notting Hill with a slice of You've Got Mail in Wish You Were Her, the brand new rivals-to-lovers romance from bestselling, award-winning Elle McNicoll.

18-year-old Allegra Brooks has skyrocketed to fame after starring in a hit television show, and she's the overnight success that everyone's talking about. They just don't know she's autistic. Now, all she wants is a normal teenage summer.

Her destination for escape is the remote Lake Pristine and its annual Book Festival, organized by the dedicated but unfriendly senior bookseller, Jonah Thorne.

In small towns like Lake Pristine, misunderstandings abound, and before long the two are drawn into high-profile hostility that's a far cry from the drama-free holiday Allegra was craving. Thank goodness for her saving the increasingly personal emails she's been sharing with a charming and anonymous bookseller who is definitely not Jonah Thorne . . .

An unforgettable romcom about finding the one person who makes you feel yourself when the whole world is watching.

Praise for Elle McNicoll's Some Like it Cold:

'A clever, poignant and healing love story . . . Some Like It Cold is a heartfelt romance that is sweeping in its scope and tender in its emotional depth. McNicoll has crafted a powerful ode to love in all its of community, of home and of ourselves – as well as the genre of romance itself.' -- Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

'I utterly adored this book! Some Like it Cold is a warm, wonderful winter romance to cosy up with - brilliant characters, sizzling chemistry, and so full of heart, Elle has written a truly gorgeous book that’s a must-read.'-- Beth Reekles, author of The Kissing Booth

'As much an ode to the history of the romance genre as a classic yet modern love story in its own right. Achingly honest and heartfelt, this is McNicoll at her best. It is quite literally my favourite romance novel of all time.' -- Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine this Christmas

'McNicoll delivers a breathtaking story of love and joy that will keep the reader hooked until the very last page. It was such a pleasure being immersed in Jasper's world.'-- Anika Hussain, author of This Is How You Fall In Love

'A sweet will-they-won't-they rom-com set in a small town, dealing with autism, grief, love and being comfortable in your own skin. This is a cosy, heartwarming wintery romance. -- Abiola Bello, author of Only for the Holidays]]> 352 Elle McNicoll 1250335582 Sherwood 0 fiction, netgalley, romance
How the two untangle the crossed signals, and make friends and plans for their futures along the way, leads the reader through the rest of the book at a fast clip. A terrific read for teens on the spectrum--and teens who want to understand what that means.]]> 4.02
author: Elle McNicoll
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: fiction, netgalley, romance
review:
This was an absorbing YA romance about a teenager who found herself rocketed to stardom, and how that chewed up her life. Especially as she is neurodiverse, something she only admits late in the story, though the hints are all there. In escaping the fame fishbowl (and its not-so-nice dangers) for a summer with her dad, she meets a neurodivergent boy at Dad's bookstore--and sparks fly. At first, sparks of anger and hurt.

How the two untangle the crossed signals, and make friends and plans for their futures along the way, leads the reader through the rest of the book at a fast clip. A terrific read for teens on the spectrum--and teens who want to understand what that means.
]]> 214269346 The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.]]> 352 Pamela Terry 0593724631 Sherwood 0
Her focus seems to be families in the south, and their dynamics across generations, while evoking in graceful, sometimes elegiac language the smells, the tastes, and the feels of that part of the world.

This one begins with a widow, whose beloved spouse has been dead for almost a year, sustaining what she can only call a ghostly vision of the Aunt who brought her up. She resists the ghost idea at first, but the vision is gently insistent, and eventually leads to sharing with her three nearly middle aged kids, who don't communicate very well with her.

The omniscient narrator slides expertly in and out of their POVs as needed, first establishing everyone, then showing how everything changes. It's such a feel good book--something I really appreciated, in these nerve wracking days!]]> 4.23
author: Pamela Terry
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: fantasy, family-saga, netgalley
review:
This is my third book by this author, which makes three in a row that I loved.

Her focus seems to be families in the south, and their dynamics across generations, while evoking in graceful, sometimes elegiac language the smells, the tastes, and the feels of that part of the world.

This one begins with a widow, whose beloved spouse has been dead for almost a year, sustaining what she can only call a ghostly vision of the Aunt who brought her up. She resists the ghost idea at first, but the vision is gently insistent, and eventually leads to sharing with her three nearly middle aged kids, who don't communicate very well with her.

The omniscient narrator slides expertly in and out of their POVs as needed, first establishing everyone, then showing how everything changes. It's such a feel good book--something I really appreciated, in these nerve wracking days!
]]> 230436212 36 Francesca Forrest Sherwood 0 fantasy
I just loved how this story unfolded. It's exactly what I need to strengthen and hearten me during these fraught times...]]> 3.67
author: Francesca Forrest
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: fantasy
review:
This beautiful, poignant story concerns a beekeeper whose beloved wife has just died. His bees try to comfort him and his family...

I just loved how this story unfolded. It's exactly what I need to strengthen and hearten me during these fraught times...
]]> 197364659 Pfennigeist, she bucks the law in order to help the desperate and haunt the corrupt all across the empire—and no matter what, she works alone.


But an impossible killer is tearing through royalty, and leaving Vanja’s signature red penny on every victim. Suddenly the Pfennigeist is no longer a folk hero but a nightmare. When even the Blessed Empress falls, the empire’s seven royal families must gather to elect her successor within a matter of weeks, or risk the collapse of reality itself… even though it puts every house in the killer’s sights.


Vanja tells herself she’s wading into the royalty’s vicious games only to save the name she made, and the loved ones also in jeopardy. But the Order of Prefects has also put their sharpest official on the case, the one who swore he’d always find Vanja—until she broke his heart. Journeyman Prefect Emeric Conrad may no longer be the boy Vanja knew, but they’ll have to work together one last time to have any chance of surviving the deadly catastrophe coming for them all.


With bloody conspiracy, sinister magic, and old adverseries closing in, it will take everything Vanja has to save not just the people she loves, but the future she’s fought for. In this thrilling final chapter of the Indie Next series Little Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Margaret Owen shows us the pain and beauty of choosing which demons to face, and which to forgive.]]> 560 Margaret Owen 1250831172 Sherwood 0 fantasy, netgalley
We're off at the gallop, and this book never lets up. It's such a terrific blend of humor, snark, horror, and high-octane emotions! I don't want to say much else, except that once more I adored the inventiveness of this world drawing heavily on the tales of the Grimm Brothers. The characters so so vivid, the villains truly horrible, our protags lovely. The emotional twists and turns make a lot of sense, justaposed with the total crazy of the magical razzmatazz, a great blend. Almost perfect--the plot got mighty convoluted in the last third; the political scheming, complicated prodecures, and weird magic threatened to overshadow the character lines, but then it all drew together in a crash!

Very satisfying closure to a series I shall read again!]]> 4.38 2025
author: Margaret Owen
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: fantasy, netgalley
review:
Vanja is back! And she's being hunted down by her beloved, no HATED, hear me, hate, hate, hate! ex (who is now engaged to be married, btw)...for a murder she did not commit.

We're off at the gallop, and this book never lets up. It's such a terrific blend of humor, snark, horror, and high-octane emotions! I don't want to say much else, except that once more I adored the inventiveness of this world drawing heavily on the tales of the Grimm Brothers. The characters so so vivid, the villains truly horrible, our protags lovely. The emotional twists and turns make a lot of sense, justaposed with the total crazy of the magical razzmatazz, a great blend. Almost perfect--the plot got mighty convoluted in the last third; the political scheming, complicated prodecures, and weird magic threatened to overshadow the character lines, but then it all drew together in a crash!

Very satisfying closure to a series I shall read again!
]]> 218460320 A heroine like no other, ancient magic unleashed, a fated epic battle--the first book in an enchanting YA fantasy duology inspired by Vietnamese lore, weaving magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.

Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie's life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school's it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong's wing, Jolie's world transforms, in more ways than one.

As Jolie and Huong's bond deepens, they unlock long lost telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking they are the reincarnates of legendary queens and goddesses, the Trung Sisters. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.

The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.]]> 368 Aimee Phan 0593697332 Sherwood 0
We begin with Jolie Lam, who has lost her two best friends after a sports incident. These two have become mean girls, but to her defense comes Huang, a cool girl who offers her friendship and support. It's set in and around San Jose, working in earthquakes and drought and other area-specific phenom.

Meanwhile, Jolie is dealing with visions, and her grandfather's apparent dementia. But when inexplicable magic enters her life, everything the sixteen year old thought she knew goes seriously sideways.

At that point, the book becomes a brakeless roller-coaster, getting more and more intense and weird, the pacing faster and faster until the sudden end. I thought the end kinda cool, and yet there had been so much setup at the start that I couldn't help wishing for a coda: emotional resolution especially, but also I really wanted to see how the "new" Jolie would pick up her high school life.

Still, a terrific read.]]> 3.46 2025
author: Aimee Phan
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves: fantasy, history-asian, netgalley
review:
At the center of this YA novel about sisters, brothers, siblings, parents and grandparents as well as friend dynamics and a whole lot of other intense themes, is mythology that has grown up around the Trung sisters, a pair of military generals who nearly two thousand years ago mnaged for two years to resist the massive Han invasion of Vietnam.

We begin with Jolie Lam, who has lost her two best friends after a sports incident. These two have become mean girls, but to her defense comes Huang, a cool girl who offers her friendship and support. It's set in and around San Jose, working in earthquakes and drought and other area-specific phenom.

Meanwhile, Jolie is dealing with visions, and her grandfather's apparent dementia. But when inexplicable magic enters her life, everything the sixteen year old thought she knew goes seriously sideways.

At that point, the book becomes a brakeless roller-coaster, getting more and more intense and weird, the pacing faster and faster until the sudden end. I thought the end kinda cool, and yet there had been so much setup at the start that I couldn't help wishing for a coda: emotional resolution especially, but also I really wanted to see how the "new" Jolie would pick up her high school life.

Still, a terrific read.
]]> 62342354 No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.]]> 364 Mimi Matthews 0593639294 Sherwood 0
I am a total sucker for the outsider penetrating upper society trope, but I want my protags to be likeable, with laudable goals at least some of the time, and the author gives us two of these in hero and heroine. But have admirable goals for their desperate masquerades, but unexpectedly find one another in each other's way because of how their goals misalign.

How the author disentangles these snares while developing the wary attraction between H and H, then bringing us to a satisfying ending, was fun to watch. The villains get what they deserve, the good guys win, and there is a setup for another follow-on romance in the same setting. Just the sort of escapism I'm looking for these days!]]> 4.18 2025
author: Mimi Matthews
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: historical-novel, history-19th-c, netgalley, romance
review:
That balance point between easily accessible for the modern reader not familiar novels before the 20th C and striving for a period feel is a difficult one, as it varies from reader to reader. This novel certainly entertained me! And I appreciated the work that went into giving us a Victorian London that wasn't all Hollywood backdrop.

I am a total sucker for the outsider penetrating upper society trope, but I want my protags to be likeable, with laudable goals at least some of the time, and the author gives us two of these in hero and heroine. But have admirable goals for their desperate masquerades, but unexpectedly find one another in each other's way because of how their goals misalign.

How the author disentangles these snares while developing the wary attraction between H and H, then bringing us to a satisfying ending, was fun to watch. The villains get what they deserve, the good guys win, and there is a setup for another follow-on romance in the same setting. Just the sort of escapism I'm looking for these days!
]]> 211003706 Timed for the 250th anniversary of one of America’s most famous founding Paul Revere’s legendary ride, newly told with fresh research into little-known aspects of the myth that every American learns in school

On April 18, 1775, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative named Paul Revere set out on a borrowed horse to fulfill a dangerous but crucial task to alert American colonists of advancing British troops, which would seek to crush their nascent revolt. Revere was not the only rider that night, and indeed, he had completed at least 18 previous rides throughout New England, disseminating intelligence about British movements. But this ride was like no other, and its consequences in the months and years to come—as the American Revolution morphed from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war—became one of our founding legends.

In The Ride, Kostya Kennedy presents a dramatic new narrative of the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, informed by fresh primary and secondary source research into archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more. Kennedy reveals Revere’s ride to be more complex than it is usually portrayed—a coordinated series of rides by numerous men, near-disaster, capture by British forces, and finally success. While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy reveals the other men (and, perhaps, a woman with information about the movement of British forces) who helped to set in motion the events that would lead to America’s independence.

Thrillingly written in a dramatic, unstoppable narrative, The Ride re-tells an essential American story for a new generation of readers.]]> 304 Kostya Kennedy 125034137X Sherwood 0
But I LOVRD this book.

It's exactly the kind of history I like most: well researched evocations of all the people involved, not just military leaders. Kennedy takes the time to give vivid biographical sketches of key people on both sides (key being those around Revere, including some whose names are scarcely a footnote in broader histories), and then conveys a cinematic feel for the geography of the time. What it must have been like to live there. What everyone saw. What the survivors said later.

Then, after the Ride, we get a sketch of the poem that kept the legend alive, and then brief sketches of other famous riders.

All in all, I thought it was a terrific book for the sort of person who walks the Freedom Trail, or goes to various sites, and squints past telephone poles and stuccoed box buildings and automobiles and all the other detritus of modern life for what it must have been like in those tense days.]]> 3.97 2025
author: Kostya Kennedy
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: biography, history, history-18th-c, netgalley
review:
At first I was skepical that anyone could get an entire book from Revere's eighteen-mile ride on a single night during the complex mess that we now call the Revolutionary War.

But I LOVRD this book.

It's exactly the kind of history I like most: well researched evocations of all the people involved, not just military leaders. Kennedy takes the time to give vivid biographical sketches of key people on both sides (key being those around Revere, including some whose names are scarcely a footnote in broader histories), and then conveys a cinematic feel for the geography of the time. What it must have been like to live there. What everyone saw. What the survivors said later.

Then, after the Ride, we get a sketch of the poem that kept the legend alive, and then brief sketches of other famous riders.

All in all, I thought it was a terrific book for the sort of person who walks the Freedom Trail, or goes to various sites, and squints past telephone poles and stuccoed box buildings and automobiles and all the other detritus of modern life for what it must have been like in those tense days.
]]> 223531701 The final book in the Phoenix Feather and Sagacious series, Sagacious Blade
brings the story full circle.

It would be difficult to find two boys more unlike.

Friendly, animal-loving Ki Mek, youngest of a sprawling family of gallant wanderers, was born with Essence talent—much to the dismay of the Kis, who only believe in the skills of their blades.

Je Tai, the scholarly, reclusive only son of a subsidiary branch of the lofty Ji family, is on his way back to the school where he is studying divination.

The two are swept overboard in a terrible storm, and end up made slaves by the western empire, age-old enemies of the Thousand Islands Empire.

They escape into adventures martial and magical until they and those they love are swept up in a war spanning two empires.

With the aid of Sagacious Blade, both will learn the costs of power…]]> 787 Sherwood Smith 163632309X Sherwood 0 4.53
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: bvc, family-saga, fantasy, my-books, romance, wuxi-xianxia, alternate-universe
review:
Brings the Phoenix Feather and the Sagacious series full circle, a fun challenge, as there turned out to be a lot of little things I'd tossed into the first series that now had to be integrated into history, so to speak. Pure geek fun on my part--whether it works or not, of course, is up to the reader!
]]> 214986181 Don't miss the next hilarious and gorgeously romantic romcom from Carlie Walker - out March 2025!
________

Two exes. One mission. A trip she'll never forget...

Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe's youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen . . .

So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister's annual Italian trip.

It would be a dream if it weren't for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max's ridiculously hot handler - the man who broke her heart years and years ago.

With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that's a risk that she isn't willing to take . . .

Red, White and Royal Blue meets Emily Henry in this opposites-attract, fake-dating romcom. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Ali Hazelwood.]]> 320 Carlie Walker 0593640411 Sherwood 0 Madam Will You Talk.

Max is down and out when she is approached by a woman from the CIA. They need Max for an emergency body double for a (gorgeous) PM. Right there, of course, is the trope splitting point: readers wanting Le Carre-level verisimilitude will raise a couple of eyebrows, muttering, "The CIA would never hire someone off the street" but if you're a romance reader, the prospect of the heroine doubling for an internationally respected Prime Minister she happens to resemble uncannily, and her handler being a very hot ex, is just the ticket. The realistic deets of the weird, high-octane stress spy world aren't the focus but the backdrop.

So begins a wild ride through Italy as Max pretends to be Prime Minister Sofia. Bullets (and lobsters, and pigeons) fly, and the world is filled with sinister assassins, but Max learns on the run, while the embers of that romance fire up again hotter than ever. There is plenty of wild action, and grace notes of humor, and Max gets to rise beautifully to the occasion, which is exactly what I want in a romantic-suspense novel. What a fun read!]]> 3.74
author: Carlie Walker
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.74
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: netgalley, romance, romantic-suspense
review:
The cover and the wording of the blurb, etc, points toward romance, which I think is important for those cruising for their next romantic read. The expectations of romance are different from the expectations of a thriller, though this has thriller aspects. I don't know if "romantic-suspense" is still in use anymore; it has a long and stellar history, beginning with (in my own reading experience, when I was 13) Mary Stewat's Madam Will You Talk.

Max is down and out when she is approached by a woman from the CIA. They need Max for an emergency body double for a (gorgeous) PM. Right there, of course, is the trope splitting point: readers wanting Le Carre-level verisimilitude will raise a couple of eyebrows, muttering, "The CIA would never hire someone off the street" but if you're a romance reader, the prospect of the heroine doubling for an internationally respected Prime Minister she happens to resemble uncannily, and her handler being a very hot ex, is just the ticket. The realistic deets of the weird, high-octane stress spy world aren't the focus but the backdrop.

So begins a wild ride through Italy as Max pretends to be Prime Minister Sofia. Bullets (and lobsters, and pigeons) fly, and the world is filled with sinister assassins, but Max learns on the run, while the embers of that romance fire up again hotter than ever. There is plenty of wild action, and grace notes of humor, and Max gets to rise beautifully to the occasion, which is exactly what I want in a romantic-suspense novel. What a fun read!
]]> 211003839 Love, family, and food collide in this sparkling Romeo and Juliet-inspired romance.

Julie Wu and Randall Hur used to be best friends. Now they only see each other on Saturdays at the Pasadena Farmers Market where their once close families are long-standing rivals.

When Julie and Randall are paired with ultra-rich London Kim for a community-service school project, they are forced to work together for the first time in years. It quickly becomes obvious that London has a major crush on Julie. But Julie can’t stop thinking about Randall. And Randall can’t stop thinking about how London is thinking about Julie. Soon, prompted by a little jealousy and years of missing each other, school project meetings turn into pseudo dates at their favorite Taiwanese breakfast shop and then secret kisses at the beach—far from the watchful eyes of their families.

Just as they’re finally feeling brave enough to tell their grandmas, the two matriarchs rehash their old fight and Julie and Randall get caught in the middle and Julie’s brother finds out they are dating. Their families are heartbroken.

But it’s the Year of the Dragon, an auspicious time to resolve disagreements and start anew, and Randall isn’t going down without fighting for what—and who—they love. Could the Lunar New Year provide not only a second chance for Randall and Julie, but for their families as well?

Jennifer Chen’s Hangry Hearts is a funny, big-hearted romance about friendship, family, and first love—and being brave enough to have it all.]]> 320 Jennifer Chen 1250374405 Sherwood 0 netgalley, romance
I also liked the idea of many of the characters, and some of the dialogue was fun. But it took me a long time to read the book. Partly that was due to the grammar errors, which I hope were ironed out in the final version, but mostly because the author seemed to be trying to reinvent the omniscient narrator, the result being oddly jerky segments split between POVs, which, interspersed with text messages, could get confusing. The pacing thus seemed off, and the narrative voice would frequently undercut the dialogue by telling crucial bits before we saw the action.

Finally there was a formulaic feel, largely because The Big Incident that caused the families to feud was referred to without being told up front. I found myself impatiently reading for the "why" of all the drama.

So it was a bit of a mixed bag, but with lots of potential. Especially the food! Looking forward to more by this author.]]> 3.25 2025
author: Jennifer Chen
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: netgalley, romance
review:
There was a lot to like in this "Romeo and Juliet" (ad language for the book) for young adults. Specifically the food descriptions, with dim sun and Korean street food lovingly and deliciously described. I loved the sense of filial piety from traditional custom up against LA's laid-back cultural chaos.

I also liked the idea of many of the characters, and some of the dialogue was fun. But it took me a long time to read the book. Partly that was due to the grammar errors, which I hope were ironed out in the final version, but mostly because the author seemed to be trying to reinvent the omniscient narrator, the result being oddly jerky segments split between POVs, which, interspersed with text messages, could get confusing. The pacing thus seemed off, and the narrative voice would frequently undercut the dialogue by telling crucial bits before we saw the action.

Finally there was a formulaic feel, largely because The Big Incident that caused the families to feud was referred to without being told up front. I found myself impatiently reading for the "why" of all the drama.

So it was a bit of a mixed bag, but with lots of potential. Especially the food! Looking forward to more by this author.
]]> 214268974 Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.

Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure they’re going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She’s pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary, Jane thinks it’s as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

But before they even get to the second course, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar.

Which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago, but if they can survive this, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage.]]> 368 Colleen Oakley 0593200829 Sherwood 0 fiction, thriller, netgalley
The narration is mostly from Jane's POV, but goes omni at times. I found Jane's put-upon self-centeredness hard to like, though I did sympathize with her thwarted ambitions, but the rest of the characters were really enjoyable. Jane and Dan hash our their marital problems as all heck breaks out around them, sometimes the juxtaposition being hilarious and other times insane. Some fun surprises, and an ending that makes me think this was aimed at film. And it would make a great film.]]> 3.68 2025
author: Colleen Oakley
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: fiction, thriller, netgalley
review:
There was a lot to enjoy in this fast-paced sort-of thriller and sort-if midlife crisis story centering around a couple in their mid-forties (who read like they were in their fifties or older) going for their anniversary dinner to an exclusive place that charges an insane price for a "dining experience"--when it gets taken over by eco-terrorists.

The narration is mostly from Jane's POV, but goes omni at times. I found Jane's put-upon self-centeredness hard to like, though I did sympathize with her thwarted ambitions, but the rest of the characters were really enjoyable. Jane and Dan hash our their marital problems as all heck breaks out around them, sometimes the juxtaposition being hilarious and other times insane. Some fun surprises, and an ending that makes me think this was aimed at film. And it would make a great film.
]]> 223332602 Deep beneath the Lonely Tor lies the Enchanterium, an ancient magical facility where Aderyn and her companions face challenges that test more than their abilities...

When their quest leads them to this mysterious complex, they find themselves racing against time—and they're not alone. Another team of adventurers, driven by glory and ambition, is determined to slay the dragon that terrorizes nearby settlements. But as Aderyn's team delves deeper into the Enchanterium's secrets, they begin to question everything they thought they knew about their mission.

Navigating treacherous laboratories filled with strange devices and deadly traps, Aderyn must rely on the trust she's built with her companions to uncover the truth before their rivals succeed. With time running out and deadly creatures emerging from the shadows, the strength of their bonds may matter more than their skills in preventing a terrible catastrophe.

Sometimes the most dangerous quest is stopping someone else's heroic mission.]]> 426 Melissa McShane Sherwood 0
This last one had a real doozy of a quest, whose outcome was impossible to predict. I really liked how it went, and what eventually went down with the characters.

New readers should begin at the beginning, though!]]> 4.44
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: alternate-universe, caper, fantasy
review:
Another excellent entry in this series, which I really enjoy even though I'm not a gamer. It's the inventiveness of the quest periperals, like the evolving system voice, and the character evolution that hooks me. Also, the twists that I cannot predict.

This last one had a real doozy of a quest, whose outcome was impossible to predict. I really liked how it went, and what eventually went down with the characters.

New readers should begin at the beginning, though!
]]> 228746515 From the introduction by Sharyn November: "Lifelode is what one might call domestic fantasy, set in a quiet farming community—but it's also about politics, gods and religion, sexual mores, the make-up of a family, and how people change over time. There is magic, humor, and lots of good food."]]> Jo Walton Sherwood 0
When a third stranger arrives, a strange, zealous priestess, dynamics chamge rapidly, building inexorably to a crescendo. The ending never fails to make my eyes sting. Especially as read by Jack Larson, a voice actor from New Zealand. His character voices fit the characters so well, and he's able to convey the emotions without overpowering the narrative.

I find, as always when I listen to a book that I've read in print, that different elements evoke a new set of images. Walton's literary skill, filtered through Larson's talented interpretation, make this an audiobook to be savoured again and again.]]> 5.00 2009
author: Jo Walton
name: Sherwood
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves:
review:
I was going to begin this review by saying that this is an unusual work, but then I realized that pretty much Jo Walton's work is hard to characterize. It begins as a cozy, domestic fantasy, until two strangers walk into the sleepy little village of Applekirk. They are absorbed into the manor family at the center of the village, one as guest, the other as a long-lost relation, though she'd lived there before, generations ago. But time runs oddly in this world, faster in the west, where the reach of the gods is barely a trace, and longer in the east, where gods walk among the people, and you breathe magic along with the air.

When a third stranger arrives, a strange, zealous priestess, dynamics chamge rapidly, building inexorably to a crescendo. The ending never fails to make my eyes sting. Especially as read by Jack Larson, a voice actor from New Zealand. His character voices fit the characters so well, and he's able to convey the emotions without overpowering the narrative.

I find, as always when I listen to a book that I've read in print, that different elements evoke a new set of images. Walton's literary skill, filtered through Larson's talented interpretation, make this an audiobook to be savoured again and again.
]]> 214152206 From rare book dealer and guest star of the hit show Pawn Stars, a page-turning literary adventure that introduces readers to the women writers who inspired Jane Austen—and investigates why their books have disappeared from our shelves.

Long before she was a rare book dealer, Rebecca Romney was a devoted reader of Jane Austen. She loved that Austen’s books took the lives of women seriously, explored relationships with wit and confidence, and always, allowed for the possibility of a happy ending. She read and reread them, often wishing Austen wrote just one more.

But Austen wasn’t a lone genius. She wrote at a time of great experimentation for women writers—and clues about those women, and the exceptional books they wrote, are sprinkled like breadcrumbs throughout Austen’s work. Every character in Northanger Abbey who isn’t a boor sings the praises of Ann Radcliffe. The play that causes such a stir in Mansfield Park is a real one by the playwright Elizabeth Inchbald. In fact, the phrase “pride and prejudice” came from Frances Burney’s second novel Cecilia. The women that populated Jane Austen’s bookshelf profoundly influenced her work; Austen looked up to them, passionately discussed their books with her friends, and used an appreciation of their books as a litmus test for whether someone had good taste. So where had these women gone? Why hadn’t Romney—despite her training—ever read them? Or, in some cases, even heard of them? And why were they no longer embraced as part of the wider literary canon?

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes—women writers who were erased from the Western canon—to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth—and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels.]]> 455 Rebecca Romney 1982190248 Sherwood 0
The Jane Austen fan, or reader of Enlightenment Era books is aware that Austen undoubtedly read a lot more than we see named in the letters, which are a fraction of those she wrote. There is no mention of Aphra Behn, or Mary Davys, or even Eliza Heywood, whose great popularity a generation before Austen was born surely meant that her books were to be found in any library that included novels. But these are the names culled from the letters that Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra left for us.

In this book, Romney sets out to acquaint herself with not only the works of these female authors, but with the writers themselves. Most of these authors I’ve already encountered, but I find it fun to read others’ takes on their work. And I really enjoy a literary exploration that brings in the writer’s own experiences and perspective.

Romney is a rare book dealer, which shapes the structure of this book; though I did skim past descriptions of searches for specific copies, and the deets of auctions, as I have never had the discretionary income to spend on rare books, I comprehend cathexis, and agree that some of the satisfaction of reading a physical book is the feel of the book, the font, the illos—and the commentary inside from long-gone owners of the copy. Plus one’s memories of when one first encountered the book, and the emotions evoked by picking up that copy once again. I own a first edition of Chesterfield’s Letters. The pages were uncut, which meant it sat untouched on someone’s shelf for over two hundred years. It might be worth something, it might not. But I would have cherished it far more had this copy been worn from much reading, perhaps with notes and comments from Enlightenment-era or Victorian-era or even early twentieth century previous owners.

So once I skimmed past the auction parts of Romney’s searches, I really enjoyed her description of the physical books. The feel of them in her hands. Her delight in discovering writing on flyleaves.

Another aspect of this book that I relished was Romney’s awareness of the human being behind the printed pages. She gives the reader a quick and sympathetic history of each woman, even of Hannah More, whose work Romney finally gave up on. (Um, yes, so did I. If only there had been even a glimmer of humor…) This book is filled with insights, and also questions. Even when I disagree with Romney’s conclusions, I can see where she’s coming from—and can imagine sitting around a comfortable tea room, exchanging ideas.

She begins with Ann Radcliffe, whose work I don’t like any more than I like Hannah More’s, though for different reasons. I don’t care for Gothick suspense, and the thread of anti-Catholicism running through Radcliffe’s books doesn’t make it worth reading for the elegiac landscape descriptions, much less the creepy horrors and grues. But I appreciated Romney’s digging into the reviews of Radcliff’s books written in her lifetime, and I followed with interest Romney’s detective work tracing the gradual disappearance of Radcliff from popularity, to her present near-obscurity. Romney goes into the “explained supernatural” (in other words, all the supposed supernatural encounters in the books turn out to have rational explanations—unlike Horry Walpole’s ridiculous and flagrantly male-gazey The Castle of Otranto). Romney points out that in keeping her books firmly within the explained supernatural, Radcliffe was bringing logic to an emotional argument. She then traces through reviews and news reports about Radcliffe the false claims that Radcliffe stopped writing because she had sunk into madness.

In exploring this idea, Romney brings forth the seldom-acknowledged point that Catherine Morland, the teenage heroine of Northanger Abbey, who is so delighted by her discovery of Gothic novels that she brings the “emotional logic” of Gothics to imagining Mrs. Tilney being locked up before her death, learns from her mistakes, which are made in the ignorance of youth. Unlike General Tilney and his own quite Gothic, and ridiculous, assumptions about Catherine. He, an experienced man of middle years, has no excuse!

In wrestling with Hannah More’s determination that human beings are morally obliged to stay in their place (that includes women being subordinate to men), Romney states: “I found myself sitting for ten minutes at a time with a Hannah More biography in my lap, staring at nothing. This, too, is a part of reading. What we feel when we read does not remain on the page. We take it with us. We absorb it. It doesn’t have to change us, exactly (though it can, but it does affect us. It becomes a part of all the little moments that make up our lives.”

It's insights like this one, strewn through the book, that made it such a delicious read, as she goes on to give similar attention to Charlotte Lennox, Elizabeth Inchbald, Maria Edgeworth, and Hester Thrale Piozzi. And then traces how and why these women, once so famous, fell out of favor.

Did I agree with everything Romney brings up? No. She calls the unctuous, freckled Mrs. Clay from Persuasion a fraud, which I think is disingenuous; it’s true that Jane Austen’s narrator despises Mrs. Clay, but her situation, and her behavior at crucial points, isn’t a whole lot different from that of Mrs. Smith, who is better born, and who the narrator favors.

And again, Romney, in mentioning Mansfield Park seems to regard Fanny Price as humorless (wrong), and professes not to understand why Fanny disapproves of Inchbald’s play being mounted by the young people. She doesn’t seem to distinguish that it’s not the play Fanny objects to, it’s the flagrant disrespect for the missing Bertram paterfamilias—a disrespect that all the others are quite aware of when Sir Thomas comes unexpectedly home. But I blather at length about that in my review here on 카지노싸이트.

And from specific instances to general points, Romney maintains that several of these authors’ books are great literature, and deserve rediscovery. This of course goes straight into subjective territory. My own feeling is that there are indeed terrific moments in all of these books, and one can see how they influenced Austen, but (to generalize drastically) they share one fault: unexamined tropes, or downright cliches, both in plot and in language. Whereas Austen was side-eyeing these tropes, and the threadbare figurative language common to all these writers (such as blazing eyes, and frequent faintings, etc etc), and either playing with the expectations or abjuring them altogether. Which is what elevates Austen from really entertaining writer to genius. But again, highly subjective.

My point is, even when Romney and I come to different conclusions, I enjoyed her description of how she got there, and why. I enjoyed this book to such an extent that I plan to buy a print copy once it comes out, and to recommend it to my face-to-face Jane Austen Discussion Group. We should have a blast exploring all its ideas.]]> 4.40 2025
author: Rebecca Romney
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: discussing-fiction, history-18th-c, literary-exploration, netgalley
review:
The title, the reader soon learns, is literal. The author explains why she decided to assemble a shelf of Jane Austen’s books—that is, the ones, written by women, that Austen read and mentioned in her letters.

The Jane Austen fan, or reader of Enlightenment Era books is aware that Austen undoubtedly read a lot more than we see named in the letters, which are a fraction of those she wrote. There is no mention of Aphra Behn, or Mary Davys, or even Eliza Heywood, whose great popularity a generation before Austen was born surely meant that her books were to be found in any library that included novels. But these are the names culled from the letters that Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra left for us.

In this book, Romney sets out to acquaint herself with not only the works of these female authors, but with the writers themselves. Most of these authors I’ve already encountered, but I find it fun to read others’ takes on their work. And I really enjoy a literary exploration that brings in the writer’s own experiences and perspective.

Romney is a rare book dealer, which shapes the structure of this book; though I did skim past descriptions of searches for specific copies, and the deets of auctions, as I have never had the discretionary income to spend on rare books, I comprehend cathexis, and agree that some of the satisfaction of reading a physical book is the feel of the book, the font, the illos—and the commentary inside from long-gone owners of the copy. Plus one’s memories of when one first encountered the book, and the emotions evoked by picking up that copy once again. I own a first edition of Chesterfield’s Letters. The pages were uncut, which meant it sat untouched on someone’s shelf for over two hundred years. It might be worth something, it might not. But I would have cherished it far more had this copy been worn from much reading, perhaps with notes and comments from Enlightenment-era or Victorian-era or even early twentieth century previous owners.

So once I skimmed past the auction parts of Romney’s searches, I really enjoyed her description of the physical books. The feel of them in her hands. Her delight in discovering writing on flyleaves.

Another aspect of this book that I relished was Romney’s awareness of the human being behind the printed pages. She gives the reader a quick and sympathetic history of each woman, even of Hannah More, whose work Romney finally gave up on. (Um, yes, so did I. If only there had been even a glimmer of humor…) This book is filled with insights, and also questions. Even when I disagree with Romney’s conclusions, I can see where she’s coming from—and can imagine sitting around a comfortable tea room, exchanging ideas.

She begins with Ann Radcliffe, whose work I don’t like any more than I like Hannah More’s, though for different reasons. I don’t care for Gothick suspense, and the thread of anti-Catholicism running through Radcliffe’s books doesn’t make it worth reading for the elegiac landscape descriptions, much less the creepy horrors and grues. But I appreciated Romney’s digging into the reviews of Radcliff’s books written in her lifetime, and I followed with interest Romney’s detective work tracing the gradual disappearance of Radcliff from popularity, to her present near-obscurity. Romney goes into the “explained supernatural” (in other words, all the supposed supernatural encounters in the books turn out to have rational explanations—unlike Horry Walpole’s ridiculous and flagrantly male-gazey The Castle of Otranto). Romney points out that in keeping her books firmly within the explained supernatural, Radcliffe was bringing logic to an emotional argument. She then traces through reviews and news reports about Radcliffe the false claims that Radcliffe stopped writing because she had sunk into madness.

In exploring this idea, Romney brings forth the seldom-acknowledged point that Catherine Morland, the teenage heroine of Northanger Abbey, who is so delighted by her discovery of Gothic novels that she brings the “emotional logic” of Gothics to imagining Mrs. Tilney being locked up before her death, learns from her mistakes, which are made in the ignorance of youth. Unlike General Tilney and his own quite Gothic, and ridiculous, assumptions about Catherine. He, an experienced man of middle years, has no excuse!

In wrestling with Hannah More’s determination that human beings are morally obliged to stay in their place (that includes women being subordinate to men), Romney states: “I found myself sitting for ten minutes at a time with a Hannah More biography in my lap, staring at nothing. This, too, is a part of reading. What we feel when we read does not remain on the page. We take it with us. We absorb it. It doesn’t have to change us, exactly (though it can, but it does affect us. It becomes a part of all the little moments that make up our lives.”

It's insights like this one, strewn through the book, that made it such a delicious read, as she goes on to give similar attention to Charlotte Lennox, Elizabeth Inchbald, Maria Edgeworth, and Hester Thrale Piozzi. And then traces how and why these women, once so famous, fell out of favor.

Did I agree with everything Romney brings up? No. She calls the unctuous, freckled Mrs. Clay from Persuasion a fraud, which I think is disingenuous; it’s true that Jane Austen’s narrator despises Mrs. Clay, but her situation, and her behavior at crucial points, isn’t a whole lot different from that of Mrs. Smith, who is better born, and who the narrator favors.

And again, Romney, in mentioning Mansfield Park seems to regard Fanny Price as humorless (wrong), and professes not to understand why Fanny disapproves of Inchbald’s play being mounted by the young people. She doesn’t seem to distinguish that it’s not the play Fanny objects to, it’s the flagrant disrespect for the missing Bertram paterfamilias—a disrespect that all the others are quite aware of when Sir Thomas comes unexpectedly home. But I blather at length about that in my review here on 카지노싸이트.

And from specific instances to general points, Romney maintains that several of these authors’ books are great literature, and deserve rediscovery. This of course goes straight into subjective territory. My own feeling is that there are indeed terrific moments in all of these books, and one can see how they influenced Austen, but (to generalize drastically) they share one fault: unexamined tropes, or downright cliches, both in plot and in language. Whereas Austen was side-eyeing these tropes, and the threadbare figurative language common to all these writers (such as blazing eyes, and frequent faintings, etc etc), and either playing with the expectations or abjuring them altogether. Which is what elevates Austen from really entertaining writer to genius. But again, highly subjective.

My point is, even when Romney and I come to different conclusions, I enjoyed her description of how she got there, and why. I enjoyed this book to such an extent that I plan to buy a print copy once it comes out, and to recommend it to my face-to-face Jane Austen Discussion Group. We should have a blast exploring all its ideas.
]]> 218460368 From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi comes an epic and daring novel that imagines an alternate version of India that was never liberated from the British, and a young woman who will change the tides of history.

Kalki Divekar grows up a daughter of Kingston—a city the British built on the ashes of Bombay. The older generation, including her father, have been lost to the brutal hunt for rebels. Young men are drafted to fight wars they will never return from. And the people of her city are more interested in fighting each other than facing their true oppressors.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Kalki and her group of friends begin to play a dangerous game, obtaining jobs working for the British while secretly planning to destroy the empire from the inside out. They found Kingston's new independence movement, knowing one wrong move means certain death. Facing threats from all quarters, Kalki must decide whether it’s more important to be a hero or to survive.

Told as ten moments from Kalki’s life that mirror the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a sweeping, deeply felt speculative novel of empowerment, friendship, self-determination, and the true meaning of freedom.]]> 320 Vaishnavi Patel 0593874765 Sherwood 0
The ideas are absolutely crucial for understanding the stresses and anguish of colonialism and its fallout, as it impacts the evolution of history. At heart, it looks at India's independence, and the terrible cost, the focus being on the twentieth century--a blip in India's long, fascinating history.

A strong aspect of the book is the way the author works in regional mythology, which renders emotional texture to the layers of the historical record. However, the characters tended toward the standard, and the writing, though passionate, often read as a first draft, with a lot more summation than is effective.

Still, it's very much worth adding to other books by Indian writers who write about Indian history and experience for those who read in English

]]> 4.15 2025
author: Vaishnavi Patel
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: historical-novel, history-20th, history-indian, netgalley, mythology
review:
This is one of those books whose idea I think outstrips the execution.

The ideas are absolutely crucial for understanding the stresses and anguish of colonialism and its fallout, as it impacts the evolution of history. At heart, it looks at India's independence, and the terrible cost, the focus being on the twentieth century--a blip in India's long, fascinating history.

A strong aspect of the book is the way the author works in regional mythology, which renders emotional texture to the layers of the historical record. However, the characters tended toward the standard, and the writing, though passionate, often read as a first draft, with a lot more summation than is effective.

Still, it's very much worth adding to other books by Indian writers who write about Indian history and experience for those who read in English


]]> 217387609 Sparks fly in this summer romp for fans of Casey McQuiston when dancers at a Catskills resort try to pull off the perfect show, and find happiness and a place where they belong on the way.

Archer Read is 27 and desperate to find his place in life. Five months ago, he quit his soul-destroying accounting job in Ohio and moved to Manhattan with dreams of making it on Broadway. And now he has nothing to show for it but a string of rejections. Even for a ray-of-sunshine like Archer, hope can only go so far. A musical revue at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills, is his last chance to break into show biz—otherwise, it’s back to Ohio, broke and hopeless. He arrives ready to dance his heart out, only to find he’ll be working with his teenage celebrity crush, the Broadway star Mateo Dixon.

What is Mateo doing working at Shady Queens? Besides barking orders and glaring at everyone…when he’s not absolutely smoldering at Archer on the dancefloor. As Archer tries to forget his teen crush and get to know the real Mateo, he’s caught up in a romance with his hot, temperamental bunkmate, Caleb. Between Mateo’s baggage and the dance crew’s drama—partying, flirting, breaking up, getting back together, then breaking up again—it’s no surprise when the show starts to fall apart. Archer quickly discovers that when it comes to dance, sometimes you can’t leave all your problems backstage.

Filled with colorful side characters, about a million Broadway references, and enough drama for a high school summer camp, Flirty Dancing is a delightful romantic comedy that shows love, like art, is worth a little sacrifice.]]> 336 Jennifer Moffatt 1250379288 Sherwood 0
The dance setting was terrific. The author absolutely nailed the crazy, inspiring, tiring, drama-injected fizz of summer theater for teens, in this case a summer dance camp. In fact, the setting was so very well done that it kind of detracted from the character development that such a complicated plot needed (Archer is dating someone else while totally eyeing Matteo).

But that's a small creeb. It's fast-paced, with some great scenes when Archer and Matteo do start coming together. Add in the filmic wish-fulfillment ending, and you get a gay-friendly feel-good romance for teens, with an emphasis on dance!
]]> 3.66 2025
author: Jennifer Moffatt
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: comedy-of-manners, dance, exploring-gender-in-fiction, netgalley, romance
review:
Archer is passionate about dance. He comes to dance camp, expecting a dream experience--just to find Matteo, sultry, too perfect, and a transphobe. (Or so he assumes because of an awful remark Matteo made once.). Matteo is also very, very attractive as well as gay...and we see what's coming!

The dance setting was terrific. The author absolutely nailed the crazy, inspiring, tiring, drama-injected fizz of summer theater for teens, in this case a summer dance camp. In fact, the setting was so very well done that it kind of detracted from the character development that such a complicated plot needed (Archer is dating someone else while totally eyeing Matteo).

But that's a small creeb. It's fast-paced, with some great scenes when Archer and Matteo do start coming together. Add in the filmic wish-fulfillment ending, and you get a gay-friendly feel-good romance for teens, with an emphasis on dance!

]]> 217453591 A brilliant, eccentric teenager must solve a series of puzzles left behind by her dead father in this debut that features codes, riddles, and a plot that ingeniously mixes fact and fiction.

When seventeen-year-old Arizona’s mother goes missing on a family trip, Arizona tells herself not to worry. Until she finds her family’s Airstream ransacked—and the ominous note on the counter. Incredibly, impossibly, her mother has been kidnapped.

Even more bizarre are the terms of the The kidnappers believe that Arizona’s dead father took some sort of great secret to his grave—and to get her mother back safely, Arizona must now uncover it for them. 

If Arizona were a “normal” teenager, she’d have no idea what to do. Luckily, Arizona’s anything but normal. Like her father, she’s more comfortable with books than with people, and inordinately fond of puzzles, codes, and riddles—and she soon realizes that the trail begins with a cipher that points her West, to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Her dog Mojo at her side, Arizona sets off in the Airstream to uncover the truth and pursue her mother’s return on her own terms. Yet her journey grows far stranger than she could have imagined, as she finds herself cracking codes and solving riddles, poring through pages of ancient texts, poking through forgotten corners of U.S. history, and uncovering mysteries hidden in plain sight in the Western landscape—all on the hunt for an impossible, centuries-old prize.

Even as she races to stay a step ahead of her adversaries and wonders at her father’s hidden life, she begins to realize that navigating the outside world on her own isn’t as terrifying as she thought—and finding other people who understand her isn’t so impossible after all.
]]> 368 K.A. Merson 0593874528 Sherwood 0 netgalley, thriller
The author does a good job with Arizona, who is on the spectrum (and the kidnappers know it, and attempt to make a weakness of her strengths), and who has to solve a series of puzzles in order to spring her mom.

Basically, if you like puzzles, you're sure to like this book. Puzzles take up the majority of the pages. If you want more plot with friends and social engagement, and thriller action, you might check out a chapter or two before deciding.]]> 3.62 2025
author: K.A. Merson
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: netgalley, thriller
review:
This young adult thriller follows 17-year-old Arizona, who, withmher dog Mojo, must solve a lot of puzzles in order to free her kidnapped mom when the two go on a road trip to spread her father’s ashes.

The author does a good job with Arizona, who is on the spectrum (and the kidnappers know it, and attempt to make a weakness of her strengths), and who has to solve a series of puzzles in order to spring her mom.

Basically, if you like puzzles, you're sure to like this book. Puzzles take up the majority of the pages. If you want more plot with friends and social engagement, and thriller action, you might check out a chapter or two before deciding.
]]> 215805897 A stray cat brings together five strangers over the course of one fateful summer in this heartwarming novel about love, found family, and the power of connection.

Núria, a single-by-choice barista with a resentment for the “crazy cat lady” label, is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of the neighborhood’s stray cats. On one of her volunteering days, she starts finding Post-It notes from a secret admirer at the spot where her favorite stray lives—a black cat named Cat. Like most cats, he is rather curious and sly, so of course he knows who the notes are from. Núria, however, is clueless.

Are the notes from Collin, a bestselling author and self-professed hermit with a weakness for good coffee? Are they from Lily, a fresh-out-of-high school Georgia native searching for her long-lost half-sister? Are they from Omar, the beloved neighborhood mailman going through an early mid-life crisis? Or are they from Bong, the grieving widower who owns her favorite bodega? When Cat suddenly falls ill, these five strangers find themselves connected in their desire to care for him and discover that chance encounters can lead to the meaningful connections they've been searching for.]]> 304 Tanya Guerrero 059387384X Sherwood 0 animals, netgalley, fantasy
I read this over several late nights, and it always made me smile. For my own taste--being a SF and fantasy lover from the very first--I would have liked the cat's POV to be more cat-like and less about human concepts, but that is a very small complaint, and a lot of readers won't notice it, or give a flying fig if they do.

If you're looking for some lovely, peaceful escapism from the horrible news, you can't go wrong with this charming story.]]> 4.20 2025
author: Tanya Guerrero
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: animals, netgalley, fantasy
review:
This is a fantasy only in that a Cat's POV is included among the five humans this cat visits. It's mildly a romance, though the story is really a gentle, feel-good story about five lonely people and the stray cat who becomes a catalyst (see what I did there?) in their lives.

I read this over several late nights, and it always made me smile. For my own taste--being a SF and fantasy lover from the very first--I would have liked the cat's POV to be more cat-like and less about human concepts, but that is a very small complaint, and a lot of readers won't notice it, or give a flying fig if they do.

If you're looking for some lovely, peaceful escapism from the horrible news, you can't go wrong with this charming story.
]]> 216522680 A mesmerizing debut novel set in a tightly knit Pakistani American community where a young doctor gets an unexpected second chance with the first love she never got over when he becomes one of the most eligible bachelors in town.

The Ibrahim family is facing a crucial moment: Their patriarch just lost his fortune as the result of a Ponzi scheme, and the family is picking up the pieces. At the family’s core is Asma—successful doctor and the long-suffering middle daughter who stepped into the family center after the death of her beloved mother years ago. Despite what the prying aunties think, Asma is living the life she has always wanted, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a doctor . . . or so she thinks.

In walks Farooq Waheed, Asma’s college sweetheart whose proposal was cruelly rejected by Asma’s aunt and father. Now, eight years later, Farooq has made his fortune by selling his Silicon Valley startup and is widely considered one of the most eligible bachelors in California. As he enters Asma’s social orbit, she finds herself navigating a tricky landscape—her pushy sisters, gossiping aunties, and her father’s expectations—on her path to reconciling the past and winning Farooq back in the present. If there is still time.

Yours, Eventually is a story about a young woman finding the courage to follow her heart and coming to the realization that living your life according to what other people think is no life at all.]]> 400 Nura Maznavi 059347581X Sherwood 0 netgalley 3.52 2025
author: Nura Maznavi
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: netgalley
review:
I really enjoyed the glimpse into Pakistani culture and the well-designed characters. While I was warned that it used Jane Austen's PERSUASION as a template, I guess I hoped more for interpretive variation, but it was so on-the-nose that the story felt a bit jerked along to follow the model. Still, I really liked this writer's style, and will look for more by her.
]]> 211004776 Heartstopper meets Derry Girls in this wonderfully hilarious rom-com about finding your first love when your personality might be too big for the world around you.

Patch Simmons has decided that this is the year he will get a boyfriend, so it's goodbye to his French pen-pal Jean-Pierre and hello to the world!

Unfortunately, the only other "out" boys in his school year are dating each other, so finding a boyfriend isn't going to be easy... Until fate finally intervenes and two new mysterious boys join drama club: Peter, who’s just moved from New York (very chic) and his best friend, Sam.

Patch is confident that one of them (although either of them will do!) will be his first boyfriend. So armed with his single mum’s outdated self-help books, his over-supportive best friend Jean and an alarming level of self-confidence, Patch is confident that this mission will be a complete success. Whether or not they actually like boys or him is a problem for later.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King is a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud comedy from rising star Harry Trevaldwyn, a story about boldly being yourself, going for what you want, but never losing sight of who truly has your back.]]> 352 Harry Trevaldwyn 125036678X Sherwood 0 romance, netgalley 3.84 2025
author: Harry Trevaldwyn
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: romance, netgalley
review:
It was very hard to get into this book because the narrator was so frenzied, the voice trying so hard to be clever it made me tired and anxious--not what I was looking for in tired and anxious times. However once he started growing up a bit, and found a boyfriend, the book became a delight. I suspect I might have enjoyed it a lot more in a lighter humor when I was reading.
]]> 211399774 Two former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this “wildly original, razor-sharp thriller” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestsellingauthor of All the Colors of the Dark).

I wasn't smashing the patriarchy; I was killing it. Literally.

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they're murderers. Well, they used to be. They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. Then Hazel got pregnant.

Now, they’re just another mom-and-dad-and-baby. They gave up vigilante justice for life in the suburbs: arranged play dates instead of body disposals, diapers over daggers, mommy conversations instead of the sweet seduction right before a kill. Hazel finds her new life terribly dull. And the more she forces herself to play her monotonous, predictable role, the more she begins to feel that murderous itch again.

Meanwhile, Fox has really taken to being a father. Always the planner, he loves being five steps ahead of everyone and knowing exactly what’s coming around the bend. Plus, if anyone can understand Hazel needing one more kill, it’s Fox. But then Hazel kills someone without telling Fox. And when police show up at their door, Hazel realizes it will take everything she has to keep her family together.]]> 352 Asia Mackay 0593875583 Sherwood 0 3.58 2025
author: Asia Mackay
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: netgalley, romantic-suspense, thriller
review:
I took a chance on this, hoping it would be more like Mr & Mrs Smith--the glam spy life juggled with domestic drama, but it was more heavy on the domestric drama, only with a lot of put-upon whining instead of humor. Then suddenly over-the-top thrillerdom. I need more humor and less whine, but it was an intriguing idea.
]]> 203578791
‘You aren’t merry,’ said Clem to her captor. ‘And you aren’t all men. So there’s been some marketing confusion somewhere along the line.’

Mariel, a newly blooded and perpetually grumpy captain of the Merry Men, is desperate to live up to the legacy of her grandfather, the legendary Robin Hood. Clem, a too-perky backwoods healer known for her new-fangled cures, just wants to help people.

When Mariel's ramshackle band of bandits kidnap Clem as retribution for her guardian helping the Sheriff of Nottingham, all seems to be going (sort of) to plan … until Jack Hartley, Mariel’s father and Commander of the Merry Men, is captured in a deadly ambush. Determined to prove herself, Mariel sets out to get him back – with her annoyingly cheerful kidnappee in tow.

But the wood is at war. Many believe the Merry Men are no longer on the right side of history. Watching Clem tend the party’s wounds and crack relentlessly terrible jokes, Mariel begins to doubt the noble cause to which she has devoted her life. As the two of them grow closer, forced by circumstances to share a single horse and bed, one thing is clear. They must prepare to fight for their lives and for those of everyone they’ve sworn to protect.

Lex Croucher's Not For the Faint of Heart is a thrilling adventure full of hijinks, found family, and romance destined to change the lives of the inhabitants of the Greenwood Forest forever.]]> 400 Lex Croucher 1250847230 Sherwood 0 3.89 2024
author: Lex Croucher
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: alt-history, caper, history-medieval, netgalley
review:
This was a delightfully fun puff pastry of a novel featuring a lot of wacky gay characters with a charming Sapphic romance in the center, mixed with the best of the found family trope. Exactly the sort of sheer, exuberant escapism I've needed lately, in this horrible news climate, with Southern California burning around my ears.
]]> 211003924 The first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy duology based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee!

Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Earth to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s honor—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.

But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. There is no future in honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place.

As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself.]]> 341 Shannon Lee 1250902673 Sherwood 0 wuxi-xianxia, netgalley
The story centers around teenage Jun, who aims to redeem his family’s honor by winning the prestigious Guardian’s Tournament. This tournament, held every six years, chooses the new protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Winning it will net Jun the prestige to restore his father's good name--or so he believes. A hunt of the twisted road to come is that it was his father who stictly forbade Jun from going, due to the fact that Jun is not breathmarked by the Dragon god—born with a patch of dragon scales that grants magical skills. Unlike his twin brother. Oh, the rivalry there!

That's the beginning of the tough obstacles facing Jun, but he's going for the gold. He stows away with some performers led by blind Chang and his daughter Ren. These two are not as simple as they appear, and Jun gladly opts for whatever training he can get. Even if it sounds weird, at first.

When they reach the capital, Jun signs up for the Tournament, again, not without personal cost. Here he begins facing tough competitors, each the hero of their own story. Slowly Jun begins widening his awareness away from his personal problems to those besetting the entire country.

This is a vivid, detail-rich xianxia world. Everything, from the food to the lore of the breathmarked create a lived-in feel for the world. Add to that the tension from the martial arts battles, and the pacing never lets up.

The characters are sympathetic, interesting, complex. Jun's tough struggle toward growth and awareness is complemented by the multi-dimensional side characters, who have their own stories and quests.

The themes of honor, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness typical of xianxia tales are balanced by the upward path toward understanding--cultivation in the oldest sense.

I can hardly wait for book two!
]]> 3.95 2025
author: Shannon Lee
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves: wuxi-xianxia, netgalley
review:
This fast-paced, engaging xianxia adventure is aimed at the teenage audience, but anyone could enjoy it.

The story centers around teenage Jun, who aims to redeem his family’s honor by winning the prestigious Guardian’s Tournament. This tournament, held every six years, chooses the new protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Winning it will net Jun the prestige to restore his father's good name--or so he believes. A hunt of the twisted road to come is that it was his father who stictly forbade Jun from going, due to the fact that Jun is not breathmarked by the Dragon god—born with a patch of dragon scales that grants magical skills. Unlike his twin brother. Oh, the rivalry there!

That's the beginning of the tough obstacles facing Jun, but he's going for the gold. He stows away with some performers led by blind Chang and his daughter Ren. These two are not as simple as they appear, and Jun gladly opts for whatever training he can get. Even if it sounds weird, at first.

When they reach the capital, Jun signs up for the Tournament, again, not without personal cost. Here he begins facing tough competitors, each the hero of their own story. Slowly Jun begins widening his awareness away from his personal problems to those besetting the entire country.

This is a vivid, detail-rich xianxia world. Everything, from the food to the lore of the breathmarked create a lived-in feel for the world. Add to that the tension from the martial arts battles, and the pacing never lets up.

The characters are sympathetic, interesting, complex. Jun's tough struggle toward growth and awareness is complemented by the multi-dimensional side characters, who have their own stories and quests.

The themes of honor, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness typical of xianxia tales are balanced by the upward path toward understanding--cultivation in the oldest sense.

I can hardly wait for book two!

]]> 213197107 A swoony new romance from the author of Sunkissed! When her football-player boyfriend and now ex lands the podcast job she’s been dreaming of, a girl takes matters into her own hands by enlisting the help of his nemesis to get revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Finley has only ever had one to become a famous podcaster. This includes coming up with the perfect pitch to land her on her school's podcast team. But when her football-obsessed boyfriend, Jensen, decides to also try out—and uses her idea—she's left confused and betrayed. 

Determined to get back at him, Finley and her friends try to find the perfect revenge scheme, but quickly discover that Jensen is almost-impossible to best. Keyword, almost. 

By chance, Finley discovers a knack for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team. To help her train, she recruits Jensen's cute but conceited nemeses, Theo. Soon the two discover that their connection runs deeper than football. But Finley can't let herself get distracted, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is true love really better than the perfect revenge?]]> 320 Kasie West 0593643291 Sherwood 0 netgalley
Highlights were the way the author wove together humor with realistic situations and issues, using the love story of Finley's grandmother to bring it all together.

The romance develops at a believable pace, nicely balanced with the podcasts about the love story. Altogether a lovely read.]]> 3.96 2024
author: Kasie West
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: netgalley
review:
Relatable, believable, and sympathetic characters were the draw for this romance.

Highlights were the way the author wove together humor with realistic situations and issues, using the love story of Finley's grandmother to bring it all together.

The romance develops at a believable pace, nicely balanced with the podcasts about the love story. Altogether a lovely read.
]]> 211003869
A sequel to Michael Walsh’s Last Stands, his new book A Rage to Conquer is a journey through the twelve of the most important battles in Western history. As Walsh sees it, war is an important facet of every culture – and, for better or worse, our world is unthinkable without it. War has been an essential part of the human condition throughout history, the principal agent of societal change, waged by men on behalf of, and in pursuit of, their gods, women, riches, power, and the sheer joy of combat.]]> 400 1250281369 Sherwood 0 3.29
author: Michael Walsh
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.29
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: history, history-classical, history-fin-de-siecle, history-early-modern, history-napoleonic, history-roman, netgalley, history-ww-i, history-ww-ii, history-medieval
review:
An interesting summary of twelve "important" battles in Western history, and famous commanders, with an emphasis on von Clausewitz. Where I took issue with the book was Walsh's rather simplistic view that "man" is hardwired to warfare, further, that the problem with politics and the world today is that manly men need to get out there and slaughter and shed blood. Jingoistic at best.
]]> 218550881 Can Aderyn stop a hidden danger before it destroys those she loves?

The quest to discover the truth about the legendary Fated One has taken Aderyn and her friends across a continent and back. They’ve faced monsters, evil humans, and dungeons that nearly destroyed them. Now, they’re ready for something different. A chance meeting with Aderyn’s brother brings them to the city of Finion’s Gate to compete in the Glory Games, where Owen fights a series of duels and the others compete in tiny dungeons, all for the applause of the crowd.

But darker forces at work in the city threaten not only the Games, but the lives of everyone involved. To stop the oncoming catastrophe, Aderyn and Owen and the others face their greatest challenge yet—and discover dangers worse than death.]]> 466 Melissa McShane Sherwood 0 fantasy
The Glory Games were inventive, but what I really appreciated was the skillful interweaving of the games and action with character arcs. By the end I was thinking, character wins....and then there was that last line.

Looking forward to where we go next.]]> 4.43
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: fantasy
review:
Another winner in this series. I really love how the relationships are gaining complexity, and the villains are those you love to hate. (With some surprises!)

The Glory Games were inventive, but what I really appreciated was the skillful interweaving of the games and action with character arcs. By the end I was thinking, character wins....and then there was that last line.

Looking forward to where we go next.
]]> 207830499 232 Tiffany Midge 1496240146 Sherwood 0
A lot of the book contains short notes on things that happen to animals or in national parks, etc. These are "tells" rather than "shows" in the sense that there is no real understanding to be gleaned here, only glances at humans being dangerous (or stupid) animals among the animals.

Even if the humor is pretty scant, it made absorbing reading.]]> 3.87
author: Tiffany Midge
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/21
shelves: animals, essays, history-american, netgalley, satire
review:
A difficult work to review, mostly as the individual glimpses the author permits the reader to get are brief, and quite wary behind that trenchantly sarcastic hip wit. Plenty of emotion (angry, mostly, and contemptuous) in Midge's takedown of "pretendians"--those who cuddle up to Native folks and then use them for vitue signaling, or for other colonialist purposes.

A lot of the book contains short notes on things that happen to animals or in national parks, etc. These are "tells" rather than "shows" in the sense that there is no real understanding to be gleaned here, only glances at humans being dangerous (or stupid) animals among the animals.

Even if the humor is pretty scant, it made absorbing reading.
]]> 209352163
Thus begins THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET, a sapphic romance between recently widowed Charlotte Lucas and grown-up scientist Mary Bennet. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder at the sheer sturdiness of a well-built pianoforte.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod will be available Apr 29, 2025.]]> 298 Lindz McLeod Sherwood 0
There was a lot to like here. I really enjoyed the author's take on Charlotte, and also her stately attempt at period language. I enjoyed the very ending, once we got there. I loved the meeting between the two and the gradual development of awareness, though there were some bumps along the way.

First of all, the author's apparent total lack of knowledge about the customs and culture of the ecclesiastical world. Beginnig with the fact that Charlotte, after several years of marriage, would have known exactly what to expect if Mr. Collins were to die suddenly: the position has to be filled, for there must be a clergyman conducting the vital affairs of the church. Charlotte's profound ignorance is that of a contemporary of ours with zero knowledge of that aspect of history, not a woman of the period.

Then, the customs of mourning would be even more rigid for a clergyman's widow, and it would be extremely unlikely that Lady Charlotte de Bourgh would not post back from Timbuktu or even Mars once she heard of Mr. Collins's death, in order to oversee the proper disposition of this living in her gift. Still less would her daughter be introducing Charlotte to eligible men during those early months of morning!

So the reader who knows anything of the period has to dodge around these sizable boulders plonked in the path of the story in order to get to the evolution of the romance. For the most part, it was worth it. This Mary Bennett has utterly nothing to do with the Mary Bennet of Austen's novel, who reads very much like a person on the spectrum, but that aside, Mary is a delightful character in her own right. A self-possessed bluestocking scientist (or as they would have said then, a natural philosopher) who reminded me in fact of what Mary Shelley might have been, if she'd not run off with Shelley and had to compound with constant pregnancy, losing her children, poverty while racking about war-torn Europe, and Shelley's love affairs.

For the most part, I really enjoyed Mary and Charlotte. The best part of the novel was the evolution of their relationship as two intelligent women negotiate the changes in their lives, and explore their evolving identities. There was a small bump toward the end when the author succumbed to the lamentable requisite "Dark Moment" that too many romances these days seem to require, but once we're past that, it's clear sailing to a happy ending.

Leaving me thinking: Charlotte and Mary! Great idea!]]> 3.98 2025
author: Lindz McLeod
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: alt-history, historical-novel, history-napoleonic, netgalley, romance
review:
A love match between Charlotte Lucas Collins and Mary Bennet? Sign. Me. Up!

There was a lot to like here. I really enjoyed the author's take on Charlotte, and also her stately attempt at period language. I enjoyed the very ending, once we got there. I loved the meeting between the two and the gradual development of awareness, though there were some bumps along the way.

First of all, the author's apparent total lack of knowledge about the customs and culture of the ecclesiastical world. Beginnig with the fact that Charlotte, after several years of marriage, would have known exactly what to expect if Mr. Collins were to die suddenly: the position has to be filled, for there must be a clergyman conducting the vital affairs of the church. Charlotte's profound ignorance is that of a contemporary of ours with zero knowledge of that aspect of history, not a woman of the period.

Then, the customs of mourning would be even more rigid for a clergyman's widow, and it would be extremely unlikely that Lady Charlotte de Bourgh would not post back from Timbuktu or even Mars once she heard of Mr. Collins's death, in order to oversee the proper disposition of this living in her gift. Still less would her daughter be introducing Charlotte to eligible men during those early months of morning!

So the reader who knows anything of the period has to dodge around these sizable boulders plonked in the path of the story in order to get to the evolution of the romance. For the most part, it was worth it. This Mary Bennett has utterly nothing to do with the Mary Bennet of Austen's novel, who reads very much like a person on the spectrum, but that aside, Mary is a delightful character in her own right. A self-possessed bluestocking scientist (or as they would have said then, a natural philosopher) who reminded me in fact of what Mary Shelley might have been, if she'd not run off with Shelley and had to compound with constant pregnancy, losing her children, poverty while racking about war-torn Europe, and Shelley's love affairs.

For the most part, I really enjoyed Mary and Charlotte. The best part of the novel was the evolution of their relationship as two intelligent women negotiate the changes in their lives, and explore their evolving identities. There was a small bump toward the end when the author succumbed to the lamentable requisite "Dark Moment" that too many romances these days seem to require, but once we're past that, it's clear sailing to a happy ending.

Leaving me thinking: Charlotte and Mary! Great idea!
]]> 209720233 When a young woman trades places with her noble cousin, their innocent ruse leads to true love in this new Regency-era romantic comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.When Arabella Grant’s wicked aunt dies suddenly, both Arabella and her cousin Lady Isabelle cannot help but feel relieved. She’d made their lives miserable, and now Lady Issie is free to read to her heart’s content, and Bella is free from taunts about her ignoble birth.  Their newfound freedom is threatened, however, when Issie’s great-aunt commands her to travel to London for a come-out Issie has never wanted. Issie, who is in poor health, is convinced she’ll drop dead like her mother did if she drops into a curtsy before the queen. So when her great-aunt turns out to be nearsighted and can’t tell the noble Lady Isabelle from her commoner cousin Arabella, Issie convinces Bella to take her place. Bella can attend all the exclusive entertainments that her lower birth would typically exclude her from, and Issie can stay in bed, her nose in a book. Bella agrees to the scheme for her dear cousin’s sake, but matters turn complicated when she meets the irresistible Lord Brooke. He begins courting her while under the impression she’s the rich and aristocratic Lady Isabelle, who, unlike Bella, is a suitable bride for an eligible young earl. And Bella, who is convinced that she has met “Lord Right,” worries what will happen when she reveals that he’s actually fallen for…the wrong lady.]]> 262 Suzanne Allain 059354966X Sherwood 0
Like many these days, it's set in a Heyerian spin-off world, decidedly more silver fork (that is, peopled with plenty of handsome and titled men, balls, carriage rides, and pretty clothes) than comedy-of-manners, as Issie and Bella, our young heroines, are poised between an attempt at period attitudes and very modern thoughts as well as speech.

The thing about comedies of manners is, unless the author has read a lot of period literature, though she might have done her due diligence (as did Suzanne Allain here) on the history of stethascopes, London's bridges, famous period bookstores, and a handful of authors, they often aren't aware of vital things that actual people of the period grew up knowing. Such as, at the very beginning, NO family, no matter how negligent, would have left two underage young women alone once they were orphaned. Especially a daughter of a noble and heiress to a fortune.

That and a lot of other small matters of usage and language can be blinked past in order to enjoy an otherwise lively, quick-paced story full of false identities, female friendships, handsome young men, and of course deserved happy endings all around. Occasional flashes of wit kept me reading, and hoping to see more by this author.]]> 3.73 2024
author: Suzanne Allain
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: comedy-of-manners, netgalley, romance, siver-fork
review:
Last week's national trash fire prompted me to seek out fluff reading in order to conquer stress, and ths Regency romance, due out next month, fits the bill very nicely.

Like many these days, it's set in a Heyerian spin-off world, decidedly more silver fork (that is, peopled with plenty of handsome and titled men, balls, carriage rides, and pretty clothes) than comedy-of-manners, as Issie and Bella, our young heroines, are poised between an attempt at period attitudes and very modern thoughts as well as speech.

The thing about comedies of manners is, unless the author has read a lot of period literature, though she might have done her due diligence (as did Suzanne Allain here) on the history of stethascopes, London's bridges, famous period bookstores, and a handful of authors, they often aren't aware of vital things that actual people of the period grew up knowing. Such as, at the very beginning, NO family, no matter how negligent, would have left two underage young women alone once they were orphaned. Especially a daughter of a noble and heiress to a fortune.

That and a lot of other small matters of usage and language can be blinked past in order to enjoy an otherwise lively, quick-paced story full of false identities, female friendships, handsome young men, and of course deserved happy endings all around. Occasional flashes of wit kept me reading, and hoping to see more by this author.
]]> 209455843
Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a farewell trip that spans thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.]]> 432 Lauren Connolly Sherwood 0
The thing about second-chance, grumpy/sunshine romances is, most of the time the plot is built around a devastation long ago that has been a gaping wound due to total lack of communication. Usually I really dislike this trope, especially when there is no reason for two supposed adults not to take the time to communicate. But Connolly builds in excellent reasons for that not happening--Maddie is deeply angry at having been abandoned by everyone she loved most, that she doesn't see it when she ghosts her beloveds in turn.

How Dom gets through those layers of anger--how Maddie does the work on her own--made the pages turn. I loved the friendships here. I loved the other woman's story. I loved Dom's family, and how Maddie and Dom finally broke the walls down. And how I cackled at Maddie's snark!]]> 4.03 2024
author: Lauren Connolly
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: family-saga, netgalley, romance
review:
I needed some fluff after last week's total trash fire, and I almost bailed when I realized Msddie was raw with grief after the loss of her brother. Having lost both my brothers, I emphatically didn't want a romance about losing brothers, and yet the snark in her style caught at me, and before I knew it, I'm going through those pages.

The thing about second-chance, grumpy/sunshine romances is, most of the time the plot is built around a devastation long ago that has been a gaping wound due to total lack of communication. Usually I really dislike this trope, especially when there is no reason for two supposed adults not to take the time to communicate. But Connolly builds in excellent reasons for that not happening--Maddie is deeply angry at having been abandoned by everyone she loved most, that she doesn't see it when she ghosts her beloveds in turn.

How Dom gets through those layers of anger--how Maddie does the work on her own--made the pages turn. I loved the friendships here. I loved the other woman's story. I loved Dom's family, and how Maddie and Dom finally broke the walls down. And how I cackled at Maddie's snark!
]]> 203578750 New York Times bestselling author Paul French examines a controversial and revealing period in the early life of the legendary Wallis, Duchess of Windsor–her one year in China.

Before she was the Duchess of Windsor, Bessie Wallis Warfield was Mrs. Wallis Spencer, wife of Earl “Win” Spencer, a US Navy aviator. From humble beginnings in Baltimore, she rose to marry a man who gave up his throne for her. But what made Wallis Spencer, Navy Wife, the woman who could become the Duchess of Windsor? The answers lie in her one-year sojourn in China.

In her memoirs, Wallis described her time in China as her “Lotus Year,” referring to Homer’s Lotus Eaters, a group living in a state of dreamy forgetfulness, never to return home. Though faced with challenges, Wallis came to appreciate traditional Chinese aesthetics. China molded her in terms of her style and provided her with friendships that lasted a lifetime. But that “Lotus Year” would also later be used to damn her in the eyes of the British Establishment.

The British government’s supposed “China Dossier” of Wallis’s rumored amorous and immoral activities in the Far East was a damning concoction, portraying her as sordid, debauched, influenced by foreign agents, and unfit to marry a king. Instead, French, an award-winning China historian, reveals Wallis Warfield Spencer as a woman of tremendous courage who may have acted as a courier for the US government, undertaking dangerous undercover diplomatic missions in a China torn by civil war.

Her Lotus Year is an untold story in the colorful life of a woman too often maligned by history.]]> 320 Paul French 1250287472 Sherwood 0
But I hadn't known she'd spent time in China during the Republican era, when warlords were busy carving up China while Europeans on the make disported in the coastal cities, giving them a glitteringly raffish name.

This bio was quite disappointing as a biography. I don't blame French--there apparently isn't a lot of primary source evidence, except Wallis Simpson's own highly re-invented story. He tries to make a case for her being used as a courier during a time when all other forms of conveying intel were exceedingly untrustworthy. May even have been true, once or twice? But despite his sometimes farfetched-seeming alternate reasons, it seems fairly clear that she developed her well-known taste for jewels and jade while in China, and ramjetted around the louche parties and snob events looking for guys who could afford the lifestyle she wanted. Rank, too, if she could get it.

There is a lot of transitional "It was decided," a deadly phrase in a biography, for the reader wants to know WHO decided, and what's your source? But the answer invariably is, "we don't know"--unless you resort to reading Wallis's romanticized autobiography. In other places, he elides with what can only be called telepathy, telling us what Wallis Simpson thought, or making little judgments (she "valiantly" tried to do this or that). But too few citations of sources, other than her own words.

However, I finished the book because though I think French fell down on the biography side, he's terrific at depicting with vivid assurance, the weird world of twenties and thirsties Shanghai and Beijing (Peking in those days), before the rising violence tipped over into Japan's invasion and the bloodbath of the middle and later century. Here, French is at his best. ]]> 3.67 2024
author: Paul French
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: biography, history-20th, netgalley
review:
I've never really been interested in Wallis Simpson or her duke--they always sounded like a couple of dull stuffed shirts with a taste for whining and moaning about their lot while expecting the world to support them in the lifestyle they thought they deserved. My indifference turned to contempt when I read a couple of well-researched histories that made it clear that they both were quite willing to deal with Hitler in order to assure their eventual securing of the English throne. Wallis wanted to be Queen of England, with all the jewels, and did her damndest to get there.

But I hadn't known she'd spent time in China during the Republican era, when warlords were busy carving up China while Europeans on the make disported in the coastal cities, giving them a glitteringly raffish name.

This bio was quite disappointing as a biography. I don't blame French--there apparently isn't a lot of primary source evidence, except Wallis Simpson's own highly re-invented story. He tries to make a case for her being used as a courier during a time when all other forms of conveying intel were exceedingly untrustworthy. May even have been true, once or twice? But despite his sometimes farfetched-seeming alternate reasons, it seems fairly clear that she developed her well-known taste for jewels and jade while in China, and ramjetted around the louche parties and snob events looking for guys who could afford the lifestyle she wanted. Rank, too, if she could get it.

There is a lot of transitional "It was decided," a deadly phrase in a biography, for the reader wants to know WHO decided, and what's your source? But the answer invariably is, "we don't know"--unless you resort to reading Wallis's romanticized autobiography. In other places, he elides with what can only be called telepathy, telling us what Wallis Simpson thought, or making little judgments (she "valiantly" tried to do this or that). But too few citations of sources, other than her own words.

However, I finished the book because though I think French fell down on the biography side, he's terrific at depicting with vivid assurance, the weird world of twenties and thirsties Shanghai and Beijing (Peking in those days), before the rising violence tipped over into Japan's invasion and the bloodbath of the middle and later century. Here, French is at his best.
]]> 938874
For Jack it is a happy homecoming, at least initially, but for Stephen it is disastrous: his little daughter appears to be autistic, incapable of speech or contact, while his wife, Diana, unable to bear this situation, has disappeared, her house being looked after by the widowed Clarissa Oakes.

Much of The Commodore takes place on land, in sitting rooms and in drafty castles, but the roar of the great guns is never far from our hearing. Aubrey and Maturin are sent on a bizarre decoy mission to the fever-ridden lagoons of the Gulf of Guinea to suppress the slave trade.

But their ultimate destination is Ireland, where the French are mounting an invasion that will test Aubrey's seamanship and Maturin's resourcefulness as a secret intelligence agent.]]> 282 Patrick O'Brian 0393314596 Sherwood 0 The Yelow Admiral) through sheer emotional velocity, though less because I like it.

There's a scene in The Commodore in which Stephen realizes he's already told Jack a long, long anecdote about one of his favorite naturalists, and then--being Stephen--goes to apologize for being a crashing bore. Jack is civil and kind as usual, but it's one of those moments that resonate with real experience (if you're a social clod like me) and makes this series so very fine.

Around it we get a sharp sea battle or two, and an interesting look at period attitudes toward gay relationships. I forget if it's Jack or Stephen who observes that what can you expect when a lot of men are confined on a wooden ship for years on end?

Fine moments: Stephen being his remarkable self observing the course of a dangerous bout with yellow fever, and a moment on the coast of Ireland. We get a chance to spend time with Bridget, Stephen's little daughter, and at last we reunite with Diana. A perfect place to stop, for me.]]> 4.43 1994
author: Patrick O'Brian
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.43
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: comedy-of-manners, historical-novel, history-19th-c, history-napoleonic, history-tall-ships
review:
I generally stop here on my rereads, or at most go on to the next (The Yelow Admiral) through sheer emotional velocity, though less because I like it.

There's a scene in The Commodore in which Stephen realizes he's already told Jack a long, long anecdote about one of his favorite naturalists, and then--being Stephen--goes to apologize for being a crashing bore. Jack is civil and kind as usual, but it's one of those moments that resonate with real experience (if you're a social clod like me) and makes this series so very fine.

Around it we get a sharp sea battle or two, and an interesting look at period attitudes toward gay relationships. I forget if it's Jack or Stephen who observes that what can you expect when a lot of men are confined on a wooden ship for years on end?

Fine moments: Stephen being his remarkable self observing the course of a dangerous bout with yellow fever, and a moment on the coast of Ireland. We get a chance to spend time with Bridget, Stephen's little daughter, and at last we reunite with Diana. A perfect place to stop, for me.
]]> 938791

Their ship, the Surprise, is now also a privateer, the better to escape diplomatic complications from Stephen's mission, which is to ignite the revolutionary tinder of South America. Jack will survive a desperate open boat journey and come face to face with his illegitimate black son; Stephen, caught up in the aftermath of his failed coup, will flee for his life into the high, frozen wastes of the Andes; and Patrick O'Brian's brilliantly detailed narrative will reunite them at last in a breathtaking chase through stormy seas and icebergs south of Cape Horn, where the hunters suddenly become the hunted.
]]> 338 Patrick O'Brian 0393312445 Sherwood 0
There are no women save the little girls Sarah and Emily, and they are too rarely in the story. It's all male, with a lot about politics of freedom, slavery, democracy, and South American same.

Finished this very aware that there are only two more to listen to; I dislike the nineteenth and twentieth so much that I regard the story ended on the high note of the close of number eighteen.]]> 4.39 1993
author: Patrick O'Brian
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1993
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: classics, fiction, historical-novel, history-19th-c, history-napoleonic, history-tall-ships
review:
It took me a month to listen to this one, partly because I was traveling, but also because I often opted for music instead, while out walking. This is not one of my favorites of the eighteen out of twenty novels about Aubrey and Maturin. But there are some good bits, most of it having to do with natural phenomena such as underwater volcanic explosions, and walking in the high Andes, as well as the usual shipboard drama.

There are no women save the little girls Sarah and Emily, and they are too rarely in the story. It's all male, with a lot about politics of freedom, slavery, democracy, and South American same.

Finished this very aware that there are only two more to listen to; I dislike the nineteenth and twentieth so much that I regard the story ended on the high note of the close of number eighteen.
]]> 182381
Cranford depicts the lives and preoccupations of the inhabitants of a small village - their petty snobberies, appetite for gossip, and loyal support for each other in times of need This is a community that runs on cooperation and gossip, at the very heart of which are the daughters of the former rector: Miss Deborah Jenkyns and her sister Miss Matty, But domestic peace is constantly threatened in the form of financial disaster, imagined burglaries, tragic accidents, and the reapparance of long-lost relatives. to Lady Glenmire, who shocks everyone by marrying the doctor. When men do appear, such as 'modern' Captain Brown or Matty's suitor from the past, they bring disruption and excitement to the everyday life of Cranford.

In her introduction, Patricia Ingham places the novel in its literary and historical context, and discusses the theme of female friendship and Gaskell's narrative technique. This edition also contains an account of Gaskell's childhood in Knutsford, on which Cranford is based, appendices on fashion and domestic duties supplemented by illustrations, a chronology of Gaskell's life and works, suggestions for further reading, and explanatory notes.]]> 257 Elizabeth Gaskell 0141439882 Sherwood 0
Though it is not really a novel, not even a fix-up as we say now, it centers around a group of elderly women, some spinsters, some widows, living in a tiny town not far from a manufacturing city, in the early Victorian era.

Gaskell began writing these for Charles Dickens (and there is a decidedly tongue in cheek homage to him built into the story) to include in his magazine. They proved to be so popular that she wrote more of them over the perior of a decade or so, though her heart was really in her longer works.

But there is a resonant poignancy to these slight tales, amid some predictable Victorian tropes; one story especially, in which aging Miss Matty rereads her parents' letters to one another, then burns them one by one, as there is no family to come after to want them. That leads to talk of the family, and its small troubles, (and even here there is a glimmer of humor), but that scene sitting by the fireside as her father's young, ardent letters flame up and vanish is as splendid as anything from the big Bow Wow writers, as Sir Walter Scott put it so neatly when comparing himself to Jane Austen.

I think it's that sense of a passing era, of times forever gone, that speaks to readers--but there is also a gentle satire woven firmly through, mostly poking empathetic fun at the little airs and graces these poverty-stricken ladies cling to in order to preserve their status. My favorite of these little stings is how the ladies decide that Drury Lane putting on a pair of plays written by a distant relation of one of them is somehow a compliment paid to their town. Though you know that Drury Lane's proprietors had likely never heard of the place.

There is a hint of romance, including one that ought to have happened, but didn't, due to that aforementioned clinging to status (and, perhaps, an elder sister jealous that a younger sister had a beau? The narrator carefully does not say) and the quietly melancholy ending, but hard on that are paeans to friendship and community and how people band together to look out for someone they love.

One thing that struck me on this reading is how (comparatively) young the old people are! When I read this book as a twenty-something, the ladies seemed impossibly old, but now that I'm older than any of them, it hits me how short life was in the Victorian era, except for a lucky few. ]]> 3.85 1853
author: Elizabeth Gaskell
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1853
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves:
review:
I can't believe I never added a review of this old favorite!

Though it is not really a novel, not even a fix-up as we say now, it centers around a group of elderly women, some spinsters, some widows, living in a tiny town not far from a manufacturing city, in the early Victorian era.

Gaskell began writing these for Charles Dickens (and there is a decidedly tongue in cheek homage to him built into the story) to include in his magazine. They proved to be so popular that she wrote more of them over the perior of a decade or so, though her heart was really in her longer works.

But there is a resonant poignancy to these slight tales, amid some predictable Victorian tropes; one story especially, in which aging Miss Matty rereads her parents' letters to one another, then burns them one by one, as there is no family to come after to want them. That leads to talk of the family, and its small troubles, (and even here there is a glimmer of humor), but that scene sitting by the fireside as her father's young, ardent letters flame up and vanish is as splendid as anything from the big Bow Wow writers, as Sir Walter Scott put it so neatly when comparing himself to Jane Austen.

I think it's that sense of a passing era, of times forever gone, that speaks to readers--but there is also a gentle satire woven firmly through, mostly poking empathetic fun at the little airs and graces these poverty-stricken ladies cling to in order to preserve their status. My favorite of these little stings is how the ladies decide that Drury Lane putting on a pair of plays written by a distant relation of one of them is somehow a compliment paid to their town. Though you know that Drury Lane's proprietors had likely never heard of the place.

There is a hint of romance, including one that ought to have happened, but didn't, due to that aforementioned clinging to status (and, perhaps, an elder sister jealous that a younger sister had a beau? The narrator carefully does not say) and the quietly melancholy ending, but hard on that are paeans to friendship and community and how people band together to look out for someone they love.

One thing that struck me on this reading is how (comparatively) young the old people are! When I read this book as a twenty-something, the ladies seemed impossibly old, but now that I'm older than any of them, it hits me how short life was in the Victorian era, except for a lucky few.
]]> 205435930 The special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, brilliantly illustrated four-color endpapers, striking and detailed-stained edges, and a beautiful foil-stamped case.

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner, in this steamy romantasy by USA Today bestselling author Ruby Dixon.

As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.

It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.

Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.

It’s time to dig deep. Literally.]]> 432 Ruby Dixon 0593817028 Sherwood 0 romance, netgalley
The rest of the story is workmanlike: Aspeth, a spoiled rich girl, is forced into a marriage of convenience with Hawk, a nebbish who soon will Jekyll and Hyde into a super-horny minotaur. Her motivation is her desire to be a member of a special archaeological guild, which will enable her to find a Maguffin that will save her family. Kind of a generic setup for a book in which sex Must Happen. And it does. But their relationship, which I read for, was a trifle flat. I really think that these romances are sandwiches for the, er, hot dog, as it were. I that's your thing, you might really be into it.]]> 3.92 2024
author: Ruby Dixon
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves: romance, netgalley
review:
If you're into minotaurs, (and rutting and knotting) this book might be for you. Unfortunately, I'm really not, and the blurb stuff leaned into mythology rather than warning me about the real, *koff* thrust of the book. (I guess I ought to have clued into all the pink on the cover. My bad.)

The rest of the story is workmanlike: Aspeth, a spoiled rich girl, is forced into a marriage of convenience with Hawk, a nebbish who soon will Jekyll and Hyde into a super-horny minotaur. Her motivation is her desire to be a member of a special archaeological guild, which will enable her to find a Maguffin that will save her family. Kind of a generic setup for a book in which sex Must Happen. And it does. But their relationship, which I read for, was a trifle flat. I really think that these romances are sandwiches for the, er, hot dog, as it were. I that's your thing, you might really be into it.
]]> 203579107 It's never too late for new beginnings.

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.

As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.

Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?]]> 313 Lynda Cohen Loigman 1250278104 Sherwood 0
I especially appreciated the skilled depiction of Augusta's life growing up Jewish in New York City during the twenties. How she struggled with personal loss, while pushing against the cultural expectations of women (marriage, children), aided by her marvelous and slightly mysterious Aunt Esther, a healer of the old world, and her dad, a man of science who believed her capable.

Equally absorbing was Irving's backstory. And how these two came together in the sunset years of their lives made this an outstanding novel imbued with a message that it's never too late to live and be joyful. ]]> 4.05 2024
author: Lynda Cohen Loigman
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/09
shelves: historical-novel, netgalley, romance
review:
This was a skillfully written, absorbing and poignant slowly-evolving love story, with a glimmer of magic that enhances without overwhelming the sense of realism.

I especially appreciated the skilled depiction of Augusta's life growing up Jewish in New York City during the twenties. How she struggled with personal loss, while pushing against the cultural expectations of women (marriage, children), aided by her marvelous and slightly mysterious Aunt Esther, a healer of the old world, and her dad, a man of science who believed her capable.

Equally absorbing was Irving's backstory. And how these two came together in the sunset years of their lives made this an outstanding novel imbued with a message that it's never too late to live and be joyful.
]]> 202200218 In the chaos of that terrible night, her secret went down with the Titanic. But secrets have a way of floating to the surface… 

Trapped in an unhappy aristocratic marriage, Elinor Coombes sees only lonely days ahead of her. So a present from her father - tickets for the maiden voyage of a huge, luxurious new ship called the Titanic – offers a welcome escape from the cold, controlling atmosphere of her husband’s ancestral home, and some precious time with her little son, Teddy. 

When the ship goes down, Elinor realises the disaster has given her a chance to take Teddy and start a new life – but only if they can disappear completely, listed as among the dead. Penniless and using another woman’s name, she has to learn to survive in a world that couldn’t be more different from her own, and keep their secret safe.  

An uplifting story about grabbing your chances with both hands, and being brave enough to find out who you really are. 

 

 ]]> 413 Frances Quinn 1398520705 Sherwood 0 Titanic's maiden voyage a gripping read. Elinor, only child of a wealthy cotton manufacterer, is skillfully conned into marriage by a pedigreed-but-poor upper class family. Without physical violence, but searingly done emotional abuse, Elinor's new family does their best to constrain her into a semblance of their lifestyle. Elinor's mother-in-law utterly despises her, her husband--without being a monster--is totally indifferent to her, and her sister-in-law is bitter about women's place in that life.

Elinor watches with defeated horror as her little son is being inexorably molded toward a copy of his father, when
Ellie's dear of a father gives her tickets aboard the new ship launching on its maiden voyage...

Quinn's first person Elinor does a great job with period language. I loved Elinor's voice. The experience of the Titanic's crash and sinking was vividly evoked, but where Quinn really shines, I thought, was in the emotional aftermath.

Elinor takes the place of her chance-met maid, who never turned up to join her in the lifeboat; she finds herself in a dirt-poor part of New York, amid a welter of different cultures all trying to establish a better life for themselves than the one they left behind. She shares a minute apartment with a family headed by a Swedith matriarch who believes in the virtue of hard work, and Ellie, in her new guise, learns and begins to excel, determined to keep her true identity, and her son's, from being discovered. How that pans out was really well handled, I thought--and how Quinn writes women, in particular, just shines with complexity. And compassion.]]> 4.24 2025
author: Frances Quinn
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/09
shelves: historical-novel, history-20th, history-fin-de-siecle, netgalley
review:
I found this historical novel set right before, during, and after, the Titanic's maiden voyage a gripping read. Elinor, only child of a wealthy cotton manufacterer, is skillfully conned into marriage by a pedigreed-but-poor upper class family. Without physical violence, but searingly done emotional abuse, Elinor's new family does their best to constrain her into a semblance of their lifestyle. Elinor's mother-in-law utterly despises her, her husband--without being a monster--is totally indifferent to her, and her sister-in-law is bitter about women's place in that life.

Elinor watches with defeated horror as her little son is being inexorably molded toward a copy of his father, when
Ellie's dear of a father gives her tickets aboard the new ship launching on its maiden voyage...

Quinn's first person Elinor does a great job with period language. I loved Elinor's voice. The experience of the Titanic's crash and sinking was vividly evoked, but where Quinn really shines, I thought, was in the emotional aftermath.

Elinor takes the place of her chance-met maid, who never turned up to join her in the lifeboat; she finds herself in a dirt-poor part of New York, amid a welter of different cultures all trying to establish a better life for themselves than the one they left behind. She shares a minute apartment with a family headed by a Swedith matriarch who believes in the virtue of hard work, and Ellie, in her new guise, learns and begins to excel, determined to keep her true identity, and her son's, from being discovered. How that pans out was really well handled, I thought--and how Quinn writes women, in particular, just shines with complexity. And compassion.
]]> 214531337 The greatly anticipated final book in the Change series. In a world of mutant powers and deadly creatures, one small town faces its worst nightmare...

In a single shocking night, Las Anclas is conquered. Voske rules the town, remaking it in his image. He brings Opportunity Day to Las Anclas, with its terrifying lottery of "Change or die." He forces Paco into the role of his son and prince, always watching him for signs of rebellion. And for those who escaped his net, he sends elite Changed soldiers to drag them back to be executed.

Inside Las Anclas, Paco and Becky play a nerve-shattering game of cat and mouse, plotting a resistance under Voske's eye. Outside the walls, Ross, Mia, Jennie, and Kerry desperately evade pursuit and try to free their town. And at last, Felicité must face the choice she's given up everything to avoid.

In the darkness of defeat, can hope catch fire?

Don’t miss any of Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith’s The Change STRANGER • HOSTAGE • REBEL • TRAITOR]]> 598 Rachel Manija Brown Sherwood 0 fantasy, my-books
We had a ton of fun writing it--so much that it turned out super long. After all we did have to bring to resolutions six main POVs from earlier books, and also that of of the little town of Las Anclas, imagined in the far future of the north side of Westchester, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, built along the palisades looking down over Marina del Rey. The crystal forest surrounds what was once downtown LA.

We finally ended up cutting 25,000 words out of the first draft, and it's still long, but I hope it reads tighter. And exciting, as Las Anclas is conquered...and its citizens have to survive. And our main characters, all teens, grow up in the process.]]> 4.60
author: Rachel Manija Brown
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/08
shelves: fantasy, my-books
review:
This is the final book in the series, and it took a while to write, due largely to a series of disasters, some of them apocalyptic, that happened to my co-writer. But at last it's done!

We had a ton of fun writing it--so much that it turned out super long. After all we did have to bring to resolutions six main POVs from earlier books, and also that of of the little town of Las Anclas, imagined in the far future of the north side of Westchester, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, built along the palisades looking down over Marina del Rey. The crystal forest surrounds what was once downtown LA.

We finally ended up cutting 25,000 words out of the first draft, and it's still long, but I hope it reads tighter. And exciting, as Las Anclas is conquered...and its citizens have to survive. And our main characters, all teens, grow up in the process.
]]> 36280367
This is the 1st episode in the third season of Tremontaine, a 13-episode serial from Serial Box Publishing. This episode written by Ellen Kushner.

Duchess Diane Tremontaine is the guest of honor at a fashionable banquet, but now that she holds power in her own right, challenges—and rivals—come in many forms. As allies reveal their own agendas, Diane looks to keep her friends close, and her enemies closer.

Welcome to Tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. A Duchess whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; a handsome young scholar with more passion than sense; a foreigner in a playground of swordplay and secrets; and a mathematical genius whose discoveries herald revolution when games of politics begin, no one is safe. Keep your wit as sharp as your steel in this world where politics is everything, and outcasts are the tastemakers.]]> 0 Ellen Kushner 1682102025 Sherwood 0 fantasy, comedy-of-manners
New readers could begin here, as we meet crucial characters one by one, and their situations and emotions are delineated. But oh, to understand the duchess's complexity of response as she attends a dinner, one really needs to know how she got to where she is . . . and it's interesting to note how well drawn she is, for she is not yet the formidable duchess with impervious control we know from the books.

Micah is delightfully present, and herself, Kaab has a new goal orthoganal to the duchess's, and Rafe is back . . . and drawn to someone I really, really hate.

I want to see Shade and his partner DEAD, DEAD DEAD. (I don't think it's any spoiler for the first seasons to say that, as Shade is a scumbag from the moment he walks on stage.)

So will Kaab, once she finds out who he is. My money is on her, rather than the Council of Merchants and their posturing . . .

I can hardly wait for more.

Merged review:

Season three is off to a spectacular start.

New readers could begin here, as we meet crucial characters one by one, and their situations and emotions are delineated. But oh, to understand the duchess's complexity of response as she attends a dinner, one really needs to know how she got to where she is . . . and it's interesting to note how well drawn she is, for she is not yet the formidable duchess with impervious control we know from the books.

Micah is delightfully present, and herself, Kaab has a new goal orthoganal to the duchess's, and Rafe is back . . . and drawn to someone I really, really hate.

I want to see Shade and his partner DEAD, DEAD DEAD. (I don't think it's any spoiler for the first seasons to say that, as Shade is a scumbag from the moment he walks on stage.)

So will Kaab, once she finds out who he is. My money is on her, rather than the Council of Merchants and their posturing . . .

I can hardly wait for more.]]> 4.22 2017
author: Ellen Kushner
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/01
shelves: fantasy, comedy-of-manners
review:
Season three is off to a spectacular start.

New readers could begin here, as we meet crucial characters one by one, and their situations and emotions are delineated. But oh, to understand the duchess's complexity of response as she attends a dinner, one really needs to know how she got to where she is . . . and it's interesting to note how well drawn she is, for she is not yet the formidable duchess with impervious control we know from the books.

Micah is delightfully present, and herself, Kaab has a new goal orthoganal to the duchess's, and Rafe is back . . . and drawn to someone I really, really hate.

I want to see Shade and his partner DEAD, DEAD DEAD. (I don't think it's any spoiler for the first seasons to say that, as Shade is a scumbag from the moment he walks on stage.)

So will Kaab, once she finds out who he is. My money is on her, rather than the Council of Merchants and their posturing . . .

I can hardly wait for more.

Merged review:

Season three is off to a spectacular start.

New readers could begin here, as we meet crucial characters one by one, and their situations and emotions are delineated. But oh, to understand the duchess's complexity of response as she attends a dinner, one really needs to know how she got to where she is . . . and it's interesting to note how well drawn she is, for she is not yet the formidable duchess with impervious control we know from the books.

Micah is delightfully present, and herself, Kaab has a new goal orthoganal to the duchess's, and Rafe is back . . . and drawn to someone I really, really hate.

I want to see Shade and his partner DEAD, DEAD DEAD. (I don't think it's any spoiler for the first seasons to say that, as Shade is a scumbag from the moment he walks on stage.)

So will Kaab, once she finds out who he is. My money is on her, rather than the Council of Merchants and their posturing . . .

I can hardly wait for more.
]]> 203578730 Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.]]> 325 Ann Liang 1250289467 Sherwood 0 historical-novel, netgalley 3.83 2024
author: Ann Liang
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/30
shelves: historical-novel, netgalley
review:
For the most part, this vividly written modern updating of a very old Chinese tale sticks to the plot of the tale. There are a few threads that dangle, but the reader is drawn inexorably toward the tragic ending--as obliquely promised in the title. The characterizations are excellent, and the anti-war message is powerful.
]]> 36285519 Swordplay, scandal, and sex—welcome to the world of Tremontaine, a glittering new entry in Ellen Kushner's classic Riverside series.

This is the 3rd episode in the third season of Tremontaine, a 13-episode serial from Serial Box Publishing. This episode written by Karen Lord.

Kaab realizes Saabim was murdered, but finding the culprit will take time. A new allegiance shifts the web of power surrounding Diane. Rafe channels his grief into setting up his school.

Welcome to Tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. A Duchess whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; a handsome young scholar with more passion than sense; a foreigner in a playground of swordplay and secrets; and a mathematical genius whose discoveries herald revolution when games of politics begin, no one is safe. Keep your wit as sharp as your steel in this world where politics is everything, and outcasts are the tastemakers.

]]> 46 Karen Lord 1682102041 Sherwood 0 fantasy
It's an episode all about the women, or mostly. The duchess visits the mysterious and beguiling Escha . . . Kaab, newly grief-stricken, makes two discoveries that mean trouble, and the Riverside women decide to act.

So far, I'm liking this season best of all. If it doesn't turn into all tragedy all the time, it might well be my fave.

Merged review:

Thoroughly enjoyed this third episode, especially a certain resolution. Karen Lord writes such vivid, graceful prose, and yet she manages to weave this episode into the Tremontaine voice.

It's an episode all about the women, or mostly. The duchess visits the mysterious and beguiling Escha . . . Kaab, newly grief-stricken, makes two discoveries that mean trouble, and the Riverside women decide to act.

So far, I'm liking this season best of all. If it doesn't turn into all tragedy all the time, it might well be my fave.]]> 4.40
author: Karen Lord
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/30
shelves: fantasy
review:
Thoroughly enjoyed this third episode, especially a certain resolution. Karen Lord writes such vivid, graceful prose, and yet she manages to weave this episode into the Tremontaine voice.

It's an episode all about the women, or mostly. The duchess visits the mysterious and beguiling Escha . . . Kaab, newly grief-stricken, makes two discoveries that mean trouble, and the Riverside women decide to act.

So far, I'm liking this season best of all. If it doesn't turn into all tragedy all the time, it might well be my fave.

Merged review:

Thoroughly enjoyed this third episode, especially a certain resolution. Karen Lord writes such vivid, graceful prose, and yet she manages to weave this episode into the Tremontaine voice.

It's an episode all about the women, or mostly. The duchess visits the mysterious and beguiling Escha . . . Kaab, newly grief-stricken, makes two discoveries that mean trouble, and the Riverside women decide to act.

So far, I'm liking this season best of all. If it doesn't turn into all tragedy all the time, it might well be my fave.
]]> 55207764
Since everyone is ignoring her, Lilah disguises herself and slips over the walls to befriend those ragged kids. She learns that revolution is fermenting, led by the charismatic young commoner Derek. And Lilah is shocked to learn that her scholarly brother is allied with Derek.

The revolution ignites into chaos and violence. Lilah and her friends are determined to help however they can. But what can four kids do? Become spies, of course! Chases and disguises, captures and trials lead to a wild climax, with Lilah right in the middle.

First published by Viking, and a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, this young adult fantasy has been completely revised for the Book View Cafe edition.]]> 311 Sherwood Smith 1611389143 Sherwood 0 my-books, fantasy
The first edition, published by Viking as The Spy Princess, was one of those lightning-strike stories that wrote itself. I didn’t think it would ever sell, in part because the hero was disabled and never touches a weapon, and pretty much all fantasy adventures at the time featured guys who had all the agency, and used their weapons as much as the villains. It’s a kid’s eye view of revolution, mostly in the swashbuckler mode (less dwelling on graphic violence, though violence is there, more focus on character), written at a time when the world was on fire.

The book was 120k words when I handed it in. Viking’s marketing department demanded that it be no longer than 80k because price point wins over authorial puppy-dog eyes when you’re a mere mid-lister like me. The editor heroically gave it three line-edits, cutting out crappy scaffolding and sloppy prepositional phrases meant to shore up weak verbs, and suchlike. Then when that still didn’t hit the 80k mark (nearly half of the book!) started cutting worldbuilding bits, references to other stories, and then little character moments in order to squeeze it into that 80k box.

Well, the world is on fire again. And I have the rights back, so I wanted to restore the stuff that I felt hurt the overall story when cut. I’ve learned a lot since that edit job nearly ten years ago. I went through and found a lot more scaffolding and flaccid text to cut as I added back those little moments I felt strongly about. Result, it’s not that much longer, but I think it’s much more vivid—though I realize the author is the last one to trust.

Anyway, here is the final version, with reluctance published under a truncated version of the old title. (My own title, Slam Justice, which I much prefer, unfortunately would only make sense when you reach the end of the book—to every single person I tried it on who hadn’t read the book, I got wrinkled noses and skeptical eye rolls . . . “It sounds like a sports novel.” “It sounds like some high school problem novel from the eighties.” “It sounds weird/stupid/boring.” Yeah, that’s not quite the purpose of a title!)
]]> 3.62 2012
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: my-books, fantasy
review:
Since this is a completely revised edition, it gets a new entry.

The first edition, published by Viking as The Spy Princess, was one of those lightning-strike stories that wrote itself. I didn’t think it would ever sell, in part because the hero was disabled and never touches a weapon, and pretty much all fantasy adventures at the time featured guys who had all the agency, and used their weapons as much as the villains. It’s a kid’s eye view of revolution, mostly in the swashbuckler mode (less dwelling on graphic violence, though violence is there, more focus on character), written at a time when the world was on fire.

The book was 120k words when I handed it in. Viking’s marketing department demanded that it be no longer than 80k because price point wins over authorial puppy-dog eyes when you’re a mere mid-lister like me. The editor heroically gave it three line-edits, cutting out crappy scaffolding and sloppy prepositional phrases meant to shore up weak verbs, and suchlike. Then when that still didn’t hit the 80k mark (nearly half of the book!) started cutting worldbuilding bits, references to other stories, and then little character moments in order to squeeze it into that 80k box.

Well, the world is on fire again. And I have the rights back, so I wanted to restore the stuff that I felt hurt the overall story when cut. I’ve learned a lot since that edit job nearly ten years ago. I went through and found a lot more scaffolding and flaccid text to cut as I added back those little moments I felt strongly about. Result, it’s not that much longer, but I think it’s much more vivid—though I realize the author is the last one to trust.

Anyway, here is the final version, with reluctance published under a truncated version of the old title. (My own title, Slam Justice, which I much prefer, unfortunately would only make sense when you reach the end of the book—to every single person I tried it on who hadn’t read the book, I got wrinkled noses and skeptical eye rolls . . . “It sounds like a sports novel.” “It sounds like some high school problem novel from the eighties.” “It sounds weird/stupid/boring.” Yeah, that’s not quite the purpose of a title!)

]]> 2852832
Nothing ever happens in Nym, until she receives an invitation to a celebration for Prince Lios of Vesarja, the largest kingdom around.

Lios is as handsome as Rhis hoped, and she falls instantly in love, just like in her favorite songs. But life isn't like the songs--none of her friends are happy, and then there is the Perfect Princess, Iardith, who keeps occupying Lios's time.

Rhis does her best to fix things for her friends, as she pursues her romantic ideal . . . and then the Perfect Princess is abducted.

Of course Rhis must go to the rescue . . . the princes right behind.

This rollicking romantic fantasy takes place in the same world as the Wren Books, and Lhind the Thief.]]> 258 Sherwood Smith 1611380278 Sherwood 0 my-books, fantasy
Merged review:

I wrote the first draft of this story a zillion years ago, when I realized that in history, princesses were mainly prizes in men's political games. They had no say in where they were sent. Their job was to stand around and be attractive, and once married off, produce a son for the next generation of men's political games. Enough of that, I said to myself. Princesses are people, too, and might even decide to take action on their own. Then there was my image of a perfectly ordinary teenage princess, and the story took off from there.

Merged review:

This is the e-book edition, which has been smoothed from the book edition, and also a new scene added near the end.]]> 3.81 2008
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves: my-books, fantasy
review:
This is the e-book edition, which has been smoothed from the book edition, and also a new scene added near the end.

Merged review:

I wrote the first draft of this story a zillion years ago, when I realized that in history, princesses were mainly prizes in men's political games. They had no say in where they were sent. Their job was to stand around and be attractive, and once married off, produce a son for the next generation of men's political games. Enough of that, I said to myself. Princesses are people, too, and might even decide to take action on their own. Then there was my image of a perfectly ordinary teenage princess, and the story took off from there.

Merged review:

This is the e-book edition, which has been smoothed from the book edition, and also a new scene added near the end.
]]> 22958758
Ritual magic mixes dangerously with wild magic. Yet Alfreda Sorensson's talent has grown until she becomes a target for worldly and unworldly powers. Now, to save her soul, she must leave her pioneer home in the Michigan Territory to take refuge at an elite New York school, where her wild magic places her in direct conflict with the ritual taught to young Americans and Europeans.

Alfreda suspects that half the professors may not be human at Windward Academy. It's a curious place, a last chance for students who can't control their powers, and a place where everything is a test, in one way or another.

At first Alfreda thinks her greatest challenge will be mastering ritual. Then she learns that traitors have infiltrated the school--and the new nation. War looms between the United States and England, and Alfreda answers the call. Only after she spies her way into an enemy magician's estate does she learn the true challenge of her own power--

Because when dark magic finds her, she's utterly on her own.
****
Ages 12-120 After that, you're probably undead and may not read much.



“Every book in the Kindred Rites series has had me racing for the end and wishing for more. Spiral Path is no exception. Ms. Kimbriel’s enticing and lyrical prose and knowledge of the arcane will hook new readers and delight old ones as well.”
— Rebecca McFarland Kyle, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

“A Spiral Path lays an enchanting spell as young Allie Sorensson continues her fearless exploration of her magical powers at an exclusive school for practitioners of the arcane arts. Crafted with precision and heart, this tale shimmers with imagination, adventure, and characters who burst alive from the page. More, please!”
— Sara Stamey, author of Islands

Praise for the Night Calls

“With a clear, distinctive voice, Katharine Kimbriel invents and re-invents magic on America’s frontier, a place hardly explored by writers and long overdue for a visit. (Or should I say a visitation?)”
—Jane Yolen, award-winning author of Briar Rose

“There are very few books I reread on a regular basis. Night Calls is one. When I read Night Calls I thought, first, that Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword had at last found a proper shelfmate....”
—Laura Anne Gilman, Nebula Award Nominee for Flesh and The Vineart War series

“If you can imagine Little House on the Prairie with werewolves, vampires, and magic, you’ve got an idea what this dark fantasy novel is like. ...The strong characters, the matter-of-fact tone, and the strong sense of place make this something special.”
—Locus Magazine

"...and I am very happy to report that Kimbriel made me almost miss my bus stop at work because I had to read just one more page."
—e_Bookpushers

"To protect those she loves, a pragmatic young witch finds faith and magical lessons in the natural world—compelling, fantastic tale, beautifully, wondrously written!"
—Patricia Rice, New York Times best-selling author

]]> 401 Katharine Eliska Kimbriel 1611384400 Sherwood 0 fantasy Night Calls and Kindred rites, will be delighted to see Allie back after a hiatus of a few years. Allie leaves home to go to magic school for the first time, and her friendship with handsome young Shaw shows signs of a closer attachment.

This book might be considered transitional, as it sets Allie up in school, with new friends and new responsibilities. There is more time spent on magic, hinting at connections with the nascent government of the young United States in this alternate world. It's sure to leave Allie's faithful fans anticipating the next book.

Merged review:

I read this in draft. I don't know that it is the best introduction to new readers, but fans of Allie, the heroine of Night Calls and Kindred rites, will be delighted to see Allie back after a hiatus of a few years. Allie leaves home to go to magic school for the first time, and her friendship with handsome young Shaw shows signs of a closer attachment.

This book might be considered transitional, as it sets Allie up in school, with new friends and new responsibilities. There is more time spent on magic, hinting at connections with the nascent government of the young United States in this alternate world. It's sure to leave Allie's faithful fans anticipating the next book.]]> 4.40 2014
author: Katharine Eliska Kimbriel
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves: fantasy
review:
I read this in draft. I don't know that it is the best introduction to new readers, but fans of Allie, the heroine of Night Calls and Kindred rites, will be delighted to see Allie back after a hiatus of a few years. Allie leaves home to go to magic school for the first time, and her friendship with handsome young Shaw shows signs of a closer attachment.

This book might be considered transitional, as it sets Allie up in school, with new friends and new responsibilities. There is more time spent on magic, hinting at connections with the nascent government of the young United States in this alternate world. It's sure to leave Allie's faithful fans anticipating the next book.

Merged review:

I read this in draft. I don't know that it is the best introduction to new readers, but fans of Allie, the heroine of Night Calls and Kindred rites, will be delighted to see Allie back after a hiatus of a few years. Allie leaves home to go to magic school for the first time, and her friendship with handsome young Shaw shows signs of a closer attachment.

This book might be considered transitional, as it sets Allie up in school, with new friends and new responsibilities. There is more time spent on magic, hinting at connections with the nascent government of the young United States in this alternate world. It's sure to leave Allie's faithful fans anticipating the next book.
]]> 18301217 274 Sherwood Smith 1611382920 Sherwood 0 my-books
I finished it this year while getting past the death of my little brother. I never sent it to a major publisher: it falls between marketing categories, as it's too PG for adult or the new YA, and it contains none of the story elements they seem to be looking for, like angsty-Instalove, grimdark, and important cultural or political themes.

Instead, I kitchen-sinked it with all my old comfort-read faves: disguises, flying, swashbuckling on land and sea, tree-houses, secrets, telepathy, magical powers and spells, food, good-looking villains as well as heroes, and even some romance.

It's pretty much aimed at the same audience who read A Posse of Princesses, which it overlaps.

Merged review:

This one, releasing now, is sheer wish-fulfillment, written in spurts over the past bunch of years, whenever my life crashed and burned.

I finished it this year while getting past the death of my little brother. I never sent it to a major publisher: it falls between marketing categories, as it's too PG for adult or the new YA, and it contains none of the story elements they seem to be looking for, like angsty-Instalove, grimdark, and important cultural or political themes.

Instead, I kitchen-sinked it with all my old comfort-read faves: disguises, flying, swashbuckling on land and sea, tree-houses, secrets, telepathy, magical powers and spells, food, good-looking villains as well as heroes, and even some romance.

It's pretty much aimed at the same audience who read A Posse of Princesses, which it overlaps.]]> 3.66 2013
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: my-books
review:
This one, releasing now, is sheer wish-fulfillment, written in spurts over the past bunch of years, whenever my life crashed and burned.

I finished it this year while getting past the death of my little brother. I never sent it to a major publisher: it falls between marketing categories, as it's too PG for adult or the new YA, and it contains none of the story elements they seem to be looking for, like angsty-Instalove, grimdark, and important cultural or political themes.

Instead, I kitchen-sinked it with all my old comfort-read faves: disguises, flying, swashbuckling on land and sea, tree-houses, secrets, telepathy, magical powers and spells, food, good-looking villains as well as heroes, and even some romance.

It's pretty much aimed at the same audience who read A Posse of Princesses, which it overlaps.

Merged review:

This one, releasing now, is sheer wish-fulfillment, written in spurts over the past bunch of years, whenever my life crashed and burned.

I finished it this year while getting past the death of my little brother. I never sent it to a major publisher: it falls between marketing categories, as it's too PG for adult or the new YA, and it contains none of the story elements they seem to be looking for, like angsty-Instalove, grimdark, and important cultural or political themes.

Instead, I kitchen-sinked it with all my old comfort-read faves: disguises, flying, swashbuckling on land and sea, tree-houses, secrets, telepathy, magical powers and spells, food, good-looking villains as well as heroes, and even some romance.

It's pretty much aimed at the same audience who read A Posse of Princesses, which it overlaps.
]]> 32978677
Humiliated, Sophia returns to London, but Lord Endicott follows her, intent on making her life increasingly miserable. Furious and desperate, Sophia takes the only course left to her: she sets out to discover Lord Endicott’s criminal enterprises, to expose him as the fraud he is and bring him to justice.

Sophia’s allies are few, but loyal. Cecy, her best friend, supports Sophia in her quest, while her cousin Lady Daphne, an irrepressible Extraordinary Bounder, is always ready for a challenge that will strike at Lord Endicott’s heart. And always watching her is the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who claims to be interested in Sophia’s friendship—and possibly more than that—but who has an agenda of his own.

But as Sophia delves deeper into prophetic Dreams, Cecy and Daphne begin to fear for Sophia’s health and sanity. Driven to collapse by her frequent Dreaming, Sophia is forced to reevaluate her motives: does she want Lord Endicott brought to justice, or is it revenge she seeks? As Sophia draws closer to the secret of Lord Endicott’s criminal enterprise, a counterfeiting ring, his torment of Sophia increases, until the two are bound together by their respective obsessions. Though Sophia insists she is in control, her friends fear she is turning into the man she most hates.

Sophia’s Dreams and Visions are leading her to just one place: the destruction of Lord Endicott. But the cost of her vengeance may be too high—and may demand the sacrifice of her own life.]]> 392 Melissa McShane 1620076551 Sherwood 0 Burning Bright, as its heroine is a complicated, prickly person.

Sophia, the heroine, is a widow. She had worked for the War Office until her Extraordinary Seer talent caused her to expose a powerful nobleman, Lord Endicott, who somehow managed to finesse events and escape retribution, casting doubts on Sophia's talent. As a result, Sophia was let go from the War Office, and though the latter kept quiet, somehow word has gotten out about Sophia being unreliable. Humiliated and bitter, she has taken up residence with gentle Cecy, a friend with frail health, and her supportive husband. Sophia re-enters society, without much pleasure, especially when people wish to take advantage of her talents.

Sophia is determined to expose Endicott, her determination fired up the more as Endicott enjoys tormenting her in public at balls and society gatherings, even going to far as to hint that he has an interest in her so that her stand-offish behavior reflects badly on her to the beau monde.

Sophia's determination to get justice is really more of a thirst for revenge, and for the first half of the book, it can be painful reading: she forces herself into Dream after Dream, trying to discover where she failed, lying to, and scaring, Cecy, and then straight-arming the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who offers her employment and expresses admiration for her. But because he still believes she was wrong about Lord Endicott, she angrily rejects him and his help.

Sophia courts danger, and nearly gets burned. The second half of the book is where the story really picks up as Sophia begins to put the puzzle pieces together, with the help of her exuberant cousin Daphne, an Extraordinary Bounder, Cecy, and the patient, long-suffering Mr. Rutledge.

This book is more of an inward-looking one than the first, with many scenes of dreaming and visions, and concerns over Cecy's health. It's very different from Elinor's tale of ship-to-ship action and firestorms, but satisfying in its own way as we slowly begin to learn more about this alternate world with its special abilities. The romance is quite low key, the magic and mystery taking the forefront of the action, and Sophia's journey the focus of the emotional landscape.

It comes to a satisfying resolution, leaving me eager to explore more in this world.

Merged review:

This second book in Melissa McShane's series takes a different tone from the first, Burning Bright, as its heroine is a complicated, prickly person.

Sophia, the heroine, is a widow. She had worked for the War Office until her Extraordinary Seer talent caused her to expose a powerful nobleman, Lord Endicott, who somehow managed to finesse events and escape retribution, casting doubts on Sophia's talent. As a result, Sophia was let go from the War Office, and though the latter kept quiet, somehow word has gotten out about Sophia being unreliable. Humiliated and bitter, she has taken up residence with gentle Cecy, a friend with frail health, and her supportive husband. Sophia re-enters society, without much pleasure, especially when people wish to take advantage of her talents.

Sophia is determined to expose Endicott, her determination fired up the more as Endicott enjoys tormenting her in public at balls and society gatherings, even going to far as to hint that he has an interest in her so that her stand-offish behavior reflects badly on her to the beau monde.

Sophia's determination to get justice is really more of a thirst for revenge, and for the first half of the book, it can be painful reading: she forces herself into Dream after Dream, trying to discover where she failed, lying to, and scaring, Cecy, and then straight-arming the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who offers her employment and expresses admiration for her. But because he still believes she was wrong about Lord Endicott, she angrily rejects him and his help.

Sophia courts danger, and nearly gets burned. The second half of the book is where the story really picks up as Sophia begins to put the puzzle pieces together, with the help of her exuberant cousin Daphne, an Extraordinary Bounder, Cecy, and the patient, long-suffering Mr. Rutledge.

This book is more of an inward-looking one than the first, with many scenes of dreaming and visions, and concerns over Cecy's health. It's very different from Elinor's tale of ship-to-ship action and firestorms, but satisfying in its own way as we slowly begin to learn more about this alternate world with its special abilities. The romance is quite low key, the magic and mystery taking the forefront of the action, and Sophia's journey the focus of the emotional landscape.

It comes to a satisfying resolution, leaving me eager to explore more in this world.]]> 3.71 2017
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: alt-history, fantasy, history-napoleonic
review:
This second book in Melissa McShane's series takes a different tone from the first, Burning Bright, as its heroine is a complicated, prickly person.

Sophia, the heroine, is a widow. She had worked for the War Office until her Extraordinary Seer talent caused her to expose a powerful nobleman, Lord Endicott, who somehow managed to finesse events and escape retribution, casting doubts on Sophia's talent. As a result, Sophia was let go from the War Office, and though the latter kept quiet, somehow word has gotten out about Sophia being unreliable. Humiliated and bitter, she has taken up residence with gentle Cecy, a friend with frail health, and her supportive husband. Sophia re-enters society, without much pleasure, especially when people wish to take advantage of her talents.

Sophia is determined to expose Endicott, her determination fired up the more as Endicott enjoys tormenting her in public at balls and society gatherings, even going to far as to hint that he has an interest in her so that her stand-offish behavior reflects badly on her to the beau monde.

Sophia's determination to get justice is really more of a thirst for revenge, and for the first half of the book, it can be painful reading: she forces herself into Dream after Dream, trying to discover where she failed, lying to, and scaring, Cecy, and then straight-arming the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who offers her employment and expresses admiration for her. But because he still believes she was wrong about Lord Endicott, she angrily rejects him and his help.

Sophia courts danger, and nearly gets burned. The second half of the book is where the story really picks up as Sophia begins to put the puzzle pieces together, with the help of her exuberant cousin Daphne, an Extraordinary Bounder, Cecy, and the patient, long-suffering Mr. Rutledge.

This book is more of an inward-looking one than the first, with many scenes of dreaming and visions, and concerns over Cecy's health. It's very different from Elinor's tale of ship-to-ship action and firestorms, but satisfying in its own way as we slowly begin to learn more about this alternate world with its special abilities. The romance is quite low key, the magic and mystery taking the forefront of the action, and Sophia's journey the focus of the emotional landscape.

It comes to a satisfying resolution, leaving me eager to explore more in this world.

Merged review:

This second book in Melissa McShane's series takes a different tone from the first, Burning Bright, as its heroine is a complicated, prickly person.

Sophia, the heroine, is a widow. She had worked for the War Office until her Extraordinary Seer talent caused her to expose a powerful nobleman, Lord Endicott, who somehow managed to finesse events and escape retribution, casting doubts on Sophia's talent. As a result, Sophia was let go from the War Office, and though the latter kept quiet, somehow word has gotten out about Sophia being unreliable. Humiliated and bitter, she has taken up residence with gentle Cecy, a friend with frail health, and her supportive husband. Sophia re-enters society, without much pleasure, especially when people wish to take advantage of her talents.

Sophia is determined to expose Endicott, her determination fired up the more as Endicott enjoys tormenting her in public at balls and society gatherings, even going to far as to hint that he has an interest in her so that her stand-offish behavior reflects badly on her to the beau monde.

Sophia's determination to get justice is really more of a thirst for revenge, and for the first half of the book, it can be painful reading: she forces herself into Dream after Dream, trying to discover where she failed, lying to, and scaring, Cecy, and then straight-arming the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who offers her employment and expresses admiration for her. But because he still believes she was wrong about Lord Endicott, she angrily rejects him and his help.

Sophia courts danger, and nearly gets burned. The second half of the book is where the story really picks up as Sophia begins to put the puzzle pieces together, with the help of her exuberant cousin Daphne, an Extraordinary Bounder, Cecy, and the patient, long-suffering Mr. Rutledge.

This book is more of an inward-looking one than the first, with many scenes of dreaming and visions, and concerns over Cecy's health. It's very different from Elinor's tale of ship-to-ship action and firestorms, but satisfying in its own way as we slowly begin to learn more about this alternate world with its special abilities. The romance is quite low key, the magic and mystery taking the forefront of the action, and Sophia's journey the focus of the emotional landscape.

It comes to a satisfying resolution, leaving me eager to explore more in this world.
]]> 30176531
Weddings and births are usually causes for celebration – but no joys are simple when a royal family is involved. Jealousy and suspicion lurk everywhere as questions of loyalty – to faith, to promises, and to the heart – shadow the new king and queen of England.

This episode is brought to you by Mary Robinette Kowal, who cautions all against the green-eyed monster.]]> 45 Mary Robinette Kowal 1682100693 Sherwood 0 Not as involving as the first episode. The narrative voice crowds center stage, telling the reader about the characters in more of a contemporary American tone* than employed in the first episode, leaving the characters little chance to come alive. But the series is just beginning, finding its voice--looking forward to the next.

*This might be a selling point for readers wary of of Restoration pastiche.

Merged review:

Not as involving as the first episode. The narrative voice crowds center stage, telling the reader about the characters in more of a contemporary American tone* than employed in the first episode, leaving the characters little chance to come alive. But the series is just beginning, finding its voice--looking forward to the next.

*This might be a selling point for readers wary of of Restoration pastiche.]]> 3.70 2016
author: Mary Robinette Kowal
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: history, fiction, history-17th-c
review:

Not as involving as the first episode. The narrative voice crowds center stage, telling the reader about the characters in more of a contemporary American tone* than employed in the first episode, leaving the characters little chance to come alive. But the series is just beginning, finding its voice--looking forward to the next.

*This might be a selling point for readers wary of of Restoration pastiche.

Merged review:

Not as involving as the first episode. The narrative voice crowds center stage, telling the reader about the characters in more of a contemporary American tone* than employed in the first episode, leaving the characters little chance to come alive. But the series is just beginning, finding its voice--looking forward to the next.

*This might be a selling point for readers wary of of Restoration pastiche.
]]> 36285496 Swordplay, scandal, and sex—welcome to the world of Tremontaine, a glittering new entry in Ellen Kushner's classic Riverside series.

This is the 2nd episode in the third season of Tremontaine, a 13-episode serial from Serial Box Publishing. This episode written by Tessa Gratton.

When Riverside comes under siege, Tess is forced into a leadership role, working to keep the truth about Vincent from Reza as he helps her deal with the crisis. Meanwhile, on the Hill, Diane and Davenant face off for the first time since she was named Duchess in her own right.

Welcome to Tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. A Duchess whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; a handsome young scholar with more passion than sense; a foreigner in a playground of swordplay and secrets; and a mathematical genius whose discoveries herald revolution when games of politics begin, no one is safe. Keep your wit as sharp as your steel in this world where politics is everything, and outcasts are the tastemakers.

]]> 48 Tessa Gratton 1682102033 Sherwood 0 fantasy
The narrative voice flits from familiar character to familiar character, lightly tied together by a foreign prince named Reza, grief-stricken and reeling headlong for the release of death. The writing is stylish, vivid, and so intense as he roams Riverside, desperate, and yet more aware of their equally desperate situation than the denizens seem to be.

Whoa, if these get any more intense they will have to go on my "do not read before bedtime list."

Merged review:

At first I thought an episode was missing, as the City Watch demands a murderer by name who seemed to be unknown at the end of the previous episode. But beside that, this episode is a bravura second step into the new season, full of intense emotion, 'smylers with ye knyfe under ye cloke' and the ticking clock of a siege as Riverside and the City face one another over the barricaded bridges.

The narrative voice flits from familiar character to familiar character, lightly tied together by a foreign prince named Reza, grief-stricken and reeling headlong for the release of death. The writing is stylish, vivid, and so intense as he roams Riverside, desperate, and yet more aware of their equally desperate situation than the denizens seem to be.

Whoa, if these get any more intense they will have to go on my "do not read before bedtime list."]]> 4.10 2017
author: Tessa Gratton
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: fantasy
review:
At first I thought an episode was missing, as the City Watch demands a murderer by name who seemed to be unknown at the end of the previous episode. But beside that, this episode is a bravura second step into the new season, full of intense emotion, 'smylers with ye knyfe under ye cloke' and the ticking clock of a siege as Riverside and the City face one another over the barricaded bridges.

The narrative voice flits from familiar character to familiar character, lightly tied together by a foreign prince named Reza, grief-stricken and reeling headlong for the release of death. The writing is stylish, vivid, and so intense as he roams Riverside, desperate, and yet more aware of their equally desperate situation than the denizens seem to be.

Whoa, if these get any more intense they will have to go on my "do not read before bedtime list."

Merged review:

At first I thought an episode was missing, as the City Watch demands a murderer by name who seemed to be unknown at the end of the previous episode. But beside that, this episode is a bravura second step into the new season, full of intense emotion, 'smylers with ye knyfe under ye cloke' and the ticking clock of a siege as Riverside and the City face one another over the barricaded bridges.

The narrative voice flits from familiar character to familiar character, lightly tied together by a foreign prince named Reza, grief-stricken and reeling headlong for the release of death. The writing is stylish, vivid, and so intense as he roams Riverside, desperate, and yet more aware of their equally desperate situation than the denizens seem to be.

Whoa, if these get any more intense they will have to go on my "do not read before bedtime list."
]]> 95891 The Thirteen-Gun Salute opens with Jack Aubrey reinstated to his command and sailing on a secret mission with a hand-picked crew, most of them shipmates from the adventures and lucrative voyages of earlier years.

Patrick O'Brian's resourcefulness is a sure warrant that things will not turn out as his readers or his characters expect. Twists and turns, sub-plots, echoes from the past, these are the only certainties in this astonishing roman fleuve. Distant waters, exotic scenes, flora and fauna to satisfy Aubrey's old friend Stephen Maturin's innocent curiosity, as well as scope for his cloak and dagger work, enrich its flow. The ending of the book leaves the reader more than usually impatient for its successor.]]> 323 Patrick O'Brian 0006499287 Sherwood 0
Once again we get complex characters, notably Mr. Fox, the British envoy. The text implies that he was once Ledward's lover, Ledward being the chief of the two traitors. Lover or former friend, their hatred for one another is a living force quite apart from the competition of the missions, and Ledward even tries to get Fox assassinated.

There is plenty of drama about the mission, which resolves in stunning fashion; but this being an O'Brian tale, there is still time for scientific delight with a Dutch physician and anatomist, and also for Stephen to make an immense pilgrimage to an ancient crater, where he stays in a very, very old temple. Here, monks and animals live in amity, and Stephen becomes acquainted with a family of orangutans.

Once again, I'm reminded of how differently I absorb text when reading and when listening. In both, the images are strong and clear, but though I've read this book several times, I was not always certain [spoilers removed]

This story is not even remotely over. The mission must be conveyed back to England, Fox adamant that he will now be granted the height of his desire, a title as a result of his successful winning of the treaty.

But! A reef, and then a typhoon, await the ship...

Again, exciting, unpredictable, a roller coaster of emotion, with characters who linger in the mind.]]> 4.36 1989
author: Patrick O'Brian
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: historical-novel, history-tall-ships
review:
Immensely enjoyable beginning of the longest and best arc in the entire roman fleuve. Jack Aubrey, once again on the navy list, is sent to Malaysia to carry an envoy who is to conclude a treaty with a key sultan, enabling the East India Company to stop safely on their long voyage home. This must be done in the teeth of a French mission with the same goal--a mission which includes the two traitors who caused Jack and Stephen (not to mention the government) a lot of grief, and brought about the deaths of many innocent people.

Once again we get complex characters, notably Mr. Fox, the British envoy. The text implies that he was once Ledward's lover, Ledward being the chief of the two traitors. Lover or former friend, their hatred for one another is a living force quite apart from the competition of the missions, and Ledward even tries to get Fox assassinated.

There is plenty of drama about the mission, which resolves in stunning fashion; but this being an O'Brian tale, there is still time for scientific delight with a Dutch physician and anatomist, and also for Stephen to make an immense pilgrimage to an ancient crater, where he stays in a very, very old temple. Here, monks and animals live in amity, and Stephen becomes acquainted with a family of orangutans.

Once again, I'm reminded of how differently I absorb text when reading and when listening. In both, the images are strong and clear, but though I've read this book several times, I was not always certain [spoilers removed]

This story is not even remotely over. The mission must be conveyed back to England, Fox adamant that he will now be granted the height of his desire, a title as a result of his successful winning of the treaty.

But! A reef, and then a typhoon, await the ship...

Again, exciting, unpredictable, a roller coaster of emotion, with characters who linger in the mind.
]]> 29930086 From the author of The Treasons Cycle, The Gods Within, and The Dead Among Us series comes a stand-alone science fiction novel for fans of David Weber, Pierce Brown, Lois McMaster Bujold, and more! Spanning the galaxy, The Thirteenth Man blends the best traditions of space opera and military sci-fi into a non-stop adventure that’s as much Patrick O’Brien as it is John Scalzi.

When Commander Charlie Cass, the bastard son of the Duke de Maris, returns from five years in a squalid Syndonese POW camp, he finds that little has changed in the Realm. As always, the King and the nine Dukes are conspiring against each other, but now some of them are plotting with Charlie’s old enemy. And as interstellar war looms, they certainly don’t need Charlie Cass messing up their delicate plans.

Unfortunately for them, that’s what he’s best at.

With ingenuity, tacticial inovations, and just a little bit of luck, Cass might be able to not only save the Realm, but perhaps even change it for the better.

Which, of course, means he’ll likely face the headsman’s axe.]]> 512 J.L. Doty 0062562088 Sherwood 0 space-opera, sf
The back matter gives the basic premise:

When Commander Charlie Cass, the bastard son of the Duke de Maris, returns from five years in a squalid Syndonese POW camp, he finds that little has changed in the Realm. As always, the King and the nine Dukes are conspiring against each other, but now some of them are plotting with Charlie’s old enemy.

Charlie and his troops, now known as the Two Thousand, managed to survive the brutal prison camp, which welded them together, and they form the core of his resistance to the constant bickering among the dukes and the king with imperial ambitions—dragging in ordinary people to do the fighting.

Charlie’s attitude is more interesting in the beginning as he comes off being a prisoner of war, and takes a hard look at politics from the underside, as well as slavery. But then the bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys are noble and loyal, and Charlie has to Do Something about the rotten situation, because it seems no one else will.

For me, this would have been a lot more tense and exciting if Charlie had had to build his resistance bit by bit. [spoilers removed]

But watching it all come together is fun, especially his romance with Princess Delilah, who is destined to marry Dieter, the son of one of the dukes, to cement an alliance. Dieter is a nasty piece of work, and one of the best moments is when Delilah faces up to him at a tense moment, saying something like “So what’s our life going to be if you force me to marry you, Rape, rape, rape? Every day more rape? Won’t you get bored?”

The women get plenty of screen time. Charlie even lets women join the spacers (though one wonders why that didn’t happen centuries ago, but okay). For local color, there are the trampsies, a kind of spacer docksider culture full of names that had me cracking up.

Basically, you know whom to hate and whom to love, you know where it’s going, but it’s fun to get there. Bonus, Doty’s FTL design, and the strategy and tactics he developed for it, give some cinematic space battle.

Copy provided by publisher for review.


Merged review:

This old-fashioned space opera has a lot of familiar elements, given a contemporary up-grade.

The back matter gives the basic premise:

When Commander Charlie Cass, the bastard son of the Duke de Maris, returns from five years in a squalid Syndonese POW camp, he finds that little has changed in the Realm. As always, the King and the nine Dukes are conspiring against each other, but now some of them are plotting with Charlie’s old enemy.

Charlie and his troops, now known as the Two Thousand, managed to survive the brutal prison camp, which welded them together, and they form the core of his resistance to the constant bickering among the dukes and the king with imperial ambitions—dragging in ordinary people to do the fighting.

Charlie’s attitude is more interesting in the beginning as he comes off being a prisoner of war, and takes a hard look at politics from the underside, as well as slavery. But then the bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys are noble and loyal, and Charlie has to Do Something about the rotten situation, because it seems no one else will.

For me, this would have been a lot more tense and exciting if Charlie had had to build his resistance bit by bit. [spoilers removed]

But watching it all come together is fun, especially his romance with Princess Delilah, who is destined to marry Dieter, the son of one of the dukes, to cement an alliance. Dieter is a nasty piece of work, and one of the best moments is when Delilah faces up to him at a tense moment, saying something like “So what’s our life going to be if you force me to marry you, Rape, rape, rape? Every day more rape? Won’t you get bored?”

The women get plenty of screen time. Charlie even lets women join the spacers (though one wonders why that didn’t happen centuries ago, but okay). For local color, there are the trampsies, a kind of spacer docksider culture full of names that had me cracking up.

Basically, you know whom to hate and whom to love, you know where it’s going, but it’s fun to get there. Bonus, Doty’s FTL design, and the strategy and tactics he developed for it, give some cinematic space battle.

Copy provided by publisher for review.]]> 3.97 2012
author: J.L. Doty
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2016/09/28
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: space-opera, sf
review:
This old-fashioned space opera has a lot of familiar elements, given a contemporary up-grade.

The back matter gives the basic premise:

When Commander Charlie Cass, the bastard son of the Duke de Maris, returns from five years in a squalid Syndonese POW camp, he finds that little has changed in the Realm. As always, the King and the nine Dukes are conspiring against each other, but now some of them are plotting with Charlie’s old enemy.

Charlie and his troops, now known as the Two Thousand, managed to survive the brutal prison camp, which welded them together, and they form the core of his resistance to the constant bickering among the dukes and the king with imperial ambitions—dragging in ordinary people to do the fighting.

Charlie’s attitude is more interesting in the beginning as he comes off being a prisoner of war, and takes a hard look at politics from the underside, as well as slavery. But then the bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys are noble and loyal, and Charlie has to Do Something about the rotten situation, because it seems no one else will.

For me, this would have been a lot more tense and exciting if Charlie had had to build his resistance bit by bit. [spoilers removed]

But watching it all come together is fun, especially his romance with Princess Delilah, who is destined to marry Dieter, the son of one of the dukes, to cement an alliance. Dieter is a nasty piece of work, and one of the best moments is when Delilah faces up to him at a tense moment, saying something like “So what’s our life going to be if you force me to marry you, Rape, rape, rape? Every day more rape? Won’t you get bored?”

The women get plenty of screen time. Charlie even lets women join the spacers (though one wonders why that didn’t happen centuries ago, but okay). For local color, there are the trampsies, a kind of spacer docksider culture full of names that had me cracking up.

Basically, you know whom to hate and whom to love, you know where it’s going, but it’s fun to get there. Bonus, Doty’s FTL design, and the strategy and tactics he developed for it, give some cinematic space battle.

Copy provided by publisher for review.


Merged review:

This old-fashioned space opera has a lot of familiar elements, given a contemporary up-grade.

The back matter gives the basic premise:

When Commander Charlie Cass, the bastard son of the Duke de Maris, returns from five years in a squalid Syndonese POW camp, he finds that little has changed in the Realm. As always, the King and the nine Dukes are conspiring against each other, but now some of them are plotting with Charlie’s old enemy.

Charlie and his troops, now known as the Two Thousand, managed to survive the brutal prison camp, which welded them together, and they form the core of his resistance to the constant bickering among the dukes and the king with imperial ambitions—dragging in ordinary people to do the fighting.

Charlie’s attitude is more interesting in the beginning as he comes off being a prisoner of war, and takes a hard look at politics from the underside, as well as slavery. But then the bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys are noble and loyal, and Charlie has to Do Something about the rotten situation, because it seems no one else will.

For me, this would have been a lot more tense and exciting if Charlie had had to build his resistance bit by bit. [spoilers removed]

But watching it all come together is fun, especially his romance with Princess Delilah, who is destined to marry Dieter, the son of one of the dukes, to cement an alliance. Dieter is a nasty piece of work, and one of the best moments is when Delilah faces up to him at a tense moment, saying something like “So what’s our life going to be if you force me to marry you, Rape, rape, rape? Every day more rape? Won’t you get bored?”

The women get plenty of screen time. Charlie even lets women join the spacers (though one wonders why that didn’t happen centuries ago, but okay). For local color, there are the trampsies, a kind of spacer docksider culture full of names that had me cracking up.

Basically, you know whom to hate and whom to love, you know where it’s going, but it’s fun to get there. Bonus, Doty’s FTL design, and the strategy and tactics he developed for it, give some cinematic space battle.

Copy provided by publisher for review.
]]> 8140156 795 George Eliot Sherwood 0
The question took me by surprise. I don't know why, since I've been asking myself that very same question about many of the so-called greats on various lists. But in my own perception, Middlemarch truly is a great novel, for its last paragraph--last line--alone. There is no better ending in any book I have ever read.

But first we have to get there, eh?

On this rereading, it occurred to me that that ending caps a novel that demonstrates among many other things the heroism of kindness.

At the very beginning, the Prelude cautions the reader about women who seek greatness in a man's world, and how tragic and ineffective their lives often are. And yet the book that follows is not a lugubrious tragedy. In fact, in this reading I noticed just how much humor veins this polysemous work, not the least of which is conveyed through the trenchant irony of the narrative voice as ardent young Dorothea Brooke propels herself into a disastrous marriage while all her friends and neighbors look on, appalled.

Some of the funniest scenes in the book occur in the company of middle-aged Mrs. Cadwallader, whose sharp eyed observations about the varieties of human experience are usually spot on. She gives Dorothea's marriage to the dry, scholarly Mr. Casaubon a year before it heads for shipwreck.

Celia, Dorothea's younger sister, had until that time looked up to Dorothea, but afterwards she has lost her respect for her sister; in this reading it became clear to me that Celia has a better sense of what marriage is actually about than poor Dorothea, with her high-minded determination to subordinate herself dutifully to her husband's superior mind.

In short, Dorothea discovers that her husband's mind is not superior at all, and at the same time her husband discovers there is more vexation then bliss in being married to a beautiful young lady of intelligence and integrity, because she actually expects to be a wife instead of a dutiful, occasionally glimpsed private secretary.

This marriage is contrasted with the courtship and marriage of Tertius Lydgate--a forward-looking doctor--and Rosamond Vincy. These two do everything right according to the fashionable rules of society, but while managing to never understand the other in the slightest. Rosamond’s gently insidious narcissism is profoundly unsettling, the more because it is entirely believable. Who among us has not met at least one Rosamond?

Whereas Dorothea finally wakes up to all the possibilities of love, when it looks like it is too late to do anything about it, in meeting Casaubon’s volatile, idealistic young cousin Will Ladislaw. And in a stunning moment, takes the reins. All along the narrative voice tells us what everyone says and does, though sometime prefacing remarks by “I think.” So it has to have been a stunning moment to Victorian audiences when Dorothea and Ladislaw kiss, and the narrative voice cannot tell us who made the first move. In other words, she could have! This was a really big deal during a time when the fashion was for fainting, passive, tiny-footed heroines.

It is not just young marriages we get a look at. We also find ourselves involved in middle-aged marriages, and with middle-aged people who would like to marry, or had once been.

But to say that this book, unlike George Eliot's friend Mrs. Gaskell equally brilliant book Wives and Daughters, is confined to courtship and marriage would be to ignore half the book. It is also about a society in transition, and the laws of society are made by men, though women make many of the rules.

Though it is set in 1830, when medical reform was just beginning, it is surprising how much of a parallel exists today.

. . .for since professional practice chiefly consisted in giving a great many drugs, the public inferred that it might be better off with more drugs still, if they could be got cheaply, and hence swallowed large cubic measures of physic prescribed by unscrupulous ignorance . . .

To a certain extent, that sums up a problem of modern medicine, as envisioned by the mighty pharmaceuticals buzz.

The various strata of medical knowledge, ignorance, and myth provides both humor and harrowing tragedy. Then there are the political issues, which are easy enough to draw parallels to today. What we find in this novel are men of affairs in conflict, their characters complex, their motives a mix.

In Middlemarch, we get men and women who have equal agency in personal dynamics, even if women cannot work as physicians, or run for office. What the women do and think matters as much as what the men do and think.

Is it a perfect novel? I don't know that there is any such thing. This one was remarkably innovative for its time, though it was set, as so many were, forty years in the past. One has only to read the reviews as the serial came out to find out what an effect it had on its audience, many of whom did not know that a woman's hand gripped the pen.

Because the narrator can see into all hearts and minds equally, we get a close look at the costs of social deflections, religious sophistry, political maneuvering, and personal failures. And yet it is not a novel of darkness. The observations of human complexity resonate enough with real experience enough to underscore to breathtaking effect the consequences of choices made out of faith, integrity, and kindness. Choices that can change the entire courses of lives, though the moment of decision is made in quietude, and the acting on it is not hailed by the multitudes.

In short, it is a wise, compassionate, sometimes funny and sometimes harrowing look at the range of human affairs, leaving us on a note of hope, with the conviction that life as it could be is actually possible for us all. One decision at a time.]]> 3.95 1872
author: George Eliot
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1872
rating: 0
read at: 2014/07/13
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves: fiction, classics, history-19th-c, historical-novel
review:
The occasion of this recent reread was a book group discussion. At the end one of the group said, "Why is this considered a classic?"

The question took me by surprise. I don't know why, since I've been asking myself that very same question about many of the so-called greats on various lists. But in my own perception, Middlemarch truly is a great novel, for its last paragraph--last line--alone. There is no better ending in any book I have ever read.

But first we have to get there, eh?

On this rereading, it occurred to me that that ending caps a novel that demonstrates among many other things the heroism of kindness.

At the very beginning, the Prelude cautions the reader about women who seek greatness in a man's world, and how tragic and ineffective their lives often are. And yet the book that follows is not a lugubrious tragedy. In fact, in this reading I noticed just how much humor veins this polysemous work, not the least of which is conveyed through the trenchant irony of the narrative voice as ardent young Dorothea Brooke propels herself into a disastrous marriage while all her friends and neighbors look on, appalled.

Some of the funniest scenes in the book occur in the company of middle-aged Mrs. Cadwallader, whose sharp eyed observations about the varieties of human experience are usually spot on. She gives Dorothea's marriage to the dry, scholarly Mr. Casaubon a year before it heads for shipwreck.

Celia, Dorothea's younger sister, had until that time looked up to Dorothea, but afterwards she has lost her respect for her sister; in this reading it became clear to me that Celia has a better sense of what marriage is actually about than poor Dorothea, with her high-minded determination to subordinate herself dutifully to her husband's superior mind.

In short, Dorothea discovers that her husband's mind is not superior at all, and at the same time her husband discovers there is more vexation then bliss in being married to a beautiful young lady of intelligence and integrity, because she actually expects to be a wife instead of a dutiful, occasionally glimpsed private secretary.

This marriage is contrasted with the courtship and marriage of Tertius Lydgate--a forward-looking doctor--and Rosamond Vincy. These two do everything right according to the fashionable rules of society, but while managing to never understand the other in the slightest. Rosamond’s gently insidious narcissism is profoundly unsettling, the more because it is entirely believable. Who among us has not met at least one Rosamond?

Whereas Dorothea finally wakes up to all the possibilities of love, when it looks like it is too late to do anything about it, in meeting Casaubon’s volatile, idealistic young cousin Will Ladislaw. And in a stunning moment, takes the reins. All along the narrative voice tells us what everyone says and does, though sometime prefacing remarks by “I think.” So it has to have been a stunning moment to Victorian audiences when Dorothea and Ladislaw kiss, and the narrative voice cannot tell us who made the first move. In other words, she could have! This was a really big deal during a time when the fashion was for fainting, passive, tiny-footed heroines.

It is not just young marriages we get a look at. We also find ourselves involved in middle-aged marriages, and with middle-aged people who would like to marry, or had once been.

But to say that this book, unlike George Eliot's friend Mrs. Gaskell equally brilliant book Wives and Daughters, is confined to courtship and marriage would be to ignore half the book. It is also about a society in transition, and the laws of society are made by men, though women make many of the rules.

Though it is set in 1830, when medical reform was just beginning, it is surprising how much of a parallel exists today.

. . .for since professional practice chiefly consisted in giving a great many drugs, the public inferred that it might be better off with more drugs still, if they could be got cheaply, and hence swallowed large cubic measures of physic prescribed by unscrupulous ignorance . . .

To a certain extent, that sums up a problem of modern medicine, as envisioned by the mighty pharmaceuticals buzz.

The various strata of medical knowledge, ignorance, and myth provides both humor and harrowing tragedy. Then there are the political issues, which are easy enough to draw parallels to today. What we find in this novel are men of affairs in conflict, their characters complex, their motives a mix.

In Middlemarch, we get men and women who have equal agency in personal dynamics, even if women cannot work as physicians, or run for office. What the women do and think matters as much as what the men do and think.

Is it a perfect novel? I don't know that there is any such thing. This one was remarkably innovative for its time, though it was set, as so many were, forty years in the past. One has only to read the reviews as the serial came out to find out what an effect it had on its audience, many of whom did not know that a woman's hand gripped the pen.

Because the narrator can see into all hearts and minds equally, we get a close look at the costs of social deflections, religious sophistry, political maneuvering, and personal failures. And yet it is not a novel of darkness. The observations of human complexity resonate enough with real experience enough to underscore to breathtaking effect the consequences of choices made out of faith, integrity, and kindness. Choices that can change the entire courses of lives, though the moment of decision is made in quietude, and the acting on it is not hailed by the multitudes.

In short, it is a wise, compassionate, sometimes funny and sometimes harrowing look at the range of human affairs, leaving us on a note of hope, with the conviction that life as it could be is actually possible for us all. One decision at a time.
]]> 22663595
Now twenty-three, Zed teaches music and theatre at a private school in Washington, D.C. and regularly attends AA meetings to keep the pain at bay. Aly has returned to D.C. to live with her mother while trying to recover from the mental and physical breakdown that forced her to take a leave of absence from the ballet world, and her adoring fans.

When Zed and Aly run into each other in a coffee shop, it’s as if no time has passed at all. But without the buffer and escape of dance—and with so much lust, anger and heartbreak hanging between them—their renewed connection will either allow them to build the together they never had... or destroy the fragile recoveries they've only started to make.

Book One of the District Ballet Company]]> 193 Katherine Locke 142689970X Sherwood 0 romance
Four years later, after total silence between them, they happen to meet in a coffee bar in Washington D.C. and it throws them both into near tailspins. From there the rest of the book trades chapters as they examine their own emotional difficulties and one another's with minute detail. I tend to like a larger cast, and I really need humor leavening my romance reading. There is very little humor in this book until Aly meets Zed's best friend, and the wit really sparks.

There is little sign of ballet at first, though the context imbues the book with dance, especially through the controlled, euphonious prose. When ballet began to appear the description was spot on, aware of the dancer's life. It was an intense pleasure to read, and a couple times I felt my muscles clench in long-forgotten memory.

And that's what kept me in: the writing is so graceful, so aware of real and telling details--emotionally, physically, sensorily as well as sensually--rather than relying on the standard figurative phrases, that it kept me glued to the pages. In fact the writing was so compelling, and the tight focus so unrelenting, that the few copyedit glitches bounced me out more sharply than they would in most books. Not that there were many, beyond the frequently occurring spelling of "All right" as "alright".

Another thing I noted was the handling (mostly off-stage) of Zed's parents. As soon as I saw them introduced as fundamentalists I rolled my eyes, ready for the usual one-dimensional, cardboard evil zealots so popular in contemporary fiction today. Fundies are easy villains, but bigotry is bigotry and I was glad to see a hint of actual human behavior in this thread toward the end of the book.

Merged review:

This romance turned out to be at the edge of my interest, that is written unrelentlessly in intimate space, so that the entire book focuses in tightly on the inner and outer lives of the romantic couple. Aly and Zed had been besties since they were kids in ballet school, and lovers more recently--before a car crash took away Zed's leg, and with it, his dance career, and caused Aly to miscarry their child.

Four years later, after total silence between them, they happen to meet in a coffee bar in Washington D.C. and it throws them both into near tailspins. From there the rest of the book trades chapters as they examine their own emotional difficulties and one another's with minute detail. I tend to like a larger cast, and I really need humor leavening my romance reading. There is very little humor in this book until Aly meets Zed's best friend, and the wit really sparks.

There is little sign of ballet at first, though the context imbues the book with dance, especially through the controlled, euphonious prose. When ballet began to appear the description was spot on, aware of the dancer's life. It was an intense pleasure to read, and a couple times I felt my muscles clench in long-forgotten memory.

And that's what kept me in: the writing is so graceful, so aware of real and telling details--emotionally, physically, sensorily as well as sensually--rather than relying on the standard figurative phrases, that it kept me glued to the pages. In fact the writing was so compelling, and the tight focus so unrelenting, that the few copyedit glitches bounced me out more sharply than they would in most books. Not that there were many, beyond the frequently occurring spelling of "All right" as "alright".

Another thing I noted was the handling (mostly off-stage) of Zed's parents. As soon as I saw them introduced as fundamentalists I rolled my eyes, ready for the usual one-dimensional, cardboard evil zealots so popular in contemporary fiction today. Fundies are easy villains, but bigotry is bigotry and I was glad to see a hint of actual human behavior in this thread toward the end of the book.]]> 3.80 2015
author: Katherine Locke
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2015/11/02
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves: romance
review:
This romance turned out to be at the edge of my interest, that is written unrelentlessly in intimate space, so that the entire book focuses in tightly on the inner and outer lives of the romantic couple. Aly and Zed had been besties since they were kids in ballet school, and lovers more recently--before a car crash took away Zed's leg, and with it, his dance career, and caused Aly to miscarry their child.

Four years later, after total silence between them, they happen to meet in a coffee bar in Washington D.C. and it throws them both into near tailspins. From there the rest of the book trades chapters as they examine their own emotional difficulties and one another's with minute detail. I tend to like a larger cast, and I really need humor leavening my romance reading. There is very little humor in this book until Aly meets Zed's best friend, and the wit really sparks.

There is little sign of ballet at first, though the context imbues the book with dance, especially through the controlled, euphonious prose. When ballet began to appear the description was spot on, aware of the dancer's life. It was an intense pleasure to read, and a couple times I felt my muscles clench in long-forgotten memory.

And that's what kept me in: the writing is so graceful, so aware of real and telling details--emotionally, physically, sensorily as well as sensually--rather than relying on the standard figurative phrases, that it kept me glued to the pages. In fact the writing was so compelling, and the tight focus so unrelenting, that the few copyedit glitches bounced me out more sharply than they would in most books. Not that there were many, beyond the frequently occurring spelling of "All right" as "alright".

Another thing I noted was the handling (mostly off-stage) of Zed's parents. As soon as I saw them introduced as fundamentalists I rolled my eyes, ready for the usual one-dimensional, cardboard evil zealots so popular in contemporary fiction today. Fundies are easy villains, but bigotry is bigotry and I was glad to see a hint of actual human behavior in this thread toward the end of the book.

Merged review:

This romance turned out to be at the edge of my interest, that is written unrelentlessly in intimate space, so that the entire book focuses in tightly on the inner and outer lives of the romantic couple. Aly and Zed had been besties since they were kids in ballet school, and lovers more recently--before a car crash took away Zed's leg, and with it, his dance career, and caused Aly to miscarry their child.

Four years later, after total silence between them, they happen to meet in a coffee bar in Washington D.C. and it throws them both into near tailspins. From there the rest of the book trades chapters as they examine their own emotional difficulties and one another's with minute detail. I tend to like a larger cast, and I really need humor leavening my romance reading. There is very little humor in this book until Aly meets Zed's best friend, and the wit really sparks.

There is little sign of ballet at first, though the context imbues the book with dance, especially through the controlled, euphonious prose. When ballet began to appear the description was spot on, aware of the dancer's life. It was an intense pleasure to read, and a couple times I felt my muscles clench in long-forgotten memory.

And that's what kept me in: the writing is so graceful, so aware of real and telling details--emotionally, physically, sensorily as well as sensually--rather than relying on the standard figurative phrases, that it kept me glued to the pages. In fact the writing was so compelling, and the tight focus so unrelenting, that the few copyedit glitches bounced me out more sharply than they would in most books. Not that there were many, beyond the frequently occurring spelling of "All right" as "alright".

Another thing I noted was the handling (mostly off-stage) of Zed's parents. As soon as I saw them introduced as fundamentalists I rolled my eyes, ready for the usual one-dimensional, cardboard evil zealots so popular in contemporary fiction today. Fundies are easy villains, but bigotry is bigotry and I was glad to see a hint of actual human behavior in this thread toward the end of the book.
]]> 30176839
Matters of national import become the purview of closed-door conferences as one plot is exposed while another is reconsidered. Meanwhile Jenny gets a surprising offer, and Catherine learns that being queen means little when it comes to certain womanly woes.

This episode is brought to you Liz Duffy Adams and Delia Sherman who know exactly what power lies in the private conversations of women.]]> 40 Liz Duffy Adams 1682100774 Sherwood 0 fiction, history-17th-c
Merged review:

Another excellent chapter, with subtly delineated emotions that begin to rise toward a crescendo. A deeply satisfying conclusion to one thread, with others developing--and of course there is the tension of knowing what is to come. This series is such a pleasure to read.]]> 3.95 2016
author: Liz Duffy Adams
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/22
shelves: fiction, history-17th-c
review:
Another excellent chapter, with subtly delineated emotions that begin to rise toward a crescendo. A deeply satisfying conclusion to one thread, with others developing--and of course there is the tension of knowing what is to come. This series is such a pleasure to read.

Merged review:

Another excellent chapter, with subtly delineated emotions that begin to rise toward a crescendo. A deeply satisfying conclusion to one thread, with others developing--and of course there is the tension of knowing what is to come. This series is such a pleasure to read.
]]> 43805840 A local cop. A US Peacekeeper. A divided Tokyo.

In the future, two mismatched cops must work together to solve crimes in a divided Tokyo.

Years of disaster and conflict have left Tokyo split between great powers. In the city of drone-enforced borders, bodymod black markets, and desperate resistance movements, US peacekeeper Emma Higashi is assigned to partner with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective Miyako Koreda. Together, they must race to solve a series of murders that test their relationship and threaten to overturn the balance of global power. And amid the chaos, they each need to decide what they are willing to do for peace.

Created by Malka Older, whose Infomocracy was named one of Kirkus' "Best Fiction of 2016", with cowriters Jacqueline Koyanagi (author of Ascension), Fran Wilde (2016 Nebula Award nominee, and winner of the 2016 Andre Norton and Compton Crook awards), and Curtis C. Chen (2017 Locus Awards and Endeavour Award Finalist).]]> 329 Malka Ann Older 168210589X Sherwood 0 mystery, sf
The blurb is the best introduction to the basics: Years of disaster and conflict have left Tokyo split between great powers.

In the city of drone-enforced borders, bodymod black markets, and desperate resistance movements, US peacekeeper Emma Higashi is assigned to partner with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective Miyako Koreda.

Each episode is a case, setup, conflict, solve, which makes satisfying reading for those who don't like artificial cliff-hangers. While the cases get solved, each week we learn a little more about our main pair, Emma (Japanese-American, coming to Japan with American cultural values and background) and Miyako, Japanese born, and still even in this future, dealing with gender bias.

The women are prickly, Miyako especially closed off, but gradually they begin learning about each other as they learn to depend on the other's particular skill set. It's a real pleasure for readers who like complicated cultural, political, and military overlay in character development to watch these two navigating cultural and gender shoals on top of dealing with the aftermath of war and disaster.

The worldbuilding backdrop is more sketched in. The world stage is not complicated, more like TV situational backdrops, but the foregrounding more than makes up for that in complexity.

I loved watching the spiky, wary pair form their partnership as they dealt with a dangerous, fascinating world. The writers worked to complement tones and focus, making this series a pleasure both as science fiction and as mystery.

Copy provided by Serial Box

Merged review:

This series at Serial Box really lends itself to the weekly episode format.

The blurb is the best introduction to the basics: Years of disaster and conflict have left Tokyo split between great powers.

In the city of drone-enforced borders, bodymod black markets, and desperate resistance movements, US peacekeeper Emma Higashi is assigned to partner with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective Miyako Koreda.

Each episode is a case, setup, conflict, solve, which makes satisfying reading for those who don't like artificial cliff-hangers. While the cases get solved, each week we learn a little more about our main pair, Emma (Japanese-American, coming to Japan with American cultural values and background) and Miyako, Japanese born, and still even in this future, dealing with gender bias.

The women are prickly, Miyako especially closed off, but gradually they begin learning about each other as they learn to depend on the other's particular skill set. It's a real pleasure for readers who like complicated cultural, political, and military overlay in character development to watch these two navigating cultural and gender shoals on top of dealing with the aftermath of war and disaster.

The worldbuilding backdrop is more sketched in. The world stage is not complicated, more like TV situational backdrops, but the foregrounding more than makes up for that in complexity.

I loved watching the spiky, wary pair form their partnership as they dealt with a dangerous, fascinating world. The writers worked to complement tones and focus, making this series a pleasure both as science fiction and as mystery.

Copy provided by Serial Box]]> 3.96 2019
author: Malka Ann Older
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves: mystery, sf
review:
This series at Serial Box really lends itself to the weekly episode format.

The blurb is the best introduction to the basics: Years of disaster and conflict have left Tokyo split between great powers.

In the city of drone-enforced borders, bodymod black markets, and desperate resistance movements, US peacekeeper Emma Higashi is assigned to partner with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective Miyako Koreda.

Each episode is a case, setup, conflict, solve, which makes satisfying reading for those who don't like artificial cliff-hangers. While the cases get solved, each week we learn a little more about our main pair, Emma (Japanese-American, coming to Japan with American cultural values and background) and Miyako, Japanese born, and still even in this future, dealing with gender bias.

The women are prickly, Miyako especially closed off, but gradually they begin learning about each other as they learn to depend on the other's particular skill set. It's a real pleasure for readers who like complicated cultural, political, and military overlay in character development to watch these two navigating cultural and gender shoals on top of dealing with the aftermath of war and disaster.

The worldbuilding backdrop is more sketched in. The world stage is not complicated, more like TV situational backdrops, but the foregrounding more than makes up for that in complexity.

I loved watching the spiky, wary pair form their partnership as they dealt with a dangerous, fascinating world. The writers worked to complement tones and focus, making this series a pleasure both as science fiction and as mystery.

Copy provided by Serial Box

Merged review:

This series at Serial Box really lends itself to the weekly episode format.

The blurb is the best introduction to the basics: Years of disaster and conflict have left Tokyo split between great powers.

In the city of drone-enforced borders, bodymod black markets, and desperate resistance movements, US peacekeeper Emma Higashi is assigned to partner with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective Miyako Koreda.

Each episode is a case, setup, conflict, solve, which makes satisfying reading for those who don't like artificial cliff-hangers. While the cases get solved, each week we learn a little more about our main pair, Emma (Japanese-American, coming to Japan with American cultural values and background) and Miyako, Japanese born, and still even in this future, dealing with gender bias.

The women are prickly, Miyako especially closed off, but gradually they begin learning about each other as they learn to depend on the other's particular skill set. It's a real pleasure for readers who like complicated cultural, political, and military overlay in character development to watch these two navigating cultural and gender shoals on top of dealing with the aftermath of war and disaster.

The worldbuilding backdrop is more sketched in. The world stage is not complicated, more like TV situational backdrops, but the foregrounding more than makes up for that in complexity.

I loved watching the spiky, wary pair form their partnership as they dealt with a dangerous, fascinating world. The writers worked to complement tones and focus, making this series a pleasure both as science fiction and as mystery.

Copy provided by Serial Box
]]> 31226229 In this thrilling sequel to World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott's captivating young adult debut, a girl immersed in high-stakes competition holds the fate of a kingdom in her hands.

Now a Challenger, Jessamy is moving up the ranks of the Fives--the complex athletic contest favored by the lowliest Commoners and the loftiest Patrons alike. Pitted against far more formidable adversaries, success is Jes's only option, as her prize money is essential to keeping her hidden family alive. She leaps at the chance to tour the countryside and face more competitors, but then a fatal attack on her traveling party puts Jes at the center of the war that Lord Kalliarkos--the prince she still loves--is fighting against their country's enemies. With a sinister overlord watching her every move and Kal's life on the line, Jes must now become more than a Fives champion.... She must become a warrior.]]> 497 Kate Elliott 0316344362 Sherwood 0 fantasy
So let me begin with what I didn’t like, which is the present tense narrative. I have to admit it rarely works for me, though when it does, it’s very effective. But in a story like this, where Jes is beginning segments “A month later, I’m going . . .” and “A few weeks later I am ready for . . .” it was especially jolting.

But that jolt would last maybe a paragraph, max, and then I’d sink right back into the story, so immersed that only outside interruption forced me out.

The book begins immediately after the stunning cliff hanger of the first book, as Jes strives to explain her choices, but determined as she is, events are more determined to keep her far from peace. And so she must fall back on her Pyrrhic victory, which sets her up for more dangerous challenges—that she is very ready to meet.

Jes is an athletes’ athlete, not only strong and smart and disciplined, but she uses the strategic thinking she has developed in her sport to apply to the dangerous world around her.

And she needs this edge. Trouble is brewing in high places, and as she is constantly reminded by powerful people around her, outsiders like her are never safe. No one is safe when war is threatening—not just from the outside, but from the inside as well.

This is not an easy story to read, as Elliott doesn’t pull her punches about the viciousness of war, especially when it’s personal. She has built complicated cultures, both of whom have evolved after the Saroese Patrons conquered the Efeans. Cultural and class distinctions are imposed not only by the Patrons at the top, but also by the Efean underclass through distrust and covert action. Characters who speak one to one in dire circumstances revert to form in moments of high anxiety—especially those at the top, who cling to the order that grants their privilege.

What immerses me so deeply? Complex characters, and a complicated story with sharp twists and turns that I cannot not predict. Every time I thought, oh, I know where this is going, I was wrong.

Vivid scenery that evokes all five senses. (Five is an important number in both cultures.) Telling details in character development, an ever-changing range of emotional reactions, and fast action.

At the center is Jessamy’s loving family, separated by cultural differences imposed by the conquerors, and by their own passionate convictions. Even when they argue—which they do, with equal passion—and divide sharply over individual convictions, the four sisters, their father, and their mother, love each other with exhilarating conviction.

And oh, are they complicated, as each pursues his or her goal with energy and all their considerable brains. The book’s strength, though, I think lies in how complicated the villains are. I find evil-for-evil’s sake villains boringly predictable. The only one of that type of villain in the entire book is scarcely seen, conniving mostly at a distance as everyone else is struggling to restore order as they see it. Other villains are not so easily predicted, which ratchets up the tension, and the interest.

Fascinating female characters of all ages, diverse cultures influencing each other in spite of the power structure, and a lot of action kept me turning the pages, the bonus being a central relationship built on trust—and on striving to do the right thing though everything around seems wrong.

Here we have young characters born into stressful, fast-changing times striving with brains, courage, and grace to do what they believe is the right thing, sometimes in spite of their own wildly gyrating emotions.

In short: Anyone who thinks fantasy is meaningless escapism should be reading Kate Elliott

And now I have to wait a year for the next? Oh, where’s the time machine when you need one?

Copy provided courtesy of NetGalley.
]]> 4.04 2016
author: Kate Elliott
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2016/07/23
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is one of my favorite books of 2016, which makes it very hard to talk about, especially spoiler free. When one enjoys a book as thoroughly as I did this one, it’s too easy to blat an eye-glazing burble of superlatives.

So let me begin with what I didn’t like, which is the present tense narrative. I have to admit it rarely works for me, though when it does, it’s very effective. But in a story like this, where Jes is beginning segments “A month later, I’m going . . .” and “A few weeks later I am ready for . . .” it was especially jolting.

But that jolt would last maybe a paragraph, max, and then I’d sink right back into the story, so immersed that only outside interruption forced me out.

The book begins immediately after the stunning cliff hanger of the first book, as Jes strives to explain her choices, but determined as she is, events are more determined to keep her far from peace. And so she must fall back on her Pyrrhic victory, which sets her up for more dangerous challenges—that she is very ready to meet.

Jes is an athletes’ athlete, not only strong and smart and disciplined, but she uses the strategic thinking she has developed in her sport to apply to the dangerous world around her.

And she needs this edge. Trouble is brewing in high places, and as she is constantly reminded by powerful people around her, outsiders like her are never safe. No one is safe when war is threatening—not just from the outside, but from the inside as well.

This is not an easy story to read, as Elliott doesn’t pull her punches about the viciousness of war, especially when it’s personal. She has built complicated cultures, both of whom have evolved after the Saroese Patrons conquered the Efeans. Cultural and class distinctions are imposed not only by the Patrons at the top, but also by the Efean underclass through distrust and covert action. Characters who speak one to one in dire circumstances revert to form in moments of high anxiety—especially those at the top, who cling to the order that grants their privilege.

What immerses me so deeply? Complex characters, and a complicated story with sharp twists and turns that I cannot not predict. Every time I thought, oh, I know where this is going, I was wrong.

Vivid scenery that evokes all five senses. (Five is an important number in both cultures.) Telling details in character development, an ever-changing range of emotional reactions, and fast action.

At the center is Jessamy’s loving family, separated by cultural differences imposed by the conquerors, and by their own passionate convictions. Even when they argue—which they do, with equal passion—and divide sharply over individual convictions, the four sisters, their father, and their mother, love each other with exhilarating conviction.

And oh, are they complicated, as each pursues his or her goal with energy and all their considerable brains. The book’s strength, though, I think lies in how complicated the villains are. I find evil-for-evil’s sake villains boringly predictable. The only one of that type of villain in the entire book is scarcely seen, conniving mostly at a distance as everyone else is struggling to restore order as they see it. Other villains are not so easily predicted, which ratchets up the tension, and the interest.

Fascinating female characters of all ages, diverse cultures influencing each other in spite of the power structure, and a lot of action kept me turning the pages, the bonus being a central relationship built on trust—and on striving to do the right thing though everything around seems wrong.

Here we have young characters born into stressful, fast-changing times striving with brains, courage, and grace to do what they believe is the right thing, sometimes in spite of their own wildly gyrating emotions.

In short: Anyone who thinks fantasy is meaningless escapism should be reading Kate Elliott

And now I have to wait a year for the next? Oh, where’s the time machine when you need one?

Copy provided courtesy of NetGalley.

]]> 211003860 Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.]]> 320 Emma Lord 1250904021 Sherwood 0 netgalley, romance
I do wonder if Emma Lord has not been in a college dorm for a long time; at least I'm told by various young people that the old saw about terrible dorm food is a generation out of date, and that nowadays most dorm food caters to a variety of dietary requirements--and that national chains are often present. (Also, considering the truly disgusting food combos the characters come up with, it seems a kettle and pot situation, but I digress)

That aside, though the slow burn romance (the rival is more of a frenemies situation that resolves very, very rapidly) could lead one to assume this is a "clean" romance, yet the frequent F-bombs and the casual references to underage drinking don't usually fit with what I understand to be a part of clean romance.

That said, I really enjoyed the main characters. Sadie definitely has plot armor, but I think wish fulfillment is a huge part of romance. Accept that in a year, she's going to cram in ten years of insights about love, relationships, and friendship, and that everything she touches will turn to gold, with admiration on all sides, including of course her love interest. Sadie is full of heart, her boy as well, and the diverse representation added to the charm for me.

]]> 3.53 2025
author: Emma Lord
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/18
shelves: netgalley, romance
review:
This is an interesting sort-of YA novel aimed precisely at college freshmen. It deals a lot with leaving family for the first time, about sibling relationships as teens begin to emerge as young adults, and about beginning relationships. That aspect was thoughtfully handled, amid the fast-paced chaos of the rest of the book.

I do wonder if Emma Lord has not been in a college dorm for a long time; at least I'm told by various young people that the old saw about terrible dorm food is a generation out of date, and that nowadays most dorm food caters to a variety of dietary requirements--and that national chains are often present. (Also, considering the truly disgusting food combos the characters come up with, it seems a kettle and pot situation, but I digress)

That aside, though the slow burn romance (the rival is more of a frenemies situation that resolves very, very rapidly) could lead one to assume this is a "clean" romance, yet the frequent F-bombs and the casual references to underage drinking don't usually fit with what I understand to be a part of clean romance.

That said, I really enjoyed the main characters. Sadie definitely has plot armor, but I think wish fulfillment is a huge part of romance. Accept that in a year, she's going to cram in ten years of insights about love, relationships, and friendship, and that everything she touches will turn to gold, with admiration on all sides, including of course her love interest. Sadie is full of heart, her boy as well, and the diverse representation added to the charm for me.


]]> 49895449 When a Texan tourist turns up dead in a lonely arroyo at Ghost Ranch, questions arise that reach back to the Wild West. Murdered by outlaws, or by a lynch mob? Killed for money or for hate?

Finally done with the hectic holidays, Ellen Rosings gets a chance to relax. After catching up on researching the Wisteria Tearoom’s resident ghost,
Captain Dusenberry, she and sweetheart Tony Aragón plan a long weekend at Ghost Ranch, where artist Georgia O’Keeffe lived and painted the colorful northern New Mexico landscapes.

Hiking, horseback riding, and a tour of O’Keeffe’s studio are on the agenda, but finding a body is not. Alas, even the most careful plans are subject to change. When a ranch guest from Texas dies, Ellen and Tony must collaborate to identify the killer—but he suspects Ellen’s new friend. Are they headed for a clash?

This cozy mystery is the seventh in the Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries series.]]> 210 Patrice Greenwood 1611388759 Sherwood 0 fantasy, mystery
Readers could begin anywhere, I think. At heart is Ellen Rosings, a quiet book nerd who opened a tea house that is wildly successful, and based on the luscious descriptions, I can imagine why. I've been to teahouses like this one--beautifully decorated, with attention to every detail, from food to background music.

But Ellen is a quiet book nerd who falls into mysteries. Most of them have a dead body at the crux of the mystery, and Ellen ends up involved, drawn into helping solve it. She's no action hero--she remains a quiet, cautious (but tenacious) book nerd throughout the series, which I really enjoy. Especially when she meets, and butts heads with, a fiery cop named Tony Aragon.

There is a strong sense of place in this series--it couldn't happen anywhere but New Mexico, and that is especially true of this latest entry, which overlaps with Georgia O'Keeffe country. The mystery includes quotes from O'Keeffe, snips of her life, and descriptions of her art. Never overpowering the story, always apropos.

Ellen and Tony are now heading toward marriage--and we get to see Tony working a case from the inside, which is a real pleasure. The book began leisurely, but once the body is found the tension and interest cracked right along, with a twist I totally did not see coming. Though the author plays fair, and the clues are there all along.

New Mexico, and its sometimes fraught history, underlie the current mystery; there is an ongoing century old mystery Ellen is determined to solve, especially as she has a ghost silently watching her. That's right, a ghost. Just adds that touch of magic to an already fun read.

Merged review:

I really enjoyed this latest entry in the series, which I read in draft.

Readers could begin anywhere, I think. At heart is Ellen Rosings, a quiet book nerd who opened a tea house that is wildly successful, and based on the luscious descriptions, I can imagine why. I've been to teahouses like this one--beautifully decorated, with attention to every detail, from food to background music.

But Ellen is a quiet book nerd who falls into mysteries. Most of them have a dead body at the crux of the mystery, and Ellen ends up involved, drawn into helping solve it. She's no action hero--she remains a quiet, cautious (but tenacious) book nerd throughout the series, which I really enjoy. Especially when she meets, and butts heads with, a fiery cop named Tony Aragon.

There is a strong sense of place in this series--it couldn't happen anywhere but New Mexico, and that is especially true of this latest entry, which overlaps with Georgia O'Keeffe country. The mystery includes quotes from O'Keeffe, snips of her life, and descriptions of her art. Never overpowering the story, always apropos.

Ellen and Tony are now heading toward marriage--and we get to see Tony working a case from the inside, which is a real pleasure. The book began leisurely, but once the body is found the tension and interest cracked right along, with a twist I totally did not see coming. Though the author plays fair, and the clues are there all along.

New Mexico, and its sometimes fraught history, underlie the current mystery; there is an ongoing century old mystery Ellen is determined to solve, especially as she has a ghost silently watching her. That's right, a ghost. Just adds that touch of magic to an already fun read.]]> 4.25
author: Patrice Greenwood
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/18
shelves: fantasy, mystery
review:
I really enjoyed this latest entry in the series, which I read in draft.

Readers could begin anywhere, I think. At heart is Ellen Rosings, a quiet book nerd who opened a tea house that is wildly successful, and based on the luscious descriptions, I can imagine why. I've been to teahouses like this one--beautifully decorated, with attention to every detail, from food to background music.

But Ellen is a quiet book nerd who falls into mysteries. Most of them have a dead body at the crux of the mystery, and Ellen ends up involved, drawn into helping solve it. She's no action hero--she remains a quiet, cautious (but tenacious) book nerd throughout the series, which I really enjoy. Especially when she meets, and butts heads with, a fiery cop named Tony Aragon.

There is a strong sense of place in this series--it couldn't happen anywhere but New Mexico, and that is especially true of this latest entry, which overlaps with Georgia O'Keeffe country. The mystery includes quotes from O'Keeffe, snips of her life, and descriptions of her art. Never overpowering the story, always apropos.

Ellen and Tony are now heading toward marriage--and we get to see Tony working a case from the inside, which is a real pleasure. The book began leisurely, but once the body is found the tension and interest cracked right along, with a twist I totally did not see coming. Though the author plays fair, and the clues are there all along.

New Mexico, and its sometimes fraught history, underlie the current mystery; there is an ongoing century old mystery Ellen is determined to solve, especially as she has a ghost silently watching her. That's right, a ghost. Just adds that touch of magic to an already fun read.

Merged review:

I really enjoyed this latest entry in the series, which I read in draft.

Readers could begin anywhere, I think. At heart is Ellen Rosings, a quiet book nerd who opened a tea house that is wildly successful, and based on the luscious descriptions, I can imagine why. I've been to teahouses like this one--beautifully decorated, with attention to every detail, from food to background music.

But Ellen is a quiet book nerd who falls into mysteries. Most of them have a dead body at the crux of the mystery, and Ellen ends up involved, drawn into helping solve it. She's no action hero--she remains a quiet, cautious (but tenacious) book nerd throughout the series, which I really enjoy. Especially when she meets, and butts heads with, a fiery cop named Tony Aragon.

There is a strong sense of place in this series--it couldn't happen anywhere but New Mexico, and that is especially true of this latest entry, which overlaps with Georgia O'Keeffe country. The mystery includes quotes from O'Keeffe, snips of her life, and descriptions of her art. Never overpowering the story, always apropos.

Ellen and Tony are now heading toward marriage--and we get to see Tony working a case from the inside, which is a real pleasure. The book began leisurely, but once the body is found the tension and interest cracked right along, with a twist I totally did not see coming. Though the author plays fair, and the clues are there all along.

New Mexico, and its sometimes fraught history, underlie the current mystery; there is an ongoing century old mystery Ellen is determined to solve, especially as she has a ghost silently watching her. That's right, a ghost. Just adds that touch of magic to an already fun read.
]]> 28274545 “Sweeping and replete with alluring detail . . . [a] haunting yet ultimately optimistic examination of the human condition as found in Romania.”—Alison Smale, The New York Times Book ReviewFrom the New York Times bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan, named one of the world’s Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, comes a riveting journey through one of Europe’s frontier countries—and a potent examination of the forces that will determine Europe’s fate in the postmodern age. Robert Kaplan first visited Romania in the 1970s, when he was a young journalist and the country was a bleak Communist backwater. It was one of the darkest corners of Europe, but few Westerners were paying attention. What ensued was a lifelong obsession with a critical, often overlooked country—a country that, today, is key to understanding the current threat that Russia poses to Europe. In Europe’s Shadow is a vivid blend of memoir, travelogue, journalism, and history, a masterly work thirty years in the making—the story of a journalist coming of age, and a country struggling to do the same. Through the lens of one country, Kaplan examines larger questions of geography, imperialism, the role of fate in international relations, the Cold War, the Holocaust, and more. Here Kaplan illuminates the fusion of the Latin West and the Greek East that created Romania, the country that gave rise to Ion Antonescu, Hitler’s chief foreign accomplice during World War II, and the country that was home to the most brutal strain of Communism under Nicolae Ceaușescu. Romania past and present are rendered in cinematic the ashen faces of citizens waiting in bread lines in Cold War–era Bucharest; the Bărăgan Steppe, laid bare by centuries of foreign invasion; the grim labor camps of the Black Sea Canal; the majestic Gothic church spires of Transylvania and Maramureş. Kaplan finds himself in dialogue with the great thinkers of the past, and with the Romanians of today, the philosophers, priests, and politicians—those who struggle to keep the flame of humanism alive in the era of a resurgent Russia. Upon his return to Romania in 2013 and 2014, Kaplan found the country transformed yet again—now a traveler’s destination shaped by Western tastes, yet still emerging from the long shadows of Hitler and Stalin. In Europe’s Shadow is the story of an ideological and geographic frontier—and the book you must read in order to truly understand the crisis Europe faces, from Russia and from within.]]> 301 Robert D. Kaplan 0812996828 Sherwood 0
One of the most interesting developments in journalism, or so it appears to me as a reader, is the reintroduction of “I.” Travel memoirs of old were presented up front as such, the better ones full of historical context and observation, with reference to how the ordinary person of a given area sees their world.

At least when I was young, there was this emphasis on being objective. I don’t believe anyone is truly objective. There are degrees of obviousness in the writer’s perception. And trying too hard for a robotic objectivity frequently leads to government-speak (“it was decided” convolutions) and just plain dullness.

Kaplan is very aware of that as he discusses at length his approach for this book—beginning with his own limitations. You don't grow up gradually. You grow up in short bursts at pivotal moments, by suddenly realizing how ignorant and immature you are. Bucharest, as I rode in from the airport and saw the ashen, moldy faces of the bus driver and other Romanian support, crushed in their overcoats and winter hats with earmuffs and their worries, made be instinctually aware of all the history I had been missing the last half decade.

The best travel writer since Herodotus to my mind is Patrick Leigh Fermor, whose superlative writing and profound insights and historical awareness are mentioned often enough in this book that I suspect that Kaplan was trying for a similar approach. And that’s no bad goal.

He has this to say about travel writing: For the real adventure of travel is mental. It is about total immersion in a place, because nobody from any other place can contact you. You are alone. Thus your life is narrowed to what is immediately before your eyes, making the experience of it that much more vivid and life transforming.

The dilemma, therefore, is how to generalize without going too far, and yet at the same time to describe honestly what one has experienced — and draw conclusions from it — without being intimidated by a moral reprimand. I have failed in this regard in the past, and have struggled for years trying to find the right balance. And I am more and more unsure of myself as I get older, even as I know that there is a vast distance between describing obvious cultural peculiarities and provoking the specter of both racism and essentialism.

He then segues to journalism, and its strengths and pitfalls.

By learning to be a journalist, I do not mean learning the commonplace but crucial mechanics of accurate note-taking, newswriting, or developing sources, which I had been taught in elementary form earlier in college and at a small newspaper. Instead, I refer to understanding the true character of objectivity.

For what is taught in journalism schools is an invaluable craft, whereas properly observing the world is a matter of deliberation and serious reading over decades in the fields of history, philosophy, and political science. Journalism actually is not necessarily, whatever the experts of the profession may claim, a traditional subject in its own right.

Rather, it is a means to explore and better communicate subjects that are, in fact, traditional areas of study: history and philosophy as I've said, but also government, politics, literature, architecture, art, and so on. I've never altogether trusted what journalists say about themselves. As Robert Musil, the great early twentieth century Austrian novelist, observes: "High-mindedness is the mark of every professional ideology."

The result is partly memoir, history, partly travelogue, partly journalistic reportage, and partly meditation, adding up to an absorbing, never boring, but seldom easy, read. Opinions are upfront: for example, twice Kaplan states that the ultimate purpose of human existence is to appreciate beauty.

The mention of writers such as Fermor, and Elias Canetti, and Mersea Eliade, with sharply observed examinations of the works of the two latter, made me reach for my pen to jot down names and titles of works of which I hadn’t heard.

The short summary is this: Kaplan returns to Romania and adjacent regions after visits in the eighties and nineties during tumultuous change. He does linger on some of the more stomach-turning aspects of history, very old ranging to not too long ago. But he veers from sensationalism for its own sake, trying to provide context, with such observations as this, after a tense visit, during which he occupied himself by reading Joseph Conrad: Because the future lies inside the silences — inside what people are afraid to discuss openly among themselves, or at the dinner table — it is in the guise of fiction that a writer can more easily and relentlessly tell the truth.


His premier point seems to be that Western indifference and ignorance of areas such as Moldova—tucked up against the Ukraine—could endanger the relative peace of Europe.

I then began acquiring the habit of separating myself from the journalistic horde, looking for news in obscure locations, that is. For example, on a later trip to Bucharest in 1984, Latham casually told me that Ceausescu was blasting a vast area of the capital into oblivion, with security forces plundering and then blowing up whole neighborhoods of historic Orthodox churches, monasteries, Jewish synagogues, and nineteenth century houses: 10,000 structures and all, many with their own sylvan courtyards. Residents were given hours to clear out with their life possessions before explosive charges were set.

Along the way Kaplan offers vivid word pictures of places and people he met, many of them leaders (it was apparently surprisingly easy for journalists to gain access to powerful people thirty years ago), but there are at least a few some snaps of ordinary folk.

This is where my interest caught the most. When I was young, the map of Europe was dominated by the vast pink swathe of the USSR. Names like Romania and Moldavia belonged only to ancient histories. When I traveled as a student in 1971-2, I couldn’t get past the Iron Curtain: everyone said it took money, and in those days I got around by hitchhiking, eating once a day, or less. Ever since then, I’ve read whatever I could about those mysterious areas so closed off.

And Kaplan takes me there, beginning about the time I was in Europe, for he was a year younger, his reach much farther than mine.

Worked in among the chapters on his travels are historical meditations, ranging from the fourteenth and fifteenth century voivodes up to the crucial work Metternich did at the Congress of Vienna in laying down a pattern for relative balance of power that more or less lasted for the following century.

Metternich, that farsighted reactionary, was a man of peace — contra Napoleon, that endemic progressive, who was a man of war. Metternich believed in legal states, not in ethnic nations. States are sanctioned by bureaucratic systems governed by the rule of law; ethnic nations are ruled by blood and soil passion, the very enemy of moderation and analysis.

Toward the end of the work he brings us to the present, with an essay about the importance of the region, and of Western awareness of what is going on there. Group consciousness is all very well and good as long as it defends the rights of the individual — regardless of origin or political tendency. Only with that in mind does nationalism have legitimacy. Though people from time to time still fought vaguely and wistfully, with their eyes half closed, about Greater This or Greater That, their immediate concerns were for the safety and predictability in their own lives.

There’s a lot of food for thought here, as well as a fascinating excursion into an area few of us English-speakers have reached.
]]> 4.12 2016
author: Robert D. Kaplan
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2016/02/03
date added: 2024/09/18
shelves: history-16th-c, history-17th-c, history-18th-c, history-19th-c, history-20th, memoir, travel
review:
Copy provided by NetGalley.

One of the most interesting developments in journalism, or so it appears to me as a reader, is the reintroduction of “I.” Travel memoirs of old were presented up front as such, the better ones full of historical context and observation, with reference to how the ordinary person of a given area sees their world.

At least when I was young, there was this emphasis on being objective. I don’t believe anyone is truly objective. There are degrees of obviousness in the writer’s perception. And trying too hard for a robotic objectivity frequently leads to government-speak (“it was decided” convolutions) and just plain dullness.

Kaplan is very aware of that as he discusses at length his approach for this book—beginning with his own limitations. You don't grow up gradually. You grow up in short bursts at pivotal moments, by suddenly realizing how ignorant and immature you are. Bucharest, as I rode in from the airport and saw the ashen, moldy faces of the bus driver and other Romanian support, crushed in their overcoats and winter hats with earmuffs and their worries, made be instinctually aware of all the history I had been missing the last half decade.

The best travel writer since Herodotus to my mind is Patrick Leigh Fermor, whose superlative writing and profound insights and historical awareness are mentioned often enough in this book that I suspect that Kaplan was trying for a similar approach. And that’s no bad goal.

He has this to say about travel writing: For the real adventure of travel is mental. It is about total immersion in a place, because nobody from any other place can contact you. You are alone. Thus your life is narrowed to what is immediately before your eyes, making the experience of it that much more vivid and life transforming.

The dilemma, therefore, is how to generalize without going too far, and yet at the same time to describe honestly what one has experienced — and draw conclusions from it — without being intimidated by a moral reprimand. I have failed in this regard in the past, and have struggled for years trying to find the right balance. And I am more and more unsure of myself as I get older, even as I know that there is a vast distance between describing obvious cultural peculiarities and provoking the specter of both racism and essentialism.

He then segues to journalism, and its strengths and pitfalls.

By learning to be a journalist, I do not mean learning the commonplace but crucial mechanics of accurate note-taking, newswriting, or developing sources, which I had been taught in elementary form earlier in college and at a small newspaper. Instead, I refer to understanding the true character of objectivity.

For what is taught in journalism schools is an invaluable craft, whereas properly observing the world is a matter of deliberation and serious reading over decades in the fields of history, philosophy, and political science. Journalism actually is not necessarily, whatever the experts of the profession may claim, a traditional subject in its own right.

Rather, it is a means to explore and better communicate subjects that are, in fact, traditional areas of study: history and philosophy as I've said, but also government, politics, literature, architecture, art, and so on. I've never altogether trusted what journalists say about themselves. As Robert Musil, the great early twentieth century Austrian novelist, observes: "High-mindedness is the mark of every professional ideology."

The result is partly memoir, history, partly travelogue, partly journalistic reportage, and partly meditation, adding up to an absorbing, never boring, but seldom easy, read. Opinions are upfront: for example, twice Kaplan states that the ultimate purpose of human existence is to appreciate beauty.

The mention of writers such as Fermor, and Elias Canetti, and Mersea Eliade, with sharply observed examinations of the works of the two latter, made me reach for my pen to jot down names and titles of works of which I hadn’t heard.

The short summary is this: Kaplan returns to Romania and adjacent regions after visits in the eighties and nineties during tumultuous change. He does linger on some of the more stomach-turning aspects of history, very old ranging to not too long ago. But he veers from sensationalism for its own sake, trying to provide context, with such observations as this, after a tense visit, during which he occupied himself by reading Joseph Conrad: Because the future lies inside the silences — inside what people are afraid to discuss openly among themselves, or at the dinner table — it is in the guise of fiction that a writer can more easily and relentlessly tell the truth.


His premier point seems to be that Western indifference and ignorance of areas such as Moldova—tucked up against the Ukraine—could endanger the relative peace of Europe.

I then began acquiring the habit of separating myself from the journalistic horde, looking for news in obscure locations, that is. For example, on a later trip to Bucharest in 1984, Latham casually told me that Ceausescu was blasting a vast area of the capital into oblivion, with security forces plundering and then blowing up whole neighborhoods of historic Orthodox churches, monasteries, Jewish synagogues, and nineteenth century houses: 10,000 structures and all, many with their own sylvan courtyards. Residents were given hours to clear out with their life possessions before explosive charges were set.

Along the way Kaplan offers vivid word pictures of places and people he met, many of them leaders (it was apparently surprisingly easy for journalists to gain access to powerful people thirty years ago), but there are at least a few some snaps of ordinary folk.

This is where my interest caught the most. When I was young, the map of Europe was dominated by the vast pink swathe of the USSR. Names like Romania and Moldavia belonged only to ancient histories. When I traveled as a student in 1971-2, I couldn’t get past the Iron Curtain: everyone said it took money, and in those days I got around by hitchhiking, eating once a day, or less. Ever since then, I’ve read whatever I could about those mysterious areas so closed off.

And Kaplan takes me there, beginning about the time I was in Europe, for he was a year younger, his reach much farther than mine.

Worked in among the chapters on his travels are historical meditations, ranging from the fourteenth and fifteenth century voivodes up to the crucial work Metternich did at the Congress of Vienna in laying down a pattern for relative balance of power that more or less lasted for the following century.

Metternich, that farsighted reactionary, was a man of peace — contra Napoleon, that endemic progressive, who was a man of war. Metternich believed in legal states, not in ethnic nations. States are sanctioned by bureaucratic systems governed by the rule of law; ethnic nations are ruled by blood and soil passion, the very enemy of moderation and analysis.

Toward the end of the work he brings us to the present, with an essay about the importance of the region, and of Western awareness of what is going on there. Group consciousness is all very well and good as long as it defends the rights of the individual — regardless of origin or political tendency. Only with that in mind does nationalism have legitimacy. Though people from time to time still fought vaguely and wistfully, with their eyes half closed, about Greater This or Greater That, their immediate concerns were for the safety and predictability in their own lives.

There’s a lot of food for thought here, as well as a fascinating excursion into an area few of us English-speakers have reached.

]]> 15810910
Captain Marcus d’Ivoire, commander of one of the Vordanai empire’s colonial garrisons, was resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy, remote outpost. But that was before a rebellion upended his life. And once the powder smoke settled, he was left in charge of a demoralized force clinging tenuously to a small fortress at the edge of the desert.

To flee from her past, Winter Ihernglass masqueraded as a man and enlisted as a ranker in the Vordanai Colonials, hoping only to avoid notice. But when chance sees her promoted to command, she must win the hearts of her men and lead them into battle against impossible odds.

The fates of both these soldiers and all the men they lead depend on the newly arrived Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich, who has been sent by the ailing king to restore order. His military genius seems to know no bounds, and under his command, Marcus and Winter can feel the tide turning. But their allegiance will be tested as they begin to suspect that the enigmatic Janus’s ambitions extend beyond the battlefield and into the realm of the supernatural—a realm with the power to ignite a meteoric rise, reshape the known world, and change the lives of everyone in its path.]]> 513 Django Wexler 0451465105 Sherwood 0
Excellent female characters--some unpredictable twists--and ones that I saw coming I anticipated with pleasure. The world-building is a bit Hollywood backdrop, but Wexler's command of Napoleonic-era land warfare is excellent. The battle set-pieces were high points, and the hints of magic paid off satisfyingly, leaving me wanting more.

While the prose sometimes bounced me out--words like "okay" tend to disconcert me in other-world fantasies, and expressions like "really did a number on him", plus too many crucial moments, especially in the last half, were finessed by convenient "somethings", as in "something in his expression told X that . . ." which gets the pace moving at cost of character-building--the breezy banter pulled me right back in again.

Will be looking for the next in the series!]]> 4.03 2013
author: Django Wexler
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2014/10/28
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves: alt-history, history-napoleonic, fantasy
review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this military fantasy with magic, once I got past the prologue with a bunch of bad guys being bad, a trope I am not fond of.

Excellent female characters--some unpredictable twists--and ones that I saw coming I anticipated with pleasure. The world-building is a bit Hollywood backdrop, but Wexler's command of Napoleonic-era land warfare is excellent. The battle set-pieces were high points, and the hints of magic paid off satisfyingly, leaving me wanting more.

While the prose sometimes bounced me out--words like "okay" tend to disconcert me in other-world fantasies, and expressions like "really did a number on him", plus too many crucial moments, especially in the last half, were finessed by convenient "somethings", as in "something in his expression told X that . . ." which gets the pace moving at cost of character-building--the breezy banter pulled me right back in again.

Will be looking for the next in the series!
]]> 59736117 The most dangerous woman in Europe meets the greatest danger of love.

Miss Marian Halcombe thrilled the world In Wilkie Collins’ Victorian best-seller THE WOMAN IN WHITE.

In this sensational sequel, Marian uses all the wits and wiles she learned then to save her husband Theo Camlet from charges of bigamy and then murder. Women are supposed to be rescued in her world, but Marian fights to rescue everything she her husband and her happiness.]]> 275 Brenda W. Clough 1611389410 Sherwood 0 Marian Halcombe: A Most Dangerous Woman picks up where Wilkie Collins’ famous The Woman in White leaves off. So a few words about The Woman in White.

It first appeared in Dickens’ magazine All the Year Round from 1859-60, and is generally regarded as the first of the Victorian “sensation” novels.

When it came out, it wowed the reading public so much that marketing got behind it: there were “Woman in White” perfumes, hats, and clothes. There was “Woman in White” music to draw customers into shops to buy the sheet-music (remember most entertainment was do-it-yourself). The names from the book turned up in baptistry registers—Walter was considered a hot commodity for male names.

Not only did it reinvent the melodramatic romantic gothics of earlier years, it combined them with a new form: the detective novel, which drew heavily on the “true crime” penny dreadfuls, which were fictionalized criminal cases. Gruesome and weird stuff still happened, but no longer in sinister and mysterious German castles (though those didn’t entirely die away—far from it!) but right at home, to people like those next door. There was still plenty of blood and thunder and implied UST with handsome but dastardly cads menacing virtuous women, but with a bit more realism worked in.

It also introduced a new kind of heroine in Marian, who was strong instead of delicate, distinctive rather than beautiful, intelligent instead of passive, and active instead of die-away. Readers of both sexes were electrified by Marian’s daring.

So, at the end of The Woman in White, the beautiful, sensitive and passive Laura gets her happy ending, as does Walter, the villains are defeated . . . and the terrific, dynamic Marian is confined to Victorian spinsterhood, dedicating herself to her sister’s family, a fate the adventure-loving, intelligent, and brave Marian doesn’t deserve.

Brenda Clough decided to fix that.

This isn’t the first time that Collins’s story has been retold or reexamined through text, most notably in Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith.

What I admired about Brenda Clough’s Marian Halcombe is that Clough doesn’t stuff a 21stCentury woman into more-or-less Victorian clothes. That’s not to say there isn’t room for such stories, because of course there is, and an enthusiastic audience who wants exactly that.

But if you, like me, appreciate more of a period feel without having to slog through two-page paragraphs with trainloads of subordinate clauses, you might appreciate the skill with which Clough matches tone and the details of Collins’s novel before beginning Marian’s adventures.

It begins with Marian getting a new journal from her sister, in the hopes that she will now get to do something with her life and to attain the happiness she deserves. Clough does a terrific job of matching the humorous, vigorous tone of Collins’ writing as she paints a picture of domestic contentment, but introduces a sinister note in a newspaper article about dangerous Balkan spies and derring-do in the Austrian Empire.

A cracked tooth in old Mrs. Hartright sends Marian off to London to accompany Walter’s mother, where she meets Theo Camlet, a local publisher, and his two small children. Camlet, a widower who’d been abandoned by his wife, is cautious, but the two swiftly become friends over books.

And so the adventure begins, with cliff-hanger chapter-endings, coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Brenda Clough has written a series—each borrowing from popular genres of the time, while carrying forward the mix of detective work, sensationalism, and drama of the original. There’s a Ruritanian one, there’s an “adventure lost at sea” one . . . and so on. Each resolves, but they build the story of Marian and her family—they are, I found, highly addictive.]]> 4.15 2018
author: Brenda W. Clough
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves:
review:
Marian Halcombe: A Most Dangerous Woman picks up where Wilkie Collins’ famous The Woman in White leaves off. So a few words about The Woman in White.

It first appeared in Dickens’ magazine All the Year Round from 1859-60, and is generally regarded as the first of the Victorian “sensation” novels.

When it came out, it wowed the reading public so much that marketing got behind it: there were “Woman in White” perfumes, hats, and clothes. There was “Woman in White” music to draw customers into shops to buy the sheet-music (remember most entertainment was do-it-yourself). The names from the book turned up in baptistry registers—Walter was considered a hot commodity for male names.

Not only did it reinvent the melodramatic romantic gothics of earlier years, it combined them with a new form: the detective novel, which drew heavily on the “true crime” penny dreadfuls, which were fictionalized criminal cases. Gruesome and weird stuff still happened, but no longer in sinister and mysterious German castles (though those didn’t entirely die away—far from it!) but right at home, to people like those next door. There was still plenty of blood and thunder and implied UST with handsome but dastardly cads menacing virtuous women, but with a bit more realism worked in.

It also introduced a new kind of heroine in Marian, who was strong instead of delicate, distinctive rather than beautiful, intelligent instead of passive, and active instead of die-away. Readers of both sexes were electrified by Marian’s daring.

So, at the end of The Woman in White, the beautiful, sensitive and passive Laura gets her happy ending, as does Walter, the villains are defeated . . . and the terrific, dynamic Marian is confined to Victorian spinsterhood, dedicating herself to her sister’s family, a fate the adventure-loving, intelligent, and brave Marian doesn’t deserve.

Brenda Clough decided to fix that.

This isn’t the first time that Collins’s story has been retold or reexamined through text, most notably in Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith.

What I admired about Brenda Clough’s Marian Halcombe is that Clough doesn’t stuff a 21stCentury woman into more-or-less Victorian clothes. That’s not to say there isn’t room for such stories, because of course there is, and an enthusiastic audience who wants exactly that.

But if you, like me, appreciate more of a period feel without having to slog through two-page paragraphs with trainloads of subordinate clauses, you might appreciate the skill with which Clough matches tone and the details of Collins’s novel before beginning Marian’s adventures.

It begins with Marian getting a new journal from her sister, in the hopes that she will now get to do something with her life and to attain the happiness she deserves. Clough does a terrific job of matching the humorous, vigorous tone of Collins’ writing as she paints a picture of domestic contentment, but introduces a sinister note in a newspaper article about dangerous Balkan spies and derring-do in the Austrian Empire.

A cracked tooth in old Mrs. Hartright sends Marian off to London to accompany Walter’s mother, where she meets Theo Camlet, a local publisher, and his two small children. Camlet, a widower who’d been abandoned by his wife, is cautious, but the two swiftly become friends over books.

And so the adventure begins, with cliff-hanger chapter-endings, coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Brenda Clough has written a series—each borrowing from popular genres of the time, while carrying forward the mix of detective work, sensationalism, and drama of the original. There’s a Ruritanian one, there’s an “adventure lost at sea” one . . . and so on. Each resolves, but they build the story of Marian and her family—they are, I found, highly addictive.
]]> 25517822
The Rifters are imprisoned, and Brandon finds himself, as sole heir to the Phoenix Throne, fighting a battle of symbols, his only weapon his wits as he strives against the powerful and sophisticated aristocrats who hide lethal intent behind urbanity and style.

His goal is to win back control of the Navy and rescue his father from the vicious end planned for him by the usurping Doljharians, resulting in a race to the harsh planet of Gehenna.
]]> 700 Sherwood Smith 1611385091 Sherwood 0 my-books, sf, space-opera
First of all I wanted to clean up the prose. (I've learned a lot in twenty years, though yes, I still have a long way to go) but there were also aspects we wanted to bring up-to-date. And never is it more obvious that fiction is very much about our time, whenever it is set, than in looking at futuristic science fiction.

Thanks to Dave, our tech is actually really strong. He was one of the first to figure out what FTL strategy and tactics would actually be like, something that sparked fans among Navy and other types in Washington DC, like Chris Weuve. Dave also invented the boswell, which is pretty much what the Apple wrist watch is going to be in about five years. This was before cell phones were anything but a gleam in tech-geeks' eyes.

But here is where writing for your time edges in. If you read as much history as I do, you won't be surprised about how long it takes to bring Hot New Tech to actual tactical advantage, in terms of warfare, and in terms of social adaptation, how long before the Not New Thing changes from a peculiarity of the rich and the wild to everyday. That progress usually parallels cost coming down, but not always. Making a new thing part of one's everyday life is an interesting process, and doesn't progress at the same pace from person to person, house to house, region to region, country to country.

Anyway, in rereading Exordium preparatory to rewriting it, it occurred to us that though our characters had boswells, they actually weren't using them in times of emergency: they were going to the nearest public computer console a bit like we went to the nearest phone booth back in the eighties. Oops. So when the action required it, we had to invent reasons why the characters couldn't boz each other. Security blackouts are convenient that way.

Another aspect in which we were ahead of the time was socially. Both of us had been bothered by one single black character in Star Wars 2 (Star Wars 1, much as we adored it, and went back to watch it a kajillion times in 1977, was Rilly Rilly White), Lando Calrissian. In our future, white skin was socially repellent: people gennated for melanin production for health as well as social reasons.

And because we were a female and male team, it had been my goal from the time we pitched the TV series to HBO and NBC in 1980 (right before The Big Strike, which is why you never saw it on TV) to get female starship captains and pirates and everything else in there, not just men in action, women standing around as targets, fridgesicles, or ladyprizes. That included looking at the institution of marriage in the far future, and relationships, given universal health care and birth control, which we figures would lead to a polysexual attitude in most, but not all. In rereading, I could still see traces of unexamined assumptions which we have worked with without changing the story materially.

Another aspect was cuss words and pejoratives. We'd made up our own cuss words because at that time TV Standards and Practices were strict. Besides, I figured, if there really was sexual equality in the future then pejoratives would not be female specific. We kept the made up words when we went to book, though we knew such things are problematical. We've finessed them even more in the rewrite, but they are still there.]]> 4.32 1994
author: Sherwood Smith
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: my-books, sf, space-opera
review:
The rewrite has been challenging and fun and frustrating.

First of all I wanted to clean up the prose. (I've learned a lot in twenty years, though yes, I still have a long way to go) but there were also aspects we wanted to bring up-to-date. And never is it more obvious that fiction is very much about our time, whenever it is set, than in looking at futuristic science fiction.

Thanks to Dave, our tech is actually really strong. He was one of the first to figure out what FTL strategy and tactics would actually be like, something that sparked fans among Navy and other types in Washington DC, like Chris Weuve. Dave also invented the boswell, which is pretty much what the Apple wrist watch is going to be in about five years. This was before cell phones were anything but a gleam in tech-geeks' eyes.

But here is where writing for your time edges in. If you read as much history as I do, you won't be surprised about how long it takes to bring Hot New Tech to actual tactical advantage, in terms of warfare, and in terms of social adaptation, how long before the Not New Thing changes from a peculiarity of the rich and the wild to everyday. That progress usually parallels cost coming down, but not always. Making a new thing part of one's everyday life is an interesting process, and doesn't progress at the same pace from person to person, house to house, region to region, country to country.

Anyway, in rereading Exordium preparatory to rewriting it, it occurred to us that though our characters had boswells, they actually weren't using them in times of emergency: they were going to the nearest public computer console a bit like we went to the nearest phone booth back in the eighties. Oops. So when the action required it, we had to invent reasons why the characters couldn't boz each other. Security blackouts are convenient that way.

Another aspect in which we were ahead of the time was socially. Both of us had been bothered by one single black character in Star Wars 2 (Star Wars 1, much as we adored it, and went back to watch it a kajillion times in 1977, was Rilly Rilly White), Lando Calrissian. In our future, white skin was socially repellent: people gennated for melanin production for health as well as social reasons.

And because we were a female and male team, it had been my goal from the time we pitched the TV series to HBO and NBC in 1980 (right before The Big Strike, which is why you never saw it on TV) to get female starship captains and pirates and everything else in there, not just men in action, women standing around as targets, fridgesicles, or ladyprizes. That included looking at the institution of marriage in the far future, and relationships, given universal health care and birth control, which we figures would lead to a polysexual attitude in most, but not all. In rereading, I could still see traces of unexamined assumptions which we have worked with without changing the story materially.

Another aspect was cuss words and pejoratives. We'd made up our own cuss words because at that time TV Standards and Practices were strict. Besides, I figured, if there really was sexual equality in the future then pejoratives would not be female specific. We kept the made up words when we went to book, though we knew such things are problematical. We've finessed them even more in the rewrite, but they are still there.
]]> 36285536 Swordplay, scandal, and sex—welcome to the world of Tremontaine, a glittering new entry in Ellen Kushner's classic Riverside series.

This is the 4th episode in the third season of Tremontaine, a 13-episode serial from Serial Box Publishing. This episode written by Joel Derfner.

As the city celebrates, Micah witnesses as a crime. Kaab and the other Kinwiinik leaders greet the Inspector who could change the balance of power amongst the trading families. Diane obtains a valuable piece of information about Basil Halliday’s wife. Rafe and Reza meet.

Welcome to Tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. A Duchess whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; a handsome young scholar with more passion than sense; a foreigner in a playground of swordplay and secrets; and a mathematical genius whose discoveries herald revolution when games of politics begin, no one is safe. Keep your wit as sharp as your steel in this world where politics is everything, and outcasts are the tastemakers.

]]> 45 Joel Derfner 168210205X Sherwood 0 fantasy, comedy-of-manners
Not much to say: if you don't know the storyline, you will be confused, and if you do know it, you will be spoiled. Therefore summation only: so far, this is proving to become my favorite season, so far.

And Micah is just so wonderful.

So is Kaab, in a totally different way.

Merged review:

This is very much an interim chapter, but each segment does good work in character development, forwarding several threads with rising tension.

Not much to say: if you don't know the storyline, you will be confused, and if you do know it, you will be spoiled. Therefore summation only: so far, this is proving to become my favorite season, so far.

And Micah is just so wonderful.

So is Kaab, in a totally different way.]]> 4.08
author: Joel Derfner
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: fantasy, comedy-of-manners
review:
This is very much an interim chapter, but each segment does good work in character development, forwarding several threads with rising tension.

Not much to say: if you don't know the storyline, you will be confused, and if you do know it, you will be spoiled. Therefore summation only: so far, this is proving to become my favorite season, so far.

And Micah is just so wonderful.

So is Kaab, in a totally different way.

Merged review:

This is very much an interim chapter, but each segment does good work in character development, forwarding several threads with rising tension.

Not much to say: if you don't know the storyline, you will be confused, and if you do know it, you will be spoiled. Therefore summation only: so far, this is proving to become my favorite season, so far.

And Micah is just so wonderful.

So is Kaab, in a totally different way.
]]> 203608494
Naomi Kelly will do anything to make her new brand consulting business a success. When she lands a career saving contract to rebrand the Mukherjee family’s failing local bazaar, she knows there can be no mistakes. But as the “oops” baby of a free-spirited Bengali mother, Naomi’s lack of connection to her roots represents everything Gia Mukherjee disdains.

Enter, Dev Mukherjee.

Dev knows everything his mother wants…including her wish for him to get married, like, yesterday. When Gia hires a matchmaker (without, you know, asking him), Dev vows to do whatever it takes to avoid ending up in a cold, loveless marriage. When a potential match assumes Naomi is his girlfriend, the solution to both their problems becomes clear: Naomi will pretend to date Dev in order to sabotage his mother’s matchmaking efforts in exchange for lessons in Bengali culture. Flawless plan, right?

But as Naomi and Dev bond over awful dancing at Garba, couples cooking classes, and tackling the rebrand as a team, they start to realize while their relationship may be fake, their feelings for each other are starting to become very real. As the line between reality and rumor blurs, Naomi and Dev must confront what it means to fit the mold, and decide how much they’re willing to risk for love.]]> 336 Aurora Palit 0593640187 Sherwood 0 netgalley
There's a good quote in the middle of the book that kind of sums up why I liked that aspect so much: The heroine's mother has a talk with the heroine, saying, "There's no handbook for immigrants and the generations that follow. I think they did the best they could. They raised me according to what made sense to them. And I did the same for you."

The romance is a grumpy/sunshine romance, and it's perfectly fine, but where the writing really shines, for me, is Naomi's quest to find herself between these conflicting cultural expectations. Even when you seem to belong to one set of people, one can still feel an utter outsider for so many reasons.]]> 3.71 2024
author: Aurora Palit
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves: netgalley
review:
I chose this romance because of the setting--second generation immigrants, and how the young generation deal with elder generation expectations and the new setting and its social and cultural rules.

There's a good quote in the middle of the book that kind of sums up why I liked that aspect so much: The heroine's mother has a talk with the heroine, saying, "There's no handbook for immigrants and the generations that follow. I think they did the best they could. They raised me according to what made sense to them. And I did the same for you."

The romance is a grumpy/sunshine romance, and it's perfectly fine, but where the writing really shines, for me, is Naomi's quest to find herself between these conflicting cultural expectations. Even when you seem to belong to one set of people, one can still feel an utter outsider for so many reasons.
]]> 214105913 Will Aderyn's patience and compassion be enough to survive the team’s greatest challenge yet?

Aderyn and her friends can tackle any challenge they'll encounter on their eight-week trek across the continent. They’re ready for monsters, bandits, unexpected quests, and lost dungeons. But nothing could prepare them for the greatest challenge of escorting a whiny, self-absorbed fledgling adventurer through the wilderness to Guerdon Deep.

The Pathseer Jessemia’s hostility and antagonism turn everyone against her—everyone but Aderyn, who sees Jessemia’s potential to be a true adventurer. But when Jessemia’s selfish stupidity endangers the team, will even Aderyn’s patience reach an end?]]> 354 Melissa McShane Sherwood 0 fantasy
New readers ought not to begin with this book, however. There is a lot of good character establishment in the previous volumes that really ought to be read first!

Forgot to add: this is an advance copy, but my opinions are entirely my own.]]> 4.22 2024
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/08
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves: fantasy
review:
This series delights me more with each book. The LitRPG component continues to be inventive, so there is no sense of the same sort of dungeon to be conquered each time. I'm not really into monster fighting or dungeon conquering; what keeps me reading is the character development. Everyone on the team is transforming, but central is a quest to escort an annoying person. What happens to this annoying person, and the quest, forms the core of the story, and the resolution delighted me. Another thing I get a kick out of is the wry voice of the unknown game boss, or computer in charge. In the early books it started out detached, providing data neutrally, but in each succeeding voice there is a sense of a mind there.

New readers ought not to begin with this book, however. There is a lot of good character establishment in the previous volumes that really ought to be read first!

Forgot to add: this is an advance copy, but my opinions are entirely my own.
]]> 59856867
One romantic hopeful had greeted Lester Fabian Brathwaite on a dating app with this “You into race play?” Being young, queer, gifted, and Black, Lester has found that his best tool for navigating American life was gallows humor. If you don’t laugh, you cry—or, you summon your inner rage. With biting wit, Lester’s book Rage interrogates all the ways that systemic racism and homophobia have shaped our society. All to pose that proverbial Can a gurl live?

His book Rage is one part memoir, one part cultural critique, one part live grenade. He contrasts his tragic-comedic love life with the ideals he had formed from binging (straight, white) Hollywood depictions. And he is quick to side-eye the misogyny and internalized homophobia that some people reveal in statements like “masc for masc” on dating profiles. Lester also dives deep into representations of queer life from Ru Paul’s Drag Race to The Birdcage (Robin Williams was a snack in Versace), and explores our cultural understanding of Black genius through stories of Lauryn Hill and Nina Simone.

Lester’s razor sharp voice, coupled with his searing social commentary on topics such as dating, rejection, racism, sexuality, identity, and more, offers an increasingly divided world an engaging and original read.]]> 288 Lester Fabian Brathwaite 0593185080 Sherwood 0
The first half of the book deals with being gay, gay sex, bodybuilder issues, all in the context of being Black and gay. The second half branches out wider into the fretful, intersecting circles of being gay today, being Black today, Black rage--white rage, which is a threat to everyone--gender, queerness, and the eddies that whirl off from these circles.

In talking about gay spaces that are supposed to be save for gay folks, but there's safe for white gays and safe for Black gays, he says:

But darker skin comes with the expectation of violence, as does a lower economic class, since those Black gay clubs are often in the hood. Even when they're not, the expectation is that the bar will be patronized by poorer people, despite the existence of an exorbitant cover and watered-down drinks. Being Black in the gay community feels more second-class than being Black in America as a whole. In the gay community, you're actually encouraged to settle for separate but less-equal, whether it's a bar, or the apps, or health services. But on the other hand, you're also expected to stand with and support your gay community, unquestioningly, regardless of how your community treats you.

He finally addresses the issue of rage, and how he handles it. How it might be handled; his empathy for all those raised angry, and its toxic effects, is there, caught fast like a beacon in the deluge.

An articulate, sobering, worthwhile book for any reader who would like to read more Black voices. ]]> 4.00
author: Lester Fabian Brathwaite
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/06
shelves: autobiography, essays, memoir, netgalley
review:
It took me a long time to read this book, not because there was any fault in the prose. Far from it. Brathwaite writes with clarity, humor, and a straightforward awareness of so many difficult questions about life in contemporary America.

The first half of the book deals with being gay, gay sex, bodybuilder issues, all in the context of being Black and gay. The second half branches out wider into the fretful, intersecting circles of being gay today, being Black today, Black rage--white rage, which is a threat to everyone--gender, queerness, and the eddies that whirl off from these circles.

In talking about gay spaces that are supposed to be save for gay folks, but there's safe for white gays and safe for Black gays, he says:

But darker skin comes with the expectation of violence, as does a lower economic class, since those Black gay clubs are often in the hood. Even when they're not, the expectation is that the bar will be patronized by poorer people, despite the existence of an exorbitant cover and watered-down drinks. Being Black in the gay community feels more second-class than being Black in America as a whole. In the gay community, you're actually encouraged to settle for separate but less-equal, whether it's a bar, or the apps, or health services. But on the other hand, you're also expected to stand with and support your gay community, unquestioningly, regardless of how your community treats you.

He finally addresses the issue of rage, and how he handles it. How it might be handled; his empathy for all those raised angry, and its toxic effects, is there, caught fast like a beacon in the deluge.

An articulate, sobering, worthwhile book for any reader who would like to read more Black voices.
]]> 205435938 Gifted—or cursed—with the power to influence the weather, one woman must embrace her wild heart in the next electric romance from the author of Witch of Wild Things.

Teal Flores is desperate for two things—control over her gift of weather, and a date to her ex’s wedding. The first isn’t possible until she finds her long-lost mother, but the second has a very handsome last-ditch solution: Carter Velasquez.

Carter needs Teal too. His chance at receiving an inheritance is dependent on him being married by age thirty (blame his traditional Cuban grandmother), so who better to pose as his wife than Teal? But fake marriage and cohabitation prove tricky when mutual attraction charges the atmosphere—quite literally for Teal, whose volatile emotions cause lightning strikes.

Together, Teal and Carter embark on a quest to find her mother and the answers she’s searching for. But along the way, they’ll discover something even better: a love that can weather any storm.]]> 352 Raquel Vasquez Gilliland 0593548590 Sherwood 0 fantasy, netgalley 3.82 2024
author: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/04
shelves: fantasy, netgalley
review:
I was drawn to this by the mix of Latina protags and witchery, and the author really delivered. I love the vivid writing and the crackling emotional pacing! The romance did include one of my least-liked tropes--Grand Misunderstanding Because They Don't Talk it Out--especially as these two have been besties for years. But the sisters, the relatives, and everything else drew me in and kept me reading. I really like this author, and am eager for Sage's story.
]]> 298230 An alternate cover edition can be found here.

Drawing heavily from personal experience, Anne Brontë wrote Agnes Grey in an effort to represent the many 19th Century women who worked as governesses and suffered daily abuse as a result of their position.

Having lost the family savings on risky investments, Richard Grey removes himself from family life and suffers a bout of depression. Feeling helpless and frustrated, his youngest daughter, Agnes, applies for a job as a governess to the children of a wealthy, upper-class, English family.

Ecstatic at the thought that she has finally gained control and freedom over her own life, Agnes arrives at the Bloomfield mansion armed with confidence and purpose. The cruelty with which the family treat her however, slowly but surely strips the heroine of all dignity and belief in humanity.

A tale of female bravery in the face of isolation and subjugation, Agnes Grey is a masterpiece claimed by Irish writer, George Moore, to be possessed of all the qualities and style of a Jane Austen title. Its simple prosaic style propels the narrative forward in a gentle yet rhythmic manner which continuously leaves the listener wanting to know more.

Anne Brontë, the somewhat lesser known sister, was in fact the first to finish and publish Agnes Grey under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. Charlotte and Emily followed shortly after with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

As Anne passed away from what is now known to be pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of just 29, she only published one further title; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. As feminist in nature as Agnes Grey, Anne's brave voice resonates and permeates during one of the most prejudiced and patriarchal times of English history.]]> 226 Anne Brontë 0140432108 Sherwood 0 fiction
In this and Jane Eyre, we have governess-eye views of the gentry. In Jane Eyre, Jane manages to make herself central (her suffering in being a governess); in Agnes Grey, there is a meticulous look at the thin veneer of civilization over the soi-disant gentry who have all the money and manner but utterly no moral center. The examination of this family is one of the most effective pieces of quiet horror in literature, I think, because it resonates as true. Far more effective than Charlotte's madwoman-in-the-attic histrionics. (Though those, too, smack of reality . . . but not a reality known to Charlotte. I attribute the long habit of Byronic fanfiction for that, as well as for Emily's oeuvre, and Anne's own Tenant)

Rereading for a book group: again, it strikes me how very good Anne was at observations of human behavior, though a sense of Anne is difficult to find. Agnes Grey is nearly invisible, quite a contrast to Charlotte's books, which convey a powerful sense of Charlotte front and center. (And Emily was different from both, writing straight from the id vortex)]]> 3.71 1847
author: Anne Brontë
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1847
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/30
shelves: fiction
review:
My favorite of the Brontes is Anne. This is my favorite of her novels.

In this and Jane Eyre, we have governess-eye views of the gentry. In Jane Eyre, Jane manages to make herself central (her suffering in being a governess); in Agnes Grey, there is a meticulous look at the thin veneer of civilization over the soi-disant gentry who have all the money and manner but utterly no moral center. The examination of this family is one of the most effective pieces of quiet horror in literature, I think, because it resonates as true. Far more effective than Charlotte's madwoman-in-the-attic histrionics. (Though those, too, smack of reality . . . but not a reality known to Charlotte. I attribute the long habit of Byronic fanfiction for that, as well as for Emily's oeuvre, and Anne's own Tenant)

Rereading for a book group: again, it strikes me how very good Anne was at observations of human behavior, though a sense of Anne is difficult to find. Agnes Grey is nearly invisible, quite a contrast to Charlotte's books, which convey a powerful sense of Charlotte front and center. (And Emily was different from both, writing straight from the id vortex)
]]> 982983 367 Patrick O'Brian 0393037088 Sherwood 0
Before that we get the tedium of blockade, an attempted ship entertainment, and some very lively characters. Steven also gets to slip into France for some derring-do.

The writing as always is terrific, but with great swathes of somewhat repeated minutae about shipboard life. Jack's frstration mounts, particularly when he comes within inches of ship action in a vivid, truly unexpected scene with untoward consequences.

It's the next book that I find myself rereading the least of all of them save 19 and 20, which I pretend don't exist.]]> 4.26 1981
author: Patrick O'Brian
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1981
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/28
shelves: fiction, history-tall-ships, history-napoleonic
review:
This and the next two books form an arc; they are in some ways all the same book, split up. This one ends very abruptly at what feels like the end of a chapter, after one of the fiercest, most vivid of all O'Brian's battle sequences.

Before that we get the tedium of blockade, an attempted ship entertainment, and some very lively characters. Steven also gets to slip into France for some derring-do.

The writing as always is terrific, but with great swathes of somewhat repeated minutae about shipboard life. Jack's frstration mounts, particularly when he comes within inches of ship action in a vivid, truly unexpected scene with untoward consequences.

It's the next book that I find myself rereading the least of all of them save 19 and 20, which I pretend don't exist.
]]> 17765
[Read by Simon Vance]

This ninth volume in Patrick O'Brian's beloved Aubrey-Maturin series is full of suspense, taking on the role of both nautical adventure and spy story. The polished prose vividly evokes the nineteenth century atmosphere.

All of Patrick O'Brian's strengths are on parade in this novel of action and intrigue, set partly in Malta, partly in the treacherous, pirate-infested waters of the Red Sea. While Captain Aubrey worries about repairs to his ship, Stephen Maturin assumes the center stage, for the stockyards and salons of Malta are alive with Napoleon's agents and the admiralty's intelligence network is compromised. Maturin's cunning is the sole bulwark against sabotage of Aubrey's daring mission.]]> Patrick O'Brian 0786180242 Sherwood 0 roman fleuve, Patrick O'Brian does some interesting things. As always on my first read I galloped through it, loving the adventure, the descriptions, the diving bell and the naturalist explorations, far travels, vivid descriptions, various cultures, and exciting battles. O’Brian doesn’t let the reader down, with the expected comedic bits.

But on this reread of the entire series, when I came to this book I became aware of something I hadn't noticed before: I had actually reread it only once. The last couple of times I had reread the whole series, I did it in batches. I stopped with the previous one, The Surgeon's Mate, and then skipped ahead to one of the next.

On this reread, I had to figure out why.

In this book, for the first time, we see the villains and their machinations, while Jack and Stephen are oblivious. Knowing this means that I have lost the tension line, leaving a frustration instead. The frustration is compounded because [spoilers removed] On a first read, those were deeply absorbing, but after that . . . frustration, because I know what’s really going on, and know it will be a long while before our heroes catch up.

In addition, the emotional arc was not as satisfying. Diana and Sophie are totally absent. Jack and Stephen end up dealing with a woman who is not very interesting in herself[spoilers removed].

So all in all, despite the nifty segment in which Jack tries his hand at diplomacy, leading to some sharpish action leading up to the (abrupt) end, I think of it is the book of hindrances.]]> 4.36 1983
author: Patrick O'Brian
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1983
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/28
shelves: historical-novel, history-tall-ships
review:
In this latest installment in the Aubrey/Maturin roman fleuve, Patrick O'Brian does some interesting things. As always on my first read I galloped through it, loving the adventure, the descriptions, the diving bell and the naturalist explorations, far travels, vivid descriptions, various cultures, and exciting battles. O’Brian doesn’t let the reader down, with the expected comedic bits.

But on this reread of the entire series, when I came to this book I became aware of something I hadn't noticed before: I had actually reread it only once. The last couple of times I had reread the whole series, I did it in batches. I stopped with the previous one, The Surgeon's Mate, and then skipped ahead to one of the next.

On this reread, I had to figure out why.

In this book, for the first time, we see the villains and their machinations, while Jack and Stephen are oblivious. Knowing this means that I have lost the tension line, leaving a frustration instead. The frustration is compounded because [spoilers removed] On a first read, those were deeply absorbing, but after that . . . frustration, because I know what’s really going on, and know it will be a long while before our heroes catch up.

In addition, the emotional arc was not as satisfying. Diana and Sophie are totally absent. Jack and Stephen end up dealing with a woman who is not very interesting in herself[spoilers removed].

So all in all, despite the nifty segment in which Jack tries his hand at diplomacy, leading to some sharpish action leading up to the (abrupt) end, I think of it is the book of hindrances.
]]> 218077516 All Sierra Walker has ever wanted is magic, but the powerful mage who trained her as a child betrayed her, sending her back from a world full of magic to modern-day Seattle. So when he comes to her a decade later, Sierra glimpses an opportunity:

She steals his wand, and with it, she begins to steal back magic—for everyone.

In magical combat Sierra's a force to be reckoned with, but she's still on her own, her access to magic handicapped, with an entire world of mages now trying their best to kill her rather than share power. So when Nariel, a dangerous demon lord, offers his assistance, she can't say no. But she also knows better than to trust her life, and her magic, to anyone else ever again—no matter how he ignites a part of her she'd thought long lost.

But as they race around the world to bring magic back while fighting for their lives, Sierra realizes there may now be two things she can't bear to lose.

Diamond Universe: Sierra Walker is a fast-paced, action-packed urban romantasy series spanning the modern world and also other worlds full of magic, with a shadow-wielding demon boyfriend and a heroine who never quits no matter the odds and just goes harder as they fight to change the universe for everyone. Expect the heat level to escalate dramatically in each book.]]> 256 Casey Blair Sherwood 0 to-read, fantasy 4.22
author: Casey Blair
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/27
shelves: to-read, fantasy
review:

]]> 204927354 The masterful narration of a daughter's decades-long quest to understand her extraordinary mother, who was born in Lenin's Soviet Union, served as a combat soldier in the Red Army, and endured three years of Nazi captivity—but never revealed her darkest secrets.

As a child, Roxana Spicer would sometimes wake to the sound of the Red Army choir. She would tip-toe downstairs to find her mother, cigarette in one hand and Black Russian in the other, singing along. Roxana would keep her company, and wonder....

Everyone in their village knew Agnes Spicer was Russian, that she had been a captive of the Nazis. And that was all they knew, because Agnes kept her secrets how she managed to escape Germany, what the tattoo on her arm meant, even her real name. 

Discovering the truth about her beloved, charismatic, volatile mother became Roxana's obsession. Throughout her career as a journalist and documentarian, between investigations across Canada and around the world, she always went home to ask her mother more questions, often while filming. 

Roxana also took every chance to visit the few places that she did know played a role in her mother's Bad Salzuflen, Germany, home to POW slave labourers during the war; notorious concentration camps; and Russia. Under Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and the early years of Putin, she was able to find people, places, and documents that are now—perhaps forever—lost again. 

The Traitor's Daughter is intimate and exhaustively researched, vividly conversational, and shot through with Agnes Spicer's irrepressible, fiery personality. It is a true labour of love as well as a triumph of blending personal biography with sweeping history.]]> 462 Roxana Spicer 0735246548 Sherwood 0 anybody...

So said Rosa Butarin to her daughter Roxana, who according to this dual memoir and biography was in part driven to become a journalist to make sense of her mother's astonishing life.

The structure is odd, but it makes sense in context. The reader is advised to pay attention. At first, we get a glimpse of Rosa within her family in a tiny town in the Canadian prairie, and the occasional hints she would drop about her history. How did a woman born in Russia end up in Canada? Roxana kept asking questions, and her mother kept putting her off when Roxana dug too deeply.

There were plenty of "safe" stories that Rosa told people, then there were the rare bits that she confided to peers over the decades. But the whole story was not going to pass her lips--why would anyone want to know? The past is the past. It's no good knowing. It hurts to recollect. It's vile, what was done to people in that war. Why dredge it up again?

All of which are true. But the hints kept tantalizing Roxana, especially when she uncovered a document that stated that her mother had had four live births, but there were only three kids in her family. There was also a reference to another husband?

At the start, there's a lot more of Roxana than there is of Rosa, as the author sets up her drive to uncover the mysteries of her mother's life. Then she begins with the easy facts to find out, many of which Rosa supplied herself at various times over the years: her place of birth, what it was like to be a kid during the Lenin years, what it was like when Stalin took over...the start of World War II. And after that the story gets sketchy, with Rosa refusing to talk about the war years, until afterward when she managed to snag a Canadian husband and get out of Europe. After which she lived under at least four names, maybe more.

Rosa even agreed to some interviews, which Roxana taped, sometimes alone, and sometimes with other journalists present, as she herself was learning how to be a good journalist. Before her mother's death, she even sneaked in a trip to Germany to check on the farm where her mother said she had been employed to milk a cow during the last years of the war. She went completely unprepared, and learned nothing.

Finally Rosa passed away in her mid eighties, and at that point the biography takes over in the form of a mystery as Roxana uncovers scraps of truth--increasingly difficult. Many know something of the horrific cost of war, but don't realize that for so many after the last surrender of Germany, the nightmare was far from ended. For one thing, at the war'd end, millions of people had been displaced, driven to flee by oncoming soldiers, survivors of POW camps, death camps, organized slavery by the Germans, bombed=out cities, etc etc.

This was especially problematical for former Russian soldiers, whom Stalin wanted dead. And Rosa was a soldier; Stalin admitted women to the army, and Rosa, at eighteen (after three years of a horrifically violent marriage, and being left for dead at the side of a river by her husband twenty years older) signed up as a volunteer in order to escape that marriage.

The Germans had tried to destroy a lot of their very extensive record-keeping, especially in the death and labor camps. But the sheer volume was difficult to eradicate completely. Roxana Spicer put in time and effort tracking down primary evidence, along the way interviewing many survivors, and progeny of survivors. The stories of those who did not survive make extremely grim reading. The German treatment of the Russians during the invasion, and the subsequent handling of Russian prisoners, is especially grim. Though there are mountains of books about WW II, there is relatively little in English about the Russian experience in WW II--which is still being manipulated by Putin today to justify his war in the Ukraine.

What individual Russians did to survive during the war, especially when taken prisoners, and after the war, when their own government under Stalin declared them traitors and enemies of the people, overshadows the bulk of the book. We find out a good deal about Rosa's personal story, a sobering account of the shifts a young woman could be put to in order to survive. Roxana Spicer brings these people to life vividly, as well as the setting. It makes rough reading--I had to put the book down many times. But I always picked it up again, drawn on by Roxana Spicer's ability to bring these people to life.]]> 4.02
author: Roxana Spicer
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/26
shelves: biography, history-ww-ii, memoir, netgalley
review:
"See, everybody got, at that particular period of time, everybody have this terribly dark side. And that don't exclude anybody...

So said Rosa Butarin to her daughter Roxana, who according to this dual memoir and biography was in part driven to become a journalist to make sense of her mother's astonishing life.

The structure is odd, but it makes sense in context. The reader is advised to pay attention. At first, we get a glimpse of Rosa within her family in a tiny town in the Canadian prairie, and the occasional hints she would drop about her history. How did a woman born in Russia end up in Canada? Roxana kept asking questions, and her mother kept putting her off when Roxana dug too deeply.

There were plenty of "safe" stories that Rosa told people, then there were the rare bits that she confided to peers over the decades. But the whole story was not going to pass her lips--why would anyone want to know? The past is the past. It's no good knowing. It hurts to recollect. It's vile, what was done to people in that war. Why dredge it up again?

All of which are true. But the hints kept tantalizing Roxana, especially when she uncovered a document that stated that her mother had had four live births, but there were only three kids in her family. There was also a reference to another husband?

At the start, there's a lot more of Roxana than there is of Rosa, as the author sets up her drive to uncover the mysteries of her mother's life. Then she begins with the easy facts to find out, many of which Rosa supplied herself at various times over the years: her place of birth, what it was like to be a kid during the Lenin years, what it was like when Stalin took over...the start of World War II. And after that the story gets sketchy, with Rosa refusing to talk about the war years, until afterward when she managed to snag a Canadian husband and get out of Europe. After which she lived under at least four names, maybe more.

Rosa even agreed to some interviews, which Roxana taped, sometimes alone, and sometimes with other journalists present, as she herself was learning how to be a good journalist. Before her mother's death, she even sneaked in a trip to Germany to check on the farm where her mother said she had been employed to milk a cow during the last years of the war. She went completely unprepared, and learned nothing.

Finally Rosa passed away in her mid eighties, and at that point the biography takes over in the form of a mystery as Roxana uncovers scraps of truth--increasingly difficult. Many know something of the horrific cost of war, but don't realize that for so many after the last surrender of Germany, the nightmare was far from ended. For one thing, at the war'd end, millions of people had been displaced, driven to flee by oncoming soldiers, survivors of POW camps, death camps, organized slavery by the Germans, bombed=out cities, etc etc.

This was especially problematical for former Russian soldiers, whom Stalin wanted dead. And Rosa was a soldier; Stalin admitted women to the army, and Rosa, at eighteen (after three years of a horrifically violent marriage, and being left for dead at the side of a river by her husband twenty years older) signed up as a volunteer in order to escape that marriage.

The Germans had tried to destroy a lot of their very extensive record-keeping, especially in the death and labor camps. But the sheer volume was difficult to eradicate completely. Roxana Spicer put in time and effort tracking down primary evidence, along the way interviewing many survivors, and progeny of survivors. The stories of those who did not survive make extremely grim reading. The German treatment of the Russians during the invasion, and the subsequent handling of Russian prisoners, is especially grim. Though there are mountains of books about WW II, there is relatively little in English about the Russian experience in WW II--which is still being manipulated by Putin today to justify his war in the Ukraine.

What individual Russians did to survive during the war, especially when taken prisoners, and after the war, when their own government under Stalin declared them traitors and enemies of the people, overshadows the bulk of the book. We find out a good deal about Rosa's personal story, a sobering account of the shifts a young woman could be put to in order to survive. Roxana Spicer brings these people to life vividly, as well as the setting. It makes rough reading--I had to put the book down many times. But I always picked it up again, drawn on by Roxana Spicer's ability to bring these people to life.
]]> 203128337 Young Royals meets Red, White, and Royal Blue in this heart-pumping romance by award-winning author Julian Winters!

When roguish Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie is left in America to clean up his image after a horribly public break-up gone viral, romance is not on the table. Carefully planned photo ops with puppies? Yes. Scheduled appearances with the Santa Monica elite Absolutely. Rendezvous with a pink-haired, film-obsessed hottie from the private school where he’s currently enrolled? Uhhhh . . .

Together with his entourage—a bitingly witty royal guard, Rêverie’s future queen (and Jadon’s brilliant older sister), and a quirky royal liaison—Jadon’s on a mission to turn things around and show his parents, and his country, that he’s more than just a royal screw-up. If he doesn’t prove that he’s the prince Rêverie deserves? Well, he may not be allowed home . . .

But falling for a not-so-royal American boy has Jadon redefining what it means to be a leader. If he can be someone’s Prince Charming just by being himself, maybe that’s all it takes to win over a nation. Or at least a prince can dream . . .]]> 352 Julian Winters 0593624424 Sherwood 0 This is a captivating and heartwarming gay-friendly story that blends hilarity, romance, and a strong personal growth arc with with brisk and breezy writing and a fast-paced story. Winters’ delightful characters and distinct plot come together to explore relationships, identity, and a lot of the big questions faced by young readers. I loved the representation, and the uplifting sense that it imparts.]]> 3.91 2024
author: Julian Winters
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/18
shelves: comedy-of-manners, netgalley, romance
review:

This is a captivating and heartwarming gay-friendly story that blends hilarity, romance, and a strong personal growth arc with with brisk and breezy writing and a fast-paced story. Winters’ delightful characters and distinct plot come together to explore relationships, identity, and a lot of the big questions faced by young readers. I loved the representation, and the uplifting sense that it imparts.
]]> 22852745 A cop at the opera...



Wisteria Tearoom owner Ellen Rosings coaxes Detective Tony Aragón to go with her to the Santa Fe Opera, but the magnificent performance of Tosca ends in disaster. In bizarre counterpoint to the opera's plot, the leading man is murdered in his dressing room, and Tony must rush to secure the crime scene. Ellen is left to comfort Vi Benning, a former server at the tearoom who is now an apprentice at the Opera and a protégée of the slain singer.



No opera aficionado, Tony turns to Ellen for help navigating the world in which he must now conduct an investigation. At the same time, Ellen is coping with a sudden, mysterious jump in business at the tearoom. Her problems are eclectic:



...Who killed the famous baritone?

...What do the antique letters she's found have to do with the tearoom's resident ghost?

...And will she and Tony ever find time for a normal date?



This cozy mystery is the third in the Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries series.





Categories:

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense >
Mystery > Cooking

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense >
Mystery > Cozy

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense >
Mystery > Tearoom

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense >
Mystery > Women Sleuths


Similar authors:

Donna Andrews

Jessica Beck

Kate Carlisle

Bailey Cates

Laura Childs

Agatha Christie

Leighann Dobbs

Yasmine Galenorn

Julie Hyzy

Paige Shelton

A. R. Winters ]]> 236 Patrice Greenwood 1611383994 Sherwood 0 fiction, mystery-cozy, bvc
My favorite sort of cozy mystery is the funny one, but second favorite are the atmospheric ones with interesting characters. Greenwood writes these. (I should add that right now, the first in the series, A Fatal Twist of Lemon, is 99 cents.)

Merged review:

I really enjoyed this third entry in the tea shop mysteries. Slightly stuffy Ellen Rosings invites hot motorcycle cop Tony Aragon to attend an opera--and a murder occurs among the cast members. I like the characters, the byplay, the mysteries, and the presence of what could be a ghost, whose story Ellen is investigating over the three books so far. Each book brings more facts to bear.

My favorite sort of cozy mystery is the funny one, but second favorite are the atmospheric ones with interesting characters. Greenwood writes these. (I should add that right now, the first in the series, A Fatal Twist of Lemon, is 99 cents.)]]> 3.94 2014
author: Patrice Greenwood
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: fiction, mystery-cozy, bvc
review:
I really enjoyed this third entry in the tea shop mysteries. Slightly stuffy Ellen Rosings invites hot motorcycle cop Tony Aragon to attend an opera--and a murder occurs among the cast members. I like the characters, the byplay, the mysteries, and the presence of what could be a ghost, whose story Ellen is investigating over the three books so far. Each book brings more facts to bear.

My favorite sort of cozy mystery is the funny one, but second favorite are the atmospheric ones with interesting characters. Greenwood writes these. (I should add that right now, the first in the series, A Fatal Twist of Lemon, is 99 cents.)

Merged review:

I really enjoyed this third entry in the tea shop mysteries. Slightly stuffy Ellen Rosings invites hot motorcycle cop Tony Aragon to attend an opera--and a murder occurs among the cast members. I like the characters, the byplay, the mysteries, and the presence of what could be a ghost, whose story Ellen is investigating over the three books so far. Each book brings more facts to bear.

My favorite sort of cozy mystery is the funny one, but second favorite are the atmospheric ones with interesting characters. Greenwood writes these. (I should add that right now, the first in the series, A Fatal Twist of Lemon, is 99 cents.)
]]> 204158999 For readers of Remarkably Bright Creatures and A Man Called Ove, a warm, life-affirming debut about a zany case of mistaken identity that allows a lonely old man one last chance to be part of a family.

‘Would you mind terribly, old boy, if I borrowed the rest of your life? I promise I’ll take excellent care of it.'

Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from. At eighty-two, he’s desperately lonely, broke, and on the brink of homelessness. But Fred’s luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of grumpy Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head—as long as his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up.

Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernard's facility, her crumbling marriage and daughter's health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband, she vows never to let a man deceive her again.

As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes, he leaves a trail of kindness behind him, fueling Denise's suspicions about his true identity. When unexpected truths are revealed, Fred and Denise rediscover their sense of purpose and learn how to return a broken life to mint condition.

Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a hilarious, feel-good, clever novel about grief, forgiveness, redemption, and finding family.]]> 336 Anna Johnston 0063397293 Sherwood 0 fiction, netgalley
He's the main POV, trading off with Hannah, some years before, when her family is hit by bad news.

How the two meet, and what Fred does with his new life, makes up this poignant story. Though life sometimes deals cruel blows, there is always room for kindness; the writing is vivid, sometimes painfully funny, especially in dealing with the indignities of age, but the story is imbued with how much being kind to one another matters. Even in little things.]]> 4.28 2024
author: Anna Johnston
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: fiction, netgalley
review:
Frederick Fife is 82, still grieving for his wife, gone these several years. He's run out of money, and his landlord is giving him the boot. He has nowhere to go, when he stumbles into another man's identity.

He's the main POV, trading off with Hannah, some years before, when her family is hit by bad news.

How the two meet, and what Fred does with his new life, makes up this poignant story. Though life sometimes deals cruel blows, there is always room for kindness; the writing is vivid, sometimes painfully funny, especially in dealing with the indignities of age, but the story is imbued with how much being kind to one another matters. Even in little things.
]]> 216589182
Enter the story's protagonist, Emma, along with her husband Craig and a totally unexpected co-conspirator, who introduces a quick weight loss scheme. The power-packed prescript's immediate and massive results turn the high society crowd into genteel versions of crackheads, willing to do just about anything for their next "fix."

All hell breaks loose when the unexpected physical side effects of P.D.P. (Public Displays of Pleasure) rocks the sensibilities of this conservative burg. Emma and the team scramble to take control of the situation to keep their clients safe, and their money train on track. The rapid-paced, hilarious unfolding of events may subject the reader to U.P.D.L. (Uncontrollable Public Displays of Laughter).

READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED BUT CLEARLY NOT RECOMMENDED]]> 245 K.T. Nalla Sherwood 0 3.78
author: K.T. Nalla
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: comedy-of-manners, netgalley, satire
review:
This gleefully ridiculous and sometimes raunchy satire shows up the monkey in us, despite the mansions and fancy country clubs etc. The narrative voice reminds me a bit of a very contemporary Mark Twain--tongue firmly in cheek while telling a tall tale.
]]> 39834926
Armed only with a few special talents and her desire to protect her magical charge, and with the assistance of her best friend Viv, her reluctant assistant Judy, and the enigmatic and handsome Malcolm Campbell, Helena must navigate the treacherous depths of the magical world, where secret enemies lurk behind illusions capable of fooling even the most powerful of magical entities. Helena is the only one who can see past those illusions, but will her abilities prove strong enough to save the oracle?]]> 368 Melissa McShane 1620072270 Sherwood 0 fantasy
This second installment in the series works like gangbusters. The first (which readers really should read) I had trouble with in the sense of tone, mis-reading several aspects. Either the storyline in this second volume found the right tone, or more likely, I'd been trained by the end of the first book, because this second book came in with a strong, sure voice.

I really enjoy a series that begins to develop an over-arcing storyline but also a smaller arc so that there can be closure at the end of each particular volume. The Book of Peril does this quite niftily, starting out slowly, establishing the main characters, then accelerating steadily to a white-knuckle climax.

At the end my heart did a flipflop [spoilers removed], but we are still early on. I trust things will resolve in that direction!

The idea behind the oracle continues to be intriguing, and I don't think I've ever read a fantasy that does what this one does with origami. Whoa.

Very hooked now, looking forward to Number Three.

ARC provided by author]]> 4.00
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2018/08/13
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: fantasy
review:
What a roller coaster of a ride!

This second installment in the series works like gangbusters. The first (which readers really should read) I had trouble with in the sense of tone, mis-reading several aspects. Either the storyline in this second volume found the right tone, or more likely, I'd been trained by the end of the first book, because this second book came in with a strong, sure voice.

I really enjoy a series that begins to develop an over-arcing storyline but also a smaller arc so that there can be closure at the end of each particular volume. The Book of Peril does this quite niftily, starting out slowly, establishing the main characters, then accelerating steadily to a white-knuckle climax.

At the end my heart did a flipflop [spoilers removed], but we are still early on. I trust things will resolve in that direction!

The idea behind the oracle continues to be intriguing, and I don't think I've ever read a fantasy that does what this one does with origami. Whoa.

Very hooked now, looking forward to Number Three.

ARC provided by author
]]> 45032 488 Jane Austen Sherwood 0 Pride and Prejudice is a great book. Jane Austen thought it might be too "light and bright and sparkling"--that its comedy might outshine its serious points--but its continued popularity today indicates that her recipe for brilliance contained just the right ingredients.

Yet a lot of modern readers loathe Mansfield Park, despite its being thought by others the greatest of all Austen's work. What's going on here?

Frequently leveled criticisms:
* Fanny is a stick.
* The moral stances against the Lovers' Vows and against the Crawfords are baseless and pompous.
* The marriage of cousins is not just disappointing, it's disgusting.
* The ending is disappointing. Edmund is a dreary hero--Henry would have been much better a match for Fanny.

Fanny is a stick. The ink spilled about Fanny pegs her as physically weak, humorless, and worst of all she disapproves of innocent and harmless fun like the play for what seem to be self-righteous reasons.

Fanny's physical weakness seems easy enough to dismiss as a criticism. However uninteresting continuous illness is for a modern reader (unless it's a reader who loves hospital and doctor stories), that is actually a slice of reality 200 years ago. Fanny's physical state is an observant portrait of a sensitive child who was never given the warmth of a fire in winter, who wore cast-off clothing, and probably was fed last in the nursery, maybe even the leavings that the bigger cousins didn't want. She gets a headache being cooped up indoors, suggesting allergies. Aunt Norris made it her business to see that giving Fanny as much as her cousins got was "unnecessary waste" and Lady Bertram was too indolent to notice. Sir Thomas had little to do with the children's upbringing, so he didn't see it either--we discover this when he comes to the nursery for the first time, and discovers that Fanny has never had a fire in winter.

There is plenty of corroborative detail of this sort of treatment of poor relations raised as charity cases by wealthier relatives, if one reads period memoirs, letters, even sermons. Aunt Norris says later in the book to Fanny Remember wherever you go you are always least and lowest, and no contemporary reader ever pointed this out as unbelievable.

Fanny's character is retiring, but that's understandable considering the way she's been raised. Austen (who had a brother adopted into a wealthy relation's family) seems to understand what it would be like for a young person to be taken from her home, crowded and humble as it was, to be raised in a completely different manner--and manor. Fanny is an acute observer, at least as acute as Mary Crawford is, and far more charitable. Probably moreso, for Fanny was able to descry emotional changes in both Mary and Edmund as well as her more readable cousins, and Mary--while seeing Julia's plight, and shrugging it off--did not see Fanny's adoration for her Cousin Edmund. Mary was also able to talk herself into believing Fanny's unswerving politeness to Henry, and her occasional flushes of anger, as expressions of love. Fanny sees into everyone's heart, and feels for them all, deserving or not--excepting only Henry. She sees his love, but she does not trust it, or him. Though Austen does say later she might have married him, after time--if Edmund had married first.

Fanny has no humor. If you compare the number of moments of laughter, you'll find that Fanny exhibits far more sense of humor than Anne in Persuasion or Elinor of Sense and Sensibility, much as I love both characters, especially Anne. I suspect many readers overlook examples like this bit in Book One, Chapter XII, where Tom has just come in during a hastily-arranged ball, and is bitching to Fanny:

"...they need all be in love, to find any amusement in such folly--and so they are, I fancy. If you look at them, you may see they are so many couple of lovers--all but Yates and Mrs. Grant--and, between ourselves, she poor woman! must want a lover as much as any one of them. A desperate dull life hers must be with the doctor," making a sly face as he spoke toward the chair of the latter, who proving, however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything, could hardly help laughing at. "A strange business this in America, Dr. Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to think of public matters."

After which Austen makes it clear that, despite the situation, Fanny cannot forebear laughing out loud. Later, she and brother William talk and laugh in the coach all the way to Portsmouth. I just can't see Anne Elliott cracking a smile in either situation. The real sticking points are Fanny's disapproval of the Crawfords, and . . .

The moral stance Fanny takes against the play. I've seen modern readers inveigh against this as a harbinger of lugubrious Victorianism. They overlook the fact that in Austen's day, it was a sign of disrespect to carry on as if unconcerned when the head of the house was away, and in danger of his life. And even now, who among us would like to make a long, fatiguing trip just to come home and discover that our own room (out of all the rooms in a big house) is the scene of an ongoing party? As for the Crawfords and ther innate badness, Austen tries to show us attractive people who can be kind, are socially acceptable, but were raised without any but the most superficial moral awareness, much less conviction.

Many feel that this novel is filled with more delicious wit and comedy than any of the others outside of Pride and Prejudice. Contemporary psychology, psychiatry, and social sciences of various sorts worry anxiously at the nature-versus-nuture debate, as we try to figure out why we are the way we are; Austen tries to show us that someone without morals may reform, but it takes time and effort as well as love. And would Henry Crawford have reformed? I'll come back to that.

The marriage of cousins is disgusting. No getting around that, not what with we know about genetics, so we grow up regarding our cousins as being as off-limits as siblings. On first reading Austen's novels, my then-teenaged daughter was only slightly less repulsed by the marriage of cousins than she was at Emma's marrying a guy well old enough to be her father--and who acts like one more often than not. But the truth is that these things were quite common during Austen's time. And, given the sequestered lives country girls lived, it was a miracle if they met any young men outside of their handy cousins--who presumably at least had the proper rank in life; there was still a tendency for parents to feel it was better for older and wiser heads to select husbands for their innocent daughters, and handy male cousins, well known to the family, also rounded out estates nicely.

Edmund is a dull hero. Is he really dull? He exhibits about as much of a sense of humor as does Mr. Darcy, which is to say very little. When he's with Fanny he is, at best, the kindly, well-meaning, but rather patronizing older brother.

In fact Edmund is at his worst in his scenes with Fanny. He's insensitive and condescending--he's a typical teen-age boy in the early scene when he tries to talk Fanny into being glad to live with Aunt Norris. Even his being a teenager is no excuse for such insensitivity, for he has to have observed her unsubtle cruelties. Unless he believed that Fanny really was a second class member of the family--which observation does not redound to his credit. In all their other scenes, he's unfailingly kind (except when he permits Mary to monopolize Fanny's horse, which is prompted by his crush on Mary), and when he tries first to to bully Fanny into participating in the play, and then he tries to bully her into marrying Henry--despite his vaunted principles, which he knows Henry doesn't share, his motive being that giving Fanny to Henry will bring Mary closer to himself. He does care about Fanny in his own peculiar way, but there is absolutely no chemistry; he calls her Sister right until the end, when he wants to denounce his own sisters for straying from societal norms, so that Austen's unconvincing narrative that he fell in love "after just the right amount of time" carries a strong whiff of incest.

Edmund also comes off poorly when he discusses Mary Crawford with Fanny, metaphorically wrinkling his nose over her rather free speech and attributing her frankly expressed opinions to bad upbringing. He proves himself a first class hypocrite when he denounces the acting scheme, but then gives in because Mary wants to act--and then he's so involved with Mary that he totally overlooks the more serious trouble going on between his sisters over Henry. The evidence is there--Fanny sees it--but Edmund doesn't.

Mary falls for him in spite of herself, and here is our clue that the Edmund the family sees is not the Edmund the world sees. She sees Edmund as a man and not as the family's moral windvane. It's through her eyes that Edmund becomes mildly interesting. "He was not pleasant by any common rule, he talked no nonsense, he paid no compliments, his opinions were unbending, his attentions tranquil and simple." She's fascinated by this kind of guy--she's never met one before--and in her company, Edmund comes alive. In some of their passages he exhibits intelligence and even a faint semblance of wit. I think the internal evidence is clear that, had they married, it probably would have been happy for a few months. But once the reality of being a minister's wife really hit Mary, and the newness wore off, she would have felt imprisoned, and made Edmund's life hell. That she craved some kind of peace and security was clear enough, but not as a minister's wife. She knew her limitations, and was satisfied enough with herself to not wish to change.

If one speculates, as I do, about what happens after the end of each novel, it's easy to see Edmund carrying a torch for Mary Crawford for the rest of his life--and Fanny knowing it. There's too much a sense of settling for second best when he marries Fanny--which brings me to my own problem with this novel.

In his essay on Mansfield Park in Lectures on Literature, Vladimir Nabokov says, "An original author always invents an original world, and if a character or an action fits into the pattern of that world, then we experience the pleasurable shock of artistic truth, no matter how unlikely the person or thing may seem if transferred into what book reviewers, poor hacks, call "real life." There is no such thing as real life for an author of genius: he must create it himself and then create the consequences."

The weakest point in Pride and Prejudice is the coincidence that brings Darcy and Elizabeth face to face at Pemberley. Jane Austen tried to smooth it as much as she could, having had Mrs. Gardiner grow up in the area, and making it possible for Elizabeth to visit because she is safe in the knowledge that the Darcy family are away. But still, when he comes round the side of the stable and their eyes meet, it's an interesting moment, and a moment we hoped for, but not an inevitable moment.

In Mansfield Park, until the very last there are no coincidences. Each action unfolds with dramatic integrity, flowing logically from the preceding. Where the consequences falter is at the end of the third book, when Austen shifts from showing us the novel in a series of exquisitely detailed scenes. Abruptly the story is tucked away and the narrator steps up and addressed the reader directly, telling us what happened. We are told what happened, we're told why, and in short, we're told what to believe.

Austen kept the subsequent actions off-stage because delicacy dictated such a course. A lady would not 'show' Henry's crucial decision to run off with Maria Bertram Rushworth--making some readers think it an arbitrary decision. We're told in Austen family lore that Jane's sister Cassandra begged Jane to end the book differently, with Fanny marrying Henry, but Jane was obdurate.

I suspect that Jane Austen intended this bit to be the convincing piece of evidence against Henry:

He saw Mrs. Rushworth, was received by her with a coldness which ought to have been repulsive, and have established apparent indifference between them for ever: but he was mortified, he could not bear to be thrown off by the woman whose smiles had been so wholly at his command; he must exert himself to subdue so proud a display of resentment; it was anger on Fanny's account; he must get the better of it, and make Mrs. Rushworth Maria Bertram again in her treatment of himself.

This passage echoes his first conversation alone with Mary, when he decides so idly to make Fanny fall in love with him. We already know from earlier evidence he likes the chase. Never all the way to marriage. He makes jokes about that. With this decision about Fanny, we see that he stirs himself to action if any woman resists his flirtation, even someone as insignificant as Fanny; early on in his pursuit, he can't even remember if he saw her dancing, though he professes to remember her grace.

But saying that Henry pursues Fanny all the way to proposing marriage just because she resists him is too simple. The reason he doesn't ask Maria Bertram to marry him when she's dropped as many hints as she can that she's not only willing, but expecting a proposal, is that though he finds her extremely attractive (all those rehearsals of the tender scene prove that) he has no respect for her. He knows she's selfish and a hypocrite, which is fine for idle flirtation. Fanny is the first woman he respects. And that respect might--might--be enough to change him, some readers think, before we're abruptly thrust out of the story, just to be told by the narrator that the deserving got their happy ending, and the others didn't.

Finally, in Fanny's and Henry's relationship there is that fascinating element of the reformed rake, the taming of the beast, that was as much a draw to women readers in Romantic poetry (check out Byron--and the reactions from his audience, in old letters and articles) as it is now. I wonder if, in fact, readers 200 years ago were as disappointed with this ending as modern readers are now--saying out loud, "Well, this is the way it ought to be," but internally rewriting the story so that Henry does resist Maria's angry, selfish intentions despite her physical allure, and Fanny gets her passionate and reformed Henry, rewarding him with all that devotion and sensitivity that seems wasted on Edmund. Opinions in Austen's circle seemed to have been mixed, and the book apparently did not sell as well as the others.

Why did Austen end it the way she did? Were Fanny's feelings for Edmund real love? They don't read that way to me.

It could be my opinion is colored by Edmund's reactions to Fanny, for chemistry has to go two ways if it's to be sustained, but her admiration, sparked so early in her teens, seems the kind of crush romantic youngsters form and then grow out of. She's clear-sighted enough to see Edmund's faults concerning Mary, but she doesn't seem to see his other vagaries. She does see Henry's faults, but at the very end, it seems she is slowly being won over through his alterations; when they walk together in Portsmouth on a Sunday morning, energy sparks between them. She cares for his opinion, she watches him. It seems to me that this is the start of real love, the love of a mature woman. But then, quite suddenly, it all is thrown away, the more unconvincing because Austen resorts to telling us what to think, after an entire novel in which she had shown, so beautifully, living and breathing characters.

Consistency, in Nabakov's sense, is sacrificed; moral truth is firmly asserted, at the cost of artistic truth. I don't blame that on Fanny, but on her creator. ]]> 3.86 1814
author: Jane Austen
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1814
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:
Most Austen aficionados agree that Pride and Prejudice is a great book. Jane Austen thought it might be too "light and bright and sparkling"--that its comedy might outshine its serious points--but its continued popularity today indicates that her recipe for brilliance contained just the right ingredients.

Yet a lot of modern readers loathe Mansfield Park, despite its being thought by others the greatest of all Austen's work. What's going on here?

Frequently leveled criticisms:
* Fanny is a stick.
* The moral stances against the Lovers' Vows and against the Crawfords are baseless and pompous.
* The marriage of cousins is not just disappointing, it's disgusting.
* The ending is disappointing. Edmund is a dreary hero--Henry would have been much better a match for Fanny.

Fanny is a stick. The ink spilled about Fanny pegs her as physically weak, humorless, and worst of all she disapproves of innocent and harmless fun like the play for what seem to be self-righteous reasons.

Fanny's physical weakness seems easy enough to dismiss as a criticism. However uninteresting continuous illness is for a modern reader (unless it's a reader who loves hospital and doctor stories), that is actually a slice of reality 200 years ago. Fanny's physical state is an observant portrait of a sensitive child who was never given the warmth of a fire in winter, who wore cast-off clothing, and probably was fed last in the nursery, maybe even the leavings that the bigger cousins didn't want. She gets a headache being cooped up indoors, suggesting allergies. Aunt Norris made it her business to see that giving Fanny as much as her cousins got was "unnecessary waste" and Lady Bertram was too indolent to notice. Sir Thomas had little to do with the children's upbringing, so he didn't see it either--we discover this when he comes to the nursery for the first time, and discovers that Fanny has never had a fire in winter.

There is plenty of corroborative detail of this sort of treatment of poor relations raised as charity cases by wealthier relatives, if one reads period memoirs, letters, even sermons. Aunt Norris says later in the book to Fanny Remember wherever you go you are always least and lowest, and no contemporary reader ever pointed this out as unbelievable.

Fanny's character is retiring, but that's understandable considering the way she's been raised. Austen (who had a brother adopted into a wealthy relation's family) seems to understand what it would be like for a young person to be taken from her home, crowded and humble as it was, to be raised in a completely different manner--and manor. Fanny is an acute observer, at least as acute as Mary Crawford is, and far more charitable. Probably moreso, for Fanny was able to descry emotional changes in both Mary and Edmund as well as her more readable cousins, and Mary--while seeing Julia's plight, and shrugging it off--did not see Fanny's adoration for her Cousin Edmund. Mary was also able to talk herself into believing Fanny's unswerving politeness to Henry, and her occasional flushes of anger, as expressions of love. Fanny sees into everyone's heart, and feels for them all, deserving or not--excepting only Henry. She sees his love, but she does not trust it, or him. Though Austen does say later she might have married him, after time--if Edmund had married first.

Fanny has no humor. If you compare the number of moments of laughter, you'll find that Fanny exhibits far more sense of humor than Anne in Persuasion or Elinor of Sense and Sensibility, much as I love both characters, especially Anne. I suspect many readers overlook examples like this bit in Book One, Chapter XII, where Tom has just come in during a hastily-arranged ball, and is bitching to Fanny:

"...they need all be in love, to find any amusement in such folly--and so they are, I fancy. If you look at them, you may see they are so many couple of lovers--all but Yates and Mrs. Grant--and, between ourselves, she poor woman! must want a lover as much as any one of them. A desperate dull life hers must be with the doctor," making a sly face as he spoke toward the chair of the latter, who proving, however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything, could hardly help laughing at. "A strange business this in America, Dr. Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to think of public matters."

After which Austen makes it clear that, despite the situation, Fanny cannot forebear laughing out loud. Later, she and brother William talk and laugh in the coach all the way to Portsmouth. I just can't see Anne Elliott cracking a smile in either situation. The real sticking points are Fanny's disapproval of the Crawfords, and . . .

The moral stance Fanny takes against the play. I've seen modern readers inveigh against this as a harbinger of lugubrious Victorianism. They overlook the fact that in Austen's day, it was a sign of disrespect to carry on as if unconcerned when the head of the house was away, and in danger of his life. And even now, who among us would like to make a long, fatiguing trip just to come home and discover that our own room (out of all the rooms in a big house) is the scene of an ongoing party? As for the Crawfords and ther innate badness, Austen tries to show us attractive people who can be kind, are socially acceptable, but were raised without any but the most superficial moral awareness, much less conviction.

Many feel that this novel is filled with more delicious wit and comedy than any of the others outside of Pride and Prejudice. Contemporary psychology, psychiatry, and social sciences of various sorts worry anxiously at the nature-versus-nuture debate, as we try to figure out why we are the way we are; Austen tries to show us that someone without morals may reform, but it takes time and effort as well as love. And would Henry Crawford have reformed? I'll come back to that.

The marriage of cousins is disgusting. No getting around that, not what with we know about genetics, so we grow up regarding our cousins as being as off-limits as siblings. On first reading Austen's novels, my then-teenaged daughter was only slightly less repulsed by the marriage of cousins than she was at Emma's marrying a guy well old enough to be her father--and who acts like one more often than not. But the truth is that these things were quite common during Austen's time. And, given the sequestered lives country girls lived, it was a miracle if they met any young men outside of their handy cousins--who presumably at least had the proper rank in life; there was still a tendency for parents to feel it was better for older and wiser heads to select husbands for their innocent daughters, and handy male cousins, well known to the family, also rounded out estates nicely.

Edmund is a dull hero. Is he really dull? He exhibits about as much of a sense of humor as does Mr. Darcy, which is to say very little. When he's with Fanny he is, at best, the kindly, well-meaning, but rather patronizing older brother.

In fact Edmund is at his worst in his scenes with Fanny. He's insensitive and condescending--he's a typical teen-age boy in the early scene when he tries to talk Fanny into being glad to live with Aunt Norris. Even his being a teenager is no excuse for such insensitivity, for he has to have observed her unsubtle cruelties. Unless he believed that Fanny really was a second class member of the family--which observation does not redound to his credit. In all their other scenes, he's unfailingly kind (except when he permits Mary to monopolize Fanny's horse, which is prompted by his crush on Mary), and when he tries first to to bully Fanny into participating in the play, and then he tries to bully her into marrying Henry--despite his vaunted principles, which he knows Henry doesn't share, his motive being that giving Fanny to Henry will bring Mary closer to himself. He does care about Fanny in his own peculiar way, but there is absolutely no chemistry; he calls her Sister right until the end, when he wants to denounce his own sisters for straying from societal norms, so that Austen's unconvincing narrative that he fell in love "after just the right amount of time" carries a strong whiff of incest.

Edmund also comes off poorly when he discusses Mary Crawford with Fanny, metaphorically wrinkling his nose over her rather free speech and attributing her frankly expressed opinions to bad upbringing. He proves himself a first class hypocrite when he denounces the acting scheme, but then gives in because Mary wants to act--and then he's so involved with Mary that he totally overlooks the more serious trouble going on between his sisters over Henry. The evidence is there--Fanny sees it--but Edmund doesn't.

Mary falls for him in spite of herself, and here is our clue that the Edmund the family sees is not the Edmund the world sees. She sees Edmund as a man and not as the family's moral windvane. It's through her eyes that Edmund becomes mildly interesting. "He was not pleasant by any common rule, he talked no nonsense, he paid no compliments, his opinions were unbending, his attentions tranquil and simple." She's fascinated by this kind of guy--she's never met one before--and in her company, Edmund comes alive. In some of their passages he exhibits intelligence and even a faint semblance of wit. I think the internal evidence is clear that, had they married, it probably would have been happy for a few months. But once the reality of being a minister's wife really hit Mary, and the newness wore off, she would have felt imprisoned, and made Edmund's life hell. That she craved some kind of peace and security was clear enough, but not as a minister's wife. She knew her limitations, and was satisfied enough with herself to not wish to change.

If one speculates, as I do, about what happens after the end of each novel, it's easy to see Edmund carrying a torch for Mary Crawford for the rest of his life--and Fanny knowing it. There's too much a sense of settling for second best when he marries Fanny--which brings me to my own problem with this novel.

In his essay on Mansfield Park in Lectures on Literature, Vladimir Nabokov says, "An original author always invents an original world, and if a character or an action fits into the pattern of that world, then we experience the pleasurable shock of artistic truth, no matter how unlikely the person or thing may seem if transferred into what book reviewers, poor hacks, call "real life." There is no such thing as real life for an author of genius: he must create it himself and then create the consequences."

The weakest point in Pride and Prejudice is the coincidence that brings Darcy and Elizabeth face to face at Pemberley. Jane Austen tried to smooth it as much as she could, having had Mrs. Gardiner grow up in the area, and making it possible for Elizabeth to visit because she is safe in the knowledge that the Darcy family are away. But still, when he comes round the side of the stable and their eyes meet, it's an interesting moment, and a moment we hoped for, but not an inevitable moment.

In Mansfield Park, until the very last there are no coincidences. Each action unfolds with dramatic integrity, flowing logically from the preceding. Where the consequences falter is at the end of the third book, when Austen shifts from showing us the novel in a series of exquisitely detailed scenes. Abruptly the story is tucked away and the narrator steps up and addressed the reader directly, telling us what happened. We are told what happened, we're told why, and in short, we're told what to believe.

Austen kept the subsequent actions off-stage because delicacy dictated such a course. A lady would not 'show' Henry's crucial decision to run off with Maria Bertram Rushworth--making some readers think it an arbitrary decision. We're told in Austen family lore that Jane's sister Cassandra begged Jane to end the book differently, with Fanny marrying Henry, but Jane was obdurate.

I suspect that Jane Austen intended this bit to be the convincing piece of evidence against Henry:

He saw Mrs. Rushworth, was received by her with a coldness which ought to have been repulsive, and have established apparent indifference between them for ever: but he was mortified, he could not bear to be thrown off by the woman whose smiles had been so wholly at his command; he must exert himself to subdue so proud a display of resentment; it was anger on Fanny's account; he must get the better of it, and make Mrs. Rushworth Maria Bertram again in her treatment of himself.

This passage echoes his first conversation alone with Mary, when he decides so idly to make Fanny fall in love with him. We already know from earlier evidence he likes the chase. Never all the way to marriage. He makes jokes about that. With this decision about Fanny, we see that he stirs himself to action if any woman resists his flirtation, even someone as insignificant as Fanny; early on in his pursuit, he can't even remember if he saw her dancing, though he professes to remember her grace.

But saying that Henry pursues Fanny all the way to proposing marriage just because she resists him is too simple. The reason he doesn't ask Maria Bertram to marry him when she's dropped as many hints as she can that she's not only willing, but expecting a proposal, is that though he finds her extremely attractive (all those rehearsals of the tender scene prove that) he has no respect for her. He knows she's selfish and a hypocrite, which is fine for idle flirtation. Fanny is the first woman he respects. And that respect might--might--be enough to change him, some readers think, before we're abruptly thrust out of the story, just to be told by the narrator that the deserving got their happy ending, and the others didn't.

Finally, in Fanny's and Henry's relationship there is that fascinating element of the reformed rake, the taming of the beast, that was as much a draw to women readers in Romantic poetry (check out Byron--and the reactions from his audience, in old letters and articles) as it is now. I wonder if, in fact, readers 200 years ago were as disappointed with this ending as modern readers are now--saying out loud, "Well, this is the way it ought to be," but internally rewriting the story so that Henry does resist Maria's angry, selfish intentions despite her physical allure, and Fanny gets her passionate and reformed Henry, rewarding him with all that devotion and sensitivity that seems wasted on Edmund. Opinions in Austen's circle seemed to have been mixed, and the book apparently did not sell as well as the others.

Why did Austen end it the way she did? Were Fanny's feelings for Edmund real love? They don't read that way to me.

It could be my opinion is colored by Edmund's reactions to Fanny, for chemistry has to go two ways if it's to be sustained, but her admiration, sparked so early in her teens, seems the kind of crush romantic youngsters form and then grow out of. She's clear-sighted enough to see Edmund's faults concerning Mary, but she doesn't seem to see his other vagaries. She does see Henry's faults, but at the very end, it seems she is slowly being won over through his alterations; when they walk together in Portsmouth on a Sunday morning, energy sparks between them. She cares for his opinion, she watches him. It seems to me that this is the start of real love, the love of a mature woman. But then, quite suddenly, it all is thrown away, the more unconvincing because Austen resorts to telling us what to think, after an entire novel in which she had shown, so beautifully, living and breathing characters.

Consistency, in Nabakov's sense, is sacrificed; moral truth is firmly asserted, at the cost of artistic truth. I don't blame that on Fanny, but on her creator.
]]> 12594400 416 Andrea K. Höst Sherwood 0 fantasy
Both the character and the world building grabbed me right from the start. Medair is a Herald who rode off to save the world, found the means, lay down to take a nap, and woke up to discover that the war she was trying to end had been lost half a millennium ago. She’s practical, wistful, insightful, stubborn, independent, starved for love, and determined to do the right thing. If she can figure out what that is.

I am not going to recount the plot points. There are plenty of reviews, and some of them skate too close to spoiler territory: there are, like in one of my other favorites, And All the Stars, twists that caught me by surprise—and made a second reading a different book.

This second read made me really appreciate the world building, and the way magic was developed, doing breathtaking things with space, time, and memory. The cultures were sketched in with a broader brush, but when details were provided they were effective, from foods to animals to the religions.

The tone is more elegiac than any of her other works, something that appeals to me when there are moments of humor as well as the numinous; action as well as reflection. In this book, the past matters as much as the future. Life five hundred years ago is not slapped down in front of the reader while the present-day story is halted.

Instead, the reader learns, bit by bit, about Medair's past through personal memories, which have more emotional impact than descriptions of superlatives –thousands and thousands of warriors, horizon to horizon, the total destruction of the world. And yet the stakes were exactly that high.

I appreciated the balance between political stakes and personal stakes as well as the tension between past and present. Every single decision had enormous consequences, and because of the personal relationships the reader can feel them. There is a great deal of debate about morals and ethics, but because these dialogues are never neutral—the personal cost is so high, as well as the magical and political—they are compelling.

I also loved the complexity of the villains; one of those relationships remains a high-wire tension line almost to the last word. Making me want to read it all over again.
]]> 4.20
author: Andrea K. Höst
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2013/10/06
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: fantasy
review:
A year or two back, Estara told me that I really ought to try Andrea K. Höst ‘s work, as it invariably starts with a lone female protagonist flung into an interesting situation. This is one of my favorite story tropes, and Estara hit right on target.

Both the character and the world building grabbed me right from the start. Medair is a Herald who rode off to save the world, found the means, lay down to take a nap, and woke up to discover that the war she was trying to end had been lost half a millennium ago. She’s practical, wistful, insightful, stubborn, independent, starved for love, and determined to do the right thing. If she can figure out what that is.

I am not going to recount the plot points. There are plenty of reviews, and some of them skate too close to spoiler territory: there are, like in one of my other favorites, And All the Stars, twists that caught me by surprise—and made a second reading a different book.

This second read made me really appreciate the world building, and the way magic was developed, doing breathtaking things with space, time, and memory. The cultures were sketched in with a broader brush, but when details were provided they were effective, from foods to animals to the religions.

The tone is more elegiac than any of her other works, something that appeals to me when there are moments of humor as well as the numinous; action as well as reflection. In this book, the past matters as much as the future. Life five hundred years ago is not slapped down in front of the reader while the present-day story is halted.

Instead, the reader learns, bit by bit, about Medair's past through personal memories, which have more emotional impact than descriptions of superlatives –thousands and thousands of warriors, horizon to horizon, the total destruction of the world. And yet the stakes were exactly that high.

I appreciated the balance between political stakes and personal stakes as well as the tension between past and present. Every single decision had enormous consequences, and because of the personal relationships the reader can feel them. There is a great deal of debate about morals and ethics, but because these dialogues are never neutral—the personal cost is so high, as well as the magical and political—they are compelling.

I also loved the complexity of the villains; one of those relationships remains a high-wire tension line almost to the last word. Making me want to read it all over again.

]]> 429983 250 Ursula K. Le Guin 0060168358 Sherwood 0 discussing-fiction 4.25 1979
author: Ursula K. Le Guin
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1979
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/03
shelves: discussing-fiction
review:

]]> 20561607 300 Patrice Greenwood 1611382718 Sherwood 0 mystery-cozy, bvc
Elderly Mrs. Garcia falls dead in the tea room . . . the second person to die there. Proprietor Ellen, whose business is already recovering from a murder the day the tea shop opened (and who is coping with a possible ghost, and a prickly but intriguing relationship with a local cop) is horrified when it turns out the poor woman did not die of natural causes.

Is it an ethnically-motivated murder? Mrs. Garcia was a prominent member of the local rose club, but its only Hispanic member. Ellen tries to investigate in her own way, as is Tony Aragon, the cop she’s dating. As if she doesn’t have enough problems–besides the ghost–Ellen’s place is being ‘haunted’ by teenagers in the middle of the night, and then there’s something going on with Kris, Ellen’s Goth accountant . . .

The story starts fast, and stays brisk, with several scenes with the kinetic snap I love as they veer between serious and comic. Toward the end things get appropriately serious as Ellen and Tony separately, and then together, begin to close in on the murder . . . while exploring unexamined bigotry that makes Ellen, who is somewhat fussy, uncomfortable. Sharp character observation, nifty stuff about roses, evocative local atmosphere, a touch of the weird and of romance made this an unputdownable read. I am really looking forward to the next.

Merged review:

This cozy mystery, set in a Victorian tea house in New Mexico, is the second in a series that promises to get stronger with each story. And wittier.

Elderly Mrs. Garcia falls dead in the tea room . . . the second person to die there. Proprietor Ellen, whose business is already recovering from a murder the day the tea shop opened (and who is coping with a possible ghost, and a prickly but intriguing relationship with a local cop) is horrified when it turns out the poor woman did not die of natural causes.

Is it an ethnically-motivated murder? Mrs. Garcia was a prominent member of the local rose club, but its only Hispanic member. Ellen tries to investigate in her own way, as is Tony Aragon, the cop she’s dating. As if she doesn’t have enough problems–besides the ghost–Ellen’s place is being ‘haunted’ by teenagers in the middle of the night, and then there’s something going on with Kris, Ellen’s Goth accountant . . .

The story starts fast, and stays brisk, with several scenes with the kinetic snap I love as they veer between serious and comic. Toward the end things get appropriately serious as Ellen and Tony separately, and then together, begin to close in on the murder . . . while exploring unexamined bigotry that makes Ellen, who is somewhat fussy, uncomfortable. Sharp character observation, nifty stuff about roses, evocative local atmosphere, a touch of the weird and of romance made this an unputdownable read. I am really looking forward to the next.]]> 4.11 2013
author: Patrice Greenwood
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/23
shelves: mystery-cozy, bvc
review:
This cozy mystery, set in a Victorian tea house in New Mexico, is the second in a series that promises to get stronger with each story. And wittier.

Elderly Mrs. Garcia falls dead in the tea room . . . the second person to die there. Proprietor Ellen, whose business is already recovering from a murder the day the tea shop opened (and who is coping with a possible ghost, and a prickly but intriguing relationship with a local cop) is horrified when it turns out the poor woman did not die of natural causes.

Is it an ethnically-motivated murder? Mrs. Garcia was a prominent member of the local rose club, but its only Hispanic member. Ellen tries to investigate in her own way, as is Tony Aragon, the cop she’s dating. As if she doesn’t have enough problems–besides the ghost–Ellen’s place is being ‘haunted’ by teenagers in the middle of the night, and then there’s something going on with Kris, Ellen’s Goth accountant . . .

The story starts fast, and stays brisk, with several scenes with the kinetic snap I love as they veer between serious and comic. Toward the end things get appropriately serious as Ellen and Tony separately, and then together, begin to close in on the murder . . . while exploring unexamined bigotry that makes Ellen, who is somewhat fussy, uncomfortable. Sharp character observation, nifty stuff about roses, evocative local atmosphere, a touch of the weird and of romance made this an unputdownable read. I am really looking forward to the next.

Merged review:

This cozy mystery, set in a Victorian tea house in New Mexico, is the second in a series that promises to get stronger with each story. And wittier.

Elderly Mrs. Garcia falls dead in the tea room . . . the second person to die there. Proprietor Ellen, whose business is already recovering from a murder the day the tea shop opened (and who is coping with a possible ghost, and a prickly but intriguing relationship with a local cop) is horrified when it turns out the poor woman did not die of natural causes.

Is it an ethnically-motivated murder? Mrs. Garcia was a prominent member of the local rose club, but its only Hispanic member. Ellen tries to investigate in her own way, as is Tony Aragon, the cop she’s dating. As if she doesn’t have enough problems–besides the ghost–Ellen’s place is being ‘haunted’ by teenagers in the middle of the night, and then there’s something going on with Kris, Ellen’s Goth accountant . . .

The story starts fast, and stays brisk, with several scenes with the kinetic snap I love as they veer between serious and comic. Toward the end things get appropriately serious as Ellen and Tony separately, and then together, begin to close in on the murder . . . while exploring unexamined bigotry that makes Ellen, who is somewhat fussy, uncomfortable. Sharp character observation, nifty stuff about roses, evocative local atmosphere, a touch of the weird and of romance made this an unputdownable read. I am really looking forward to the next.
]]> 16034526
Teenage prospector Ross Juarez’s best find ever – an ancient book he doesn’t know how to read – nearly costs him his life when a bounty hunter is set on him to kill him and steal the book. Ross barely makes it to Las Anclas, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble.]]> 400 Rachel Manija Brown 1101615397 Sherwood 0 my-books Just a note to say that we've rededited this book, along with HOSTAGE and REBEL in preparation for TRAITOR's publication in October 2024. It was fun to come back to it, and our process hasn't changed any except that between our first meetings and now Zoom made it possible to meet without trying to coordinate physical proximity over the length and breadth of LA. The story was so much fun to revisit!

This is a collaboration, but my "rule" still holds: my review only talks about the process of writing it. Actual reviews are up to readers.

Rachel Manija Brown was working in Hollywood when she first got the idea. She’s always loved the images and story elements of Westerns— the stranger who comes to town and shakes things up, the desperate chase through the desert, the man with no name, the tough sheriff, the saloon where everyone in town comes to gossip. But she wanted one where the characters were more like me, and more like the people who live in the west now.

The real California of the Gold Rush was much more diverse than it’s usually portrayed: Jews were there, and free black people, and Chinese people; Indians from various tribes, and people from Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Not to mention a whole lot of incredibly tough women. It was by no means a multicultural paradise. But it also wasn’t a place where everyone was white and women existed only as saloon girls, loyal wives, and prizes to be won by the male hero.

She imagined a future west: a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where technology had reverted back to Gold Rush levels, but which was still as diverse as the real city we live in. An image came to her mind, of a teenage boy desperately fleeing through the desert, without food or water but carrying something precious in his battered pack. A bounty hunter was relentlessly tracking him, and the desert was full of mutated bloodsucking plants. Could he reach the refuge of a small frontier town before he succumbed to thirst, or deadly wildlife, or a bullet?

She could see that boy in her mind’s eye. He didn’t look like the typical tall, light-skinned, blue-eyed hero of a western. He looked like the young men we see every day in Los Angeles, like the young men who had really lived in the California of the Old West. His skin was brown and his hair was black; he wasn’t tall or burly, but he was stronger than he looked. She wondered what it was that he had in his pack, that he was so desperate to protect…

When we met to collaborate on a TV show for Henson, she told me about that idea. By then the young man had a name: Ross Juarez.

I loved it! She asked if I wanted to collaborate, and we talked back and forth, scribbling down our favorite ideas: mysterious ruins and super powers, and taking familiar tropes and turning them inside out. The brainy mechanic sidekick, who’s always a guy, would be a girl who has trouble getting outside of her own head. And she wouldn’t be a sidekick, but the heroine. The tough sheriff would be a woman— a super-strong woman, with half her face beautiful and half a skull! The town was guarded not only by adult men, but by all the townspeople—including teenagers. Some with powers, some not! And if a love triangle developed, we’d take it in a completely new direction.

We first wrote the story as a TV series, and at the same time we began developing it as a book project. For a time it looked as if it would sell as both, but Hollywood being Hollywood, the executive interested jumped ship and since we had not signed the contract giving them book rights, we were free to concentrate on the book, taking advantage of all the things you can do in a novel that you can’t afford to do—or are not allowed to do—on TV.

In listing all our favorite tropes (super-powers! Bad-ass teens! Weird flora and fauna! Interesting food from many cultures!), we discovered that we were also on the same wavelength concerning diversity.

It seemed natural to map our future Los Angeles over the actual demographics of LA. White people are already a minority; 50% of the city is Hispanic/Latino. Today many people face prejudice based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. After an apocalypse, we thought that many old prejudices would die out, once the power structure that sustained them was gone. But humans being humans, new ones have replaced them, specifically a bias against the mutated “Changed” folk.

The way we work is unusual in the book world, but more common in television, where writers will sit together in a room and create first the story of a script in discussion, then write it by speaking the dialogue. We sit down and discuss the plot of the entire story, taking notes.

Before we write a chapter, we discuss what will happen in more detail. Then we sit side by side at a computer and write the chapter, usually with me typing but either of us providing text. The result is a book where any given sentence was probably written by both of us together. When we have a first draft, we pass it back and forth for rewrites and polishes and additions.

I have done several collaborations, and enjoyed them all, though each is very different. The fun part of writing with Rachel is that we never get writer’s block, because as soon as one of us runs out of ideas, whether on a single sentence or in a scene, the other either picks up with it and zooms ahead, or we can talk it out. Sometimes act it out!]]> 3.86 2014
author: Rachel Manija Brown
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: my-books
review:
UPDATE JULY 2024
Just a note to say that we've rededited this book, along with HOSTAGE and REBEL in preparation for TRAITOR's publication in October 2024. It was fun to come back to it, and our process hasn't changed any except that between our first meetings and now Zoom made it possible to meet without trying to coordinate physical proximity over the length and breadth of LA. The story was so much fun to revisit!

This is a collaboration, but my "rule" still holds: my review only talks about the process of writing it. Actual reviews are up to readers.

Rachel Manija Brown was working in Hollywood when she first got the idea. She’s always loved the images and story elements of Westerns— the stranger who comes to town and shakes things up, the desperate chase through the desert, the man with no name, the tough sheriff, the saloon where everyone in town comes to gossip. But she wanted one where the characters were more like me, and more like the people who live in the west now.

The real California of the Gold Rush was much more diverse than it’s usually portrayed: Jews were there, and free black people, and Chinese people; Indians from various tribes, and people from Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Not to mention a whole lot of incredibly tough women. It was by no means a multicultural paradise. But it also wasn’t a place where everyone was white and women existed only as saloon girls, loyal wives, and prizes to be won by the male hero.

She imagined a future west: a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where technology had reverted back to Gold Rush levels, but which was still as diverse as the real city we live in. An image came to her mind, of a teenage boy desperately fleeing through the desert, without food or water but carrying something precious in his battered pack. A bounty hunter was relentlessly tracking him, and the desert was full of mutated bloodsucking plants. Could he reach the refuge of a small frontier town before he succumbed to thirst, or deadly wildlife, or a bullet?

She could see that boy in her mind’s eye. He didn’t look like the typical tall, light-skinned, blue-eyed hero of a western. He looked like the young men we see every day in Los Angeles, like the young men who had really lived in the California of the Old West. His skin was brown and his hair was black; he wasn’t tall or burly, but he was stronger than he looked. She wondered what it was that he had in his pack, that he was so desperate to protect…

When we met to collaborate on a TV show for Henson, she told me about that idea. By then the young man had a name: Ross Juarez.

I loved it! She asked if I wanted to collaborate, and we talked back and forth, scribbling down our favorite ideas: mysterious ruins and super powers, and taking familiar tropes and turning them inside out. The brainy mechanic sidekick, who’s always a guy, would be a girl who has trouble getting outside of her own head. And she wouldn’t be a sidekick, but the heroine. The tough sheriff would be a woman— a super-strong woman, with half her face beautiful and half a skull! The town was guarded not only by adult men, but by all the townspeople—including teenagers. Some with powers, some not! And if a love triangle developed, we’d take it in a completely new direction.

We first wrote the story as a TV series, and at the same time we began developing it as a book project. For a time it looked as if it would sell as both, but Hollywood being Hollywood, the executive interested jumped ship and since we had not signed the contract giving them book rights, we were free to concentrate on the book, taking advantage of all the things you can do in a novel that you can’t afford to do—or are not allowed to do—on TV.

In listing all our favorite tropes (super-powers! Bad-ass teens! Weird flora and fauna! Interesting food from many cultures!), we discovered that we were also on the same wavelength concerning diversity.

It seemed natural to map our future Los Angeles over the actual demographics of LA. White people are already a minority; 50% of the city is Hispanic/Latino. Today many people face prejudice based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. After an apocalypse, we thought that many old prejudices would die out, once the power structure that sustained them was gone. But humans being humans, new ones have replaced them, specifically a bias against the mutated “Changed” folk.

The way we work is unusual in the book world, but more common in television, where writers will sit together in a room and create first the story of a script in discussion, then write it by speaking the dialogue. We sit down and discuss the plot of the entire story, taking notes.

Before we write a chapter, we discuss what will happen in more detail. Then we sit side by side at a computer and write the chapter, usually with me typing but either of us providing text. The result is a book where any given sentence was probably written by both of us together. When we have a first draft, we pass it back and forth for rewrites and polishes and additions.

I have done several collaborations, and enjoyed them all, though each is very different. The fun part of writing with Rachel is that we never get writer’s block, because as soon as one of us runs out of ideas, whether on a single sentence or in a scene, the other either picks up with it and zooms ahead, or we can talk it out. Sometimes act it out!
]]> 199252912 Two opposites decide to test their chemistry with one steamy night together. But will once be enough?

Nova Porter isn’t looking for love, and she certainly has no explanation for her attraction to buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker Charlie Milford. Maybe it’s his charm? Or maybe it’s his determination to help her fledgling business however he can. Either way, she’s distracted every time he’s around. With her new tattoo studio set to open in her hometown of Inglewild, she doesn’t have time for frivolous flirtations. 

In an effort to get Charlie out of her system once and for all, Nova offers a proposition. One night. No strings. They’ll kick their uncomfortable attraction to the curb and return to their respective responsibilities. But their explosive night together scatters their expectations like fallen leaves. And with Charlie in town as the temporary head of Lovelight Farms, Nova can’t quite avoid him. 

And Charlie? Well, Charlie knows a good investment when he sees one. He’s hoping he can convince Nova he’s worth some of her time.]]> 384 B.K. Borison 0593641175 Sherwood 0 romance
Neither of them wants a relationship, but they have a very strong attraction. Good: after initial turnoff through misunderstanding they talk like grownups, and then embark on their "once and done." We know it won't be once. And it isn't. There is a LOT of sex in this book. Lots. Between those pages, I liked the way the two found their way toward communication, and without the dreaded manufactured Dread Moment at the 80% mark--leading to a lovely surprise--but I guess because there really wasn't much actual conflict, the author felt obliged to fill those pages with sex. Okay if that's what you're reading for.

Another aspect that I liked (and would have preferred more of instead of all that banging on the Beautyrest) was the expert way the author evoked the appeal of the ideal small town. I've often thought that the strong appeal of "cozy small town" stories is that they are so akin to "found family" tropes. You get the quirky personalities, and some serious stuff to work out, while everyone knows one another's business, which I thought was well done (sometimes small town books are full of everyone constantly grinning and being adorable in a way that seems like they're drinking the Kooky Kool-Aid).]]> 4.08 2024
author: B.K. Borison
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/17
shelves: romance
review:
Last of a series about several couples, so new readers going in should know that a lot of characters are throwing at you from page one, as Nova attends a wedding of friends and family in a lovely small town. She's got the hots for Charlie, a very buttoned-down- New York money guy, while she is a tattoo artist. I think the author was going for opposites attract, but Nova and Charlie had a lot in common--terrible self-esteem, an anxious desire to please everyone.

Neither of them wants a relationship, but they have a very strong attraction. Good: after initial turnoff through misunderstanding they talk like grownups, and then embark on their "once and done." We know it won't be once. And it isn't. There is a LOT of sex in this book. Lots. Between those pages, I liked the way the two found their way toward communication, and without the dreaded manufactured Dread Moment at the 80% mark--leading to a lovely surprise--but I guess because there really wasn't much actual conflict, the author felt obliged to fill those pages with sex. Okay if that's what you're reading for.

Another aspect that I liked (and would have preferred more of instead of all that banging on the Beautyrest) was the expert way the author evoked the appeal of the ideal small town. I've often thought that the strong appeal of "cozy small town" stories is that they are so akin to "found family" tropes. You get the quirky personalities, and some serious stuff to work out, while everyone knows one another's business, which I thought was well done (sometimes small town books are full of everyone constantly grinning and being adorable in a way that seems like they're drinking the Kooky Kool-Aid).
]]> 199373689
Growing up, Jessie and Hillary lived for summer, when they’d be reunited at Camp Chickawah. The best friends vowed to become counselors together someday, but they drifted apart after Hillary broke her promise and only Jessie stuck to their plan, working her way up to become the camp director. 

When Jessie learns that the camp will be sold, she decides to plan one last hurrah, inviting past campers—including Hillary—to a nostalgic “adult summer camp” before closing for good. Jessie and Hillary rebuild their friendship as they relive the best time of their lives—only now there are adult beverages, skinny dipping, and romantic entanglements. Straitlaced Hillary agrees to a “no strings attached” summer fling with the camp chef, while outgoing Jessie is drawn to a moody, reclusive writer who’s rented a cabin to work on his novel.

The friends soon realize this doesn’t have to be the last summer. They’ll team up and work together, just like the old days. But if they can’t save their beloved camp, will they be able to take the happiness of this summer away with them?]]> 405 Ali Brady 0593640829 Sherwood 0 netgalley, romance
Alas, the relationships were disappointing, making that aspect of the story drag and drag, yet nothing could quite paper over the big, sucking energy-vacuum of what Jacob Proffitt calls Negative Motivation.

The story begins with Jessie's beloved camp being on the brink of being sold off for condos, but what she misses most is her old camp bestie, who walked away from their friendship years ago, for no reason that Jessie could figure. Then we switch over to Hillary, said ex-bestie, who is sorely missing her single good friendship, yep, with Jessie... and why didn't the two ever talk it out? Though I dislike that premise very much I can forgive it if the two clear the air the minute they see each other. But nope. They don't talk, and don't talk, then part in a snit, and I was counting the pages until that thread would be over. I no longer cared what had happened--these two were emotionally teenagers, apparently.

That sucking black hole even drained the romances, which felt like checkmarks. I wonder if the two authors suspected that as they added a subplot with an elderly dog that I think could have been handled much better. It, too, felt tacked on for the pathos.

Still, the camp does get saved, yay! But I closed the file feeling that the book was 100 pages longer than it needed to be--mainly all the negative energy wasted on maundering over that total lack of motivation for resolving an issue that ought to have been half a chapter of intense talk, then maybe rebuilding trust. But mileage varies, and I hope the book finds its fans in summer camp nostalgia readers!]]> 3.90 2024
author: Ali Brady
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: netgalley, romance
review:
This is one of those mixed bag reads that's hard to categorize. I grabbed it because the premise was about rescuing a summer camp, with romance. And the camp part was everything I could have wished for, evoking fond memories of summer camps when I was a camper and a counselor. I loved the enthusiasm, and the banter--and the way that pranks can turn sour quick, which is also a strong memory. The idea of a summer camp for grownups is an awesome idea! And I loved the execution of that aspect.

Alas, the relationships were disappointing, making that aspect of the story drag and drag, yet nothing could quite paper over the big, sucking energy-vacuum of what Jacob Proffitt calls Negative Motivation.

The story begins with Jessie's beloved camp being on the brink of being sold off for condos, but what she misses most is her old camp bestie, who walked away from their friendship years ago, for no reason that Jessie could figure. Then we switch over to Hillary, said ex-bestie, who is sorely missing her single good friendship, yep, with Jessie... and why didn't the two ever talk it out? Though I dislike that premise very much I can forgive it if the two clear the air the minute they see each other. But nope. They don't talk, and don't talk, then part in a snit, and I was counting the pages until that thread would be over. I no longer cared what had happened--these two were emotionally teenagers, apparently.

That sucking black hole even drained the romances, which felt like checkmarks. I wonder if the two authors suspected that as they added a subplot with an elderly dog that I think could have been handled much better. It, too, felt tacked on for the pathos.

Still, the camp does get saved, yay! But I closed the file feeling that the book was 100 pages longer than it needed to be--mainly all the negative energy wasted on maundering over that total lack of motivation for resolving an issue that ought to have been half a chapter of intense talk, then maybe rebuilding trust. But mileage varies, and I hope the book finds its fans in summer camp nostalgia readers!
]]> 195391615
Presley Fry is not amused. She’s been an assistant at the Late Night Show for way too long, she’s adopted a “business casual” approach to dating to save herself from the embarrassment of seeking genuine connection, and she’s content to allow her gregarious roommate, Isabelle, to orchestrate her entire social life. And yet, Presley is absolutely enamored with her job and the world of stand-up comedy. The joy she finds in discovering up-and-coming comedians, the beauty and connection in their shared humor―it’s enough for now.

Enter Susan Clark, the childhood best friend of Presley’s late mother, whose death still knocks the wind out of Presley whenever she reaches for the phone. Susan is married to the head of the network where Presley works, and she is determined to take Presley under her wing and ease her way through life in the big city. She’s also determined to connect Presley with her son, the bright and affable Lawrence, who couldn’t be further from Presley’s type.

As Presley grapples with the loss of her mother and finds her people among those who seek out comedy to make the world a bit brighter, Humor Me reminds us that friendship can emerge from where you least expect it and that shared laughter can ease some of the deepest pain.]]> 320 Cat Shook 1250904714 Sherwood 0
It's marketed as romance, with stand-up comedy as an element. I nabbed it from NetGalley, saving it for a time when I really needed relaxing reading; I ought to have remembered that stand-up comedy always has more than a spicing of pain at the keelson.

There were times when this book veered more into women's fiction. Not a bad thing. The writing was tight, stylish, aware, and the characters varied, their pain real. But the romance between the leads pretty much took a back seat to the romance with the city. It's a love letter to the people of New York.]]> 3.61 2024
author: Cat Shook
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: comedy-of-manners, netgalley, romance
review:
When books have a strong narrative voice, I'll sometimes 'hear' the text, along with the dialogue. This book kept playing into my inner ear in a Brooklyn accent, so strong was the New York vibe.

It's marketed as romance, with stand-up comedy as an element. I nabbed it from NetGalley, saving it for a time when I really needed relaxing reading; I ought to have remembered that stand-up comedy always has more than a spicing of pain at the keelson.

There were times when this book veered more into women's fiction. Not a bad thing. The writing was tight, stylish, aware, and the characters varied, their pain real. But the romance between the leads pretty much took a back seat to the romance with the city. It's a love letter to the people of New York.
]]> 195886484 An American teen learns she may have accidentally married the King of England, only to end up stranded on a tropical island with him in this highly-anticipated sequel to The Prince & The Apocalypse.

Freshman year is stressful enough without accidentally being married to the King of England. Of course, Wren Wheeler can’t tell her Northwestern classmates about that; after surviving a narrowly-averted apocalypse over the summer, everyone’s had enough excitement for one lifetime. Wren knows she needs to move on from Theo, but she can’t forget the look in his eyes when he left her on that island in Greece—and also, he took her dog.

When an ill-fated attempt to rescue Comet the Apocalypse Dog turns into a chemistry-fueled reunion with Theo that’s caught by the paparazzi, Wren finds herself under the royal spotlight. Suddenly, she’s a problem for “the firm” to solve, and in order to be protected from the rabid press, she’ll have to fly back to London with Theo. Along for the ride are Naomi and Brooke, as well as Theo's siblings, including Henry, the brother he's spent his life being compared to. But because the universe can’t let these two maybe-newlyweds have one conversation in peace, their plane goes down over the Atlantic, crashing on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere.

Stranded with no sign of rescue, the group will have to band together against poisonous animals, catastrophic injuries, a brotherly rivalry, and an ill-timed volcano if they’re going to make it out alive. And, scariest of all, Wren and Theo will have to face their feelings for one another and decide what they want their futures to look like—and if that future will be heartbreak, or happily ever after.]]> 336 Kara McDowell 125087307X Sherwood 0
But up until then, it was tense and vivid, with terrific, complicated characters, as Wren--after a summer of non-communication with the heir to the UK in this world-next-door--decides to drive north to Canada while Theo is on a goodwill tour, to snatch...her dog.

Things immediately get complicated, largely due to the press's avid lack of boundary respect, and as a result, the royal family's teens, plus Wren, her sister Brooke, and Wren's bestie Naomi, end up on a plane with some crown functionaries and guards...until the plane crashes on an island.

Then things get really tense, as they try to survive as the volcanic island begins to build toward an eruption. Also erupting are teenage emotions, many of them held back for a long time.

I thought the author did a great job with the tension of an unreal lifestyle which, yes, includes all the pomp and circumstance that readers come to this particular YA romantic niche for (handsome princes 4-Ev-ah!) plus a good dose of the horrific reality of the media being in your face 24/7--and then making up lies in order to sell content. Or...what happens when a lot of the lies don't in fact come from the heads of publicity hacks?

The adventure climaxes with great drama, with everyone communicating (though Brooke pretty much drops out of the story entirely), and Wren and Theo beginning to talk, finally. Then, once they're saved, it promptly dives off the deep end.

SPOILERS BEYOND


REALLY--TOTAL SPOILERS



Okay, the twist where it turns out that the second prince is illegitimate and not the heir was a nice one, EXCEPT the way it was handled. As if the crown's physicians hadn't known all along about the blood-type glitch that indicates one prince was conceived outside of marriage. Now, if that news had been known and suppressed from the birth of Henry, I could buy that. But having no one have a clue and a teenager figure it out was *totally* beyond belief. The entire royal medical team are idiots?

And Henry accepts the fact that he's illegitimate when all his life he's wanted the throne, in two quick paragraphs?

Then comes the sadly predictable Bad Moment, the Grand Reconciliation...and then, just when it ought to get interesting--as in Theo and Wren deciding together to make the whole thing work (which is what I think readers who want middle class girls falling in love with handsome princes come to this sub-genre for) instead, Theo gives it all up for a mundane life. Middle class morality for the win! It's sensible, but it's emotionally a total bait-and-switch.

At least the dog makes it out fine!]]> 3.84 2024
author: Kara McDowell
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves: alt-history, comedy-of-manners, netgalley, romance
review:
I loved the first book, in spite of an ending that was less a cliff-hanger than driving right off a cliff. Now, with this second one, I'm wondering if this author's ideas and mine will never agree on how to end a story with some emotional resolution and growth. I loved this book until roughly the ninety-percent mark, at which point it took a left turn off into stupid-for-the-sake-of-drama, then it kind of staggered all over the place before settling into a copout, given the niche.

But up until then, it was tense and vivid, with terrific, complicated characters, as Wren--after a summer of non-communication with the heir to the UK in this world-next-door--decides to drive north to Canada while Theo is on a goodwill tour, to snatch...her dog.

Things immediately get complicated, largely due to the press's avid lack of boundary respect, and as a result, the royal family's teens, plus Wren, her sister Brooke, and Wren's bestie Naomi, end up on a plane with some crown functionaries and guards...until the plane crashes on an island.

Then things get really tense, as they try to survive as the volcanic island begins to build toward an eruption. Also erupting are teenage emotions, many of them held back for a long time.

I thought the author did a great job with the tension of an unreal lifestyle which, yes, includes all the pomp and circumstance that readers come to this particular YA romantic niche for (handsome princes 4-Ev-ah!) plus a good dose of the horrific reality of the media being in your face 24/7--and then making up lies in order to sell content. Or...what happens when a lot of the lies don't in fact come from the heads of publicity hacks?

The adventure climaxes with great drama, with everyone communicating (though Brooke pretty much drops out of the story entirely), and Wren and Theo beginning to talk, finally. Then, once they're saved, it promptly dives off the deep end.

SPOILERS BEYOND


REALLY--TOTAL SPOILERS



Okay, the twist where it turns out that the second prince is illegitimate and not the heir was a nice one, EXCEPT the way it was handled. As if the crown's physicians hadn't known all along about the blood-type glitch that indicates one prince was conceived outside of marriage. Now, if that news had been known and suppressed from the birth of Henry, I could buy that. But having no one have a clue and a teenager figure it out was *totally* beyond belief. The entire royal medical team are idiots?

And Henry accepts the fact that he's illegitimate when all his life he's wanted the throne, in two quick paragraphs?

Then comes the sadly predictable Bad Moment, the Grand Reconciliation...and then, just when it ought to get interesting--as in Theo and Wren deciding together to make the whole thing work (which is what I think readers who want middle class girls falling in love with handsome princes come to this sub-genre for) instead, Theo gives it all up for a mundane life. Middle class morality for the win! It's sensible, but it's emotionally a total bait-and-switch.

At least the dog makes it out fine!
]]> 203579099 From multiple New York Times bestselling author Tom Clavin comes the thrilling true story of the most infamous hangout for bandits, thieves and murderers of all time—and the lawmen tasked with rooting them out.Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole, and Hole in the Wall were three hideouts that collectively were known to outlaws as “Bandit Heaven.” During the 1880s and ‘90s these remote locations in Wyoming and Utah harbored hundreds of train and bank robbers, horse and cattle thieves, the occasional killer, and anyone else with a price on his head.Clavin's Bandit Heaven is the entertaining story of these tumultuous times and the colorful characters who rode the Outlaw Trail through the frigid mountain passes and throat-parching deserts that connected the three hideouts—well-guarded enclaves no sensible lawman would enter. There are the “star” residents like gregarious Butch Cassidy and his mostly silent sidekick the Sundance Kid, and an array of fascinating supporting players like the cold-blooded Kid Curry, the gang leader, and “Black Jack” Ketchum (who had the dubious distinction of being decapitated during a hanging), among others. Most of the hard-riding action takes place in the mid- to late-1890s when Bandit Heaven came to be one of the few safe places left as the law closed in on the dwindling number of active outlaws. Most were dead by the beginning of the 20th century, gunned down by a galvanized law-enforcement system seeking rewards and glory. Ultimately, only Cassidy and Sundance escaped . . . to meet their fate 6000 miles away, becoming legends when they died in a fusillade of lead.Bandit Heaven is a thrilling read, filled with action, indelible characters, and some poignance for the true end of the Wild West outlaw.]]> 304 Tom Clavin 1250282403 Sherwood 0
Framing this look at the waning of the "Old West" in particular the outlaws who preyed on banks, railroads, ranchers, and everyone else. was the tale of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I've never had any interest in those two, as I found the film dull when I saw it at twenty years old (hearing yet another maundering tweedle of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" used to drive me right out of a room) so I was surprised to find out that as outlaws go, these two were not all that bad. There were far worse ones, some of them with whom the two joined up now and then.

Mostly I found the scant facts about "Ethel"--the woman of many names with whom the Sundance Kid partnered for a time, till she'd had enough--was surprisingly interesting. I'd found the actor in the film so dull that it had never occurred to me that this person was even more interesting than the two guys, who were mainly famous for being somewhat stylish in how they took others' belongings.

The frame mostly worked--except that it turns out that really there is nothing for certain known about what happened to the two, down in South America. If they were actually there. Another small problem in the last third was that Clavin sometimes told us the ends of some of the outlaws and the lawmen who chased them, then picked up their stories from another angle--and they were suddenly alive again, confusing me a bit as the cast was so large.

But those are small quibbles. I learned a lot, and thoroughly enjoyed the process.]]> 3.78
author: Tom Clavin
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/06
shelves: history, history-19th-c, netgalley
review:
Clavin really knows his material, and he writes so engagingly that I sometimes forgot I was reading a historical account, as he evokes the various outlaws he follows, most to their unsavory ends. I really enjoy his style.

Framing this look at the waning of the "Old West" in particular the outlaws who preyed on banks, railroads, ranchers, and everyone else. was the tale of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I've never had any interest in those two, as I found the film dull when I saw it at twenty years old (hearing yet another maundering tweedle of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" used to drive me right out of a room) so I was surprised to find out that as outlaws go, these two were not all that bad. There were far worse ones, some of them with whom the two joined up now and then.

Mostly I found the scant facts about "Ethel"--the woman of many names with whom the Sundance Kid partnered for a time, till she'd had enough--was surprisingly interesting. I'd found the actor in the film so dull that it had never occurred to me that this person was even more interesting than the two guys, who were mainly famous for being somewhat stylish in how they took others' belongings.

The frame mostly worked--except that it turns out that really there is nothing for certain known about what happened to the two, down in South America. If they were actually there. Another small problem in the last third was that Clavin sometimes told us the ends of some of the outlaws and the lawmen who chased them, then picked up their stories from another angle--and they were suddenly alive again, confusing me a bit as the cast was so large.

But those are small quibbles. I learned a lot, and thoroughly enjoyed the process.
]]> 205435917 A smart and powerful story set in the Orthodox Jewish community about what it means to fit in, break out, and find your own way, by the award-winning author of The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen. This book is Gossip Girl + My Name Is Asher Lev + I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.

As Yoyo’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she’s falling for—Yoyo’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.

Award-winning author Isaac Blum returns with a new novel that asks what it really means to be part of a community—and what it means to break free.]]> 304 Isaac Blum 059352585X Sherwood 0
The focus is on Yoyo, who as the rabbi's daughter not only has responsibilities as an Orthodox daughter, but who must be a living example to the community.

At the same time, she's a teenager on the verge of adulthood, with all the feelings that teens on the verge of adulthood feel. And the curiosity. Just as her bestie is sent away to a boarding school, and it seems as if the world has closed up, shutting her off as if forgotten, with no acknowledgment of Yoyo's grief at the separation.

Yoyo meets Mickey, the daughter of a reform rabbi, and the girls embark on a rocky relationship as Mickey introduces the world outside the Orthodox community to Yoyo.

One of the things I really like about Blum's books is the humor that laces his sharp observations about teens navigating in today's world, which includes the Internet. And how the teens in this community navigate the shoals of modern life, with four thousand year old rules and laws as their guide. These can be pretty obscure, maybe outright outmoded, but Blum shows the reader that the basic human striving for civilization, for respect for self and one's fellow human, have not changed.

Yoyo's quest to find her own truth, and define who she is, happens very fast, but that reads true to my remembered experience--and to the experience of the teens I know now. I love how Yoyo comes to see adulthood through new eyes, the beginnings of maturity--glimmerings of wisdom--and redefines herself with respect to her faith. ]]> 4.14 2024
author: Isaac Blum
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: netgalley, romance, school-stories, fiction
review:
Yoyo Gold is a rabbi's daughter, living in a tight-knit Orthodox community. Blum presents the Orthodox lifestyle with sympathy and clarity, at least for this gentile. The many terms in Hebrew that do not have easy equivalents in American English are still clear enough to follow.

The focus is on Yoyo, who as the rabbi's daughter not only has responsibilities as an Orthodox daughter, but who must be a living example to the community.

At the same time, she's a teenager on the verge of adulthood, with all the feelings that teens on the verge of adulthood feel. And the curiosity. Just as her bestie is sent away to a boarding school, and it seems as if the world has closed up, shutting her off as if forgotten, with no acknowledgment of Yoyo's grief at the separation.

Yoyo meets Mickey, the daughter of a reform rabbi, and the girls embark on a rocky relationship as Mickey introduces the world outside the Orthodox community to Yoyo.

One of the things I really like about Blum's books is the humor that laces his sharp observations about teens navigating in today's world, which includes the Internet. And how the teens in this community navigate the shoals of modern life, with four thousand year old rules and laws as their guide. These can be pretty obscure, maybe outright outmoded, but Blum shows the reader that the basic human striving for civilization, for respect for self and one's fellow human, have not changed.

Yoyo's quest to find her own truth, and define who she is, happens very fast, but that reads true to my remembered experience--and to the experience of the teens I know now. I love how Yoyo comes to see adulthood through new eyes, the beginnings of maturity--glimmerings of wisdom--and redefines herself with respect to her faith.
]]> 206685987 Can the team survive an eccentric dungeon that might be alive?

The knowledge gained in the Repository directs Aderyn, Owen, and their team to the distant, lawless city of Obsidian, in search of the next clues to the Fated One quest. Obsidian is dangerous for low-level adventurers, and the overland journey through monster-infested wasteland takes months. When they learn of a dungeon called Gamboling Coil that can transport adventurers instantly anywhere in the world, they leap at the chance. But nothing in the dungeon is as it seems, and it will take all the team’s skills to make it out alive.

However, Gamboling Coil is only the first step. Obsidian’s black walls harbor criminals, outcasts, and warring factions. An entanglement in city politics, and an encounter with another Warmaster, may prove more deadly than the worst monster the team has ever faced.

Pick up Warmaster 3: Gamboling Coil today and join the adventure!]]> 348 Melissa McShane Sherwood 0 fantasy
I also love the inventiveness of the dungeons and the quests. The world, and the wider questions are there, and I have no doubt that awareness will continue to widen out. It's a pleasure to watch it unfold.

With this episode, a new, deliciously obnoxious character joins the group, promising a whole lot of catalyst action. I won't say more; what I will say is that I especially loved watching Isold's development in this, and the eventual conversation that he and Aderyn had...

Nuff said. Looking forward to Book Four!]]> 4.26 2024
author: Melissa McShane
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: fantasy
review:
After a long period of Live, Interrupted, I was at last able to return to this fun, fast-paced novel. Once again, I'm amazed at how quickly I get sucked into this series, considering that I'm unfamiliar with LitRPG and gaming. It's the characters. I love following their arcs as they develop in complexity.

I also love the inventiveness of the dungeons and the quests. The world, and the wider questions are there, and I have no doubt that awareness will continue to widen out. It's a pleasure to watch it unfold.

With this episode, a new, deliciously obnoxious character joins the group, promising a whole lot of catalyst action. I won't say more; what I will say is that I especially loved watching Isold's development in this, and the eventual conversation that he and Aderyn had...

Nuff said. Looking forward to Book Four!
]]> 10478123
Animals behaving badly, other people's misfortunes and the most bizarre true crime story ever. French Fried is the unfortunately true account of Chris Dolley's first eight months in France and has been described as 'A Year in Provence with Miss Marple and Gerald Durrell.'

Just when Chris and Shelagh think nothing more could possibly go wrong, they discover that Chris's identity has been stolen and their life savings - all the money from their house sale in England that was going to finance their new life in France - had disappeared. A bank account had been opened in Chris's name in Spain to take the proceeds.

Then they're abandoned by the police forces of four countries who all insist the crime belongs in someone else's jurisdiction. The French say it's an Irish crime as that's where the money was held. The Irish say it's French as that's where all the correspondence came from. The British say it's nothing to do with them even though forged British passports were used to open the bank account in Spain. And the Spanish are on holiday - and can't even think about investigating any bank account for at least four weeks.

So Chris has to solve the crime himself. But unlike fictional detectives he has an 80 year-old mother-in-law and an excitable puppy who insist they come along if he's going anywhere interesting - like a stakeout.]]> 222 Chris Dolley 1452476608 Sherwood 0 memoir, bvc
Someone posing as them had helped themselves to everything.

Chris writes engagingly about a nightmarish experience; his way of coping is to find the humor wherever and whenever he can. I enjoyed reading this book for its glimpses of country life in France, and I like a mystery story (preferably without dead bodies strewn hither and yon.)

EDITED TO ADD: this is the same Chris Dolley who writes the engaging Wodehousian steampunk comedies about Reggie Worcester and the mechanical butler Reeves.


Merged review:

This is not just a memoir, it's a mystery, it's also a story of culture adjustment, and it's about animals. Chris and his wife are an English couple who decided to buy land in France for their menagerie. It was supposed to be a simple move, at reasonable cost. Like many others, they discovered the hidden pitfalls of moving when you have to do most of the labor yourself--and added to that, when it came time to get into their bank account, there was no bank account.

Someone posing as them had helped themselves to everything.

Chris writes engagingly about a nightmarish experience; his way of coping is to find the humor wherever and whenever he can. I enjoyed reading this book for its glimpses of country life in France, and I like a mystery story (preferably without dead bodies strewn hither and yon.)

EDITED TO ADD: this is the same Chris Dolley who writes the engaging Wodehousian steampunk comedies about Reggie Worcester and the mechanical butler Reeves.]]> 3.56 2010
author: Chris Dolley
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/27
shelves: memoir, bvc
review:
This is not just a memoir, it's a mystery, it's also a story of culture adjustment, and it's about animals. Chris and his wife are an English couple who decided to buy land in France for their menagerie. It was supposed to be a simple move, at reasonable cost. Like many others, they discovered the hidden pitfalls of moving when you have to do most of the labor yourself--and added to that, when it came time to get into their bank account, there was no bank account.

Someone posing as them had helped themselves to everything.

Chris writes engagingly about a nightmarish experience; his way of coping is to find the humor wherever and whenever he can. I enjoyed reading this book for its glimpses of country life in France, and I like a mystery story (preferably without dead bodies strewn hither and yon.)

EDITED TO ADD: this is the same Chris Dolley who writes the engaging Wodehousian steampunk comedies about Reggie Worcester and the mechanical butler Reeves.


Merged review:

This is not just a memoir, it's a mystery, it's also a story of culture adjustment, and it's about animals. Chris and his wife are an English couple who decided to buy land in France for their menagerie. It was supposed to be a simple move, at reasonable cost. Like many others, they discovered the hidden pitfalls of moving when you have to do most of the labor yourself--and added to that, when it came time to get into their bank account, there was no bank account.

Someone posing as them had helped themselves to everything.

Chris writes engagingly about a nightmarish experience; his way of coping is to find the humor wherever and whenever he can. I enjoyed reading this book for its glimpses of country life in France, and I like a mystery story (preferably without dead bodies strewn hither and yon.)

EDITED TO ADD: this is the same Chris Dolley who writes the engaging Wodehousian steampunk comedies about Reggie Worcester and the mechanical butler Reeves.
]]> 195886398 A calculus nerd enlists her surly classmate’s help to win back her ex-boyfriend, but when sparks start to fly, she realizes there’s no algorithm for falling in love.

Marlowe Thompson understands a lot of things. She understands that calculus isn’t overwhelmingly beautiful to everyone, and that it typically kills the mood when you try to talk Python coding over beer pong. She understands people were surprised when golden boy Josh asked her out and she went from weird, math-obsessed Marlowe to half of their school’s couple goals. Unfortunately, Marlowe was surprised when Josh dumped her because he’d prefer a girlfriend who was more romantic. One with emotional depth.

But Marlowe has never failed anything in her life, and she isn’t about to start now. When she’s paired with Ashton Hayes for an English project, his black clothing and moody eyeliner cause a bit of a systems overload, and the dissonant sounds of his rock band make her brain itch. But when she discovers Ash's hidden stash of love songs, Marlowe makes a desperate deal to unleash her inner romantic heroine: if Ash will agree to help her write some love letters, she’ll calculate the perfect data analytics formula to make Ash's band go viral.

As the semester heats up with yearning love notes and late nights spent with a boy who escapes any box her brain tries to put him in, Marlowe starts to question if there’s really a set solution to love. Could a girl who has never met a problem she couldn’t solve have gotten the math so massively wrong?]]> 304 Serena Kaylor 1250908701 Sherwood 0 netgalley, romance
She decides she needs a little help, and here we have an English class studying classics, plus a tall, hot musician who offers to help her write letters to get Josh back.

In the course of this letter writing, plus working on a project for English class, Marlowe begins to see that maybe she is not the one who knows nothing of love. But she's learning fast--and not with the stinker Josh.

There were so many funny moments, great characters, and terrific discussions about love. I loved the lead to the end more than I liked the denouement as I'm not really convinced that confessions of love ought to be performance art, but that might be my age. The rest of the book was a delight]]> 3.88 2024
author: Serena Kaylor
name: Sherwood
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/22
shelves: netgalley, romance
review:
Marlowe, neurodivergent and uncertain of herself in social situations, is told by her boyfriend Josh that they need a break. According to Josh the jack wagon, she doesn’t know how to love someone or even what love is.

She decides she needs a little help, and here we have an English class studying classics, plus a tall, hot musician who offers to help her write letters to get Josh back.

In the course of this letter writing, plus working on a project for English class, Marlowe begins to see that maybe she is not the one who knows nothing of love. But she's learning fast--and not with the stinker Josh.

There were so many funny moments, great characters, and terrific discussions about love. I loved the lead to the end more than I liked the denouement as I'm not really convinced that confessions of love ought to be performance art, but that might be my age. The rest of the book was a delight
]]> 209084582 Now she's the universe's only hope.
Liris has been trapped training as an elite spy her whole life. But when her elders try to sacrifice her to further their own interests, she escapes through a secret portal—only to land right in the hands of Lord Vhannor, the most dangerous spellcaster in the universe.

Vhannor has dedicated his life to defending the universe from world-devouring demons, and Liris, with her unique knowledge of an ancient spell language, jeopardizes his mission. But when she uses it to help him close a demonic portal before it can destroy all life in that dimension, he's forced to acknowledge he needs her by his side.

As they race between dimensions to fight their mutual enemies, they discover a plot that will leave every remaining realm in the universe at the mercy of demons. But to stop it, Liris will have to rely on the man whose icy gaze sees right through her... and when even her own people betrayed her, how can she trust Vhannor to stand by her when she risks the whole universe?

The Sundered Realms is equal parts epic fantasy and steamy romance in a world where being a huge nerd about language makes you incredibly epic at magic. This is an action-packed story about an interdimensional combat ambassador heroine and the most dangerous man in the universe devoting all his attention to making her unstoppable.]]> 448 Casey Blair Sherwood 0 4.15
author: Casey Blair
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/06/13
shelves:
review:
This is a quick, fun read for readers who like romantasy. The world building is fun, and I absolutely loved the fact that the magic could be done by writing math as spells. (Or, that's how I envisioned it, anyway). Two very bright research nerds find one another and negotiate their relationship while battling demons and some determined wizards, in an intriguing world setup.
]]> 195790586 She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?]]> 336 Katherine Center 1250283809 Sherwood 0 netgalley, romance
Add to that a (content warning here) fake cancer diagnosis, which is never going to be funny to me, ever. I do not want cancer in my romances, even fake for really stupid reasons.

Mileage varies!]]> 4.05 2024
author: Katherine Center
name: Sherwood
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/09
shelves: netgalley, romance
review:
It was a great idea--a non-compatible couple have to write a romantic comedy screenplay--and I absolutely adored the heroine, but the hero was too much of a jerk for my taste. Grumpy/sunshine is a tough challenge to make work, and reader reactions are wildly subjective, but for me, grumpy needs to be kind, and honest. This jack wagon was neither.

Add to that a (content warning here) fake cancer diagnosis, which is never going to be funny to me, ever. I do not want cancer in my romances, even fake for really stupid reasons.

Mileage varies!
]]>