ampersandinc's reviews
1334 reviews

The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey

3.5

For a slim book, this one is A LOT! Neither beginning nor ending, both fiction and non-fiction, the book is constructed in a sandwich style format where you read two separate pieces into the middle where they both end…hence the mobius of it all. One piece is essentially a novella and the author a memoir of a brief glimpse of time in the author’s life, both reckoning in some way with grief extending from the end of the relationship. 

Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A lovely little Beauty & and the Beast retelling for fans of Beauty and Rose Daughter, Robin McKinley's two retellings of this fairytale. While all the story's beats are familiar, there are enough changes from the original fairytale to keep it interesting. The sisters are not unredeemable harridans as in some versions, and Bryony/Beauty is a sensible sort whose love of gardening and books helps her solve the castle's mysteries to save the Beast. I enjoyed it but likely won't bother with a reread in the future. 

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another romantasy, set in the same world as Swordheart (with a couple of beloved side characters popping up in both books) once again featuring two POV characters: a warrior with a tragic past and a dry sense of humour and an underestimated woman whose previous romantic partner(s) were unsupportive and disappointing. Do the two books have a fair amount in common? Sure. Am I mad about it? Definitely not! This one had a murder mystery side-plot and political scheming aplenty. I enjoyed the explorations of grief and PTSD the two characters had to do to grow as individuals and meet each other's needs. Once again, I really enjoyed that this was a romantasy featuring adult/middle-aged protagonists, rather than "new adult" characters or centuries-old fae that act like adolescents. There are three other books in the Saints of Steel series featuring Stephen's paladin brethren; I'm definitely interested to pick up at least the next one. 

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Woohoo! You know when you’re reading a book and you’re hoping the author will put the characters in one scenario or that a certain mystery will reveal itself at a certain time, and they actually deliver? This is one of those books. Five sisters are maybe or maybe not turning into dogs and wreaking havoc on their 17th century town, and many hijinks ensue as you move through the POV of different town folk. Rare where a book can be both fun and moody, but this definitely checks both boxes. 

Clay Footed Giants by Mark McGuire

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Did not expect that one of the lead sub-sub- graphic novel genres of 2024 would be authors writing about their own journey of understanding of their father’s journey of understanding with inherited trauma for the Vietnam war, a micro-genre populated by this title and THE HEART THAT FED. I think that THE HEART THAT FED is the better of the two, due to the quality of the art and the way in which they approach the nuance of trauma, but in art and in narrative CLAY FOOTED GIANTS has a simple approach that is very emotionally impactful. 

The Worshipper of the Image by Richard Le Gallienne

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Man falls in love with statue and slowly lights his life on fire because of that love–what’s not to love! The author was primarily a poet, and the writing bears that out, but I would say for that an 125+ year old work, there’s an absurdist energy here that might make it appeal to readers of Miranda July and Alison Espach. 

McSweeney's Issue 76 (McSweeney's Quarterly Concern): Aftershocks (Syrian Fiction) by Alia Malek, Rita Bullwinkel, Dave Eggers

3.0

As always, another interesting quarterly rendition from McSweeney’s, this issue focusing on contemporary Syrian prose. It includes short stories, dramas, and excerpts from novels and are largely in translation from Arabic. As with every collection like this, there were some pieces that connected more than others, but there was a definite poetic, magical realism (in a good way) quality to many of the pieces. 

Marion's Wall by Jack Finney

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A good, lighthearted read for folks who are supernatural curious but don’t like to be spooked. The core premise is fantastic–a couple move into a home inhabited by the spirit of a 20s film star who passed away before her star could really rise. This leads to all manner of madcap adventures, that gave me the rare sense the book should’ve been longer, or probably a better solution, if the author just picked one of the tangents and explored it further. Will note that if you enjoyed the cross era bull-in-china-shop energy of MINISTRY OF TIME, you will enjoy this (20s film star transported into the 70s), and if you are a Turner Classic Movies subscriber, you will also be hooked as there’s lots of golden era of film goodies tucked away. One of those 5/5 core concept, but 2/5 execution books, so here we are at 3/5. 

The Long View by Elizabeth Jane Howard

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 Barbara Pym meets BRIDESHEAD REVISITED meets Marriage Story. A love, or lack thereof, story told in reverse, starting with an insight into a bitter scornful marriage in present day and unspooling itself thread by thread, chapter by chapter. Very much in the melancholy aristocracy moping about their 100 acre estate or Bloomsbury flat genre, which I’m a mark for. Had never read any EJH before, but am now fully on the hook. I also found out that she was married to Kingsley Amis, and mother to Martin Amis. A literary supergroup! 

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A magical, thrilling fantasy about time travel, magic books, and adventure!  When a young bookseller discovers a curious book left behind by one of her favourite customers, the Book of Doors, she learns that the book can take her through any door in the world and through time. But the fun is short-lived when book collectors start to hunt down the magic book. Through her adventures she learns there are many more powerful and dangerous books in existence. This story features multiple POV's and timelines, as well as some terrifying characters that wish to use the books for pure evil. I really enjoyed this one and didn't get too lost with the various timelines! Highly recommend to anyone that loves time travel and magic!