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The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The ability to make bargains with the supernatural is a compelling notion. Whether the bargain is made with a jar of graveyard dirt, cat bones, a photograph, and yarrow buried at a crossroads, or the rubbing of a lamp to ask three wishes of a genie, or trading scraps of everyday objects lying around the house with fairies… they seem to ask so little of us in exchange for changing our lives. What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a lot, actually. Just ask the miller’s daughter about her bargain with Rumpelstiltskin.
“I asked for something I didn’t really understand, and I got something I didn’t really want.” -- A character’s lament in The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
Author Rowenna Miller takes us back to the 1900s to meet a family of fruit farmers in a little niche of America called Prospect Hill. The farm has been in the family for generations. Near the apple and cherry orchards grows an ancient linden tree, which blooms with beautiful white flowers all year long, even in the winter. Around the tree a lush, green ring of grass never goes dormant. Sisters Alaine and Delphine have been told since they were old enough to understand that they should never go near the old linden tree.
But the sisters have also been taught that fairies keep a watch over the farm, and the family, and they can be bargained with. All the fae ask in return is a token to be left for them and just like magic (because it is) the deal is done. They’re usually just small bargains; little conveniences, really. A bargain to help the hens lay, or the fruit to flourish. A bargain to make a ladies’ certain time of the month easier (and unproductive). A bit of ribbon, a silver pin, a button, or a scrap of cloth are all acceptable currency to the fae. It’s been this way on Prospect Hill for generations. The arrangement has always run smoothly, with very few problems. But now, Delphine’s gotten herself into a horrible marriage, and Alaine is determined to help get her out of it. Considering the size of the problem, she’s going to have to be very careful with the bargains she makes.
The first half of the book is an eye-opening study of women’s place in society in the 1900s. The suffragette movement was picking up speed, the middle and upper classes starting buying automobiles, and the differences between city and country life was becoming more pronounced. While Delphine quietly suffers the obligations of her new life in the city, Alaine tends to the needs of the family farm. I’ve seen other readers mention that the book starts off slowly. I felt the book started off cozily, allowing me time to explore Prospect Hill, become familiar with the family, and learn all about fairy bargains. By the time the second half of the book kicked into gear, I knew enough about what was at stake to know that this was going to be one rollercoaster of a ride.
Did the author manage to put everything on the line and still come up with a satisfactory outcome? absolutely. I’m not giving away anything by telling you that. Clear your schedule, grab a cuppa and settle back with the book. Brace yourself for plenty of surprising twists and clever schemes before you reach the last page.
Want to know more about bargaining with the Fae? The Home Witchcraft website (nicknamed “The Cosmopolitan of the witching world”) has a good article titled “A Guide To Negotiating And Bargaining With The Fae” - https://www.homewitchcraft.com/a-guide-to-negotiating-and-bargaining-with-the-fae/
This review was originally published at SciFi.Radio - https://scifi.radio/2023/12/16/book-review-the-fairy-bargains-of-prospect-hill-by-rowenna-miller/
“I asked for something I didn’t really understand, and I got something I didn’t really want.” -- A character’s lament in The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
Author Rowenna Miller takes us back to the 1900s to meet a family of fruit farmers in a little niche of America called Prospect Hill. The farm has been in the family for generations. Near the apple and cherry orchards grows an ancient linden tree, which blooms with beautiful white flowers all year long, even in the winter. Around the tree a lush, green ring of grass never goes dormant. Sisters Alaine and Delphine have been told since they were old enough to understand that they should never go near the old linden tree.
But the sisters have also been taught that fairies keep a watch over the farm, and the family, and they can be bargained with. All the fae ask in return is a token to be left for them and just like magic (because it is) the deal is done. They’re usually just small bargains; little conveniences, really. A bargain to help the hens lay, or the fruit to flourish. A bargain to make a ladies’ certain time of the month easier (and unproductive). A bit of ribbon, a silver pin, a button, or a scrap of cloth are all acceptable currency to the fae. It’s been this way on Prospect Hill for generations. The arrangement has always run smoothly, with very few problems. But now, Delphine’s gotten herself into a horrible marriage, and Alaine is determined to help get her out of it. Considering the size of the problem, she’s going to have to be very careful with the bargains she makes.
The first half of the book is an eye-opening study of women’s place in society in the 1900s. The suffragette movement was picking up speed, the middle and upper classes starting buying automobiles, and the differences between city and country life was becoming more pronounced. While Delphine quietly suffers the obligations of her new life in the city, Alaine tends to the needs of the family farm. I’ve seen other readers mention that the book starts off slowly. I felt the book started off cozily, allowing me time to explore Prospect Hill, become familiar with the family, and learn all about fairy bargains. By the time the second half of the book kicked into gear, I knew enough about what was at stake to know that this was going to be one rollercoaster of a ride.
Did the author manage to put everything on the line and still come up with a satisfactory outcome? absolutely. I’m not giving away anything by telling you that. Clear your schedule, grab a cuppa and settle back with the book. Brace yourself for plenty of surprising twists and clever schemes before you reach the last page.
Want to know more about bargaining with the Fae? The Home Witchcraft website (nicknamed “The Cosmopolitan of the witching world”) has a good article titled “A Guide To Negotiating And Bargaining With The Fae” - https://www.homewitchcraft.com/a-guide-to-negotiating-and-bargaining-with-the-fae/
This review was originally published at SciFi.Radio - https://scifi.radio/2023/12/16/book-review-the-fairy-bargains-of-prospect-hill-by-rowenna-miller/
The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger: The Inside Story of California's First Drive-Through and How it Became a Beloved Cultural Icon by Lynsi Snyder
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
If you like reading about the birth and growth of a successful business, author Lynsi Snyder, the current president of In-N-Out, shares her company's entire history - which is tightly bound with her own family's personal history.
If you're fascinated by the ins and outs (see what I did there) of the work it takes to run one of the world's most beloved burger joints, you'll be gratified by the level of detail included.
If you struggle with your life and your faith, you may take hope and find a like mind in Lynsi's unflinchingly honest sharing of her own and her family's struggles to live good, healthy lives and stay in tune with God.
If you're looking for a fast paced, dramatic Hollywood-style story of a family's rise to fame... you'll probably not find it here. This book is extremely factual, meticulously chronicling the company, and the history of the people who created and grew In-N-Out into what it is today. There are those who appreciate this level of detail, and there are those who might find it dry. Only you know what you like, so choose accordingly. I grew up in Southern California, not far from where the first In-N-Out opened, so that brought a feeling of familiarity to my reading, which definitely enhanced the book for me.
Beyond being a book written for a general audience, a copy of this book should be given to every In-N-Out employee. A copy should, of course, be added to the company's historical records as well.
Now, I'll just take another sip of coffee from my In-N-Out mug and go back to wishing for the ability to order a double double in Michigan, where I now live. Maybe someday!
My thanks to author Lynsi Snyder, Nelson Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
If you're fascinated by the ins and outs (see what I did there) of the work it takes to run one of the world's most beloved burger joints, you'll be gratified by the level of detail included.
If you struggle with your life and your faith, you may take hope and find a like mind in Lynsi's unflinchingly honest sharing of her own and her family's struggles to live good, healthy lives and stay in tune with God.
If you're looking for a fast paced, dramatic Hollywood-style story of a family's rise to fame... you'll probably not find it here. This book is extremely factual, meticulously chronicling the company, and the history of the people who created and grew In-N-Out into what it is today. There are those who appreciate this level of detail, and there are those who might find it dry. Only you know what you like, so choose accordingly. I grew up in Southern California, not far from where the first In-N-Out opened, so that brought a feeling of familiarity to my reading, which definitely enhanced the book for me.
Beyond being a book written for a general audience, a copy of this book should be given to every In-N-Out employee. A copy should, of course, be added to the company's historical records as well.
Now, I'll just take another sip of coffee from my In-N-Out mug and go back to wishing for the ability to order a double double in Michigan, where I now live. Maybe someday!
My thanks to author Lynsi Snyder, Nelson Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Laurel Black has created a fantasy tale with a nail-bitingly difficult and twisty quest, multi-faceted dual protagonists, and an impressive array of secondary characters. And, she believes in what she’s created and is willing to do the work needed to get the word out there.
When Laurel first approached me to read and review Lost Kingdom, she was charmingly relentless. When I didn’t respond right away to her email request, she followed up with a link to a teaser video that she’d created just for me, addressing me by name in it. I’ve got to admit, that sort of attention is hard to resist, so I said yes. She immediately mailed me a mysterious postcard, assuring me that my book would be on the way soon.
The package was well worth the wait. Inside, I found an impressively large, heavy paperback novel, a glossy bookmark, a black envelope with gold lettering and sealing wax containing a personal note, and a mysterious drawstring pouch containing a small rune stone and a key. She’d drawn me into her world before I’d even opened the book. But once I started reading, it was hard to stop. The paperback version is over 450 pages long, but I was turning those pages so fast I think I created a breeze in my room.
The world of Eastlandra is filled with a variety of kingdoms, each of which is home to a tribe gifted with their own unique manifestation of magic. From soul bonded bear familiars to bird folk who can soar the skies, there’s diversity at every turn.
Raven is a prisoner, forced to work under appalling conditions in a dismal mineral mine. Her only clue to who she might be is a map that’s embedded in the palm of her hand—which she can’t read. In a world filled with magic, she’s somehow been rendered tribeless, with no memories and no magic.
Oh the other hand, Jeddak knows exactly who he is. He’s a Kovak, soul bound to Kah, the bear familiar that’s always with him. Kah’s not just a novelty, he’s a useful, interesting character in his own right. And he’s sarcastic. A big furry snarky bear familiar? Yes please! Jeddak and Kah are on a quest to find a stone that must be brought back to the Kovak king in order to free his betrothed, who’s being held prisoner as collateral to ensure he completes his quest.
With these two protagonists taking turns telling their story in every other chapter, the reader gets two points of view from equally important protagonists. The author has done a fine job of creating their characters to be distinctly different from each other, as is apparent each time the point of view changes. They stay true to their perceptions of what’s important as each tries to complete their personal quest while coping with their traveling companion’s quirks.
For me, the plot is one very long road trip, the path of which is determined by the decisions the two main characters make. This path is complicated by hidden agendas they are keeping secret from each other. There’s also a slow-burn romance threaded throughout the adventure, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story. Both Raven and Jeddak are determined to reach their goals, and are honestly caught off-guard by their growing feelings for each other. Being young, they make plenty of mistakes, misinterpreting each others actions at every turn. You’ll cheer them on, while wishing you could slap some sense into them, too.
The ending is satisfying, while leaving enough loose threads dangling to let us know a sequel is coming. I’m looking forward to it! Perhaps I’ll need to start sending the author encouraging postcards to make sure she stays on task.
I had the opportunity to ask Laurel Black that classic question readers always wonder about: Where did her story idea come from? And she said…
“The idea for Lost Kingdom came to me when I woke up one morning. There’s a girl, her name is Raven, and she can turn into a bird. That was it. Nothing more. It would have been easy to ignore the idea. I was already in the middle of writing another novel at the time and told myself I needed to focus if I ever wanted to get my first book published. But the image of Raven wouldn’t leave me. Every time I went for a walk or had a moment of free time, Raven’s story kept building in my mind.
“At first, it was just bits and pieces–the different tribes, the bear companion, the LOTR-like world. But when I finally decided to sit down and write an outline, the story began pouring out of me. I ended up loving this story so much that I paused writing my other book and began this one. It took me 5 months to write the first draft and then 3 (long) years after that to get it ready to publish. In that time, my initial idea has come a long way and become what I hope others will feel is a fun, fast-paced adventure that they don’t want to put down.”
Mission accomplished, Laurel. Lost Kingdom is a creative, thoroughly thought-out fantasy, with a plot that keeps you guessing as you travel through Eastlandra alongside Jeddak and Raven. I found their path to be filled with fascinating people and creatively imagined locations. An enjoyable trip, indeed.
Painting Happiness: Creativity with Watercolors by Terry Runyan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
It’s interesting that the author of Painting Happiness, Terry Runyan, spend her 30-year career as an in-house illustrator for Hallmark, which sounds to me like a dream job. But she struggled with her ‘inner critic’ right up to her retirement. She focused on finding a healthier way to approach her art, and over time, her inner critic was replaced by her ‘creative encourager’. This is who leads us through this book.
As I read, I’m finding it hard to feel discouraged or sad about my perception of my talents when every page is an explosion of color, and unexpected shapes and subjects. To my surprise, I was drawn to (pardon the art pun) the section covering characters and faces. But with lots of examples of basic shapes to build on, the process started to become less mysterious and more attainable. Because I’m a fiction writer, I’m going to try to paint some studies of my characters. At the very least, it will be fun, and at the most… well, who knows? I just need to dive in and start painting. And thank you, Terry Runyan, for the encouragement.
As I read, I’m finding it hard to feel discouraged or sad about my perception of my talents when every page is an explosion of color, and unexpected shapes and subjects. To my surprise, I was drawn to (pardon the art pun) the section covering characters and faces. But with lots of examples of basic shapes to build on, the process started to become less mysterious and more attainable. Because I’m a fiction writer, I’m going to try to paint some studies of my characters. At the very least, it will be fun, and at the most… well, who knows? I just need to dive in and start painting. And thank you, Terry Runyan, for the encouragement.
Painting Calm: Connect to Nature Through the Art of Watercolour by Inga Buividavice
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Now, I’m a writer, not a painter, though I did take a stab at oil painting years ago, in grade school. I loved the feel of smoothing paint onto a canvas. It settled me. But, I had no training in what I was doing though – just a supportive dad who cheered me on and bought me whatever supplies I needed. My time as an artist lasted a summer, and then I set the supplies aside in favor of homework, and never picked them up again.
As I read Painting Calm, I not only enjoyed the friendly, folksy tone of the written advice and instructions, I liked the way the book felt in my hands. The cover is lightly textured, the pages are smooth and of a substantial weight. Both the front and back covers have a full-sized flap that can fold out and tuck into any page you want to bookmark. Inside those flaps are color charts featuring 31 shades, and their names.
As you read and learn, you’ll be delighted by the endless watercolor illustrations. Every page is a burst of vivid color and elegant design. I recognized many of the flowers we grow in our own gardens in the illustrations, which I’m finding to be very inspiring. Winter is nearly here though, so I’ll spend the cold season practicing indoors and daydreaming of warm spring days to come. When they arrive I’ll take my paints outside and enjoy our gardens from a new perspective.
As I read Painting Calm, I not only enjoyed the friendly, folksy tone of the written advice and instructions, I liked the way the book felt in my hands. The cover is lightly textured, the pages are smooth and of a substantial weight. Both the front and back covers have a full-sized flap that can fold out and tuck into any page you want to bookmark. Inside those flaps are color charts featuring 31 shades, and their names.
As you read and learn, you’ll be delighted by the endless watercolor illustrations. Every page is a burst of vivid color and elegant design. I recognized many of the flowers we grow in our own gardens in the illustrations, which I’m finding to be very inspiring. Winter is nearly here though, so I’ll spend the cold season practicing indoors and daydreaming of warm spring days to come. When they arrive I’ll take my paints outside and enjoy our gardens from a new perspective.
Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-Spirited Watercolors by Terry Runyan
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
If you’re a cat person, you know what it’s like to be wearing cat hair. So when I noticed a painting of a woman with literal cat hair, I knew I was in the right place! And, as the author says in her introduction, “Cats are the perfect example of how to live fully in the moment without caring how things will turn out.” Being a pre-novice (fancy talk for total noob) artist, that was reassuring. A few pages later, I was advised to ’embrace unpredictability’. I’ve been doing that my entire adult life, so this was reassuring. Maybe I could paint cats after all!
As I paged through the book, I noticed that Terry Runyan’s cats are very simple in shape, with expressions that seemed like something I could master. She’d bent and curved those simple shapes into poses every cat lover will instantly recognize. You know the one where they lift their back leg up in the air, and then forget it’s up there? She painted that. They way they roll over on their backs and let all four paws dangle limply over their bellies? She’s nailed it. And it’s all expressed in just a couple of strokes of a paintbrush.
As the book progresses, we not only learn about color, techniques, how to work with watercolors, and what supplies we should have, we’re reminded to stay in the moment, take risks, be playful, make blob cats! Chives, my own Russian Blue, just so happens to be a blob cat. I’ll be creating lots of little paintings of him as my journey progresses.
If you’ve ever thought about learning to paint but have felt intimidated and confused about where to begin, you would be doing yourself a favor by starting with Painting Cats.
As I paged through the book, I noticed that Terry Runyan’s cats are very simple in shape, with expressions that seemed like something I could master. She’d bent and curved those simple shapes into poses every cat lover will instantly recognize. You know the one where they lift their back leg up in the air, and then forget it’s up there? She painted that. They way they roll over on their backs and let all four paws dangle limply over their bellies? She’s nailed it. And it’s all expressed in just a couple of strokes of a paintbrush.
As the book progresses, we not only learn about color, techniques, how to work with watercolors, and what supplies we should have, we’re reminded to stay in the moment, take risks, be playful, make blob cats! Chives, my own Russian Blue, just so happens to be a blob cat. I’ll be creating lots of little paintings of him as my journey progresses.
If you’ve ever thought about learning to paint but have felt intimidated and confused about where to begin, you would be doing yourself a favor by starting with Painting Cats.
Divinity 36 by Gail Carriger
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Is there anything more frustrating than enjoying the first book of a series, only to then find out that the rest of the series just sort of fizzled out? Gail Carriger shows us how a series is done right. She didn’t release her Tinkered Starsong trilogy until all three books were completed. Then, to the delight of her avid readers, she released all of them in 2023, with a new book coming out every other month from June through October. When the third and final book dropped on October 1st, I decided it was time to for me to dive into the Tinkered Starsong series.
In book one, Divinity 36, our protagonist is a sixteen-year-old human named Phex who works as a barista in a small cafe on a backwater moon. One day, as he sings along with a popular song to ease the boredom of his job, Phex is ‘discovered’ by a Dyesi. The Dyesi are an exotic alien race that seeks out talented individuals to become music superstars—or as they are known in this reality, gods. Phex’s life is about to change… a lot.
Popular music in the Tinkered Starsong universe is nothing like any music you’ve experienced before. The K-pop music group business model (I call it that, because that’s what K-pop is, a business) is clearly a huge influence on Gail Carriger’s superstar groups. The Dyesi assemble their recruits to form six-member ‘pantheons’ made up of singers, dancers and beings who are able to create organic lightshows in a way that I’m not even going to try to describe here. Just know that it’s a fresh concept, clever as heck, and will evoke beauty in your mind that you will wish you could see with your own eyes.
The performances put on by fully trained pantheons is pleasing to not only the Dyesi who created them, but to the entire galaxy. The music (Godsong, as it’s called) is a religious experience to their adoring worshippers, whose rapture is pushed to the limit – and occasionally beyond, with terrifying results.
The plot and pacing of the story plays out in a relaxed manner, which is perfect for a predominantly character-driven story. Gail does not write perfect characters; clearly she knows that the slightly broken ones are far more interesting and carry a greater capacity to grow, change, and build interesting relationships.
As for the worldbuilding – there’s triple moons joined by tube-bridges, dormitory-style buildings with puffy furniture and fun kitchens, a coffee shop that should feel familiar to anyone who’s ever ingested caffeine, a planet where everyone lives in tunnels underground, and domes. Oh, the domes! There’s no use trying to explain them, you will need to ‘see’ them for yourself.
If you’ve read Carriger’s Crudrat (A standalone story set in this universe, released in 2022), you’ll feel more familiar with Phex’s background, but it’s not required reading to enjoy this story. However, I’d personally recommend it. For me, it added another layer of complexity to my enjoyment of Divinity 36.
Now it’s time for me to crack into the second book in the series, Demigod 12, and then I’ll most likely go straight into the finale, Dome 6.
This review was first published at SciFi.Radio
In book one, Divinity 36, our protagonist is a sixteen-year-old human named Phex who works as a barista in a small cafe on a backwater moon. One day, as he sings along with a popular song to ease the boredom of his job, Phex is ‘discovered’ by a Dyesi. The Dyesi are an exotic alien race that seeks out talented individuals to become music superstars—or as they are known in this reality, gods. Phex’s life is about to change… a lot.
Popular music in the Tinkered Starsong universe is nothing like any music you’ve experienced before. The K-pop music group business model (I call it that, because that’s what K-pop is, a business) is clearly a huge influence on Gail Carriger’s superstar groups. The Dyesi assemble their recruits to form six-member ‘pantheons’ made up of singers, dancers and beings who are able to create organic lightshows in a way that I’m not even going to try to describe here. Just know that it’s a fresh concept, clever as heck, and will evoke beauty in your mind that you will wish you could see with your own eyes.
The performances put on by fully trained pantheons is pleasing to not only the Dyesi who created them, but to the entire galaxy. The music (Godsong, as it’s called) is a religious experience to their adoring worshippers, whose rapture is pushed to the limit – and occasionally beyond, with terrifying results.
The plot and pacing of the story plays out in a relaxed manner, which is perfect for a predominantly character-driven story. Gail does not write perfect characters; clearly she knows that the slightly broken ones are far more interesting and carry a greater capacity to grow, change, and build interesting relationships.
As for the worldbuilding – there’s triple moons joined by tube-bridges, dormitory-style buildings with puffy furniture and fun kitchens, a coffee shop that should feel familiar to anyone who’s ever ingested caffeine, a planet where everyone lives in tunnels underground, and domes. Oh, the domes! There’s no use trying to explain them, you will need to ‘see’ them for yourself.
If you’ve read Carriger’s Crudrat (A standalone story set in this universe, released in 2022), you’ll feel more familiar with Phex’s background, but it’s not required reading to enjoy this story. However, I’d personally recommend it. For me, it added another layer of complexity to my enjoyment of Divinity 36.
Now it’s time for me to crack into the second book in the series, Demigod 12, and then I’ll most likely go straight into the finale, Dome 6.
This review was first published at SciFi.Radio
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment
Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first book in the InCryptid series is also my first introduction to Seanan McGuire, and it’s certainly not going to be the last book of hers I read. In fact, I can guarantee I’ll be reading the entire InCryptid series.
Our protagonist (and sassy narrator) is Verity Price, a young woman living in a small apartment in Manhattan. She shares her living space with a sect of religious, overly excitable mice (trust me, you’ll love them). Verity is a cryptobiologist and self-professed defender and protector of the city’s mostly-hidden cryptid population. It’s a family business, and they’ve been in this line of work for a very long time.
She’s a busy girl. Along with her protector adventures, she holds down a day job as a waitress in a tacky titty bar, and pursues her passion for competitive ballroom dancing. These disparate activities may seem wildly unrelated, but Verity’s woven them all together into a crazy lifestyle that works for her.
This first adventure eventually settles down and presents a challenge. It seems that there’s something living under Manhattan. Something huge. Something very old. Something that may be waking up. This huge old something has brought Dominic, a member of the Covenant, to the city. The Covenant is the opposite of everything Verity stands for, and now ‘her’ local cryptids are in danger of being killed.
Verity needs to find and hopefully protect this unknown critter, while dealing with Dominic and his agenda. It doesn’t help her situation that he’s quite good looking, and far too kissable.
The snappy pacing and clever wordplay had me reading at such a brisk pace that I didn’t realize the entire afternoon had whizzed by. I finished the story in a surprisingly short time. In addition to the interesting, mostly-likeable characters I find the author’s careful attention to worldbuilding and creature creation to be highly satisfying.
Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Every cozy mystery series needs a likeable, capable protagonist. If they have an interesting career, it can add interest and provide opportunities for getting involved in solving murders. Owning a bookshop is a classic trope, as is working in a cafe or coffee shop. But author Sara Rosett came up with the perfect job for Kate Sharpe – a location scout for the entertainment industry. What better way to gain access to all sorts of interesting places?
In the first book of the “Murder on Location” series, Kate leaves her Los Angeles based office, bound for the little village of Nether Woodsmoor, in England. Seems her boss has gone missing while checking out some sites they need to secure for new film production of Pride and Prejudice.
As Kate explores the countryside and the village, and gets to know the locals, a complex mystery begins to blossom, with plenty of suspicious folks, impressive stately homes, and quaint village businesses. While some of the villagers find the possibility of a movie shoot to be exciting, others want nothing to do with it. After flailing on her own for a while, Kate teams up with Alex, a local location scout who helps her understand the nuances of English country life, and becomes a very helpful sidekick. Alert amateur sleuth-readers should enjoy pondering the various clues and eccentric people that Kate encounters during her investigation. The mystery can be solved, but you might find it tricky!
I enjoyed the adventure. It is very cozy, filled with lovely descriptions, populated with both sweet and curmudgeonly folks, moves along at a quick pace, and held my interest. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series soon.
Bonus!
Author Sara Rosett shares photographs at her website that she snapped on a trip to the county of Derbyshire, England, which served as the inspiration for her fictional village of Nether Woodsmoor. I am vastly amused by the fact that the author went location hunting for a book that features location hunting!
Author Sara Rosett shares photographs at her website that she snapped on a trip to the county of Derbyshire, England, which served as the inspiration for her fictional village of Nether Woodsmoor. I am vastly amused by the fact that the author went location hunting for a book that features location hunting!
If you enjoy Death in the English Countryside you may want to pick up the sequel, Death in an English Cottage. The “Murder on Location” series, which was completed in 2017, consists of six novels, plus a “Christmas special”.
The Far Reaches: Stories to Take You Out of This World by Ann Leckie, Rebecca Roanhorse, Veronica Roth, John Scalzi, Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The “Amazon Original Stories” series presents groups of short stories by a variety of authors that are, according to Amazon, “made to be binged, just like your favorite podcast or television show”. One of those series is “The Far Reaches Collection”, which carries the blurb, Look outward beyond the stars with six stories from bestselling visionary authors. It’s free to read and listen to for Prime members, or $1.99 per story on Kindle to purchase. Here’s my take on each of the six stories including in the collection.
SLOW TIME BETWEEN THE STARS BY JOHN SCALZI
Being a Scalzi fangirl, I couldn’t resist starting with his contribution. Scalzi takes on the task of showing us the true size and scope of our solar system, our galaxy, and even the universe, via the internal dialog of a ship controlled by an artificial intelligence. The ship has been launched from Earth and carries with it the entirety of human knowledge, right up to the moment of launch.
The AI’s mindset is self-important without being egotistical. I found it fun to contrast my concept of how long an activity should take, and the tasks the AI routinely deals with. You’ll find your definition of ‘a long time’ blown to bits, and your assessment of our Earth and its inhabitants put into a unique perspective. I found the AI’s easy acceptance of the scope of its task to be breathtaking and amusing, simultaneously. I’m already eager for a re-read.
HOW IT UNFOLDS BY JAMES S. A. COREY
I loved the television series The Expanse, based on the novels written by James S.A. Corey, so I had high hopes for this story. In this imaginative adventure, we learn about an ambitious project: exploring space in search of Earthlike planets to colonize, by creating multiple duplicates of an Earthbound crew, then sending the copies out hither, thither and yon as data packets that can be ‘unfolded’ upon their eventual arrival.
There’s a side story about a crew member hoping for a second chance (or more) to change something that’s happened in his past. This intimate, sentimental goal provides an achingly personal quest in contrast to the huge main story concept. The science is awesome. The characters are believable. I didn’t set down my Kindle once until the last page had been read. I’d love to revisit this reality again in other books, or ideally, a television series.
VOID BY VERONICA ROTH
As a lifelong mystery fan who enjoys solving murders on moving trains or boats, I was cheered to see that this story was set on a intergalactic transport ship. The ship’s crew and passengers were well crafted and quite interesting, but my anticipation turned to disappointment as the mystery itself turned out to be weakly imagined.
On a positive note though, time dilation is an important aspect of intergalactic travel on board the ship, and the challenges of elapsed time faced by the ship’s crew and passengers were fascinating and believable.
FALLING BODIES BY REBECCA ROANHORSE
Even though the premise is fresh and creative, and the writing is top-notch, the story of a privileged young man ‘sentenced’ to attend college on a far flung planet rather than do jail time was awkward and painful to witness. From the moment our protagonist breaks parole to the completely unexpected ending, I found myself wincing more than immersing.
On a positive note, the protagonist feels believable, as does his situation. Important themes of identity, family, and race give the story meaning. I found myself thinking about the repercussions of the Native American boarding school system once used in the United States and Canada.
THE LONG GAME BY ANN LECKIE
Narr is a small, tentacled life-form, living a satisfying life dedicated to the betterment of his people. That is, until the humans arrive. When Narr learns how long a human’s lifespan is, he realizes that his own species are granted just a brief moment in time. And now he wants to do something about that.
It’s a fresh premise and I enjoyed seeing how it played out. I was surprised at how short the story actually was, considering how much excellent plot was packed into it.
JUST OUT OF JUPITER’S REACH BY NNEDI OKORAFOR
Seven people are selected to bond with seven living ships, and will roam the universe for ten years, in exchange for a very large sum of money. They are not allowed to contact each other during this time… except for one meet-up near Jupiter at the five year mark.
The ships organic, changeable designs are more than just window dressing. As each person bonds with their ship, they change it in ways that are uniquely suitable for them. When the ships finally gather for their meetup after five years, each has become a fantastical work of living art, and a home for their eccentric inhabitants.
The diverse lifestyles that develop during the first five years are really quite fun and fascinating. The story takes its time showing us how the humans have arranged their surroundings to achieve a satisfying way of living. The space travel aspect is mentioned, of course, but isn’t the heart of the plot. The human interactions are written in a realistic manner – these seven people can be charming, annoying, and even infuriating. I learned to love a few of the characters and hate others. And that’s a perfectly normal reaction to accepting wild leaps of unconstrained individualism, I think.
Whether by coincidence or intent, I noticed that “The Far Reaches Collection” carries a common theme that binds all these stories together. Time. Albert Einstein once stated that time is an illusion. The fact is that we ‘see’ time only through its effect on objects and events. An illusionist’s magic is nothing without a rabbit in the hat, a card up the sleeve. Think of these stories as rabbits and cards, wielded by the greatest magician of all, the universe.
This review was originally published at SciFi.Radio - https://scifi.radio/2023/10/04/book-review-the-far-reaches-collection/
This review was originally published at SciFi.Radio - https://scifi.radio/2023/10/04/book-review-the-far-reaches-collection/