Rather than stick to a strict weekly schedule, I’ve decided to produce a post every time I reach six more books read which will make scheduling and prep a lot easier.
Even a few days after reading, I struggle to remember a lot of the details of this book. In this narrative, the main character finds refuge with the cloaks – one two orders in the city of Fantome – after a dagger – the other order – killed her mother. These two orders use a substance (I forget the specific name) to operate an organized crime type syndicate. The male main character, a dagger, has a mark; of course, his mark is the female main
character. The rest of the book unfolds as man other YA fantasy books have unfolded before, complete with there being something special about the female main character which she knows nothing about until the end of the narrative when it saves the day and also complicates the romantic relationship. Doyle’s writing style kept me reading but I will not continue reading the series.
This book tackles the thorny topic of policing – it’s history, use and what the call to defund really means. Since reading this book, I have looked at examples of policing that I have seen in various places like on the road as I drive and on the news/social media and used the framework that Hudson lays out in this book which asks the question of whether this police truly keeps us safe. In every instance I ave seen, the act – whether normal such as
responding to a wreck or abhorrent like actively punching a protestor already on the ground – the unsafe act either already happened or was perpetrated by the officer. Clearly, something needs to change. It’s not up to the victimized to propose those changes. Everyone needs to step up, exert some critical thinking and reevaluate the status quo. Only then can we make the systemic change needed. I highly recommend this book.
I continue to enjoy Elizabeth Lim’s books. In this narrative, the main character feels responsible for caring for her family due to the disappearance and presumed death of her father as well as her mother’s gambling addiction based on her supposed ability to predict the future. When the debt becomes so much that the local crime lord threatens to take the main character’s sisters as payment, the main character tries to use her painting
ability, an ability which – unlike her mother – means that she can actually paint the future. This lands her in the garden of the supposed demon lord – actually a half dragon – and into a marriage bargain for which he will pay off her mother’s debt in exchange for her painting something that will help him. While reading, I did not realize that this was partly a Beauty and the Beast retelling – something I saw later in the synopsis – but upon reflection I see those plot beats clearly. Since I tend to enjoy these types of retellings, this definitely helped my reading experience. I will continue to read whatever Lim produces.
I expected to find this book average and unhaul it. Instead, I found myself highly engaged in this fae tale set in a world where neither side won the war of the roses because a fae queen struck a bargain and ended up with the crown herself. Several hundred years later, the main character finds herself at her coming out ceremony with no prospects thanks to the disappearance and later reappearance of her sister who has also lost her memory. The tables turn when the
queen announces that her son – also a fae who mysteriously appeared on the scene when the door between the lands was supposedly irrevocably locked – will choose his bride this season. Any girl can put her name forward, knowing that if he does not choose her, she will never marry anyone else. Of course, the main character puts herself forward; she has no prospects otherwise and feels certain that her sister’s disappearance has something to do with the queen. The 24 candidates – quickly narrowed down to 6 – compete for the prince’s attention in scenarios vaguely similar to Their Vicious Games although thankfully a lot less bloody. Oh, the queen also has a human stepson who becomes intimately involved in the plot. I cannot put my finger on exactly what worked for me because I have read similar books before. I found myself engaged the entire time and loved how Smith revealed the twist. I will definitely continue in the series.
I enjoyed this Dickensian era quasi-portal fantasy, but not enough to keep it. In this book the main character runs the curiosity shop once run by her deceased father while also caring for her mother who, after communing with the spirits – something she had done regularly prior to the incident – ends up in a non-responsive state. (She will walk, eat, and engage in normal functions but only when prompted and also never
speaks or makes eye contact.) Two men come into the main character’s life which jumpstarts the plot. One hopes that she can help his sister who has just fallen into the same state as the main character’s mother. The other searches for rare books and will pay a pretty penny – something the main character desperately needs. I could have predicted almost the entire plot but enjoyed getting there. Many of the characterizations, word choice and writing style felt a bit too simplistic which ultimately kept me from putting this book on my shelf.
I checked this book out after seeing a Booktuber mention it – unfortunately, I cannot remember which one – and enjoying my read of Rozakis’ debut Dreadful. I really enjoyed this “magical school” type story. This book approaches the school from teh side of the parents, in this case, completely mundane parents whose daughter is now a shifter after a traumatic bite a year and a half before. The main character volunteers for the
treasurer position on the PTA as a way to try to make her way in as an outsider to this tight circle of highly competitive parents. AT this school students face trials in kindergarten, third and eighth grade to see if they could move on to the next section of the school. Of course, the main character’s daughter is in kindergarten. I really appreciate Rozakis’ voice as well as the way that she unfolds the mystery of what is actually going on at the school. I highly recommend this novel.