Author: thelibraryladiesmn

Not Just Books: November 2024

While we do love us some books, believe it not, we do have a life outside of reading. So to highlight our other pop culture interests, on the last Monday of each month, we each will highlight three other “happenings” from the last month. Big events on favorite TV shows, new movies we’ve watched, old movies we’ve “discovered,” etc. Pretty much whatever we found of particular interest outside of the book world during the last month. Share your own favorite things in the comments!

Serena’s Picks

TV Show: “Justified: City Primeval”

This has been out for a while, and I’ll be honest, I’ve been delaying watching it. On one hand, “Justified” was a near perfect show as far as I’m concerned with a perfect ending (something so rare in television these days) and I was seriously concerned that any sequel would ruin that. On the other hand, it could be amazing and I’d want to savor it! Well, I reached a low point of things to watch recently, so it was finally time! And I’ve really been enjoying it! I think the show made a lot of great choices, especially moving the setting to a new location. In this way, this show can exist without directly impacting the first series in any true way. I also was pleased to see that Raylin Givens remained true to the original character, without the writers feeling the need to tinker overly much. Doesn’t hurt when you have an actor like Timothy Oliphant who doesn’t seem to have aged at all in the meantime…

Video Game: “Dragon Age: The Veilguard”

I’ve had a mixed experience with the “Dragon Age” franchise. I loved some of the games but also struggled with others. I think the lore and history of this world is amazing, but it seems as if it’s been harder and harder for games to match everything together as the series has progressed. And so far (I haven’t completed it yet) this one has been a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, I have no problem with the changes to art style. I think the more cartoony look can work really well (you avoid the uncanny valley issue that is often found when games try to hard for the “realistic” look) and the settings and imagery are by far the strongest aspects of the game. It’s just a beautiful game to walk through. I also think the actual game play is pretty good. That said, the writing…oh, the writing! It’s not helped that “Baldur’s Gate 3” came out only a year ago and is a masterwork as far as writing goes, but I think this one would be tough either way. Basic plot points are repeated ad nauseum and, for an RPG, your character is given very little choice in how they respond to most situations. You, in theory, usually have three version of dialogue to pick from. But in reality, it’s almost exactly the same answer in every case. My expectations were probably too high, but I also think that for a game that’s been in the works for 10 years, this one was incredibly poorly written. Which is unfortunate, because a lot of the rest of it was great!

Documentary: “Touching the Void”

Yep, it’s that time again! Time to revisit the horrifying world of climbing documentaries! I blame this one fully on my husband. I walked into the den one night and he had this already pulled up. I’d heard about this story back in 2003 when this movie first came out, but I hadn’t actually watched it. The documentary follows two climbers who end up in a disastrous situation when they are descending a peak and one of them breaks his leg and the other ends up having to make a horrible life or death decision. The only thing that saves these documentaries is that you’re hearing the story while it’s being interspersed with interviews with the individuals involved, reassuring you that everyone makes it out alive in the end.

Kate’s Picks

Hulu Show: “Only Murders In The Building”

If October is for the Spooky Season, I always try to devote November to leaning fully into the coziness of autumn as it slowly (or in the more likely Minnesota scenario of not so slowly) transitions into winter. And what better way to do that than with one of the coziest mystery shows around, “Only Murders in the Building”! Perhaps one would think that Charles, Oliver, and Mabel’s antics of solving murders whilst having hijinks in their NYC West Side high rise would get stale, but with the amazing trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez that is not the case! This time around they are trying to solve the tragic murder of Charles’s stunt double Sazz, who was shot in Charles’s apartment. Why are there so many murders in this building? It doesn’t really matter. I still highly enjoy this show. Extra points for Eva Longoria acting as herself preparing to play Mabel in the motion picture of their hit podcast. She was hilarious.

Video Game: “Disney Dreamlight Valley”

Though I’ve been diving into “Stardew Valley” again due to the new update (I can have a black cat now!), I also wanted to seek out another chill video game to cozy up to this past month. I had heard about “Dreamlight Valley” online, and decided that now was as good a time as any to give it a go! It’s basically “Animal Crossing” and “Stardew” in general plot and gameplay, but your neighbors and friends are Disney characters! You are tasked with helping rebuild Dreamlight Valley, a home to many Disney friends that has been cast under a spell by a force known as the Forgetting. As you help rebuild the community, you make friends along the way. You can grow crops, build things, make friends, cook recipes. It’s all very cottage core, and has helped lower my blood pressure in times of angst and anxiety. I also like seeing what friends I’m going to make next (waiting not so patiently for Belle and Moana to arrive because that feels like the ultimate power clique to me).

Film: “The Witch”

But sometimes instead of cozy I just need to lean into some good old fashioned rage. And given how much rage I was feeling at the beginning of the month after the election, where do I turn but to one of my FAVORITE feminine rage films, “The Witch”. A friend from college came over the weekend after the election to watch a horror movie, as we try to watch horror movies once every month or so, and I said ‘you bring the hotdish, and I will provide ‘The Witch’. That will be cathartic!” And was it ever. In Puritan New England an exiled family (after the patriarch enrages the community with his pride) goes into the wilderness to make their own life. But when eldest daughter Thomasin is watching baby brother Samuel, he suddenly disappears without a trace. As more tragedy befalls them, Thomasin’s family starts to believe that a witch has cursed them, and that Thomasin herself is to blame. I love this movie and have loved this movie, as it’s less about the witch of the wood, and more about the demonization and marginalization of a young woman by her zealous family. I feel that in my bones at the moment.

Serena’s Review: “Echoes of the Imperium”

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Book: “Echoes of the Imperium” by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater

Publishing Info: Starwatch Press, October 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Captain William Blair has taken shady jobs before—what goblin hasn’t? But this shady job has pirates off the port bow and legendary aethermancers knocking at his cabin door. Unfortunately, Wil has sworn an Oath to escort his newest dubious passenger wherever she wants to go… and a goblin must be worth his word.

The ragtag crew of the Iron Rose once survived the fall of an empire—but none of them are interested in revisiting the experience. As the dregs of the Imperium rise again to claw at their heels, Wil and his crew must face the literal ghosts of their past… or else history may well repeat itself.

Review: Something unfortunate seems to have happened with the marketing of this book. In that, I follow upcoming fantasy releases very closely (obviously, I need to for the blog!) and am even more on the look-out for new titles from authors whose books I’ve enjoyed in the past, like Olivia Atwater. But the only reason I became aware of this book was through a note included on the Kickstarter email I received when my order of the special edition of ‘The Witchwood Knot” was shipping out! Of course, I then immediately skipped off to place a request on Netgalley. But with my packed reading schedule, here we are with a review coming out about a month after the book has actually dropped, all because I didn’t hear about this one in a conventional manner!

Olivia Atwater always talks about her husband’s influence and input into her books in her author’s notes, so I’m not surprised to see a book coming out that is now written by them both together. You never quite know how well a book will worked when trying to combine two people’s writing styles, but I think this one turned out well! I can recognize elements of Olivia’s style, but the book is also very different from the one’s she’s written alone.

Overall, the main difference is one of tone. Olivia’s books are often on the lighter side, with a few creepy elements thrown in here and there. This one, however, is much darker in a lot of ways. Right from the start, the authors don’t shy away from putting their characters through the ringer. There was a particularly impactful scene that came within the first 20% of the book that had me surprisingly emotional, especially coming from characters whom I’d only just been introduced to!

One of my favorite parts of this book was the world-building and overall themes of pirate adventures! While the plot was very fast paced (especially in the first half, things slowed down towards the back half), this was definitely a character-based story. Much of the fun of the reading experience was simply following the characters as they got into one type of trouble or another. Pirates are always a good time, but pirates in airships are something else! That said, much of this action does revolve around the characters themselves, so your enjoyment of the book will come down to how invested you become in these people and their stories.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book! It reminded me a lot of “Treasure Planet” and is definitely a breath of fresh air from the type of fantasy books I more often gravitate towards. That said, while I appreciate the inclusion of an asexual main character, I did find myself missing Olivia Atwater’s lovely romance storylines. But that’s mostly a me issue, as that’s not what this book is or was ever meant to be. I guess I’m mostly just hankering for the next entry in her “Victorian Faerie Tales” series!

Rating 8: All the best of the steampunk genre, this character-driven story is a romp of a ride from start to finish!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Echoes of the Imperium” isn’t on any Goodreads lists but it should be on Flying Ships and Air Pirates.

Serena’s Review: “The Whispering Night”

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Book: “The Whispering Night” by Susand Dennard

Publishing Info: Tor Teen, November 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.

With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.

As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won’t stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.

What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?

Previously Reviewed: “The Luminaries” and “The Hunting Moon”

Review: This series has been one of the stranger reading journeys. I really struggled to enjoy the first book, so much so that I had mentally written off the idea of continuing the series altogether. But then I received an ARC for the sequel and thought I’d give it a second chance. While it still wasn’t my favorite, it was also a marked improvement on the first. And, well, here we are, finishing off the trilogy with the release of the third book! And, to continue the trend, I think this one was the strongest of the lot!

Part of the strength of this one comes down to the fact that it is benefitting from all of the leg work done in the first two books. Here, the romance has been thoroughly explored and established, with Winnie and Jay feeling fairly sure of one another. This allows the love story to playout in a supporting role, there as a minor subplot and to bring some heart and humor to the story, but without needing to get bogged down in too much drama or angst.

Further, much of the world-building has been done. Not only are readers familiar with this world, but the first two books set up a number of secrets and reveals that could be finally explored in this last installment, giving this book all of the payoff that was sometimes lacking in the first two books. Further, the action was markedly increased in this book. I’d say there is about twice as much action here than in the second book, perhaps even more. Again, because we don’t need to spend as much time with the drama of the romance, the plot is allowed free reign to run wild!

I also feel like Dennard’s writing style is benefitted most with this more plot-forward type of storytelling. Much of my frustration from the first book (and even the second a little) had to do with the characterization and the drama that played out in these aspects. She also did a good job wrapping up dangling mysteries from way back in the first book, and, for the most part, I think all of these revelations and resolutions landed well.

Overall, this was a very satisfying end to a roller-coaster ride of a trilogy. Now that it is wrapped up, and wrapped up well, I’d definitely feel more confident recommending it to teen readers. I do think it lands solidly in YA, however, and isn’t necessarily one of those YA novels that has great cross-over appeal to adult readers. Nothing wrong with that! But it is worth noting since many adult fantasy fans also check out YA titles.

Rating 8: Full of action and suspense, this book serves as a solid ending to the trilogy, stabilizing the entire series into a worthwhile endeavor for YA readers!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Whispering Night” can be found on this Goodreads list: October 2024 Horror

Kate’s Review: “You’ve Got the Map Backwards”

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Book: “You’ve Got the Map Backwards” by Brian Usobiaga

Publishing Info: Self Published, April 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an epub from the author.

Where You Can Get This Book: Amazon

Book Description: A year removed from high school, lifelong friends Aisha Kinseya and Sarah Piedmont find themselves lost in different places. Struggling with depression, Sarah’s growing dependency on alcohol lands her in rehab. Aisha, in the midst of her second year of college, finds herself increasingly isolated as a crippling anxiety begins to overwhelm her.

Finding solace in familiarity, the two girls reunite only to have their friendship fracture. As they search for answers, Aisha and Sarah discover how relationships can change. How knowing someone your entire life doesn’t mean you know them forever, and how, if you want to grow, there are certain things you must leave behind.

Review: Thank you to Brian Usobiaga for sending me an epub of this novella!

We are starting to wind down 2024, with Thanksgiving next week and then the whirlwind of the holidays kicking into overdrive. I had such an anxiety filled year that I’m actually kind of behind on my reading goals, if I’m being honest, and usually that means that I’m not really taking chances or risks in genres outside of the ones I love. But that said, when author Brian Usobiaga reached out to me with his novella “You’ve Got the Map Backwards” a few months back, even though I KNEW that I was going to be going outside my genre, I was so intrigued by the premise that I wanted to give it a go! So let’s depart from horror, thriller, cozy mystery, and graphic novels to take on a coming of age contemporary novella!

(source)

This is, quite obviously, not the usual kind of fare that I spotlight on this blog, but I was intrigued by the story as someone who has had falling outs with close friends once we hit a certain age and different paths in life (not due to any addiction issues or anything like that, however). And I liked that Usobiaga decided to focus the story on both Sarah’s struggles as well as Aisha’s struggles, and how sometimes friendship can be complicated when both people in the relationship are going through things, even if those things are quite different. We follow both of them through their own perspective moments, with Sarah dealing with being fresh out of rehab and teetering back towards alcohol, and Aisha trying to adjust to college while also taking on Sarah in hopes of supporting her and helping her after rehab. Usobiaga is pretty frank about how difficult Sarah’s path is, as she is in a very vulnerable place and not equipped to deal with trying to stay sober after her program has completely. Sarah is an interesting character because I found her to be incredibly maddening, but I also really felt for her. I also liked Aisha’s perspective as she is trying to hold her own in school as her connection to her father is distanced and somewhat strained, while also feeling a loyalty to Sarah even though Sarah is a mess and bordering on taking advantage of Aisha’s kindness. Their friendship is very complex and I really liked getting both of their perspectives to be able to see both sides.

I think that the only hangup I had was that sometimes the time shifts were confusing. There were definitely headers that lets the reader know that we are now in a different place in time, sometimes a decade behind even, but I found myself having to go back and remind myself when a certain moment was taking place because it felt a bit like the other moments in time that we were seeing play out. I’m someone who really likes structured time jumps that follow a pattern, so ones that are a bit more creative tend to confuse me, and this may not be a problem that translates to all readers.

I found “You’ve Got the Map Backwards” to be an emotional and quick read, with characters whose pain felt very real and who we hope will find some healing. I’m happy I took a chance on it!

Rating 7: Shorter and to the point, “You’ve Got the Map Backwards” is a story about addiction, friendship, and a crossroads between two people who mean a lot to each other.

Reader’s Advisory:

“You’ve Got the Map Backwards” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but if you like friendship dramas with some honesty and a little bit of hope, this would be a good match for you.

Serena’s Review: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone”

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Book: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone”

Publishing Info: Bramble, November 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire—her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness—and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in, and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

Review: It’s both an enormous privilege and an enormous test of willpower to receive ARC copies of popular titles! Obviously, I was so excited to receive this copy months before publication. But on the other hand, I still had to diligently work through my review/reading order before getting to it, all while it glittered like the worst sort of temptation on my nightstand. Whining about having to be responsible and read it only 2 months in advance rather than 4 is quite something, isn’t it? Anyways, on to the actual, you know, review…

This is only tangentially related, but I do love fantasy authors who follow the trend of creating large fantasy worlds and then writing either stand-alones or shorter duologies all connected through this larger setting. In this way, you get the best of both worlds: incredibly detailed world-building, sprawling histories, and grand scale plot lines all while not having to commit to a huge, ongoing series that will leave you dangling for years on end before getting any sort of resolution. This is now the 4th book set in Broadbent’s Nyaxia world (I believe one is still slated to be released this coming spring, so I’ll review it then most likely), and it’s such a pleasure to return to a known entity with all of the greater insight this bestows. And for a book like this, that’s quite important. Not only are we following a character who was a significant side character in the previous duology, but the entire plot revolves around the ongoing conflict in the realm of the gods and the ways in which this pantheon is royally messed up.

Let’s start with the characters, as I always like to do. I very much enjoyed Mische in the previous duology, so I was excited that we were going to follow her story in the next series. That said, I did struggle a bit more to connect to her character than I have with other Broadbent leading ladies. However, this may simply be because Mische is very different than the other “touch as nails” warrior women that so often feature in the other books. Mische’s strengths are much more of the “soft” variety. She literally smiles in the face of danger; not because she’s reckless, but because a hard life has taught her the strength of disarming those more powerful than she is with cheer and optimism. But as the story progresses, the book dives deeper into her past and her relationship with the god she follows. There, we find the darker side of how this approach has developed. Through this storyline, the book tackles some deep themes of abusive cycles, self-defense, and, essentially, large scale gaslighting. It’s tough stuff, and I appreciated the very real conflict Mische feels when confronting the contradictions in her life. There are no easy answers and years of conditioning are not easily thrown off.

While it took a bit to truly understand and appreciate Mische’s character (though now I love her just as dearly as all of the other fantastic heroines in this world!), I immediately loved the romantic interest. I definitely have a type, and it’s the strong, silent, bookish, and too bound up in the rules brooder. Asar was all of this and more! Literally, no notes on him, he was just perfect. I also really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine relationship between him and Mische. Too often I’ve read versions of this relationship where the “grumpy” one is just a jerk and the “sunshine” one is just an idiot. Neither is true here. Instead, we simply have differences in temperament, but still two characters who share passion, drive, and a growing respect for one another.

As for the plot itself, I really enjoyed this one! It’s essentially a quest storyline, with Mische, Asar, and a few other companions making their way through the depths of the underworld. There’s plenty of action and danger throughout, with each new level uncovering new terrors and deeper traumas that must be explored. I also appreciated the timeline here. This is no quick mission. The story takes place over weeks and even months, I believe. Not only does this make the entire thing feel more plausible and lived, it also lends much needed believability to the growing relationship between our characters. No instalove here! Indeed, it takes several weeks for them to even like one another.

I will say, however, that like “The Serpent and the Wings of Night” before it, this one does end on a massive cliffhanger. It’s gutting! So readers who want a resolved storyline may want to wait for the next book to come out. But, of course, there is no way in heck that I had the type of self-control to hold out for that! We’ve already been over my struggles to wait only a few short months…Either way, fans of Carissa Broadbent are sure to enjoy this latest entry and general romantasy fans should definitely give it a go!

Rating 9: Carissa Broadbent is one of the strongest romantasy authors writing today, and this book highlights once again the true highs the genre can reach!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2024 and Fantasy Romance & SciFi Romance Books: Well-Written, Strong Character Development, and Good World Building! (“Fourth Wing” is first on this list, however, so take this title with a grain of salt!)

Kate’s Review: “Sundown in San Ojuela”

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Book: “Sundown in San Ojuela” by M.M. Olivas

Publishing Info: Lanternfish Press, November 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: When the death of her aunt brings Liz Remolina back to San Ojuela, the prospect fills her with dread. The isolated desert town was the site of a harrowing childhood accident that left her clairvoyant, the companion of wraiths and ghosts. Yet it may also hold the secret to making peace with a dark family history and a complicated personal and cultural identity.

Setting out on the train with her younger sister Mary in tow, she soon finds herself hemmed in by a desolate landscape where monsters and ancient gods stalk the night. She’s relieved at first to find that her childhood best friend Julian still lives in San Ojuela, but soon realizes that he too is changed. Haunted.

Yet she’ll have no other choice than to seek out his help as the darkness closes in.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

I will admit that when I am prepping for ALA I generally find myself more focused on strategy to get ARCs before I look at panels that may be of interest. What can I say, I love getting books. But I usually do find some panels that pique my interest, and this past conference I found one about speculative fiction and indie publishing that was really interesting. One of the speakers was M.M. Olivas, an author I hadn’t heard of before that moment, but whose debut novel “Sundown in San Ojuela” sounded VERY interesting indeed. She described it as a spaghetti western meets the vampire films “Near Dark” and “A Girl Who Walks Home Alone at Night”. HOW COMPELLING. I threw it on my NetGalley list and when the time finally came to read it I sat down and dove in.

The spaghetti western influences are definitely there, as are the vampire films that Olivas mentioned, and I found “Sundown in San Ojuela” to be a multi layered story about homecoming, trauma, and identity in the shadow of colonization. Our horror elements take a lot of inspiration from Latine and Chicano folklore and some of the horror stories that come from that, be it Chupacabras, El Coco, or ancient Aztec gods. Throw in some vampires for good measure and you have yourself a real feast of supernatural suspense, with a woman who can see ghosts at the forefront as she confronts her family’s past in Casa Coyotl where her aunt resided until her death. I always love a character who can see ghosts, and Liz is a great protagonist who I was more than happy to root for as she and her sister Mary return to Aunt Marisol’s home in San Ojuela. I also loved Liz’s connection to Santa Muerte, and how she is already searching for dire answers when she realizes that monsters are everywhere in this town she thought she had left behind. I really enjoyed some of the deeper subtexts of this book, especially in relation to the Latine experience in areas near the border, and the generational traumas and violence that has been passed down since the conquistadors and still expresses itself through racism, oppressive immigration laws, and the way Latine people, both citizen and immigrant, are exploited and cast aside.

But the one downside of this book is how there are a number of shifting POVs, and not just in terms of character perspectives. There are lots of characters that get some focus, it’s true, but my bigger qualm was how we would go from first person to third person to sometimes even second person, which is SUCH a tricky voice even when it’s the main one being focused on. Since we were jumping a lot between these different voice types, I found it jarring and a bit of a jolt, which pulled me out of the writing. Which was too bad because I didn’t want to be taken out of the story at hand, so distractions were frustrating. And there was also a bit of wide net that was cast in this book, with LOTS of action going on with LOTS of characters having LOT to do, and I feel like perhaps it could have been tighter. All that said, it didn’t detract from the story too much!

“Sundown in San Ojuela” was a fascinating horror tale with a lot of clear influences that I really dug. I’m so happy that I went to that panel so that I could hear all about it from Olivas herself, because I’m not sure I’d have found it otherwise!

Rating 7: So many great layers and a unique and twisted horror tale is elevated by Latine folklore, though some of the POV shifts are jarring at times, and it sometimes felt like a wide swath that could have been tighter.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Sundown in San Ojuela” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of yet, but I kept thinking about Isabel Cañas and V. Castro and their novels as I read this one.

Diving Into Sub-Genres: Post-Apocalyptic


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We each have our own preferred genres of choice. Kate loves horrors and thrillers, really anything that will keep her up at night! And Serena enjoys escaping through hidden doors into realms of magic and adventure. We also read mysteries, historical fiction, graphic novels, etc. etc. And that’s not even counting the multitude of sub-genres contained within each greater genre. In this series, one of us will present a list of our favorites from within a given sub-genre of one of our greater preferred genres.

Back at the height of the COVID pandemic I was having a hard time even THINKING about post-apocalyptic books because it kind of felt like we were teetering towards such a thing. Now I’m kind of whistling past the graveyard a bit, with the election behind us and all of my anxieties about what it all means in the coming months and years, as the sub-genre that REALLY stood out in my mind for this entry in our ongoing series was ‘end of the world’!!!!

I really enjoy a post-apocalyptic story, and as a sub-genre it can branch across multiple genres and still pack a punch. And it’s a theme that has been prevalent in literature for millennia, with stories like “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, “Dharmasastra”, “Völuspá”, and “The Book of Revelations” being of a more ancient time. The 1800s brought stories like “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells, “Darkness” by Lord Byron, and “The Last Man” by Mary Shelley. The 20th Century really expanded on the sub-genre with lots of branches off within the sub-genre itself, be it due to disease, climate disaster, supernatural means, or manmade problems. It’s a dark sub-genre to be sure, but there is also an ever present theme of humanity finding pockets of banding together to find community and perseverance and connection during the darkest and most challenging of times. While my list is merely scratching the surface, these are the titles that sprung to mind when I was thinking about this sub-genre and how it still keeps going, even if it changes.

Book: “The Stand” by Stephen King

Probably considered one of the heaviest of hitters of the modern post-apocalyptic sub-genre, “The Stand” is one of my very favorite books, and there is a reason it has stuck around since it was published in the 1970s. This was my first Stephen King book and it set the stage for my entire reading journey from thirteen year old me up til now. “The Stand” is an apocalyptic tale about a manmade bioweapon called Captain Tripps, a superflu that has a 100% mortality rate, which is let loose in a lab accident and then set free by a fleeing soldier, ravaging the world population. Random survivors, who have immunity based on chance, soon find themselves being called to two different places. The first is in Colorado, with a kindly woman named Mother Abigail. The second is in Las Vegas, with the malevolent and mysterious Randall Flagg building an army to take control and wreak havoc. As the two bands of survivors rebuild their lives, and start to encroach on each other the groups will face off in a final stand of good versus evil. In true King fashion it’s not only the horror elements of this book, be they due to illness or terrible humans, but also the very well thought out characterizations of many characters, that make this story an absolute favorite of mine.

Book: “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshing Rice

Unlike “The Stand”, and many other apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels, “Moon of the Crusted Snow” is an end of the world tale that is a bit ambiguous about how society collapsed and the world as it was known ended. We approach it through the eyes of an isolated Anishinaabe community high up north, which has low communication with the outside world except in certain circumstances. So when they realize that something HAS happened, they aren’t wholly sure as to what ‘it’ was, and now have to figure out how to survive through the winter to rebuild their own community in the spring. But that’s less the point of this novel, as the focus is more on the fact that 1) Indigenous communities already experienced an apocalyptic event when white colonizers entered their lives, and 2) the end of something means the beginning of something else. We also see how cycles repeat as well, as the community lets a white survivor into their community as an act of good faith in hopes of helping him, and then he starts to throw his weight around and endangers everyone through his actions. This one is a slow burn thriller with a bit more of a quiet voice, but a strong and effective one as well. And a sequel came out last year!

Book: “Zone One” by Colson Whitehead

Zombie tales have kind of cycled out as of late, though for awhile they were VERY popular in the horror world. There are a whole plethora of zombie apocalypse stories to pick from, but I decided to highlight “Zone One” by Colson Whitehead, as it is a unique entry into the zombie apocalypse theme. We follow Mark Spitz, a man who is a survivor, or ‘sweeper’ in a post zombie apocalypse New York. He patrols and takes out zombies to try and make New York livable once more, and as we follow Mark over a few days of this job we learn about how the zombie apocalypse unfolded, how Mark survived it, and how people are trying to rebuild society and remove all of the straggling zombies who are still roaming about. Whitehead applies a very literary lens to the zombie sub-genre, and in it we see a slice of life character study as well as a post-apocalyptic tale of resilience and rebuilding.

Book: “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler

This is, for me, perhaps the most disturbing book on this list, if only because it feels a little too real in how it approaches the end of the world through societal disparity and climate change. Doesn’t really help that it starts in 2024. OH WELL! Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” follows Lauren, a teenage girl living in an America that is at a boiling point, with the haves living in high gated communities and the have nots being locked out and subjected to a dying planet and violence, poverty, and death. When Lauren’s community is eventually overrun, she escapes into the wilds, and starts to not only band together with other survivors, but also starts to create and devise a belief system called Earthseed that will not only bring community back to its followers, but also will get them off a dying planet and to spread humanity across other planets. We read this in book club a couple years ago, and I remember loving it but also being absolutely terrified by how close it was to the reality we are living in at the moment. Butler is a force, and I highly recommend this book, even if it scares the living daylights out of me. Especially now.

Book: “The Fireman” by Joe Hill

And now for some lighter fare! And for Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son who also decided to dabble in an end of the world epic with “The Fireman”! A mysterious illness called Dragonscale has started manifesting in people, where a person develops weird skin lesions, then starts to smoke, burn up, and spontaneously combust. Harper is a nurse who is trying to remain positive throughout, though when she finds out she is pregnant AND develops Dragonscale, her husband Jakob rejects her, and she flees before he gets violent as society starts to crumble. Soon she meets a group of infected people who worship Dragonscale, and believe that they can use it as a blessing and have found a way to keep it under control. Within the group is referred to as The Fireman, as while he keeps his distance from the group for the most part, he has learned to control and manipulate his Dragonscale ‘powers’. But Harper soon realizes that this community may not be the safe haven for her and her baby. I really loved this book, finding it to be jarring as well as incredibly hopeful.

Book: “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel

I am ending this selection with a book that has really cemented itself not only as a modern end of the world classic, but also as one that focuses on the things that I am trying to focus on at the moment when things are so bleak and uncertain. “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel is, much like “The Stand”, and apocalypse story about an illness that sweeps the globe and kills millions of people, leading to the collapse of society. But while we do get flashbacks into how the world ended, and into the different characters who persevered, made a mark, or succumbed to it, the main crux of this story is humanity moving forward with community, hope, art, and love. We follow Kirsten and her troupe of fellow artists and performers as they travel the now ravaged U.S., performing for other survivors and keeping art and culture alive while providing hope and community for their audiences. But when they run afoul a maniacal self proclaimed prophet and his dangerous cult, they have to keep themselves and others safe from this group. What strikes me the most about this one, and why it’s my last pick for this list, is that while things are dark, and hard, and dangerous, Kirsten and her community are strong, supporting each other and finding joy even in the hardest times, while actively resisting against chaos, hate, and violence of those who wish to tear it all down. It’s truly a book for our times.

What post-apocalyptic books are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Serena’s Review: “Swordcrossed”

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Book: “Swordcrossed” by Freya Marske

Publishing Info: Bramble, October 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family’s wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years.

What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.

Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn’t plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti.

However, neither Matti’s business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti’s wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti’s house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca’s secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?

Review: Let’s be real, the adorable cover vibes of this book are doing a lot of the heavy lifting as far as its marketing goes. I definitely gave it a second look purely based on this factor! That said, I was intrigued by the summary as well. Who doesn’t love dueling and political scheming and a heavy dose of romance?

Let’s start with the dueling itself! I really liked the way it was incorporated into this magical world, with dueling serving as an important form of entertainment often seen at weddings and other important events. Given how dance-like dueling can be when done well, this concept makes a lot of sense. I do wish it had been explored even more, but the story is a romance, first and foremost, so I’m not overly surprised that the book didn’t do a deep dive into this lore. My epic-fantasy-loving soul just always wants more, it seems.

I also really liked our two main characters. They each had interesting backstories, with different weights of expectations that they had to manage. The romance was also sweet and fast-paced. Perhaps a bit too fast paced, however, as there were moments that felt a bit like insta-lust early in the book. It also doesn’t shy away from the more steamy moments, so readers should definitely keep in mind that this is a spicy romance novel! I wasn’t quite expecting this, as the cover and description had lead me a bit further into cozy fantasy territory. But ah well!

The story itself felt fairly predictable, with even some of the romantic notes feeling a bit repetitive as we hit them with first one character and then the other. The last third, in particular, felt fairly expected, with the book hitting pretty much every note that one might expect. But, again, with the romance as the primary focus, this isn’t necessarily a net negative. It all just depends on what balance a reader is looking for between plot and love story. I typically veer more towards wanting more plot, but readers who are there mostly for the romance will likely be pleased with this one!

Rating 8: Full of adventure and witty characters, this is a fun romantasy romp!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Swordcrossed” isn’t on many Goodreads lists, but it is on Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2024.

Blog Tour: “Servant of Earth”

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Book: “Servant of Earth” by Sarah Hawley

Publishing Info: Ace, November 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

Review: There are a million and one Fae romantasy titles coming out nowadays (it’s probably a tie between dragons and Fae, though I think Fae has the lead). It’s a good problem to have if you enjoy these subgenres (which, in theory, I do, regardless of some of the bigger misses I’ve read recently), but it also makes it difficult to wade through and decide which titles to check out. That being the case, I was excited when I was approached to participate in this blog tour! Yes, please take some of the decision making out of my hands!

This book was a bit of a hit-and-miss experience, but there were definitely aspects that I enjoyed. For one thing, I’m always down for a fantasy story that involves sentient weapons! No on will do it better than T. Kingfisher with “Swordheart,” but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate other author’s take on the concept! And this one was pretty fun!

I also enjoyed exploring this Fae world. I always appreciate it when authors don’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of Fae that are often present in older fairytales and folklore. Of course, this is often immediately counteracted by some super sexy shadow daddy of a character (yep, we potentially have one here as well!). But this book definitely goes into some darker themes, elevating the danger that our heroine faces to levels that truly feel threatening at times.

The writing was also strong and compelling, and I found it easy to become drawn into the story. However, as the book progressed, some of the plot points and twists started to feel pretty obvious. One fairly major reveal, in particular, was telegraphed so early and so strongly that it ended up landing with a bit of a thud when it was finally confirmed. It had gotten to the point where there was literally no other explanation for what was going on, which made it a bit frustrating to deal with a main character who wasn’t putting two and two together.

I also struggled with the romance. I can’t say for sure, but it feels like this one may be going the ACOTAR route, with one love interest being set up at the beginning and then with another to take over as the true partner in the next book. Personally, I always struggle with books that go this route. For me, it makes it feel as if I’ve wasted an entire book’s worth of character growth and interaction on a story that was, essentially, meaningless preamble before we get to the true good stuff.

It also doesn’t help that this book, like ACOTAR and so many like it, goes with the obvious choice where the handsome, charming one may end up being the jerk and the cold, dark one is actually the greatest guy ever. If some author wants to truly write a unique and compelling romantasy novel with an actual twist, for the love of god, I beg you, write your first guy as the cruel dark one and then have him (surprise!) end up actually just being cruel and then have the kind, charming one (let’s make him blonde to really shift the tropes) swoop in to show a heroine how healthy relationships should look! If anything, this would be a true twist in a genre that is too often drowning in predictable plots and tropes.

Overall, this was an enjoyable enough read. It felt overly familiar in a lot of ways and relied on particular tropes that I find tedious. However, the writing was strong and the world-building had potential. For those not feeling worn out by the current trends, this one is likely a great next read!

Rating 7: A bit too predictable to be truly enjoyable, however I enjoyed exploring this world and would probably be interested in seeing where the story goes from here (particularly with regards to the direction of the romance).

Reader’s Advisory:

“Servant of Earth” can be found on this Goodreads list: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2024

Kate’s Review: “Guilt and Ginataan”

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Book: “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala

Publishing Info: Berkley, November 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received and eARC from NetGalley.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Autumn is in full swing for the town of Shady Palms—the perfect time for warm drinks, cozy cardigans, and…dead bodies?

The annual Shady Palms Corn Festival is one of the town’s biggest moneymakers, drawing crowds from all over the Midwest looking to partake in delicious treats, local crafts, and of course, the second largest corn maze in Illinois. Lila Macapagal and her Brew-ha Cafe crew, Adeena Awan and Elena Torres, are all too happy to participate in the event and even make a little wager on who can make it through the corn maze the fastest—but their fun is suddenly cut short when a dead body is found in the middle of the maze…and an unconscious Adeena lies next to it, clutching a bloody knife.

The body is discovered to be a local politician’s wife, and all signs—murder weapon included—point to Adeena as the culprit. But Lila knows her best friend couldn’t have done this, so she and her crew put on their sleuthing caps yet again to find the killer who framed Adeena and show them what happens when they mess with a Brew-ha…

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

I’ve been having a rough go of it for the past week and a half. My worst fears about the election came true, and I’ve been spending a lot of time either feeling lots of rage, or commiserating with/supporting my friends and loved ones who have so much to lose should all these promises made come to pass. So during this time I’ve been trying to be a little gentle on myself when it comes to what I consume, entertainment wise, and it was the perfect time to read “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala, the newest cozy mystery in the “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries” series! And besides, I also love a cozy mystery for fall, my favorite time of year. So I wrapped myself in the heaviest weighted blanket our house had to offer to feel cozy and to try and tamp down my ever ongoing anxiety attacks as I dove in.

As a mystery, I did have a few moments of being surprised and caught off guard. Manansala does a really good job of spreading out motives and suspects, with red herrings and misdirections that kept me on my toes. In this novel, Lila is on the case during the Shady Palms Corn Festival after a woman named Yvonne, the wife of a visiting Mayor, is found murdered in the corn maze, and Lila’s best friend and business partner Adeena is found passed out next to the body with a bloody knife in her hand. Lila always seems to have some kind of connection to the murders in these stories, usually because a loved one is accused of having something to do with it, and now it’s finally Adeena’s turn, which made the stakes feel incredibly high as Adeena has always been Lila’s number one supporter and confidant. I think that this entry into the series brings it back up to the top of its game after the last book that didn’t click as well as I had hoped it would, and the higher stakes were a huge part of that. I also liked seeing how Lila has grown as an investigator, and how she has become more in her element as the series has gone on without any frustrating roadblocks between her and her loved ones or her state as an amateur detective (still hoping she eventually opens up her own agency, but perhaps that would take away from her kind of Jessica Fletcher thing she has going on) .

One of the biggest things I look for in a cozy mystery series is a group of characters and a setting that is enjoyable, charming, and, well, cozy? And Shady Palms and everyone who lives there continue to be utterly engaging (though I still don’t really like Lila’s group of aunties, but they weren’t in this one very much so that was neither here nor there in this case). I also really enjoyed the autumn setting in this one, with the body of Yvonne being found in a corn maze during the Corn Festival in town. It also just feels like such a small town thing that resonates, as my Dad’s small hometown of Schaller, Iowa always has a Popcorn Days celebration that we would attend during family visits throughout my youth. I’m still really loving the life and details that Manansala is bringing to her setting and all of the quirky people who live there.

And finally, yes, there are more recipes in this book!! Boy do I still love a good recipe selection from a cozy mystery story, and once again there are many at hand this time that just sound to die for.

The “Tita Rosie Kitchen Mysteries” Series is still really fun, and “Guilt and Ginataan” keeps the vibes nice and chill while bringing in the kind of suspense I want from a cozy mystery story. We may be in need of some cozy comforts in the future when taking a break from reality to recharge, and this series is a good place to seek such things out.

Rating 8: Another fun cozy mystery about Lila Macapagal with some awesome recipes! Perfect fall reading here!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Guilt and Ginataan” is on the Goodreads list “2024 Cozy Mystery New Releases”.