Tag: historical fiction

Giveaway: “The Sin On Their Bones”

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Book: “The Sins On Their Bones” by Laura R. Samotin

Publishing Info: Random House Canada, May 2024

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

Book Description: Set in a Jewish folklore-inspired reimagining of 19th century Eastern Europe, this queer dark fantasy debut pits two estranged husbands and a daring spymaster on opposite sides of a civil war.

Dimitri Alexeyev used to be the Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo. Now, he is merely a broken man, languishing in exile after losing a devastating civil war instigated by his estranged husband, Alexey Balakin. In hiding with what remains of his court, Dimitri and his spymaster, Vasily Sokolov, engineer a dangerous ruse. Vasily will sneak into Alexey’s court under a false identity to gather information, paving the way for the usurper’s downfall, while Dimitri finds a way to kill him for good.

But stopping Alexey is not so easy as plotting to kill an ordinary man. Through a perversion of the Ludayzim religion that he terms the Holy Science, Alexey has died and resurrected himself in an immortal, indestructible body—and now claims he is guided by the voice of God Himself. Able to summon forth creatures from the realm of demons, he seeks to build an army, turning Novo-Svitsevo into the greatest empire that history has ever seen.

Dimitri is determined not to let Alexey corrupt his country, but saving Novo-Svitsevo and its people will mean forfeiting the soul of the husband he can’t bring himself to forsake—or the spymaster he’s come to love.

Giveaway Details: To celebrate Pride month, we are happy to host a giveaway of “The Sins On Their Bones” by Laura R. Samotin! With its intriguing cover and captivating description blending fantasy and historical fiction, this one has definitely been making its way steadily up my TBR list. Perfect for readers looking for their next beach read this summer, don’t miss out on this chance to win your own copy!

The giveaway is for an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book and it will ship directly from the publisher. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends June 16.

Enter now!

Serena’s Review: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”

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Book: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” by Julia Quinn

Publishing Info: Avon, July 2002

Where Did I Get this Book: from the library!

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

Book Description: Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for…well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret…and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same – especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide…is she his biggest threat – or his promise of a happy ending?

Review: With the new season of “Bridgerton” due to come to Netflix sometime in the next few months, I thought it was about time to go back and check out the book that this season is based on. The show is now out of order from the books, having skipped the third book (Benedict/Sophie’s season) and gone straight to Colin and Penelope. For the show, I think this makes a lot of sense given the focus on Penelope’s arc over the second season. But the book series didn’t have this same emphasis, so here we are in the fourth book.

While this book didn’t reach the high point that was the second book for me, I did enjoy this one quite a bit. Much of this comes down to the sheer charm that is Penelope. She’s an excellent main character, with all of the charm and wit you could want, but also a compelling story seeing tackle her insecurities and come into her own. But while I liked how the reveal of Lady Whistledown’s identity was handled, it did feel like a strange balancing act as far as the writing actually went. The reader is privy to much of Penelope’s inner thoughts before this, and it’s strange that this particular fact wouldn’t have surfaced earlier.

Colin is a bit more rough as a romantic lead, however. He was excellent in the first three books, always funny and affable, and while we see some of that here, he also becomes fairly insufferable at times. In particular, he didn’t fair overly well with his jealousy over Penelope’s success as Lady Whistledown. And I simply couldn’t make myself very interested in his own attempts at being an author. Instead, this focus seemed to undercut Penelope’s own story in some ways, with her having to reveal her identity and then retreat into the background as Colin moved to the forefront as an author who could publish under his own name, being a man and all. I get the historical limitations, but I hope the show changes some of how this is handled. I also keenly felt the loss of the funny Colin that we saw so much more of in the first few books.

That said, this book, as a whole, was quite funny. The scene where Colin and Penelope announce their betrothal to her family had me laughing out loud and re-reading it several times. I do hope the show finds a way of recreating this scene in some way, as it was hilarious. I also enjoyed all of the scenes with the larger Bridgerton crew. Eloise, in particular, had an interesting mini arch in this book. The show has changed several things already with the friendship between Eloise and Penelope, so I’m curious to see how they manage this set-up in the show. Given some of the events here, it naturally leads into Eloise’s story being the next up. So…is Benedict just going to be skipped forever??

Overall, I did enjoy this book, mostly down to the strength of Penelope as a leading lady. Colin was frankly a bit of a disappointment, given how great he had been in the previous three books. But I’m also all set to go on Eloise’s story! Though, if I’m trying to keep these reviews timed to around when the corresponding season is going to drop on Netflix…you’ll be hearing more from me in 5 years or so.

Rating 8: A sweet romance and some truly hilarious scenes, though I was a bit underwhelmed with Colin’s shift in personality and the second act role that his writing took on.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Romancing Mister Bridgerton” can be found on these Goodreads lists: “I’ve Loved You for Years” and Falling in Love with Best Friend/Best Friend’s Brother/Brother’s Best Friend

Book Club Review: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond”

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We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Our current theme is Centuries, where we were given a random century and had to pick a book based during that time period.  For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Book: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare

Publishing Info: Houghton Mifflin, 1958

Where Did We Get This Book: The library!

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

Century: 17th

Book Description: Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the “witch” is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!

Kate’s Thoughts

I read “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” in grade school, but I hadn’t ever revisited it and I can’t even tell you why, because I remember that I enjoyed it. I think that it was always in the back of my mind when it comes to children’s literature, but as time went on it just kind of fell further and further back. So when it was the choice for the 17th Century for our book club theme, I was eager to go back and re-read a book that I read as a ten year old through the eyes of an almost forty year old. And I’m happy to report that it holds up pretty well! But then, that’s probably because some things haven’t really changed, either from the McCarthy Era, when the book was written, or the times of witchcraft panic, when the book takes place.

I think that Speare did a really good job of laying out some pretty heavy topics, like prejudice, Othering, religious panic, and misogyny, in a way that is easily digestible for a middle grade audience. I found Kit to be an interesting heroine that is easy for a young reader to relate to, and her story of befriending a Quaker in a Puritan community who is rumored to be a witch (because OH NO SHE’S A QUAKER) is engaging, and at times quite suspenseful, given that the town starts to think that both Kit and Hannah (the so called witch) are up to no good and devilry, all because they are different and therein seen as untrustworthy outsiders. As mentioned above, this was initially written as a metaphor for McCarthyism and the Red Scare, where people were turning on and accusing others of being Communists and blacklisting them. But it’s so typical that we see this over and over in American history, and are seeing a form of it play out again right now with LGBTQIA+ people, and immigrants, and other marginalized groups. Some things never change, and hate towards the Other is one of those things. But that just makes the book relevant still, and it’s written with a keen eye that makes it all the stronger.

“The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is another classic children’s lit book that is still timely and interesting, and I am happy that book club gave me the push to give it another go!

Serena’s Thoughts

Like Kate, I read this one as a upper grade schooler/middle schooler. But I’ve also read it several times since. I believe I read it again during high school at some point. And then in my mid-twenties when I was building up my book collection, I stumbled upon a copy of this book on the “free” shelf at my local library, so I grabbed it and, of course, read it again right away! So, while it’s probably been a decade since my last re-read, I’m fairly familiar with the overall story. And given that I’ve somehow managed to read it across every decade of my life so far, I think it’s safe to say that both A.) I like it, and B.) it’s the kind of book that has a lot of cross-over appeal, no matter the age of the reader!

A few things stood out to me in this re-read. Like Kate mentioned, there’s a universal appeal to this story. Not only is Kit the sort of protagonist who will always speak to teens and younger readers (her combination of spunk as well as frustration with the rules around her), but the story talks on perennial struggles of humanity and society. Kate already talked about the Other-ing of those who are different, and the ways in which groups of people can spiral out of control into fear and desperation quite quickly and completely irrationally. But one aspect that I had focused less on in the past were the book’s secondary themes of capital “A” acceptance. In that, while the story is very much focused on the “witches” and the typical sorts of “others” that we know have been feared and hated throughout history (and whose counterparts are easy to spot today as well), it also subtly draws attentions to the sorts of judgements that we make at everyday moments, judgements that often reduce people to their worst characteristics without touching on the rest of their being, their context, or their priorities in life.

First of all, we see this in Kit herself, the heroine and “good guy” of our story, but also a character who grew up with slaves and very much has not thought about the realities of this horror until it is bluntly pointed out to her. This is, of course, very much of the time. And while the story doesn’t excuse Kit, it also presents this flaw of hers alongside all of the elements that still make her the heroine. She learns, and to learn, it requires others to see her flaws and, instead of shunning and shaming, to help her grow.

Further, we also see this in Kit’s uncle, a character who can be incredibly unlikable for much of the story. But as the plot progresses, we see Kit’s estimation of him slowly adjust as she’s exposed to more and more of his core personality, seeing what he cares about most and how that shapes his views. By the end, she recognizes him as the flawed individual he is, but also someone who loves his family and is doing what he thinks is best, even if there are choices that Kit doesn’t agree with or understand. So, while I think the core theme around witches and Other-ing is just as important as ever, in this re-read, I appreciated the time and care the book took to look as these lesser versions of similar judgements and how important it is to humanize those we don’t understand.

Kate’s Rating 8: A classic in children’s literature that feels as timely as ever, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is a powerful book about being Othered and ostracized by those who fear things that are different.

Serena’s Rating 8: For a short-ish, young adult book, this story still packs a powerful punch regarding themes of acceptance, Other-ing, and the ways in which people can let fear drive their life.

Book Club Questions

  1. There are several different women characters in this book. If you were living in this time period, which of these characters would you like to trade places with if only for a moment?
  2. What are your thoughts on Puritan Society as portrayed in this book?
  3. There are a few mentions of the slave trade and slavery in this book, as Kit comes from a plantation on Barbados. What were your thoughts on how it was addressed? Do you think it reflects the time that it was written?
  4. There were multiple romantic relationships in this story. Did you have a favorite couple?
  5. Are there any more modern books with similar settings or themes to this book that you have enjoyed? What were they? What made them different from this one? How are they similar?
  6. What did you think about the conclusion of the story? Did it feel realistic to you?

Reader’s Advisory

“The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is included on the Goodreads lists “Teen Historical Fiction”, and “Wise Women, Witches, Midwives, Healers, and Strong Girls!”.

Next Book Club Pick: “What The Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon

Kate’s Review: “The House on Biscayne Bay”

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Book: “The House on Biscayne Bay” by Chanel Cleeton

Publishing Info: Berkley, April 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: As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s atmospheric new novel.

With the Great War finally behind them, thousands of civilians and business moguls alike flock to South Florida with their sights set on making a fortune. When wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna, build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, they become the toast of the newly burgeoning society. Anna and Robert appear to have it all, but in a town like Miami, appearances can be deceiving, and one scandal can change everything.

Years later following the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa, the grand home of her estranged older sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt. On the surface, the gilded estate looks like paradise, but Carmen quickly learns that nothing at Marbrisa is as it seems. The house has a treacherous legacy, and Carmen’s own life is soon in jeopardy . . . unless she can unravel the secrets buried beneath the mansion’s facade and stop history from repeating itself.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with and eARC of this book!

At the beginning of the month my family and I went to Florida so that my four year old could experience the joy and chaos that is Disney World, and the nostalgia factor for me (outside of being burnt out to hell by the end of all of it) was ample. Being back in the Sunshine State reminded me of my family trips there when I was little, specifically to, yes, Disney, but also to visit my family in Miami. While Florida is a state that I have a lot of opinions about, I do have a place in my heart for Miami thanks to the time spent there as a kid (as well as a trip in 2017 for my cousin’s wedding celebration). Because of this nostalgia, I was very interested in “The House on Biscayne Bay” by Chanel Cleeton. Not only was it touted as a Gothic mystery, it also had the setting of first half 20th Century Miami. What a combination! I went in with high expectations. And was somewhat disappointed.

First, of course, the things I did like. I absolutely adored the time and place in this book, as well as the descriptions of Marbrisa itself. I so rarely read stories set during the time period that is during or adjacent to World War I, so when it is a timeframe in a book I’m already interested because of the opportunities it opens. In spite of my family connections to Miami, my knowledge of its history is pretty limited, and I really liked the descriptions that Cleeton had about the town as it was growing and the challenges that presented the culture shock, the isolation, the alligators!). And when looking at the timeline that Carmen, Carolina, and Asher are in, I liked the way that the house had changed and transformed and had built up a reputation throughout Miami, and how that was affecting those living there. I also did enjoy our two protagonists across these two timelines we are following, Anna and Carmen. For Anna, I liked that she is a high society woman and wife of a New York businessman, Robert Barnes, and how she is expected to be grateful and thrilled about him building her this house, but instead finds herself trapped and stifled because of being plucked from her comfortable life and plunked down into a whole new community. Without any say. Seeing her have to grapple with this, as well as suspicions about her husband after a death happens at their estate, was really interesting. And for Carmen I liked the perspective of yet another woman being plucked from all she knows (this time her home in Havana after her parents die unexpectedly) and put in a whole new setting with sister Carolina, whom she has a contentious relationship with, and brother in law Asher, who is practically a stranger. And then when Carolina is murdered, she is suddenly alone with strangers in a strange house, possibly with a killer. I really enjoyed Carmen’s resilience and her verve.

But while I did like the melodrama and the way that both Anna and Carmen were maneuvering in their presents in Marbrisa, the two mysteries in both their timelines didn’t grab me the way I had hoped they would. For Anna, the death of a woman named Leonora at their first (and only) lavish party to show off the house has led her to wonder if the drowning was accidental, or something more sinister. For Carmen, there is not only the sudden death of her sister Carolina, but also the lingering question about what happened to Anna, who disappeared years prior. I wasn’t totally swept into the mysteries because, in the case of Leonora, I had a pretty good idea as to what happened from the jump, and in the case of Carolina, while the twists and surprises were well done, I just wasn’t invested in that outcome because I wasn’t as invested in Carolina. I WAS invested in Carmen and worried about her, but that would have been the case even without the mystery. I DID like the Anna Barnes mystery, but one out of three isn’t a resounding average.

“The House on Biscayne Bay” had some really well done historical beats and felt Gothic in all the right ways, but it wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped it would be. That said, for historical fiction I will be looking into more Chanel Cleeton!

Rating 6: I liked the historical drama and I liked our two protagonists, but for whatever reason the mysteries at hand didn’t capture my attention.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The House on Biscayne Bay” is included on the Goodreads lists “Anticipated Literary Reads for Reader’s of Color 2024”, and “Mystery and Thriller 2024”.

Serena’s Review: “The Familiar”

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Book: “The Familiar” by Leigh Bardugo

Publishing Info: Flatiron Books, April 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: Edelweiss+

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

Book Description: In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

Review: I’ve had a mixed past reading Leigh Bardugo’s books. I started out really enjoying the first book in her original Grisha trilogy, “Shadow and Bone.” But then I disliked the way the love triangle was handled so much that I was pretty much hate-reading the series by the time I got to the final book. Sure, I liked the ending, but I was pretty put off by the entire experience. Then, however, I picked up the “Six of Crows” duology and absolutely loved it! On top of that, while I haven’t read “Ninth House,” Kate gave it a 10 in her review a few years ago. Sooo, when I saw this book coming out, I thought now was the time to revisit her work. It helps that this book is disconnected from the Grishaverse entirely and was set in a place and time period that I’ve rarely seen tackled in fantasy fiction. And now that I’m finished…well, consider me converted! If this is what Bardugo is producing currently, I’m all in!

There is so much to love about this book that I barely know where to start! But let’s start with something I’m always on the look out for when reading books like this: how well does it blend genres? Here, Bardugo is not only writing a fantasy story, but she’s attempting to blend it into a real time and place in our own world. With that comes a lot of challenges, but when done right, like here, it can be the best of both world. And while Luzia’s magic and the magical competition she finds herself entrenched within drive much of the plot of the story, I think it’s truly the historical setting that breathes life into this book.

This story is rich with all of the intricate details that one looks for from a historical fiction book: the lush descriptions of fashion and architecture, the political maneuvering driving a country’s leaders, the cultural norms and restrictions placed on its people. And central to it all, Luzia’s precarious place in a culture that demonizes “unholy” magic as well as her own Jewish heritage. All of this and more is woven in so neatly alongside fantastical events that it truly begins to feel believable that this was simply a lost element of the historical record. In this way, it very much reminded me of reads like “The Golem and the Jinni” where the historical setting and commentary felt as if they played a more primary role to its fantasy elements.

I also really enjoyed the characters, but especially Luzia herself. She’s a fully formed, complicated character with all of the joys and struggles that come alongside that. Early in the story, numerous characters warn her about the dangers of her own ambitions, and I was truly impressed by the delicate manner in which this was handled. Restricted to a life as a scullery maid, Luzia’s dreams of basic comforts, safety, and the recognition and appreciation of her power are all understandable, especially to the modern reader. She’s never demonized for wanting more. That said, the book never loses sight of the time period and place during which it is taken place. There are no easy solutions to the realities of the world around her; no magical wand-waving that can re-form the world into one where Luzia’s dreams of her future can be easily made true. This is not a story of revolution or grand sweeting changes to a real-world historical time line. Instead, it is a careful exploration of the very real lives that people, especially women, lead. That said, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Woven throughout the story was one of my favorite slow-burn romances that I’ve read in quite some time. Like Luzia, Santangel is a complicated, imperfect being. His story is slowly revealed over the course of the book, and we learn of the backstory that lead him to be who he is now and understand the choices he makes. For much of the book, I was truly concerned about how this love story was going to be resolved, given the restrictions on his character. But, like everything else, this all fell neatly in line by the end of the book, leaving us with a bittersweet, but satisfying ending. And for those concerned, I’d say it veers closer to the “sweet” than the “bitter.” Take from that what you will.

The fantasy elements were also fantastic. It starts off slowly, but the story eventually builds to full-scale, action-packed magical scenes. Honestly, I was kind of surprised by just how far into the fantasy aspect the book leaned at certain points. There were some truly suspenseful scenes, and I enjoyed the way Luzia’s magic was used. There were enough restrictions on what she could do that there was sufficient tension and conflict building throughout the story, but there was also a sense of whimsy, that anything could be possible if it could be dreamed.

Truly, I can’t say enough good things about this book. The writing was incredibly sharp, the character work was deep and complicated, and there was an excellent balance between the increasing danger and stakes of Luzia’s situation and the sweet, slow-burn romance building between her and Santangel. Fans of Bardugo’s work are sure to love this one, and I would also highly recommend it to any fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy historical fiction, as well.

Rating 10: A masterpiece of historical fantasy fiction, with “The Familiar” Bardugo has proven once again why she’s one of the most exciting authors writing in the genre today.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Familiar” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Jewish Fantasy Genre and Historical Fiction With a Dash of Magic.

Book Club Review: “The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne”

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We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Our current theme is Centuries, where we were given a random century and had to pick a book based during that time period.  For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Book: “The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne” by Elsa Hart

Publishing Info: Minotaur Books, August 2020

Where Did We Get This Book: The library!

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

Century: 18th

Book Description: London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.

For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby’s crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby’s murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.

To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in ‘THE CABINETS OF BARNABY MAYNE’.

Kate’s Thoughts

When I worked at the Science Museum of Minnesota, my main gallery was known as the Collections Gallery, which was kind of a mish mash of items on display that didn’t really fit in anywhere else in the museum. We had artifacts from around the world, a few taxidermied animals, some rocks and minerals and sands on display, some items from quack medical practices, and a literal mummy. I loved working in this gallery and a few of my best friends were people who worked there with me. So with my affection for this kind of collection oddity made me very interested in reading “The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne”, as the idea of a weird collector with a bunch of cabinets filled with random stuff is very much my wheelhouse.

Well, sadly this book didn’t really gel with me. I am not sure what went wrong, as the collection of oddities is great, I love a historical mystery, and I am always game to read a story in a time period I’m not as familiar with (early 1700s? I can’t think of any other books off the top of my head that I have read that are set during that time frame). I am pretty certain that it is just a matter of Your Mileage May Vary, or just not being in the right mind space, but combining some of the more ‘in time period’ language and the cast of suspects all being pretty similar and not very interesting to me, I wasn’t as enthralled with this book. I did like the banter between Cecily and her friend Meacan, and having two women being the main investigators was also enjoyable. But I think that the mystery itself just didn’t catch my attention too well.

If you like cozy mysteries and you like period pieces that perhaps aren’t as covered as much in the genre, this could be a good fit for you! It just didn’t do much for me.

Serena’s Thoughts

I’m much more the sort of reader who would go for this sort of book than Kate, so it’s probably not a surprise that I enjoyed it a bit more. That said, I also didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to, so we have a bit of a mixed bag review headed your way. On one hand, I’m very into historical mysteries like this and there were a lot of aspects of this novel that felt fresh when compared to other entries in this subgenre. For example, while I’ve read a million and one Victorian or Regency period historical mysteries, I haven’t read one set in the early 1700s before. That being the case, I enjoyed the exploration of this tenuous point in history in which much of natural science was still very recent and felt almost as mystical as magic itself. I also enjoyed the two main characters, and this was another point in this book’s favor. Not only have the previous books I’ve read that are similar to this all feature a man/woman duo (often with romantic tension of some sort), but here we had two women who were simply friends and nothing more. It was nice to see a different kind of relationship put at the forefront, and like Kate, I enjoyed the interactions between these two the most of anything during my reading experience.

That said, I also agree with some of her criticisms. Like any good mystery, there were a whole host of potential suspects. The problem was that many of them began to run together in my mind, feeling indistinct from each other and each struggling to capture my attention. I also felt that the pacing of the mystery itself was a bit off. More than once, the plot seemed to offer up convenient answers right away to whatever questions our heroines were currently struggling to answer. It felt less like they were solving a mystery and more like they were simply following a very clear breadcrumb trail to its inevitable conclusion.

Overall, I thought this book was ok. It delivers on the core concepts that readers of this subgenre are often looking for, and even brings in a few new areas of interest. However, nothing really rose to the top for me as I read. The heroines, the villains, the mystery itself: serviceable, but not necessarily very memorable.

Kate’s Rating 5: I liked the concept of an oddity collection and I liked exploring this time period, but for whatever reason this one didn’t really click with me.

Serena’s Rating 7: With some interesting new concepts, this will likely appeal to historical mystery readers, though I do think their is room for growth with regards to characterization and the pacing of the mystery itself.

Book Club Questions

  1. This book takes place in the English countryside in the early 1700s. Did the setting feel authentic to you?
  2. What were your thoughts on the portrayals of a society that is just starting to delve into the scientific process?
  3. Did Cecily’s motivation to solve the murder of Barnaby Maybe seem plausible?
  4. Did you like Meacan as a foil to Cecily?
  5. What were your thoughts on the motivations revealed by various players for their various actions throughout the story? How about the motivations of the murderer?
  6. What did you think of Alice’s character?
  7. Do you buy into the Agatha Christie comparisons to this novel? Do you agree or disagree?

Reader’s Advisory

“The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne” is included on the Goodreads list “Historical Mystery 2020”.

Next Book Club Pick: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare

Kate’s Review: “A Dowry of Blood”

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Book: “A Dowry of Blood” by S.T. Gibson

Publishing Info: Redhook, October 2022

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

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

Book Description: S.T. Gibson’s sensational novel is the darkly seductive tale of Dracula’s first bride, Constanta.

This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. . .

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.

Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

Review: Earlier this month I reviewed the book “Thirst” by Marina Yuszczuk, a sapphic historical horror tale in which a woman in modern day Buenos Aires is caught up with a woman vampire who has been around for centuries. I made mention of thinking about the “Buffy” characters Darla and Drusilla as I read, and mused that I wish there had been a prequel book about Darla and Drusilla galavanting around Europe with Angelus and Spike being a sexual foursome together. Well, the synchronicity of the Universe kicked in a bit, because shortly after that review was written up, I picked up “A Dowry of Blood” by S.T. Gibson, which had been ALL OVER my social media feeds from various horror influencers. I bought it on a whim with a birthday book gift certificate from my sister, not sure of what to expect. And then when I began reading, I nearly fell out of my chair. Because as the story went on, it was clear that it was going to scratch that Darla/Angelus/Drusilla/Spike itch and all the nasty complications that come with it.

You should have made it clear they were all sleeping together, you cowards!!! (source)

“A Dowry of Blood” is from the perspective of Constanta, a medieval peasant woman turned bride of Dracula after the Count discovers her near death and changes her into a vampire. It’s Constanta finding a newfound supernatural power and an exciting life with her husband, but also finding his dark and manipulative side as he takes on more romantic companions and manipulates them all into loyalty and servitude. I’ve read a few “Dracula” retellings or spin off remixes, but I had never read one from the perspective of his Brides, and this one is such a dark yet also empowering read. Constanta’s story is one of a woman who finds herself in a bad and toxic relationship, and who has to go through the process of understanding it, accepting it, and extricating herself from it, while also feeling a loyalty to her fellow companions, Magdalena and Alexi. The three of them coming together to lean on each other, while trying to figure out how to remove themselves from Dracula, is a nail biter the closer we get to the eventual showdown, and while Gibson basically lays out the outcome from the jump, the suspense is still there.

I hesitate to call this story a romance, as it can be bleak and unsettling seeing how Dracula can hold such abusive power over Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi, but at the same time there are shades of romanticism between the Brides (and Husband) as they bond, commiserate, and eventually strive for more. There is certainly intimacy, and I loved seeing the relationships between Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi grow and evolve and strengthen. Watching Constanta evolve and shift and start to find her own power, even against the vampire that she feels she owes everything to, is at times difficult given the content, but is also a story that feels inherently like an unshackling of abusive chains. Hell, even just seeing Constanta go from a dying peasant to a vengeful vampire, who takes out the men who killed her family and tried to kill her, starts this off on an empowering note and shows that Constanta has it in her, even when she is under Dracula’s spell, or at least under his gaslighting, his manipulations, and his abusive tendencies. Looking back at my up-page comparisons to pop culture, maybe it would be more accurate to say this reads like Darla leaving The Master behind and choosing her lovers over him. Regardless, it’s satisfying as hell.

BUT, that said, there are also some really sumptuous and erotic moments in this book when it comes to Constanta exploring her burgeoning sexuality and intimacy with not only her husband, but also the other spouses. Much like Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “A Dowry of Blood” does have a bit of a romantic undercurrent about it in spite of the horror and the more toxic thematics. There are so many descriptors and so many beats that make it feel like an indulgence of beauty and decadence (especially if you take into account the epilogue/novella that is included in the edition I have, “An Encore of Roses”. That one was just full on sexy and spicy, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SEEKING IT OUT REGARDLESS), while also keeping the tension and the horror there . It also has a lot of really knowing nods to the source material itself, giving these characters a complicated backstory while also harkening to moments from Stoker’s vampire novel without dwelling or relying too much upon them.

“A Dowry of Blood” was a really enjoyable and bloody good read. I love historical vampire horror, and I love it when an author can bring in romantic elements that feel real, scary, and also tender. If Gibson wrote more stories about this group of vampires, I’d absolutely read them.

Rating 9: Erotic, empowering, indulgent, and bloody as hell, “A Dowry of Blood” is a sweeping and entertaining vampire novel that finds the darkness in an abusive situation, while also finding the light in actual love and support and tenderness.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Dowry of Blood” is included on the Goodreads lists “Bisexual Vampire Books”, and “Classic Retellings and Spinoffs: Monster Mash”.

Serena’s Review: “Salt & Broom”

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Book: “Salt & Broom” by Sharon Lynn Fisher

Publishing Info: 47North, December 2023

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

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

Book Description: A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate—and its enigmatic owner—in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre .

“Salt and broom, make this room
Safe and tight, against the night.”

Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort. Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester—who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.

Review: No, your memory is not failing you: Kate, not me, was the one to include this book in her Highlights post back in December! But this is a perfect example of the sort of book that has cross-over appeal for Kate and I. For one thing, we both love “Jane Eyre” and thusly any “Jane Eyre” retellings are automatically appealing to us both. From there, I imagine she looked at this one and saw “witchy cozy horror,” and I looked at it and saw “witchy cozy fantasy,” and in truth, it’s a little bit of both. Never fear, however, I didn’t poach this one from her! She confirmed that she didn’t have a full review planned, so I was in the clear!

“Jane Eyre” is a tough nut to crack as far as re-tellings go. I think both Jane and Mr. Rochester are fairly complicated characters in their own right, and their romance is by no means straight forward or easy. But I have to commend Fisher for the version she presents here! This book walks the perfect tight-rope of hitting the main story beats that one expects from a “Jane Eyre” story, while also completely re-imagining large chunks of the story to fit in a fantasy world where witches, ghosts, and fairies exist. It would be very easy for either side of this balance to shift and throw the entire book into disarray, but that’s not a concern here! Instead, the book confidently moves forward in the world its has created, trusting the reader to strike this balance as well. I was also impressed with the overall style and tone of the writing, as capturing the specific “voice” and manner of speaking can be a challenge when adapting older works like this. Again, this ability to capture this tone was all the more impressive since you had to pair this sort of “period piece” voice with all kinds of fantasy terms about witches and magic.

In particular, I really enjoyed the adaptations and liberties the author took with the original story. All of the main plot beats were hit (and even a few minor ones, the sort that will definitely please the fans!), but the author didn’t hold back from truly making this one her own. Several familiar characters are completely re-imagined, while others play roles that are relatively unchanged. Some fairly major plot lines are also changed, but in ways that still hold true to exploring the themes and love story of the original. This include the plot line regarding Mr. Rochester’s wife. Obviously, I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I was very impressed by how this was re-done! And, again, the magical elements tied into all of this in ways that were truly surprising! Going in, I had it in my mind that it would mostly be the same story but with Jane doing a bit of magic here and there. Nope! Major fantasy elements all over the place, but in the best ways!

I also really enjoyed this version of Jane and Rochester. Jane, especially, was a fantastic leading lady. This version captured the same spirit of independence and resolve that we see in the original, but the story also allowed her to explore themes regarding female friendships, motherhood, and family in ways that the original didn’t. Rochester was also excellent, capturing much of the same dark and broody motifs that we expect from this classic romantic hero. That said, I liked some of the updates we got to this version as the original had moments where he came off as a bit, well, jerkish. This Rochester is still reserved and mysterious, but also updated in small ways to appeal to modern romance readers. I especially loved all of the scenes where he and Jane team up to solve the magical mysteries surrounding them.

Overall, I really loved this book! It managed to take a beloved classic story and retain all that makes it great while also adding a fun fantasy spin to the proceedings. I’ll definitely be looking through this author’s back catalog to see what else she’s written and will keep any eye out for anything coming in the future! If you enjoy magical re-imaginings of classic stories, definitely check this one out!

Rating 9: Darkly romantic and mysterious, a perfect book for all “Jane Eyre” fans!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Salt & Broom” is on any relevant Goodreads lists yet, but it should be on Jane Eyre Retellings.

Kate’s Review: “Thirst”

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Book: “Thirst” by Marina Yuszczuk and Heather Cleary (Translation)

Publishing Info: Dutton, March 2024

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

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

Book Description: Across two different time periods, two women confront fear, loneliness, mortality, and a haunting yearning that will not let them rest. A breakout, genre-blurring novel from one of the most exciting new voices of Latin America’s feminist Gothic.

It is the twilight of Europe’s bloody bacchanals, of murder and feasting without end. In the nineteenth century, a vampire arrives from Europe to the coast of Buenos Aires and, for the second time in her life, watches as villages transform into a cosmopolitan city, one that will soon be ravaged by yellow fever. She must adapt, intermingle with humans, and be discreet.

In present-day Buenos Aires, a woman finds herself at an impasse as she grapples with her mother’s terminal illness and her own relationship with motherhood. When she first encounters the vampire in a cemetery, something ignites within the two women—and they cross a threshold from which there’s no turning back.

With echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and written in the vein of feminist Gothic writers like Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, and Carmen Maria Machado, Thirst plays with the boundaries of genre while exploring the limits of female agency, the consuming power of desire, and the fragile vitality of even the most immortal of creatures.

Review: Thank you to Dutton for sending me this eARC via NetGalley!

As many people know, I love vampire horror, but along with that loves comes a pretty picky set of standards. I would love to frame it as ‘passionate’ but I’m sure part of it is being a bit of an elitist/a bit bratty when it comes to vampiric tales. But I couldn’t help but have my attention snagged when access to an eARC of Marina Yuszczuk’s “Thirst” arrived in my inbox. The cover is already eye catching, for one. For another, a horror novel about a female vampire that has a historical element, as well as Sapphic themes, just sounds INCREDIBLY tantalizing. I kept thinking about “The Hunger” and the characters of Darla and Drusilla from “Buffy”. I was hopeful going in.

Honestly just give me an entire prequel book series about these two with Spike and Angellus all being very sexually fluid together. (source)

The first half of this book was amazing. I loved the way that we follow our nameless Vampire from her transformation, to her liberation from her sire, to her need to escape once people in Europe start hunting her and her kind down, to her arrival and time in Buenos Aires. It is such a compelling arc and background for her, examining how she became a vampire and how she slowly accepts it and turns into a predator with a shade of seductive longing. The time and place is so well formed and presented, and the eeriness and horror moments are very well done. I LOVE predatory vampires in vampire fiction, and ones that have a little bit of dangerous eroticism is always a great harkening back to the way vampire lore has always had shades of longing and desire within it. And the explorations of feminine longing and feminine power and agency in this section is so interesting as we see her prey on her victims while also feeling a need for connection as she moves through her existence as times change. I also really enjoyed the setting of Buenos Aires during the Yellow Fever plague and how mass death and illness could make for both a good place to fade into the background, but also a dangerous place as hysteria ramps up and her cover could be blown. I found Part One to be so, so interesting and enthralling.

Which made it even more disappointing when Part Two was a bit lackluster. In this part we have Alma, a modern day woman living in Buenos Aires who is grappling with a divorce, her sensitive son Santiago, and now the impending death of her mother. She soon finds out that the family has had a key to a mausoleum passed down for generations, and now she has to figure out if she’s going to sell the mausoleum or what. I’m sure you can guess who is living in that tomb, which is ABSOLUTELY a great set up. But my problem with Alma’s story was that, while it’s a pretty standard examination of an unhappy woman at a crossroads, I didn’t feel like it tied in SUPER well with the Vampire’s story, as when it goes come together there isn’t much exploration of it before the book was done. I appreciated trying to draw a dichotomy between the feminine struggles that the vampire faced, even as a vampire but also before, as well as the struggles that Alma was experiencing as a woman in the modern times. But there wasn’t enough time with the Vampire and Alma actually connecting and interacting, and because of this certain choices made and plot points that shook out didn’t really work for me because not enough time was spent building up to them. I think that had there been a third part from both Alma’s and the Vampire’s perspectives to see a full picture, as well as more interaction and relationship building, would have really fixed this. But as it was it just felt a bit abrupt.

Overall, “Thirst” is fantastic in the first half and ultimately evens out to a still entertaining read, even if I wanted more from it. I will absolutely be checking out more from Marina Yuszczuk in the future if we get more translations of ehr works.

Rating 7: A fabulous first half followed by a not as fleshed out second half made for a meet in the middle read. But I REALLY loved the historical moments and the concept itself.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Thirst” is included on the Goodreads lists “Girly Pop But Make It Insane”, and “Weird Woman Book Club”.

Kate’s Review: “Earthdivers (Vol.2): Ice Age”

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Book: “Earthdivers (Vol. 2): Ice Age” by Stephen Graham Jones, Ricardo Burchielli (Ill.), Patricio Delpeche (Ill.), & Emily Schnall (Ill.).

Publishing Info: IDW Publishing, February 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: Guest artists Riccardo Burchielli ( DMZ ), Patricio Delpeche, and Emily Scnall join Stephen Graham Jones— New York Times best-selling author of The Only Good Indians and My Heart Is a Chainsaw —for a mission to the Ice Age exploring America’s pre-Columbian past!

When Martin and Tawny’s children disappeared, the couple barreled into the desert to track them down at any cost. Instead, they ran afoul of another group of rovers who claimed to be saving the world by traveling through a cave portal to the year 1492 to prevent the creation of America—an idea that defied belief until the grieving parents were lured into the cave and vanished in time and space.

Now alone, Tawny must adapt to the wild marshlands of prehistoric Florida, circa 20,000 BC, and the breathtaking and bloodthirsty megafauna are the least of her problems when she’s caught in a war between a community of native Paleo-Indians and an occupying Solutrean force. Tawny’s odds of survival are in free fall, but she’s a mother on a mission…and she’s holding on to hope that the cave brought her here for a family reunion.

In the tradition of Saga , the next chapter of the critically acclaimed sci-fi epic is here in Earthdivers Vol. 2 . Collects Earthdivers #7-11.

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

When I first started Stephen Graham Jones’s fantasy/Sci-Fi time travel series “Earthdivers”, for whatever reason I thought that it was only going to be focused on what the first volume covered: the time travel assassination of Christopher Columbus. Why I thought it was only going to be that is beyond me, but when that arc came to an end at the start of “Kill Columbus”, I wondered where we were going next, with no clue or idea as to what the path was going to be. Who were we going to follow now? Was it still going to be historical fiction time travel-y? Our protagonist’s storyline pretty much definitively ended, what is going to happen now? And then I saw the cover for “Earthdivers (Vol. 2): Ice Age”, and I was blown away. BACK IN TIME TO THE ICE AGE?! HELL YES! And when I saw that we were following another time traveller, this time Tawney, a mother who was searching for her children, I was all the more excited. And shocking absolutely no one, “Earthdivers: Ice Age” is suspenseful, intriguing, and enthralling.

I really love that we are starting to explore stories of other characters in the book who have fallen afoul the mysterious cave. In “Ice Age” our focus is on Tawney, a grieving mother who had been looking for her missing twins when she and her friends were lured into the cave by Emily as an act of self defense. When Tawney wakes up, she is no longer in the 22nd century, but all the way back to the Ice Age and the Paleolithic era of humans. This is such a great choice, narrative wise, as it not only opens up a slew of possibilities as to what stories are going to potentially be told next (after all, there were multiple people who ended up in the cave around the time that Tawney did….), but it also gives us lots of different character possibilities. Tawney was a good first choice, because her motivation is based on her love for her kids, and it drives not only her want to survive in this wholly new setting, but also the choices that she makes while there. I really loved Tawney as a main character for this volume, and I loved the idea of the Ice Age as a setting and having her have to figure out how to survive in this totally new environment. Whether it’s dealing with smilodonts, having to adapt to the cold, or trying to find ways to communicate with the people she meets and connects with, it makes for a gripping story of a stranger in a strange land.

And in true Jones fashion, “Ice Age” also taps into societal injustices that feel very true today and places them even in the Ice Age. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this volume, as I thought that the Ice Age would have different hardships, but Jones keeps with the fighting against colonialism theme, using the clashes between Indigenous people and Solutreans (a controversial theory that Europeans settled in the Americas during the Ice Age by traveling over the frozen waters, HERE is a pretty good write up as to why it’s unlikely and also racist). It’s genius because it’s laying not only another kind of invading force story, but also tapping into Tawney’s inner turmoil about how to proceed when she finds herself protecting and becoming attached to a Solutrean child, as she sees her own children in him. These led to some really emotional beats, as Tawney, unlike Yellow Kid in “Kill Columbus”, draws lines when it comes to children as victims, no matter how much it could seem like a ‘greater good’. I also love how Jones has taken this fringe theory of Solutrean discovery and torn it apart by having Tawney basically fight back against the invading forces with her know how from her own time period. It’s very creative and makes for a really interesting volume! Throw in some more backstory for the Earthdivers and their motivations, as well as world building for the ravaged planet they are trying to reset, and the story arc continues to build on its complexity in very rewarding ways.

And finally, the artwork. We have some new artists in this volume, Ricardo Burchielli, Patricio Delpeche, and Emily Schnall. I liked the new styles that they brought, as while they still fit in with the previous Volume, they did bring their own aesthetics and signatures to the work.

(source: IDW)

I’m still really digging “Earthdivers” and how outside the box Stephen Graham Jones is taking it. I can’t wait to see who we follow through the cave next, and what time period it’s going to be.

Rating 8: Another creative and intense time travel story from Stephen Graham Jones! I’m loving the world building at the creative time and place.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Earthdivers (Vol. 2): Ice Age” isn’t included on any Goodreads lists as of yet, but would fit in on “Graphic Novels & Comics By The Aboriginal, Indigenous, and Native Peoples of the World”, and “Time Travel”.