The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab weaves an historical tale of a young woman who, out of desperation, makes a deal with "the darkness" even though she has been warned by the village wise woman to "never pray to the gods that answer after dark." Adeline LaRue has a wild spirit that longs to escape the confines of her small French village in the 1700s. When her parents promise her to a local villager as a bride, Addie runs away and inadvertently trades her presence for freedom. "She is cursed to be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets...A lonely Addie travels the world, sometimes forcibly moved by Luc, the literally handsome devil to whom she now owes her soul. She must survive by stealing and hiding because she is unable to establish any personal or business relationships... However, as she nears the 300th anniversary of her bargain, she may have discovered a loophole in the curse... " (Library Journal). They close their review, calling this  a "well-crafted exploration of the human condition... Recommend to those who appreciate atmospheric, character-driven dramas."

Publishers Weekly gushes in their review: "This sweeping fantasy is as much a love story as it is a tribute to storytelling, art, and inspiration. Schwab's diverse cast is beautifully rendered, and the view of human connection on offer is biting and bitter, yet introspective and sweet. This ambitious and hopeful work is a knockout." Similarly, Booklist praises, "Narratively, this is a whirlwind--deeply romantic, impossibly detailed, filled with lush language, wry humor, and bitter memories. This often startlingly raw story begs the questions: what is a soul? What does it mean to be remembered? And what prize is worth giving those things up?" Kirkus also recommends the book: "This spellbinding story unspools in multiple timelines as Addie moves through history, learning the rules of her curse and the whims of her captor. Meanwhile, both Addie and the reader get to know Henry and understand what sets him apart. This is the kind of book you stay up all night reading—rich and satisfying and strange and impeccably crafted. Spanning centuries and continents, this is a darkly romantic and suspenseful tale by a writer at the top of her game."

The Everlasting

In spite of the very positive reviews received for this book by Alix E. Harrow, I couldn't finish it, even after reading a third of the book. Described as " a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part-even if it breaks his heart..." (book jacket) the story sends historian Owen Mallory back in time where he finds a very different version of Sir Una Everlasting and together they try to rewrite a history that ends with her demise at the hands of a traitor. I made it through the first version of history but just wasn't engaged enough to continue with the next one. Library Journal, however, praised by saying "Her epic worldbuilding balances the intimate lives of remarkable characters to create another immersive novel." And Publishers Weekly calls this a "breathtaking chivalric fantasy..." and concludes "This impressively constructed plot keeps the pages flying on the way to a stunning finale. Harrow remains at the top of her game."  

Here is Kirkus' laudatory review and summary: "A patriotic historian in the grand nation of Dominion is sent back in time to make sure that events play out the way they’re supposed to in Harrow’s ambitious fantasy. As a historian, Prof. Owen Mallory’s area of focus—or, more accurately, obsession—is Una Everlasting, the legendary knight who bravely served Queen Yvanne and helped her form the great nation of Dominion. While working on a manuscript he hopes will get him a fellowship, Mallory receives an old book in the mail. As he translates it from an older version of Dominion’s language, he comes to suspect that it’s a firsthand accounting of Una Everlasting’s death, which, if real, would be an enormously significant finding. Before he can figure out if the book is genuine or who sent it to him, Mallory is summoned to the office of Dominion’s Minister of War, the imposing Vivian Rolfe, who reveals that she sent the book as a test to see if he’d sell it or if he’d respect and protect it. Satisfied with Mallory’s dedication to Una Everlasting (and therefore to Dominion itself), Rolfe asks Mallory a simple question: “Are you the man who will save [Dominion]?” When Mallory answers yes, Rolfe stabs her letter opener through his hand, and as he bleeds onto the book’s pages, he’s sent back in time to Dominion’s ancient past, where he comes face to face with the real Una Everlasting. Mallory realizes that the book is a magical object that can send anyone anywhere in time when they give it their blood. He also realizes that Rolfe doesn’t want him to translate a book about Una Everlasting—she wants him to write it himself. Harrow has set up a complex and deeply compelling world in Dominion, where Mallory’s devotion to his country is complicated by his fixation on the myth of Una—and his growing love for Una as a human being. Una is beautifully drawn as a real person struggling to live up to the weight of becoming a legend, and Rolfe is a great villain; with each appearance, her knavery becomes so much more fascinating and devious that readers will turn the pages just to see what she’ll do next. An epic time-travel fantasy about how stories from the past can shape our future."

The Last One

After reading 131 pages, I still wasn't engaged with the characters and so I gave up.  The premise is that a 20'ish woman wakes in the woods near a small destitute town, nearly naked and with no memory of how she came to be there. She tracks down the thief only to be arrested for attacking the woman and demanding the return of her belongings. Scattered and strange memories start to return, e.g., her name is Kai, along with even stranger magical powers. 

Both Library Journal and Booklist gave this mixed reviews, suggesting that hard-core genre fans will  be enamored in spite of its flaws. Booklist concludes, " Intriguing themes of redefining monstrousness and owning past mistakes are marred by opaque character motivations and slipshod world building. Even so, ardent romantasy fans will devour it." Referring to the characters, Library Journal concurs, "Her [Kai] importance is found only in the last few pages, following enough twists and reversals that it's difficult for readers to know what the narrative wants from her. Romance ...is teased but is saved for upcoming books... An ambitious romantasy opener, best for dedicated fans of the genre."

The Witness for the Dead

This book by Katherine Addison is set in the same world and slightly subsequent time period as her fabulous book, The Goblin Emperor. I loved the earlier book and really liked this one as well. Character development, world building, well-woven plotting make this sequel equally enjoyable to read. The protagonist here is a small but significant character from the first book, Thara Celehar, who is a Witness for the Dead. He can, within certain time and circumstance parameters communicate with the recently dead to determine last wishes, reveal those implicted in suspicious deaths, and settle family disputes. He is now the resident Witness in the city of Amalo, distant from the royal court but unfortunately not removed from local politics, which is often more a hindrance than a help. 

Library Journal says of the book: "...Multiple well-paced plotlines weave together in a delightful story, and Celehar's personal insights and issues bring a contemplative tone that further supports the work. ... The follow-up to the acclaimed The Goblin Emperor brings back a favorite character and expands the elaborate world Addison has created.. readers--will find this novel delightful and immersive." Booklist also offers a recommendation: "...Addison's welcome return ...reintroduces readers to Thara Celehar, the titular Witness for the Dead, in a new role in the city of Amalo ...The story is an unusual blend of slice-of-life and murder mystery as Celehar... goes about his daily business in Amalo while also investigating the murder of an opera singer. There are just enough links between the murder investigation and several subplots to prevent the book from seeming disjointed. The urban underbelly setting and mystery plot of this book give it a very different tone from the imperial court intrigue of its predecessor, but the simple pleasure of reading about a kind and quietly competent character who always aims to do the right thing will enchant..." Publishers Weekly concludes their review, "...Addison’s steampunk-infused scene-setting and assemblage of characters from all walks of life combine to create a vibrant fantasy world. The story is driven more by character than plot, with Celehar’s personal and professional relationships, and unwavering duty to his calling as a Witness, taking center stage. This is more spin-off than sequel, and returning fans and new readers alike will find it easy to be swept up in Celehar’s story."

The Goblin Emperor

This fantasy tale by Katherine Addison (pseudonym for Sarah Monette) was recommended to me by dear friend Joan Starr and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, after reading all 434 pages of the story, I still didn't want it to end. There is an extensive glossary as well as pronunciation and social address guides following which are helpful in navigating this elaborate world of the Elflands. Names and relationships can present a bit of a challenge, but the story can keep you engaged even if your mind stumbles over how to pronounce a name. I would dearly love to hear the author read all or part of this book. 

Our protagonist, 18 year old Maia, is the exiled fourth son of the Emperor. When the Emperor and his three older sons are killed in a suspicious airship crash, Maia is summarily brought to Court to become the new Emperor, addressed as "Serenity." There are those who oppose this half-goblin unknown and those who would support him. His character is richly developed and empathetic; the reader cannot help but to come to love him and root for him to triumph over all the odds. Booklist agrees, saying: " The author combines steampunk and fantasy (this is a world of elves and goblins and the like) to tell an utterly captivating story. Addison has built a completely believable world, with its own language, customs, and history, but there are tantalizingly familiar elements (such as newspapers and pocket watches) that make us wonder from whence this world came and whether it might have sprung from our own, in a distant future."

Library Journal offers this recommendation: "Court intrigue and politics are popular fodder for fantasy novels, but rarely have they been done better than in this fantastic new novel from Sarah Monette (writing as Addison). The writing is lovely, with characters who live and breathe. Maia, especially, will tug on the heartstrings of even the most hardened reader as he struggles to find kindness and allies in the imperial court." 

Publishers Weekly effuses: "Ambitious and meticulously executed worldbuilding brings an animated dazzle to this exceptional assemblage of character studies and complex encounters, while the expressive evocation of its youthful protagonist’s shyness and insecurity adds an affecting authenticity to the steampunk-infused fantasy setting. Crafted with a preternatural deftness, the elf kingdom of Ethuveraz is a multilayered masterwork. Its density of arcana, language, ritual, and protocol staggers the long-exiled 18-year-old half-goblin heir, Maia Drazhar, when he is thrust onto the imperial throne after his distant father and more favored brothers are assassinated by an act of airship sabotage. Facing ridicule, racism, and outright hostility, Maia nonetheless stumblingly shoulders the burden, his own outcast status becoming his greatest strength. Acts of kindness and empathy begin to earn him the acceptance, if not outright affection, of his courtiers and the populace. Less a novel than a series of anecdotes, this stalwart endeavor, which is fantasist Sarah Monette’s first work under the Addison name, is carried by the strength of atmosphere and Maia’s resonant good-heartedness. Readers will hope for many more tales of Ethuveraz."

I agree with Kirkus' recommendation: "Addison patiently and tellingly paints in the backdrop, mingling steampunk elements and low-key magic with imperial intricacies. There are powerful character studies and a plot full of small but deadly traps among which the sweet-natured, perplexed Maia must navigate. The result is a spellbinding and genuinely affecting drama. Unreservedly recommended."

Although Addison has not written a sequel in the strictest sense of the word -- no follow up of Maia's story-- she did write The Witness for the Dead several years later, which features Thara Celehar, a minor yet significant character from Goblin Emperor. It will be next on my list.

Piranesi

I enjoyed Susanna Clarke's earlier massive and award-winning tome, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and so I wanted to read this well-reviewed newer book; this was my 2nd try and I did finish it. It is difficult to describe and the cruelty of The Other character is distressing. Piranesi himself is charming and engaging, if clearly naive/deluded. Here is the plot summary from the book jacket.

"Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house. There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known." 

As mentioned, reviews are uniformly positive.  From Library Journal: "Clarke's ... deftly written new novel is the diary of the main character...Clarke creates an immersive world that readers can almost believe exists." Booklist concludes their review with "in this spellbinding, occult puzzle of a fable, one begins to wonder if perhaps the reverence, kindness, and gratitude practiced by Clarke's enchanting and resilient hero aren't all the wisdom one truly needs."  Kirkus offers these closing remarks: "At the foundation of this story is an idea at least as old as Chaucer: Our world was once filled with magic, but the magic has drained away. Clarke imagines where all that magic goes when it leaves our world and what it would be like to be trapped in that place. Piranesi is a naif, and there’s much that readers understand before he does. But readers who accompany him as he learns to understand himself will see magic returning to our world. Weird and haunting and excellent."

And here are details offered in Publishers Weekly review. "Clarke wraps a twisty mystery inside a metaphysical fantasy in her extraordinary new novel... The story unfolds as journal entries written by the eponymous narrator, who, along with an enigmatic master known as the Other...inhabits the House, a vast, labyrinthine structure of statue-adorned halls and vestibules. So immense is the House that its many parts support their own internal climates, all of which Piranesi vividly describes... Meanwhile, the Other is pursuing the “Great and Secret Knowledge” of the ancients. After the Other worriedly asks Piranesi if he’s seen in the house a person they refer to as 16, Piranesi’s curiosity is piqued, and all the more so after the Other instructs him to hide. In their discussions about 16, it becomes increasingly clear the Other is gaslighting Piranesi about his memory, their relationship, and the reality they share. With great subtlety, Clarke gradually elaborates an explanatory backstory to her tale’s events and reveals sinister occult machinations that build to a crescendo of genuine horror. This superbly told tale is sure to be recognized as one of the year’s most inventive novels."

Home Improvement: Undead Edition. All-New Tales of Haunted Home Repair and Surreal Estates

The subtitle suggests this is not a DIY handbook; rather it is a collection of short stories, collected from notable mystery, horror and fantasy writers, and edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P Kelner. This was an enjoyable, diversionary read. I don't usually pick up collections of short stories, so, to remedy that, I started with a collection in a favorite genre. There are some notable authors here whose books I have read: Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, S.J. Rozan as well as many with whom I was not familiar. The plot lines vary widely from accidentally opening a portal to the world of the dead during a home renovation to a really bossy house that makes people do things they don't want to. For a brief description of each entry, go to Kathy Davie's review in StoryGraph.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries

This book by Heather Fawcett is not really an encyclopedia, although protagonist Emily Wilde, who has a PhD in Dryadology, is struggling to finish the one she is writing. This is a debut novel for adults by Fawcett who has previously written fantasies for children and young adults. This is the first in what is now a series of three "Emily Wilde" books.

Booklist opens their review: "Dr. Emily Wilde is a scholar visiting the remote Scandinavian nation of Ljosland to study the Hidden Ones, a species of faerie. She is joined by her faithful dog, Shadow, but otherwise is on her own to focus on her work until her Oxford [sic; it's actually Cambridge] colleague, the affable and too-handsome Dr. Wendell Bambleby, shows up..." and they conclude with this praise, "Told entirely through entries in Emily's research journal, Fawcett's first novel for adults is propelled by the voice of curmudgeonly Emily, whose hard outer shell slowly melts in the face of friendship. The full cast of characters, well-developed faerie lore, and pervasive sense of cold add depth to the delightful proceedings, which include scholarship, yes, but also danger and a hint of romance. Emily is an Amelia Peabody in snowshoes, and readers will be utterly charmed."

Publishers Weekly is somewhat less enthusiastic in their review: "In Fawcett's slow-moving but atmospheric debut adult fantasy... a socially awkward Cambridge professor heads to the frost-coated fictional country of Ljosland in an alternate 1909 where tangling with faeries is commonplace. The tale is presented as the journal of dryadologist Emily Wilde as she documents her research for the eponymous encyclopedia. These journal entries work well at giving readers a window into the voice and personality of an extremely introverted and detached heroine, but they don't make the aloof, academic Emily any easier to root for." But they still conclude, "In Fawcett's slow-moving but atmospheric debut adult fantasy (after YA Even the Darkest Stars), a socially awkward Cambridge professor heads to the frost-coated fictional country of Ljosland in an alternate 1909 where tangling with faeries is commonplace. The tale is presented as the journal of dryadologist Emily Wilde as she documents her research for the eponymous encyclopedia. These journal entries work well at giving readers a window into the voice and personality of an extremely introverted and detached heroine, but they don't make the aloof, academic Emily any easier to root for."

Similarly, Kirkus' review is more measured but finishes by saying, "A somewhat uneven novel that will nevertheless charm readers of cozy fantasies." The Guardian was positive: "A thoroughly charming academic fairytale, complete with footnotes and a low-key grumpy romance. "

 The New York Times praises the book: "Fawcett’s characters are delightful: Emily is meticulous, ornery and as oblivious to human mores as she is conversant in fairy ones, while Bambleby’s almost preternatural charm endears him to everyone. But there’s real loss and deep feeling in what could have been, in a different project, entirely about their push-and-pull dynamic. Fawcett’s sketches of academia and scholarship are sharply observed, and her depiction of fairies and their ways is often harrowing. The journal structure cultivates a careful rhythm alternating habit and surprise, and it all comes together in a delicious and satisfying whole."

I come down on the "charming" side and thought the characters and setting were well developed.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

I believe this is a debut nobel by Robin Sloane. Definitely an entertaining and provocative read once you get into it, all tied up with a bow at the end. Book lovers will enjoy it; geeks will enjoy it; mystery lovers will enjoy it. In fact, this is my mystery book group's read for this month. This takes place largely in the Bay Area and for a while in New York City. It is early days of the Great Recession and Clay Jannon has just lost his job as a web designer and marketer for New Bagel. He finally takes a night shift job at the eponymous bookstore, which not only looks very odd in it's layout, but also has some pretty weird customers, most of whom appear to belong to an exclusive book club that allows them to borrow the enormous books in the back of the store that are shelved several stories high. Clay is under strict orders from Mr. Penumbra to NOT read those books, but to keep a detailed log of who comes in to borrow them. 

When one of Clay's friends stops by, he grabs a book and opens it and the mystery begins to deepen, for the tomes are clearly in some kind of code that looks like strings of numbers or letters--page after page. When a cute "Googler" walks into the store one night, Clay is attracted and they eventually become a couple. Kat is passionate about concepts like immortality and singularity and the role of technology in creating our future. I don't want to reveal any of the secrets that Clay uncovers with the help of his friends, but there will be a collaboration with Google and thousands of hackers and a trip to New York City. 

Library Journal concludes their review by opining, "Though the depiction of Google as a utopian meritocracy seems rather farcical, Sloan has created an arch tale knitting the analog past with the digital future that is compelling and readable." Likewise, Booklist's favorable reaction is that "Sloan has crafted a delightful modern-day fantasy adventure, replacing warriors, wizards, and rogues with a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a Googler, and a book clerk. Even nongeeks will appreciate the technological wizardry used by Clay and his sidekicks as they jet from San Francisco to New York in an attempt to unlock the secret message encrypted in a mysterious pattern of codes." Kirkus starts and end on a high note. "All the best secrets are hidden in plain sight. The trick is to notice the secret in front of you. Sloan’s debut novel takes the reader on a dazzling and flat-out fun adventure, winding through the interstices between the literary and the digital realms...From the shadows of Penumbra’s bookshelves to the brightly lit constellation of cyberspace to the depths of a subterranean library, Sloan deftly wields the magicks (definitely with a “k”) of the electronic and the literary in this intricate mystery"

I am including Publishers Weekly review in its entirety as it's fun to read. "For those who fear that the Internet/e-readers/whatever-form-of-technological-upheaval-is-coming has killed or will kill paper and ink, Sloan's debut novel will come as good news. A denizen of the tech world and self-described "media inventor" (formerly he was part of the media partnerships team at Twitter), Sloan envisions a San Francisco where piracy and paper are equally useful, and massive data-visualization-processing abilities coexist with so-called "old knowledge." Really old: as in one of the first typefaces, as in alchemy and the search for immortality. Google has replaced the Medici family as the major patron of art and knowledge, and Clay Jannon, downsized graphic designer and once-and-future nerd now working the night shift for bookstore owner Mr. Penumbra, finds that mysteries and codes are everywhere, not just in the fantasy books and games he loved as a kid. With help from his friends, Clay learns the bookstore's idiosyncrasies, earns his employer's trust, and uses media new, old, and old-old to crack a variety of codes. Like all questing heroes, Clay takes on more than he bargained for and learns more than he expected, not least about himself. His story is an old-fashioned tale likably reconceived for the digital age, with the happy message that ingenuity and friendship translate across centuries and data platforms."

Venco

This novel for adults from YA author Cherie Dimaline was engrossing. Lucky St. James had a tumultuous childhood with a drug addict mother who came and went and finally left for good--dead from cancer when Lucky was eight. Her dad died from drugs before Lucky could even remember him. Lucky was taken in by her paternal grandmother, Stella and now that Lucky is a young adult, the tables have turned and she is taking care of an increasingly confused and obstreperous old woman. Stella still has lots of spirited energy but drives Lucky crazy by wandering off at all hours. And now they have received an eviction notice from the only home Stella has ever known, even if it is just a tiny Toronto apartment. When Lucky investigates one of Stella's old stories about a tunnel from the next building that comes in to theirs in the basement laundry room, she finds the tunnel does exist, and as she explores, she come across a small silver spoon that says "Salem" on the handle with a crudely engraved witch. Thus begin adventures for Lucky and Stella they could never have imagined. 

Lucky is the sixth to find her spoon, from the seven that are destined for witches to form a world changing coven. Lucky is skeptical to say the least when she is recruited to join them in Salem and then sent off to find the 7th spoon and witch. "As Lucky and Stella head to New Orleans in search of the spoon, they journey through an American landscape populated with wise women working against the oppressive forces of patriarchy and capitalism. The regionally based magic system values multicultural traditions, including Lucky's Métis Indigenous knowledge" (Library Journal). Meanwhile, the lone remaining member of an ancient and vengeful group of witch hunters, the Benandanti, is determined to stop her. 

As Booklist points out, Lucky hasn't been lucky so far, but maybe she will find a new family along with her substantial powers; they also liked the tale. "Through the various coven members and MacGuffin-hunting road trips we are shown a vibrantly diverse cross section of womanhood as well as folk beliefs and magical thought across the country. ...Fans of magical realism and ladies getting stuff done will enjoy this ride."

Kirkus concludes their review by saying, "A propulsive read full of intriguing detail, this novel is well written, engaging, and, more than anything, enjoyable. If the dichotomy between the feminine (good) and masculine (bad) is a bit stark, this is made up for by the genuine affection the reader will feel for Dimaline’s irreverent, badass witches as they battle for the future of their family and the future of the world, one and the same in Dimaline’s inclusive vision. Fast, fun, and full of charm(s)." I agree.

Starter Villain

Okay, I admit it. I was hooked by the title...and the cover. Villain is such a melodramatic and somewhat antiquated term and why on earth was a cat wearing a collar and? This thoroughly entertaining novel  by John Scalzi, something of a mystery and something of a fantasy,  kept me engaged and rooting for the good guys (the good villains?). Made me look at our pet cats a bit differently, too. Kirkus opens their review by saying, "Some people are born supervillains, and others have supervillainy thrust upon them. Charlie Fitzer, a former business journalist–turned–substitute teacher, is broke and somewhat desperate. His circumstances take an unexpected and dangerous turn when his estranged uncle Jake dies, leaving his business—i.e., his trillion-dollar supervillain empire—to Charlie. Charlie doesn’t really have the skills or experience to manage the staff of the volcano lair, and matters don’t improve when he’s pressured to attend a high-level meeting with other supervillains, none of whom got along with his uncle." They did end the review on a bit of a sour note--"Fun while it lasts but not one of Scalzi’s stronger books."

Publishers Weekly apparently did like it: "After the funeral, to which goons show up just to make sure Jake is really dead, a bomb destroys Charlie’s house, leading him to move into his uncle’s secret island volcano lair, complete with a satellite-destroying death ray and genetically modified superintelligent cats. Danger comes in the form of the Lombardy Convocation, a coalition of fellow evil billionaires who secretly rule the world and want Charlie to join them or die. Scalzi balances all the double-crosses and assassination attempts with ethical quandaries, explorations of economic inequality, and humor, including some foul-mouthed unionizing dolphins. The result is a breezy and highly entertaining genre send-up."

Booklist also applauds Scalzi's wit and style: "Scalzi ... again examines tropes in a tale of an ordinary individual being cast into an extraordinary situation with his trademark quick pacing, clever banter, and ability to find humor in desperate situations." Library Journal offers: "Combining the sarcastic humor of Scalzi... with an origin story for James Bond...this story of snark with a heart reminds readers that the logical conclusion of "dogs have owners, cats have staff" is that cats are management and never let anyone forget it. VERDICT Readers of humorous fantasy are sure to love Scalzi's latest ... as much as those cats; it's also for those who enjoy seeing superhero stories folded, twisted, and mutilated and anyone wishing for a righteous villain lair surrounded by intelligent sharks [actually they're dolphins]." I, too, recommend it for a fun read.

The Russian Cage

Charlaine Harris' 3rd entry in the "Gunnie Rose" series, with a 4th book slated for release this coming August (2022).  The series is set in an alternate United States that has been divided and taken over by various entities, including The Holy Russian Empire (formerly California and the west coast). Bodyguard for hire Lizbeth Rose heads out from Texoma to the HRE when she learns that  her love interest, Eli Savarov, a grigori/ wizard  has been jailed under false pretenses as part of the political struggle for power between the Emperor and his half brother. While there, she reconnects with her newly discovered half-sister, Felicia Karkarov, who is also being schooled to use her magical powers...their shared father was a very powerful wizard (now deceased--killed by Gunnie Rose!). Lizbeth also gets involved with Eli's mother and two sisters and reconnects with an ambigous acquaintaince--friend or enemy--Felix, who's ability to reanimate the dead comes in handy. Felix and Lizbeth concoct a plot to get her an audience with the Emperor so she can ask for Eli's freedom. Barring that, they have to figure out a way to break him out of an impregnable prison. Strongly recommend reading these books in order--see post for An Easy Death and A Longer Fall.

Kirkus calls it "An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series."A positive review from Publishers Weekly. The Sun Sentinel calls Harris "a first-class storyteller."

Daughter of the Moon Goddess

This debut novel by Sue Lynn Tan draws from Chinese myths of dragons, gods and immortals.  This fantasy YA book received starred reviews from Library Journal ("an exquisitely detailed fantasy") and Publishers Weekly. ("a riveting page-turner"). Kirkus call's Tan's prose "lovely and fluid, [with] lush descriptions of magic and immortal life buoying the narrative."

BookPage also gave it a starred review and provides this succinct summary: "Xingyin has never met her father, a mortal archer who saved the human world from destruction. She is also the daughter of Chang’e, the infamous moon goddess who became immortal after drinking a potion that was given to her husband in recognition of his heroic deeds. Xingyin has lived a lonely life, hidden away in her mother’s sky-bound prison. That changes when she accidentally accesses her own magical powers and is forced to flee to avoid detection by the Celestial Emperor and his court. While on the run, Xingyin is thrust into the uncomfortable role of learning companion to the Celestial Prince, the son of the very man who imprisoned her mother. As she trains and learns alongside the prince, Xingyin is torn between loyalty to her new friend and the desperate desire to free her mother from her eternal prison."  Xingyin goes from a frightened adolescent to a formidable warrior through her training with Crown Prince Liwei and then as a soldier in the Celestial army. It is an elaborate world building book with the immortals portrayed as capricious--no surprise there--and the dragons as wise and benevolent beings. There are lots of hints about where the sequel of this story will go.

The Witch Haven

This is the debut novel by Sasha Peyton Smith and I enjoyed this well plotted, well characterized and atmospheric story of a young woman coming into her  magical powers in early 20th C New York City. The protagonist, 17-year-old Frances Hallowell, is toiling away in a dress maker's sweatshop as the book opens. Working late one night, the shop's owner, drunk and abusive, comes to the shop and attacks her, only to end up dead with a pair of scissors--Frances' of course--embedded in his neck. But Frances, who is mourning the death of her recently murdered brother, the subsequent loss of her mother to an insane asylum, and hence her home, has absolutely no idea how they got there from across the workshop. When the police come to investigate, Frances is the obvious suspect, but, just as she is about to be hauled away to jail, two women in nurses'capes, driving a battered old ambulance, show up. They declare Frances has been diagnosed with TB and is being taken to Haxahaven Sanitarium. Thus is Frances introduced to a haven for women with witching powers, where she makes friends, makes enemies, and figures out that Haxahaven is a prison of sorts as well as a shelter.

When Frances starts receiving dream messages from a former friend of her brother's, Finn, she discovers ways to practice larger magic than the director of Haxahaven allows. And he promises to help Frances find and avenge the murder of her brother. The magic is not limited to women in New York City; an exclusive men's club also shelters and cultivates their members' powers, and the head of that organization wants Frances to join her powers to his in order to control the city. 

Kirkus calls the book "intriguing" in it's examination of pushing back against the limited roles allotted to women. Publishers Weekly calls the book "gritty" but also "affectionate" in it's treatment of grief and empowerment. Booklist calls it "spellbinding" and says it offers a "feminist twist" to the "familiar vibes of a magical boarding school."

The Girl in the Tower

 This is the 2nd book of the "Winternight" trilogy, a sequel to Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale, and I feel like it would have been good to read these in order. She does a decent job of filling in enough information to make this book stand alone, but it clearly draws on events, characters, and relationships introduced earlier. The trilogy is set in the frozen wilds of 14th C Russia and then in the citadel of Moscow. I have been on a kick reading books about witches or the suspicion of witchcraft lately, and our protagonist, Vasilisa (Vasya for short), does indeed have special gifts that have caused her to be branded as a witch. Vasya has been forced to leave home after a confrontation with evil spirits results in the death of her father and step-mother. She is disguised as a boy and rides a magical stallion named Solovey. She is also aided in several desperate situations by the frost king, Morozko, although his assistance may not be totally altruistic. A series of raids that result in burned villages and kidnapped girls grabs the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow and serves as the vehicle to reunite Vasya with her older brother Sasha--a monk and close friend and advisor of the Grand Prince--and sister Olya--living in another Moscow palace and the mother of two with another on the way. Vasya's daring rescue of three kidnapped girls endears her to the Grand Prince, especially when he learns that s/he is the younger "brother" of Sasha. Unfortunately, this deceit puts both Sasha and Olya into a precarious and dangerous situation vis a vis the Prince. But it is the arrival of an unknown prince, who initially befriends Vasya, that catalyzes the climax of the book, for he is also a magical being who wants to overthrow Moscow's Grand Prince and has been behind the village raids. Vasya is forced to make some impossibly hard choices that endanger her siblings and even the entire populace of Moscow. Fantasy fans will love the elaborate world-building and rich characters. Reminiscent of Naomi Novik's books ( see my posts on Spinning Silver and Uprooted).

Booklist gushes, "Arden's lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all." Kirkus agrees that the tale is a "compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history."  Publishers Weekly claims "Fairy tales don't get better than this."

The third book in this trilogy was published in 2019, The Winter of the Witch.

Runelight

This is the sequel to Joanne Harris' first fantasy book with a teen protagonist, Runemarks.  I liked the first one so much that I bought a used copy of this one. It helps tremendously to have read the first book before reading this one, but Harris does offer some catch up notes in her Forward, where she says, "there are just a few things you should be aware of before you begin...We're in a place called Inland, a part of one of the Nine Worlds existing in the branches of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The Worlds have ended several times...The forces of Order and Chaos keep these Worlds in precarious balance...Gods and demons...exist here in bewildering numbers..." It's been 500 years since the Worlds ended in Ragnarok. In Runemarks, we meet Maddy, a 14-year old misfit from the village of Malbry. Turns out, she is actually the daughter of Thor. When Maddy is sent to the Underworlds on a mission for Odin, events are set in motion that cause The World to end again. The surviving gods "are obliged to take on the Aspect of the nearest appropriate living host--in this case, two humans, a goblin and a pot-bellied pig." It's 3 years later that we take up the story in this book. 

Turns out Maddy has a twin sister who was raised under the Order in the city of World's End. Neither of them know that the other one exists, and, at the beginning of the book, Maggie does not know that she is Thor's daughter and Odin's granddaughter or that she is born with god/demon blood and therefore some potent untapped powers. But the Whisperer has found her and, in the body of Maddy's old enemy Adam Scattergood (who has renamed himself Adam Goodwin), the Whisperer seeks to turn Maddy into its agent to destroy the other gods, rebuild and become the sole inhabitant of Asgard. The Seer has predicted another battle that will end Worlds and rebuild Asgard, but a lot of key pieces need to fall into place and almost none of them do. It's a big book and a sprawling story. If you love legends and fantasy, this will engage you. Fantasy Book Review says that this is a somewhat lighter tale with more character development than its predecessor.

Lore

This fantasy novel by Alexandra Bracken was categorized by the library as a YA read, which might account for the lack of anything except a few hot kisses between the protagonists, but I still found it an enjoyable read. It is a hefty 450+ page book with a cast of characters in the back and maps of New York City of the front and end papers of the cover. I love maps and referred to these often. The story is based on Greek mythology characters although it is set in contemporary times. The premise is that nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals for one week every seven years as punishment for some ancient rebellion. During this week, called the Agon, descendants of ancient Greek bloodlines (think Perseus, Odysseus, Achilles) seek out the gods and try to kill them and thereby gain their powers and become "false gods." This allows them to do extraordinary things and accumulate wealth and power in the years between the Agons, and, also, to build up armies of "Hunters" so that they might kill more gods in the next Agon and gain even more power, etc. Lore (short for Melora) has been hiding from the blooded families for the last seven years and wants to have nothing more to do with the Agon until Athena appears at her doorstep, severely wounded, and offers to help Lore kill the man she believes tortured and murdered her family, Aristo Kadmou, aka the false god Ares. Lore agrees and this brings her into conflict not just with Kamou, but with a childhood friend, Castor, saved from dying of leukemia after somehow killing and assuming the powers of Apollo.  Lore battles not only with herself about whether or not she wants to re-immerse herself in the endless violence on the Agons, but with those she thought were her allies. She is a well developed character and this is quite a complex plot with a large cast that will keep you guessing until the end. There is a lot of explicit violence in the story as well as some descriptions of sexual assault, so consider carefully before recommending.

Kirkus recommends it as "a gripping revenge story," and Publishers Weekly applauds the "ambitious worldbuilding and breakneck pacing."

Runemarks

An Advanced Reader's Copy of Joanne Harris's first book for a tweens/YA audience has been sitting on my bookshelf for over 10 years. Harris is the bestselling author of Chocolat--the movie version of which is one of my all-time favorites (how can you go wrong with Judy Dench and Johnny Depp?).  Of course by now, there is a sequel to this book which I will have to track down, Runelight. 

Our protagonist is 14-year-old Maddy, who has always been an outcast in her small village of Malbry due to the runemark on her hand.  According to author Harris, "Runemarks is set in a universe of nine Worlds, not unlike that of Norse legend. Five hundred years have passed since Ragnarók, and the world has rebuilt itself anew. The old gods are no longer revered. Their tales have been banned. Magic has been outlawed, and a new religion – called the Order – has taken its place.

The Order is a crusading religion. It works from an ancient text – simply called The Good Book – and its ultimate mission is to bring Perfect Order to all the Worlds. This means an end to Chaos, to magic, to superstition, to false belief, to dreams, to stories (except for the stories in the Good Book) as well as to Faëries, goblins, dwarves, witches – and of course any old gods who still happen to be around." The mark on Maddy's hand make some people think she is a witch; the villagers have tolerated Maddy but she is bullied and tormented by the village children and distrusted by the adults, including her father. She feels very alone, until one day she spies a journeyman making his way along the road over Red Horse Hill and feels compelled to follow him. Eventually he acknowledges her presence and grudgingly stops to talk with her, and so begins an annual meeting between the two as he tells her tales of the before times. This traveler, One-Eye, sees Maddy's mark as a destiny rather than a cause for fear and rejection.

Expanding exuberantly on Norse mythology, Harris's heroine Maddy is called upon to play a crucial role in freeing the Seven Sleepers under the mountains (Norse gods) in an effort to stop the domination of all worlds by The Order. It's a long book but very compelling. Maddy is a well-drawn character as are the other actors in this worlds' shaking tale. It is a long book but well-told with down-to-earth dialogue that kept me engaged.

The Guardian offers a mixed review.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

I  read one previous book by Victoria Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic, the first of the "Shades of Magic" series. This book has a totally different premise. Adeline LaRue grows up in a small rural village in early 18th century France. Against her will, she has been promised as a bride to a village widower with 3 children. Adeline doesn't want to live a small life determined by others and, on the eve of her wedding, she falls to the ground pleading with whatever gods can hear to set her free. The Darkness responds but in a particular way designed to make young Addie want to give up her life--and therefore her soul--sooner rather than later. Her freedom comes at the cost of no one ever remembering her. She can carry on a conversation, eat a meal, or sleep in the same bed with someone and, the moment she is out of sight, they have forgotten her existence. She is now immortal in body but no one will remember her. However, over the centuries she does, in fact, serve as a muse for artists who capture essential bits of Addie in their music, writing, paintings--even though the artists can't identify the source of their inspiration. Her benefactor, Luc--the devil we are to believe--wants Addie for himself and shows up periodically over the next 300 years trying to convince her to join him. Although life is often a struggle, even terrifying at times, Addie refuses. Then, one day in 2014 New York City, the rules change. Addie tries to return a book she has stolen--a tactic that has worked countless times in the past--but this time the bookstore clerk remembers her. Addie eventually discovers that Henry has also made a desperate pact with devil. They fall in love, but of course there is a catch.  

Glowing reviews from NPR,  The Washington Post (which calls this novel "propulsive, compulsive and captivating"), Kirkus ("rich and satisfying and strange and impeccably crafted"), and Slate among others. Apparently the film rights for a big screen adaptation have already been sold.

Chosen Ones

Author Veronica Roth is probably best known for her Divergent series of YA books, which were all made into movies. This book also does a great job of world building but started out so slowly that it wasn't until Part II that I really got engaged. I would agree with Publishers Weekly that the frequent and distracting "inclusion of news reports and government documents initially slow the pace." In Part I, we meet five adults, who, based upon a prophecy, were chosen in their teens to defeat The Dark One. All are still friends and are periodically called in by the governmental powers that be to consult on magical anomalies in the world. But that same government entity wants to control magic and therefore seeks to create some as well, which results in the death of one of the Chosen Ones, Albert. On the 10th anniversary of the defeat of The Dark One, three of the Chosen Ones are pulled into a parallel universe where dark forces are still wreaking havoc and told they must find a way to defeat them or risk their own world, Earth, also being destroyed. Part II is set in this version of Chicago and the United States where magic has been such a pervasive part of everyone's life that fashion accessories are worn to help the general populace work everyday magical events like opening doors by whistling. There are some, like the official who summoned the Chosen Ones, who are clearly stronger in magic than others, and appearances can be deceptive; deciding who to trust divides the three friends from each other when they will absolutely need to work as a team to preserve this different world as well as their home. The narrator is Sloan Andrews, who has hidden dark secrets from her fellow Chosen Ones about how she came to control and then destroy a magical relic she used to help defeat The Dark One. She still suffers from PTSD and chafes at the constant recognition and media attention that results from her celebrity as one of Earth's saviors. Although Sloane's character continues to develop throughout the book, the New York Times rightly notes that, for the other Chosen Ones, "...the characters we were starting to care about [in Part I] are put to one side [in Part II] along with Sloane’s relationships with them; new ones are quickly pushed into a prominence that feels unearned, especially after the slow build of the first half of the book." As Kirkus points out, though, Roth does a good job of addressing the question, "What happens to heroes after they save the world?"