The Nervous Dragon
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Nervous Dragon is an adorable illustrated board book for the youngest kids about conquering anxiety and back-to-school jitters. Due out 4th June 2024 from DK on their Children's imprint, it's 18 pages and will be available in board book and ebook formats.
Everyone is nervous about a big change. Little dragon Blaze is nervous about his first day at school. What will happen if everyone laughs at him or makes fun of his big secret. Even though his dad packs his lunch, his sister holds his hand on the way to school, and their teacher Miss Claw tries to make everyone feel welcome, he's still very nervous and unsure of himself.
The story is reassuring, adorable, and full of appealing illustrations. The free verse is simple and easy to read.
Five stars. It would make a good choice for public or school/classroom library, home use, or gift giving.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Diwali
by Sital Gorasia Chapman
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Diwali is a simple, beautifully accessible and colorful introduction to the Hindu festival of lights written by Sital Gorasia Chapman. Due out 6th Aug 2024 from Quarto on their words & pictures imprint, it's 48 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is such a beautiful and learning rich book about the customs and history of Diwali. The book is a first person account told by young Sonali with her extended family. She shows how they prepare for Diwali, the food and clothing and family traditions, and more. There's a surprising amount of history and lots of good detail written in age-appropriate and accessible language.
The illustrations by Darshika Varma are beautifully detailed and colorful and enhance the read very much. They're full of small bright details which invite readers to pause and take a closer look.
Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or classroom library, gift giving, or home use. The author/publisher have included discussion questions, crafts and recipes, and more information for further reading.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Lost & Hound
by Rita Mae Brown
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Lost & Hound is the 15th "Sister" Jane mystery by Rita Mae Brown. Released 24th Oct 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 272 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Like nearly all of Ms. Brown's oeuvre, this is a capably written, well told story that is character driven, neatly plotted, and fairly well paced. Fans of the author, who also enjoy her cozy Mrs. Murphy series as well as her more serious writing will find this series readable and engaging. The Sister Jane books are cozies and full of the American foxhunting traditions and culture. If you don't know anything about riding to hounds, you will after reading this book. This book, markedly shorter than the previous books, seems to be a bit more patchy, with a few seemingly distracting side trips, but overall it's still well told and entertaining. The author/publisher have also helpfully included a glossary and list of characters with short descriptions to help readers stay in the story.
The dialogue and writing are pitch perfect. Typically for Ms. Brown, the writing is solidly comfortable and engaging. Reading her books is almost like visiting with an old friend you haven't seen for a while; you just pick up where you left off the last time, even if you haven't seen them for ages.
This is a distinctly anthropomorphic mystery; but fair warning, if talking animals bug you, this probably isn't the series for you. The book also does a superlative job of giving a glimpse into Virginia hospitality and etiquette and the riding subculture.
Four stars (mostly because even though American fox hunters just chase the foxes and don't kill them, it still distresses me and I'm always rooting for the foxes - the books are also *full* of upper class extremely wealthy people who often rub my proletariat heart the wrong way). Bonus points for the author's managing to make her characters ethnically diverse, and not just pasted on, either. Many of the characters have faced and worked through part of their tragic shared traumatic past, from slave times onward and at this point there seems to be more good-natured camaraderie than any festering resentment.
The actual murder mystery felt -distinctly- secondary to the fox hunting in this one, but still overall quite a solidly entertaining read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
by Samuel Burr
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a quirky, uplifting debut mystery by Samuel Burr. Released 9th April 2024 by Knopf Doubleday, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a light character driven cozy with several entwined plot threads, cleverly wrought into an engaging whole. Main protagonist Clayton was a foundling, brought up by an eclectic collection of enigmatologists (puzzlemakers) in a nearly monastic setting. When he main benefactress passes away, he sets about following the clues left to him to unravel the ultimate puzzle of his life, how he came to be there and who he really is.
There's an actual crostic style crossword and relevant clues in each of the chapters, which are solved through the course of the narrative. It's less of a mystery and more a character driven slice of life family history with a collection of intelligent oddly charismatic oddballs and their interactions with one another. It's written very visually, each scene precisely blocked out and described. It would take almost no work to transfer to the screen. Fans of oddly appealing dysfunctional shows with family themes (Arrested Development & Schitt's Creek for example) will likely enjoy this one.
Four stars. Appealing and offbeat (in a good way).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Willie, Waylon, and the Boys
by Brian Fairbanks
Well Researched Book Does Exactly What The Description Says It Does. You know how at times you read a book's description and then you read the book and you want to know what the writer of the description was smoking when they wrote it and if you can have some of it, because the two were *nothing* alike? Yeah... this isn't that book.
Here, you get *exactly* what the description (at least as of the writing of this review in the pre-dawn hours of May 12, 2024 along Florida's Atlantic Coast) tells you you're going to get: A well documented historical look at the lives of the Highwaymen - Waylon Jennings - where the narrative starts on the fateful night that he missed the plane on "The Day The Music Died" -, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. We see each of their origins, we see how their careers progressed individually, and we see the fateful moment they all came together for a few legendary years. And in the end, we see how their lives and their music have impacted Country Music through the years, with a particular focus on 2010-current alt-country / Americana acts like Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Shooter Jennings, Brandie Carlisle, and others. Again, exactly what the description says we're going to get.
Overall the writing is well done - there's a lot of facts and a lot of quotes, but it never really feels like dense academic oriented text or a philosophical treatise, while still not being quite "conversational". Yes, the focus on certain acts and the clear derision of others in the end is perhaps quite divisive - even much of the "Bro Country" the author clearly despises cite many of the Highwaymen as direct influences, and yes, it can be heard in their sounds as well - but again, we knew from the description which modern acts this text was going to highlight. So take that as you will and make your choice to read or avoid this text knowing exactly that - you know up front exactly where this is going.
Very much recommended.
One Deadly Eye
by Randy Wayne White
Brutal And Effective Violence That Jack Reacher Would Be Proud Of. Admittedly I stepped into this book not realizing when I signed up for the blog tour that this was number 27 in a series, so there are likely elements to this tale that I completely missed out on.
That noted, the tale as told works within itself to tell a complete tale + a couple of open ended teasers (not really "cliffhangers" as at least one other reviewer described them) such that it *is* possible to enjoy this book for itself, but obviously if you are an "absolutely no spoilers of any minute kind" type of reader... eh, start all the way back at book 1 here. :)
As for the story told... I wasn't joking in the title of this review. I've read more graphic violence than this (hello, Code Alpha by Joseph Massucci and Without Remorse by Tom Clancy), but this is certainly up there. Hell, even the modern Mortal Kombat games with their ultra-realism and X-ray moves sometimes seem less graphic than some of the violence White gives us here. And yet the expected quippy banter is still present as well, providing just enough smiles to keep this from going to near slasher level action.
Set during a Cat 5 hurricane, some of the stuff described seems a bit implausible... but then, this is an action book, so meh, already suspending disbelief for the rest of the plot, might as well suspend it a bit more there. Otherwise, the hurricane doesn't provide much "atmosphere" to the book, but *does* provide quite a few set pieces for the action sequences to look that much cooler.
Ultimately, this is one of those books that as long as you approach it as you would say WWE or the Fast and Furious franchise - ie, just go with the flow and enjoy the spectacle - it absolutely works. If you're looking for anything more serious than that, you're going to be disappointed.
Very much recommended.
A Bitter Remedy
by Alis Hawkins
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
A Bitter Remedy is the first book in a historical murder mystery series by Alis Hawkins. Released 25th March 2023 by Canelo, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Academic mystery lovers are in for a treat. Set in the late 19th Century in Oxford, in and around the college, a firmly unrepentant young female academic chafes against the restrictions imposed on her because of her sex (female), her upbringing (unconventional), her cultural origin (Welsh), and her intellectual capacity (head and shoulders above the other (male) students). She has allies, but most of the time they seem to be thwarting her in their belief that she's her own worst enemy in terms of ruffling feathers to force progress. A Gordian knot, indeed, and she's the sword to cut through it.
At its base, it's a historical murder mystery, woven around historical Oxford and the burgeoning forensic knowledge of the times. The story is told around a framework of actual historical events and characters; woven skillfully and seamlessly, so that it's not always clear what elements are fictive and which are real.
The characters are very well rendered and believable. Non's passionate frustration is *palpable* and she's sympathetic and real. The plotting is tight and well paced, and the mystery itself is cleverly constructed and surprisingly complex and nuanced. It's full of pathos, for (unnecessarily inflexible) social constrictions, sex and gender roles, rigid class structure, and the casual cruelty inflicted on those who "didn't belong" or rebelled against the status quo.
Four stars. Very strong. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition or home use. There are two books extant in the series thus far. It would make a nice buddy read or book club discussion. Definitely one that will appeal to fans of C.S. Harris, Andrea Penrose, and Anna Lee Huber.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
From a Far and Lovely Country
by Alexander McCall Smith
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
From a Far and Lovely Country is the 24th No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel by Alexander McCall Smith. Released 31st Oct 2023 by Knopf Doubleday on their Pantheon imprint, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same pubisher in 4th quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is such a fun, dependable series. Mma Ramotswe is, again, required to use her formidable wit and creativity to sort out several thorny problems and heal a few hearts (and smack some sense into a few heads who really should have behaved themselves along the way). The disparate threads entwine to a satisfying and warm, if bittersweet, conclusion, and the overall effect is of a long and unhurried chat with an old friend.
It's not necessary to have read the books in order, however, the large changes which occur (marriage, family relations, etc) will be obvious if they're read out of order.
Especially with the desperate struggles, illnesses, upheavals, and sadness which seem universal in the world right now, this series and these characters are a balm to the soul. Wonderful.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Beneath the Swirling Sky
by Carolyn Leiloglou
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Beneath the Swirling Sky is the first book in the Restorationists middle grade fantasy series by Carolyn Leiloglou. Released 12th Sept 2023 by WaterBrook & Multnomah, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
The author does a good job of blending magic and fantasy with real life art and history. Restorationists are able to travel into (and through) paintings, and affect the things they find there. It's a well written and engaging middle grade book, and as such, there are some plot elements which most adults will probably question, such as Uncle Leo letting the kids go haring off to rescue Lili themselves, but these moments are relatively few. The world building and fantasy elements (traveling into paintings, the shadow organizations, and the characters themselves) are quite intricately detailed and fascinating.
The incidental art, by Vivienne To is beautifully rendered and adds a lot to the read.
The publisher is a Christian imprint, and there are elements of Christian faith in the story, but they don't overpower the story and there is little proselytizing (but the elements are there).
Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Deepest Lake
by Andromeda Romano-Lax
Thrillers have always been one of my favorite books to read. Besides romance, they were one of the most reviewed genres on this blog. When I read the blurb for The Deepest Lake on Soho Press’s NetGalley page, I became very interested in it. The storyline caught my attention, but the location also made me double-take. I haven’t read many books set in Central America, and I have read no books set in Guatemala. I hyped this book up in my mind, and in most cases, the book falls short. But not in this case. I enjoyed reading The Deepest Lake.
The Deepest Lake is a dual storyline, dual POV book. In my years of reading, I have noticed that books that go between characters and POVs become choppy towards the end (when the author tries to merge the storyline for the ending). But not in this case. The transition between Rose and Jules was smooth. The author marked whose chapter it was and when it was happening (this is very important towards the end of the book). And the merge of the storylines was seamless. All of this made the book very enjoyable to read.
There are two storylines in The Deepest Lake. One centers on Jules and her experiences working for Eva. The other storyline centers on Rose’s quest for answers about Jule’s disappearance/drowning. Both storylines were well-written and kept my attention focused on the book.
Jules did rub me the wrong way at the beginning of the book. She came across as a brat (for lack of better words) who felt suffocated by her parents. She also suffered from a severe case of hero worship, which lasted until the middle of the book. However, a significant scene in the middle of the book opened her eyes to everything and set up the events at the end of the book.
The depth of Rose’s grief crushed me. All she wanted was answers; the one person who had them (or she thought had them) was Eva. I got why she joined the writer’s workshop. I also got why she kept quiet about who she was and her relationship with Jules. I also loved that she was determined to figure out what happened to Jules, even though her ex-husband had already been to San Felipe and the resort looking for her.
Eva was a great villain. The more page time she got, the more unhinged she became. It was apparent early on in Rose’s workshops. But with Jules, it was evident when, well, the spa scene and after that scene, it just snowballed. I want to say grief was a significant factor behind everything, but you know what, I don’t know. And that is what made her such a great villain. You didn’t know the real reasons of what drove her and why (there were reasons given, but I took them with a grain of salt). I was also shocked by what was revealed at the end of the book about her (on so many levels).
The thriller and mystery angle of the book was good. The author was able to keep me on tenterhooks with both Rose and Jules. She would end chapters a certain way, go to the other POV, and I’d have to wait to see what happened. Also, two massive twists and a few smaller, more insignificant ones were thrown into the storyline. The big twists did surprise me. I did not expect what was revealed and what happened actually to happen. The more minor twists didn’t surprise me, but they added extra padding to what was revealed by the more significant twists.
The end of The Deepest Lake was one of the best endings to a book I have read. I loved how the author wrapped everything up. There was a surprise that the author included at the very end that surprised me, mainly because of who was involved and where that person was.
Many thanks to Soho Press, Soho Crime, NetGalley, and Andromeda Romano-Lax for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Deepest Lake. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
In the Hour of Crows
by Dana Elmendorf
Atmospheric Southern Gothic Perfect For Fans Of Emily Carpenter Or Robert Gwaltney. This is one of those trippy atmospheric southern gothic tales where folklore plays a central role. Set in the 1980s in Appalachia, it is perhaps *too* reliant on folklore in reality, but the story works within itself. As someone who grew up in the 1980s in the foothills of the Appalachians in the borderlands between Appalachia and Atlanta, the tale perhaps makes my people seem a bit backward and mystical than most of us really were, though there were (and are) absolutely pockets of people who were in fact very similar to the characters portrayed here.
Still, for the story being told here, it absolutely works within itself and creates a compelling story of a young woman struggling to find herself and the man of her dreams. But you're going to get a *lot* of southern mysticism within that more general tale, and it is this very southern mysticism that gives the book its gravitas, atmosphere... and challenges for many readers, almost to the level of being more literary fiction than popular fiction. Not quite that far, but certainly not a too casual read either.
If you're looking for an easy, casual summer read... this aint that. If you enjoy more spooky reads with a dash of horror but still more of a typical mystery/ drama, you might like this one. Ultimately, I thought it was well done and the release date separates it a bit from the more typical fall/ Halloween window many readers might be looking for this type of tale during - which actually gives those who like this story that much longer to find it, and for those who do find it near release date, something to enjoy outside of the "spooky season".
Very much recommended.
The Mystery Writer
by Sulari Gentill
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Mystery Writer is a standalone literary mystery thriller by Sulari Gentill. Released 19th March 2024 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a competently written and plotted mystery featuring an author who fled a career path as an attorney to become a full-time writer. There are some aspects of the story which will require the reader to bring a hefty suspension of disbelief including conspiracy theories and reasonable (?) motives for murder. Ms. Gentill does (as always) a stellar job of characterization and the interplay between the adult siblings in the story are nuanced and very well rendered.
It's a long book for the genre. The middle third of the book felt disproportionately long and tended to drag somewhat, and the ending was unequal to the task of tying the whole into a cohesive narrative. The choice of alternating PoV was also quite jarring and disconnected and didn't help the story coalesce into a coherent unit.
Three stars. Probably worth a look for particular fans of the author.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Fireborne Blade
by Charlotte Bond
Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Honestly, it's been a while since I read some good fantasy, and with this book only at 176 pages, it felt like an excellent place to try to get back into things. The shorter length was appealing as it allowed me to dive into a new fantasy world without committing to a lengthy read, especially given that I am not that crazy a fan of dragons, even though those seem to be in fashion this year.
Despite its short length, this book strikes a delicate balance between engaging the reader and building up the setting. Including brief chapters recounting past knights' tales was a brilliant touch.
The female characters were interesting enough; there wasn't much emotional investment on my part, but the writing and plot were enough for me to keep going. While I would like to read other books in the series, I do feel like a bit more on their development would have been good.
While the author stayed away from stuffing in tropes, a cheap tactic used to get readers in, and instead relied on her plot( which is fantastic), the representation of sapphic love in the blurb was a little misleading. Our main Sir Maddileh is bi, but that's all we get in this book. We don't see her interested in anyone, which is understandable given what happened to her. If you're looking for sapphic love or romance, we get none of that. However, there's potential for improvement in future installments, which is something to look forward to.
While the book was a satisfying read overall, I couldn't help but feel that the ending was rushed. A few more pages could have drawn out the climax, providing a more fulfilling conclusion.
Overall, I leave this book a well deserved 4 stars!
Under the Palms
by Kaira Rouda
Sequel Perfectly Flows From Prior Book. This is one of those books where everything I said about its prior book, Beneath The Surface, still feels spot on for this book as well. This is the continuing saga of one family and their business empire and the machinations as the patriarch of the family faces his coming death and everyone else is biting at the bit to become his chosen successor. The atmosphere switches from a yacht off shore near Catalina Island to a resort onshore... as the Santa Anna winds kick up, with all of their usual effects on both land and people (at least per so many books and even some real life reports I've seen, I've never lived in Southern California or indeed anywhere west of the Alabama/ Georgia State Line).
Because this flows so perfectly from Beneath The Surface, you really do need to read that book first. But once you do, you're likely going to be glad that this book is already available - I read almost 130 books between reading them both as Advance Review Copies.
Whatever you feel about dark family/ boardroom dramas is how you're going to feel about this series as it currently exists, as both books have really identical feels. Rouda actually did a truly superb job in doing so well with the first book and then managing to clone the stylings so effectively in this tale while telling a similar yet distinct tale the furthers the overall universe - and even allows for some intriguing possibilities for any potential Book 3.
Overall a very fun book, and also on the shortish side at under 300 pages. Very much recommended.