Penny Reid, Smart Romances, and the bearded Winston brothers....

A couple of years ago I dated a guy with a beard. A beard reminiscent of the Duck Dynasty fellows. And then like it was total Universe-ordained synchronicity I caught my eyes on the cover for Winston Brothers #3 "Beard Science". The wildness of the beard digitally cross-stitched on the cover was nearly identical to the beard of my then-current beau. I, of course, picked it up for the irony of it. And while my bearded beau and I did not last - me and the author of the bearded brothers series were to embark on a long-term reader-author relationship that has yet to fizzle out. 

Penny Reid self entitles herself as the author of 'smart romances'. Romances that do not coddle the reader and books that include smart ladies with interesting edges and backgrounds. I, being a mildly intelligent and discerning reader with a few edges and a interesting background myself, was intrigued by this statement 'Smart Romance' and I fell in love with Beard Science and with Cletus and all the Winstons (and most of all - the Banana Cake Queen leading lady who stole my heart faster than she stole Cletus's). 

I have not read every single book in the series yet nor have I read many of her others but each book in each of her many series seems to be able to be read as a standalone novel. Which is why I was able to hop right into the third official book of the Winston Brothers series without feeling like I was lost in a sea of pre-established story lines. And, yes, I do find this a very smart move. Get it? Smart. Yea. I'm cheesy that way. Her other series include (but not exclusive to) - Knitting in the City Series, Hypothesis Series, Rugby Series, Ideal Man Series. 

I have a fondness for imaginative authors who don't mind being upfront and very clear about their genre. Example...my befuddling and slightly embarrassing but entirely guilty pleasure obsession with Kirsten Ashley's Fantasy Land and the Dream Man series. It's a successful genre for a reason and there's just no point in trying to make it otherwise when you're writing it. Honestly, just own what you write. It gives you freedom to rock what you got. Penny Reid is a perfect example of this. I prefer authors who aren't afraid of being like "Yea, my main characters are fantasy men. They're real and perfect and flawed but yea, in a perfect way, and I write them so you can root for them. I own it. And so should you. BECAUSE THAT IS THE GENRE I WRITE IN." In her case especially, I think her ownership of her chosen genre gives her the ability to stomp over formulaic cliches and write romances with fantasy-level characters in a very real way. 

To me, The Winston Brothers are a huge fantasy. Handsome, bearded, genius, diverse but complementary personalities, tight-knit, and honorable. As a reader you alternate between wishing that you were a long lost Winston or fated to marry one of them. Err...well, at least that's what I was feeling when I read them. (Note : I haven't finished the series yet - the last one isn't published yet. So the jury is out on which I'll end up being. Long lost sister or destined soulmate although..now that I think about it - if my former bearded beau ended up being half as dashing and sturdy as a Winston brother...our story would have ended a whole other way). 

I recently (as of yesterday) finished the first actual novel in the series. I have read the .5 book (the Winston Brothers is a spin off of the Knitting in the City series and features the one and only Winston sister Ashley) and I have read Beard Science. I'm currently listening/reading my way through Grin or Beard It (Winston #2). To be honest, Cletus is my favorite and I wish I hadn't started with his because the other brothers pale in comparison to his mad genius brain. And the other brothers are absolutely amazing it's just...Cletus is my favorite. I want more of him and his no-longer Banana Cake Queen. Because I think its best to start with the first novel of the series (despite each being able to be read as a standalone) I've included the first 'Truth or Beard" (Winston #1) here:    

Truth or Beard by Penny Reid (Winston #1)

Visual Description : The digitally created cover is set up as a cross-stitch piece in a wooden frame. A outline of a man with a red beard and hair with 'Truth or Beard' where his face features should be is cross-stitched in the center. Above and below is a line of blue hearts. Every illustration except the wooden frame is cross-stitched. Note: All covers in this series is set up the exact way except the beard and hair styles are different colors and shapes as they depict the Winston brother the book features. (Beard Science is more zany)

"Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my! Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level-headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life. His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her…But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Wraith. Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?" - Nabbed from the Goodreads Blurb 

Yes, the main female lead has my name. And yes, I enjoyed that immensely. There were some very distinct differences between us though. She was a Calculus teacher. I never took Calculus. If I had I would have most likely suffered a nervous break down. Math is NOT my thing. I do, however, really admire how she commented on the sexist Halloween tradition of sexifying everyday career choices and mundane objects/creatures such as bees by dressing as a sexy Gandalf in the first chapter. That's how I knew I could get along with her. There was a beard and a hat and a very sexy short skirt.

Enough said? I think so.

I have yet to read my way through Penny Reid's entire library of books but I've adopted the habit of visiting her stacks several times a year. I loved Beard Science so much that I've listened to it five times over the last year and it took me some time to move on from it! (Again - don't start with Beard Science, start with .5 or Truth or Beard! Heed my advice!). Sometime soon I intend to be reading my way backwards through the Knitting in the City series. While she has earned her place in the quality list I keep of authors who I trust to purchase before reading...Reid's not in my library app and I have a strict budget in regards to what I purchase each month. She's got a huge list and I have a lot of books on my to-be-purchased TBR list.

I encourage you to give her and/or the bearded Winston Brothers a try when you next feel like your in the mood for a smart romance.

Happy reading!

Until next time,

Jess

Another...Reading Round Up!

I'm feeling that it's time to do another reading round up! I've read several books over the past few months that I haven't blogged about. Perhaps because they're already established/well-known, I liked  them but didn't really feel like doing a blog on them, or I just was too busy.

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas

Visual Description: "Red Clocks" in a minimal white calligraphy font. Behind it is a flat, red diamond prism in various shades of red. It is a geometric symbol of the opening of a vagina. It reaches all the way up the top and bottom of the cover. Written in the same calligraphy font but in  yellow around the shape is :  "National Bestseller" across the top, Leni Zumas (Leni on one side of the top of the diamond, Zumas on the other). Bottom left 'A Novel' and on the other side a description "Strange and lovely and luminous. I loved RED CLOCKS with my whole heart - Kelly Link'. 

"Five women. One question. What is a woman for? In this ferociously imaginative novel, abortion is once again illegal in America, in-vitro fertilization is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. In a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom. Ro, a single high-school teacher, is trying to have a baby on her own, while also writing a biography of Eivør, a little-known 19th-century female polar explorer. Susan is a frustrated mother of two, trapped in a crumbling marriage. Mattie is the adopted daughter of doting parents and one of Ro's best students, who finds herself pregnant with nowhere to turn. And Gin is the gifted, forest-dwelling homeopath, or "mender," who brings all their fates together when she's arrested and put on trial in a frenzied modern-day witch hunt." - Nabbed from the Goodreads Blurb

I read this a few months ago - both reading it and listening to its audio-book. It was around the time that I was withdrawing from The Handmaid's Tale (the show) finale. It is a book that I would suggest to anyone who appreciates The Handmaid's Tale, for sure. But, unlike The Handmaid's Tale, the reality that is written in Red Clock's is far, far closer to our world. I find The Handmaid's Tale uncomfortable for it's closeness to our current political and social climate. Red Clock makes Handmaid's Tale feel more close to the world of The Hunger Games than ours. Scary. But, thought and feelings provoking. 

I refrained from blogging about it because I just didn't quite vibe with the writer's tone. I also had some problems with the characters. The Wife seemed extraneous to me. As for the writer's voice - I felt she was specifically taking on a masculine tone to prove something. I'm not sure. But, it didn't feel authentic. Mildly posing? I think this book would be great for a male reader and it's not surprising that The Punisher's Jon Bernthal tweeted his book love for 'Red Clocks'. It seems like JUST the book to reach through to the mind of a guy who inhabits Frank Castle so easily. 

The problems addressed in the plot are real and reaching. I thought the conclusion was satisfying and the decisions (from my fading memory of the plot) made by the characters were in-character and understandable. 

My personal opinions on writers tone and character placement wouldn't be everyone's reaction. That is why I'm starting this particular Reading Round up with it. It's a strong book and worthy of throwing out there as a book suggestion. 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Visual Description: A mystical, midnight cover. The background is in shades of midnight blue and darkness. The nighttime sky with light esoteric circle symbols with lines drawn to each other etches in front of it takes up 80% of the background. The lowest bottom part is a nighttime cityscape (probably London). The title is in large white slightly older feeling font in the center of the cover. Above, in simple straight font is "DEBORAH HARKNESS", below that in a smaller yellow font : "1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Shadow of Night and The Book Of Life"

"Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell." - Nabbed from the Goodreads Blurb.

A Discovery of Witches quickly falls into the category of "It's already so well known and has been for a long while, I felt redundant and late in the game in blogging about it". However, the love I have for this book and the two books that come after it in the All Soul's Trilogy is VERY real and I can't help but share it here. 

Vampire romance is not a ground-breaking genre. It's not even a genre that has ever really gone out of style. It's been around and will always be around. Even when you go through the inevitable post-Twilight detox and can't imagine ever reading another vampire fiction again - you still find yourself intrigued by the premise. But, alas, some (a lot) of vamp fics out there are...horrible, lazy, trope-ish, and wrought with mary-sues. A Discovery of Witches does not at all fall into that category. 

It is so intelligent, emotional, and refreshing. Marrying science and copious amounts of luxurious history and the metaphysical into a tale with it's own original lore that resides in our own normal, mundane world so easily that it's curious to imagine it's legitimate. Diana is a convincing, refreshing heroine and while I had some annoyances with the male lead - he was swoon worthy and original. Diana has a history, interests, passions, and personality traits. So does Matthew (male vampire lead). 

A Discovery of Witches reminds me a great deal of Outlander. Mostly because the author is a historian who actually found a long lost alchelmical manuscript in the Bodleian Library in Oxford - just like her main character. She draws on her vast education and experiences and passions to weave the tale. The story is mature, deeply intelligent, intense and sexual (but doesn't stray too far into Anne Rice territory). Very Gaboldon-esque of her, right? 

The next two novels in the trilogy hold up and I loved everything about it. Also - it was adapted into a TV show and can be found on Sundance or Shudder. Season 1 covered A Discovery of Witches, Season 2 looks like it will jump right into the second novel. While the show was great and I'm tempted to do a book-to-screen post about it, I must insist that you read the books first. 

Because they are awesome. Super, duper awesome. And I just typed 'super, duper'..and you know what? I'm going to leave it there. 

A Strange, Scottish Shore by Juliana Gray

Visual Description: This is a illustrated cover with the artwork heavily featured and explanatory of the premise. A dark haired woman in a gray, plain Victorian-esque travelling attire and a gray hat with a ribbon ta the back is standing on a grassy rise with her back turned to the viewer, two suitcases in her hand, and the wind pulling back her neat hairdo and hat ribbons. She is looking towards a castle on a cliff on the sea, the ocean shore calm in front of her, a small boat moored on the beach. Clouds build in the background but the day is clear and the sun is setting. The title in simple, old-tymey print features at the top "A Strange Scottish Shore'. At the bottom is the author's details in large and small white fonts "Juliana Gray", "Author of A Most Extraordinary Pursuit". And a small quote clip in black font where the shore is detailing "A heroine worth rooting for. - Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author." 

"Scotland, 1906. A mysterious object discovered inside an ancient castle calls Maximilian Haywood, the new Duke of Olympia, and his fellow researcher Emmeline Truelove, north to the remote Orkney Islands. No stranger to the study of anachronisms in archeological digs, Haywood is nevertheless puzzled by the artifact: a suit of clothing, which, according to family legend, once belonged to a selkie who rose from the sea in ancient times and married the castle’s first laird. But Haywood and Truelove soon discover they’re not the only ones interested in the selkie’s strange hide, and when their mutual friend Lord Silverton vanishes in the night from an Edinburgh street, the mystery takes a dangerous turn through time, which only Haywood’s skills and Truelove’s bravery can solve…" - Nabbed from the Goodreads Blurb

OK SO THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THE SECOND IN A SERIES UNTIL I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH IT. And I have, alas, been unable to procure the first one without purchasing it and I have too many books on my TBR list to justify buying it. 

This came up for me when I looked up 'selkies' in my library's app search. I love selkies. I think they are a deeply under-rated fantasy/supernatural/magical creature. They deserve so much more than what they get. I love history (as I think I've made clear in this post and previous posts) and so I picked it up and started reading it. Within the first chapter I realize that this chick is literally talking to the ghost of THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND in a train car. Like, what?! I was hooked.

Emmeline Truelove is a lovely main character and her voice is realistic for the times but earthy and understandable. Sometimes, in the era that she lives in, the narration can be a bit pompous or distant. Like, the author is trying too hard to emulate the times or doing an impression of someone in that era? But, she's a prim and proper heroine that you root for! 

I can't reveal too much about the story without giving major spoilers away and I don't want to do that. But, I can say it was a great ride of a read and the surprises were amazing. I encourage you to read the first book in the series, though. It's always better. And I feel confident from my experience with A Strange and Scottish Shore that the first novel will be excellently written and worth recommendation. Furthermore, I am confident that there will be more books coming because there are some answers we need answering and that they too shall be excellently written. 

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

Visual Description: Another cover where the illustration is heavily featured and explanatory of the premise! A young woman with dark hair pinned up and in a elegant, scarlet gown with a large, hooped, ruched skirt is on a doorstep lit by two old fashioned gas lamps. The night is misty and it feels like she's in the city. She is in mid-action of entering the door. It is cracked and golden light glows from inside. Gold fillagree emblems are in each corner of the cover. The author's name and details are in mid-large and small font above the doorway at the top of the cover. "USA Times Bestselling Author of My Beautiful Enemy", "SHERRY THOMAS". Below, the title in white and large font "A Study in Scarlet Women" and in smaller golden letters describing "First in the Lady Sherlock Series" at the bottom of the cover. A small quote clip in white is placed to the left beside her scarlet skirt detailing "Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes." Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author."

"With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society. But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London. When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her. But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind" - Nabbed from the Goodreads Blurb.

Gender-swapped Sherlock Holmes for the win. Much like A Discovery of Witches - the premise has been done before. It's been done in TV. It's been done in books. It's been done in the past. And it has been set in the present. So, when I picked this up (after finally doing so after my library app kept throwing it me in suggestions for eons) to try it out  I was very surprised how original it was. 

I recently read somewhere that Sherry Thomas has said she enjoys writing the type of books she enjoys reading and it totally clicked with me. Because, A Study In Scarlet Women, she effortlessly slides into the role of narrator of a intelligent, Victorian who-dun-it with little hiccup. The whole book sets up the whole series. The twist upon the twist? Charlotte Holmes is the scarlet woman and she does so by pure genius choice. She is exactly what you would think a female Holmes would be but also not at all what you think. She's better. And her supporting characters are better. And the world she lives in and solves mysteries is better. 

It's a slow burn read and mystery, alternates point of views deliciously, and does not stray from spending time on mundane day-to-day things and societal expectations and rules. While male Sherlock Holmes didn't have to worry about conventions or societal pressures - Charlotte Holmes is highly pressured to do so. Her dream is to find an occupation where she does not have to marry and one that gives her enough income to support her two unmarried sisters. One of them mentally challenged and hidden away by their lacking, disappointing parents and the other older and very much a wallflower with a great big heart but not much backbone. Oh, and! - MRS. Watson is a retired actress of means! A Victorian-era ACTRESS. While Thomas definitely resides within the realm of the original Sherlock Holmes series, she gender swaps where necessary and adds her characters (mostly of the female kind) to flesh out the feminine world that was often overlooked in the original source material. 

And it works. Big time. 

Again - like A Discovery of Witches...I have read the other books in the series and each get a thumbs up from me and the series is well known and so I felt redundant in blogging about them on their own. However they absolutely needed to be mentioned.

And that, dear reader, concludes this Reading Round Up. 

We went from Red Clocks, to A Discovery of Witches, to A Strange and Scottish Shore, and finally to A Study in Scarlet Women. I feel like I've run a blogging marathon with all the links and covers and typing I've been doing the past day! I'm going to go listen to my most recent audiobook library loan and chill. 

Happy reading!

Until next time, 

Jess

Nostalgia Rules by Katherine Arden

Long live the spooky middle grade reads. Katherine Arden came out with her foray into the middle school reading group last year. It took me a while to get to it but when I did I was transported back to the era of reading books in secret late into the night. Oh, sweet memories. Stashing books between my wheelchair motor and my seat to hide them from my parents because I was always grounded from reading. I was a very well behaved child (although treated like I was the worst because I was the oldest kid in the house) but I would rebel against the system for my books! Oh, how I rebelled. Books hidden EVERYWHERE. But, anyway - I get distracted...ahem...

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Image Description: Illustrated so that the viewer is looking out from between two wide apart trees. The border of the cover are the blackened silhouettes of the trees. The right side has the black silhouette of a creepy looking scarecrow with straw hat, two empty see-through eyes, and a stitched smiling face. Above written in the branches of the trees is the title of the book "Small Spaces'. Ahead, through the forest is a school bus stopped on a road. Behind them a field of violet with dark silhouettes of scare crow and even farther a lavender silhouette of a barn and a silo. Everything outside of the forest (except for the scarecrows and bus) are various shades of violets and pinks casting the environment in twilight.

Publishing: September 25th 2018 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Pg Count: Hardcover, 219 pages

After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn't think--she just acts, stealing the book and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man," a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price. Ollie is captivated by the tale until her school trip the next day to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history all its own. There she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true? Ollie doesn't have too long to think about the answer to that. On the way home, the school bus breaks down, sending their teacher back to the farm for help. But the strange bus driver has some advice for the kids left behind in his care: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch, a keepsake reminder of better times, begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN. Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed the bus driver's warning. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small." And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins. - Nabbed from Goodreads

Nostalgia rules forever in the land of Small Spaces. And yet, it is entirely set in modern middle school-land. Cell phones are featured - because you know all kids have cell phones now. I remember back in the day me and my brother had to share this one cell phone and we only got to have it to ourselves when we were out and about doing stuff with friends. We weren't allowed to text on it. And middle school? HA. I did not have a cell phone in middle school! I'm getting distracted again! Grr...argh...

Ahem. 

I quite enjoyed Small Spaces. It was spooky but not terrifying. I think it could be too much for a sensitive child but just right for most kids. If there are children reading this (or my niece or nephew) - its absolutely okay to read a spooky book in broad daylight with your Mom in the kitchen in easy reach of a butcher knife (to defend you, of course) and with or without a stuffie for your snuggling comfort. It's also okay to stay up with a light from the cellphone that I would have never had at your age and read until your eyes are so heavy that you fall asleep with the book plastered onto your face. Whatever works for you is great when it comes to reading a spooky book.

Ollie is the kind of girl I could have been friends with. A reader with a Dad who cooks her good food? That sounds familiar to me! And her 'sidekicks' are exactly the friends she should have. Except she doesn't know she needs to have them as her friends. Spoiler...they become her friends. 

To avoid other spoilers I won't go into detail about the actual plot. I can, however, completely rave about how Small Spaces is a spooky delight. Much like one of my favorites - Meg in A Wrinkle Of Time - she's dealing with the loss of a parent and no one seems to be able to reach her. But, through the perilous journey she will find herself with companions and challenges that work her through the grief and trauma to becoming the heroine they all require in their hours of need. Our heroine is capable, strong, and developed. Her emotional journey is satisfyingly paired with her physical and material journey. 

I think, what also makes this book so successful in execution is that it doesn't treat the reader too carefully. I think that it might be easy when writing a middle school aged book to overthink what is appropriate or not to put into the story. Being afraid of going too far in the action or too much in the facts and historical context in case you either legitimately traumatize or bore the target audience. Arden balances both with grace. It's a kids book but its not a 'I'm an Adult writing down to children' kind of book. 

The reason I'm featuring it on my blog is because I think we as adults all need to go back in time every once in a while and read a book that we would have loved when we were the targeted reading age range of said book. Its good for the spirit and one of my favorite ways to take a grown up stay-cation. 

Also - I really love Katherine Arden. 

And so I  absolutely give Small Spaces an excellent five star review and hope that you all will pick it up for yourself or gift it to the middle school reader in your life.

Happy reading!

Jess

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

And so it ends.

This trilogy has meant so much to me. It has brought me so much joy and excitement. My love for reading started at a young age because books and stories transported me away to another world and relieved me of the stress of the real one I was living in. As I've gotten I've kind of lost that ability. I'm far too involved in adulting and other real life shenanigans to check out with a book like I did when I was a kid. But, every once in a while a book or two will grab me and keep me completely occupied long after I finish the final sentence. And with the Winter Night Trilogy - I got three books like that. I waited in anticipation for each new release. And when the final came (I got the ARC from Netgalley a couple of months before the formal release)....I found myself unable to pick it up and start it. Why? Because then it would be on its way to being over. But all things must come to an end,or so they say. More accurately - no amount of my epic levels of procrastination will stop the trilogy from coming its end and I wanted to read it and to be a part of it while it was a current discussion. I didn't want to be tooo late to the party.)

So without further ado..I bring to you my official review of the finale of the year.

Visual Description: This cover is primarily yellow, orange, and shades of wintery blue and lavender. The darkened silhouette of a young woman standing strong on a snowy boulder (her back to the audience) with a staff in her right palm. Ahead of her within her sight line are the silhouette of a medieval army. Rising above them is the pale but fiery image of a fire bird that is seemingly coming forth from her staff. It is the most striking image in the cover next to the silhouette of the young woman. Above these images bordered with old world filagree and written in blue "The Winter of the Witch". Below to the side of the woman in small italic 'a novel'. And below the woman and her rock, at the very bottom of the cover, is 'Katherine Arden. Author of The Bear and the Nightingale').

Publishing: January 8th, 2019, Del Rey

Pg Count: Ebook - 384 pgs

Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all. - Nabbed from the blurb from Goodreads. 


We pick up straight away within the aftermath of the great fire. I was a bit surprised. I had it in my imagination that we would find her roaming the wintery Russia landscape on the back of Solovey as she had done so often in the book before. But, instead - she still has soot in her hair and everyone is scrambling to repair and assess and recover.

There is so much that happens within the first few pages of the book. I can't and won't give spoilers but your heart will literally be ripped apart from your chest and you will be sobbing within the first chapters. Like no joke. The Winter of the Witch will have the FULL RANGE of emotions fill every crack in your soul before it ends.

As before (and I deeply and heavily insinuate that you shouldn't even be reading this post if you haven't read the other two books in the trilogy and in fact should go right now and get which ever one is the one you need to read in order to get caught up like RIGHT now!) and in true Winternight fashion - we say hello to familiar friends and meet some new ones along the way. Arden dances a beautiful dance of revealing new things, meeting new creatures, and still keeping the old ones around. I think it would be easy to have the conclusion to any trilogy (or series) be confined to closing out storylines and drawing everything to a close without introducing anything new. But, this is Vasya and she attracts trouble and creatures to her like she is cheese and they are mice.

Vasya is as always a force to be reckoned with but finally SHE is the one reckoning with herself. She is the one who starts to be the dealer and not just the dealt. Grabbing the reins (no pun intended) and winging it is what she's done before. But she goes further than just grabbing the reins and hoping for the best. She begins to plan and to make deals and to exert and practice and explore her own power. In the end, she basically (as we all predicted) saves medieval Russia.

In The Winter of the Witch we finally meet Arden's end game goal - that big battle of Kulukovo against the tartars that has been foreshadowed, alluded, threatened, warned, and feared/desired since the start of the trilogy. Remember little Kolya and little Vasya playing battle against the tartars way back in The Bear and the Nightingale? Yea. It's been a-brewing since the start. And, in fact, it was her (Arden) absolute goal to get to that battle and make it not just about the unification and liberation of medieval Rus' but also a battle and reconciliation of the old with the new, the chyerti and the Church, Vasya against the way of life she is 'supposed' to inhabit (basically Vasya against medieval Rus' Patriarchy. It all comes to a violent head at the battle of Kulikovo.

The ending of the Winternight trilogy had a definite urgent pulse to it. More so than the other books. There were no significant lapses of times that wove like tapestry. It was all straight forward, hurtling towards the Battle of Kulikova. Which makes Arden's ability to introduce new creatures, lands, and ideas while closing out the old storylines even more admirable.

My only wish is that there would have been some visiting with her old village and with the siblings she left behind in the first book. Kolya and Olga were left behind and I missed them. To be truthful - they were better siblings to Vasya than Irina and Sasha. Irina and Sasha were caught up in politics and intrigue (not exactly their fault but of their choosing just the same) to be as good as a sibling as the sister and brother Vasya left behind. I wish we could have seen how they were turning out. I felt like there was a natural reason for Vasya to go back - to deliver their gifted niece to a safe place where she could grow up. But, that had to be sacrificed because there was a battle coming and there were things that needed to be done!

Everything that she foreshadowed or teased throughout the previous two books were tied up. Such as - where does the magic come from in Vasya's bloodline? Who was her great-grandmother? (My suspicion was correct!). And we get so much information with so much more adventure in store for Vasya that it breaks my heart that we won't be able to be with her through them. I'd love more Vasya. I'd ride to the end of the world and jump off in the name of seeing what was below if it was beside her.

I, of course, am giving this a five out of five rating. I love this book. I love this trilogy. I will continue to treasure it forever and ever and all that sappy book-loving jazz. Its bittersweet to find this particular story come to a close after it has given me so much joy. But, the magical thing about books? They don't change and they will always be there.

Until next time,

Jess

P.S. Have tissue ready because you will be bawling at the start and finish and in-between. But mostly the start and the finish. I had to literally stop reading and pick the book up later in the day I was crying so hard at the start. And in the end I  ended up listening to most of it on audiobook while clutching a dishrag to wipe away evidence of the sob-fest that was possessing my body.

Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft - Tess Sharp, Jessica Spotswood

Visual Description: Purple cover with "Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft' in large white semi-cursive script. Framing the cover are simple illustrations colored in variations of gold, orange, and white - cats, swirling ivy, poison, skulls, moon, cauldrons, cawing crows, open palm, and a spider web.

Publishing: August 28th, 2018. Harlequin Teen.

Pg Count: 405 pgs, Hardcover

Find more info: Goodreads

"A young adult fiction anthology of 15 stories featuring contemporary, historical, and futuristic stories featuring witchy heroines who are diverse in race, class, sexuality, religion, geography, and era. Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Glinda the Good Witch. Elphaba the Wicked Witch. Willow. Sabrina. Gemma Doyle. The Mayfair Witches. Ursula the Sea Witch. Morgan le Fey. The three weird sisters from Macbeth. History tells us women accused of witchcraft were often outsiders: educated, independent, unmarried, unwilling to fall in line with traditional societal expectations. Bold. Powerful. Rebellious. A bruja’s traditional love spell has unexpected results. A witch’s healing hands begin to take life instead of giving it when she ignores her attraction to a fellow witch. In a terrifying future, women are captured by a cabal of men crying witchcraft and the one true witch among them must fight to free them all. In a desolate past, three orphaned sisters prophesize for a murderous king. Somewhere in the present, a teen girl just wants to kiss a boy without causing a hurricane. From good witches to bad witches, to witches who are a bit of both, this is an anthology of diverse witchy tales from a collection of diverse, feminist authors. The collective strength of women working together—magically or mundanely--has long frightened society, to the point that women’s rights are challenged, legislated against, and denied all over the world. Toil & Trouble delves deep into the truly diverse mythology of witchcraft from many cultures and feminist points of view, to create modern and unique tales of witchery that have yet to be explored." - Nabbed from Goodreads

'Tis the season for witches and things that go bump in the night. Actually - in my firm opinion - there is no such thing as a 'season for witches' because witches are timeless and deserve love every season of the year. If not because they are nature-based and obviously WAY more in tune with the seasons than we are - then because we are in desperate need of magick year around. That being said..there is something obvious about the cooling, coming Autumn time that inspires a person to curl up with a witchy book or two. "Toil and Trouble' was the first book I picked up this year when I started getting that witchy vibe coming on. I've been looking forward to it forever - I'm a huge fan of Jessica Spotswood's anthology editing work. She's brought me not one but TWO Tyranny of Petticoats books and now this...Toil and Trouble. Fifteen tales of women and witchcraft.

Absolutely and utterly my cup of mystic tea.

Toil & Trouble is everything that it promises to be. It spans time, the world, worlds (plural)...etc. Each one stands on their own and it's a terrible choice to figure out which ones deserve specific mention. It's one of the best anthologies in YA, if not THE best ever. I honestly haven't read much anthologies outside of YA so I can't say it's top dog outside of the genre BUT...I can suggest it to anyone whose interests are outside of the Young Adult genre.

There's layers upon layers of feelings and meanings that the anthology encompasses as a whole. And individually the stories will sing to you in different ways. Songs that sooth, that enrage, that heal, that inspire, that devastate, that make you burn as surely as our predecessors burned at the stake for being.

I am suggesting Toil & Trouble to basically everyone, ANYONE, who is remotely interested.

Until next time,

Jess

Wonder Woman : Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Visual Description: Background is blue cast with two cliffs and an ocean but the focus is the large wonder woman icon in blue and gold at the center, filling the lower half of the cover. And behind it is a shadowed image of a teenage Wonderwoman with her arms crossed together. Her hair is flowing to the side and you can see her face except her eyes. They are in complete shadow. At the top in white and call caps is "LEIGH BARDUGO" and below in gold and orange "WONDER WOMAN" and "WARBRINGER".  

Publishing: August 28th, 2017. Random House Children's Books.
Page Count: 364 pgs (Hardcover)
Find the Author: Goodreads
"Daughter of immortals - Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world. Daughter of death - Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. TogetherTwo girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war."

Leigh Bardugo is one of the best authors in the Young Adult field right now. She's best known for her Six of Crows duology and The Grisha Trilogy. The DC Icon series are clearly angling to get well established YA authors to narrate their series. Sarah. J. Mass (Throne of Glass) helmed Catwoman's book. If you aren't aware of Bardugo and her writing - she's good at what she does and you should read her. So do that. Go read her. And you can start with this. Because I'm giving it a gazillion stars.

I don't do much in the way of comic books but I love Wonder Woman. I've loved her for her iconic image, what she has represented to women and girls, and as I grew older - how she is a pop culture reflection of Goddess spirituality and ancient mythology. I knew that I'd love anything written by Bardugo and I knew that I'd have a hard time saying no to a novelized YA Wonder Woman. Put two and two together and you'd think I would have expected to be obsessed. But, I really didn't expect for it to take me away the way it did.

Themyscera has never been brought to life like this before. Details effortlessly flow without feeling like info-dumping brought to life from Diana, teenage Princess of the Amazons, who belongs to the Island but struggles to belong amongst the people that it belongs to. The terrain, mystical but not alien, is brought to life through her eyes. And then, New York City. And then...well, I won't give too much away but I don't think it'll come as a shock that they road-trip to Greece (and a hell of a road trip it is). 

It's a fascinating concept - a society of women warriors living on a invisible, gifted mystical island separated from the outside, mainstream world. We see it both from Diana's POV and from Alia's POV. Omg - poor, poor Alia. She's basically convinced that she accidentally landed on a Greek-obsessed Cult Island. Not quite, Alia. Not quite.

One of my absolute favorite parts of the mythology that Bardugo created was how new Amazons came to be. When a female warrior is fallen in battle and she speaks the name of a Goddess and is deemed worthy - then she is reborn on the Themyscera as an Amazon. Diana's best friend on the Island and a newer Amazon (in comparison to many) spoke the name of St. Brigit when she went down fighting in a riot (not sure which one!) and was reborn an Amazon. St. Brigid is a carnation of the Goddess Brigid - ancient Celtic goddess of forge and fire. The story is the story of all the Amazons since Themyscera was gifted. EXCEPT Diana. Which, not a big shocker - is part of her teenage angst.

One of the other aspects that makes this a stand-a-lone worthy of it's own series is Bardugo's fully fleshed out cast of diverse characters. Alia is half-Greek, half African American (as is her brother) and there is no shying away from the realities of being a person of color in the modern world. We see it both from the bewildered eyes of innocent Diana and from the world-exposed Alia. It isn't just some side-observation either, it's fully acknowledged and absorbed part of Alia. Basically - it's realistic where others would either forget, neglect, or sugarcoat. Furthermore in the diversity aspect - Alia's best friend Nim is a full-figured plus sized lesbian Indian girl with epic fashion sense. Actually here, just take a look at this fanart I found on Leigh Bardugo's tumblr:

Visual Description: Background is a blue rust texture with two large Ws. From the left (all sitting) Jason, a young black man in loafers, slacks, and a white office shirt. Diana in sandals, blue jeans, and a pink tank top. Her hair is loose, wavy and blue-black. Alia, a young black woman with her hair up on the top of her head, in sneakers, jeans, a blur shirt, and a red athletic jacket. Theo, a dark skinned black young man in blue sneakers, gray jeans, and a green t-shirt. Nim, a full-figured dimple-cheeked olive skinned young woman, in dressy blue shoes, a colorful bodycon dress (legs showing). She's wearing necklaces, make-up, and her hair is loose with it shaven on one side. 

All she needed to flesh out the diversity was a character with a disability.

While there are some fine looking males - the heart and center of the story is coming of age as a young woman and the strength of female friendships. Diana and Alia both come of age in their friendship together and the challenges and plot twists they face together. The choice to stand together, an iconic oath they make to each other, and the mythology and mystery behind Helen of Troy when she was just a girl herself, entwine together to create a anthem of modern maidenhood and the purity of female friendships. 

It's not all coming-of-age angst and mythology, though. There are so many epic twists and unique and original turns in the plot that I will not spoil but can I just say - AWESOME. The BIG twist, the one that I will not speak of or even think of in too much detail - is jaw-dropping and utterly heart-crumbling. There's a legit moment (actually several) where I thought that that they were going to fail, that they were totally going to lose, and that the ending might just be something incredibly dark and tragic. And, if I'm being honest - it is tragic and it is dark and it is bittersweet.

But it's also entirely and completely wonderful. 

And, I could go on and on and on and ON about this and how much I love the mythology, imagery, sassiness, the emotional journey, the character development - but it's like 2 a.m. and I need to go to bed and wrap this post up. So, I shall leave you with this. The Amazon Oath:

SISTER IN BATTLE

I AM SHIELD AND BLADE TO YOU

AS I BREATHE,

YOUR ENEMIES WILL KNOW NO SANCTUARY

WHILE I LIVE

YOUR CAUSE IS MINE

Until next time, 

Jess

Autumn Time Reading

Autumn is here.

It's time for dying leaves, scalding hot drinks, graying skies, layered clothes. My favorite time of the years for all those things and so much more. I have some seriously summer-inclined friends and they lament the arrival of Fall because to them it means...Winter is Coming. However, I refuse to have such glass-half-empty look on it. I don't wish fall wasn't here - I wish it was longer. Much, much longer. Like as long as summer. Or better - winter! I live in Iowa. I'd take any other season longer than winter. Except maybe summer. I'm not a summer girl. It's so hot. And I wilt. And then I do wilting things like drooping until I melt like the wicked witch did when Dorothy attacked her with water. It's not fun. I am...I am a autumn time girl. Give me the rain. Give me the dead leaves. Give me the LACK OF INSECTS TRYING TO GET ME TO INHALE THEM AND/OR EAT MY BLOOD. But, I'm getting distracted and off topic. Ahem...

In honor of my favorite season I've accumulated a small but mighty list of some of my favorite autumn time reads. Books that are natural fits for when the leaves turn orange and the nights grow longer and the air gets nippier and I am my best self living my best life.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Visual Description: The top half has the image of a back of a woman in a red tank top, dark loose hair staring out of a open window with autumn trees. Beside her is an open book. She's sitting on what seems to be a window seat with purple pillows. Below, in the bottom half, with a background of orange is the title in cursive 'The Sugar Queen" with the author's name in smaller, white letters above. Golden filigree borders the title in the background. 

The first thought I had was of this novel. Sarah Addison Allen's super power is invoking the seasons and the natural world and tying them firmly with her character's world and development. I would also highly suggest reading First Frost, her sequel to Garden Spells for equal fall vibes. The Sugar Queen is a standalone and holds bittersweet and happily ever afters that is best read and experienced in the Fall. 

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

Visual Description: Anne, a redheaded young woman, is strolling down a path with her arms around books, gazing towards the reader. She is wearing a straw hat, a oversized orange cardigan, and a dark green-brown tweedish looking skirt. Behind her and down the lane is a white house with a green roof. Several very large windy-blown trees surround it. In white cursive and above Anne's head is 'Anne of Windy Poplars'. Above that in blue, smaller and simpler print is  The Anne of Green Gables Novels #4, LM MONTGOMERY. The cover is bordered in sold dark pumpkin orange. 

Everything about Anne-with-a-E screams love for autumn. What is that quote? Oh yes. "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers". I've read the entire series over and over again and out of the entire set - Anne of Windy Poplars, for me, is the most Autumnal. (With Anne of the Island a very strong second). Perhaps because it details her time as a teacher and the season of autumn is heavily featured. 

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Visual Description: Top half is a artistic painting of a shirtless pale man, with black shaggy hair, staring down at his reflection in a pool (his reflection is staring back up at him). Behind him is a black sky, a leafless tree, and a huge rock. Red poppies are strewn across the pool of water before him. The bottom holds the title and author with a background of black. MARY SHELLEY in orange, Frankenstein : The 1818 Text in white, italicized font. 

Well, I'm sure this is a no-brainer. You cannot live through an October or even a November without reading something classic and gothic and enthralling. With the new movie that came out about Mary Shelley, I've been feeling the need to re-read Frankenstein this season. 

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Visual Description: The cover is artistically drawn. The center has the title "A Wrinkle in Time" and the author's name "MADELEINE L'ENGLE' above in front of a black night sky with tiny white star. the border of the book is made up of cartoons. Top of the cover: three children flying. Left A small house, a old lady in black witches attire, a old woman drawn with white and pencil, below a old woman in a a top hat and oversized coat and skirt and boots. Below golden plains and mountains with a trio of children on the back of a winged pegasus. Right is a very tall school with children walking towards it. In the bottom right is a golden sticker. 

Children's books are my favorite to re-read and A Wrinkle In Time is TOP on the list for me. While it spans across the galaxy and universe and encompasses many types of worlds let alone seasonal-types - it starts on a stormy autumn-y night. A wild night when all the things start happening. Curling up with this and a hot cup of cocoa or cider while the wind is blustering orange and brown leaves around....hmmmm...yes. That sounds exactly right to me. 

The Magician's Nephew (Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis

Visual Description: Emerald green background, "The Magician's Nephew' in large white, all caps front and center and below a medallion shape with a child in blue, with blonde hair riding a winged caramel colored pegasus just barely flying out of it. The green background lightens around the medallion shape as if the shape was glowing light. C.S. Lewis in all white caps but smaller than the title at the very bottom. 

Ok, this is set in summer time. And it might not be the most autumnal of reads. But, it's magical and the start of amazing, classic series. And to me, that makes it worth being on this list. Autumn is the best time to re-read your favorites and start a series to last you through the winter. Chronicles of Narnia is one of THE best series to have on your reading plate for the colder months of the year. 

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Visual Description: A painting of a large gate with two stone pillows. A foggy forest and green hills with a blue sky above lay beyond the gate. Below with a background of black states "Charles Dickens' in orange and in white, italics 'Great Expectations'. 

Speaking of re-reading...Great Expectations is dreary and spooky and heart-wrenching and classic. It's not quite as gothic and dark as Frankenstein but it's got that old Victorian gloomy tilt to it. And plus, well, Dickens. And reading (or re-reading) a Dickens novel is an excellent goal for every year. 

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Visual Description: The title in the center in all caps, slightly Renaissance-esque font 'THE THIEF LORD". At the bottom in a cursive, handwritten font the author's name "Cornelia Funke". The background is entirely blue and white to give the painting a twilight/midnight feel. It is the end of a canal of Venice. You see ab bridge between two narrow buildings. And an archway at the top with a mysterious figure capering over the top of the arch with the details of the body invisible against the light of a full moon in a starry night sky. 

Set in autumn-time Venice with a smattering of snow. The runaways fight runny noses while they follow their Thief Lord and the friendly Detective who loves turtles chases them around. Cornelia Funke has several books that are perfect for the season. But this one is my favorite. It's stand-alone, it's enchanting, and it utterly transports you to another world even though it's set in this one. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Visual Description: Bottom quarter is plain back with orange, all capital "CHARLOTTE BRONTE" and below white, italics title "Jane Eyre". Above is a classical painting. A a brown haired, pale sitting woman in a 19th century black gown with a white collar. She has a piece of paper on her lap and a child with ringlets and a red 18th century child's gown leaning over her lap and looking at it. To the left, standing is a golden haired woman in a rose 19th century gown with a bustle and lace. They are all posed in a corner by a window with large drapes where sunlight steeps in from. 

If you're new to my blog - oh hey, guess what? I love Jane Eyre. So I take any excuse to add it to a list or to mention it or to even think about it. If you're not into Jane Eyre then I encourage you to try it right now. It's part gothic, part romance, part female anthem of empowerment, and entirely classic. It's an invigorating read that, I believe, pairs well with walks in the park and tea. 

Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman

Visual Description: The background of the cover is a painting, very realistic that it seems almost like a photograph, except the softness of the hues. Old fashioned laced up red boots sit next to a roaring fire on a stone floor. The corner of a basket of what looks to be peaches or maybe bread next to it. The title is on top of the cover and in all capitals 'BLACKBIRD HOUSE' with 'A Novel' in smaller letters. Bottom part has the author's name 'ALICE HOFFMAN' with 'Author of 'The Probable Future' in smaller caps below it.

I checked this out as a audiobook on my library app last year and fell in love with it. Alice Hoffman is always a win, in my book. But, this one is special to me because it's a series of short stories but they all center around the same place and the people around this house. The Blackbird House. It's meandering and intimate at the same time and I love that kind of feeling in a book. It's why I treasure A Tree Grows In Brooklyn so much (it gets a honorary mention below!). And, of course, blackbirds - especially one in particular - soar in and out of the skies of the various stories. My favorite features the red boots which is central to the cover. Lots of possible-witchery happens, heart-warming charm, sad and melancholy resolution, happy and content endings. I really adored it and I think it fits well into the autumnal spirit of this list. 

Honorary Mentions! 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (my favorite HP!). Bram Stoker's Dracula. The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman. Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Ok...well...anything by Neil Gaiman. The Hobbit by Tolkien. The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzask. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Uprooted by Naomi Novak. The Hounds of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. 

I hope that this autumn is full of everything that you love about this season. I hope its crunchy underneath your boots, with lots of hot drinks that just only slightly burn the top of your mouth, rainy and blustery afternoons, nights that dip into freezing and bring frost to your windows just so you can trace happy faces on its surface, and I hope that you get many a-lazy hours to dive into each and everyone of these books to bring optimal autumnal reading glory into your lives. 

Until next time, 

Jess

Historical Romanticals

I have been crashing my way through a variety of books this summer. It's been in this book-bingeing summertime that I've rediscovered, to my great amusement, the historical romance. I love historical fiction. I love romance. The two combined is a no brainer, right? Yea, no. I've got to be in the right mood - no I'm not talking about that mood - for historical romance. Partly because I have to be in a amenable mood for inaccuracies for the sake of a breast-heaving, helpless, feisty damsels. I also have to be in the historical mood. It's one part fantasy mood and one part real world and then to top it all off - I must be in a wistful, dreamy heroes and heroine mood. Historical romance is one part dreamy, unrealistic fantasy and one part realistic, historicalness. I usually burn my way through it in a series of books and then move on to another genre. Historical romance isn't a genre I usually follow or get too vocal about. However, this summer I've discovered a couple of authors and books that I really wanted to share.

Tessa Dare 

Image Description: Three covers, side by side. The first says "Romancing the Duke" and has a dark haired woman in a long red gown in front of a castle. The second says "When a Scot Ties the Knot" and features a woman in a pale green gown and pale brown hair playing with kilt of a sandy haired Scotsman who is not wearing a proper shirt. The third is called "A Lady by Midnight" and is a blue themed cover with a brunette woman in a gown of midnight blue laying down with a dark haired man on top of her. 

My favorite of the above covers happens to have the most salacious cover - A Lady by Midnight - however I found it to be the most heartwarming. So I guess, I really finally learn the whole 'don't by a book by it's cover. But, I can't help myself. Honestly I think that's this genre's most sabotaging feature. There's probably bunches of fabulous writers hiding under breast-heaving damsels clutching shirtless rakes in historically life-ruining poses. Which is one of the reasons I'm doing this post. Because I don't normally cover historical romances - well...these specific kind of historical romances.

Tessa Dare is probably well known. I checked these books out from my library's app and I had to go on the waiting list for two of them and one of her newer books (not released yet) already has a waiting list. Also - they have quite a few of her books on the digital library and that's a tell tale sign that the author or the series is a big deal since libraries can't just go buy a bunch of books nowadays and hope for the best. If they ever did that, ever. lol. Budgets. :/ But, I could tell that she'd be popular regardless of her presence on my library's digital e-book app. Because she's funny. And heartwarming. And she uses small animals and lovable supporting characters to flesh out the world. Like, in A Lady by Midnight - I was scouring her reading list for any hint that she had written more about a set of supporting characters introduced. It really felt like there should be. I really, really wanted there to be more, dammit. lol. The plots are usually well paced. And yes, there are some unrealistically bodice-ripping scenes but not to the point of over-doing it. It doesn't take over the ENTIRE plot line. Furthermore - in the 'Castles Ever After' series - the unrealistic premise nods to the very realistic societal and economical limitations a woman suffered in the chosen historical timeframe. This old man gifts each of his unrelated goddaughters with a Castle upon his death. Thus giving them a land and potential income and a home that is entirely their own. Which means...independence. None of them are willing to give this up and fight to protect it with fierce feminine awesomeness.

Lynsay Sands

Image Description: I'll just sum it up like this: Shirtless Scottish men in kilts. First one basking on a log entitled "Surrender to the Highlander". Second in a embrace with a busy brunette in a ravishing ruby, silk gown entitled "The Highlander Takes a Bride'. The third set in night time, his back to the viewer, he's leaning up against a stone wall looking brooding and emotionally tense - entitled "Falling for the Highlander'. 

HIGHLANDERS are basically like...honestly, I think...50% of the historical romance fiction output right now. And have been for like a long time. The biggest question I've wondered is if it was so saturated before Outlander hit the tv screen? I've always felt that I got my whole fill on the highlander romance because I've read and watched Outlander. But, I was cruising along on my binge-fest and was like...well, can't hurt to try, right? I was already down the rabbit hole of ravishing, heroic rakes and feisty damsels-in-distress.

Lynsay Sands is a positive that came out of my diving into romantic Highlander territory. I'm not entirely sure what era of time her Highlander and their Damsels are set in but I want to gander that's its before Protestantism became a huge thing because girls kept being almost sent to nunneries. And definitely before the Battle of Culloden (shout out out to Outlander for that piece of Scottish/English history!) because the Clans are still in place and active. Yet they reference an ominous 'King' every once in a while. 

Despite the ambiguous time era she sets her stories in - she does a great job in creating the realistic female character and their roles and limitations. Status of dowries are a big deal, their day-to-day activities and roles are in-character, they are literally trapped between a nunnery, goodwifery, or spinsterhood dependency. They are also unconcerned with sex (well, at least at first, lol) because back then - women were told that sex was a chore for babies and to make their husbands happy. They were coached early on (if at all!) that it was duty to perform. Marriage was meant to provide a position and an avenue for the source of love that women were allowed to be hopeful for - that of a child. I give her strong kudos for blending that in. With alot of historical romance female characters its like...."Have some realistic societal roles and limitations with all that fiesty, adventure-seeking, romping sexual independence". And with Sands's character's it's far more blended and realistic. They think like I could feel a woman who is independent and determined would think about their situations in that time. 

Oh, don't worry - there's plenty bodice ripping and ravishing adventuring to be read. To be honest, a little too much for my preference. But, there's also mystery, poison, great supporting characters (who seem to feature in other books too!), and comedic timing. 

Summary

Romantical Historical novels need balance. They need great supporting characters, a touch in someway to reality, and a plot outside bodice ripping and Era-innapropriate dalliances. They also need voice and they, and in some ways moreso than any other genre, really need that extra chemistry with the reader. Not THAT kind of chemistry. Although that is incredibly helpful for that particular genre. But the kind of charming chemistry a writer with that spark has with their reader.

So the next time you start jonesing for a little bit of historical romanticalness in your reading diet - try some of the titles in this post and rest in the knowledge that they've been fully vetted and are A+ Historic Romances. Only the best for you, dear reader. Only the best.

Until next time,

Jess

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

 

  Image Description: Three covers above. Each have a teenage girl completely covered in black, desert garbs, her face hidden except for piercing blue eyes. The first has her striding ahead with fire and embers at her back. The second has her standing on a ledge with a large bow and arrow with a Arabian-esque ivory city in the distance. The third cover as the same girl falling with her hands stretched out in a attack pose across the landscape of a city. 

"MORE GUNFIRE THAN GIRL"

Recently I was chatting it up with a friend online who was explaining her RP story/character on a steampunk sim on Secondlife and it went a little like this -

Friend - "She's part Djinn, you see...and its like western --"

Me - "WAIT, OMG OMG - I KNOW A BOOK SERIES YOU'D LOVEEE!!!"

The next day she tags me in a post saying that she has bought all three in hardback in expectation that they'll be awesome. And she was absolutely right. Because Rebel of the Sands is an awesome trilogy. Epic, even. Actually - absolutely epic. And then I realized I had never fully reviewed or talked about this series. I read it earlier this year and never, ever posted about it. So..here I am, now posting about this epic trilogy.

Put a strange blue-eyed girl with serious determination into a world part western, part Arabian Nights, part steampunk - with Djinn in the mix and a couple of rebel princes to boot...and you get Rebel of the Sands. Alwyn Hamilton (Hamilton) creates a world built from things from our world that you don't think should fit together but does when she's finished world building. And at the heart of this story in this world is Amani - always and it's through her eyes that we journey through the world and experience all the things that her world has to offer (or not offer, lol). She's poor, orphaned, and her Uncle-by-Marriage/Guardian is thinking of marrying her himself instead of marrying her off to a local douchebag. She's been practicing her gunfire in the desert and she's preparing, waiting, planning to get the hell out of dodge when it all goes kablooey and she's forced to leave her dead, desert town but not in the ways that she had planned. Amani is all fire and I love the analogy that's perpetuated through her physical self and her emotional self. Her world is cool and calculating but also complete and utter explosive fire. She's surrounded by characters - friends, loves, enemies, family - that play with that enhance that fire. 

Oh, the characters you'll meet in Meraji...there's rebel princes, a troublesome cousin that just POPS UP OUT OF NOWHERE when you least expect it, and Djinn who either care not at all or too much but you seriously can't tell at all until YOU KNOW. (I feel so young and fangirl-ish right now typing this up. It's awesome. I love it, lol). A disabled character! Long-lost family members. A general who is a woman. A young, beautiful woman who gave up a life of luxury and nobility to fight for her country!!! She does both, guys!!! I LOVE WHEN THEY DO BOTH. I could go on but I don't want to give away too much and I think, with this trilogy, that the punches and surprises should be experienced with out anyone having a hint about them beforehand.

Something that I really appreciated about Hamilton's character development of Amani is that she becomes more 'herself' than she was in the previous books. More strong, more determined, more badass, more wise, more wild. However, her moniker 'The Blue-Eyed Bandit' (not a big spoiler, they slap that on her in the first chapter of the first boo, lol) follows her through out the series. And, as I've read the entire series, I've come to the conclusion that it was a statement of prophecy as it was a statement of truth. She was the Blue-Eyed Bandit her entire life. And she would always be the Blue-Eyed Bandit because it's her authentic, original self. When she wears the mantel of other titles - she's still the 'Blue-Eyed Bandit' and she only becomes more certain of this, more powerful in that truth as the story goes on. 

Oh, oh and last but not least - speaking of the 'Blue-Eyed Bandit' -  cue up the 'legend' shout out! Hamilton weaves in a side-study of the power of storytelling, legends, and the truth that remains behind them that ultimately assists in the tie up of the end of the trilogy. Amani's world is a place of legends but behind those legends is truth. And what is that truth? And what about the legends the 'Blue-Eyed Bandit' is making with her crew of rebels? I like when writers do that - when they make you think a little while giving you a great damn story with a great damn character. 

I completely understand if no one does what my friend did and goes out to buy the hardback trilogy in completion based on my ramblings (Don't be afraid to though - if you're so inclined!) - but, I seriously do encourage you to go out and find the first book and start the journey. Go, go, go now! Read the story about the girl who was more gunfire than girl her friends and her loves that became legends and stories in a land of legends and stories. 

Until next time,

Jess