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

Top Ten Tuesday : Longest Reads

It's been a while since I've done a Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme that was created by the Broke and Bookish and is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. I was feeling extra blog-y this week and figured this was the week to jump back in! The topic this week is :

Longest Books I've Ever Read

So without further a-do...

The Kingsbridge Series by Ken Follett

Pillars of the Earth - 355,830 words

World without End - 309, 270 words

A Column of Fire - 283, 040 words

My DAD was the one that turned me onto this series. He drives trucks for a living and has been listening to audiobooks in the cab for years and Follett is one of his favorites. I recently wrapped it up with Column of Fire (Thanks Dad, for lending me your Kindle!). He's got great taste, my Dad, Follett is the master of winding out a epic historical. These are...incredibly extravagant reads. Absolutely worth the time it takes to truly and thoroughly read them. *ends mini-review here* 

Mary Queen of Scots and The Isles by Margaret George

265,350 words (estimated)

This book found its way to my bookshelf about ten years after I read it in H.S. for...err...fun. And because my sister and I are weird brain clones of each other I discovered she too read this exact book back when she was a teenager for...errr....fun. We grew up in different homes, with a state between us, so it was especially interesting that we both just naturally got super obsessed with Mary Queen of Scots and read a 870 page novel featuring every single detail of her life when we were like fifteen. I honestly don't know if I could do it again. I was such a voracious little reader back then. Now, I'm like...ugh, its so long - does my library have the audio??? lol.

A Song of Fire and Ice (Game of Thrones #1) by George R.R. Martin

292,727 words

I will always stay firm in that...I will not read past the first book of A Song of Fire and Ice until he actually finishes the series. So, that is why A Game of Thrones pops up on this list versus his other longer additions to that series. IF ONLY HE'D FINISH!!!!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

259, 250 words

As I was eyeing my bookshelves for the fattest books my eyes fell on this beautiful, blue beauty. The new opening for the upcoming season of the Outlander Tv Series recently came out and it has me all nostalgic for Claire and Jamie in their first story. I've only read this and the next couple in the series and I didn't compare page count. Each ones are quite thick and go through a lot of material and plot and history. 

Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle #2) by Christopher Paolini

205,175 words

Remember this series? My brother and I both read it back in the day. Which is a feat because my brother hates reading. I still have the first book on my shelf (Eldest is longer, I checked! lol). It's so heavy that I had to read it sitting up, with it propped up on something!

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens 

185,440 words

I'm running out of ideas of where to find my longest reads! When comparing my two favorite Dickens I discovered that Oliver Twist is longer. So, here it is. I love Dickens. I need to read more of his stuff before I kick it, for sure. I believe, that Bleak House is his longest work. But, don't quote me on it! 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

209,090 words 

I just finished this and its so fresh in my mind. It might not be the longest book on this list but it was a lot to get through. Some books have a density about them that (isn't a deterrent, by any means) makes them 'thicker' than other works of the same page or word count. If you're going with vampire fiction - 200 pgs of Harkness versus Meyer (Twilight)...one is going to be heavier than the other - even if their weight is technically the same. I'm preparing myself to start her next book in the series which is a doozy looking one. She's a historian (the author...and the main character too, lol) and REALLY loves history and it shows. It's something I enjoy (hence my first four picks on this list) so I'm up for it!

Fin! 

I couldn't think of another, every one that I thought of wasn't as long as I thought it would be! Honorable mention to the Iliad and the Oddysey that I read back in the day. Because technically those aren't the same piece of work and I read them separately.

In the construction of this list I realized that...

1. I love epic historical fiction. 

2. I will probably never be able to finish anything larger than a 400,000 word count book. Especially not in 'one go'!

3. I'm more willing to go the length if it's been on screen or been a suggestion or I just am obsessed with the genre/topic. 

4. I want to re-read most of these. 

What did you learn? I can't wait to see what everyone else put on their list and how they calculated length. I did mine via word count through this site (and google): https://www.readinglength.com/. 

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

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

I'm a lover of stories. This blog is targeted towards my love of books but really - that stems from my love of stories. Stories are told in various ways. Actors tell stories. So, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that an actress would feel drawn to writing a book and like...do a good job at it. Actors are story tellers (reading is basically at least a third of job their description). Krysten Ritter's debut novel 'Bonfire' is the evidence.

I found that most of the poor-er reviews on Goodreads came across tainted by this expectation that the novel had to be on a whole different level because the author's primary career. It's my pet peeve when a book is judged like it's got to be something on a whole other level when it doesn't have to be. Example : You read a review of a historical romance novel. And they spend most of the time complaining about how unrealistic and stupid it is to have it be completely focused on the relationship and how they wish the heroine would spend less time thinking about the hero, etc. And thus because of this opinion they give it a bad review. It's a historical romance novel. You open a book from a specific genre section, be ready to get that genre. If you don't dig the genre - don't read (coughs-review-coughs) it. Same principle applies here.

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Visual Description: A bonfire with orange sparks cast out over the pitch black cover. Font: modern, white, thin and angular. Krysten Ritter is low capped. Title is all caps. 'A novel' is off in the corner, smaller and italicized. 

Publishing: November 7th, 2017. Hutchinson
Page Count: 288 (hardcover)
Find the Author: Goodreads

"Should you ever go back? It has been ten years since Abby Williams left home and scrubbed away all visible evidence of her small town roots. Now working as an environmental lawyer in Chicago, she has a thriving career, a modern apartment, and her pick of meaningless one-night stands. But when a new case takes her back home to Barrens, Indiana, the life Abby painstakingly created begins to crack. Tasked with investigating Optimal Plastics, the town's most high-profile company and economic heart, Abby begins to find strange connections to Barrens’ biggest scandal from more than a decade ago involving the popular Kaycee Mitchell and her closest friends—just before Kaycee disappeared for good. Abby knows the key to solving any case lies in the weak spots, the unanswered questions. But as Abby tries to find out what really happened to Kaycee, she unearths an even more disturbing secret—a ritual called “The Game,” which will threaten the reputations, and lives, of the community and risk exposing a darkness that may consume her. With tantalizing twists, slow-burning suspense, and a remote, rural town of just five claustrophobic miles, Bonfire is a dark exploration of the question: can you ever outrun your past?" - Blurb nabbed  from Goodreads

Before I forget - I have a paralegal degree. While I don't have much experience with environmental agencies and law - the last class (most fresh in my mind) was all about Administrative Law.

Returning to a small hometown with success and a mission that compromises the feelings of the people you left behind feelings towards you...it's a premise that's been done before. However, I'm never the one to judge the re-used premise. Especially when it's a classic. Because in the familiar premise is the freedom of choices and a unique perspective - a different take. And that is endlessly fascinating to me. It's a known premise for a reason - it's resonating. It's not just something that's repeating in the fictional world - it's a premise that plays out hundreds and thousands of times over history in the everyday world.

In Bonfire's case - it plays out with the themes of toxic. Toxic environmental factors, toxic friendships, toxic homes, toxic habits, toxic fears. Accompanying 'toxic' is the theme of overcoming and what it takes to get through and recover - for real. There's a difference between running away and suppressing and the rebirthing experience of true recover from toxicity. It plays a recurring theme in Abby's (MC) characterization and plot and the characters around her. Each person is either not recovered but pretending or still actively participating in toxicity or never ever recovered and knows it and now is just..living in the aftermath. Sounds like a fun town, amIright? 

Abby literally stars in two different stories in the same book. Two stories that merge together in the end. It's not entirely surprising - most 'two stories' come together as a general rule so the book doesn't suck. In Bonfire it plays out as (perhaps unintentionally) a homage to the female intuitive powers. The breed of female intuitive powers that are usually considered crazy by those not experiencing them within themselves. I almost thought, as the reader, that she was projecting her obviously suppressed emotions onto certain things and that her (again) suppressed emotions were getting tangled with her purpose in returning. However, (and I won't spoil how it goes down) it doesn't take the reader much to realize that there are two stories and they're heading towards each other in a twisted way. The questions are 'who, what, when, where, why?' do they converge?

Four out of five. Because it's a solid read with solid writing with texture and a theme that has depth.

Until next time,

Jess

P.S. I must confess - the entire time I was reading it I heard Ritter's voice narrate it in my head. As in - the voice over narration stuff she does for Jessica Jones. Not a terrible way to read a book, imo. lol.