Review: The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun

The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun

Independently Published

Publication Date: February 13th, 2023

Paperback. 294 pages.

About The Broken Darkness:

"In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences."

Theresa Braun's The Broken Darkness is a chilling collection of horror stories that all center around what it means to be a human and deal with all the many emotions that come with that. I don't think I expected this collection to be quite as dark as it was, but I found that to be a pleasant surprise and enjoyed seeing the different levels Braun managed to take each of these stories. Before jumping into this review, I'd like to note that there are a lot of content warnings for these stories, so just be aware going into it that there are some intense topics. 

There are thirteen stories (coincidence? I'm thinking not!) in this collection, each containing a general horror vibe, while some had more paranormal elements in them than others, as well. Braun includes a really strong variety of stories ranging from hauntings and the aforementioned paranormal elements, to the deranged actions of some individuals, to the influence of some folkloric and mythic elements that took things to new levels.

A few of my favorites were:

"Dead Over Heels": This story follows Veronica and Sebastian as they meet for a first date, hit it off, and then notice something a bit peculiar happen while on their first date. They move on from this first happening, but as their relationship progresses they decide to figure out just what happened on that first date... and it's definitely not something they ever could have expected. This was a great introduction to the collection as a whole. It wasn't too intense (well, maybe a little at the end!) and laid just enough foundation to really lure me in to wanting to read the rest of the collection.

"Collecting Empties": I really can't say much about this story of a drunken night because it was so short that just about anything would give away too much. I loved how much Braun was able to pack into this short delight of a story and appreciated how much it kept me entertained. It's the short stories like this that often make me really appreciate when authors are able to craft something compelling and succinct.

"Stillborn": This one is probably not for the faint of heart, but I really liked this crazy and shocking story. We follow a nurse, Sylvia, as she begins working for a doctor who has a terrifying side hustle that makes Sylvia realize she is in way over her head. This was a rollercoaster from start to finish and definitely left me feeling uneasy–which is exactly what I want from a horror story!

"Stay Tuned": This one hooked me from the start. We follow a group of 'vigilantes' of sorts who take a lot of matters into their own hands... with methods that probably aren't exactly ones most people would condone. There were some huge twists and shocking moments in this one that left me completely unsure how to feel. I didn't find the latter half quite as compelling as the beginning when we are still getting to know these vigilantes and what they do, but overall I really enjoyed this particular story. 

Overall, I found this to be a very solid collection of stories. As with any anthology, there were certainly stories I enjoyed more than others, and I found just a few that didn't quite live up to the others. There were some with abrupt endings that fit well with the story and left you with an open ending that works well with horror, whereas others felt a bit too abrupt and I felt like there was too many things left unsaid or almost as if the story wasn't as complete as it could have been. However, even if I didn't think a story quite hit the mark in a way I expected it to, I still found myself captivating by at least one aspect in each story and I really liked the different ideas Braun played with throughout this collection. I've given The Broken Darkness four bloody stars!

 

*I received a copy of The Broken Darkness courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Sister, Maiden, Monster by Luca A. Snyder

 

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

Tor Nightfire

Publication Date: February 21st, 2023

Paperback. 272 pages.

About Sister, Maiden, Monster:

"To survive they must evolve. 

A virus tears across the globe, transforming its victims in nightmarish ways. As the world collapses, dark forces pull a small group of women together. 

Erin, once quiet and closeted, acquires an appetite for a woman and her brain. Why does forbidden fruit taste so good? 

Savannah, a professional BDSM switch, discovers a new turn-on: committing brutal murders for her eldritch masters. 

Mareva, plagued with chronic tumors, is too horrified to acknowledge her divine role in the coming apocalypse, and as her growths multiply, so too does her desperation.

Inspired by her Bram Stoker Award-winning story “Magdala Amygdala,” Lucy A. Snyder delivers a cosmic tale about the planet’s disastrous transformation ... and what we become after."

Honestly, I'm not sure where I'm supposed to start with Sister, Maiden, Monster. This book blew my mind at every step and was as fascinating as it was revolting in equal measures. Seriously, keep a strong stomach for this one.

Sister, Maiden, Monster follows three women as a new pandemic sweeps the globe. Like with our own recent experiences with Covid, there is large fallout from this pandemic, but unlike with Covid, this virus has a very different set of symptoms and extremely dangerous consequences. This short novel is split into three parts, one each for Erin, Mareva, and Savannah. We start the story with Erin as she becomes infected and undergoes a very intense illness and recovery–a recovery unlike anything I could've predicted or expected–and slowly moves forward with what her life is like post-infection. Mareva and Savannah's sections include far too many spoilers of sorts, so I'll leave you to discover those on your own. As the story progresses, these three women's lives interconnect in some unforeseeable ways that then take some very surprising twists. 

I really liked the chance to follow Erin through the many different traumatic events of her life after she is infected and has to slowly adapt to a new life. We get a good glimpse into her personal life, and since she is in a close relationship at the start of the novel I appreciated getting to see how this was handled once her infection really set in. I also liked getting to see how the world adjusted to the new horror that is this new apocalyptic virus and what that meant for everyone else. We see a lot more of this adjustment in Mareva's POV, which was probably my second favorite of the three different viewpoints. It was fascinating to see how different businesses continued to work amidst the dangers, and not at all shocking to see how little the government did for many different people. A book like this could easily get lost in the horrors and shock factor, but Snyder did an excellent job at crafting well-developed characters that are full of their own emotions, motivations, and personalities and that really carried the story. 

This book is also not for the faint of heart, and I really mean it when I say it. The body horror is visceral and, for me at least, the images will definitely stick with you. I don't mind some well-written body horror, however, and if you also like it then I think you will really appreciate what Lucy A. Snyder has done with this premise. There's tons of blood and gore and people eating things that people don't typically eat and people getting off on things that most people don't usually find that sexually appealing and, well, a lot more. As disturbing as some things in this book are, I found myself riveted to a degree that I haven't been riveted to a book in ages. 

Sister, Maiden, Monster has a lot of cosmic horror elements that I won't say too much about in order to keep the suspense. The ending is absolutely batshit and there's simply no other way to describe it. This is a very bizarre book and I feel like I can't emphasize that enough, and I also can't recommend it enough. It won't be for everyone, that's for sure, but for those that do get into it, you'll have the time of your life. I think the first section featuring Erin is the strongest and was honestly where I was most riveted, from pre-infection to the very end. And as much as I keep talking about how riveted I was, I'm still not entirely sure if this necessarily has the best pacing and plot progression, mainly in the second two sections, but the sheer compulsiveness of the writing and story somehow make this a book I couldn't put down or stop thinking about. 

Overall, I've given Sister, Maiden, Monster 4.5 stars. If you're ready for something wild, then absolutely pick this book up upon it's release!

*I received a copy of Sister, Maiden, Monster courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry

The Magicians' Daughter by H.G. Parry

Redhook

Publication Date: February 21st, 2023

Paperback. 400 pages.

About The Magician's Daughter:

"It is 1912, and for the last seventy years magic has all but disappeared from the world. Yet magic is all Biddy has ever known. 

Orphaned in a shipwreck as a baby, Biddy grew up on Hy-Brasil, a legendary island off the coast of Ireland hidden by magic and glimpsed by rare travelers who return with stories of wild black rabbits and a lone magician in a castle. To Biddy, the island is her home, a place of ancient trees and sea-salt air and mysteries, and the magician, Rowan, is her guardian. She loves both, but as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she is stifled by her solitude and frustrated by Rowan’s refusal to let her leave. He himself leaves almost every night, transforming into a raven and flying to the mainland, and never tells her where or why he goes. 

One night, Rowan fails to come home from his mysterious travels. When Biddy ventures into his nightmares to rescue him, she learns not only where he goes every night, but the terrible things that happened in the last days of magic that caused Rowan to flee to Hy-Brasil. Rowan has powerful enemies who threaten the safety of the island. Biddy’s determination to protect her home and her guardian takes her away from the safety of Hy-Brasil, to the poorhouses of Whitechapel, a secret castle beneath London streets, the ruins of an ancient civilization, and finally to a desperate chance to restore lost magic. But the closer she comes to answers, the more she comes to question everything she has ever believed about Rowan, her origins, and the cost of bringing magic back into the world."

The Magician's Daughter is a delightfully magical story that is full of charm and all the cozy vibes you're looking for in a winter read. This feels very classic in a sense that reminds me of Dianna Wynne Jones' books where you are stepping into a world of magic, but with a slightly more modern style to it. 

In The Magician's Daughter, we follow Bridget (Biddy) who has grown up on the secluded magical island of Hy-Brasil after being orphaned by a shipwreck when she was just a baby. The magician Rowan found her as a baby and whisked her to safety on Hy-Brasil where he raised her with the help of his rabbit familiar, Hutchinson (Hutch). Now seventeen, Biddy no longer is content with staying secluded on Hy-Brasil and instead yearns to discover more about the world outside of the island, something that becomes a large point of contention between her and Rowan, who refuses to let her leave. Rowan, however, leaves the island every night by transforming into a raven and flying to the mainland for some secret reasons that he never tells her about. When he doesn't return one night, Biddy decides that she has to get involved. 

Biddy is a really fun character that full is full of life and excitement. She came across a little young at times, which made me forget that she was almost seventeen, but I think this fit well with the idea that she had grown up relatively secluded on one island and therefore likely had a different perspective of the world and those around her. She's a very respectful and kindhearted girl, but also rather confident in herself and bold in being not afraid to speak her mind or make her feelings known. Since Biddy doesn't know much of the world outside of the books she reads, when she actually travels to London for the first time her excited view of the world is unfortunately forced to come back down to reality as she is thrust into the world and forced to realize that things aren't quite as lovely or exciting as thinks they are. 

I didn't end up feeling as connected to Biddy as I might've expected to, and I honestly wasn't all that enamored with Rowan, either. Something about Rowan seemed to bother me, and I have one theory as to why. It's one of those situations where we are told about this brilliant, amazing person (Rowan), but when we jump into the story it's right when they start making mistakes or do certain things that paint them in a bad light, so then when the protagonist tries to defend them and say things like "Oh but they're great, they'd never do that," etc., I have a harder time believing or caring about their relationship with one another because I haven't actually ever seen it. This might be a very specific issue that I have with some books, but I noticed it happening a lot in The Magician's Daughter and it always pulls me out just a bit. I did, however, adore Hutch and would consider him to be my favorite character for his personality and the fact that half the time he's a rabbit!

Hy-Brasil is an incredible island setting that seems absolutely lovely and magical and not a little bit enchanted and mysterious. It is hidden by ancient magic and thus can only be found every seven years by those who know how to find it. There is a strong mystique surrounding the island that I think wasn't explored quite as much as it could have been, as I loved spending time there and learning more about it's history and present inhabitants. I found myself desperately wishing to live with Rowan, Hutch, and Biddy on Hy-Brasil and will be forever disappointed that I have to live out here in the boring real world. There is even a mnysterious forest of sorts that houses the devious puca and a variety of other creatures. A good portion of the story takes place off the island of Hy-Brasil, so I think that is the main reason why I wish we spent more time on Hy-Brasil, but I understand that the plot required moving elsewhere and that this is solely a personal wish. 

Parry always excels in creating strong characters and exquisite prose in her books, and The Magician's Daughter is no exception. I also found that she was particularly deft at taking the plot in directions I never really expected at various points throughout the story. I can't really share what some of those directions are because I don't want to spoil anything, but I was genuinely surprised by some of the places we went in this book–including literal physical places we went. 

The magic system seemed very interesting and I liked learning about it generally, but I'm still not entirely sure that I full understand it. I'm also a little confused about Biddy's role in and the fact that she's not technically a witch, but can possibly use magic anyway in more ways than made sense to me? I'm not entirely sure where I got lost, but I have to say that it didn't bother me overmuch because the way the magic was interwoven in the story was done in such a whimsical manner that it felt like soft enough to where it was okay to not know every fine detail. 

Overall, I've given The Magician's Daughter 4.5 stars! I adored this whimsical and engaging new fantasy and would love to revisit this world. 

*I received a copy of The Magician's Daughter courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

Redhook

Publication Date: January 24th, 2023

Paperback. 464 pages.

About Episode Thirteen:

"Fade to Black is the newest hit ghost hunting reality TV show. It’s led by husband and wife team Matt and Claire Kirklin and features a dedicated crew of ghost-hunting experts. 

Episode Thirteen takes them to Matt's holy grail: the Paranormal Research Foundation. This crumbling, derelict mansion holds secrets and clues about the bizarre experiments that took place there in the 1970s. It's also, undoubtedly, haunted, and Matt hopes to use their scientific techniques and high tech gear to prove it. 

But, as the house begins to slowly reveal itself to them, proof of an afterlife might not be everything Matt dreamed of. 

A story told in broken pieces, in tapes, journals, correspondence, and research files, this is the story of Episode Thirteen — and how everything went horribly wrong."

Episode Thirteen is a mixed media horror novel featuring one of my favorite tropes: a classically haunted house that is about to be investigated. The Foundation House is one of the most notorious haunted houses in the country, and Matt and the rest of his ghost hunting TV show crew are excited at this new opportunity to spend time exploring the hauntings–and hopefully make some groundbreaking discoveries in the process. 

I've only read a handful of DiLouie's books at this point, but a familiar thread I've noticed across the ones I've read is that none of them are ever quite what you expect, and/or they go to some weird places, and Episode Thirteen is no exception to that. This starts off as a very typical haunted house study: a ghost hunting film crew gets the rights to spend some time at a house to investigate paranormal activity (by the way–if you want another book with a similar premise, I'd love to suggest Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts for your consideration, but I digress). But once things actually appear to start happening at the house, all bets are off. I can't really tell you anything more specific than that because to do so would be to give away spoilers and completely rob you of your own shock and surprise, but I can say that this book explores some pretty outlandish ideas and delves into some exceptionally unconventional areas. I'm not sure if it was the ending I wanted, but I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the discoveries and journey to get there. 

I know there can be some very mixed feelings about mixed media formats in books, but I tend to really like it as a narrative device and I think DiLouie incorporated the different formats really well. It kept me hooked and made the story read very quickly, which to me heightened some of the suspense. There is a mixture of transcriptions from raw footage, diary entries from each of the characters, some texts and emails, and a few other elements thrown in there. I found the diary entries acted as the "prose chapters" where it felt mostly like reading a diary/first person POV and allowed us to get a closer look at individual characters and their backstories and perspectives on what was happening with the house. 

Matt and Claire are a really curious couple. Matt seeks to find paranormal activity and Claire seeks to debunk it, yet somehow this has worked well for them over the years. I enjoyed watching their dynamic and witness the closeness in their relationship while also observe the subtle cracks or changes that were slowly developing in different areas. Matt is one of those characters who just oozes passion and almost makes you feel as excited about everything going on as he is, but I also find it difficult to connect with this mindset because I tend to be far more skeptical than he is. That being said, I appreciated that he didn't always jump to conclusions of paranormal, but rather allowed for plenty of skepticism to be expressed by Claire or others, and it seemed like there was a good amount of self-awareness present among the crew to keep some things from being too over the top. 

The rest of the crew–Kevin, Jake, and Jessica–also brought some unique perspectives to the story. Kevin, an ex Philly cop who claims to have had his own supernatural experience in the past, is probably the roughest of the crew and also who I occasionally mixed up with the cameraman, Jake. Although I didn't find Kevin or Jake overly compelling as characters, I did like watching their interactions in this book and how their experiences altered as things in the story took some surprising turns. I really enjoyed Jessica's diary entries and getting to know her on a deeper level. Jessica is an actress and has a lot riding on her maintaining this job and getting home safely. I appreciated her viewpoint and also her very authentic reactions to some of the things that happen. The crew as a whole get far more than they bargained for at Foundation House, and I found it fascinating to watch them slowly fracture at different moments as they attempt to come to grips with things. 

Lastly, I wanted to touch on the atmosphere of Episode Thirteen, as I think DiLouie nailed the feeling of a somewhat eerie, haunted setting where you aren't really sure what you're waiting for, but you know you're waiting for something to happen. This isn't a horror that feels consistently terrifying or filled with dread, but there's an ever-present sense of uncertainty that hints at something more, but takes a while to get to something more. There's plenty of levity among the characters, as well as plenty of tension and personal feelings involved that makes this a much more well-rounded story. 

Overall, I've given Episode Thirteen four stars! This is a solid haunted house story with some very big surprises lurking in store, which makes for a highly entertaining read. 

I received a copy of Episode Thirteen courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: God of Neverland by Gama Ray Martinez

God of Neverland (Defenders of Lore #1) by Gama Ray Martinez

HarperCollins US

Publication Date: April 12th, 2022

Hardcover. 352 pages.

About God of Neverland:

"Peter Pan is missing; Neverland is in trouble. For adults, that might not matter all that much, but for children--whose dreams and imagination draw strength from the wild god's power--the magic we take for granted in the real world is in danger of being lost forever. 

Such is the life of a now grown-up Michael Darling. 

Michael returned from Neverland with the dream of continuing his adventuring ways by joining the Knights of the Round, an organization built to keep humanity safe from magical and mythological threats. But after a mission gone terribly wrong, he vowed to leave the Knights behind and finally live as a "civilian," finding order and simplicity as a train engineer, the tracks and schedule tables a far cry from the chaos of his youth. 

He hasn't entered the narrative in years. So what could the Knights need from him now? 

Maponos--or how he's better known, Peter Pan--has gone missing, and Neverland is now on the edge of oblivion. Michael realizes he has no choice and agrees to one last mission. Alongside the young Knight Vanessa and some old friends, Michael embarks on the ultimate adventure: a journey to a fantasy world to save a god. Determined to stop evil, fight for Neverland, and find Maponos, will Michael be able to save the magical and physical world? Or will his biggest fear come true? 

The clock is ticking, and in Neverland, that's never a good sign."

As you may or may not know, I'm a big Peter Pan fan, which means I feel the need to read as many different retellings and Peter Pan-inspired stories I can. God of Neverland follows the grown-up Michael Darling as he is pulled back to Neverland to find out why Peter Pan, also known as the god Maponos (an actual Celtic god from myth), has gone missing. To do this, he has to work with the Knights of the Round once again, an organization meant to act as a safeguard for humanity against magical threats–and an organization he once worked for in the past. 

What I liked: I liked so many things about this book! From the world-building of Neverland to the immense lore and background that was provided about Neverland, the Knights, and other fantastic elements, I constantly felt like a kid in a candy story with the abundance of rich detail and adventure that the author combined into one cohesive story. I thought Martinez also perfectly captured the childlike, "everything's a game and nothing is that serious," and careless attitude of Peter Pan, and I loved that he included Peter Pan as Maponos, thus incorporating real life Celtic mythology into the mix. I also loved the idea of the Knights of the Round acting as a sort of police force to keep magic and mythical beings from disrupting the lives of humans. I really enjoyed getting to know Michael and understanding his background with both Neverland and the Knights, and I love that we got to see Wendy and her own daughter. If you enjoy retellings that take the source and expand it in all the best ways and add tons of detail and fun new additions, then God of Neverland is a book for you. 

What I didn't like: As fun as a lot of the adventure was, sometimes I felt like there was just a bit too much consistent action. It felt like as soon as we neutralized one threat, we were on to another high action scene. While this fits the theme of Peter Pan and Neverland, it was a little tiring as a reader when I wanted to spend a bit more time getting to know the characters or just exploring the lore that has been created. Some of the ways they got out of conflict felt a little too... lucky, at times, as well, but when you're in Neverland I sort of expect that to happen. I also didn't really love or fully understand Vanessa's role in this book, and found myself not connecting with her as much as I did other characters. 

Overall, I've given God of Neverland four stars! Also, it seems there is already a sequel with a release date for this spring... and it looks like it'll be set in Wonderland, so I am unbelievably ecstatic to see what this author does with Alice and all the wondrous things in Wonderland. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

  

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

Doubleday Books

Publication Date: January 10th, 2023

Hardcover. 272 pages.

About Bad Cree:

"When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow's head in her hands, she panics. Only moments earlier she had been fending off masses of birds in a snow-covered forest. In bed, when she blinks, the head disappears. 

Night after night, Mackenzie's dreams return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina's untimely death: a weekend at the family's lakefront campsite, long obscured by a fog of guilt. But when the waking world starts closing in, too--a murder of crows stalks her every move around the city, she wakes up from a dream of drowning throwing up water, and gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina--Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone. 

Traveling north to her rural hometown in Alberta, she finds her family still steeped in the same grief that she ran away to Vancouver to escape. They welcome her back, but their shaky reunion only seems to intensify her dreams--and make them more dangerous. 

What really happened that night at the lake, and what did it have to do with Sabrina's death? Only a bad Cree would put their family at risk, but what if whatever has been calling Mackenzie home was already inside?"

Bad Cree is an incredible new addition to the supernatural horror genre. I have been so excited to see so much more indigenous horror being published lately as well, and Bad Cree is an excellent new addition there as well. Bad Cree follows protagonist Mackenzie as she begins to experience intense dreams where things in those dreams... don't always stay in the dreams. 

This story opens up in one of Mackenzie's dreams where she happening to be dealing with some unruly crows. When she finally manages to wake up from her dream, she does so with a severed crow's head somehow in her hands. The weird part is that this isn't the first time something like this has happened to Mackenzie, and it isn't going to be the last. The story then continues to follow Mackenzie as she starts trying to figure out what these dreams mean. She finally decides it's time to ask her family and decides to travel back home fro the first time since her sister died a year ago, something she'd been putting off as long as she can. 

The author mentions in a brief introduction that she was told by a professor that no one wants to read about dreams in books, and since dreams are such a big part of her culture she felt that was simply wrong and dismissive of her culture, and she decided to write a book almost entirely centered on dreams to prove them wrong–and I'd say she was very successful in doing that! I'll admit, I don't always love dream sequences in books either, but that's probably because they weren't done nearly as well as they were in Bad Cree, nor were they as critical to the plot as they are in this book. Jessica Johns wove the dreams effortlessly into this narrative and made them utterly riveting and critical to the plot. 

Bad Cree is a very character-driven and family relationship-driven story, though it certainly has some strong supernatural horror elements interwoven as well. This is very much a story about Mackenzie learning to come to terms with her sister's death and how it has not only affected her own life, but also her other sister's life and the rest of her family. Mackenzie seemingly did whatever she could to move away from her hometown in order to distance herself and start her own life, and this book really forces her to confront that choice and also confront her family after so much history has happened. 

I really loved the family dynamics at play at this book and getting to see our protagonist go back to her hometown to reconnect with and make amends with her family, all while they learn to band together to deal with whatever is plaguing her. I felt a deep sense of family, community, and female connection in this story between all of the women family members, and I think the author did an incredible job creating that.

As for the supernatural/horror elements of Bad Cree, I felt that Johns created a strong atmosphere that was full of tension, unease, and tons of uncertainty. There's a very general overall eerie vibe in this story due to the weird dreams that start to have potentially dangerous consequences, the cultural stories that play into things, and the general sense of the unknown that's at play. I was excited by how spooky this story was and how Johns used the spookiness to tell both an entertaining story full of creepy moments and a story full of emotional depth and family elements. If you're looking for something that ties all of that together in a really cohesive way, and if you'd like to check out and support more of the awesome indigenous fiction that's been getting published lately, then Bad Cree is what you're looking for!

Overall, I've given Bad Cree four stars! 

*I received a copy of Bad Cree courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter

The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter
Harper

Publication Date: June 28th, 2022

Hardcover. 274 pages.

About The Angel of Rome:

"We all live like we're famous now, curating our social media presences, performing our identities, withholding those parts of ourselves we don't want others to see. In this riveting collection of stories from acclaimed author Jess Walter, a teenage girl tries to live up to the image of her beautiful, missing mother. An elderly couple confronts the fiction writer eavesdropping on their conversation. A son must repeatedly come out to his senile father while looking for a place to care for the old man. A famous actor in recovery has a one-night stand with the world's most surprising film critic. And in the romantic title story, a shy twenty-one-year-old studying Latin in Rome during "the year of my reinvention" finds himself face-to-face with the Italian actress of his adolescent dreams. 

Funny, poignant, and redemptive, this collection of short fiction offers a dazzling range of voices, backdrops, and situations. With his signature wit and bighearted approach to the darkest parts of humanity, Walter tackles the modern condition with a timeless touch, once again "solidifying his place in the contemporary canon as one of our most gifted builders of fictional worlds" (Esquire)."

I didn't initially plan to review this short story collection, as it was one I picked up on a whim during a sale and hadn't heard of prior to that, but I ended up enjoying it so much that I felt it deserved it's own review (and I guess that's a review in itself!). I really didn't know what to expect from this collection of stories going into it, so I was really surprised by how much I loved many of these stories and how immersed I became in many of them. I listened to the audiobook edition of The Angel of Rome and thought the narration by Edoardo Ballerini and Julia Whelan was absolutely perfect. Each narrator managed to captured the voice of whichever story they were narrating deftly and made each one a captivating experience. 

My favorite stories were:

"Mr. Voice": I really enjoyed this take on a blended family and how all of the different familial dynamics played out. The narrative voice of this one features a woman looking back on her childhood with "Mr. Voice" himself, and I appreciated the reflection and insight that was present.

"The Angel of Rome": This story follows a man's time spent in Rome as a student attempting to learn Latin. In Rome, he sort of stumbles into a friendship with an actor, which is also how he meets a famous Italian actress (known as, you guessed it, "the angel of Rome"). He retells his life at this period and how it impacted him, and I loved the ending on this one. 

"The Way the World Ends": This felt like a very impactful story centered on the commonality that exists within humanity. It starts out featuring two climate scientists who meet at a bar and end up realizing that they are both competing for the same job as professor at the local university. It's a surprisingly hopeful story that, although covering a slightly future world in which climate is causing more and more problems that many people choose to ignore, includes some very thoughtful insight on how we can look at the world around us. There is also a rather interesting cast of characters that keeps things entertaining. 

"Fran's Friend Has Cancer": This is a very short, seemingly random vignette following a conversation between a husband and wife at a restaurant. It has an odd little twist that I loved and that added so much discussion-worthy for me to think about. 

Many of the other stories were just as well-written and compelling and each had their own special charm to make them stand out. This was a really stunning collection of stories that touched on so many human emotions, from the comedic to the serious, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something compelling without ever being too heavy. 

Overall, I've given The Angel of Rome five stars!

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: December 6th, 2023

Hardcover. 336 pages.

About The Light Pirate:

"Florida is slipping away. As devastating weather patterns and rising sea levels gradually wreak havoc on the state’s infrastructure, a powerful hurricane approaches a small town on the southeastern coast. Kirby Lowe, an electrical line worker; his pregnant wife, Frida; and their two sons, Flip and Lucas, prepare for the worst. When the boys go missing just before the hurricane hits, Kirby heads out into the high winds to search for them. Left alone, Frida goes into premature labor and gives birth to an unusual child, Wanda, whom she names after the catastrophic storm that ushers her into a society closer to collapse than ever before. 

As Florida continues to unravel, Wanda grows. Moving from childhood to adulthood, adapting not only to the changing landscape, but also to the people who stayed behind in a place abandoned by civilization, Wanda loses family, gains community, and ultimately, seeks adventure, love, and purpose in a place remade by nature. 

Told in four parts—power, water, light, and time—The Light Pirate mirrors the rhythms of the elements and the sometimes quick, sometimes slow dissolution of the world as we know it. It is a meditation on the changes we would rather not see, the future we would rather not greet, and a call back to the beauty and violence of an untamable wilderness."

The Light Pirate is a hauntingly realistic story set in a future world in which weather patterns have become erratic and caused extreme hurricanes and rising water levels to wreak havoc on Florida's land, and likely elsewhere in the world as well.  

What I liked: I loved how realistic this story felt. It's very apocalyptic in nature, but it's all largely the result of climate change. And not only that, but these changes are very gradual and occur over time, which feels very authentic to how we often see things change in real life. It was both interesting and saddening to see how cities would be devastated by the hurricanes and attempt to rebuild, but over time discovered that there was simply too much to rebuild and no way to do it as the storms and water levels increased, which led to the government pulling out resources and slowly but surely residents would pick and leave as well. I enjoyed the POV switches between all members of the Lowe family and getting some insight into each person's experiences. Wanda and Lucas in particular provided a really fascinating look into both child and young adult viewpoints on what it's like growing up in this world. I was also really surprised by some of the directions the author took the story in, but I liked the overall journey. 

What I didn't like: There aren't too many things I actively disliked about The Light Pirate. I would say that the pacing is generally slow overall, and although this worked for most of it there were definitely times when I found things dragging on just a bit too long, especially in the middle/latter portions. I also have to say that I never really found myself overly invested in any of the characters outside of Lucas, and this held the story at arm's length at times for me. Lastly, this peeve is purely personal and doesn't have much to do with the writing or plot so please don't take it too seriously, but... I am so frustrated the daughter's name is Wanda. I fully understand the meaning behind it and how you could see it as a positive thing, but naming your daughter after a devastating and tragic hurricane... I'm going to have to pass on that and try not to be irked every time I read her name. I don't know why it bothers me so much, haha, but it does. 

Overall, I've given The Light Pirate four stars! This is a perfect read for anyone looking for a thoughtful near-future story about what could happen as climate change continues. 

*I received a copy of The Light Pirate courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks
William Morrow and Company
Publication Date: January 25th, 2022
Paperback. 560 pages.

About The Good Wife of Bath:

"In the middle ages, a famous poet told a story that mocked a strong woman. It became a literary classic. But what if the woman in question had a chance to tell her own version? 

England, 1364: When married off at aged twelve to an elderly farmer, brazen redheaded Eleanor quickly realizes it won't matter what she says or does, God is not on her side--or any poor woman's for that matter. But then again, Eleanor was born under the joint signs of Venus and Mars, making her both a lover and a fighter. 

Aided by a head for business (and a surprisingly kind husband), Eleanor manages to turn her first marriage into success, and she rises through society from a cast-off farm girl to a woman of fortune who becomes a trusted friend of the social-climbing poet Geoffrey Chaucer. But more marriages follow--some happy, some not--several pilgrimages, many lovers, murder, mayhem, and many turns of fortune's wheel as Eleanor pursues the one thing that all women want: control of their own lives."

The Good Wife of Bath is a truly remarkable historical fiction story following the fictional life of The Wife of Bath herself from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Although it will likely enhance the reading experience, I do not think it is at all necessary to have read The Canterbury Tales in order to enjoy this book. I absolutely adored this book and would easily consider it a favorite. This is a genuinely absorbing tale full of ups and downs. My heart was filled with joy at many different moments, as well as completely broken at far too many moments as well. 

The Good Wife of Bath begins following the life of Eleanor at the age of twelve when she is first married off to an older tenant former at the age of twelve. From this point, we follow Eleanor through the years and through her marriages to a small array of very different men, all of whom bring something new to Eleanor's life, whether for better or worse. This story follows Eleanor through the many events in her life, from her rise to success as a businesswoman (of sorts) and close friendship with Geoffrey Chaucer, to her pilgrimages and attempts to wrest control of her own life. 

Eleanor has easily because one of my favorite protagonists. She headstrong, intelligent, and always up for something new and stimulating to do. She's also one of the strongest women I've come across. From the age of twelve when she is first married off, to her later years after she's been through multiple marriage and hardships, Eleanor somehow always manages to maintain a sense of determination and (as much as I hate to use the word 'plucky' sometimes) sheer pluckiness that makes her a consistent force to be reckoned with. 

I can't say enough how much I loved following Eleanor throughout her life. Things aren't always that happy to read about, but they are so full of the realities of life and the struggles and hope that come with that. Some of the biggest themes of The Good Wife of Bath are around Eleanor autonomy and how her life seems to constantly be controlled by men–and her trying to figure out how she can run her own life while under the restraints of said men. Watching Eleanor navigate her life while married to such a wide variety of different men was fascinating and surprisingly mesmerizing as well. Although only a twelve year girl at the start, she shows her ability to be observant and learn from the world and people around her quickly, and through this we see her adapt better to her environments and learn how to best communicate with any variety of person she meets, whether a future husband, a neighbor, or someone business-related. She shows her worth as having a shrewd eye for business with her first marriage, and this leads to many different paths later in life for her, both good and bad. She learns the difference between love, lust, and duty, and makes some truly wonderful and close friends along the way. 

I read the The Good Wife of Bath in audiobook format narrated by Fran Burgoyne and it was phenomenal. It's very clear that Burgoyne put a lot of care into capturing the voice of Eleanor, and she does so excellently. I think being able to exhibit Eleanor's personality throughout her life is ac challenging task due to how much she grows and changes and all the difficult times she goes through, and I really loved how Burgoyne captured so much of the emotion and change over the course of the story. Whether you're a seasoned audiobook listener or just getting into it, you cannot go wrong with the quality and narrative excellence of The Good Wife of Bath. 

Lastly, I wanted to add that Karen Brooks has a wonderful author's note at the end of this book that covers many of her choices and thoughts on the historical period and how shoe chose to write the story as she did. For instance, she explains thoroughly why she chose to stick to historical accuracy and begin the story with her main character, a young girl of twelve, marry an old man and include everything that comes with that. She is never explicit or writes for shock factor, but rather writes for what is accurate for the story. Brooks also includes an excellent list of books used for her research for further reading if you find yourself wondering more about the time period. 

Overall, it's an easy five stars from me for The Good Wife of Bath! This is a not a book that I'll be forgetting about anytime soon. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk by Buddy Levy

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: December 6th, 2022

Hardcover. 432 pages.

About Empire of Ice and Stone:

"The true, harrowing story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the two men who came to define it. 

In the summer of 1913, the wooden-hulled brigantine Karluk departed Canada for the Arctic Ocean. At the helm was Captain Bob Bartlett, considered the world’s greatest living ice navigator. The expedition’s visionary leader was a flamboyant impresario named Vilhjalmur Stefansson hungry for fame. 

Just six weeks after the Karluk departed, giant ice floes closed in around her. As the ship became icebound, Stefansson disembarked with five companions and struck out on what he claimed was a 10-day caribou hunting trip. Most on board would never see him again. 

Twenty-two men and an Inuit woman with two small daughters now stood on a mile-square ice floe, their ship and their original leader gone. Under Bartlett’s leadership they built make-shift shelters, surviving the freezing darkness of Polar night. Captain Bartlett now made a difficult and courageous decision. He would take one of the young Inuit hunters and attempt a 1000-mile journey to save the shipwrecked survivors. It was their only hope. 

Set against the backdrop of the Titanic disaster and World War I, filled with heroism, tragedy, and scientific discovery, Buddy Levy's Empire of Ice and Stone tells the story of two men and two distinctively different brands of leadership: one selfless, one self-serving, and how they would forever be bound by one of the most audacious and disastrous expeditions in polar history, considered the last great voyage of The Heroic Age of Discovery."

As someone who can't seem to get enough of reading about polar expeditions and stories of exploration in general (in any climate), I knew Empire of Ice and Stone would be a must-read for me as soon as I saw it. This is an incredible account of the Karluk's 1913 expedition  to the Arctic and the many trials that plagued the men on this journey, along with successes and triumphs in a variety of forms. 

What I liked: Buddy Levy's research for Empire of Ice and Stone is impeccable and he includes an incredibly thorough accounting of all components of the story, from backgrounds of prominent figures to the planning stages to the long, arduous journey itself. I thought Levy wove all of this information into a very coherent and engaging narrative that I found easy to follow along with. No matter how many polar or general exploration expeditions I read about, I will never fail to be dumbfounded by either the lack of planning or the response to the discovery of a problem as "eh, we'll be fine" that seems so common among these leaders (looking at you, Vilhjalmur Stefansson). I really enjoyed learning about Captain Bob Bartlett, and since I always love observing various leadership styles I was pleased to see that Levy highlighted this throughout the book. I also found myself fully invested in many of the people involved in these expedition because of how well Levy portrayed their personalities and actions while out on the ice, and this is part of what really made this book such a captivating story that made me feel as though I were out on the ice with them all (but not really, because that would suck, let's be honest). 

What I didn't like: I don't really have any complaints! I thought this was really compelling, well-written and researched, and because of that I'm not sure what to say as a negative. The expedition itself is pretty long and not always the most exciting, so I could see things maybe dragging a little bit at times, but I didn't find this to be much of an issue. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Flatiron Books

Publication Date: April 5th/July 28th, 2022

Hardcover. 336 pages.

About Four Treasures of the Sky:

"Daiyu never wanted to be like the tragic heroine for whom she was named, revered for her beauty and cursed with heartbreak. But when she is kidnapped and smuggled across an ocean from China to America, Daiyu must relinquish the home and future she imagined for herself. 

Over the years that follow, she is forced to keep reinventing herself to survive. From a calligraphy school, to a San Francisco brothel, to a shop tucked into the Idaho mountains, we follow Daiyu on a desperate quest to outrun the tragedy that chases her. 

As anti-Chinese sentiment sweeps across the country in a wave of unimaginable violence, Daiyu must draw on each of the selves she has been - including the ones she most wants to leave behind - in order to finally claim her own name and story. 

At once a literary tour de force and a groundbreaking work of historical fiction, Four Treasures of the Sky announces Jenny Tinghui Zhang as an indelible new voice. Steeped in untold history and Chinese folklore, this novel is a spellbinding feat."

(*I included both the UK [left] and US [right] covers because I usually include the cover of the edition I read, which was the UK edition, but I also love the US one so wanted to include it as well!)

Four Treasures of the Sky is a story that hit me much harder than I could have anticipated. This is a tragically beautiful story of historical fiction that I think is a must-read and that I found myself almost unable to put down while I was reading it. 

In the beginning of the story, Daiyu tells of how her name is taken from a mythical story of a girl named Daiyu whose fate ends in tragedy. Daiyu is determined not to let her name determine her own fate, and tries her best to avoid it–even though life seems to be doing anything it can to thwart this by throwing obstacle after obstacle into her path. We follow Daiyu over the course of her life, from her struggles in China to her kidnapping to California and eventual escape to Idaho. We meet the many different characters she meets, from the good to the bad to everything in between, and we unfortunately see many different acts of devastation and loss, as well as moments of hope and accomplishment. 

This is one of those books where the protagonist is hit with so much adversity at almost every step of the way that you almost start to wonder how they are able to stay filled with some level of optimism and desire for a better future. But this is how Daiyu shines and acts as an incredible symbol of inspiration and hope that you can take control of your own life and make of it what you can. Zhang's writing allowed me to feel like I was with Daiyu every step of the way, doing my best to understand everything she endured and ceaselessly rooting for her. 

Zhang's writing is stunning and flows almost effortlessly. This is one of those books that does not usual quotations marks for dialogue, so if that is something that bothers you it might be worth knowing going into it. I don't mind this style and thought it worked really well for the story. I liked how Zhang would interweave occasional tales from myth and incorporated a sense of magic at times into the story.

Four Treasures of the Sky also shows the treatment of Chinese people in America in the nineteenth century and during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act. I think that many people may be generally aware of the discrimination and hatred that was displayed towards the Chinese, but I agree with the author's note that much of the details and long-lasting effects are not often taught enough or are not observed as much as other aspects of America's history. I really liked how well this book showcased this period of time and how truly horrifying it was for Chinese people in America. I also appreciated that the author included a great list of books for reference in the author's note for further information into this history, and I intend to look up some of those books now to read more. 

There are a lot of themes explored in Four Treasures of the Sky, from overcoming obstacles and learning one's strengths to trying to stay true to yourself and doing what's right. But the theme that stuck out the most to me was that of agency, and especially agency in relation to being haunted by our names or something "predetermined" or already chosen by our past. I think it's easy to overlook how much influence passive choices and acceptance can affect our lives, and I found it very poignant and compelling to see how Daiyu actively fought against this and refused to let anything else control her life–even when she was constantly forced to do things against her will. For Daiyu, it was more than just the shadow of her name haunting her throughout life, it was the fact that she was constantly put into positions that left her feeling powerless and lacking any agency in the actions of her own life. Because of this, she took every opportunity she had to develop her own agency and live her life the best she could given the circumstances she was placed into, and this is what I think really resonated the most with me. 

Overall, I've given Four Treasures of the Sky five stars. Zhang's prose is absolutely stunning and manages to tell one of the most beautiful and tragic stories I've read in some time. If you are looking for a historical fiction novel that you can really lose yourself in and that has a strong, compelling protagonist and consistent pacing, as well as incredible insights into a very difficult period of time and the struggles that many Chinese faced in America. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly by Sean Lusk

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly

Doubleday

Publication Date: June 9th, 2022

Hardcover. 368 pages.

About The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly:

"In 1754, renowned maker of clocks and automata Abel Cloudesley must raise his new-born son Zachary when his wife dies in childbirth. 

Growing up amongst the cogs and springs of his father's workshop, Zachary is intensely curious, ferociously intelligent, unwittingly funny and always honest - perhaps too honest. But when a fateful accident leaves six-year-old Zachary nearly blinded, Abel is convinced that the safest place for his son is in the care of his eccentric Aunt Frances and her menagerie of weird and wonderful animals. 

So when a precarious job in Constantinople is offered to him, Abel has no reason to say no. A job presented to him by a politician with dubious intentions, Abel leaves his son, his workshop and London behind. The decision will change the course of his life forever. 

Since his accident, Zachary is plagued by visions that reveal the hearts and minds of those around him. A gift at times and a curse at others, it is nonetheless these visions that will help him complete a journey that he was always destined to make - to travel across Europe to Constantinople and find out what happened to his father all those years ago."

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly is every bit as delightful and absorbing as it's beautiful cover. I didn't know a lot about this book going into it, and it ended up being one of those books that's written in such a flowing and captivating way that you can't help but find yourself flowing through faster than you could have expected. If you like stories like Robert Dinsdale's The Toymakers, then I think this is the type of story you might also enjoy.

In The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly, we follow clockmaker Abel Cloudesly and his son, Zachary; Grace Morley and her daughter, Leonora; and Aunt Frances. I adored all of these characters so much, and I especially loved how strong each character's personality was and how different each one was from one another. The story starts out on a rather sad note when Abel's beautiful wife, Alice, dies in childbirth, leaving Abel alone to care for Zachary. This is how his path intertwines with Grace Morley, who becomes a wet nurse for Abel while she nurses her own daughter, Leonora, and intertwines with Alice's Aunt Frances who wants nothing more than to have Zachary come live with and be raised with her at her estate. Without going into too much depth about the rest of the plot, Abel eventually accepts a job offer in Constantinople after a terrifying event occurred involved his son, and it is this decision that leads to his disappearance and Zachary's eventual quest to Constantinople to find his father.

Although this sounds like a very adventurous plot, it's not quite as action-packed as it might sound. Instead, it's much more of a character study and a story that involves discovering family, exploring family relationships, identity, and so much more. It's incredibly immersive and I found myself completely enraptured by Abel's many different clockwork creations. If I were lucky enough to be alive at the same time that Abel was making his creations, I would save as much money as I possibly could so that I could buy his work because it sounds amazing and I love how much effort and soul was put into making each one. 

Abel, Zachary, and Aunt Frances are three very different people with very different passions and ideas of how things should be in life, but I felt as though there strong passions and rather eccentric personalities are also what makes them so similar and form such a strong bond with one another. Aunt Frances is probably the most eccentric with her passionate studies and collection of animals, including her most beloved birds. Zachary is an intensely curious boy who not only excels in his studies but also finds himself able to have visions that can foretell the future and tell him things about people. It's hard for him to relate to other children his own age, and this makes him a bit of a solitary individual at times. Lastly is Abel, who seems like a somewhat introverted figure who prefers spending his time working on his projects and, before her death, doting on his wife. I adored all of these characters and found myself fully connected to them to where I even found their flaws and less positive choices or attributes an important part of them. 

Despite the fact that this story feels very fantastic, it is historical fiction and takes place in our own world. Lusk's world-building, however, is still marvelously crafted and it felt as though I were transported back in time to both London and Constantinople. Lusk's descriptions of Constantinople in particular were exceedingly vivid and well-research, accurately capturing the immense diversity and all-around bustling environment that it was in the 18th century. I couldn't get enough of this vibrant world. Lusk's pacing also felt very consistent throughout–never rushing, never too slow, but a nice consistent pace that really values a thoughtful read. 

Overall, I've given The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly five stars! If you're looking for a story of family, discovery, a little bit of whimsy, and a compelling story, then you really can't go wrong with this one.

Buy the book: Amazon