RIP Cokie Roberts and Jane Mead, Quote of the Day and Vintage 1954 by Antoine Laurain, The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire, The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V Snyder, and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

This has been a rough week for the passing of journalists and actors. Actor Aron Eisenberg, who played Nog on Star Trek's Deep Space 9, died at the age of 50 just a couple of days ago. Cokie Roberts, award winning journalist and household name, also passed recently. With all the icons in music, TV, journalism and film passing away in the past few years, not to mention my own father passing this year, you would think I'd be somewhat acclimated to death by now...but you'd be wrong. I am terrible at grief, it hits me over and over like a bag of bricks in the gut. Still, I like to think that we all, even those of us not granted fame or fortune, leave an indelible mark on the earth before we die. I believe my legacy is found not just in my journalism career, but also in my son, Nick, who is the most amazing and wonderful person I know. Anyway, RIP Cokie Roberts.

Obituary Note: Cokie Roberts

Journalist and bestselling author Cokie Roberts http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41897713, "who joined an upstart NPR in 1978 and left an indelible imprint on the growing network with her coverage of Washington politics before later going to ABC News," died September 17, NPR reported. She was 75. Roberts was one of NPR's "most recognizable voices and is considered one of a handful of pioneering female journalists--along with Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg--who helped shape the public broadcaster's sound and culture at a time when few women held prominent roles in journalism."

Roberts was the author of six books, mostly recently Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868, which examined the role of powerful women in the Civil War era. Her other titles include Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation; Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation; We Are Our Mothers' Daughters; and From This Day Forward (with husband Steven V. Roberts).

Roberts "grew up walking the halls of Congress" as the daughter of Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., a former Democratic majority leader of the House who served in Congress for more than three decades before dying in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972, NPR noted. Her mother, Lindy Claiborne Boggs, took her husband's seat and served for 17 years, and also served as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.

George Will, who worked with Roberts on ABC's This Week, said, "She liked people on both sides of the aisle and had friends on both sides of the aisle. If you don't like the game of politics, I don't see how you write about it well. She liked the game of politics and she understood that it was a game."

The New York Times reported that in a statement, Michelle and Barack Obama called Roberts "a trailblazing figure http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41897714; a role model to young women at a time when the profession was still dominated by men; a constant over 40 years of a shifting media landscape and changing world, informing voters about the issues of our time and mentoring young journalists every step of the way."

Quotation of the Day

Indie Bookstores 'Stretch My Existing Notions of the World

"Indie bookstore are some of my favorite places in the world. Since high school I've always hung out in bookstores, exploring shelves, discovering things I would never have encountered through a web browser. I absolutely love the physical connection to books--holding them in my hands, talking with staff, reading the shelf-talkers. Indie bookstores have always been the place to not just find what I might like, but also what might challenge me and stretch my existing notions of the world."

--David Yoon whose novel Frankly in Love (Putnam Books for Young Readers) is a top choice for the Fall 2019 Kids Indie Next List  in a q&a with Bookselling This Week

 Another person passed who was a poet and co owner of Prairie Lights, one of the most famous bookstores in Iowa.

Obituary Note: Jane Mead

Jane Mead http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41901518, poet and a co-owner of Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa, died September 8, the Napa Valley Register reported. She was 61. Mead was the author of five books of poetry and a chapbook, all of which were collected in To the Wren: Collected and New Poems 1991-2019, published in August by Alice James Books.

In a tribute, Alice James wrote http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41901520: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear Jane Mead. Her life was all too brief, and already we feel the loss of her presence among us acutely. What Jane gave us was an extraordinary gift. Her work expanded our poetic philosophy, as she sought to write within, around, and into the certainty of uncertainty, the mystery of our being and our relationship to the natural world. She demonstrated a careful and abiding love for the land and its creatures in her life and work. Her poetry transformed the landscape of American letters, exemplifying what the very best of our craft could achieve.

"A private soul and one known to delight as much in solitude as time spent with dear friends, we see the way Mead's quiet tenacity influences and shapes our desires for living a life of observation, contemplation, and sincerity.... We miss her greatly. We love her dearly. We are utterly changed by her always. Thank you, Jane."

Mead's books include The Lord and the General Din of the World (1996), The House of Poured-Out Waters (2001), The Usable Field (2008), Money Money Money Water Water Water (2014), and World of Made and Unmade (2016).

"An ardent advocate for the writing and reading life," Mead was also co-owner http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41901521, along with poet Jan Weissmiller, of Prairie Lights, which celebrated its 40th birthday recently, the Register noted.

Vintage 1954 by Antoine Laurain is a saucy French romantic comedy novel (with a bit of fantasy/science fiction woven into the plot) that is short (about 200 pages) and as delicious as a flute of chilled champagne. Though it's translated from French to English, the translator has managed to keep the novel's French spirit completely intact, as we watch the alluring characters and wild situations unfold. Here's the blurb: Delightfully nostalgic escapism set in a gorgeously conjured Paris of 1954
When Hubert Larnaudie invites some fellow residents of his Parisian apartment building to drink an exceptional bottle of 1954 Beaujolais, he has no idea of its special properties.
The following morning, Hubert finds himself waking up in 1950s Paris, as do antique restorer Magalie, mixologist Julien, and Airbnb tenant Bob from Milwaukee, who's on his first trip to Europe. After their initial shock, the city of Edith Piaf and An American in Paris begins to work its charm on them. The four delight in getting to know the French capital during this iconic period, whilst also playing with the possibilities that time travel allows. But, ultimately, they need to work out how to get back to 2017, and time is of the essence...

The prose is effervescent and rich with details of Paris in the 50s, while the plot, predictable as it is, moves along with alacrity. Being American, I was particularly thrilled with the references to various American TV shows and motorcycles, and I loved how innocent American Bob was, and his wish for his wife to get better. If you're looking for a sweet beach read, or even one for a rainy afternoon in September, this should fit the bill nicely. I'd give it an A, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in a short and satisfying read.

The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire is the 13th novel in her urban fantasy October Daye series. though I have had a couple of problems with the main character, Toby the changeling's vomiting (and not eating regularly) in the past, I must say that in this book she only throws up once, and that is due to seasickness, which is perfectly understandable. She does, however, get stabbed and shot and beaten a few times, so the bloody part of her heroics (and her compatriots lack of effort in helping keep her from being stabbed in the back) remains a strong part of the plot. That said, there were more helpers making a difference here than in past books, and the fact that some of them were octopi wielding knives and tridents made this all the sweeter. Here's the blurb: Hundreds of years ago, the Selkies made a deal with the sea witch: they would have the sea for as long as she allowed it, and when the time came, she would call in all their debts at once. Many people assumed that day would never come. Those people were wrong.

When the Luidaeg—October "Toby" Daye's oldest and most dangerous ally—tells her the time has come for the Selkies to fulfill their side of the bargain, and that Toby must be a part of the process, Toby can't refuse. Literally. The Selkies aren't the only ones in debt to the Luidaeg, and Toby has to pay what she owes like anyone else. They will travel to the fabled Duchy of Ships and call a convocation of the Selkies, telling them to come and meet the Luidaeg's price...or face the consequences.

Of course, nothing is that simple. When Dianda Lorden's brother appears to arrest Dianda for treason against the Undersea, when a Selkie woman is stripped of her skin and then murdered, when everything is falling apart, that's when Toby will have to answer the real question of the hour. Is she going to sink? Or is she going to swim?

Toby comes up with a reasonable solution to all the problems set forth, however, I found the ending confusing and strange. SPOILER: I have questions! Are the Selkies still living on borrowed time? Are they going to be swimming with the Roane in mixed packs, or just sharing the sea? I enjoyed the peek into the world of the sea goddesses, but I found myself wondering when are we going to find the three fae god/goddesses responsible for all these messes that Toby ends up having to clean up, and when are they going to deal with all the havoc they've left in their wake, via their firstborns and their many grandchildren. Still, though the novel starts out a bit slow due to info dumping about what has gone on in the previous 12 books, the sterling prose gets things moving pretty quickly and then the plot takes off and never slows down until right before the somewhat messy ending. I'd give this book a B+ and recommend it to anyone who has read all the other October Daye books.

The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V Snyder is the start of a new fantasy series that Snyder has published in Australia, which is why it took me about 6 weeks to procure a copy. I've read everything else that Snyder has written, though I loved her Poison Study series the best, probably because I read it first and fell in love with the wonderful characters. This book is something of a departure for Snyder, though it's still a fantasy set in a desert world similar to Dune or Aladdin. The dystopian civilization that the author has built is intricate and unusual, while not being so intrusive that it overwhelms the characters. Here's the blurb: Shyla is a researcher who resides in the underground desert city of Zirdai, which is rules by the wealthy Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess. Even though Shyla is sun-kissed (an outcast from birth, considered cursed by the Sun Goddess) she is still renown for uncovering archaic facts, lost artifacts, ancient maps and obscure historical documents. Her quiet life is about to change when Banqui,an archaeologist, client and friend enlists her services to find the Eyes of Tamburah, legendary gemstones that bestow great magic on their wielder. These ancient objects can tip the balance of power and give whoever possesses them complete control of the city. But chaos erupts when the Eyes are stolen soon after they're found, and Shyla is blamed for the theft. Forced to flee, with the Princes soldiers and the Priestesses deacons on her trail, Shyla must must recover the jewels and clear her name, a quest that will unearth secrets more valuable than the Eyes themselves. 

While I enjoyed the colorful sands and unique animals (floating manatee like creatures that are tethered like furry balloons to the hot surface of the planet, and only come down by dumping gas from bags inside of them when it's cooler), I had a little problem with how cruel and harsh everyone but Shyla was, from the homeless population who try to kill her to the monks who won't help her without remuneration or tests of some kind (or her oath that she will become a monk and stay at the abbey, something she has no desire or intention of doing) to both sides of the political spectrum, with a vicious prince and a ruthless, cruel priestess who keep sending guards out to capture and kill her. Even the "good guys" of the Invisible Sword hold her hostage for a dozen days and torture her the whole time. I found it difficult to believe in a society that has no safe places, no places of refuge for a talented young woman. That said, Snyder's prose is as lush and elegant as ever, dancing along on a graceful plot that moves cautiously at first and then moves faster than a sandstorm. I'd give this new series an A, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical middle-eastern fantasy. 

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is an entrancing YA Southern fantasy somewhat similar to Charlaine Harris' works with some Cassandra Clare mixed in for good measure. There's even some delightful reference to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The author's prose is deep and delicious, while the plot has just the right amount of twists and turns to keep the reader's interest all the way through to the end. I couldn't put it down, once I started reading this hefty tome. Here's the blurb: 

Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love. The satisfying conclusion is sure to lead directly into a sequel. —Amy J. Chow, The Brearley School, New York City, for School Library Journal.

I agree that the style of these authors has the same allure and thrill as the Gothic romance of Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire. I was spellbound by the creepy magical house and Lena's weird, scary relatives. Ethan's bizarre family, from his broken father to his friends who aren't really his friends, I was hooked from page one, eager to find out what happens next. In fact, I have the nest two books in the series on hold at the library. This meaty tome (565 pages) is well worth the time it takes to read it, and well worth an A. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Sookie Stackhouses stories via Charlaine Harris, or Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. 

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B&N Book Club's Pick, Quote of the Day, Paper Boat Booksellers Opens in West Seattle, Empire of Ruins and Island of Doom by Arthur Slade, The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs, The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee, and the Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

Good day to everyone on this rainy Sunday afternoon. I am finally getting the blog updated after a roller coaster of a week of emotional and physical ups and downs. Throughout it all, however, I was able to enjoy some wonderful new books, some purchased online and others given by the new ASL librarian at the Maple Valley library during her annual talk for my book group. This young woman is now in charge of the MV, Covington, Black Diamond and Enumclaw libraries, so we were fortunate that she took the time to give us a list of books for consideration for next year's reading roster. She also brought a bin full of ARCs that we could sift through and keep, so I waddled over as fast as my cane would get me, and scooped up 6 preview copies of works that come out this fall or winter. Exciting! Anyway, here are some interesting tidbits from Shelf Awareness.

I can hardly wait to read this book, however, I think I will have to wait until the price goes down significantly before I invest in a copy.

B&N's September Book Club Pick: The Testaments

Barnes & Noble has chosen The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Nan A. Talese, $28.95, 9780385543781) as its September national book club selection. The novel, which will be released tomorrow, will be the focus of a book club night at B&N stores around the country on Wednesday, October 9, at 7 p.m.

Liz Harwell, B&N's senior director of merchandising, trade books, said, "Margaret Atwood's much-anticipated sequel to the now classic The Handmaid's Tale takes readers back to Gilead 15 years later to follow three female characters, connected to Offred, living in the patriarchal totalitarian regime. We can't wait to put this book in the hands of readers and then invite them back to our stores to hear their reactions and insights to this landmark publication." For more information on the event, click here http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41791336.

 Margaret Atwood is an amazing author, and famous for her snarky wit and wisdom. I totally agree with her sentiments on Amazon's "accidental" embargo violation.

Quotation of the Day

Atwood on Breaking the Embargo

"I think anybody putting an embargo in place in the future should attach a dollar amount. They should say if you violate the embargo, this is what it will cost you and that money will go to independent bookstores."

--Margaret Atwood on Amazon's violation of the embargo for her new novel, The Testaments (officially on sale today), in a BBC interview http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41792963.

 I really wish that someone would drive me to West Seattle so that I could visit this new bookstore. It sounds delightful.

Paper Boat Booksellers Opens in West Seattle

Paper Boat Booksellers http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41816195, a general-interest independent bookstore with titles for all ages, opens today in West Seattle, Wash. The 1,680-square-foot store has around 1,200 sq. ft. of selling space and carries all new books, along with a selection of sidelines including journals and toys.Store owners Desirae and Eric Judy had planned for a soft opening on Saturday but, due to a systems failure, had to postpone until today. The store's first event, an author talk with Nicole Meier (The Second Chance Supper Club) and Jennifer Gold (The Ingredients of Us), is scheduled for Friday evening, and will feature a discussion, book signing and "sweet treats." An official grand opening, meanwhile, will likely take place in late September or October.

The store made its debut as a pop-up shop in April, with the Judys setting up in a gift shop in West Seattle on Independent Bookstore Day. They signed their lease for a space on California Ave. in early May.

Empire of Ruins and Island of Doom by Arthur Slade are the 3rd and 4th books in his Hunchback Assignments series. The 4th book is the final one in the series, so, Slade ended it on a high note, with lots of resolutions for the characters and a solid breakup of the bad guys, AKA the Clockwork Guild organization. These steampunk adventures are fairly well written, without an ounce of fat or fluff on the plot to slow down the precision prose. They're short novels, weighing in under 300 pages, and the characters are well defined into black hats and white hats (Good vs Evil). The main character, Modo, is a steampunk version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame's Quasimodo, and his partners in spycraft are a young cockney thief saved from the streets, Octavia, and a Japanese/French young spy who becomes obsessed with Modo named Collette. There's Mr Socrates, an old British military man who heads up the PA group of covert operatives bound to save the Empire from the Clockwork Guild, and Tharpa, the Indian servant who teaches weapons and martial arts to the young spies. There's also Mrs Finchly who teaches acting to the spies, but she also acts as a surrogate mother to Modo. Here's the blurbs: Empire of Ruins: Secret agent Modo's next assignment? Find ancient Egyptian ruins hidden deep in the Australian jungle and the mysterious God Face, rumoured to be a powerful weapon—anyone who looks upon it will be driven mad. And he must find the God Face before the evil Clockwork Guild does! Island of Doom: After previous assignments in London, the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Australian rain forest, this final adventure in the Hunchback Assignments series finds our hero, shape-shifting, masked spy Modo, on his most personal quest. Along with fellow spy Octavia Milkweed, they search for Modo's biological parents. But when the Clockwork Guild find Modo's parents first, Octavia and Modo chase them across Europe and North America to the Island of Doom. Joined by memorable characters from the first three books—some lovable, and some who are terrifying and evil—Modo and Octavia dash towards a thrilling conclusion.

Though I enjoyed these adventures I found Modo to be inordinately concerned with his looks, and how the young women, especially, are revolted by his disfigurement. Women in general are much more likely to overlook men's physical appearance in favor of their minds, or hearts or talents, and particularly the way that they treat women and children...if they are kind and generous and loving, (not violent or cruel or abusive) with a good heart and soul, and with enough money to support a family, a majority of women I know are very willing to love and attach themselves to men deemed "ugly" by physical appearance alone. Women tend to be much more vigorous in their own self hatred and critical of their every bodily flaw. You can see examples of this everywhere, in movies, TV and Hollywood in general, where there are numerous men that no one would call handsome who are attached to or married to beautiful women. So I found Modo's sidekicks, Colette and Octavia, to be cliched and stereotypical in how they behaved toward Modo, being nauseated by his face and yet fascinated by his talent for shapeshifting. They both also seemed somewhat stupid and clueless at times, while Modo was somehow held up as being the pinnacle of intellect because he has a good memory. Yet Modo reacted like an emotional child many times, and had to be saved from his own folly by Tavia 4 times. Still, this was an enjoyable series that I'd grade at a B+, and recommend to anyone who likes YA steampunk.

The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs was recommended to me because I enjoyed books by the late Dorothea Benton Frank and Fanny Flagg. Wiggs is a local PNW author, and is mainly known for her romance novels set in the Puget Sound area. So I splurged and got a hardback copy of the book in hopes that it would live up to author Adriana Trigiani's enthusiastic back cover blurb. Unfortunately, the redundancy and cliches/romance tropes proved to be too much for me to overlook when reading this book, so I found myself wishing that I had gotten a copy from the library instead. Here's the blurb:

At the break of dawn, Caroline Shelby rolls into Oysterville, Washington, a tiny hamlet at the edge of the raging Pacific.

She’s come home.
Home to a place she thought she’d left forever, home of her heart and memories, but not her future. Ten years ago, Caroline launched a career in the glamorous fashion world of Manhattan. But her success in New York imploded on a wave of scandal and tragedy, forcing her to flee to the only safe place she knows.
And in the backseat of Caroline’s car are two children who were orphaned in a single chilling moment—five-year-old Addie and six-year-old Flick. She’s now their legal guardian—a role she’s not sure she’s ready for.
But the Oysterville she left behind has changed. Her siblings have their own complicated lives and her aging parents are hoping to pass on their thriving seafood restaurant to the next generation. And there’s Will Jensen, a decorated Navy SEAL who’s also returned home after being wounded overseas. Will and Caroline were forever friends as children, with the promise of something more . . . until he fell in love with Sierra, Caroline’s best friend and the most beautiful girl in town. With her modeling jobs drying up, Sierra, too, is on the cusp of reinventing herself.
Caroline returns to her favorite place: the sewing shop owned by Mrs. Lindy Bloom, the woman who inspired her and taught her to sew. There she discovers that even in an idyllic beach town, there are women living with the deepest of secrets. Thus begins the Oysterville Sewing Circle—where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden.
Yet just as Caroline regains her creativity and fighting spirit, and the children begin to heal from their loss, an unexpected challenge tests her courage and her heart. This time, though, Caroline is not going to run away. She’s going to stand and fight for everything—and everyone—she loves.

  There is a tremendous amount of discussion and definition of sexual and physical abuse in this novel, so if Domestic Violence triggers you, I'd avoid reading it. One of the problems I had with the book is that they kept repeating these definitions and discussions over and over, along with a number of platitudes and cliches that read like something out of a DV pamphlet or a psychology text on why women allow themselves to be beaten and abused, only to return to their abusers. I kept wanting to shout "I GOT IT THE FIRST TIME!" at Wiggs when another paragraph on DV and drug abuse showed up. The fact that the sewing circle was mainly there to listen and not judge was a great thing, but they didn't seem to want to actually go toward the next step of helping DV victims with housing and jobs and legal help in escaping the cycle of violence and poverty. And our protagonist, Caroline, seems to go from not knowing how to parent two mixed race children to suddenly loving them so fiercely that she'd give up her hard-won career and reputation to keep them from their abusive scumbag father. The last two chapters have such a rushed feeling to them, that it seems like Caroline did a couple of emotional 360s and decided love is more important than her career in fashion design. Of course, the romance tropes are all there, with the petite heroine and the huge muscular beefcake hero who only realize their love in the final pages. Blech. Still, I'd give this book a C+, and recommend it to those who like their romances predictable and their novels full of redundant prose.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee is a historical YA novel about the 19th century treatment of Chinese and Chinese Americans in the Southern United States. Lee's prose glistens and glimmers along the beautifully woven plot. Here's the blurb: "A triumph of storytelling. A bold portrait of this country's past, brilliantly painted with wit, heartbreak, and unflinching honesty. Everyone needs to read this book." —Stephanie Garber,New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender. While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light. With prose that is witty, insightful, and at times heartbreaking, Stacey Lee masterfully crafts an extraordinary social drama set in the New South.
I have to say that I agree with Stephanie Garber's assessment of this novel, everyone should read it, it's that well written and researched. I loved Jo and her grandfather, Old Gin, and I was amused and delighted by Jo's bold step in writing the Miss Sweetie column, which had such witty and wise advice, especially coming from a teenager, albeit one who is wise beyond her years. Unfortunately, we never find out if Jo finds a way to marry Nathan without causing trouble with the laws that forbid the mixing of races at that time. Still, it is worth the price of admission to read of Jo's journey to self reliance. I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who is curious about this era of history and the Chinese people who were left behind. 

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins was recommended to me because I usually love books about bookworms/bibliophiles, and I also like magic realism or just urban fantasy where magic is woven into the plot, often to delightful effect. Here's the blurb: The residents of Dove Pond, North Carolina, know three things: they have the finest bar-b-que this side of Atlanta, their Apple Festival is the best that ever was, and the town has phenomenal good luck whenever the Dove family has seven daughters. Fortunately, that time is now, because Dove Pond desperately needs a miracle.
The seventh daughter, Sarah Dove, believes in all things magical. Books have whispered their secrets to her since she was a child. Now the town librarian, she makes sure every book finds the reader who most needs it. But recently the books have been whispering something different—that change is about to come to Dove Pond. Sarah is soon convinced that the legendary Dove Pond good luck has arrived in the form of new resident, Grace Wheeler.
After the tragic death of her sister, Grace has moved to Dove Pond with her grieving young niece and ailing foster mother hoping to retrench financially and emotionally before returning to her fast-paced city life. But she soon learns that life in a not-so-sleepy town isn’t as quiet as she’d hoped. Despite her best efforts to focus on her family, she can’t avoid the townspeople, especially her next-door neighbors, the quirky and talkative Sarah Dove and cynical veteran Chris Parker. Grace’s situation grows more complicated when she assumes her duties as town clerk and discovers that Dove Pond is on the verge of financial ruin.
Already overburdened by her own cares, Grace tries to stay aloof from the town’s issues, but she’s never been good at resisting a challenge. With Sarah’s encouragement, and inspired by the wise words of a special book, Grace decides to save her new town. And in her quest, she discovers the rich comfort of being a part of a loving community, the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the heartfelt power of finding just the right book.
With Karen Hawkins’s “fast, fun, and sexy”  prose, The Book Charmer is a feel-good story with plenty of heart that will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman. 

I have to agree with the blurb, that Hawkins prose is fun and sexy and moves along the plot like greased lightening. I am also a huge fan of Sarah Addison Allen's and Alice Hoffman's magical tales, so I was thrilled that one of the protagonists, Sarah Dove, could actually talk to books and hear their words in talking back to her, when they recommend who needs to read them next. In fact, I wish that there had been more of Sarah Dove's discussions with books old and new, and less of sourpuss Grace Wheeler's whining and cold attitude toward the town where she's taken refuge. I loved Travis, or Trav, as he's called, and in my mind he looked just like Jason Momoa, who is hotter than Hades and has a really cool motorcycle that he likes to work on. I was thrilled that everything worked out so well for the town, but I was bummed that we never find out if Sarah gets together with the hottie sheriff guy whom she's been in love with for decades. Still, this book was loads of fun, and I'd give it an A, and recommend it to anyone who likes books, magical realism and small towns full of quirky characters. 

Nowhere Bookshop, RIP Terrance Dicks and Dorothea Benton Frank, My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, Reticence by Gail Carriger and Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Though I wasn't a huge fan of her books, (I found them ridiculously overhyped and not as funny as most people did), I do love reading Jenny Lawsons Bloggess blog, which is much more amusing than her books, and allows people to get some insight into her life, living with mental illness. At any rate, I was chuffed to read that she's opening a bookstore/bar in her home town, Nowhere Bookshop, and I sincerely wish her the best of luck and success.

Author/Blogger Jenny Lawson to Open Bookstore/Bar in San Antonio

Author and blogger Jenny Lawson has signed a lease for a combination bookstore and bar http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41704366 in San Antonio, Tex., that will be called Nowhere Bookshop, reported SA Current.

Lawson, aka The Bloggess http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41704367, is the author of You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds (Flatiron), Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir (Berkley) and Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (Flatiron). She tweeted on Saturday, "Big, terrifying news. Today I'm signing the lease for my bookstore bar. I want to vomit and cry all at the same time. Get ready for Nowhere Bookshop, San Antonio."Lawson added that the space needs work, including a new floor, so Nowhere Bookshop won't open for a while.

Anyone who loves Doctor Who, especially the classic Doctors, knows the huge impact of writer Terrance Dicks. I was so sad to read of his passing. RIP.

Obituary Note: Terrance Dicks

Terrance Dicks http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41730789, children's author and writer of numerous Doctor Who novels and episodes, died August 29. He was 84. The Guardian reported that Dicks "had a long association with the BBC's longest-running sci-fi show," writing episodes from the late 1960s until the early 1980s. He also served as its script editor from 1968 to 1974.

Chris Chibnall, the program's current producer and showrunner, paid tribute to "one of the greatest contributors to Doctor Who's history, on-screen and off... As the most prolific and brilliant adapter of Doctor Who stories into Target novels, he was responsible for a range of books that taught a generation of children, myself included, how pleasurable and accessible and thrilling reading could be. Doctor Who was lucky to have his talents. He will always be a legend of the show."

In the 1970s and 80s Dicks wrote children's fiction, as well as more than 50 Doctor Who spin-off novels between 1974 and 2007, including The Sarah Jane Adventures. His other books include The Pyramid Incident and The Transylvanian Incident from Picadilly Press' The Unexplained series.

Author Jenny Colgan, who writes Doctor Who books under the name J.T. Colgan, said that Dicks's novelizations were "always the best.... Like many children's authors he was wildly undervalued--despite being a key ingredient in a lifelong love of reading, particularly among boys, he received almost no official recognition whatsoever. He claimed to be no stylist but his short chapters, clear sentences and ability to get to the point extremely quickly influenced a generation of writers."

His agent, Hilary Delamere told the Bookseller http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41730790>:

"Not only was Terrance Dicks admired and respected by all his Dr. Who fan-base but Brenda Gardner, who published him first at WH Allen and then on her Piccadilly Press list for over 30 years, said he was an editor's dream author--delivering his well-written manuscripts on time, always open to editorial suggestions and felt that the author/editor relationship was always strengthened by alternating who paid for lunch!"

Albert De Petrillo, publishing director, BBC Books, described him as "a legend, and a major influence not only as script editor for the show, but also as a novelist."

Author Neil Gaiman tweeted http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41730791: "I remember reading his and Malcolm Hulke's book The Making of Doctor Who when I was 11 or 12, and deciding then that I would one day write an episode of Doctor Who, because they had shown me how. RIP Terrance Dicks."

Another great author passed recently, the Geechee Girl herself, Dorothea Benton Frank. I read more than a few of her books, and always found them entertaining and soothing, because they were comfortable and easy to figure out, plot wise. RIP DBF.

Obituary Note: Dorothea Benton Frank

Dorothea Benton Frank http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41732797, author of 20 novels set in South Carolina's Lowcountry, died September 2. She was 67 and had had "a brief but intense battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a type of cancer similar to leukemia," the Post and Courier reported.

Her novels, always commercially successful, "spin yarns about family love and conflict, friends who leave and return, impressive matriarchs--almost always set in the sands of South Carolina barrier islands," the paper wrote. "These are, literally, beach reads." Frank's most recent book, Queen Bee, was published in May by Morrow. Other titles included Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, Pawley's Island and Folly Beach.

Frank also "cultivated a public persona, promoted the Charleston area, hosted expansive events for her readers and made public appearances at book events. For years, she co-hosted the Post and Courier Book & Author Luncheon. Her fans could be content simply reading her novels, but they often had opportunities to immerse themselves in a Dottie Frank Lowcountry experience."

Carrie Feron, Frank's editor at William Morrow, who worked on her last 15 books, told the Post and Courier: "She was a big part of my life. She was vibrant and fun and fearless. She was a great collaborator." At annual copy editing sessions at Frank's South Carolina home (she also had a home in Montclair, N.J.), "she made me fall in love with a little island off the coast of South Carolina," Feron added. "It's such a special place, and she was so generous about it."

Cassandra King, author and wife of the late Pat Conroy, called Frank "a force of nature" with "such a big heart," the paper wrote. She recalled how much Conroy liked Frank, saying they "were so funny together. She called him Fat Boy and he called her the Dotted One."

On Facebook, Hub City Writers Project Spartanburg, S.C., wrote in part http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41732799: "It is fitting that her last book was titled Queen Bee, because that's what Dottie was. And we know how lucky we were to welcome her for the past seven years when, on schedule (but maybe a few minutes late), she would whoosh into town to entertain her unflagging fans who came out by the hundreds from as far away as Kentucky to see their beloved friend, Dottie. For that was her gift. Whether someone tagged along to see Dottie for the first time or if a regular attending for the seventh year in a row, everyone--and I mean everyone--considered Dottie Frank a friend.

"She was also a very savvy writer who wrote richly appealing books that she promoted shrewdly and tirelessly. Her messages were subtle but she was fierce in her defense of causes she felt keenly: domestic violence and environmental advocacy, among others. She was talented, hardworking and an absolute joy to be around."

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell is this month's book from my library book group. I've read this and two other books by Durrell when I was a child more than 40 years ago, so I only had a vague memory of the prose and plot of this funny and fascinating work of non fiction. However, there is a show that is "inspired" by this book on PBS called "The Durrells in Corfu" that basically took the bones/premise of the book and then just went crazy with it, leaving behind a lot of funny and wonderful Greek characters and making many of the family members into romantic figures, while relegating the author himself to a secondary role, when he's the protagonist of the book and all their family antics are filtered through his budding naturalist's lens. Durrell's prose is rich, detailed and often florid to the nth degree. When I was young, I loved purple, florid prose because I felt that authors should be as drunk on words and wordcraft as I was. Now, decades later, it seems a bit excessive. Here's the blurb: The inspiration for The Durrells in Corfu, a Masterpiece production on public television: A naturalist’s account of his childhood on the exotic Greek island.

When the Durrells could no longer endure the gray English climate, they did what any sensible family would do: sold their house and relocated to the sun-soaked island of Corfu.
As they settled into their new home, hilarious mishaps ensued as a ten-year-old Gerald Durrell pursued his interest in natural history and explored the island’s fauna. Soon, toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies—as well as scorpions, geckos, ladybugs, praying mantises, octopuses, pigeons, and gulls—became a common sight in the Durrell villa.
Uproarious tales of the island’s animals and Durrell’s fond reflections on his family bring this delightful memoir to life. Capturing the joyous chaos of growing up in an unconventional household, My Family and Other Animals will transport you to a place you won’t want to leave.

Unfortunately, the overstuffed sentences became tedious after awhile, but that didn't prevent me from laughing uproariously at the hilarious mishaps of the family Durrell. I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who loves nature and all manner of flora and fauna, including reptiles and insects. 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a beautifully crafted retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in alternate worlds, our modern one and the kingdom of Emberfall. Our heroine is a young woman, Harper, disabled by Cerebral Palsy who works to help her brother commit crimes to keep the mob from killing her mother, who is dying of cancer, and her brother, Josh, who is trying to deal with their loser fathers loan repayments (the father, of course, fled, leaving behind his children to handle a situation that would be deadly for an adult). The prose is stellar, full of wonderfully-crafted scenes that make the plot move so fast it's almost a blur. This is the kind of book you start reading and then discover that you haven't put it down in 8 hours and are nearly finished being engrossed by the gripping story. Here's the blurb: Fall in love, break the curse.
It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she's instead somehow sucked into Rhen's cursed world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

SPOILER: I think it's fascinating that the beast isn't some Disney-esque lion-like creature, but instead is a dragon with razor sharp claws, teeth and scales who kills every living thing he encounters. It's also interesting that Harper doesn't break the curse, in the end, it's a half brother who sacrifices himself for the sake of the kingdom. I also loved that Harper didn't let her disability stop her from being fierce and smart and helping others whenever she could. Seriously deserving of an A, I'd recommend this wonderful book to anyone who has ever loved Beauty and the Beast, the original fairytale, and those who enjoy well done urban fantasy.

Reticence by Gail Carriger is the fourth and final book in the Custard Protocol series, and the last we will see of the Soulless and Finishing School characters. With that in mind, Carriger pulls out all the stops for this volume, and we've got Kitsune, floating cities and lots of droll wit from the likes of the crew of the Spotted Custard, as well as Sophronia, Alexia and all the other characters from the previous books. Reading this book is like sitting down to a sumptuous tea after a long and dry day without food or libations. The prose is delicious, as with all of Carriger's novels, and the plot marches along appropriately.  Here's the blurb: Bookish and proper Percival Tunstell finds himself out of his depth when floating cities, spirited plumbing, and soggy biscuits collide in this delightful conclusion to NYT bestselling author Gail Carriger's Custard Protocol series.
Percival Tunstell loves that his sister and her best friend are building themselves a family of misfits aboard their airship, the Spotted Custard. Of course, he'd never admit that he belongs among them. He's always been on the outside - dispassionate, aloof, and hatless. But accidental spies, a trip to Japan, and one smart and beautiful doctor may have him renegotiating his whole philosophy on life.
Except hats. He's done with hats. Thank you very much.
I did my best to read slowly and savor this final volume, but try as I might, I still came to the end and cried, because these characters have become like family, and I will miss them all (even Tasherit, the lioness shifter, whom I never liked due to her harassment of Prim.I also find her asking Prim to "keep" her like a pet creepy, and the way that she licks her beloved, even in human form, also gives me the willies.)  Still, I loved the new Doctor Arsenic and her relationship with Percy, and I was thrilled that Rue finally had her baby, a girl, and that all is well aboard their airship. This book gets a well deserved A, and a recommendation to all the Carriger fans far and wide. It's worth every penny of the hardback price. 

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes was supposed to be a fun literary romance for those of us who aren't in their 20s and perky and blonde. Not labeled a frivolous beach read or a 'chick lit' novel, it sounded right up my alley, because it was supposedly about a smart gal who wanted to reinvent herself and ends up falling for her lodger, a down-and-out baseball player who is, of course, hot. Unfortunately, though it started out promising, the protagonist, Evvie (pronounced to sound like Chevy), is clearly not as bright as advertised, and I was furious at her cowardice nearly all the way through the book. Though it's OBVIOUS that her doctor husband was a narcissistic abusive asshat, who dies fortuitously in a car accident, Evvie considers herself to blame for his death and calls herself a 'monster' internally. She's frustratingly cowed and cringing throughout most of the book. It's not until page 258 that a minor character finally tells her that what she has experienced is severe emotional (and physical) abuse. And finally on page 260, we see Evvie grow a spine and tell her horrible mother NO, for a change, and from there on pages 263 and 270, Evvie finally listens to her therapist and others and moves on with her life, like she should have in the first 2/3rds of the novel. Here's the blurb: From the host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast comes a heartfelt debut about the unlikely relationship between a young woman who’s lost her husband and a major league pitcher who’s lost his game.
In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.
Meanwhile, in New York City, Dean Tenney, former Major League pitcher and Andy’s childhood best friend, is wrestling with what miserable athletes living out their worst nightmares call the “yips”: he can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation from Andy to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future.
When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. To move forward, Evvie and Dean will have to reckon with their pasts—the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept—but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance—up until the last out.
A joyful, hilarious, and hope-filled debut, Evvie Drake Starts Over will have you cheering for the two most unlikely comebacks of the year—and will leave you wanting more from Linda Holmes 

I vehemently disagree with that last paragraph, as this is not a joyful or hilarious novel at all. It does get hopeful toward the end, but for the most part, it's a head-scratcher that will leave you asking repeatedly WHY...like why doesn't Evvie tell her best guy friend, whom she tells everything, about her jerk of a husband, or his insurance policy? Why doesn't she want to spend the scumbucket dead husband's money? (he's not here to harm her anymore, and its only small recompense for all she went through with him). Why not tell her ex husband's parents the truth? Why not tell anyone the truth? It's pure cowardice on her part, when guys like that need to be "outed" for their crimes. He could easily have abused other women, and they're keeping silent because they think they're the only ones who were harassed. Evvie is just allowing the abuser the final word, and I think that's wrong. Just giving money, through a third party, to domestic violence shelters isn't enough. I think that the authors jobs with NPR allowed her access to getting this book published, because I fail to see how it would be lionized otherwise. The prose is okay, and the plot mediocre with an inevitable HEA. I'd give it a C+, and only recommend it to those who don't mind glaring plot holes and a cowardly female protagonist. 

The World That We Knew, Quote of the Day, The King Comes to TV, Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn, Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne, Angel Mage by Garth Nix, and Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub

I really want to read this book, not only because Alice Hoffman is an incredible prose stylist, but also because it tells an essential story of the lives of women during WWII, which is of particular interest to me.

Book Review

The World That We Knew

In 1941 Berlin, the Nazis are persecuting German Jews, and widow Hanni Kohn makes the terrible choice to send her 12-year-old daughter, Lea, to occupied France to try to protect her. With the help of Ettie, a rebellious daughter of a rabbi, Hanni secretly creates a golem, a mystical creature made of clay and other elements, who will stay with Lea and protect her when Hanni cannot. Alice Hoffman http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41650752 weaves a rich tapestry of the overlapping lives of these women, and those who love them, in her powerful novel, The World That We Knew. Hoffman (The Rules of Magic http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41650753 begins her narrative with Hanni and the desperate steps she takes to save Lea, most notably creating Ava, the golem. But when Lea and Ava must leave Berlin, the focus shifts to their journey as they try to survive the war and care for one another. At a safe house in Paris, Lea meets a young man named Julien, whose fortunes will later overlap with Ettie's in surprising ways. Meanwhile, Ettie is in hiding after a harrowing escape attempt, determined to wreak vengeance on the Nazis for what they took from her. Hoffman explores her characters' motivations for their desperate actions: revenge, fear, a desperate survival instinct, loyalty and, ultimately, love.

Hoffman's narrative intertwines the stories of her principal three characters and several others, including Julien, whom Lea loves; Marianne, a young woman who worked for Julien's family; and the mysterious heron whom Ava enlists to carry messages between Lea and Julien. Appearing in only a few scenes, but never far away, is Azriel, the Angel of Death, whose sinister presence is felt but not often seen by the characters. Hoffman's particular brand of magical realism tugs at the veil between visible and invisible, showing the connections that bind the physical world to forces beyond human explanation or control. Much of this interplay relates to Ava and her continued existence. As a golem, she is not meant to survive after fulfilling her task to protect Lea, nor is she supposed to feel human emotions or think for herself. But the exigencies of war and Ava's experiences with Lea and other people bring about powerful changes in her, and Hoffman uses Ava's character to muse on what it truly means to be human.

Powerful and moving, Hoffman's novel winds between the streets of Paris and lonely country roads, swinging between unimaginable fear and torture and small, quiet acts of courageous kindness. The world may be shifting under Lea's and Ava's feet, but the universe Hoffman creates, though dark, is shot through with light and hope. --Katie Noah Gibson blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

 This is true, relationships with booksellers and other bibliophiles are one of the things that make bookstores so valuable to me, and to other book fans.

Quotation of the Day

"Every store I've visited on book tour has its own unique culture, but at every one I have felt at home. All the booksellers felt like old friends, and all their customers, too. In those stores, readers have waited patiently in line for me to sign their books. They have grasped my hands and told me their own stories of love and loss, their own stories of heart-lifting encounters with nature, believing I would understand. I always do. Whether a bookstore is in Tennessee or Pennsylvania, Georgia or New York, Alabama or Illinois, the people I meet there are family....

"Neighborhood bookshops will always be focused on people, and their true currency will always be human relationships. They can only trust that readers and writers will continue to value and support them, too, no matter what happens in the giant mall across the street."

--Author Margaret Renkl in a New York Times op-ed piece headlined "Parnassus Books Cares About Us. Does Amazon? http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41652273"

 This movie looks like it will be utterly fascinating, and I can hardly wait to see it on Netflix.

TV: The King

A "moody, good-looking" first teaser trailer has been released for David Michôd's (Animal Kingdom) Netflix period-drama The King http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz41674067 starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, Deadline reported. The project is based on Shakespeare's plays Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2) and

Henry V, "in which a young disgraced prince Hal (Chalamet) inherits the crown at a particularly turbulent time in English history and must learn what it means to be a king."

The cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Lily-Rose Depp and Joel Edgerton. Michôd and Edgerton wrote the script, and Brad Pitt's Plan B is among the producers of the film, which will get its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and release in select theaters and on Netflix this fall.

Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn was a fantasy romance recommended to me by Gail Carriger and other members of the Parasol Protectorate Facebook group. It is the story of a healer in a medieval world who, though she is the daughter of the king (who has just recently passed away) has no designs on the throne, but instead prefers to help heal anyone who requires care. Her half brother, an insane and cruel man, ascends to the throne and basically botches the war with the Natives, what used to be called Indians, and is forced to capitulate to their Warlord, who insists on taking the healer/protagonist as his "Warprize," which everyone assumes means sex slave (spoiler, it doesn't). Here's the blurb: Even though she is the daughter of a king, Xylara refuses to wait idly for a marriage that will benefit the Land of Xy and so becomes an accomplished healer, a useful skill when her country is drawn into war with the Firelanders. Even though her half brother, the present king, does not want her treating the enemy, Xylara feels she must--both for the honor of Xy and for simple humanity. When her brother suddenly surrenders to the Firelander Warlord, Xylara is stripped of all her possessions and sent to the conqueror as a slave referred to as "Warprize." As Xylara learns to live with the masterful Warlord, she begins to understand the very different social structure and beliefs of those she has seen as uncivilized. Vaughan's brawny barbarian romance re-creates the delicious feeling of adventure and the thrill of exploring mysterious cultures created by Robert E. Howard in his Conan books and makes for a satisfying escapist read with its enjoyable romance between a plucky, near-naked heroine and a truly heroic hero. Diana Tixier Herald

I felt that though it started a little slowly, the book's muscular and dramatic prose moved the hearty plot along nicely by the time you're a chapter or two into the book. Because it was a romantic adventurous tale, I expected there to be more romance/sex throughout the book, yet the protagonists, Lara and Keir, don't actually have sex until the last third of the book. For some reason, this book felt a lot like a Star Wars tale to me, very straightforward legendary sort of saga that you know is going to be a gripping read. I'd give it a B+, and recommend it to anyone who likes Star Wars (the original trilogy) kind of romantic fantasy with clearly defined heroes and villains. 

Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne is a well written YA fantasy that has a sort of Harry Potter-ish feel to it, though the protagonist is a teenage girl named Kyra, who is an orphan of unusual abilities. Here's the blurb: Growing up on Forge's streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that's not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.
But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she's not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he is persistent-and darkly attractive-and Kyra can't quite resist his pull.
Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by the Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.
When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival-and vengeance-might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra's past that threatens to reshape both their lives.
In her arresting debut novel, Livia Blackburne creates a captivating world where intrigue prowls around every corner-and danger is a way of life. 

They should explain that (SPOILER) this is actually a shape shifter novel as well as the usual YA coming of age story. The prose is sleek and graceful, and the plot moves as fast as an arrow in flight. Once begun, I couldn't put it down. A definite A for this well written fantasy that I would recommend to anyone who likes medieval style shifter stories full of assassins and adventure. 

Angel Mage by Garth Nix is the first book in a new fantasy series by the author of the Abhorsen YA series and many others. I should note that I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from Shelf Awareness in exchange for an honest review. Having read and enjoyed Nix's first series, I had high expectations for this novel, and I was confused at first blush as to why the book was so slow moving in the first 45 pages. When we finally get to our 4 protagonists, I was hoping that the plot would pick up and things would really start moving, only to be surprised at how much "telling"that there was, versus "showing," so I felt like I was wading through water to get to the point of each chapter. Too many unimportant details and "info-dumping" happen in this book, which is frustrating to me as a reader, and I believe would be frustrating to the intended audience for this book. Here is the blurb:

A new fantasy masterpiece from Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom series.
More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.
It's a seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, summoning angels and forcing them to do her bidding. Four young people hold her interest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; Agnez, a glory-seeking musketeer; and Dorotea, icon-maker and scholar of angelic magic.
The four feel a strange kinship from the moment they meet but do not suspect their importance. And none of them know just how Liliath plans to use them, as mere pawns in her plan, no matter the cost to everyone else . . .
Fans of Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Leigh Bardugo will fall in love with Angel Mage, a feminist fantasy that takes place in an alternate European world ruled by fearsome magic and deadly passions.

In the front of the book, Nix lists the Hierarchy of Angels, but he neglects to mention that there are 9 levels of Angel, not 8, and that they're listed in order of least powerful to most powerful. For those who haven't studied angels or saints or religious history, this can be confusing, because you just have to figure it out as you go along in the book. That said, the world Nix creates in which many everyday things are done by calling specific angels to protect or heal or fix them is truly fascinating. Nix's prose is overly fussy in places, yet still mostly well done, and while the plot needs tightening, I enjoyed his storytelling skills that kept me reading. I'd give this book a B-, and recommend it to those interested in historic magical fantasy somewhat similar to Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series.

Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub is a "Lily Dale Mystery" that I found at the library sale and, since it involved a cat, I had to have it. As the setting is a town similar to one in Florida that I wrote about when I was editor of Tampa Bay/The Suncoasts Magazine back in the 80s, (Casadega, populated entirely by psychics, and yes, they knew I was coming without me telling them so), I was also curious to see how much of that town would be reflected in the book, though I don't know if the author has ever even heard of Casadega, let alone visited the psychics there. Bella and her son Max are kindhearted foils for the crazy psychics and other odd ducks of the town, and I loved that the cat found a way to 'disappear' and 'reappear' at the right place and time throughout the book, flummoxing the humans and delighting Max. Here's the blurb: In this warm and witty series debut from New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub, a widowed young mom plans a fresh start in Chicago—but instead finds her way to a quirky lakeside village that just happens to be populated by mediums.
When reluctant road trippers Bella Jordan and her son Max detour to Lily Dale, New York, they're planning to deliver a lost cat to its home and then move on, searching for one of their own. But the footloose feline's owner Leona Gatto has unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind a pregnant pet without a mistress, a busy inn without a keeper—and a lovable circle of neighbors who chat with dead people. After agreeing to help out temporarily, sensible Bella doesn't need psychic gifts to figure out that a houseful of tourists and a litter of kittens lie in her immediate future—or that Leona was murdered. It's up to her to solve the case so that she and Max can leave town, but their new home—like Leona's killer—might just lurk where she least expects it.

It becomes obvious that Bella and Max will stay in Lily Dale and continue to solve mysteries and build a life there, which lends a warmth to the novel that I really enjoyed. The prose is precise and clean, while the plot had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me reading. I'd give this book a B+, and recommend it to anyone who likes psychic mysteries and mom protagonists...oh, and very clever cats.