YAY, it's August, and we're nearing the end of another grueling summer. I can hardly wait for falls cooler temps, and I'm excited for the holiday season, which is just around the corner. I've been struggling with a swollen and painful knee and my Crohns afflicted gut, so that's been painful and required a couple of trips to the ER (to no avail, all they could offer me was pain meds). Since it's painful and somewhat dangerous to get out of bed, I've been doing a lot of reading, so I've got 5 book reviews for you today, which would have been my fathers 94th birthday, had he not died of Lewy Body Dementia in 2019. Anyway, we're in the home stretch, folks!
TV:
Peculiar Stars
Apple TV "has stepped up to
preemptively" to acquire the rights to Peculiar Stars, the upcoming (November
17 release) novel from bestselling author Rebecca Yarros, in "a
competitive situation, with multiple studios and producers pursuing,"
Deadline reported, adding that Apple TV is "staking a claim in
the romance series space, announcing its ambitions in the genre where
the streamer has had limited presence so far."
Apple Studios will develop Peculiar
Stars as a TV series, with Yarros serving as executive producer through
her Full Measures Productions. A search is underway for a writer to
adapt the novel.
Book
Review
The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading
and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society
What a difference a few centuries can
make. According to James Marriott, a journalist for the London Times and
the author of the lively but heartbreaking jeremiad The New Dark
Ages, "reading is dying." It wasn't always so. Johannes Gutenberg's
printing press, invented in the 15th century, "had opened the way for
the mass circulation of books." By the 18th century, "everyone,
everywhere, had started reading: men, women, children, the rich, the poor."
Fast forward to the 21st, however, and English literature students at U.S.
colleges have "struggled to understand the first paragraph of
Dickens's novel Bleak House." What's a concerned bibliophile to do? Marriott's
answer, winningly if ironically, was to write a book.
It's a good one. Marriott believes in
the supremacy of the written word. He grew up in the north of England in
the early 2000s, where his father, an English teacher, "brought me up
to regard literature as the central part of life." Over the years,
he's seen video win the battle for command of attention spans. He cites
several villains, but for Marriott, the biggest is the smartphone. "The
introduction of smartphones into human culture is analogous to the
introduction of an invasive species into a fragile ecosystem. Almost
everything else withers away and dies," adding that they represent "the
greatest theft of knowledge from ordinary people in history." He
asserts that, compared to other technologies that prioritize imagery
over words, "smartphones are dangerous because they are much more
effective predators of our attention" due to their "sheer
ubiquity": unlike a flat-screen TV, one can take them anywhere.
There's much more to Marriott's
argument, including his concern that video's triumph constitutes a threat to
democracy, which he says is unsustainable without the reasoning
skills literacy fosters. Its rise, moreover, explains the success of Newt
Gingrich and Donald Trump, who figured out that to achieve their ends,
"politics needed to become entertaining; for that it required
chaos and drama and personality." One could have a vigorous debate over
whether smartphones are inherently more corrosive than, say, the equally
ubiquitous penny dreadfuls of the 19th century. That this book raises the
question in the first place, however, is to its credit. Like-minded
souls won't be cheered by this exceptional work, but it's always nice
to know one isn't alone. And that's something the centuries haven't
changed. --Michael Magras, freelance book reviewer
Movies:
Children of Blood and Bone
Paramount has released a trailer for
Children of Blood and Bone, based Tomi Adeyemi's 2018 novel.
Variety reported that the trailer "introduces Thuso Mbedu as Zelie,
a woman with the power to command undead spirits. Her homeland, the
kingdom of Orisha, is divided into clans with different magical abilities.
Under King Saran's (Chiwetel Ejiofor) reign of terror, magic is
suppressed."
The cast also features Damson Idris as
Prince Inan, Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, Tosin Cole as Zelie's
brother Tzain, and Regina King as Queen Nehanda. They join Lashana Lynch,
Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, and Viola Davis. The film hits theaters
January 15, 2027.
The logline: "In the epic fantasy
world of Orïsha, a young woman goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was
violently stolen from her people. She and her brother ally with the
daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule."
Gina Prince-Bythewood directed Children
of Blood and Bone. It was shot in various locations in Africa.
Prince-Bythewood "wanted to give the actors a real-life backdrop to adapt
the novel into a grounded film, even with magical elements,"
Variety noted.
Quotation
of the Day
"Stores like that--independent
bookstores--they're portals into all these different worlds. They give you
access to all these different worlds and, for me, that became my
first encouragement to imagine and to create and to learn. I wanted to learn
about everything. I wanted to pick up every book. It encouraged me to
imagine.
"And to this day, whenever I walk
into a bookstore, I feel safe and welcome, but also that encouragement to
imagine and create. A bookstore is like having a dog--there's a
universality to it. People from all different backgrounds and cultures can
come in and share being a fan of a book or anticipating a new book. In
the same way that people of all different backgrounds or political
affiliations can enjoy talking about our dogs. Bookstores give us space to
be a community and I love it."--Paul Yoon, author
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong is the third "Rip Through Time" historical mystery/time travel romantasy fiction novel, and as with the other two of this series, it's a real corker. Here's the blurb: Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1860s and the other in the present day from author Kelley Armstrong.
Victorian
Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective
Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be
unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid
Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in
the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant
to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true
friends―and feelings―in this century.
So, understanding the
Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she
and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir
Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to
unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer
inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern
body.
I enjoy this series because the books are so well written, with tight, clean prose and a stalwart plot that sings...there's just enough romance and just enough mystery and history to slake the thirst of romance and mystery readers alike. The characters are fun and well written, the story arc elegantly created and the mystery not easily solved. I was entranced from the first page to the last. I'd give this fascinating novel an A, though I would caution those who are squeamish to realize that the male protagonist is a funeral director and an early medical examiner, so there's a bit of gore here and there, and a reminder from the time-traveling female protagonist that Victorians didn't know about germs or proper hand washing, so you have to imagine that the smells and tastes of the time were somewhat grotesque.
The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong is an LGBTQ cozy romantasy that is sweet and satisfying if you're in the mood for a book that is soothing and quietly powerful for those on the LGBTQ spectrum. Here's the blurb: An
almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the
unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from author of Julie Leong, who also wrote The Teller of Small Fortunes.
Certainty
Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a
novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she
can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone.
When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly
straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to
work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever
who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.
The two must
transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the
dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old
warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords,
corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all,
avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at
a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.
Still,
as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each
other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being
shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make
Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and
it might spell trouble.
The slow-burn relationship between Cert and Aurelia is delightful, and Cert's coming into her magical powers, and her ability to use small magics to make a big difference in the lives of those in a small, down-at-the-heels village is truly heartening. While there's some redundancies in the plot, the pixie-dust positivity of the prose smooths over some of the rough spots, though I wish an editor could have cut about 30 pages out of the book to make the plot not sag in the middle. Still, an effective HEA and I would give this sweet novel a B, and recommend it to those interested in magical lesbian fantasy lit.
A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn is the 10th historical romance/mystery starring one of my favorite sleuthing duos, Speedwell and Stoker, smart and savvy investigators of the late 19th century. Here's the blurb: Veronica and Stoker are practically dying for a
new adventure, but when their wish is granted, they find themselves up
against a secret society and a darkly seductive duo in this landmark
historical mystery from author Deanna Raybourn.
When
the corpse of an entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood
in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery, Veronica’s interest is piqued.
And then a second victim is found, his death made to look like a
suicide—and Veronica and her intrepid beau Stoker know the hunt is on.
The two men share one link: they were both members of a society so
secretive that only a singular mention of it can be found anywhere.
Thirsty
for more clues, Veronica and Stoker hear that a young Romany boy may
know more about their first victim, and the only way to the boy is
through an old acquaintance of Stoker’s, Lady Julia Brisbane. Lady Julia
and her dashing husband, Nicholas, occasionally track down murderers
and are only too happy to help. But as it becomes clear that the secret
society is a dangerous sect looking to entice immortality seekers,
Veronica and Stoker find themselves ensnared by a decidedly more
sinister couple.
The professed leader of the society claims to be
a creature of the night; his partner practices witchcraft and they both
fancy themselves emissaries of the otherworldly. Just as Veronica and
Stoker get closer to learning the true purpose of the society and
unraveling this macabre mystery, another body turns up, and they quickly
discover they’ve gone from being the hunters to the hunted.
I love that this novel was a collab with Raybourn's other sleuthing duo, Lady Julia Gray and Nicholas Brisbane. Both duos are fascinating in their own way, and unconventionally open-minded for the time period. Rayborn's prose sparkles, and her plots never flag or sag. Once I open one of her novels, I tend to keep turning pages until the end, which can be a problem for whatever else I have planned for the day. I find it interesting that insane old (or middle aged) white men always have a hard-on for immortality, though even a person with a modicum of intelligence must realize that if immortality were attainable, it would already have been perfected and commercialized and sold by now. Your creative work, and your children may leave behind a legacy for the future, but that's about it. To make others suffer for your pursuit of a myth is senseless and cruel. But even today, we have middle aged white wealthy men trying to reach immortality through space travel and many other ridiculous wastes of money and time (when that money could be better spent helping the poor). At any rate, I'd give this sumptuous novel an A, and recommend it to anyone interested in late 19th century sleuthing duos.
Endless Anger by Sav R Miller is a beautifully designed book, with gorgeous cover art and swirled colored edges. But don't let the fancy packaging fool you, this is a horror/romance novel trying to hide behind the label of "dark academia" fantasy, which is more commercial. Ugh. Here's the blurb: From author Sav R.
Miller comes a dark and twisted contemporary romance inspired by the
Greek Furies, set at an exclusive (and dangerous) university.
Asher
Anderson is angry―at the world, at himself, at the way his best friend
Lucy Wolfe seems determined to tune out this buzzing connection between
them. He doesn't mean to solve all his problems with violence, but maybe
he has too much of his father in him. That's why the faculty at Avernia
College hates him, right? Because of the "evil" blood in his veins?
He
should know better than to darken the old, ivy-covered university's
door, but it's practically a law of the universe: wherever Lucy goes,
Asher follows. Even if that means entering a twisting labyrinth of
secret societies, human sacrifices, and a very personal history soaked
in blood.
Lucy is used to being an outcast. She's
even used to Asher being her dark, brooding shadow. What she isn't used
to is him shattering her resolve by taking her up against library
bookshelves as she desperately pretends her heart hasn't always been
his. She should know better than to play with fire, but with unexplained
deaths and pointed threats ripping apart the university's fabric, Asher
and Lucy soon find themselves at the center of the turmoil…where
they'll have to confront their feelings or die trying.
Sometimes the pomegranate doesn't fall far from the tree.
The male protagonist is a nasty creep and a possessive controlling nightmare who essentially rapes the female protagonist (as he considers her "his" he doesn't feel the need to ask for consent from the confused girl) and continues to have a cruel and mean attitude throughout the novel, which only makes him an asshat, not a brooding hero. But he can't help himself as his parents are "furies" and so he's naturally angry and mean and violent, and doesn't take NO for an answer, so he preys on poor stupid immature Lucy for the entire novel. The prose is sub-par and the plot twisted and confusing, and the ending is completely unsatisfying. If I would have realized the rot in the story behind the pretty cover and end papers, I never would have bought it. I'd give this waste of paper a C-, and recommend that anyone wanting to read it find something else to peruse, or at least a novel with a female protagonist with a spine.
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew is considered YA "dark fantasy" though I would strongly recommend that any young people reading this work are at the higher age range of YA (say in their early 20s). It's another example of publishers hiding a horror novel behind the term "dark" fantasy and then adding a bunch of horrific blood, gore and torture to the text to somehow "liven" it up. YUCK. Here's the blurb: Delaney Meyers-Petrov is tired of being seen as fragile just
because she's Deaf. So when she's accepted into a prestigious program at
Godbole University that trains students to slip between parallel
worlds, she's excited for the chance to prove herself. But her semester
gets off to a rocky start as she faces professors who won't accommodate
her disability, and a pretentious upperclassman fascinated by Delaney's
unusual talents.
Colton Price died when he was nine
years old. Quite impossibly, he woke several weeks later at the feet of a
green-eyed little girl. Now, twelve years later, Delaney Meyers-Petrov
has stumbled back into his orbit, but Colton's been ordered to keep far
away from the new girl... and the voices she hears calling to her from
the shadows.
Delaney wants to keep her distance from
Colton -- she seems to be the only person on campus who finds him more
arrogant than charming -- yet after a Godbole student turns up dead, she
and Colton are forced to form a tenuous alliance, plummeting down a
rabbit-hole of deeply buried university secrets. But Delaney and Colton
discover the cost of opening the doors between worlds when they find
themselves up against something old and nameless, an enemy they need to
destroy before it tears them -- and their forbidden partnership --
apart.
This awful novel is a shoddy re-telling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, of a man who goes to Hell to save the woman he loves soul, and fails because he can't help but look back to see if she's following him out of Hell. Stupid guy who proves once again that men can't be counted on to do what they're told, or follow the rules (or directions), no matter how simple they are. The prose is weird, and the plot unsatisfying, while the ending is senseless. Though the novel is well designed with black and pink and white endpapers, if you're looking for a good solid story, you won't find it here. I'd give this book a C-, and only recommend it to those who enjoy horror fantasy with weak protagonists.
