The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Title: The Once and Future Witches

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Publisher: Redhook 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 529

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR; Currently Reading - Kept Me Turning Pages After Midnight

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters―James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna―join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote―and perhaps not even to live―the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.

I’ve been waiting on this one since i read The Ten Thousand Doors of January and it was definitely worth it. I immediately fell into the story of the Eastwood sisters. I loved that it wasn’t simply a story of bringing back witchcraft, but that we get a story of bringing three sisters back to each other. Agnes was my favorite sister, but all have some great moments. The first 60 pages are a bit slow, but once we really get into the story, I couldn’t wait to figure out the mysteries of the Lost Way of Avalon and Gideon Hill. Seriously, every time he appeared, I shuddered. So incredibly creep! And I loved his dog. Once the tower gets called back, the story kicks into high gear and I had trouble putting it down. Lots of fun.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Underland by Robert Macfarlane

Title: Underland: A Deep time Journey

Author: Robert Macfarlane

Publisher: W.W. Norton 2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 496

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

In Underland, Robert Macfarlane delivers an epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as they exist in myth, literature, memory, and the land itself. Traveling through the dizzying expanse of geologic time―from prehistoric art in Norwegian sea caves, to the blue depths of the Greenland ice cap, to a deep-sunk "hiding place" where nuclear waste will be stored for 100,000 years to come―Underland takes us on an extraordinary journey into our relationship with darkness, burial, and what lies beneath the surface of both place and mind.

I heard about this one on What Should I Read Next and decided I needed to read a book about travels under the ground. I haven’t read any other Robert Macfarlane books, but after reading this one, I think I need to add him to my incredibly long TBR. Macfarlane has this lyrical style that straddles the line between nonfiction and a novel. I loved it! Each chapter intertwines Macfarlane’s actual explorations all over the world, history and science about the Earth, and meditations on life. Like any collection, there were some chapters that I liked more than others, but taken all together, this is an amazing variety of explorations under the world. My absolute favorite chapter detailed Macfarlane’s explorations in the Parisian underground. I even got claustrophobic while reading some of the passages. It was intense! I’ve been raving about this one so much that I might have convinced J to read this soon.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lock In by John Scalzi

Title: Lock In (Lock In #1)

Author: John Scalzi

Publisher: Tor 2014

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 337

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu, fever and headaches. But for the unlucky one percent - and nearly five million souls in the United States alone - the disease causes "Lock In": Victims fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. The disease affects young, old, rich, poor, people of every color and creed. The world changes to meet the challenge.

A quarter of a century later, in a world shaped by what's now known as "Haden's syndrome," rookie FBI agent Chris Shane is paired with veteran agent Leslie Vann. The two of them are assigned what appears to be a Haden-related murder at the Watergate Hotel, with a suspect who is an "integrator" - someone who can let the locked in borrow their bodies for a time. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden client, then naming the suspect for the murder becomes that much more complicated.

But "complicated" doesn't begin to describe it. As Shane and Vann began to unravel the threads of the murder, it becomes clear that the real mystery - and the real crime - is bigger than anyone could have imagined. The world of the locked in is changing, and with the change comes opportunities that the ambitious will seize at any cost. The investigation that began as a murder case takes Shane and Vann from the halls of corporate power to the virtual spaces of the locked in, and to the very heart of an emerging, surprising new human culture. It's nothing you could have expected.

This book had me remembering the fun detective parts of Asimov’s Robot books featuring Baley and Daneel. I loved the interplay of detectives attempting to unravel the mysterious murders. But then throw in a robot (of sorts) and lots of politics and you get one enjoyable novel. Right away, I was all in with Agents Shane and Vann and the intrigue around a murder (or was it?) in the nation’s capitol. From there, we get to learn more about our characters and the world after Haden’s. I’m very interested in reading the next book and furthering the adventures.

Lock In:

#1 Lock In
#2 Head On

Next up on the TBR pile:

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgerton #4)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Romance

Pages: 418

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance; UnRead Shelf

Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London . . .

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for . . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide . . . is she his biggest threat— or his promise of a happy ending?

This one was a bit of a let down. I have absolutely loved Colin every time that he appears in the books so far. He’s such a delightful character! I wanted to absolutely love his story with Penelope. As for her, I did enjoy the glimpses that we got of Penelope in the previous books. I did want to know more about her. So I was excited that we finally got their story. It just wasn’t that exciting or romantic at all. Colin was a bit of a wet blanket and Penelope wasn’t that interesting. Their chemistry was practically non-existent. I just didn’t feel the sexual tension between these two characters like the previous books. Here’s hoping the next book is better.

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

Title: An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgerton #3)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 390

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance; UnRead Shelf

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball—or that "Prince Charming" would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid's garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

Another lovely romance! I loved the set-up with this one. A Cinderella-esque story was just what I needed this week. It starts out so predictable, but them we really get to know Benedict and Sophie and things get more interesting. I loved their romance so very very much. I couldn’t wait to see how they would navigate the seemingly impossible connection. I loved that we get more interactions with the Bridgerton family, especially Violet. It was even nice to see what happened the Sophie’s stepsister Posy in the end. But most, I loved the romance getting to know Benedict so much more. (He might just be my favorite Bridgerton.)

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton #2)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 398

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better... --Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry--he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield--the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate's the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands--and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate's determined to protect her sister--but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

I really loved the first book in the series, but somehow I loved this one even more. Anthony and Kate are such amazing characters! We get two very strong-willed people attempting to do what’s right and failing to see the happily ever after right in front of their faces. These two were very frustrating but in such a good way. I was rooting for them the entire time. I love how we get to really see two adults find romance and understanding within the strict bounds of Regency society. I can’t wait to read about Benedict’s story!

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

Title: The Day of the Trifids

Author: John Wyndham

Publisher: 1951

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 272

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Lost in my TBR

Triffids are odd, interesting little plants that grow in everyone’s garden. Triffids are no more than mere curiosities—until an event occurs that alters human life forever.

What seems to be a spectacular meteor shower turns into a bizarre, green inferno that blinds everyone and renders humankind helpless. What follows is even stranger: spores from the inferno cause the triffids to suddenly take on a life of their own. They become large, crawling vegetation, with the ability to uproot and roam about the country, attacking humans and inflicting pain and agony.

William Masen somehow managed to escape being blinded in the inferno, and now after leaving the hospital, he is one of the few survivors who can see. And he may be the only one who can save his species from chaos and eventual extinction . . .

CW: Sexual assault

I had been meaning to read this one ever since I saw the original 1962 film. Unfortunately, the book was not a winner. The plot was a bit slow (surprisingly) with too much random narration instead of showing what happened. There were too many action sequences (seems contradictory to my previous statement, but they are both true!), and twists to the storyline. I appreciate how the movie streamlined a lot of the narrative to focus on a few groups of characters. Lastly, I was not here for all the sexual assault and misogyny. Not surprising for a science fiction book written in the 1950s, but I didn’t need to read it. Pretty disappointing.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Title: The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 433

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance; Winter TBR

Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?—Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister—the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it's all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her . . . but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke . . . for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.

CW: Rape

I finally, finally, started the Bridgerton series this past week. And overall, I am completely addicted to this one. I have to read all these books detailing the romance pursuits of all the Bridgerton children. Daphne is a delight and Simon is a lovely male lead. I loved reading their romance progress from a mutually beneficial arrangement to real romance. So good. Beyond Daphne and Simon, I loved following the rest of the Bridgerton family. I can’t wait to see which sibling gets their happily ever after next. My one quibble is obviously that scene. Seriously. I read an interview with Quinn that talked about how the scene played at the time of writing and when it was set, but it really doesn’t go over well now.

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Ends of the World by Peter Brannen

Title: The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth’s Past Mass Extinctions

Author: Peter Brannen

Publisher: Ecco 2018

Genre: Nonfiction - Science

Pages: 336

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

Our world has ended five times: it has been broiled, frozen, poison-gassed, smothered, and pelted by asteroids. In The Ends of the World, Peter Brannen dives into deep time, exploring Earth’s past dead ends, and in the process, offers us a glimpse of our possible future.

Many scientists now believe that the climate shifts of the twenty-first century have analogs in these five extinctions. Using the visible clues these devastations have left behind in the fossil record, The Ends of the World takes us inside “scenes of the crime,” from South Africa to the New York Palisades, to tell the story of each extinction. Brannen examines the fossil record—which is rife with creatures like dragonflies the size of sea gulls and guillotine-mouthed fish—and introduces us to the researchers on the front lines who, using the forensic tools of modern science, are piecing together what really happened at the crime scenes of the Earth’s biggest whodunits.

Part road trip, part history, and part cautionary tale, The Ends of the World takes us on a tour of the ways that our planet has clawed itself back from the grave, and casts our future in a completely new light.

Caveat: This is not a bad good even with my star rating, it just wasn’t the book for me personally. I find that many of these more general history books are fairly boring to me as I know a little too much about history. In this case, I have read so many history and specifically pre-history and extinction event books that this one was a lot of repetitive information. I enjoyed the book, but end up skimming a ton of the chapters. Good info, just not for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sanctum by Madeleine Roux

Title: Sanctum (Asylum #2)

Author: Madeleine Roux

Publisher: HarperCollins 2015

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 368

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Unread Shelf Project Reading Challenge - Backlist title; Winter TBR

Dan, Abby, and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, many questions remain, and someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years.

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own—one through the abandoned houses and hidden places of a surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the truth behind Dan's connection to the asylum's evil warden is more terrifying than Dan ever imagined.

And with this book, I am officially DNFing the rest of the Asylum series. The first book I enjoyed. It was a YA Horror book with an intriguing setting, plotline, and characters. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Well it turns out, almost the exact same things. Our three friends show back up at Brookline after receiving vaguely sinister messages in the mail. Instead of talking about things and attempting to get ahead of the mystery, Abby and Jordan spend half the book not believing Dan (seeing ghosts, hearing voices, etc) and Dan spends most of the book trying to figure out if his friends are actually his friends. that’s what we did in the first book. At this point in the series, I wanted to see a lot more character growth. The lack of growth and unity among the friends distracted me enough that I couldn’t really get into the actual mystery. By the end of the book, I realized that I have no desire to find out what happens to the characters. Three books taken off my UnRead Shelf.

Asylum:

#0.5 Escape from Asylum
#1 Asylum
#1.5 The Scarlets
#2 Sanctum
#2.5 The Bone Artists
#3 Catacomb
#3.5 The Warden

Next Up on the TBR Pile:

His Christmas Princess by Kathleen O'Brien

Title: His Christmas Princess (Princess Brides #2)

Author: Kathleen O’Brien

Publisher: Tule 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 181

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Willow Arden adores her life as the coronation planner in the Vicenza palace. The tiny island kingdom is the perfect place to raise her baby daughter. But when Emory, the sexy heir to the throne and her almost lover, comes home after a year-long hiatus, her perfect life is shaken to its core.

Emory's spent his whole life putting Vicenza's interests over his own. After taking a year off to live the kind of life he always wanted, he's returned and he's committed to the throne.

But when Willow and Emory meet again, the attraction between them ignites, as white-hot and hopeless as ever. Emory can't betray his commitments, and Willow must protect her heart at all costs. One way or another, one of them will lose everything.

The sequel to His Defiant Princess was so much better. I immediately fell for both Emory and Willow in the first story and couldn’t wait to read their romance in the second. These two are much more interesting and multi-dimensional adults with real problems and obstacles. Brenna and Ronan got in their own ways toward romance. Willow and Emory have to deal with actual obstacles and responsibilities. I loved it! I was rooting for them throughout the book, but really wanted them to have those tough conversations being moving forward. Thankfully we get some of those. A delightful little read for this week.

Princess Brides

#1 His Defiant Princess
#2 His Christmas Princess

Next up on the TBR pile:

His Defiant Princess by Kathleen O'Brien

Title: His Defiant Princess (Princess Brides #1)

Author: Kathleen O’Brien

Publisher: Tule 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 166

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Brenna Tinley has decided to move to the Unified Isles of Cornetta, a fairy-tale kingdom just south of France in the Bay of Biscay to escape the recent tragedies in her personal life. The happiest summer she can remember was spent there, in the arms of a handsome, tender rascal who disappeared without a goodbye when Autumn came…

As fate would have it, the Royal House of Vicenza has engaged Brenna Tinley to clear up a public relations mess. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for this small-town American girl, but there’s only one problem. Her new employer, HRH Prince Ronan, aka her mystery summer lover of long ago, seems determined to pick up where they left off. Can Brenna work in the royal palace and not end up with a brand new broken heart?

Short and sweet novella. I really enjoyed the romance between Brenna and Ronan, but I almost wish we could have gotten more of their backstory. I would have read another 100 pages fleshing out their summer years back. As it is, we get a quick rekindling of the romance in a fictional monarchy off the coast of France. Cute little story for an afternoon’s reading.

Princess Brides

#1 His Defiant Princess
#2 His Christmas Princess

Next up on the TBR pile:

How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare

Title: How to Catch a Wild Viscount

Author: Tessa Dare

Publisher: 2014

Genre: Romance

Pages: 105

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

She's on the hunt for a hero...

Luke Trenton, Viscount Merritt, returned from war a changed man. Battle stripped away his civility and brought out his inner beast. There is no charm or tenderness in him now; only dark passions and a hardened soul. He has nothing to offer the starry-eyed, innocent girl who pledged her heart to him four years ago.

But Cecily Hale isn't a girl any longer. She's grown into a woman--one who won't be pushed away. She and Luke are guests at a house party when a local legend captures their friends' imaginations. While the others plunge into the forest on a wild goose...er, stag chase, Cecily's on the hunt for a man. She has only a few moonlit nights to reach the real Luke...the wounded heart she knows still beats inside the war-ravaged body...or she could lose him to the darkness forever.

This short story was one of those free Kindle deals that I had picked up some time ago. I wanted a cute little romance to get me back on track after some heavier books. It’s a cute little story wrapped up in just about 100 pages. We get enough backstory about Luke and Cecily that the story makes sense. We get a fun gothic myth to push the two characters together. It was fun, although I really would have liked to see more from the side characters.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov

Title: The Robots of Dawn

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher: 1983

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 433

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi; Winter TBR

A millennium into the future two advances have altered the course of human history: the colonization of the Galaxy and the creation of the positronic brain. Isaac Asimov's Robot novels chronicle the unlikely partnership between a New York City detective and a humanoid robot who must learn to work together.

Detective Elijah Baiey is called to the Spacer world Aurora to solve a bizarre case of roboticide. The prime suspect is a gifted roboticist who had the means, the motive, and the opportunity to commit the crime. There's only one catch: Baley and his positronic partner, R. Daneel Olivaw, must prove the man innocent. For in a case of political intrigue and love between woman and robot gone tragically wrong, there's more at stake than simple justice. This time Baley's career, his life, and Earth's right to pioneer the Galaxy lie in the delicate balance.

CW: Rape

The last book in the Elijah Baley detective novel series from Asimov. Overall, I really do enjoy these books. I like the detective elements to the novels as we follow Baley in determining who was the killer. I liked the interplay between Baley and Daneel (and now Giskard). I find the philosophical conversations to be intriguing. I really want to know more about what life is like for the robots. And I can’t wait to see how the events of this book impact the future colonization of uninhabited planets and the currently inhabited Earth and Spacer Worlds. My one issue with this novel is the scene between Gladia and Baley. We are given a rape scene that was really came out of nowhere and was completely unnecessary for the storyline and characters. I was very disappointed when I got to that scene as I had begun to think more of Asimov’s treatment of women and gender relations in this book. I was wrong. A re-writing of that scene removing the rape could have bumped this book up to 5 stars for me.

Next up on the TBR Pile:

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Title: One to Watch

Author: Kate Stayman-London

Publisher: Dial Press 2020

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 432

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Winter TBR

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers—and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men—and herself—for a chance to live happily ever after.

Overall a very enjoyable contemporary romance. It wasn’t a very surprising story, but I did enjoy following Bea and her journey to romance. I didn’t even get annoyed by our constant reminders of Bea’s size. Usually it was done in very kind way or in a more empowering way. Very cute story with a decent amount of heart.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Wellington

Title: Wellington

Author: Aaron Mahnke, Delilah S. Dawson, Piotr Kowalski

Publisher: IDW 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 120

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

Meet the Duke of Wellington--one of England's most decorated military heroes and, unknown to most, her most daring monster hunter. After receiving a letter from an old flame, the Duke of Wellington heads to the countryside to investigate a series of disturbing crimes-a mysterious murder, a missing child, and a vicious black dog roaming the hills. Featuring an amazing cast of characters and calling upon centuries of supernatural myths, folktales, and lore this thrilling graphic novel reveals the secrets behind one of history's most illustrious figures.

I had been looking forward to the beginning of this new comics series. I love the idea that the Duke of Wellington was actually a monster hunter along with fighting the human wars for Great Britain. I love listening to Aaron Mahnke tell me weird and wonderful stories on the podcast Lore. So I was super excited about this one. And overall, I really enjoyed the start of this story. However, I really wanted more from the first trade in the series. We don’t get to learn too much about Wellington or the big bad. There were some very scary bits through the issues and I loved meeting Wellington’s “god daughter". Hee hee. I am really excited for the continuation of this series.

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

Title: Solutions and Other Problems

Author: Allie Brosh

Publisher: Gallery Books 2020

Genre: Graphic novel; Memoir

Pages: 518

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

Solutions and Other Problems includes humorous stories from Allie Brosh’s childhood; the adventures of her very bad animals; merciless dissection of her own character flaws; incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness; as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life.

Another lovely collection of stories from Allie Brosh’s life. There were a few stories that I really connected with, some other ones were really funny, and some were a bit strange (in that they didn’t seem to have a point). Like all collections of stories, I don’t love all of them equally. But, I might say that really did choke up during her story about her sister. I was not expecting that turn and it really threw me for a loop. Overall an enjoyable collection of comics from a very complicated person.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Title: Piranesi

Author: Susanna Clarke

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 243

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Winter TBR

Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house―a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

Oh my oh my oh my… I might have liked this one even more than Clarke’s early novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Clarke knows how to create a world that sucks you right in and doesn’t let you leave, even after you finish the book. It took me about 10 tries to get past the first line as it’s just so strange and interesting. That sounds terrible, but I mean it in the best way possible. Clarke just dumps the reader in and we’re left to puzzle out what is going on. Samesies with Piranesi. Apparently we are all in the same boat stuck in the house attempting to unravel all the mysteries. I loved all the random references Clarke wove through the statues and occurrences in the house. I was pulled along until the very end, even after the mystery was resolved. Extra point, I love how Clarke doesn’t feel the need to completely tie up all the strings before ending the book. Overall, this was such a beautiful book. It might even end up on my year-end Top 10 list.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Title: Leave the World Behind

Author: Rumaan Alam

Publisher: Ecco 2020

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 256

Rating: 1/5 stars - Hated it

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Unread Shelf RC - Book with High Expectations

Amanda and Clay head out to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a vacation: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter, and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they’ve rented for the week. But a late-night knock on the door breaks the spell. Ruth and G. H. are an older couple—it’s their house, and they’ve arrived in a panic. They bring the news that a sudden blackout has swept the city. But in this rural area—with the TV and internet now down, and no cell phone service—it’s hard to know what to believe.

Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple—and vice versa? What happened back in New York? Is the vacation home, isolated from civilization, a truly safe place for their families? And are they safe from one other?

I completely despised this book. I cannot decide if Alam wanted the reader to just feel like he was talking down to them the entire time or he really meant it. Right from the get-to, the reader is put into an uncomfortable position and doesn’t get to relax. Okay, I get that stylistically. But then I read through the entire story and fail to find any message or reason to read it. There is absolutely no hope to be found in the storyline or the characters. All of this had definitely dropped down the ratings. I’m okay reading bleak books, but this one just fell down a deep hole and didn’t come back up. Was this book supposed to be a mirror to the worst of human behaviors? If so, congratulations, you accomplished the task, but do I want to read it? Nope. I don’t. Combine all this with the oddly sexual descriptions throughout the book and I was completely done with it.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

Title: Exhalation

Author: Ted Chiang

Publisher: Vintage 2019

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 368

Rating: 2/5 stars - Disliked it

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR

Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories. Two being published for the very first time. All from the mind of the incomparable Ted Chiang.

Tackling some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic—revelatory.

With my newly recalibrated star ratings, I decided to give this short story collection 2 stars. That sounds terrible, but I do think that some others might give it more stars. I was in a conundrum when it came to rating. Most of these stories felt very bland and frankly reductive. I think my biggest problem with this collection is that they all seem like bad copies of classic scifi stories from Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, et al. I didn’t find anything new in this collection and I didn’t have a lot of enjoyment from the stories that I did read. Overall, this just wasn’t to my liking at all.

Next up on the TBR pile: