Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams

Title: Agnes at the End of the World

Author: Kelly McWilliams

Publisher: Little, Brown Books 2020

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 432

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme

Agnes loves her home of Red Creek -- its quiet, sunny mornings, its dusty roads, and its God. There, she cares tirelessly for her younger siblings and follows the town's strict laws. What she doesn't know is that Red Creek is a cult, controlled by a madman who calls himself a prophet.

Then Agnes meets Danny, an Outsider boy, and begins to question what is and isn't a sin. Her younger brother, Ezekiel, will die without the insulin she barters for once a month, even though medicine is considered outlawed. Is she a sinner for saving him? Is her sister, Beth, a sinner for dreaming of the world beyond Red Creek?

As the Prophet grows more dangerous, Agnes realizes she must escape with Ezekiel and leave everyone else, including Beth, behind. But it isn't safe Outside, either: A viral pandemic is burning through the population at a terrifying rate. As Agnes ventures forth, a mysterious connection grows between her and the Virus. But in a world where faith, miracles, and cruelty have long been indistinguishable, will Agnes be able to choose between saving her family and saving the world?

I started reading this book and had such high hopes. The first part of the book intrigued me. I find cults to be fascinating and I was very into learning more about the inner workings of the cult. I was on the edge of my seat through Agnes’s coming to terms with the lies she had been told. And I was desperate to see her escape the cult. But then, the book started taking a turn… and I got very concerned about the topics of the book. The second half of the book is all about Agnes accepting God (yes, uppercase G) and following his plan. SPOILER In fact, the book ends because Agnes realizes that she can cure the virus by becoming God’s new prophet. I was not prepared for this turn. The book became a whole story about accepting religion, a very specific religion. I just couldn’t. By the time I realized where this was going, I was 78% complete so I finished the book. Now I’m wishing that I didn’t.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Midnight Riot (Rivers of London #1)

Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Publisher: Del Rey 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 322

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme

Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

Been on my TBR list for years, I finally picked it up and was pleasantly surprised by this police crime / fantasy novel. I really enjoyed diving into Peter Grant’s life and revelations to the world beyond. I loved the mythology of the city and the various inhabitants. I want to learn more of what’s going on under the surface. I want to learn more about Nightingale and Molly (although I have my suspicions as to what they are). I really enjoyed the murder mystery in this volume and can’t wait to see what happens in the second book. Great urban fantasy!

Rivers of London

#1 Midnight Riot
#2 Moon Over Soho
#3 Whispers Under Ground
#4 Broken Homes
#5 Foxglove Summer
#6 The Hanging Tree
#7 Lies Sleeping
#8 False Value

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Title: Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1)

Author: Justine Ireland

Publisher: Balzer + Bray 2018

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 418

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: GR Random; Monthly Theme

Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever.

In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead.

But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It's a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.

But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston's School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose.

But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies.

And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

Oh my goodness! This was a thrilling ride! I immediately starting rooting for Jane, but know bad things were going to happen to her (that’s how zombie books go). I loved starting at Miss Preston’s school before venturing out into the world outside. I loved the world Ireland creates. I’m a sucker for good alternative history. This world is a horrible yet fascinating one. I was fully invested in the characters and the story. Like Jane, I needed to see what was really going on in Baltimore and in Summerland. Even Katherine grew on me and I daresay, I actually like her now! I can’t wait to read the second book and find out who made it out of Summerland (fingers crossed for Gideon) and who our characters have still yet to meet.

Dread Nation

#1 Dread Nation
#2 Deathless Divide

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Title: A Song Below Water

Author: Bethany C. Morrow

Publisher: Tor Teen 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 288

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme

In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers.

Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school’s junior year.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment.

Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon, seems safe. To save themselves from drowning, it’s only Tavia and Effie’s unbreakable sisterhood that proves to be the strongest magic of all.

I wanted to love this book so much! I was intrigued about the siren aspect of the summary. I was craving another really good exploration of current social issues. And just look at that cover! How could I resist? Unfortunately the reality is not great. Bottom line: Morrow tries to do too much in a short amount of pages leading to a muddled mess of topics and storytelling. Explained more: there are multiple aspects that I did not like.

The pacing is incredibly slow for the first half of the book. And then the second half of the book turns it up to 11, leaving me with whiplash while reading.
The writing style is somewhere between straight first person and stream of consciousness and it’s confusing and annoying. Both main characters often trailed off in the middle of explaining to focus on something else leaving me with confusion.
Speaking of explaining, there is none when it comes to the mythical creatures. We are never treated to a true look at how they exist within our society. They seem to just be thrown in randomly. Why include them if there’s no real exploration? Just make this a contemporary YA novel, no fantasy.
The focus of social justice was lost completely in the rest of the mess.

If you want to read a good fantasy novel that explores race and identity, pick up The Deep by Rivers Solomon. Amazing book! And it has actual mermaids! Or grab Solomon’s other book, An Unkindness of Ghosts, for a science fiction version.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Author: Beth Revis

Publisher: Razorbill 2011

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 416

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the spaceship Godspeed. She has left her boyfriend, friends--and planet--behind to join her parents as a member of Project Ark Ship. Amy and her parents believe they will wake on a new planet, Centauri-Earth, three hundred years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, cryo chamber 42 is mysteriously unplugged, and Amy is violently woken from her frozen slumber.

Someone tried to murder her.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's 2,312 passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader. And Elder, Eldest's rebellious teenage heir, is both fascinated with Amy and eager to discover whether he has what it takes to lead.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she put her faith in a boy who has never seen life outside the ship's cold metal walls? All Amy knows is that she and Elder must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

CW: Sexual Assault

I just read a muddle of a science fiction, romance, murder mystery and it was not good at all. I was intrigued by the premise and I usually love a generation ship story. But this one was a mess and I was not impressed at all. Breaking it down with bullet points:

Too many genres in one book! Seriously, just pick a few…
Sloppy writing. At times, I had to reread paragraphs because the writing was confusing. I had a lot of trouble “seeing” the action and setting easily.
Boring characters. We know virtually nothing about Amy other than she misses her “daddy” and Earth boyfriend and likes to run. Okay… and? Elder is a wet blanket most of the time, a milquetoast person. I got really nothing from him. The most interesting characters were other inhabitants of the Ward, but we spend little time with them.
So many predictable twists. I called the murderer a mile away. Revealing who unplugged Amy was silly and made me really hate that character even more. Of course the ship is delayed. They are always delayed (or off course). So so predictable.
That attempted rape came out of nowhere, was way too graphic, and also sensual. Just no!

I could probably keep ranting, but I’d rather go read something good. Needless to say, I will not be continuing this series.

Across the Universe

#1 Across the Universe
#2 A Million Suns
#3 Shades of Earth

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Title: The Guest List

Author: Lucy Foley

Publisher: William Morrow 2020

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 320

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme

The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

I borrowed this one from a friend in a BOTM exchange. I sped through this one in only two days, flipping the pages to see who was killed and who was the killer. This is a standard thriller where a murder happens but there are multiple suspects with various motives. I liked the shifting points of view to get the stories of the various guests. Foley slowly unravels motives for at least half of the characters in the story. We learn past mistakes and current secrets. By the second half of the book, I was speculating on the whos. I called who was murdered, but did not quite grasp the murderer until the reveal. And it’s a good one! Definitely an enjoyable murder mystery.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

Title: Conjure Women

Author: Afia Atakora

Publisher:

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - June

Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.

A very atmospheric look at three women in the mid 1800s. I was captivated by the dreamy descriptions of life in the south. May Belle and Rue were amazing and interesting women. I definitely wanted to see where their lives went. At times, the book was very difficult to read, depicting horrific situations and occurrences. Important, but definitely hard to read. Ultimately, I was bored with Varina’s story and would rather have had those sections reworked to focus on May Belle and Rue instead. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to feel about Varina. Those hesitations kept me from rating this with 5 stars.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreaker #2)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 456

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - June

Find the heir, win the crown.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Grey may be the heir, but he doesn't want anyone to know his secret. On the run since he destroyed Lilith, he has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother's violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

I fell hard for A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I picked it as one of my three best books for last month. I eagerly got the sequel from the library. I sped through it and came out the other side being utterly disappointed. This is not the same series or story or characters. I couldn’t understand the huge shift from one to two. It’s not character growth, if anything, we get characters going backward. And we are treated to basically no Harper or Rhen in this volume. I was just beyond disappointed. And why is Rhen now complete trash? Grey lied to him and then thinks that he can claim the morale high ground. I just… no. I was not a fan. Lia Mara is a decent character, but she seems to be the counterpoint to Grey and that’s it. I would have liked more from her. And do not get me started on the very last chapter with Rhen. Utter rage! I imagine that I will pick up book three because I want to see how this one ends, but I’m not going to jump on it.

Cursebreaker Series

#1 A Curse So Dark and Lonely
#2 A Heart So Fierce and Broken
#3 A Vow So Bold and Deadly

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Oracle Code

Title: The Oracle Code

Author: Marieke Nijkamp and Manuel Preitano

Publisher: DC 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 208

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - April

After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham's teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Within these walls, strange sounds escape at night; patients go missing; and Barbara begins to put together pieces of what she believes to be a larger puzzle.

But is this suspicion simply a result of her trauma? Fellow patients try to connect with Barbara, but she pushes them away, and she'd rather spend time with ghost stories than participate in her daily exercises. Even Barbara's own judgment is in question.

In The Oracle Code, universal truths cannot be escaped, and Barbara Gordon must battle the phantoms of her past before they swarm her future.

I’m not usually one for capes or even for DC Comics, but this one peaked my interest. I really enjoyed this origin story for Barbara Gordon. We get a great coming-on-age angle. We get a bit of mystery. We get friendship. And this fits neatly into the larger DC universe. I don’t think I will be picking up more capes comics anytime soon, but this was a good afternoon’s reading material.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Title: Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1)

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Publisher: HarperTeen 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 518

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme - April

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.

I have been looking forward to this book for months. I finally fit it into my reading month and was very disappointed. Lou is a great character and I really loved Ansel and Coco. I think the concept of white and red witches. And that’s where the positives ended for me. The readers are constantly reminded that this isn’t our world, but it sure looks a lot like 18th century France complete with the constant use of French words and phrases and that really looks like the Catholic Church. But apparently it’s not our world. I would have liked this better as an alternate history where witches are real. Instead, I kept having to remind myself that this was supposed to be a fantasy world. Second, I quickly grew tired of the constant misogyny present in all the characters. The author could have established that in the beginning and then just dropped it. Instead, we are constantly reminded of how women in this society are worthless at best and evil to the core at worst. I was so tired of reading it over and over. And having Reid keep reminding us was extra annoying. To that end, I totally didn’t buy his love for Lou in the end. Someone doesn’t completely change their entire perspective on life that quickly. Unrealistic… And finally that sex scene between Lou and Reid was a bit much for a young adult novel. We are supposed to believe that Lou is 18 and Reid is 22. It was a bit creepy to read their graphic sex scene (and this is coming from someone who occasionally reads erotica). We really could have done with that. I don’t think I will be reading the sequel when it is released.

Serpent & Dove

#1 Serpent & Dove
#2 Blood & Honey

Next up on the TBR pile:

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

Title: Things in Jars

Author: Jess Kidd

Publisher: Atria Books 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 369

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme

Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery.

Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems.

Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

This was such a wonderfully strange book. The closest that I can compare to is a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Neil Gaiman’s fairy tale-esque stories. From page one, I was drawn into the story of Bridie and the missing child. Bridie is a great main character with fun quirks. I loved her relationships with Cora, Ruby, and Rose. I really did love the overall mystery of the missing child. I loved the mix of classic mystery and fantastical elements. London became such a great character infusing each page with atmosphere. Beyond the mystery, I wanted to know Bridie’s life and how some of the characters connected to her history, especially Ruby. Kidd’s writing style really brings this story to life. The prose makes this book feel like it was written a very long time ago. I really enjoy the old fashioned style to match with the characters and mystery.

Next up on the TBR pile:

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Title: All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth #1)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Publisher: Imprint 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 373

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme - April

She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

This was my free birthday month Book of the Month in March. I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to like this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I immediately fell into the kingdom of Visidia and all the different types of magic. Amora was annoying at first, but I really grew to love her over the journey. She went from a spoiled princess to a fierce protector of the kingdom. I do so love it when characters show grow over the course of a book. Beyond Amora, I loved Bastian and Vataea. Such great traveling companions. Ferrick was less interesting as a character, but I really hope we see more growth from him in the second book. The plot moved quick enough to keep me turning pages. The first book ends on a sorta cliffhanger, but I think it could be read without the second book. I’ll keep a lookout for the publication date of book two.

All the Stars and Teeth

#1 All the Stars and Teeth
#2 All the Tides of Fate

Next up on the TBR pile:

Rat Queens Vol. 7

Title: Rat Queens Vol. 7: The Once and Future King

Author: Ryan Ferrier, Priscilla Petraites, Marco Lasko

Publisher: Image 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 136

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - April

A vengeful presence from the past forces the Rat Queens to face their own demons in order to save everything they've ever loved! Can the Queens hold their own legacy together when faced with their greatest challenge yet? A whole new era for the Rat Queens begins here, chronicled by a brand new creative team!

Shit got real… The Queens have always found themselves in messes before, but this volume was next level. We see the return of an old foe, the birth of a new Queen, more questions, and a wondrous reveal. I really enjoyed this collection of issues. But I think my favorite was the one-off story involving unicorns. Awesome twist on a classic story!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Complete Phonogram

Title: The Complete Phonogram

Author: Kieron Gillen, Jamie Mckelvie

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 504

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - April

The world where Music is Magic has never looked better.

I loved Gillen and Mckelvie’s more recent comic series The Wicked + The Divine so I picked this one up to see if it had the same magic. Almost, but not quite. I enjoyed the overall storyline and many of the characters. Unfortunately, the focus on the main character (an arrogant white male) turned me off a bit. I enjoy series that have a much more varied cast of characters. So not my favorite, but I did love the invention of gods and goddesses involved in the music scene. Definitely a more high-brow comic full of obscure music references.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Vagina Bible by Jen Gunter

Title: The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina - Separating the Myth from the Medicine

Author: Jen Gunter

Publisher: Citadel 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 420

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - March

So many important questions, so much convincing, confusing, contradictory misinformation! In this age of click bait, pseudoscience, and celebrity-endorsed products, it’s easy to be overwhelmed—whether it’s websites, advice from well-meaning friends, uneducated partners, and even healthcare providers. So how do you separate facts from fiction? OB-GYN Jen Gunter, an expert on women’s health—and the internet’s most popular go-to doc—comes to the rescue with a book that debunks the myths and educates and empowers women. From reproductive health to the impact of antibiotics and probiotics, and the latest trends, including vaginal steaming, vaginal marijuana products, and jade eggs, Gunter takes us on a factual, fun-filled journey.

Wow! How I wish I had this book when going through puberty as a teen. This textbook like guide covers all the information you need to understand your body. Gunter dispels so many myths while imparting great advice. While I knew a lot of the factual information (I have learned a lot since I was 14), reading some of those sections was a great refresher. I really enjoyed the sections dealing with dispelling myths including the dangers of Toxic Shock Syndrome and the use of cranberry juice to stave off UTIs. This would be a great book to read once and then keep as reference for your shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Publisher: 1975

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 262

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - March

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers-the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one-one mummy that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.

Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy-and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last . . .

This series has been on my TBR list for decades. Probably since I was a teen… I finally got around to reading this one and was pleasantly surprised. I expected a bit of outdated language and conventions and they were there. It’s hard to tell if some of these are due to attempting to place the story in the time set or because of the time period it was written. Either way, I tried to look past some of those problematic areas and found a delightful wry story of adventure and intrigue. I love Amelia and her commentaries on people and situations. I At times she really reminded me of a Jane Austen heroine. The big mystery wasn’t really that big, but I realize that this is the first book in a very long series. I look forward to exploring Amelia’s world more.

Amelia Peabody

#1 Crocodile on the Sandbank
#2 The Curse of the Pharaohs
#3 The Mummy Case
#4 Lion in the Valley
#5 The Deeds of the Disturber
#6 The Last Camel Died at Noon
#7 The Snake, The Crocodile, and The Dog
#8 The Hippopotamus Pool
#9 Seeing a Large Cat
#10 The Ape Who Guards the Balance
#11 The Falcon at the Portal
#12 He Shall Thunder in the Sky
#13 Lord of the Silent
#14 The Golden One
#15 Children of the Storm
#16 Guardians of the Horizon
#17 The Serpent on the Crown
#18 Tomb of the Golden Bird
#19 A River in the Sky
#20 The Painted Queen

Next up on the TBR pile:

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Title: How to Be a Woman

Author: Caitlin Moran

Publisher: Harper 2012

Genre: Nonfiction - Essays

Pages: 323

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Feminism; Monthly Theme - March

Caitlin Moran puts a new face on feminism, cutting to the heart of women’s issues today with her irreverent, transcendent, and hilarious How to Be a Woman. “Half memoir, half polemic, and entirely necessary,” (Elle UK), Moran’s debut was an instant runaway bestseller in England as well as an Amazon UK Top Ten book of the year; still riding high on bestseller lists months after publication, it is a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Now poised to take American womanhood by storm, here is a book that Vanity Fair calls “the U.K. version of Tina Fey’s Bossypants….You will laugh out loud, wince, and—in my case—feel proud to be the same gender as the author.”

Another collection of personal essays focusing on feminism. I think this collection was executed better than Bad Feminist. This focused more on Moran’s personal experiences and how they have shaped her worldview and her specific take on feminism. I definitely did laugh out loud many times throughout the essays. My favorite was definitely the story about what to name our private parts. But… then we get lots of casual bigotry and racism throughout the essays. And her complete dismissal of women’s history and those that came before us really got my goat. So while I think this was a better themed collection, I found it lacking in many areas.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Title: Bad Feminist

Author: Roxane Gay

Publisher: Harper Perennial 2014

Genre: Nonfiction Essays

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual; Monthly Theme - March

A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched young cultural observers of her generation, Roxane Gay.

In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture.

I loved every essay that Gay focused on her own experiences and thoughts. Learning her personal take on various aspects of life was eye-opening. I love feminist texts that embrace intersectional feminism. Gay excels as laying out the all the different aspects of life and how feminism affects them. I really fell into those essays. Unfortunately, she also included very academic essay focused on pop culture. Those took me right back to college and not in a good way. I was thoroughly bored with those. And of course, they were very dated 6 years later. I would have loved to delete those essays and just keep the personal ones.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen

Title: Queen of Hearts (Royal Spyness #8)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2014

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

England, 1934. Georgie's mother, the glamorous and much-married actress, is hearing wedding bells once again—which is why she must hop across the pond for a quickie divorce in Reno. To offer her moral support, Georgie agrees to go along on the all expenses paid voyage across the Atlantic.

While her mother meets movie mogul Cy Goldman—who insists on casting her in his next picture—Georgie finds herself caught up in the secret investigation of a suspected jewel thief. Lucky for her, the lead investigator happens to be her dashing beau, Darcy!

Her mother's movie and Darcy’s larceny lead everyone to Cy’s Hollywood home, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin are hanging about and there’s enough romantic intrigue to fill a double feature. But they hardly get a chance to work out the sleeping arrangements before Cy turns up dead. As if there wasn’t enough drama already...

Oh so much fun! I love this cozy mystery series and am so glad that we get to see more growth from Georgie. She’s definitely not the innocent anymore. I loved the change in setting to a ship and then to California. It was fun to see all the Brits deal with the Americans in a very loose setting. We get major Hearst Castle vibes from Cy’s house including the menagerie. Lots of fun! And then we get the actual mystery (or should I say mysteries). I totally solved both of them about 2/3 of the way through the book. Overall it was very entertaining. Here’s hoping we get to see more of Darcy next book.

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
#13 Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
#14 The Last Mrs. Summers

Next up on the TBR pile:

Vox by Christina Dalcher

Title: Vox

Author: Christina Dalcher

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 336

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than one hundred words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

Soon women are not permitted to hold jobs. Girls are not taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words each day, but now women have only one hundred to make themselves heard.

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

This is just the beginning...not the end.

I was intrigued by the set-up and the comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale. Unfortunately, what I read was a book trying way too hard to be relevant in our current political climate filled with unlikable characters and a ridiculous thriller style plot. Shoehorned in there is very surface level commentary about sexism, religion, politics, and science. And don’t get me started on Jean and Patrick’s relationship, their relationship to the children, and Jean and Lorenzo’s relationship. Just no. But what irked me the most was the timeline. This is all supposed to have happened in a few short years and then is undone in less than a year. Um no. I don’t buy it without some catastrophic event like a plague or war. Girly Book Club has once again disappointed me with their science fiction selection. We only get one a year and last year’s was terrible (American War) and this year’s choice is just as bad…

Next up on the TBR pile: