Edge of Summer By Viola Shipman

 

Title: Edge of Summer

Author: Viola Shipman

Source: Paperback

Genre: General Fiction

Rating: 5 enthusiastic paws up

Sutton Douglas is devastated by the death of her mother.  After her death, Sutton makes an impulsive decision to move to Douglas, Michigan to search for answers to her past.  She is not prepared for all she is about to discover.  After buying a jar of buttons from the estate sale of Bonnie Lyons, Sutton begins an unlikely friendship with the woman and begins to wonder could she be the grandmother Sutton dreamed of having.  Sutton begins to unravel the truth to her mother's past; but will she find the family she has craved for, or will her search end in heartache?

I stumbled upon Viola Shipman a few years ago because I was doing am ABC reading challenge where I read a book by an author who's name began with each letter of the alphabet, Viola was my "V". Since then, I have pretty much devoured every book published.  The books are actually written by Wade Rouse who writes under the Viola Shipman name to honor his grandmother, which makes me love these books even more because I now know there is a deeper meaning behind them.  Such as Edge of Summer was inspired by Rouse's grandma's button jar.  Knowing this bit of information adds a certain personal quality to the novel.  It adds sentiment.

When I recommend this author, regardless of books I always say Rouse (Shipman) knows exactly what my heart needs to say or hear.  I cannot tell you how many times I teared up at this novel because it touched something deep within and in a way helped heal my heart from the grief I experience.  He tells the story in a way that it doesn't feel like I am reading a novel, but that I am listening to a cherished friend share their story.  I love the family legacy aspect of all the novels, and that along with the love story and what not, family is at the base of every novel.  Edge of Summer is no different.  There is so much to fall in love with in this novel from the family bonds, the descriptions of a Michigan sunset, to the emotions each character struggles with.  It all feels so real and radiates from the pages into the readers.

 I cannot decide if this has become my favorite Viola Shipman novel or not, they are all just so wonderful to read.  Never knew what I'd find when I stepped outside of my comfort zone.  I recommend this novel to everyone.  I feel like at times it made me acknowledge the way my heart continues to ache for not only my grandmothers, but also my dad.  It was honestly a wonderful book to read while grieving.

Viola SHipman has become one of those authors that I will buy their book without reading the synopsis.

Enter the world of the Trees of Man with Vedientir By Ivan Hladni

 

Title: Vedientir

Author: Ivan Hladni

Source: ebook

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4 paws up

The alliance of the four kingdoms crumbles when armies belonging to powerful horrors from an era before time itself existed break their way through the Great Trees from the old "Slavic" speaking world of magic and gods into the "English" speaking world of mankind.

Dion, a young man in his early twenties, is then thrust out of the besieged city of Echa on a task to get help from the king, but finds that their kingdom is no longer the safe haven it once was. Things have come out of the Great Trees that have not lived in the world outside of old wives' tales, and Nightmares walk the earth, but not everything is lost...

This light-hearted book is full of action, magic and humor, and the main characters in it are young, especially the dragon, Zmai, who is one year old, or as he said to king Valan - he is "edna rok star", since he does not speak English, but fortunately for the dragon, Dion speaks the Old language and can talk to the dragon and translate for us.

I won this in a goodreads giveaway I cannot believe it took me so long to read it. It is a book that will stick with me and I will recommend to others.  I honestly did not expect to like it as much as I did. This is a story that I did not expect to just blow me away. Simply love Dion, Kerkio and Zmai as well. There is so much in this novel that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat.  Dion is the character that doesn't see his strength and thinks everyone baby's him but then comes to realize how strong and important he truly is and what he can do to help save his city.  Kerkio is the type of friend everyone needs.  He's lifting Dion up and reminding him that they are companions, friends, not babysitter.  I think there is more to Kerkio than what we see, he's a force to be reckonded with.  And Zmai, that is there not to love about a young dragon who imprinted on his rescuer??   I love the acorns of the great Oak trees and the mythos that is with in this novel. Hladni creates his own culture and mythos that makes me simply want more.  I love the use of acorns as magical reagents to travel between cities, summon elementals, and so much more that we didn't really get to see yet in this book, but you just know is more.  The book leaves it open for more novels and I hope Ivan Hladni writes more, I checked this afternoon and it doesn't look like there is one yet. I don't know what else I could compre this novel too, there is nothing else quite like it. I could really see this book game made into a movie I wish it would be.

Follow the students of Minghau as they protect: The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

 

Title: Library of Legends

Author: Janie Chang

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Physical Book

Rating: 5 paws up

It's 1937, Japanese bombs are dropping on the city of Nanking China, in order the ensure the safety of their students Minghua University order Hu Lian and her classmates to flee.  Lian and a convoy of other students, faculty and staff must walk miles to find safety in one of China's Western provinces.  A trek that is riddled with threat of enemy attacks.  While the students stive to find safety, they must also protect a priceless treasure: a collection of myths and folkore that is 500 years old: the Library of Legends.  This journey creates bonds among the students and staff.  While Lian form new friendships, she also forms an unlikely romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming.  But their trials do not come in the form of enemy attach alone.  One classmate is arrested and another is murdered, and betryal swims through the group.  Lian realizes she must escape for her family's past secret puts her in more danger.  Lian, Shao and his madiservant, Sparrow (who has a secret of her own) make their way to Shanghai in hopes of find refuge and family. During the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. This revelation comes with profound consequences, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits who embark on an exodus of their own, one that will change the country’s fate forever. 

This was probably one of my favorite books so far this year.  I have come to love the lyrical and poetic way that Janie Change tells her stories.  She is just a gifted and talented atmospheric storyteller, that I haven't seen the likes of in a long time.  I may, dare I say, like her novels more than Lisa See.  *GASP* I know!  I was in a reading slump before I picked up this one from my shelf and it brought my reading mojo back.

This novel is filled with myth and folklore, romance, betrayal, family relationships, and so much more.  Chang provides readers with accurate historical details and weaves it perfectly with legends showing their spiritual importance and meaning.  I so want to find a copy of the Willow Star and The Prince because it seems like a beautiful story.  I enjoyed all the characters, though I kind of wanted more of Sparrow and the legends beyond their own exodus, or more on that.  I do also like that the romance wasn't the 100% focus of this story.  Chang's spent a lot of time showing readers the historical significance of her tale, as well as the spiritual.  The story is set during an event that gets overshadowed by other historical events surrounding WW2 that other historical novels focus on. It was a relief to read something that didn't focus on the typical events that we generally see in this genre.

 If you enjoy books like The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, then you would enjoy this book.  It has so much to offer.  Janie Chang will quickly become a favorite.

Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith

 Title: The Library of the Unwritten

Author: A.J Hackwith

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Library Paperback

Rating: 3 paws up

Claire was named Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing of a library in Hell.  This is where all the unfinished stories by various authors reside.  Her job is to repair and organze the books like most librarians, but from time to time a book gets resetless and self-actualized and becomes one of it's characters in the flesh and try to escape the confines of the library: Claire must stop them.  Things go awry when a hero escapes from his book to search for his author.  Clair and her assistant Brevity (a former muse ooooh) and a nervous young demon named Leto.  This seemingly simple assignment goes horribly wrong when not only the hero tears pages from his book, but an angel, Ramiel, attacks them.  He believes the librarians hold the missing Devil's Bible, a powerful weapon that can easily unleash war between Heaven and Hell.  So now Claire and her ragtag team must find this book before it reshapes the fabric of Heaven, Hell, and well...Earth.

I have been seeing this book a lot recently and decided to check it out to see if it was up my alley.  Now normally I love a good story that revolves around libraries and book.  The concept that Hackwith had was very creative and interesting.  I was drawn to the synopsis and thought this would be a perfect fit for me.  Indeed I was drawn to the story, however, I found it difficult relating to any of the characters or felt connect to them.  I did love Brevity, but she was barely in the book, and this Leto wasn't as instrumental as he could have been.  The focus seemed to be more on Claire, the Hero, and Ramiel. There were points were the story just dragged on so when I got the real meat of story, I wasn't as emotionally invested as I would normally have been.  This one took me a lot longer to read than normal, I am not sure because I am feeling like I am in a reading FUNK or not, but that also affected how I responded to the story.  There just didn't seem to be a lot of oomph to this one. There is so much potential that I think it fell a little flat, too much expectations on my part maybe.  I do plan on reading the next book and giving A.J. Hackwith a second chance to really wow, but I am unfortunately not holding my breath.

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

 Title: The Firebird

Author: Susanna Kearsley

Source: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 paws up

When Nicola Martin touches an object, she sometimes sees the previous owner of any given time period.  When an older woman brings in a wooden carving, Nicola can see it's entire history which reveals that it is named after a Russian legendary creature: the Firebird.  Nicola finds herself compelled to know more and follows the life of a young woman named Anna: in the past.    She enlists in the help of a former love whom she is somehow mentally connected with.  Together they travel through tales of Jacobites, Russian courts as the unravel tales of love, courage and of course redemption.

I have come to really love Susanna Kearsley's work ever since I had read Shadowy Horses.  I could not get the chilling tale out of my mind so I have been devouring much of her other time travel, historical fiction novels.  In my mind, she is a master at weaving the time travel together so that it flows naturally rather than feeling disjointed in going back and forth between time periods.  She does it in a way that makes the reader want to know more about each time, you want Nicola to go back to Anna's time and then go back to her own to see what happens with the handsome cop.

While it is a standalone novel, it does reference The Winter Sea and Shadowy Horses, which I love that she ties them together through small references while keeping each book their own.  The book may seem intimidating at a  little over 500 pages, but they fly by.  I could not put this novel down.  In fact I think I may have lost sleep because I kept saying "One more chapter." 

Kearsley doesn't fall into the trap of spending too much time on details like period clothing or excessive info dumping.  She gives you the right amount of information right when you need it.  It made me want to know more about the Jacobite Rising, I mean who wouldn't after the way she tells it.  Sounds like such and interesting period of time to study.

I cannot wait to tackle another one of her novels, I think I have 3 more sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.

Making Changes in the World: The Accidental Suffragist by Galia Gichon

 Title: The Accidental Suffragist

Author: Galia Gichon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 paws.

Helen Fox is a factory worker trying to make ends meet for her family in 1912.  When her family experiences a horrific tragedy in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Helen finds herself drawn to the Suffragist cause.  Soon she is immersed and is working alongside other suffragists to try an make a change in the world.  As she delves further into the cause and her involvment, she encounters many sources of tension within her home and out.  She quickly becomes ostrasized by neighbors, estranged from her husband, worry for her children as she goes of activist trips and more.  Helen discovers her voice in a male dominated society.

  

I recieved a gifted copy of this book for an honest review and I have to say I am very glad I took the opportunity to read this novel.  While it is a slim book, it is jam packed with heart and inspiration.  I was instantly hooked when I began reading, I didn't want to stop, even to sleep.  It was a quick read, and I feel like I will be reading again in the future.  This is such an important book, and I see it gaining popularity and becoming a huge success.  It shows a moment in time that women displayed strength, intelligence, grit, and so much more.  Something that needs to be taught more in schools, more than just a brief moment.  This is a moment in our history that shows young women what we are capable of doing. 

Galia does a wonderful job at bringing her words to life.  There are moments throughout the novel that pull at your heart; her son going to war, her husband turning his back on her, the horrors of what happened in Washington, losing her friends, the fire, and so much more.  Galia Gichon's words bring out the rawest of emotions as you are reading this novel, it took everything in me not to cry. I was deeply moved by this novel and it will stick with me for a long time.  I highly recommend this  novel to everyone.

Similar Novels:

A Story of Redemption and Recovery: Trejo By Danny Trejo

 Title: Trejo

 Author: Danny Trejo

 Genre: Memoir/Autobiography

 Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

 Danny Trejo is one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood.  On screen he is a baddie who has been killed at least 100 times; he's been stabbed, shot, hung, chopped up, even squished by an elevator.  Off screen he is known as a hero in the recovery community.  Raised in an abusive home he has a history of heroin abuse, stints in some of the most notorious and scary prisons: San Quentin, Folsom and others.  He learned how to survive on the inside and once he got out.  He has had roles in some of the most well known cult classics such as Heat, and of course his most well-known role of Machete.  In his memoir, he recounts how he managed life in prison, his spirituality, his recover and his mission to helps others along the road of addiction recovery.  His book is a reflection of a magnificent life of redemption, tragedy, pain and ultimately success.

Before reading this book I already knew some of his past and the things this actor has been able to accomplish and overcome throughout his life.  But there was so much that I didn't know.  Reading through his hardships and everything he has overcome including reconciling with his children, makes me love him even more.  He is not ashamed of his past because it made him into the man he is, he learned from it and he may still have some more to learn as he reflects on certain aspects of his private life.  It was amazing to see how he turned his life around and founded numerous recovery centers and how he'd go to the baddest parts of town looking for people to help.  He is a true treasure and gem.  Danny Trejo proves that 1. you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and 2. that someone's past doesn't define who they are now.  It contributes to who they become but just because there was addiction then, doesn't mean it will continue.  He worked hard to get to where is today and should be proud of everything he accomplished.

Memoirs/autobiographies are not typically my cup of tea, but I have been trying to branch out a little more and I am glad that I picked up this one.  I seen it and said "this one I need to read" and I am glad that I did.  Reading the stories through Danny's words made it all so entertaining, I could almost hear his voice sometimes.  It was very interesting to hear how Machete came about including that children have dressed up as the character for Halloween (not exactly what I'd call a kids movie, but it goes to show the impact this man has had in pop culture, as well as society.)  True to Danny Trejo, this novel is raw, unfiltered and unashamably him.  Definitely recommend.

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Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Title: The Fire Keeper's Daughter

Author: Angeline Boulley

Genre: YA

Rating: 5 out of 5

Daunis Fontaine has never been able to fit in, in either her hometown or on the nearby Ojibwe reservation.  She puts her future of studying medicine on hold to help care of her ailing mother.  The only seemingly bright spot in her life is Jamie a new recruit on her brother's hockey team. Yet, as she falls for Jamie, things he says and does doesn't add up and she begins to suspect that he is hiding something.  When she witnesses a horrific murder, everything begins to make sense and she is thrown in the middle of a criminal investigation.  She agrees to go undercover, but soon discovers that the deceptions and betrayal keep piling up and comes to close to home.  Now she must learn what it means to be a strong Ojibwe woman and far she will go to protect her community and those she loves.

I had this book on my TBR for a little while, and then a woman in my book club mentioned how great it was so I moved it up on my list and read it right away.    The first half of the novel we get background information and character building, but as the book progresses the plot thickens and gets intense.  You will get completely swept up into the storyline, I know I did. The second half of the book becomes a real rollercoaster of emotion, tragedy, suspense, coming of age, and culture.  Whatever your reason for reading this book you will learn something new.

I love how steeped in Native American culture this novel was, I love learning about the traditions, religion, language, history, herbs, relationships and more.  And there is no better author to present this information than Angeline Boulley.  Boulley approaches touch topics in a professional, and mature manner.  There are so many topics that could be a trigger such as abuse, addiction, sexual assault, grief, and even politics, but Boulley includes these topics in a way that it doesn't trigger (at least it didn't for me).  She doesn't include them in a gratuitous way nor do they take away from the story.  If anything it makes the novel more intense, more emotional.

The cover drew me in and Boulley's words held me captive.  Probably the BEST book I've read this year.

Simial Novels:

Within the Whispering Shadows Comes A Wonderful Novel

Author: D.E. Night 

Title: The Girl with the Whispering Shadow

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Source: Paperback

Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

Ivy has just saved the world from the Dark Queen and has found out she fulfills a prophecy.  She is quickly whisked away from her school to the town of Belzebuthe.  Belzebuthe is a secret town for only those with magical blood, if you don't already know where the town is you will be unable to be able to find it.  Ivy sets out on a new quest to find the second piece to the Kindred Stone while hiding from the Dark Queen. While she is supposed to be safe within Belzebuthe, something seems to be looming over her head.  She needs to find the magic within herself and more as she beigins the battle of her life.  Will she find the next stone and return the Halls of Ivy before it is too late?

This is the second book in the Crowns of Croswald series and it remains a wonderful series.  This is a series for anyone who enjoys reading whimsical fantasy.  The book picks up right where the last one left off with Ivy learning more nd strives to find the rest of the stones.  D.E Night builds a world that is so imaginitve and unique.  In this series readers see a world where learning, sketching, word usage, imagination and discovery are all important parts of magic.  D.E describes everything in way that it is easy to see the world being painted in front of you as you progress through the book.  In this series magic users (or scrivinist) use quills instead of wands and some partake in a game called Quogo where opponents do battle using quills from former scrivinist.  She has so many creative ideas that makes me want to see where night takes the series.

One thing that I love about the series is while there is a budding romance between Ivy and Fin, that is not the sole focus.  They build their friendship first, the most we've seen between the two characters has been a blush and some flirting.  It is fantastic for a young adult book to show the friendship building side of a relationship rather than jumping into a relationship.  Readers also see a character struggling with finding her place in the world, dealing with feelings of inadequacies, and how she copes with all of the things she faces with the help of her friends, her knowledge, and her own power.  Ivy is a powerful role model that I think young girls need to have.

I have refered to this a young adult novel, but I would recommend it middle grade readers as well.  I lump it as YA because Ivy is a 16 year old girl.There is so much in Ivy that readers of all ages would benefit from.  If you are looking for a good fantasy read, I would give Crowns of Croswald as a series a try.  you won't be disappointed.

Local Legends: The Mothman: Harbinger of Doom

 Myths and legends touch upon the unknown, intriguing us of what is beyond the things we can see.  Many cultures have legends or folklore that shows who they are, their beliefs and values..  Other myths and legend evolve from stories, true events, dreams, revelations and any combination of those things. Anywhere you go, you will be sure to learn of a legend centered in that area.  For West Virginia, the legend of the Mothman is such a tale that accompanies the area.  The tale of the Mothman is such an interesting story, that there was a movie produced in 2002 staring Richard Gere: The Mothman Prophecies which presents the tale and raises questions of what is the Mothman?

The Mothman legend started in November 1966 in the town of Point Pleasant, when a couple of gravediggers claimed to have seen a massive brown humanlike creature moving rapidly from tree to tree.  With that sighting, the legend begins.

Three days after the initial sighting, two couples report another sighting where they describe seeing a grey-winged beast standing 6-7 ft tall in front of their vehicle.  It had bright red glowing eyes, with a 10 ft wingspan.  It is possible the creature is sensitive to light as it seemed to have avoided the headlights of the car.  The couples tried out run the beast, but it had a flight speed of an estimated 100 mph, but was much slower when it ran.  

Several days later comes yet another sighting.  This time a man heard strange sounds outside while strange patterns appeared on his television.  When he looked outside with a flashlight, he seen what appeared to be 2 red eyes reflected back at him.  Oddly enough his dog went missing around this same time, which people have attributed to the Mothman.  One of the last recorded sightings is that of a young woman walking into her house with her baby when she observed the creature emerging from the shadows.  She ran inside only to have the creature peer in through the windows from the porch.  Then he suddenly disappeared.

In December 1967 after some of the last sightings, tragedy struck in the form of a bridge collapsing.   Forty Six people died from the incident, from either drowning in the river or being crushed among the wreckage.  There have been reports of the Mothman being seen just before the incident.  This has caused the theory that the Mothman is a harbinger of doom.  There is no census, however, on whether or not Mothman is trying to warn humans of impending doom or if he is the cause of the doom.  All together in West Virginia there have been over 100 reports sightings of the Mothman.   

Even though Mothman remains a West Vrignia myth, there have been other incidents of Mothman sightings outside of the West Virginia area.  Just before the disaster of Chernobyl, there are reports of Mothman sightings, even as recent as within the past couple years when a pilot in Chicago reported seeing the creature in August of 2019.  The pilot recounts riding on a shuttle to the terminal and seeing a large humanoid with wings sitting on a railing. Watching him with red eyes.  The creature kept his wings open, slowly moving them as it watched the shuttle. His account others can be read an the article by Tobas & Emily Wayland on the Singular Fortean website (link at the end of the post).

While it is unknown of what Mothman could be there are some theories that he is an alien stuck on earth, some sort of mutated bird, or even a vengeful curse.  Regardless of what the Mothman is or what he represents he is a legend that is revelant today as people continue to report sightings of the creature whether in West Virignia or not.

He has garnered enough intrigued that the town of Point Pleasant hosts an annual Mothman festival generally held in September.  For information on the festival visit the Mothman festival homepage. Not only has the Mothman been brought to life on the screen, there are several books about him as well you can check out:

The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel

Mothman: The Facts behind the Legend: by Jeff Wamsley

Beyond the Prophecies of Mothman by Andrew Colvin

Monsters of West Virginia by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Other Articles of Note:

Second Pilot Reports Sighting of "Mothman" at Chicago's O'Hare

The Terrifying tale of West Virginia's Spectre: The Mothman

  

Beautiful, Lyrical Novel of Family Legacy: The Mountains Sing Review

Title: The Mountains Sing

Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Legacy

Source: Paperback - giveaway win

Rating: 4 out of 5

Houng is a young woman awaiting the return of her parents who have gone off to fight in the Ho Chi Minh trail conflict.  She is unsure if they will ever return as she and her grandmother find a new normal.  Tran Dieu Lan and her children were forced to leave her land during the Land Reform in the 1950's. Together grandmother and granddaughter share an experience that bonds them closer together as they struggle and overcome hardships they face within their lives.

I was lucky enough to win this book through Goodreads' giveaway; and I couldn't be happier that I have gotten the chance to read this book.  A lot of the historical fiction novels I have read have focused on World War 2, this one focused on two historical events we aren't taught much about, the Vietnam Land Reform and the Ho Chi Min Trail. Mai Nguyen has such a poetic voice that both transported me to Vietnam, but also made me want more from her.  I ended up buying her book of poetry as well which is just as beautiful.

The story is told in alternating view-points between Tran and Houng, and reflects on two points in time, but show similarities between the struggles and strength each woman finds.  In the heart of the story, I found a story of beauty, strength, and determination that is inspiring to read and think about.  It honestly makes me want to learn more about Vietnam.  The culture, language, history, and even folklore.  It is not everyday you find a novel that touches your heart and mind, and The Mountains Sing is a novel that does just that.

I honestly hope Mai writes more novels, she definitely gained a huge fan in myself and I think she will find more.

Making History and Paving The Way for A New Generation

Title: The Flight Girls

Author: Noelle Salazar

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Paperback

Rating: 5 out of 5

Audrey Coltrane dreamt of flying all her lift.  Her life belonged in the sky.  That is why she begged her dad to teach her to fly.  It is alway why she signed up to train military pilots in Hawaii.  Then she suddenly finds herself in the air over Pearl Harbor as the bombs dropped, and now nowhere seems safe.  Audrey joins the WOmen Airforce Service Pilots program.  While in the program she bonds with her fellow pilots.  Giving her hope in the face of turmoil until the handsome Lieutenant James Hart goes missing in action.  Now she finds herself on the front lines fighting not just for her country, but for the man she loves dearly.

I recently began reading historical fiction, it normally isn't my type of genre.  But there are a few novels that speak out to me and when I read them my heart aches for the characters.  The Flight Girls was that kind of novel for me.  It was a novel that made me want to learn more about the Women Airforce Service Pilots which paved the way for women in the Airforce, how cool is that.  This wasn't something I learned about in school so of course I wanted to learn more about them.

The way Noelle Salazar writes her story puts readers right into the story.  I cannot tell you how many times I cried throughout this book and even told my mom she needed to read it and prepare herself.  This was a book that gets you excited, and breaks your heart.  You keep thinking things will go one way and then they don't.  Noelle Salazar writes a beautiful novel that honestly touches your soul.  The way she writes draws out all your emotions and leaves you raw.  The characters seem like someone you could be friends with, in fact, I could see my best friend as the main character and that is something that helped this novel hit home for me.

Upon finishing this novel, readers will crave more from Noelle.  Once in a while a novel comes along that drives you wild, one that you say should be read and The Flight Girls is one of those novels.  It is a WW2 novel unlike any other novel I have read in this genre and actually makes me want to read more.  If you like historical fictions, check this book out.  If you never read historical fiction still read this book, it will change your mind, it did mine.

7 Excellent Novels Based on African Mythology

One of the things fans love about reading a good fantasy novel is escaping into a new world, one filled with extraordinary ideas, magic, and folklore. 

But when the novels fans read are based on an European-esque world, it defeats the purpose of finding and experiencing something new.  This is why I have been looking for fantasy novels from around the world.  Currently I am reaching out to novels based on or around African folklore.  The ten novels included in this list explore something unique and new in their worlds.  They add creative magic and twists to a genre that can tend to be repetitious.

1. Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha, #1) by Tomi Adeyemi: This novel has already become one of the most popular YA novels by readers of all ages.  Children of Blood and Bone utilizes Nigerian mythology within its magic and lore, but it also touches on the injustices of a caste system.  Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel became an instant best-seller as her characters struggle with genocide, racism, war as they come to terms with discovering their own internal power and feelings.  It is a novel that speaks to readers to stand up and claim their inner magic. To learn more about Tomi Adeyemi's books visit her website: https://www.tomiadeyemi.com/books

    

2. Kingdom of Souls (Kingdom of Souls, #1) by Rena Barron: Kingdom of Souls is the first book in a trilogy that is steeped in African folk lore and voodoo magic.  It is full of ambition, sacrifice, betrayal and more.  Rena Barron creates an addictive world filled with unforgettable characters that struggle with real issues not just the complex evil facing the world.  In this unputdownable novel, readers find a brave strong woman who finds magic within not just herself, but also her family and her people.  To find more information about Rena Barron's books, events and more check out her site http://renabarron.com/

    

3. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, #1) by Roseanne A. Brown: A Song of Wraith and Ruin brings a world inspired by West African folklore weaved with strong female characters, otherworldliness, and mystery.  This novel is reminiscent of African traditions of oral storytelling to keep records of history.  Within this novel, readers will find the relationship between spirits and the beyond, humans and the environment and the creation with the creator.  Roseanne Brown gives readers a story that shows how everthing is interconnected and once again finding power not only within yourself, but within the environment around you. More information could be found at Roseanne's website: https://roseanneabrown.com/.

    

4. The Gilded Ones (Deathless, #1) by Namina Forna: Our next book has not been released yet, and has a February 2021 release date.  In this magical novel, Forna addresses some really deep themes such as abuse, racism, misogyny all the while portraying strong sisterhood and self-discovery.  It is a haunting and compelling story that will have readers feeling for the characters. For information on Namina Forna's books and more visit her site: https://naminaforna.com/

    

5. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Nnedi Okorafor’s novel Akata Witch has often been compared to the Harry Potter series.  While there are some similarities, Okorafor’s book is unique and stand on it’s own merits.  The main character struggles with a sense of duel, or rather triple identity.  Not only is she bullied for her “American-ness” having been born in New York City, but she is also bullied for her skin tone, as she is an albino African American.   Akata Witch combines Nigerian Folklore, culture and rituals to bring a tale that defies the rules of time, distance and place.  Nnedi has a list of her books and more exciting things on her website: http://www.nnedi.com/

    

6. Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy) by Marlon James: Black Leopard, Red Wolf is a novel that breaks the walls between realism and dystopian novels.  Marlon James takes African history and mythos and combines with political tension to create a realistic tale about the limitations of power, dangers of excessive ambition, the meaning of duty and honor, fundamentals of truth and a bit of Machhiavellianism.  He gives readers a book that they will be talking about for years to come. For additional information about Marlon's book and more please visit his site: ttps://www.marlonjameswriter.com/

    

7. A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy:  In Amanda Joy’s debut novel, readers find a sibling rivalry that goes beyond what we are used to.  We see themes of racism, death, violence, heritage, and power.  Throughout it all Joy maintains an element of intrigue that keeps the reader wanting more.  One major theme throughout the story is embracing yourself and learning about the power within, in this novel it is Eva’s magick she needs to embrace.  Rooted in North African (some say West African) culture this book is one that will resonate with many readers and remain with them long after reading. TO find news, events and more about Amanda Joy's books hop on over to her site next: https://www.amandajoywrites.com/

Branching your reading into other cultures can enhance your reading experience.  You will find things you never thought to pick up and new authors you will become passionate about.  The African Speculative Fiction Society is a comphrensive and amazing place to look for more books within the African SFF genre.

Powerfully Moving Novel: A Must Read - The Hate U Give Review

 

Title: The Hate U Give

Author: Angie Thomas

Genre: Young Adult

Source: Hardback

Rating: 5 out of 5

Starr is a 16 year old girl, smart, beautiful, funny, and finds herself running between two worlds: Her neighborhood and the prep school she attends. When she witnesses the unjustified shooting death of her childhood friend Khalil, her world is shattered.  His death makes headlines and he is labeled a thug, drug dealer, and the officer label a victim.  Soon Starr and her family are harassed by police offiers and a local drug lord, but rather than standing down, Starr finds the strength she needs to stand up and make a difference.

This book may be labeled as Young Adult, but EVERYONE needs to read this book, especially now with the Black Lives Matter movement and the rise of police brutality we are seeing.  Anything I say about this breathtaking book will not do it any justice.  From the very beginning I was drawn into the book, and could not put it down.  My mother in law even commented on how engrossed I was in this novel.  Part of me feels ashamed that I have not read this novel sooner, or reviewed it sooner.

The novel is an eye-opener.  Yes we hear things like this happening on the news all the time, but for some reason it doesn't full hit home until you read how the families and communities are in turn effected, down to the looting and rioting.  I would almost equate that action to the tearing of clothes and hair in grief discussed in the Bible.  There is an anger and grief that no amount of words can describe.  The things happening in our world today need to be discussed, and we cannot remain silent and Angie Thomas did just that.  She spoke out and man has she been heard.

The way she writes this story draws intense emotion, I cried a couple of times, got angry at characters and fell for others.  This is a book that I will forever think about and insist that my children read as they get older.  It needs to be talked about and addressed. Throughout this book we see a girl find her strength and acceptance of who she is deep inside.  She grows stronger as she speaks out about the injustices in her world, some as small as a so called friend making racist jokes to standing up for justice for Khalil. It makes readers aware of what they are saying and how they are saying it.  It makes readers want to stand up to the vast injustice in the world.

This is a book that demands to be read, and I recommend it above all others.

 

Be Careful of Who You Invite Into Your Home

Title: I Invited Her In
Author: Adele Parks
Genre: Thriller
Source: Kindle eBook
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars


Out of no where Mel received an email for her old college friend, Abi.  Abi is in trouble and needs Mel's help, a place to stay.  Despite not speaking in over 15 years, Mel invites Abi to stay with her family "for as long as she needs. Mel is overcome with nostalgia and loves having her past come back to her.  But not everything is as it seems as Abi begins seeing a new mystery man.  All of Mel's secrets come out and Abi seeks revenge.

I have to say this book was a HUGE disappointment.  As I kept reading, I kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't.  I guessed everything fairly early so all the big reveals were not all too surprising.  This book honestly made me mad because it was almost laughable at times.


I did not like any of the characters.  I felt they were all annoying especially Mel.  She let her old friend basically rule over her life and take over, to the point of excessive drinking and dare I say neglecting her children.  Her family walked on egg shells to make sure she was comfortable even so far as letting her use the master suite.  It was all just a bit unbelievable for me.  This was supposed to be a thriller, but there was nothing thrilling about it.  It sounded so promising, but it fell super super flat.  There was absolutely zero edge, zero suspense that made me want to keep reading.


The story dragged on and I kept reading hoping it would get better, NOPE.  The characters are too cliched, the plot too predictable.  There was nothing that really kept me interested in this other than to see if the story would pick up.  I should have DNF'd it, but I wanted to persevere through it.  I almost wish I did DNF and moved on to a better book.


I would not exactly recommend this book outright, but if you enjoy a slow paced, predictable novel, then give it a shot but if you want something very suspenseful then move on and pick something else up.

The Gilded Wolves

Title: The Gilded Wolves
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Hardback
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 paws


The Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up some ancient secrets.  Severin Montagnet-Alarie has been able to steal a compass which hides the location of a tower of Babel fragment.  He is not the only one who is seeking this artifact.  When the Order of Babel coerces him into helping them with a recovery mission, Severin is offered the one treasure he could never pass up: his true inheritance.  To complete his mission, Severin calls upon the aid of a group of unlikely friends, an engineer with a debt to pay, a historian banished from him own homeland, a dancer with a sinister past, and a brother in arms if not blood.  Together they will explore the darkest parts of Paris searching for their treasure and hope to stop anyone from gaining access to the fragment.

There are so many things one can say about this novel.  I absolutely loved it.  I have become a quick fan of Roshani Chokshi as I have also read Star-Touched Queen and Crown-Of Wishes.  The Gilded Wolves was everything I was expecting and more.  It is just so magical and includes mathematical riddles which I absolutely loved.  The math aspect gave the novel such a unique quality to it that I haven't seen done yet, and kudos to Chokshi for including it in her novel.  I knew I needed to clear some time to read this one and actually told my husband I needed that time to devote to this novel.  He is super understanding about my reading needs.


I so wanted more about the Tower of Babel fragments, and I have a feeling we may see more of them in hopefully some future novels?? -hint hint- Chokshi's way of describing things makes you feel as if you are apart of the story.  I could almost taste the food, see the sights, feel the heat of flames and so much more.  The characters I am so in love with!  Enrique is my kind of historian and Trystan is amazingly shy, I feel if he was real he would be my crush.  I wanted so much more from his character, more of his backstory and his love of Goliath.  Chokshi gives readers so much of characters that we feel for them, it is almost as if the characters become a part of us.  I love it.


I am mad at myself for not reading this novel sooner and letting it sit on my shelf for so long.  I was drawn in from the very beginning and couldn't stop reading, one night I was up until the wee hours of the night needing to finish this novel and find out what happens.  And then the very last line!  OMG Roshani what are you doing to me!


Everything about this book I loved.  The world building, the character building, even the snippets of a love interest.  I cannot wait for more.

Exciting Conclusion to the Foruth Monkey Killer Trilogy

Title: The Sixth Wicked Child
Author: J.D Barker
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Source: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


The words "Father, forgive me"  could have a multitude of meanings.  For Detective Sam Porter, they conjure memories of a past long buried and forgotten.  For Anson Bishop, they connect his childhood to his present as he reveals the truth that has been hidden for decades.  Written on near each new victim, the words connect multiple victims to the Fourth Monkey Killer.  Though the bodies are found in miles apart, in Chicago and South Carolina, clearly they are somehow connected.  Now Chicago Metro and the FBI are fighting through a cloud of chaos as they try to track down not only a killer, but a rogue officer and struggle to find a solution to potential mass pandemic.  When Anson Bishop, suspect in the 4MK murders he reveals a story that is not only unexpected but couldn't possibly be true...could it?  Finally the Fourth Monkey Killer's motive is revealed and the case is finally put to rest.

What a conclusion to a fast paced trilogy!  I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning with Fourth Monkey Killer and Fifth to Die, and now Barker keeps the suspense and breakneck pace with this chilling conclusion. There is so much going on throughout the novel, that it doesn't seem like much focus is on the bodies, especially after Anson turns himself in.  The novel is lengthy coming in at about 624 pages, there is a lot of action and suspense throughout the story.  While it does take a few chapters to pick up the pace, once it does; readers are in for a wild ride through Anson's past to discover the motive to the murders.


Characters are all likable, even ones that get introduced in this novel, and the antagonist.  You cannot help but like and wonder if Anson could really be the Fourth Monkey Killer or not.  He is very compelling in his case that he isn't the killer.  I liked getting the different viewpoints, and we get a few more than we have in the other books.  While they may seem like too much to some readers, it is needed to grasp the full story.  There are so many unexpected twists and turns that each viewpoint reveals that you don't want to miss something.


Porter I liked from the beginning, and while it started to look like he was either mad, or a part of the crimes, I was rooting for him the whole time.  He is intelligent and knows his suspect inside and out which could at times make things more difficult for him.


Anson Bishop is the perfect antagonist to Sam Porter.  He is cunning, smart, and resourceful.  He knows what he has at his disposal and uses it to his fullest advantage.  The diary entries were a geat addition to the story to give us not only clues, and backstory but an insight to a crazed mind.  You almost want him to NOT be the killer.


This is a trilogy that I would highly recommend to anyone.  Barker has done a phenomenal job at creating a story that is unique and stands our from the other novels in the genre.  I cannot wait for the movie/tv series that are in the works.

Literarycat Review: Death Is In The Details by Heather Sunseri

Title: Death is in the Details
Authors: Heather Sunseri
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Source: Kindle eBook
Rating: 3 out of 5 Paws

Faith is a forensic photographer who is haunted by vivid memories of the night her mother and step father were murdered.  Twelve years later a string of fires are eerily similar to the one that took their lives.  Oddly enough the fires seem to correspond with the release of Faith's stepbrother from prison.  Ethan was convicted of setting the fire that killed his father and Faith's mother, but new evidence proved his innocence.  So who set the fire all those years ago and why are they trying to frame Ethan now?  FBI agent Luke Justice will not rest until he catches the serial killer who uses arson to mask his murders. What does he do when the evidence points to someone close to Faith, a woman he is growing fond of?  Can Faith and Luke find the truth behind it all before the flames eat them alive?

I keep going back and forth on what I think about this book.  There are moments when I like and other moments when I felt like it isn't a book for me. It progressed rather slowly for me and took a while for any of the action or clues to really make an impact on the feel of the novel.  I didn't feel attached to any of the characters, though the idea of Faith having a condition that makes her recall every moment that has happened to her with vivid clarity, as if it is happening at that moment.  For a good chunk of the book it wasn't as suspenseful or thrilling as I would have expected it to be, and I figured out the killer fairly early on in the novel.

I did like the motive behind the the murders.  There were some things that still didn't make sense when I finished the novel; things that were never truly explained with the big reveal.  The romantic part was unrealistic and was not needed.  Thriller/suspense novels do not need a romantic interest for them to be engaging and this was definitely a novel that would have been better without it.  It didn't feel like it added anything relevant to the story.  The main character solves everything by turning to alcohol and making really bad choices.  I simply could not connect with her as I absolutely hated her and Luke.  Luke just quickly gets into bed with her and just barely does anything to keep her safe and seems a little caustic as well.  He's a little too protective for only knowing her a short time, ready to fight for her after what a week?

Sunseri has a writing style that I could get into, but sadly it was the drull and boring story and very unlikable characters that made the novel feel like it was lacking something.  I am not sure if I would read anything else from her.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

Title:Kingdom of Souls

Author: Rena Barron

Genre: YA Fantasy

Source: Hardcover

Rating: 5 out of 5 paws

Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witch doctors, but unfortunately it seems like magic is passing over her.  Eachyear she tries to be blessed by the gods, but each year she comes back disappointed. When a premonition comes to her grandmother regarding Arrah and a green serpant, then local children become missing spurs Arrah into action, to buy magic with her life.  What she discovers goes beyond her most horrific nightmares and becomes more than betrayal. Now she must learn how to master magic, or find ways to buy it without losing too much of her life in order to save herself and those she loves most.

What can I say about this novel that goes beyond "WoW'?  I am so glad that I picked up this novel because it blew me away.  I couldn't put it down.  It was so beautifully written I wonder to myself why did I let it sit on my shelf for so long? Rena Barron builds a world of magic like I haven't seen before, she goes beyond the general stereotypes and creates soemthing new and amazing.  I love how she describes the magic and each other gods that play a role within the story and how they each present themselves.

Arrah is an enjoyable strong character once she gets past complaining about not having magic.  She does learn how to access her own inner strength and be powerful without needing to rely on magic to help her achieve her goals.  She is not afraid to do what she needs to do in order to protect those she loves and she deals with betrayal and mistrust in a strong mature way.  One thing that I wanted more of was the different tribes and how each tribe interacts and their beliefs, maybe we will get more as the series progresses, but it seems like such a big aspect of the story that seemed to fall to the background and I think may make the story a lot more powerful.

Rena Barron does a fantastic job building her world and characters that make readers CRAVE more of them.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series and see where Rena will take the story.  I want to learn more and be engrossed in this world more.  I was excited to see that there is a movie in the works that I will be sure to see whenever it comes out.

Literarycat Review: Evermore by Sara Holland

 Title:Evermore (book 2 of Everless series)

Author: Sara Holland
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


Everyone knows the legends of the Alchemist and the Sorceress and the magic they both possess.  But could those stories be true?  For Jules Ember the reality of those stories becomes all to real for her as she came to realize she is the Alchemist, and Caro, the Queen's lady in waiting (and also murderess), is the Sorceress.  The whole kingdom believes Jules is responsible for the death of not only the Queen but also Jules' first love Roan.  With a large bounty on her head Jules must escape Caro and follow clues to find a weapon strong enough to defeat the Sorceress.  By piecing together lost memories, Jules quickly discovers the truth behind the stories, and how to save those she loves.

I had read the first book last year and thought I had reviewed it, but must have missed it in my time away from media and dealing with life's changes.  I highly enjoyed the first book as it dealt with something very unique as time being currency and extracted from blood.  It took me a little while to get the chance to read book two and I loved it as much as I did the first some.  Though, I do wish there was more to the story.  There were times it seemed like things got rushed and "squished" into the story.  I would have liked seeing certain things be revealed to other characters and their reactions.  Other than that this is a duology that I think is highly underrated.

Jules is a wonderful character.  I mean she just found out she is this ancient alchemist she only thought of as a legend.  Then on top of that she is also battling a friend who has become her mortal enemy, literally.  She has a lot going on in her mind and she takes it on like a champ and does what she needs to in order to learn more about herself and how to defeat her enemy.  Though I would have liked to see more of her trying to piece things together and getting used to her new-found power.  She almost instantly knew how to use her power.  I am okay with the love interest, though again I would have liked to see more interaction between the two and something else to build their relationship other than stolen glances, soft touches.  She was just in love with his brother Roan, and flits to Liam easily.  There should have been some build up.  I definitely wanted more of Caro.  She's our big baddie but rarely makes an appearance.  She uses other people to do her work.

The world the Sara Holland builds is a beautiful one.  I want to more about it.  We see the different class systems and how each responds to the blood coins, and payment.  She even briefly mentions what would happen if someone ate or drank blood from someone who has died.  She created a well rounded world that I want to get lost in more often.  Again I wish this was a longer series with more interactions between Caro and Jules leading up to a bigger show down.

Overall I loved this novel and I look forward to reading some other books by Sara Holland.  She creates something interesting and unique.