Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell

Title: Witches of Lychford
Series: Lychford #1
Author: Paul Cornell
Source/Format: Tor eBook Club; ebook
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.com; September 8, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Traveler, Cleric, Witch.

The villagers in the sleepy hamlet of Lychford are divided. A supermarket wants to build a major branch on their border. Some welcome the employment opportunities, while some object to the modernization of the local environment. Judith Mawson (local crank) knows the truth -- that Lychford lies on the boundary between two worlds, and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination. But if she is to have her voice heard, she's going to need the assistance of some unlikely allies...

I still have some Tor.com ebook club titles that I never read, and toward the end of April I finally read two of them. One such novella was Paul Cornell’s Witches of Lychford. It was a one-sitting kind of read, and it was a story I had a lot of fun with.

The basic premise of the story is a big supermarket chain wanted to come to a hamlet, Lychford, and that provided all the drama and bickering that those sorts of decisions entail. But, even from the very beginning, there was a clear sense of something otherworldly going on. Right away, I was charmed by the characters. Lizzie with her doubts, Autumn with her troubles and magic shop, and Judith with her ghosts and reputation for eccentricity. Though introduced separately, some of the best parts of the novella were when the crew got together, all doubts were settled, and the magical aspects were fully explored. The ending happened quite quickly, but, overall the resolution provided for the troubles affecting Lychford were satisfying enough that I’m interested in the sequels.

 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ninth House
Series: Alex Stern #1
Author: Leigh Brardugo
Source/Format: Purchased; paperback
More Details: Urban Fantasy; Mystery; Paranormal
Publisher/Publication Date: Flatiron Books; October 8, 2019

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

I haven’t picked up a Leigh Bardugo book since Shadow & Bone. I know-I know, it’s been a long time. That being said, I was interested in Ninth House because of how different it was to Bardugo’s other series. It was her 2019 adult debut, and I’d heard enough about its dark aspects to know what I was in for. I made a great choice though, because Ninth House was the book that finally got me out of my reading slump.

I enjoyed the details that were put into describing Yale, the magic, and the societies. It made the story dynamic and immersive. With the mystery (and subsequent sleuthing), it felt a little like a whodunit. And, with such an interesting setting—defined by intricate world building— I was glad the characters also lived up to my expectations. For the most part, they were morally complicated. Galaxy (Alex) Stern had a tragic backstory. She was cautious—and her fears weren’t without cause, since the supernatural aspects of Ninth House had never done her any favors—but she was a fighter who was willing to grab any opportunity that could offer even a small hint of security. That was, in large part, what made me love her character so much. Dawes, well, she was just great. And, though his chapters were set in the recent past, Daniel (Darlington) Arlington was charismatic, and I really clicked with his enthusiasm for magic and his position as “Vergil”—even though the circumstances, as it was made clear by the narrative, wasn’t exactly what he wanted. Even so, his pretentious remarks and frequent quoting combined with Alex’s deadpan/frank way of putting things into perspective, were some of the highlights of Ninth House.

I ended up really loving the story. The ending is a cliffhanger. So, as of writing this, the copy of Hell Bent I purchased is on the way, and I’m looking forward to it.

The Thorns Remain by J.J.A. Harwood

Title: The Thorns Remain

Series: n/a
Author: J.J.A. Harwood
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Historical Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Harper360 & Magpie; May 2, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

A dance with the fae will change everything

1919. In a highland village forgotten by the world, harvest season is over and the young who remain after war and flu have ravaged the village will soon head south to make something of themselves. Moira Jean and her friends head to the forest for a last night of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She had plans to leave once – but her lover died in France and with him, her future. The friends light a fire, sing and dance. But with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees. The fae are here. Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away. The iron medal of her lost love, pinned to her dress, protected her from magic. For the Fae feel forgotten too. Lead by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer one spends with the Fae, the less like themselves they are upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltine, they will be lost forever…

Completely bewitching, threaded with Highland charm and sparkling with dark romance, this is a fairytale that will carry you away.

I was looking for more stories in the same vein as A River Enchanted and The Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross, which happened to be two of my favorite books from 2022 and all-around an excellent duology full of magic and folklore. So I was intrigued by the way The Thorns Remain was described by its synopsis.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was looking to read at the time, and I found the story to just be fine. And though the synopsis claims that it’s “sparkling with dark romance,” it didn’t really feel very romantic, even as the story was heading toward its conclusion. Instead, Moira Jean’s story was more about manipulation, grief, and co-dependency. Where even the fantasy/folklore aspects kind of served the purpose of highlighting the way her life had stopped moving after a death left her grief stricken and prone to lamenting wistfully for the past. In that regard, the story did work. And Harwood really delved into the themes by presenting a situation where being surrounded by the familiar was almost like a curse in itself. And the relationships Moira Jean still had left (especially with her neighbors), was more often than not marred by a feeling of transaction—particularly with the endless amounts of monotonous and increasingly difficult work being fostered on her. It wasn’t healthy and carried its own bitter cost. And at several points though, I wanted Moira Jean to be angrier for herself, and it took a long time for her to finally admit what she really wanted.

Regarding The Thorns Remain having a romantic subplot—as hinted about in its synopsis—it didn’t really work for me. However, if you look at the story instead as a melancholic character study, it can be appreciated for its exploration of toxic relationships.

About the author....

JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields. When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS is her debut novel.

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Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Harper360 & Magpie) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you! 

Short Stories I Read In March

It’s the twenty-ninth of April. So it’s time to talk about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in March!

Yingying—Shadow by Ai Jiang (Uncanny Magazine; Issue Fifty-One)

Yingying-Shadow by Ai Jiang is an evocative piece of flash fiction. At its focal point are family issues—between a child and a father—combined with a melancholic atmosphere in the face of a figurative and literal haunting.

The Gratitude of Mice by Yume Kitasei (Strange Horizons; Issue: 6 March 2023)

I didn’t know what to expect going into the Gratitude of Mice by Yume Kitasei, but, like Yingying—Shadow, this story was also short but with a tightly woven (and eerie) narrative. It largely reminded me of folklore Brownies—or tales about other kinds of household spirits—except with mice in the role instead (and a warning about greed). All-in-all, The Gratitude of Mice was a really good read!

Our Exquisite Delights by Megan Chee (Lightspeed Magazine; Mar. 2023 (Issue 154))

I like this story. It’s kind of like the Wayward Children’s series by Seanan McGuire, except the doors can appear to anyone instead of just children. And the portal fantasy aspect is limited to various rooms, which the story describes to the reader with an almost omnipresent narrator. It was an interesting mix of fantasy and horror-ish imagery, so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more stories by Megan Chee.

From around the web…

• “The Greenery Around Me Held Secrets I Would Never Learn”: Plant Life In Contemporary Science Fiction [Samantha Hind; Clarkesworld Magazine; Issue 198—March 2023]
• Print Run Podcast Episode 159: All The Strange Silences

So...I Played Aggro Crab's Going Under (2020)

If you read my “I’m Back” blog post at the beginning of the year, you’ll know that during my annual break from Our Thoughts Precisely I didn’t do as much reading as I thought I would. The reason for that was simple! Nintendo was having a sale on indie games, and some of the titles I’d had my eye on for a while were marked down to ridiculously good prices. One of the games that kept me preoccupied was Going Under. At the time of the “I’m Back” post, I hadn’t made much progress in the game. However, fast forward to March + a reading slump, I finally beat the main story for Going Under. I had so much fun playing this game!

I liked it, especially for how unusual of a setting it was for a dungeon crawler Roguelike. It was bright, colorful, and the visual design style was very distinct. And the office/ failed startup setting provided the perfect opportunity for plenty of witty/ironic dialogue and commentary. That was combined with the principle storyline. It was a relatively simple straightforward narrative, but with a few surprising (and excellent) twists.

Basically, you play as Jackie, an intern for a drink company (Fizzle), which was acquired by a tech giant. There are three main failed startups to play through—Winkydink, Styxcoin, and Joblin—and each one had its own unique and appropriately business themed environments.

The game drops you right into the first battle then subsequently the first of the dungeons almost immediately, which was a crash course in the game’s battle mechanic. Win or lose the first go around, it was a challenging but fun experience. Weapons don’t last forever, and what you get per room was randomized. There was also the unpredictability of what “Skills” can be applied to the character—only one endorsed skill can be equipped, all others have to be found—which kept a level of interest (and required some strategizing) to the dungeons even after multiple runs. There was also “Business Cards”—which have information about the different monsters and NPCs—and mentors who added extra and helpful perks for navigating the dungeons.

**(Note: there is an assist mode that can be applied to each save profile before logging into the game. You can adjust stats like the amount of hearts you start each dungeon run with, weapon durability, enemy health, and etc..)**

There’s still one other mode to the game, but I can’t speak about that yet since I haven’t delved into it. That being said, overall, I really enjoyed Going Under.

 Check out Going Under's trailer!

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

Title: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes
Series: n/a
Author: Dan Egan
Source/Format: Won; Paperback
More Details: Nonfiction; Science
Publisher/Publication Date: W. W. Norton Company; March 7, 2017

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The Great Lakes—Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior—hold 20 percent of the world’s supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreation for tens of millions of Americans. But they are under threat as never before, and their problems are spreading across the continent. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan’s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come.

Years ago, I won a paperback copy of Dan Egan’s The Death and Life of the Great Lakes. And, for years, it languished unread on my shelf. At the end of January and beginning of February, I was in need of a palate cleanser, and this book fit the bill. It’s nonfiction about science and history, which is one of my favorite combinations for this genre. And, from the introduction onward, I was hooked (no pun intended).

“The first day of June 1988 was sunny, hot and mostly calm—perfect weather for the three young researches from the University of Windsor who were hunting for critters crawling across the bottom of Lake St. Clair.”—pg. 108

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes was fantastic, fascinating, and a gripping account of the history of the Great Lakes. It reminded me of a different nonfiction book I read last year, which was called Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall. One of the points that book made was the architectural detail put into the malls and the specific clientele they were meant to attract and serve, ultimately created something of a boom-and-bust cycle—when the tourism and novelty wore off. The same kind of concept was present here too. However, the consequences weren’t a mall emptying of stores but an ecological disaster that had—as the book laid out—far reaching (nationwide) consequences for rivers, lakes, and watersheds. This was especially when invasive and destructive species, disruptions in the food web, and toxic (basically annual) algae blooms threatened key bodies of water.

The author laid out how many of the decisions that caused the issues seemed almost innocuous, simple, and even well meaning. One of my main takeaways was: if it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is. And the narrative had this steady build up—with the chapters on the construction on the canals and seaway as well as the conversion of the Great Black Swamp to farmland—before doing a deep dive into the consequences, the proposed solutions, and the actions taken.

I really have to applaud Dan Egan. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes was a well-researched book!

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Title: A Deadly Education
Series: The Scholomance #1
Author: Naomi Novik
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Fantasy; Young Adult
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey Books; September 29, 2020 

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere. El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

A Deadly Education has been out for a few years now. At the time when it was initially released, I wasn’t really looking to read any dark academia/fantasy (there was also a controversy because of a passage about dreadlocks; Novik apologized; and the edition I have is a later printing that doesn’t include the text in question). I recently decided to give it a try, since I have liked two of Novik’s novels before.

A Deadly Education’s synopsis and title tells you exactly what kind of story and characters you’re in for. It’s a slower kind of novel where the action is scattered and context is vital for understanding what’s going on. There was something of a social hierarchy and stiff competition between the students, particularly within the ranks of those in enclaves and those outside of them. And there were a few instances of good commentary about it. As for the action, when it did occur, there were some moments of pure horror with nightmarish imagery.

What I really enjoyed about the story was the complexity of the Scholomance as well as how detailed the magic was. It was a harder system, rather than the soft almost whimsical kind found in stories like Lud-in-the-Mist. In A Deadly Education, there were hard rules and clear consequences. As for the Scholomance, it was a complicated machine with a lot of moving parts, literally. On the surface, I wondered why anyone would want to go there, but, as the story explained, the school had a legitimate function in keeping the balance. It didn’t change the fact that it was a dangerous, isolated place full of all sorts of very hungry monsters, where being alone or with others determined whether you would survive or not. Or, at least, having a dependable group gives better odds. The way the actual education portions of the story were structured presented some interesting challenges too, to say the least, but I found the explanations (which were long at some points) pretty engaging regardless.

Galadriel (El) Higgins is grumpy, but her anger felt more like a knee-jerk defensive tactic rather than anything else. Her life has been what seemed like one nightmare after another, and with a dark prophecy hanging over her head, it didn’t make her time at the Scholomance any easier. I like the development her character went through in A Deadly Education, and it was satisfying to see the little changes as they occurred. Orion Lake was interesting. At first appearances, he’s overly strong and incredibly efficient at dispatching the monsters that also inhabited the school. But, he and El were more alike than I’d originally assumed, and the grudging friendship that developed between the two was very entertaining to read as it happened.

There was a host of secondary characters as well—Chloe, Liu, and Aadhya just to name a few. They, like everyone else, had their own motivations and methods for dealing with the challenges the Scholomance presented.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with A Deadly Education.

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

Title: Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
Series: n/a
Author: Edith Hamilton
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Classic; History; Mythology
Publisher/Publication Date: first published January 1, 1942

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

For nearly seventy years readers have chosen this book above all others to discover the thrilling, enchanting, and fascinating world of Western mythology. From Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to the Norse god Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom, Edith Hamilton's classic collection not only retells these stories with brilliant clarity but shows us how the ancients saw their own place in the world and how their themes echo in our consciousness today. An essential part of every home library, Mythology is the definitive volume for anyone who wants to know the key dramas, the primary characters, the triumphs, failures, fears, and hopes first narrated thousands of years ago - and is still spellbinding to this day.

My first read of 2023 was Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. I’ve known about this book for a while, and last year I finally purchased a copy for myself. I figured, since I plan to read The Illiad and The Odyssey this year that Mythology would serve as a useful primer as well as a refresher on names and places.

“Strange clouded fragments of an ancient glory, Late lingerers of the company divine, They breathe of that far world wherefrom they come, Lost halls of heaven and Olympian air.”—pg. 17

Even though the tales were summarized, I still liked the way Hamilton presented them, and, overall, I had a great time reading Mythology. The sections were succinct and conveyed enough to get a good understanding of any given story, and, as often was the effect, I naturally wanted to seek out other sources that told them in full. There was everything from profiles about the different gods, to a lengthy section about “The Heroes of the Trojan War,” as well as many recognizable myths—like the story of Cupid and Psyche and the quest for the Golden Fleece—and a short but entire section devoted to Norse mythology.

Overall, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology offered a well-rounded glimpse at its titular subject.

Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

Title: Lud-in-the-Mist
Series: n/a
Author: Hope Mirrlees
Source/Format: Purchased; paperback
More Details: Fantasy; Classic
Publisher/Publication Date: Originally published in 1926

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Lud-in-the-Mist - a prosperous country town situated where two rivers meet: the Dawl and the Dapple. The latter, which has its source in the land of Faerie, is a great trial to Lud, which had long rejected anything 'other', preferring to believe only in what is known, what is solid. Nathaniel Chanticleer is a somewhat dreamy, slightly melancholy man, not one for making waves, who is deliberately ignoring a vital part of his own past; a secret he refuses even to acknowledge. But with the disappearance of his own daughter, and a long-overdue desire to protect his young son, he realises that something is changing in Lud - and something must be done.

Lud-in-the-Mist is a true classic, an adult fairy tale exploring the need to embrace what we fear and to come to terms with 'the shadows' - those sweet and dark impulses that our public selves ignore or repress.

One of my last reads of 2022 was Hope Mirrlees’ 1926 fantasy classic, Lud-in-the-Mist. I first saw this novel while watching one of Christy Anne Jones’ videos earlier in 2022. I was instantly intrigued by the way she described the book, and that it was a pre-Tolkien fantasy. So I bought a copy for myself. But, it was a couple of months before I finally got around to reading it. In December, I was in the mood for more fairy related content after I read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (which was amazing). So, Lud-in-the-Mist was an easy choice. And, ultimately, it quickly became one of my top-favorite fantasy classics to date. 

At times, I felt like I was being told the events by an omnipresent narrator, which worked well for it. And, while Lud-in-the-Mist wasn’t action packed—and I wasn’t expecting it to be—it was still a very thrilling novel with plenty of mystery and something of a comedic streak at its most ridiculous moments. It had plenty to say of course, because it was a novel about a country that was determined to deny a part of its origins, and so allowed space for a cunning villain to get into their midst. The quote that follows is one of my favorites and is an example of (as well as an explanation) for the attitudes present in story. 

“In the eye of the law, neither Fairyland nor fairy things existed. But then, as Master Josiah had pointed out, the law plays fast and loose with reality—and no one really believes it.”—page 13

I liked the wide range of characters that made up the cast, which included everyone from Nathaniel Chanticleer to his wife, children, and neighbors. Nathaniel, and, in particular, his wife, Dame Marigold, were some of my favorites. He could be irritable and so on and so forth. And she was cunning when she wanted. They, like much of the cast, was described as typical (for a Dorimarite). But, Nathaniel had secrets, mainly about the Note. I thought it was so interesting how that one thing really shaped his personality, and influenced the way he responded and behaved toward others.

Lud-in-the-Mist had a softer magic system, with no real rigid explanation. But, every instance of “magic” and every clue toward something amiss and uncanny felt entirely organic to Dorimare—the fictional country where the story takes place. There was an emphasis on the titular Lud-in-the-Mist, which was Dorimare’s capital. But, the setting was as much of a character as the characters themselves—seemingly entirely set in their ways, but not really, especially around the overlooked edges.

All-in-all, Lud-in-the-Mist was fantastic.

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo

Title: When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain
Series: The Singing Hills Cycle #2
Author: Nghi Vo
Source/Format: Tor.com eBook Club; eBook
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.com; December 8, 2020

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The cleric Chih finds themself and their companions at the mercy of a band of fierce tigers who ache with hunger. To stay alive until the mammoths can save them, Chih must unwind the intricate, layered story of the tiger and her scholar lover—a woman of courage, intelligence, and beauty—and discover how truth can survive becoming history.... Nghi Vo returns to the empire of Ahn and The Singing Hills Cycle in this mesmerizing, lush standalone follow-up to The Empress of Salt and Fortune...

I enjoyed The Empress of Salt and Fortune so much, and I was eager to dive into its sequel, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain. I also already had a copy of it, because it was a Tor.com eBook Club title a while ago, so there was basically no delay between when I finished the first and started the next.

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain was just as engrossing and excellent as its predecessor. I really enjoy what Nghi Vo does with an embedded narrative, though the dynamics were shifted by the stark change in setting and the noticeable absence of Almost Brilliant. (I missed the neixin’s witty remarks!) But I didn’t mind it. The story was interesting not only because Chih doing most of the storytelling, but also for the addition of new characters, mammoths, and how great the story within the story was.

The tigers, in particular were fascinating. They were true to their nature and sufficiently terrifying in something of an antagonistic role—but also they were the catalyst that propelled the story in the direction it ultimately took. I genuinely enjoyed how Vo characterized them.

Overall, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain was the perfect weekend read, and I look forward to eventually reading the third book in the series.      

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

Title: The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Series: The Singing Hills Cycle #1
Author: Nghi Vo
Source/Format: Tor.com eBook club; eBook
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.com; May 24, 2020

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for. At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece.

I finally caved and read The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. It’s been sitting on my tablet since I got it when it was one of Tor.com’s eBook club titles. And one night, I read the first sentence and was hooked.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune was an engrossing tale about how the life of a girl from humble beginnings got tangled with that of an empress. It recounted their time in exile and everything that entails. It was a beautiful story. And the majority of it is an embedded narrative, with a character (Rabbit) telling another character (Chih, a cleric, and Almost Brilliant, a neixin) their story.

This is one of my favorite storytelling conventions, and when it’s done well it can have an excellent effect. Each part of the story within the story in The Empress of Salt and Fortune was contained in respective chapters. I really enjoyed the format because of how much space it gave the present characters to interact, while also correlating their conversations—and the clues within the setting—to the history being imparted by Rabbit. The characters were, after all, what helped make the story so interesting. Chih and Almost Brilliant were favorites from the start, and Rabbit’s voice easily stole half the stage. All three propelled the story forward.

The point of The Empress of Salt and Fortune can be summed up by one of its earlier passages:

“Accuracy above all things. You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small.”—page 11.

And what a marvelous story it was!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein
Series: n/a
Author: Mary Shelley
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Science Fiction; Horror; Classic
Publisher/Publication Date: First published January 1, 1818

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Obsessed with creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life with electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of horror fiction, and remains a devastating exploration of the limits of human creativity.

Frankenstein is one of those classic novels that I’ve known about, never got around to reading (for way too long), but have seen numerous adaptations and consumed media inspired by its story. After saying I’ve wanted to read it for years, I finally picked up the Signet Classics omnibus, which also contained Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The framing of Victor Frankenstein’s story is like a cautionary tale for Captain Walton: the joy he once felt during childhood and early adulthood to the bitter anger and long-sought vengeance that consumed what remained of his life. There was something so melancholic about his perspective, and the feeling persisted all the way to the conclusion. After all, it was his scientific inclinations and ambition that were not only the early and compelling driving forces in the narrative, but also the whole cause of the majority of the book. And even though the exact methods Frankenstein used to create the creature were left purposely vague, they were implied.

Frankenstein is considered one of the earliest science fiction novels, and I see where that assertion came from. The story was a tragedy that leaned into the horror of its plot, and it does everything its synopsis promises. For lack of better words, I understand the hype.

Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden

Title: Empty Smiles
Series: Small Spaces #4
Author: Katherine Arden
Source/Format: Purchased; Hardcover
More Details: Middle-Grade; Horror; Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; August 9, 2022

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

New York Times bestselling author Katherine thrills once again in the finale to the critically acclaimed, spook-tacular quartet that began with Small Spaces.

It’s been three months since Ollie made a daring deal with the smiling man to save those she loved, and then vanished without a trace. The smiling man promised Coco, Brian and Phil, that they’d have a chance to save her, but as time goes by, they begin to worry that the smiling man has lied to them and Ollie is gone forever. But finally, a clue surfaces. A boy who went missing at a nearby traveling carnival appears at the town swimming hole, terrified and rambling. He tells anyone who'll listen about the mysterious man who took him. How the man agreed to let him go on one condition: that he deliver a message. Play if you dare. Game on! The smiling man has finally made his move. Now it’s Coco, Brian, and Phil’s turn to make theirs. And they know just where to start. The traveling carnival is coming to Evansburg. Meanwhile, Ollie is trapped in the world behind the mist, learning the horrifying secrets of the smiling man's carnival, trying everything to help her friends find her. Brian, Coco and Phil will risk everything to rescue Ollie—but they all soon realize this game is much more dangerous than the ones before. This time the smiling man is playing for keeps. The summer nights are short, and Ollie, Coco, Brian, and Phil have only until sunrise to beat him once and for all—or it’s game over for everyone.

**Note: since this is #4 there will be spoilers for the series, you have been warned!**

Small Spaces was a fun and delightful series. And with the highly anticipated release of Empty Smiles, one of my favorite spooky middle grades series has reached its conclusion. And with the cover pointing towards summertime and clowns, I was ready for Ollie, Brian, Coco, and Phil’s latest scary adventure beyond the mist.

A big theme of this series is how it plays on fears, while also dealing with heavy themes (like death of a loved one) through the eyes of its protagonists. Each character has grown since the beginning of the series, and Empty Smiles effectively brought their story arcs to a close.

I liked the way the Smiling Man’s latest game was structured. It was different from the other three books in the series, but I enjoyed the way it was written. It kept it from feeling too repetitive, while still offering the same suspense and scares as Small Spaces, Dead Voices, and Dark Waters. Except, it involved a creepy carnival and everything associated with it.

However, I was surprised by the way Empty Smiles handled the Smiling Man. The dynamics with the characters were different, considering the absolute cliffhanger at the end of Dark Waters. It fleshed out his character in a way the first three books didn’t, and by doing so it kind of lifted the veil a little bit. Despite it, there was still an air of mystery and danger surrounding him. You never knew if he was being helpful or deliberately tricky and malicious. But I appreciated the answers that were offered by Empty Smiles.

I’m going to miss this series. For a couple of years now, it’s been one of my go-to picks for September-October. But at the same time, it was a solid quartet of stories. All-in-all, I’ll be on the lookout for whatever Katherine Arden writes next.

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

Title: Lakesedge

Series: World at the Lake's Edge #1
Author: Lyndall Clipstone
Source/Format: Bookish First; Paperback
More Details: Young Adult; Gothic Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Henry Holt & Co. (BYR); September 28, 2021

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

A gothic fantasy about monsters and magic, set on the banks of a cursed lake.

There are monsters in the world. When Violeta Graceling arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumors about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem. There are monsters in the woods. As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name. Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unraveling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under.

When I read the excerpt for Lakesedge over on Bookishfirst, I was intrigued by the story. The beginning is dark and deals with heavy themes, but it offered a good glimpse of the characters, atmosphere, tone, and the setting/lore that would influence the rest of the story. I wanted to keep reading, so the excerpt did its job. And I’m glad I read this one, because it was an entertaining book.

The two sentences that open Lakesedge’s first chapter boldly assert: “There are monsters in the world. There are monsters in the woods.” Pg.1

It’s labeled as gothic fantasy, and for the most part I agree with that description. It did feel like fantasy YA that picked up certain aspects about the gothic genre to add to it—such as decayed wealth, tragic characters, and a curse. The setting—which was dark, isolated, and enigmatic—also helped build the immersive atmosphere. It was a highlight.

I also stuck around to see how their efforts to unravel the curse would turn out. I’m all for a story about dangerous woods—it’s one of my favorite fantasy tropes—and I liked how Clipstone built the history of the curse. It was appropriately horrifying, and it demonstrated the kind of deity the Lord Under actually was.

Even while writing this, I’m still trying to decide how much I liked Violetta Graceling as a main character. On one hand, I appreciated her dedication toward protecting the only family she had left. She’s the sole POV in the story, and she had her moments of witty banter and ingenuity. On the other hand, part of the explanation offered for withholding certain details until it was convenient to know them, left me feeling a little let down. It went from “I know nothing about this,” to “Okay, maybe I did, but that’s beside the point.”

But, the ending was riveting. All the consequences I was waiting for—they happened. The character arcs Clipstone steadily built during the story—those paid off. There were no easy victories, and I loved it.

Lakesedge was a solid story, and the questions that came about as a consequence of its ending presented plenty of options of what could happen next. It was an entertaining read, and I would read the sequel.

About the author....

Lyndall Clipstone writes about monsters and the girls who like to kiss them. A former youth librarian who grew up running wild in the Barossa Ranges of South Australia, she currently lives in Adelaide, where she tends her own indoor secret garden. She has a Bachelors in Creative Writing and a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Management.

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Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Henry Holt & Co. [BYR]) via Bookish First in exchange for an honest review, thank you! 

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Title: The Cartographers
Series: n/a
Author: Peng Shepherd
Source/Format: Purcahsed; Hardcover
More Details: Contemporary Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: William Morrow; March 15, 2022

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

What is the purpose of a map? Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map. But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence... because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way. But why? To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret and discovers the true power that lies in maps...

Peng Shepherd’s The Cartographers was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Right from the start, I was intrigued by the premise—the maps, the reason for Nell’s firing, and what it had to do with her father’s eventual death. This book gave me everything I was looking for; the kind of slow moving story where the details are in the history. Told through alternating chapters, set between the past and present, The Cartographers is a new favorite.

In a way The Cartographers kind of reminded me of Piranesi. Both were contemporary fantasies set in modern times, heavy on secrets, light on magical elements, but thoroughly engrossing reads. The magical aspects tweaked reality in minute ways—just enough to give the story something of an edge, and explained just enough to be logical for the book—but it wasn’t a hard magic system (and it didn’t have to be) for the story to work.

Peng Shepherd’s writing style offered an easy entry into the book, and my instant intrigue toward the synopsis carried over to when I actually started reading. There was something of a somber tone to the story mixed in with a mystery and academic themes. But, with as many secrets the characters had, I knew pretty early on what kind of story I was in for. And it was great!

Part of what made the story for me were the characters. Nell had every right to be angry over what happened, but I could easily see how her suspicions and the mystery of the map could end up consuming her life. And I know the story was laser-focused on Nell, her family, and lots and lots of maps (some far more important than others). But the secondary cast was an interesting bunch, and I wished there was a little more about their lives outside the main events of the story; particularly for the time skip—I was so curious about what they were up to too. That being said, it didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the story.

The Cartographers was a book about ambition, secrets, lies, broken bonds, and maps. The synopsis asks, “What is the purpose of a map?” The characters and the story grappled with that question. The conclusion, I think, provided an answer that brought the story to a satisfying end.

 

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Title: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau 

Series: n/a
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Historical Science Fiction; Reimagining
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey; July 19, 2022

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman. Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers. The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities. All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction. For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has this way of spinning tales—whether fantasy, historical, or noire—into truly engrossing stories. I’ve read a number of her books—Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, Velvet Was the Night, The Return of the Sorceress—and now I can check The Daughter of Doctor Moreau off my TBR list.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was one of my most anticipated 2022 releases, and it was everything I was hoping it would be. I read it in almost one sitting.

This isn’t the first time I’ve read a retold version of The Island of Dr. Moreau, but this is one of the best. It was a loose reimagining, but the hallmarks of the classic tale were there. At times, it read like a family drama with plenty of secrets. And yet, there was always that underling intensity and apprehension from the hybrids, friction with Moreau’s benefactor, and the isolated and enigmatic atmosphere.

Carlota Moreau was a character who disliked change. But with her upbringing, change wasn’t something that came often. But as the story progressed, the earlier periods of contentment became harder to maintain. Carlota had an interesting character arc, and I enjoyed the moments when she stepped outside the role of a dutiful daughter.

Doctor Moreau was a somewhat malevolent figure in the household—a stern father, a devoted scientist. He had his secrets, and the mystery surrounding the nature of his experiments was one of the reasons I kept reading.

Montgomery Laughton was a tragic character who was prone to indulging in his habits, but his chapters were some of my favorites from the novel.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was another good one.

About the author....

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of Velvet Was the Night, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many other books. She has won the Locus and British Fantasy awards for her work as a novelist, and the World Fantasy Award as an editor.

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Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Del Rey) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!