Breakup from Hell by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Title: Breakup from Hell

Series: n/a
Author: Ann Dávila Cardinal
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Young Adult; Contemporary Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Harperteen; January 3, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Miguela Angeles is tired. Tired of her abuela keeping secrets, especially about her heritage. Tired of her small Vermont town and hanging out at the same places with the same friends she’s known forever. So when another boring Sunday trip to church turns into a run-in with Sam, a mysterious hottie in town on vacation, Mica seizes the opportunity to get closer to him. It’s not long before she is under Sam’s spell and doing things she’s never done before, like winning all her martial arts sparring matches—and lying to her favorite people. The more time Mica spends with Sam, the more weird things start to happen, too. Like terrifying-visions-of-the-world-ending weird. Mica’s gut instincts keep telling her something is off, yet Sam is the most exciting guy she’s ever met. But when Mica discovers his family’s roots, she realizes that instead of being in the typical high school relationship, she’s living in a horror novel. She has to leave Sam, but will ending their relationship also bring an end to everything she knows and everyone she loves? Clever, hilarious, and steeped in supernatural suspense, Breakup From Hell will keep you hooked until the last page.

It’s been a while since I picked up a YA novel, but I was interested in Ann Davila Cardinal’s Breakup from Hell.

The synopsis was a hook, but, once I started reading it, I instantly liked Miguela (Mica) Angeles’s characterization. She loved her grandmother and her group of friends, even when she was at odds with them. But, it was clear as day to me that she also felt stifled by what she viewed as a monotonous life—same friends, same town, same everything. She basically wished for change, and boy did she get it in what was probably the worst way.

There was a substantial amount of religious themes present throughout Breakup from Hell. For example, the characters quoted scripture and Mica attended a religious school. However, when angels, saints, demons, and hell are involved, I pretty much expect it.

The quick pace of the story allowed for the paranormal and horror aspects to show up on page fairly early, and the events unfolded one after another. It was basically instantaneous—and it wasn’t much of a mystery for me either—because the synopsis is pretty clear as to what the story was about. I didn’t mind the predictability though, because I liked the explanation the author provided for why it was happening. And, ultimately, I was very entertained by Breakup from Hell.

About the author....

Ann is a novelist and Director of Recruitment for Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA). She has a B.A. in Latino Studies from Norwich University, an M.A. in sociology from UI&U and an MFA in Writing from VCFA. She also helped create VCFA’s winter Writing residency in Puerto Rico. Ann’s first novel, Sister Chicas was released from New American Library in 2006. Her next novel, a horror YA work titled Five Midnights, was released by Tor Teen on June 4, 2019. Her stories have appeared in several anthologies, including A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons (2005) and Women Writing the Weird (2012) and she contributed to the Encyclopedia Latina: History, Culture, And Society in the United States edited by Ilan Stavans. Her essays have appeared in American Scholar, Vermont Woman, AARP, and Latina Magazines. Ann lives in Vermont, needle-felts tiny reading creatures, and cycles four seasons a year.

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

Music Monday (238): Angèle, Sting & Shaggy

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I watched the Coachella livestream over the weekend, and one of my favorite performances was by Angèle. Bruxelles je t'aime is one of my favorites so far, and I'm looking forward to listening to more of  Angèle's music.

Andrea: Hi all! I'm listening to Gotta Get Back My Baby by Sting & Shaggy. Have a great week!

What are you listening to this week?

I Listened to So Much (For) Stardust by Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy was one of the bands that got me into rock music—particularly the rock/pop/punk scene—and their albums have been a staple on my playlists since the 2000s. It’s been about five years since the band’s last album. And among the big releases on my radar for March 2023—supported by singles such as Love On The Other Side and Heartbreak Feels So Good—Fall Out Boy’s eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, was very anticipated on my end.

So Much (For) Stardust really felt like a return to some of Fall Out Boy’s earlier music. It had less of the style and sounds that dominated Mania (2018), and it went heavier on the aspects that really made me love the band’s music. It was nostalgic in the right ways but doesn’t lean too much on what they’ve already done. Instead it offered a sort of sequel—especially with the visuals for Hold Me Like a Grudge (a continuation of the music video for This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race)—by delivering songs that felt refreshing.

As a longtime fan of Fall Out Boy, I’m so happy with this album!

 

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

Title: A Fire Endless

Series: Elements of Cadence #2
Author: Rebecca Ross
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Harper Voyager; December 6, 2022

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

In the stunning conclusion to the Elements of Cadence duology, A Fire Endless finds the delicate balance between the human and faerie realm threatened by Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, whose defeat can only come through fire, song, and heart-rending sacrifice.

East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines. The Isle of Cadence has always held itself and its residents in a tenuous balance. But now Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, has pushed everyone and everything in his path off-kilter in a bid to claim dominion over all. In the West, Adaira struggles to adjust to the more brutal, bitter ways of life among the Breccans. Striving to find her place in the clan, she swiftly realizes that it just might be the last role she desires to hold. And while magic blooms effortlessly for the Breccans in the west, the spirits continue to suffer beneath Bane's harsh power, felt in every gust of wind. In the East, Jack is adrift without Adaira until he sings to the ember-weak fire spirits, acquiring a dangerous mission he never expected. One that is destined to lead him westward. Likewise, Torin and Sidra are consumed by a new mystery as sickness spreads first amongst the crops, and then to the people of the Tamerlaine clan. While Sidra desperately searches for a cure, Torin dares to strike a bargain with the spirits--a precarious folly anytime, but especially now as the days grow darker. With the island falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike will need to join together to face Bane, and Jack's gift with the harp will be called upon once more. Yet no one can challenge the North Wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required this time may be more than Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra can bear to pay.

**Note: There will be minor spoilers for A River Enchanted.**

I was thoroughly charmed by A River Enchanted, which was released early in 2022. And while it ended at a good place—with the main mystery and conflict solved, and resolutions offered for the emotional arcs—it was still open-ended, which left plenty of avenues the story could take. So, I was very excited to get an ARC of A Fire Endless, the final book in the Elements of Cadence duology. And I have to admit, it was so much fun being back in this world with Jack, Adaira (Cora), Sidra, Torin, and a host of other characters.

This duology has always had a slower pace, but the world was filled with detail. It was the kind of story that I wanted to linger with a little longer, to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

The island of Cadence was still swimming in magic and conflict—both between the limitations imposed by the clan line, the inter-clan relations, as well as trouble with the spirits. Cadence was out of balance, which was a reoccurring theme that finally got its due page time.

With the big reveal at the end of A River Enchanted—with Adaira’s true parentage and departure from the east—as well as events early in A Fire Endless, the main cast was scattered. They had such a good dynamic that I was sad to see it happen, but it also demonstrated the emotional toll left by the wake of what had already happened and what was presently occurring. The stakes were high in this race against time, and their individual ends of the story were still connected by the continued conflict. And with the latest threat—a strange blight with no treatment, sickening the land and people both—it was work together or fall, because something had to change (the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back had arrived).

I was impressed by the way Ross handled all the plot points. It was a complicated story, but all of it came together at the end. So, A Fire Endless was an exciting read and a satisfying conclusion to this duology.

About the author....

Rebecca Ross writes fantasy novels for teens and adults. She lives in the Appalachian foothills of Northeast Georgia with her husband, their lively Australian Shepherd, and an endless pile of books. THE QUEEN'S RISING, THE QUEEN'S RESISTANCE, SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG, and DREAMS LIE BENEATH are her titles for young adult readers. A RIVER ENCHANTED is her adult fantasy debut, publishing February 15, 2022 with a sequel to follow. When not writing, she can be found reading or in her garden, where she grows wildflowers and story ideas. Find her on Instagram @beccajross or online at www.rebeccarossauthor.com.

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

Music Monday (237): The NYChillharmonic, The Whispers, G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid, and Everything But The Girl

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I wanted to share another one of my favorite songs by The NYChillharmonic: Wax Garden. 

 

Adri: I recently saw that Everything But The Girl started releasing some new music after a long time. Yay! So my picks for today are an older and a newer favorite respectively: Walking Wounded and Nothing Left To Lose

Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to And the Beat Goes On by The Whispers and Play That Beat Mr. D.J. by G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid. Have an amazing week all!

What are you listening to this week?

Quarterly Recap: January-March

It’s already four months into 2023, so it’s time for the first quarterly recap of the year. Not going to lie, I almost forgot that I needed to put together one of these posts. Ironically, it was on first of April (April Fools’ Day) that I happened to watch something that gave me a much needed reminder. As always, starting with reviews….

January Reviews:

• The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott
• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

February Reviews:

• Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees
• Clock Striker by Issaka Galadima and Fredrick L. Jones
• Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

March Reviews:

• The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
• Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico
• The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
• A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Other January Posts:

• I Listened to: December Music Roundup
• Hello, I'm Back + Some 2023 Stuff I'm Looking Forward to

Other February Posts:

• Short Stories I Read In January
• So, I Watched Matilda the Musical

Other March Posts:

• Short Stories I Read In February
• I Listened to a Reckoning by Kimbra
• I Listened to 1 by the NYChillharmonic

Looking ahead, I really don’t have any specific plans for the next three months, besides trying to get out of the reading slump I’m currently in. Anyway, some of the reviews this month include two HarperCollins titles that are finally going live on the blog, a highly anticipated album, and my thoughts about a video game that I played toward the end of March.

Short Stories I Read In February

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

Silver Necklace, Golden Ring by Marie Brennan (Uncanny Magazine; Issue Fifty)

I wasn’t too sure about this story going into it. But, I’m so glad I stuck around till the end, because I ended up loving Silver Necklace, Golden Ring by Marie Brennan. This story is best described as the beauty, whimsy, and darkness of a Grimm’s style fairy tale all wrapped up in just over three thousand and seven hundred words. With evocative and atmospheric language, the story chronicles bargains and ice palaces alongside a young woman displaced and in a situation that required every inch of wit she could gather. All-in-all, Silver Necklace, Golden Ring was an enjoyable story.

Guidelines for Using the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library by Marie Brennan (Lightspeed Magazine; Issue 153)

As it so happens, the second and last short story I read in February was a piece of flash fiction written, also, by Marie Brennan. I typically like stories like Guidelines for Using the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, which consists of a narrative that has a list-like structure and that tells about a specific object, person, or place. This time around, the story delves into the guidelines on how to navigate a fantasy library, which wove together a little bit of history, references to Dante Alighieri, and a whole lot of magic. Loved it! 

From around the web…

• Ologies Podcast: Vampireology Part One
• Ologies Podcast: Geology Part One & Two
• There's Really No Wrong Way To Read A Book [Molly Templeton; Tor.com; February 16, 2023]

Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico

Title: Four Parties and a Funeral

Series: Catering Hall Mystery #4
Author: Maria DiRico
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Cozy Mystery
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington; March 28, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Agatha Award-winning author Maria DiRico returns with the fourth book in the Catering Hall Mystery Series, starring Mia Carina who is coming to grips with being back in Astoria, Queens, and running her Italian-American family's catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor but a TV casting call is about to put murder in the spotlight . . .

The June events schedule at Belle View is busting out all over--proms, graduations, and of course, weddings. There are unexpected bookings too, including a casting call for the pilot of Dons of Ditmars Boulevard. But soon, Mia's fears about the cheesy reality show are confirmed . . .Belle View quickly becomes the site of a sea of wanna-be goombahs and phony girlfriends, and some of Mia's friends insist on getting in on the action. The production company owner and his executive producer ex-wife--who's also very minor British royalty--have assembled a motley crew that does as much infighting and backstabbing as the on-screen "talent." Even so, it's a shock when a dead body is found in the pool house of a local mansion rented by the show . . .Murder might boost the ratings. But Mia intends to make sure the killer gets jail time, not airtime . . .

One of the cozy mysteries I was anticipating this year was Maria DiRico’s Four Parties and a Funeral. It’s the follow-up to It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder, which was one of my favorite reads of 2021. That book…I adored the characters, the mystery was engrossing, and, generally, I had a great time with it. And, so far, its sequel is one of my favorite reads of 2023.

Four Parties and a Funeral picks up after the events of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder. The holidays are over, it’s June, and the familiar cast and crew of Belle View (a catering hall)—Mia, Shane, Ravello, Cammie, and others—are busy. However, they quickly get embroiled in the over-the-top hijinks of reality show filming with a side of murder. I liked the way the story gradually built up to the mystery as well as the actual introduction of the crime. It was seamless. By then, there were a handful of characters who had the potential to be a suspect, because the situation was, for the most part, tense and competitive—especially between the cast of the show as well as the production team behind the camera. Added to all of that, the book also delved into the various relationships between the usual cast, giving each one some time to develop further. And I was pleased by how those aspects were sprinkled throughout the story, heightening the emotional stakes alongside the present danger.

Maria DiRico really delivered with another witty and entertaining story—full of the same charm, family drama, and sleuthing as its predecessor.

About the author....

Maria DiRico (the pen name of award-winning author Ellen Byron) was born in Queens, New York, and raised in Queens and Westchester County. She is first-generation Italian American on her mother’s side. On her father’s side, her grandfather was a low-level Jewish mobster who disappeared in 1933 under mysterious circumstances. While growing up in Queens, Maria/Ellen's cousins ran the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls.

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

Music Monday (236): Fall Out Boy, Shirley Brown

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Over the weekend, I was listening to Fall Out Boy's new album, So Much (For) Stardust. I love it! There are too many good songs to choose one, but, for today's Music Monday, my pick is I Am My Own Muse. It's one of my favorites.

Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to Woman to Woman by Shirley Brown. Have an amazing week!

What are you listening to this week?

I Listened to 1 by The NYChillharmonic

So, this year, I’m getting back into using Spotify regularly. After all, all of my current favorite podcasts are there too, and the recommendations are useful for finding more content to enjoy. Under one such recommendation page was I Lost It All by Aberdeen and The NYChillharmic. It was an interesting collaboration and one that I instantly loved. And that’s how I got introduced to what has fast become some of my top favorite music. It’s called 1, and it’s the 2016 album by The NYChillharmonic.

Their music is, in terms of sounds—and as the band’s name suggests—very orchestral in nature, which is something I love about 1. Each track felt like its own lovely little journey, with the epic feel of work you would find from Two Steps From Hell but with a singer who delivered consistent vocals across 1’s seven songs.

Overall, there isn’t much more I can say about this album. In a number of ways, it’s a delightful listening experience that I’ve already revisited more than once since adding it to my Spotify library.

Music Monday (235): Lizzo & SZA, Luther Vandross

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Lizzo released another version of her song, Special, from her most recent album (also the same name). I already loved the original, but I really like the collaboration with SZA. The vocals work so well together, and I love it!

Andrea: Hi all! This week, I'm listening to an oldie, Never Too Much by Luther Vandross! Enjoy and have an amazing week!

What are you listening to this week?

I Listened to A Reckoning by Kimbra

During the last couple of years, I feel like I’ve mentioned how I’ve waited for another Kimbra album far too often, but I really was anticipating it for the longest time. 2018’s Primal Heart contains some of my favorite music by this particular artist. Well, after three singles—Save Me, Replay!, and Foolish Thinking featuring Ryan Lott—released across as many months, on January twenty-seventh Kimbra’s A Reckoning finally arrived!

I like this album, a lot actually. It was energetic and loud (Replay!, The Way We Are, Gun, New Habit, and etc), which I not only appreciated but also enjoyed. Mainly, it made the album seem quick to listen to, even though it’s over forty minutes long. That isn’t to say that there wasn’t a mixture of sounds, because there was. Tossed in were some tracks with softer melodies, where Kimbra’s vocals were front and center, like the intro Save Me as well as the closing song I Don’t Want To Fight.

On another note, I’m always satisfied when the collaborations turn out good, especially when the other artists give verses that mesh well with the flow of the song. And, even though A Reckoning only had three tracks with features—Ryan Lott on Foolish Thinking, GTL featuring Erick The Architect, and La Type with Tommy Raps and Pink Siifu—they were excellent choices.

So, for the first major 2023 release on my radar, A Reckoning left a positive impression.

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!