Book Review: And the Ancestors Sing, By Radha Lin Chaddah

   A  big thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing  for the Advanced Reader Copy of this novel, coming out in February!  

As always, I am a sucker for a good cover, and this one really has a lot of very interesting elements, so I had to request it. 

   In short, this is a historical fiction novel that spans generations in China during the cultural revolution.  Readers are swept into a multigenerational saga, and into the Chinese setting with attention to character development and cultural and societal norms.   

      We follow Lei and her husband as they move from a rural area into the city - with so many others. In the city, we meet Lulu a plucky 16 yr old who's keeping her family afloat, but also trying to live her own life and be true to her own self. The story, flows naturally and I was quickly immersed and invested in the characters and setting.  I really had to know how things were going to go for each character! 

 This will appeal to readers who enjoyed Min Jin Lee's Pachinko.  The themes of family, ancestors, identity progress, and change are similar, but the stories, and the setting are quite distinct.  Highly recommend. 

                                         First Published :  COMING: 2/2025

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book : Not at this time. 

Trigger Warnings:  Sex work, domestic violence, sexism, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

 

Book Review: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

  I want to just write 5000 stars, no notes... but that wouldn't really be...correct. 

  I have an odd relationship with this novel  and perhaps just with SGJ in genera. 

  SOOOOO,  The Indian Lake Trilogy broke me down and put me back together. It was a very intense reading experience.  After that I dipped into more of his work, The Babysitter lives is one that entirely creeped me out, and there were a few unfortunate experiences- Zombie Bakeoff did not do it for me.  As I digested more of his work, I could see a progression within SGJ's writing-- things he was creating, massaging, and experimenting with through all of his works. I liked it. I always feel like, if this author is anything, he's genuinely the real deal- a writer who's put in the work - and now he's putting all of that knowledge and work together to give readers a genuine, impactful, powerful and enjoyable work. And A lot of folks seem to agree with me. Mostly horror folks. I really couldn't convince anyone that they needed to read a book about a "chainsaw heart" but if they had read it, we'd both chat so enthusiastically. He's got a unique style and some folks don't love it.  

Along came The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, and this book- had more press than some films! 

Buffalo Hunter Hunter has had SO MUCH publicity, I was a little...concerned it wouldn't live up to the hype.  I mean look at the spread for the reading guide! It's so obviously BIG BIG BUDGET.   SGJ suddenly looks like a film star...rather than a mountain biking professor.

 When I came out, I grabbed the audio copy from my library, and actually- read about 3 chapters and then it sat, until it was returned to the library. Something was not sitting right with me. I suspect it was that I had too much going on, and for me it was something I really wanted to absorb deep into my skin. 

I restarted it as a buddy read with one of my TikTok pals.  Same book, different time. She blew through it in 2 days on a road trip. I took about 2 weeks. As I let the narrative unfold, I became so invested in the characters - the sort of crept in and settled and I found them in the periphery of my thought all the time. 

   As a summary - this is a novel told in multiple timelines, Etsy- a "modern day" professor of literature is struggling with the "Publish or Perish" situation in academia when a journal of a relative is returned to her.  This diary tells the story of her relative- a Lutheran Pastor in 1912, and of Good Stab, a member of the Blackfeet- who has lived an extraordinary life. and yes - there is a vampire involved...but I surely don't want to give a book report.  I will say this is an excellent novel to explore ideas, and themes of horror, destruction, exploitation, revenge, forgiveness, and justice. Knowing more about US history, particularly the Marias Massacre of 1870 will help readers understand the narrative in a deeper way. 

This is a 1925 Re-enactment of a War Dance, and I like this photo as it shows sort of the progression of time and circumstance.  It's slightly later than the time frame that SGJ wrote about, but,  I just feel like the wagons, and the audience sort of... showed an interesting juxtaposition. 

Underwood & Underwood, C. C. (ca. 1925) Re-enactment of war dance at Blackfeet Indian reservation at Browning, Montana. Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation Browning, ca. 1925. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012646812/.

  For me the thing that really shines  is the sort of - off hand observations made by all the characters- that hints at just how much we have in common. These bring the characters to life- and the story. The second thing, and I do not know how SGJ does it, but he writes women well. I noticed this in the Indian Lake Trilogy as well, and I can only surmise that he observes and then is able to apply small details that usually aren't noted by other writers.  Just perfection.  Some have said they had trouble with this book- and noted a "Staccato" writing style, and I did note that there was sort of punctuated feeling while reading this one, but it didn't bother me.  I actually think this may be his best yet. 

Surely looking forward to more! 

First Published : 3/2025

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, mass death, murder, blood consumption, vampires, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

Book Review: The Shadow Key By Susan Stokes-Chapman

  I am not sure who recommended this novel, but I wish them all happiness.  This was amazing at every turn!

Because I am still having eye issues, I did do the audiobook, and the narrator- Richard Harrington was fantastic.  I was surprised in the end to realize it was only one narrator. 

  I'm going to try to do this without spoilers, because they are just the worst, but this one may be a bit hard to not spoil a wee bit. 

Readers are taken to a wild rural area of Wales where the majority of men are working in dangerous mines, and Lords and Ladies rule the day.  We join Henry - a disgraced physician who found the only employment available was as a county doctor in what was surely considered a backwater area.  henry is sharp and observant, and as he attempts to settle in, he finds his suspicions aroused, as strange events are going on. He's befriended by Linette, a lady of the estate, who endeavors to teach him the mythology , history and language of the area.  Henry and Linette find themselves becoming fast friends and team up to solve a deep and somewhat sinister mystery that will threaten them all. Along the way, there are so many twists and turns, that my mind was constantly one step behind trying to figure this out! 

  This novel falls into the genre of Gothic novels that have been popular lately. It does not fall, however, into the super trendy "dark academia" or even into "dark romance"  though there is a touch of romance that enters- and exits quite differently from the dark romances. 

As I was reading, all I saw in my mind was THIS: While they lived mor ein a manor house, there were lots of ruins noted....

Views in England, Scotland and Wales: Caerphilly Castle, Glamorganshire. Period: 19th century. Accession number: B1981.25.2145. Amos Green (1735–1807); Harriet Green (1751–1807)

I really loved learning more about this part of Welsh history, the myths, language, the mines and even the "HellFire" clubs!  The plot hung together very well, and the ending was satisfying to me indeed. 

 5 Stars!  Recommend. 

First Published : 5/2024

Pages: 464

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, poison,  more murder, medical situations, death, dreary weather. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Club- The SAGA Continues!

 So, readers-  as you know, I joined my local library book club in January.  I had started to feel a little isolated in my community and decided to try it.  I had a pretty rough entry into the club (as detailed here) and I wasn't sure if this was going to be for  me.  There have been some notable crash-outs    and a few books that I regretted reading. 

Below is how I imagine us all reading away....

Carnegie library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, None. [Between 1900 and 1905] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007684172  

To be honest, I think for the first 6 months I attended, I really felt like an odd duck.  I am about- on average- 10 years younger than everyone else, and the leader is a bit of a queen bee type who is a bit controlling. She is definitely "in charge". 

But last night, I piled in, having read only 3 chapters of the assigned book. (It was a good one by William Kent Kreuger)  and it was...sort of magical. Immediately when I came in, I was greeted by many of the members with big smiles and I FELT SO WELCOME! 

I had a discussion with two ladies about how much we had enjoyed the book ( my whole three chapters!), another person told about finishing off Project Hail Mary, and immediately offered to loan it out to me.  On the way out, I chatted away with another person, and felt very comfortable overall.  Although these are not people I'd call if I had a flat tire, I have to say I did feel a sense of belonging that I had not had before. I felt like I could actually be myself in the group, which is a rare feeling indeed. 

So... I guess I'm surprised and pleased to say that my persistence with book club has paid off, 10 months later, with book club being an activity that I really look forward to and enjoy.  I'm most excited to nominate 2 books for next year and I am hoping one gets chosen, if not both! I'd recommend a local book club, even if initially you think they aren't reading what you enjoy. It's been such a journey! 

Cheers! 

To

Book Review: A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

   I picked this book up because it went with my water theme and it was on a list of Barak Obama's favorites.  I've honestly never gone wrong with anything off his lists. While they are not all favorites, I've always learned some interesting things and gained insights from them! 

  This book has a lovely cover. I like the whale tail so much even though that particular whale was none too friendly to our protagonists. 

   This is one of those non-fiction reads that seems to be fiction at first blush.  Readers follow Maurice and Maralyn who embark on a journey from the UK to New Zealand- in the 1970's. Maurice is much older than Maralyn, and he's shocked she wanted to marry him.  Based on my read, he was clearly on the autism spectrum- with difficulty giving up routine, and some strong preferences regarding how things should be done etc. Maralyn was more easygoing and able to recognize that her husband wasn't always well liked and thus she was able to smooth the way for him. A sailing trip in itself wouldn't have been much of a story, but mid trip- the couple find their ship damaged by a whale. The ship sinks and they were left to drift for over 100 days.  When finally rescued by a Korean fishing vessel, a media frenzy takes over their lives. I don't want to spoil the story, but it was remarkable how this already unlikely couple worked together to survive this ordeal, heal and return to sailing again. 

  As a reader, I tend to have several books going at one time, and it's rare for me to concentrate on just one, but this one- I found I couldn't put it down and I had it read in 3 days.  I think it's an interesting companion to Moby Dick ( which I've been delving into slowly) as both have an oddly obsessed captain type, a whale nemesis, and a journey undertaken for personal reasons.  While the cover is beautiful, I'm not positive I'd recommend it for gifting, as it might be seen as a commentary on someone else's relationship etc. 

    I found this to be very well written, engrossing, and thoughtful and well worth the time taken to enjoy. 

First Published : 2/2024

Pages: 256

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, unusual food consumption, starvation  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

Happy Publication Day!

   Book Two in the Ex Romana Series by Sophie Burnham is out in the world! 

BLOODTIDE  continues the adventure in an alternate world where the Roman Empire never fell. Apocalypse is coming, and unlikely alliances are being formed.

 I did receive an advanced reader copy from DAW- Astra House - and I can't wait to post up that review!

   This is a complex fantasy read which will appeal to readers who have wanted just a little more from their novels. Fully fleshed out characters, surprise twists and turns, and a storyline full of thought provoking moments.  And a story this complex is nothing with out some messy, complicated relationships! 

    And the COVER!  Design by Adam Auerbach   and illustrated by Simon Prades ( who is also know for his work for the New Yorker) - this one is a stunner!  

 Let me know if you pick this up!  Happy Reading! 

Book Review: Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

 I LOVE Brynne Weaver.  I really enjoyed her Ruinous Love Trilogy  which made me a bit hesitant about Tourist Season!  I didn't think it could get any better, and as Tourist Season is also about serial un-alivers, I was a little concerned. Some writers hit on a formula and stick with it, and their novels become a wee bit predictable. My concerns were unfounded! 

 And well, I do think perhaps Ms. Weaver may just really like serial un-alivers a bit more than your average person, but that of course is just speculation, and this is fiction- where anything can happen! 

I'm going to say that I think, possibly, that Tourist Season is even better than the Ruinous Love trilogy. 

No Spoiler Summary- as spoilers are awful ridiculous things.  Our protagonist, Harper, has a bit of a shady past, but she's started anew in Cape Carnage. She takes care of Arthur, an elderly man suffering from dementia.  Arthur's got a secret, however, as he's been guardian of the peace in Cape Carnage for decades. His idea of guarding, does seem to involve some disappearances of troublesome folks from time to time, but who's to say that an elderly gentleman has anything to do with that? Especially one with a questionable hold on his faculties. 

Nolan's just a tourist on Cape Carnage come to enjoy the festivities. At least, that's what he wants people to believe. He's got his own agenda which definitely does include a woman who wronged him in the worst way so many years ago. (or did she?) He can't help but find himself attracted to this kind, beautiful woman who is an enigma- wrapped in a juxtaposition, folded into an origami bird. (Probably a Crow- just saying). The last thing he wants is to develop feelings for this woman, because he's pretty sure she's pure evil. 

     As the two orbit each other, some unspeakable acts do occur- which are oddly hilarious when written by Weaver.  (this is not a realistic novel at all and I'm here for the escape!) With a bit of forced proximity, and a shared midnight task, Nolan and Harper come together in an odd macabre dance of discovery. Neither is quite ready to give up the past and commit to the future.  Will they be able to before it's too late? 

Beyond the romance (which really is in the forefront), we also have the story of Arthur who is clearly struggling with dementia - while there are some entertaining moments involving Arthur, it's never at his expense and Weaver treats the challenges of dementia and caregiving with a deep respect that was appreciated. 

The conclusion-  it's a romance so it's going to have a certain ending, but as to how they get to the ending --- you'll have to read to find out! I enjoyed this via Audiobook from my local library.  Narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet really did a perfect job imparting Weaver's Dark, but hysterical story an extra spark! 

Highly Recommend! 

First Published : 9/2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, unorthodox use of wood chipper, more murder, medical situations, death, accidental drug use, sex, and more.   

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.