Book Review: The Crane Husband, By Kelly Barnhill

   This is a short novel that really surprised me.  OK, so... it would not have if I had read a blurb or anything about the novel. I seriously grabbed this one due to the gorgeous cover. 

That cover... is stunning and I love it so much that I think I may rate the book a tiny bit higher due to the cover choice. 

This is a folk horror novella that is a contemporary retelling of of "The Crane Wife".  It has some horror elements, but it is also quite a gentle read, perhaps in the way the the young narrator gives us the very brutal story in a pragmatic, practical tone that is not devoid of emotion, but is also not overwhelmed by dramatic, over the top florid prose. 

  Our Narrator is a teen living in the American Midwest - after her father's death, she assumes the role of the parent for her mother and her younger brother. She's resourceful and savvy, but when her mother invites a stranger into their lives, she finds she can't entirely "fix" this issue. She's offered help, but she can't quite bring herself to accept it or trust that it will actually be the needed help. As she navigates some very adult situations with only teen ager tools, we come to a conclusion that is satisfying but not entirely joyful. 

I enjoyed this novella very much. It was well written, with a solid propulsive plot, unique imagery and very reflective. 

  I did read this via audio book.  and the narrator was clear and excellent, - not taking anything away from the story. 

STATS

First Published  February 2023

Pages: 118

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, grief, Animal death, body horror, body injury, child neglect, food insecurity. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

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. 

Book Review: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

  Spooky Season is in full swing at my house!  I'm so pleased to have finished Immortal Dark! 

This novel has been on my radar since it came out in 2024. It made a big splash across "Booktok"  and I thought this was going to be sort of a Book Tok fluffy vampire book with some nods to Ethiopian culture,  and boy was I wrong. I honestly am left wondering if I read the same book as the bubbly enthusiastic reviewers did. 

   Not that it isn't good.  It IS very very GOOD.  It just pretty much transcends the usual Book Tok tropes and has a lot more depth than what is normally on offer. (and yes, we do all create our own algorithims) ...

   Our protagonist, Kidan is one tough woman. She and her sister were raised outside of the Vampire/Human society they were born to. In order to protect herself and her sister, Kidan has done some unspeakable things. When we meet Kidan, June (the sister) has disappeared and Kidan is searching frantically for her. Kidan is given an opportunity to locate her sister, while reclaiming her familial house on the famed Uxlay campus. The house (which indeed is sentient!) is occupied by Susenyos- a Vampire with a checkered past. The two are instant enemies, and like all good romances, the enemies soon find they have more in common than they have differences. 

   We have all likely read our share of vampire novels. Immortal Dark is a bit of a new take on the well worn vampire tropes. Her novel brings in pieces of various African cultures, entwining this with classic vampire stories. For me, the balance between familiar vampire themes and the African highlights was perfect, each augmenting the other and fitting together seamlessly. 

   What struck me about this novel is that none of the characters are particularly likeable. I intermittently found myself cheering for Susenyos and in the next minute deciding that I was more for Kidan, and often deciding that I really didn't like either's scheming, difficult personalities. This leaves all sorts of space for discussion of morality, loyalty, the cost of deception. I was compelled to find out what happens and read for 4 hours straight to get to the end.  I'm lining up for book two now. Will Kidan and Susenyos reject their prior bad acts or will they choose to fall deeper into the dark? I can't wait to find out. 

   Great read for Spooky Season! 

First Published : 2024

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: parental death, SI, violence, strong language, blood drinking, death, murder, parental abuse,  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Up Home - One Girl's Journey By Ruth J. Simmons

 I picked this up on Audio from the library as a "Skip the Line Loan"  Available for 7 days only, so I did have to prioritize it and speed right through it. 

 This is a non -fiction memoir written by the author, describing how she was born the child of Texas Sharecroppers and went on to become the President of Smith College and Brown University. 

For me, this was interesting and educative, but as far as a piece of reading- it fell a little flat. The subject matter is so important that I can forgive it for not being an extremely engaging read. In it's favor- it is written in plain language, and follows Ruth's life in a very easy to digest linear fashion (I don't really like books that jump around in time, so this was very nice) and I can see it being easily read by young adults to old adults.  Not in it's favor- the book itself has sort of the same timbre (if you will) throughout. Simmons was  involved in several pivotal moments in time encompassing the rural sharecropping life, the end of segregation in the South, and the Civil Rights movement. These events are described in the novel in the same tone and timbre as descriptions of what was eaten for breakfast.  I do get the feeling though - that part of Simmons life success is because she isn't prone to drama (unlike her teen years!) and faces things with a practical and matter of fact approach. 

   Definitely recommend- especially for older students in conjunction with American History classes, and for folks interested in learning more about how things were over time in the American South.  I do feel like I learned quite a bit from reading about and learning from her experiences. 

First Published : 1/2025

Pages: 224

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Racism, Domestic Violence, poverty, Sexism, Parental death, Medical situations. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

September Reading Wrap Up

September was a month of Bangers from the Back list and some great new reads that I got as Advanced Copies.  There were also some very mid reads, but - you can't win them all. Some of this is just dissociation from the world, but also... Advanced copies. 

 I finished 23 books in September. Incomprehensible.

Admittedly one was a VERY short read: Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson.

 I saw this as an audio book and thought why not?  I had no idea anyone harbored  such strong feelings about fish as villians.  

This took about 15 minutes to consume, so ... when I say I read 23 books... it might not be very impressive. 

Out of this stack of Books...  let's do some statistics! 

Books in Translation:  2/27   this comes out to 7%.   It seems low, but I still think I'm surpassing last year's totals.    I am keeping on in searching these out. 

Books by Diverse Authors: 7/27  which is about 26%   A lower percentage than last month, but a higher book count. 

Favorite read for the Month: Has to be My Name is Emilia del Valle  by Isabel Allende. 

 I loved this one with my whole heart and soul.  So relatable, and yet so different! 

A close second was Marie Lu's Adult Debut  Red City! 

  I enjoyed this one!  It was a wild ride that did generate some reading anxiety but... I appreciated the not very cliff- hanger-y conclusion. 

Last month I noted I had been requesting less Advanced Reader Copies, but honestly... I apparently have 8, so lots of new book reviews coming your way in October!!! 

I usually don't do a Least Favorite, but,  My least Favorite was K/A Knight's  The Wasteland.... not to be confused with T.S Eliot's poem.  The poem has great magnitude.  Knight's book is a RH story about a kick butt bounty hunter type woman, who picks up 3 very attractive male companions.  Both dystopian. I might need to do further comparison.  Knight has written other books that I've enjoyed, this one just didn't hang together very well. 

Book Review Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

   This book should be at the top of any horror lovers list for "Spooky Season"  It is one book that actually managed to terrify me. 

A lot of the horror I read is sort of creeping, unsettling,  or slasher style horror with lots of gore and body parts.  Generally speaking, most of it seems so unrealistic that it isn't exactly "scary". HEX, on the other hand... very realistic with supernatural mixed in, sheer horror. 

    Our story is one of a HEX officer - Robert Grim who works in a small bucolic town - Black Spring NY  which is oddly haunted by a centuries old witch. There's a lot of lore about the witch- and she shows up all around town all the time. HEX is a project to monitor and control this phenomena- without alarming the general population outside of Black Spring. At some point, some teens start to do things that teens typically do- and the carefully constructed peace between the witch, and the town comes tumbling down. 

  If you are looking for something that is nauseatingly frightening on many different levels, this is going to be the book for you.  If not, I strongly advise avoiding it. 

For me, I loved it.  It was so original, and so well paced, and put together, that I could not put it down.. sort of. I also could not read it anywhere but the gym - surrounded by other people.  Interestingly, HEX is translated from Dutch, and the author heavily changed the story line for  a North American audience- moving the location from the Netherlands to the Hudson Valley and more.  I'm not sure how I feel about a book being essentially re-written for a new audience, but that was a choice that was made. 

This is definitely one with lots of extremely spooky vibes, and one from "the Backlist"  I'm glad I read it and I admit, I have been peeking around corners making sure that I don't bump into Katherine all week!!!! 

First Published : 2013  in Dutch  2016 in English

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: violent events, Child death, Suicide, body horror, illness, murder, animal death. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review The Eight heartbreaks of Hanukkah: A Jewish Holiday Romantic Comedy by Jean Meltzer

 Wow!  This is a holiday Rom-com that packs a punch and addresses many serious topics while still injecting humor. Quite a balancing act, and one that Jean Meltzer does extremely well! 

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin audio for the audiobook, read by Dara Rosenberg.

I listened to the audiobook with a friend as a buddy read and we both LOVED this!  I chose it because I thought it might be a good one to recommend when people are looking for a romance that is from a different culture. Now, this is set in contemporary Manhattan for the most part and the main characters are mainstream modern Jewish people, but many readers aren't very familiar with Jewish culture and Meltzer does a great job introducing some concepts and traditions that are different and somewhat unique while spinning a ridiculously funny and at the same time heartbreaking second chance romance. I definitely learned so many things about Jewish culture and family!

Without spoilers- Evelyn is a dedicated, driven TV executive, while David is a laid back physician. They married, having a passionate love and shared values between them, but after a tragic event, they drift apart with David settling down on a hobby farm in Pennsylvania. Evelyn is producing a massive holiday extravaganza, when she's suddenly confronted by David who is doing a stint as the production studio doctor. Things get awkward! Evelyn is visited by multiple ghosts of Hanukkah as she revisits past moments, she gains perspective on past events, while David is faced with his continued feelings for Evelyn. Can a Hanukkah miracle happen for this unlikely couple? Well, of course you'll want to read to find out. 

I enjoyed the audiobook. Dara Rosenburg did a great job conveying personality through her narration, and I definitely felt Evelyn's tension and David's more mellow demeanor through the narration! 

Please note the trigger warnings prior to embarking on this journey. The cartoon cover makes it seem like a campy rom- com, but within the pages, Meltzer also seamlessly addresses pregnancy loss, grief, loss of parent, divorce, and more. So, it's important to decide if this is a novel for you, or one you'd give as a gift. Both of us buddy readers did ugly cry hard through some parts of the book. That said, we also could not stop laughing at some of the other parts!   

First Published : 10/2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations, chronic illness, pregnancy loss, child loss, parental death, divorce, irrational main star, chickens and Llamas. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.