I picked this up because there is a K-drama called Black Out on Hulu that is based on it and I was wondering how much of the insane misogyny in the story was part of the original narrative and how much of was just natural consequences of the changes they made to the story plus the change of setting it in Korea. (This is not to say that Korean culture is insanely misogynistic. But it is a patriarchy and that does entail some misogyny.)
Anyway, our detectives Pia Kirchoff and Oliver von Bodenstein are called to the scene of an accident where a woman fell from a pedestrian bridge. In the course of investigating, they discover that not only was it not an accident, it is related to a controversial case from a decade prior where a teenage boy, Tobias Sartorius, was convicted of killing two girls. There are some things about the the old case that don’t add up, like where are their bodies? And when another girl goes missing, they find themselves in a race against time to solve both the closed case and the new one.
So, how much of the insane misogyny is in the original narrative? Oh, a bunch. But, because of the differences in narrative choices, you are confronted with it in the K-drama in ways that just absolutely made my blood boil that weren’t in the original text. In both, there are discussions and depictions of rape and a bunch of abelism directed towards an autistic character. So, if those things are triggering for you, be aware.
I obviously kept reading the series, so there were things here that I liked, but I’m not sure I’d necessarily recommend this. This story had a good ending, but overall it was very dark. The end of the year was very busy and difficult, so I wanted something that felt comfortable, and detective stories and mysteries are a go-to for me. So, if you’re into dark tales and whodunits, these aren’t a bad choice, but if you absolutely can’t deal with depictions of rape or ableism, then give it a pass.
This has been a wild year of reading for me! I have done so much of it for fun! During COVID, I lost a bit of my desire to pick up books. There is still a bit of that resistance there, but with a combination of some great series, letting my whims take me, excellent recommendations from people in my life, and audiobooks, Ive managed to get back to being a reader! Alright! Let’s do this!
I didn’t read a lot of non-fiction for fun and, funnily, they were all memoirs. Readme.txt by Chelsea Manning and Consent by Jill Ciment were excellent, and they have both brought up important topics that need to be considered and discussed, but Nanette gets the nod here for a combination of also touching on important topics that need to be considered and discussed, emotional resonance and Gadsby’s audio narration. This one had me in tears, both from happiness and sadness. It was a great read.
I don’t know I can really say this was on a whim. I put it in my library want list on a whim ages ago and when my library finally got it, I was first in line. This is a story of sisterhood and family. It is also the story of growing up Asian-American and navigating multiple sets of cultural expectations while also trying to figure out who you are. Some of the story felt so relatable and some of it felt like a brand new experience for me. I love how stories can be both mirrors and windows. Anyway, this was at times thoughtful, funny, and sad and I loved the growth journey the characters went on.
Y’all this book was so good, seamlessly interweaving multiple tales of motherhood and family highlighting different kinds of conflicts that arise from differences in income, ethnicity, and race. I couldn’t put it down and I needed to know what happened next! The characters were well-written, the plot contained surprises. I really loved this one.
The Starless Sea is stories within stories within stories. I loved Zachary, the main character. He was thoughtful and interesting and I was happy to have him as a companion on this journey of so many twists and turns. Putting it over the top in this category is the multiple excellent narrations, including a performance from one of my favorite audiobook readers, Bahni Turpin.
This romance novel was a delight! I tore through it and finished it in time to pick up its sequel at the same independent bookshop I bought it at, The Ripped Bodice! 10/10. bookshop and 10/10 novel I took too long getting to. I liked the characters, I liked the intrigue, I liked the spice, I liked the ending. This was wonderful!
Best Series (Plural) I started this Year: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, and This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Part sci/fi and Part fantasy, these books have mystery, sword play, and fiery heroines that are delightful.
An Alternative history with dragons! Temeraire was described to me as the best baby boy of characters before I read it and I couldn’t agree more. I want nothing but the best for this sweet dragon and his handler Laurence, who find themselves in the middle of a war between England and Napoleon’s France. The only reason I haven’t gotten to the rest of the series is that the other books in my library hold queue keep getting in my way.
I was so taken in by Briseis and her moms and the mystery at the heart of these books that having to wait for the second one to come available at the library was torture. Briseis is a wonderful heroine and these books interweave myth with the modern in a really fun way.
I read a lot of books this year that featured houses. A House with Good Bones, The House Across the Lake , and Nothing But Blackened Teeth just to pick a few. But Cañas’s gothic novel set after Mexico’s war for independence scratched all the itches for the gothic horror genre. Beatriz is an interesting narrator, although not as naive as you’d expect and that was a nice twist. I enjoyed this immensely and would definitely recommend it.
This has been a great year for reading and I already have things queued up for the new year (including reviews of things I started this year, but haven’t posted yet!) Beth and I hope you have a Happy New Year and we hope to see you in 2025 for more from our endless stacks!
It has been hard for me to get into the holiday season this year. I have a feeling that I am not the only one. I had a coupon that was about to expire, and that is how I stumbled on this gem. You can say I didn’t know I needed it until I found it. Maggie is a mystery writer who is having the worst year and Christmas is coming and that never makes her feel any better. Her husband left her for her best friend and took half of her money. Things might be turning around. She’s been invited to spend Christmas with her “biggest fan”. Too bad Ethan Wyatt is also invited. She can’t stand Ethan. He always calls her the wrong name and is just too perfect. When they arrive, they find out that their host is Eleanor Ashley, maybe the most famous mystery writer of all time, and the reason that Maggie wanted to be a writer in the first place. The first night they are there, Eleanor disappears and it’s up to Maggie and Ethan to solve the mystery.
Right off the bat, I loved both Maggie and Ethan. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers trope. Though it is pretty obvious that the loathing is really one-sided let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Maggie is the ultimate Eleanor Ashley fan so she first thinks this is just a test for her to solve but as twists and turns start to happen she starts to doubt herself. Like so many successful women I know she has been warned down by so many people belittling her and making her doubt herself. Ethan starts out as your typical alpha male type that everyone is drawn to. His first book is a best seller and is being turned into a movie. Things just come naturally to him. However, there is more to him than that. His charisma is more a defense than anything else but one thing is for sure. He’s down for whatever Maggie wants to do never questions her and is the steadying force for her. As they go through the usual suspects and work the case, they grow together. I found the reason why he always called her by the wrong name to be touching and sweet. This was the perfect quick, fun read that I needed this season. Sure, the plot is pretty typical of Agatha Christie’s set up but it works and it doesn’t matter that it’s not that original. It doesn’t have to be. It just needs to be fun and entertaining and it was. Happy Holidays everyone!
There is part of me that misses long fantasy novels like this, and then there is the other part of me that remembers why I don’t read them that often. They are quite involved and long. While this one didn’t have as many characters as, say, Game of Thrones does, it is still a lot. The first part of the novel was a bit slow as it had a lot of world-building to set up the stacks of the series. It was told mostly from the POV of three characters, Elbryan and his childhood, Jilly, aka Pony, and monk Avelyn. They all bring a different perspective to the story, but all agree that the evil must be stopped. A great beast has been awakening after centuries, and with him, the worst of man comes out. He feeds off of our cruelty and greed. Elbryan and Pony witness their whole village murdered by Goblins, but they go their separate ways. Elbryan trains with Elves to become a ranger, and Pony takes a long road to becoming a soldier. Avelyn is a true believer who has powers even his monastery doesn’t understand. The story really doesn’t pick up until they all finally team up. Elbryan and Pony I liked immediately, but Avelyn took some time to warm up to. Once I did, he became one of my favorite characters in the book. It’s your typical story of ordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives and must meet up and defeat the evil in the world. This is the first book of the series, and as much as I enjoyed it, I am not sure I am going to read the others. While I am curious as to where the series goes next since it seemingly won the day, I am not sure I am curious enough. So, yes, it’s a good book. I am glad that I read it.
I read a lot of good books this year. Like many of us, books were a much-needed respite from all the things going on in the world. So, I am forever grateful to all the authors who created the amazing worlds I visited this year.
In no particular order. Here are the books that I loved the most in 2024!
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – This was such an excellent book. It was a tough read, I am not going to lie because I saw a little bit more of myself in the main character than I would care to admit but that’s a good thing. It’s good to be uncomfortable from time to time because that’s how you learn and ultimately grow. So yes, read this book. Especially if you are a liberally leaning white woman.
What the River Knows and Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez – These were a fun series. It really is a mix of The Mummy (1999 version) and Death of the Nile. I loved the dynamic between the main character and her love interest. It was a mix of adventure, romance and mystery. What the River Knows was so much fun, I had to immediately read the sequel Where the Library Hides. It just hit all the right notes for me.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – What if you could become a character in your favorite story? Sounds like fun, right? It is, at least to me. Rae may disagree as to where she ends up at the end of the book, but it is so much fun. A lot of humor and all the fantasy tropes that readers expect. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out.
Assistant to the Villain and Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer – Both of these books were so funny. I think I picked this up on a whim because it sounded interesting, and I am so glad that I did. It is just the right kind of humor I like. It is so ridiculous I love it.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy – The only non-fiction title on my list. Okay, it might have been the only non-fiction book I read this year, but I digress. Jennette’s story is heartbreaking because so much of the pain in her life was caused by her mother. How she handling it all now is admirable. I only wish the best for her.
The Familiar – Leigh Bardugo – Magic, mystery, betrayal. It is all here. I loved the atmosphere of the story. Leigh Bardugo is such a great writer. She paints such great portraits in her books. If you are looking for a standalone fantasy novel, You can’t go wrong with this one.
Spoiler Alert, All the Feels and Ship wrecked by Olivia Dade – I love them all. The Spoiler Alert trilogy follows three different couples from a TV show. All of them are relatable and easy to cheer for. I also love the fan fiction part of the stories.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi – Another hilarious book. I have never read John Scalzi before but I might have to after this. The absurdity of the books is amazing. Like I need this to be a movie or TV show because it would be awesome.
A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan – I was introduced to Sophie Jordan from her first dragon books, so I was happy she’s back to writing dragons. There are some similarities to the last series, but I am not mad about it. It was a very fast read, and I didn’t want it to end. It’s a good thing the sequel is coming out next year.
Those were my favorite books of this year. After going through my list, I see a theme of comedic books. I obviously needed the laughs, and I am probably going to need the laughs next year. What were your favorite books of this year?
This is the story of Briseis, a young woman who has the magic touch when it comes to plants. She receives a surprise inheritance and she and her Moms move to a grand house in Rhinebeck, New York. She discovers secrets and mysteries in the house.
This was so fun. I was so interested to what happened next that I wanted to keep listening. It also inspired me to start a little knitting project, which I was able to finish while I was listening. These little wrist warmers with their falling leaves are so cozy.
Back to the book, I was delighted by the characters and their growth through the story. This is a series and I’ve already requested the next one from the library!
I bought this book at NY Comic-Con this year and it was sold to me as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile. Like most Millennial women, I love the 1999 movie, The Mummy. I haven’t read Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile but I know the jist so I was sold. I can say it is, like both in a way. Our protagonist, Inez Olivera is like Evelyn in that she is smart, quirky, and stubborn. Whit was definitely inspired by Rick, he is charming but a little bit of a scoundrel. When we meet Inez, she is living with her Aunt and Cousins in Argentina. Her parents are in Egypt, where they live half of the year since Inez was a baby. She keeps begging them to take her with them but they never do. Tragedy strikes when she gets word that they both have gone missing and presumed dead. Using her new inheritance, she books a boat ticket and goes straight to Alexandria. From the moment that she arrives, her Uncle tries to get her to go home because he knows it is not safe. Things are not as they seem but she at every corner thwarts him and it is fun. Thanks to a little bit of magic, she helps her Uncle find Cleopatra but at a cost. I don’t want to give too much away but there are some twists and turns. Even though I did kind of suspect one of them, It didn’t bother me because it is such a fun read.
The sequel picks up right where the last one ends and it is quite a cliffhanger. Here we get to know more about Whit and what motivates him. He is the typical scoundrel with a heart of gold. He does bad things but for good reasons and oh boy, does he do a doozy in this one. He is loyal almost to his own detriment as he tries to help Inez figure out the mystery of her parents. There are a few things in this one that didn’t add up to me but I won’t go into it because, you know, spoilers. In the end, my questions didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book and the series as a whole. I like how the ending, is a little open-ended and the epilogue does suggest that the story might not be over for Olivera-Hayes clan. Though it will probably follow a different character. So yes, for all you 1999 Mummy lovers out there, this series is for you. I can’t recommend it enough.
A couple of months ago, I discovered Fable. It’s like Goodreads but more reader-friendly. For one, It’s not owned by Amazon. I’ll be honest I don’t know who owns it. I like that I can give half-star ratings because we have all read books that are not a solid three or four stars. It also asks you about the vibe, spiciness, and other things readers want to know. There are great ways to connect with other readers, join book clubs, and get recommendations. You can also keep track of our TV shows in the same manner. The best part was you could transfer all your books and reviews from Goodreads so you do not lose anything. You can also purchase e-books directly from them. They have a pretty decent selection.
I hear that Storygraph is also a good alternative and is owned by a Black Woman. I think I am going to look into that one next. For now, I am going to stay on Fable. If you are looking for an alternative to Goodreads, you can join me on Fable or check out Storygraph and let me know what you think.
This is a spooky little modern folk lore tale about Iris and her sister’s Vivi and Grey. When they were little, they went missing on New Year’s Eve for weeks before turning up mysteriously and changed. They all had little scars are their necks, their hair had turned white blonde, and they couldn’t remember what had happened or where they had been. Now, ten years later, Iris must delve into her family’s secrets now that Grey has once again gone missing.
I enjoyed the fairy tale and folk lore elements of this story and the dynamics at play between the sisters. This was a fun, twisty little read that I binged my way through. I really liked the main character, Iris, and the supporting casts of her sisters, Grey and Vivi, and Grey’s boyfriend Tyler were interesting and dimensional. The ending was good enough that I’m not clamoring for a sequel, but there were some threads left open that I wouldn’t mind continuing with these characters. If you like stories that play with folk tale elements and mystery, this is a fun one. Check it out.
I do enjoy Lish McBride’s work. She is so creative with her stories and is able to find humor even in a serious story. Faolan Kelly’s Pops has just died. He was her last living relative, and as a 17-year-old girl living as a boy, because the world is kinder to men than women, she doesn’t have a lot of choices. The Mayor of her town is shipping her off to a nearby religious settlement. Faolan knows it’s because he wants her Pops’ land. She has a plan. All she has to do is work hard, not draw attention to herself for a few months, and then when she turns 18 years old, come back and claim her land. The thing is Faolan is not someone who can keep herself out of trouble. From the moment she arrives in the settlement, she knows something is wrong. She is quickly wrapped up in the mystery of the settlement when she starts to notice weird things but also weird sounds. Not going to lie, she spends a fair amount of time injured in this book. She really cannot keep herself safe and it is kind of funny how hard her new friends have to work to do just that. I liked the atmosphere of this book The Western setting invokes a certain image of American life that lends itself to a spooky tale. It is not my favorite Lish McBride but it’s a solid work to her cannon. A good read for anyone looking for a Western mystery with a little bit of supernatural mixed in.
2 Women, So Many Books 