I am very impressed that I have avoided spoilers for the last two months. Let’s do this!
What I’m Reading Now: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
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Weekend Reads: Your New Dystopian Fave
I know, I know. It is Sunday Scaries time, the weekend is over, why I am even bothering? For starters, I’m trying to make a commitment to this new regular feature. And, secondly because we announced this month’s theme for the TBR project and I want to recommend some books!
The TBR project is our book club on Fable. Unlike regular book clubs, where everyone reads the same book, the structure of this club is a bit different. We pick a theme and everyone picks something off their TBR that has been hanging out there for awhile and fits the theme. We then share our choices, our struggles, and we cheer each other on towards a TBR that is one book shorter!
This month’s theme is Fiction that was meant to stay fiction a.k.a. It was a story, not a suggestion. So, now is the time to find the dystopian classic that is feeling a little too real for a lot of people and dive in. The theme is meant to be interpreted as broadly or as narrowly as you’d like, so I imagine you could also go for that non-fiction book about something historical that shouldn’t have happened. Without further ado, here are some of our suggestions. If one of these is on your list, March might be its month!
This is the first book of a trilogy that is unflinching. R. F. Kuang’s writing often deals with themes of colonialism, trauma, and racism. This one also deals with war and sexual assault, and doesn’t shy away from depictions of violence. The story follows Rin as she goes from a poor orphan to a member of the army. Beth loved this, and you might, too, but keep in mind it may contain upsetting descriptions
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Another first book in a series, Children of Blood and Bone follows Zelie, who has a chance to bring magic back to Orïsha after it has been brutally wiped out by the monarchy. She and her friends must escape from the crown prince and stay a step ahead of him because if he wins, magic will be gone forever. These books are so good and a film based on them is now in production!
The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy
I hadn’t intended on picking three books that were first in a series, but I have. The Sapling Cage is the story of Lorel, a trans character who joins the witches in the place of her friend Lane. She must protect her identity to keep herself safe, but also help solve a mystery that has the power to be tragic not only for herself and witches, but for the entire world. Magic is being taken from the land, leaving it barren and dead. The witches have to figure out what is happening and stop it before they are blamed and hunted to extinction. I loved this one so much. Lorel is such a wonderful character and the side characters were also very fun.
So, here are three to get you started. Let us know in the comments what your favorites are. And, if it sounds like fun, join us on fable!
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel by Octavia E. Butler Adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings
I am ashamed to say I have never read anything by Octavia Butler. It seems like a good time to start. This is my pick for March’s Theme. Fictional Books that should stay fiction. When I checked it out of the library, I didn’t realize it was the graphic novel. Still counts.
Review: Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
This was a trip to read at this time. I read this as my monthly pick about leadership because it is based on the first Empress of China. Xetian is a girl from a small village that has turned the world on its head. At the end of The Iron Widow, she starts a rebellion and finds the last Emperor from 200 years ago. She wakes him up but gets more than she bargains for. She is forced to work with him to achieve her goals. This book was too close to home as they rebel against an oligarchic government. They are rallying the workers and people to their cause but change is hard. As a woman, it doesn’t matter how much power she possesses or what she has accomplished, she will still be seen as a woman who cannot be trusted. Even as she gets to the new Emperor, she knows she can never let her guard down because his goals are not hers. She is smart and uses the time she has to learn as much as she can to set herself up for the future. I do love a morally ambiguous heroine. She does some rather questionable things but it’s all to make the world better. For some reason, I thought this was a duology but there’s another book coming, and what a showdown it’s going to be.
What I’m Reading for the TBR Project: The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King
This month’s theme is “Leadership” and I’ve had a copy of this since it came out. Bonus! I’m also listening to it and it’s read by LeVar Burton!
Quick Review: I am Your Judge by Nele Neuhaus (read by Robert Fass)
Back again with another Bodenstein and Kirchoff mystery. Like the previous books, this one also involved multiple murders and a race against time. But unlike the previous books, there were secondary and new characters that I thought were really well written and compelling. At least compelling enough to mention that they were good in my review.
This story follows an sniper as he picks off people in what starts off as appearing completely random. But, as the bodies pile up, a pattern emerges that points to a really devastating motive. Kirchoff and Bodenstein investigate with the help of the daughter of one of the early murder victims. As they uncover a pattern, she uncovers some really sketchy behavior that implicates her father and others in a vast conspiracy.
I am Your Judge really made me sad. Not only were the deaths themselves absolute bummers, but the underlying motivation for the murder spree was horrifying. I think this is the best of the four, but it was also incredibly heartbreaking. It was a tale of vengeance served cold. Of the four of the novels in this series, this is probably the one I’d be the most likely to recommend, but only if you were looking for a detective story that was a serious downer.
What I’m Listening to Now: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi (narrated by Lameece Isaaq and Amin El Gamal)
I love pirates. Let’s go!
Weekend Reads: How about a Little Romance?
An Absolute gimme of a theme for today, Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t miss an opportunity to highlight some of our favorite romance novels for this addition of Weekend Reads. While it has gained popularity in recent years, especially with the advent of Booktok, I still feel Romance is a culturally slighted genre. It often centers women’s stories and/or more mundane topics of daily life and these are important and worthy things to include in our fiction. Also, there is the possibility of a little smut that isn’t super gratuitous because it contributes to the narrative, something you might not get in another genre like fantasy or mystery. St. Valentine risked his life for love and in honor of him here are some, admittedly much lower stakes, romantic tales to delight you this weekend.
This is one that both Beth and I enjoyed! Marcus Caster-Rupp is an actor in a popular TV series by day and an avid reader and writer of fan fiction by night. He uses it to explore his character and work through his frustrations with the adaptation of the source material for the small screen. April Whittier is a geologist by day and a Cosplayer and fan fiction writer by night. When April posts a picture of herself, a plus-sized woman, in her cosplay on social media, she gets all kinds of hate from dumbasses who think the ultimate flex wiill be if they tag Marcus and he comes into the comments and also dunks on April. But then he asks her out. And he means it. Marcus then also discovers that April is his beta-reader and his very best friend in the fic writing world. Sparks fly but can they survive the publicity and secrets? If you haven’t read this but you like cosplaying and fan fiction, this one is for you. Even if you aren’t into those things, Marcus and April are such a cute pair that this one is also for you.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by india Holton
Part of the Dangerous Damsels series, you have witches, pirates, flying houses, romance, hijinks…what’s not to love? When Beth finished this, she lent me her copy and I’m embarrassed to say that it has been on my bedside table for probably a year and a half now. Perhaps it will get bumped up that TBR queue this weekend!
iThe Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Rhiannon is the CEO of a successful dating app and Samson is a former football player. They met once, through the app, and had a marvelous time for what it was, but nothing ever came of it. But now they are meeting again because Rhiannon wants to buy another dating site to grow her business and Samson is the new spokesperson and company representative that attends industry events. Can they both move forward in their lives? Are they both really feeling the vibes? And what happens when a former business-partner turned competitor throws his hat into the dating site purchase ring?
These characters were both so likable, with their flaws and their strengths. I needed to know what happened next in their story. I enjoyed the arc of this novel and if you want some cheeky fun with some really touching serious moments in a contemporary setting, this one is for you!
We here at Stacks hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day! What are you planning on reading this weekend? Are you starting something new or are you finishing something up? Let us know in the comments!
Quick Review: Bad Wolf by Nele Neuhaus (Read by Robert Fass)
Oof. So, if the previous two Bodenstein and Kirchoff mysteries were dark, this is right in line with them. A body of a young woman washes up on the shore of a river and a suspect, a disgraced former district attorney, is implicated in the crimes by the current district attorney. But, as Pia Kirchoff and Oliver von Bodenstein dig deeper into the murder, they find other, more sinister connections.
Content warning and spoiler alert: this novel is about a child molestation ring. It was sad. It was intense. It was scary in places. And it was dark. I recommend these, as long as you know going into them that they are not light and even if “the good guys” win, you might not feel great about it.
What I’m Listening to Now: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
I really enjoyed the first one in this series and I can’t believe it has taken me a year to get to the second one!
2 Women, So Many Books 