Happy Thanksgiving from us at Stacks!
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What I’m Listening to Now: Babel by R. F. Kuang( Narrated by Chris Lew Kim Hoi and Billie Fulford-Brown
This is this month’s pick for the Slow Reading Book Club on Fable.
What I’m Reading Now: The Demon Awakens by R.A. Salvatore
This was a free giveaway at NY Comic-Con this year, and I have never read R.A. Salvatore before, so I thought I would give it a try. I didn’t realize it was an older series, but at least I won’t have to wait for the sequels to come out.
Quick Review: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
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!
Review: Secrets of the Nile Duology by Isabel Ibañez
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.
How are you keeping track of your books? I’m trying out Fable
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.
What I’m Listening to Now: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (read by Jordan Cobb)
Last month I went to a yarn swap, where knitters and crocheters went through the yarn they had at home for things that bought but that they knew they wouldn’t use. We then ‘shopped’ each other’s yarn stashes. During the swap, I picked up this kit for some cute little wrist warmers.
I’ve been on the waiting list for this book since the beginning of June. So, when it came available right as I was finishing House of Hollow, I knew it would be a perfect match for a new knitting project. Briseis is a gardener and magical, so starting something with a leafy motif seemed ideal.
Quick Review: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
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.
What I’m Listening to Now: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (read by Eleanor Bennett)
Beth and I recently joined fable and on fable I joined a slow reading book club. This was last month’s book. I’m excited about it, though.
What I’m Reading Now: Where the LIbrary Hides by Isabel Ibáñez
I didn’t know that there was a sequel to What the River Knows when I started it. So it’s a good thing that Where the Library Hides came out on Tuesday! Finally, something went right for me this week. IYKYK
2 Women, So Many Books 