Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 4

I don’t usually read many companion novels, yet more and more seem to sneak onto my TBR (To Be Read) List. When they are associated with series that I have been following, I’ve found that I devour the slim volumes as I would a full-length novel … only much quicker. Companions aren’t just defined as friends or buddies, but accompanying persons. I think of these stories as the latter. They accompany us on our waiting journey to the next novel from the author and try to tide us over in the meanwhile (keyword: try).

9 From the Nine Worlds (Oct. 2, 2018) by Rick Riordan.

Distracting goats! Forever pants made out of a corpse relative’s skin! Cheesebutt the Magnificent! From the world of Norse mythology comes this really sweet, endearing guide to the Nine Worlds. For this slim volume, nine different characters have taken up the mantle of  giving glimpses into each of the worlds. So, if you’re questioning which “heim” is which, this is the book for you! While Magnus Chase doesn’t visit this volume, many of his friends do, as does the All-Father himself, Odin. Each of the characters finds her or himself in a sticky situation, and Odin isn’t exempt. As his einherjar say, “Some days you are the ax, some days you are the decapitated head.” Friendly stuff, this book.

            Admittedly, this companion novel to the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series isn’t actually sweet, endearing or entirely friendly, but it is full of adventure and high entertainment value. There are even color illustrations of the characters; you can put a face to the name if your imagination hasn’t done so already. Even when not a full-length novel, Riordan nails the writing. There’s fun and humor and supernatural abilities and trouble-raising characters of all shapes, sizes and species!

            Fair warning: Be mindful of gods passing through. Thor is running about, and you don’t want to be traumatized by the sight of him in his “tighty-leatherys” or amble by while he’s squat-farting. After all, Thor is no Chris Hemsworth.

From The Kane Chronicles: Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual (May 1, 2018) by Rick Riordan.

Congratulations! Those reading this have obviously found their way to Brooklyn House without being attacked by Egyptian monsters, evil magicians or quick-tempered gods/goddesses. Granted, by finding this book, you’ve alerted area monsters and enemy magicians to your magical powers, so go through the Rooftop Portal to Brooklyn House when it appears, would you? Please and thank you.

            As the cover states, this book is, “Your Guide to Egyptian Gods & Creatures, Glyphs & Spells, and More.” You can brush up on your knowledge of the Duat and learn more about major gods and goddesses, including the first family of them and those associated with animals (Bast is my favorite). Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane are not the only authors of the manual. They bring in fellow initiates and friends (not all of whom reside at Brooklyn House) to share their own knowledge. There are quizzes, too, so make sure your thinking caps are on (not a literal thinking cap … unless Thoth has one stored in a hidden place?).

            This little novel is a fun treasure for fans of Riordan. I didn’t always think Sadie’s quips were as funny as they were probably meant to be, but they didn’t cause me to like the manual any less. I still laughed aloud multiple times, and I brushed up on my limited Egyptian mythology data. However, if it’s all right with everyone – and even if it’s not – I’m going to avoid Bes’s uglification advice, and keep a watch on Setne, as it appears he’s oozed out of his prison snow globe. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I need to feed a frozen turkey to Freak, Brooklyn House’s semi-domesticated griffin. I don’t want him accidentally devouring any new initiates.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay" by J.K. Rowling

Warning: SPOILERS included. Unless you’ve already read the screenplay and/or seen the movie, bypass this post if you don’t want to know things before you’re ready.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay (Nov. 16, 2018) by J.K. Rowling.

For reasons not shared until much later, Albus Dumbledore will not go after Gellert Grindelwald, the latter of whom has escaped. He’s amassing followers and is determined to locate the Obscurial, who was presumed dead. On the contrary, Credence Barebone is alive and wants desperately to know who he really is. Albus enlists Newt Scamander in helping to locate Credence, who’s been spotted in France. Newt isn’t supposed to cross international borders, as he’s a wanted wizard, but thanks to those handy portkeys, travel is possible. His no-maj friend, Jacob Kowalski, ends up with him quite by accident. Well, Queenie Goldstein brought him, but as a Legilimens, she can read other people’s thoughts, and Jacob thought something that upset her, so she, essentially, abandoned him. Queenie has set off to look for her sister, Tina Goldstein, an American Auror, who’s been looking for Credence. So is Yusuf Kama, but why he’s looking for him is not the correct story. For that, they’ll want to hear from Leta Lestrange, whom Newt has cared deeply for, but who’s engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus, who apparently has a tendency to want to kill him. (Theirs is a complicated relationship.) It all comes back around to Grindelwald. Why does he want the Obscurial? For what nefarious plans does Grindelwald have involving Credence? Can Newt and Tina get to him before Grindelwald?

            I hadn’t seen the movie before I read the screenplay. The great thing about reading the screenplay first is that I feel like I’ve gotten all the answers beforehand. Nothing will spring up on me on the movie screen; I’ll know what to expect. But the not-so-great thing is that it’s a screenplay and not a full-length novel. I would happily read scores of stories set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World that are a thousand pages long per book (at least), but instead we get a screenplay. It’s still enjoyable to read so we feel we are involved, but it’s like a tiny sampler appetizer: tasty, but without the benefit of truly tiding you over. Because of its format, it read very quickly. I still adore Newt’s magizoologist quirkiness. I hope we get to see more from Dumbledore in subsequent screenplays/movies. And I’d like to add a zouwu to my list of pets in my imaginary menagerie of Creatures That Don’t Exist. A baby niffler, too, while I’m at it. *Cheshire grin*

"Slayer" by Kiersten White

Slayer (Jan. 8, 2019) by Kiersten White.

Slayers slay and Watchers watch. Traditionally, Watchers are paired with a Slayer, and if a Slayer dies, the Watcher will likely receive a new Slayer. Athena “Nina” Jamison-Smythe is neither. She’s always been the one shunted to the side. Her twin sister, Artemis, is the one who’s received the Watcher training, the one whom their mom goes to when she wants something done. Nina is the castle medic (Healer), and it hurts that her mom comes to her for nothing. But what can she expect? After all, in the fire those years ago, she saved Artemis first, and Nina almost died. Artemis is always first to Helen, their mom.

            But then, Nina kills a hellhound … with her bare hands. It comes to light that Nina has always been a Potential, and she was never aware. A Potential is one who could become a Slayer, but right now, there are too many Slayers when there should only be one. Why? Because Buffy. And because of Buffy, there is no magic in the world. Hellmouths are closed, which keeps demons from entering, but it also means that any demons already on this side of the rip are trapped on this side. With humans.

            It turns out that Nina isn’t just a Potential; she’s a bona fide Slayer. Suddenly she’s faster and stronger than should be possible. It’s clear she needs training, but her physical instincts are razor-sharp. Still, Slayers slay, and she’s gone the route of trying to save, heal and protect all these years. (Her care is not limited to humans.) Unfortunately, her mother seems disinterested in this new revelation. But was it a revelation to her mother? Could Nina be the last Slayer?

            Because I’ve been a fan of Kiersten White’s books is the only reason I pre-ordered this YA paranormal adventure. I am not familiar with the Buffyverse at all. It was never a show I watched. I’m certain that I’m missing plenty of knowledge, but White includes enough that I didn’t feel like I was lost in a big city. While I can’t guess to its accuracy within the Buffyverse, I will say that I liked the book better than anticipated. It’s not as riveting as other stories I’ve read by White and is almost lukewarm compared to, say, the imagination and brutality of the And I Darken trilogy, but the twist at the end is terrific. With that twist alone, I will read the next story. (Plus, I’d read it anyway, because it’s Kiersten White.) And I’m with Nina on this: translating ancient Sumerian into Latin is diabolical. Or, I imagine it is. Can’t say I’ve ever found myself having to suffer through such a translation!

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 3

Welcome to my first inspirational fiction compilation post of 2019. While YA fiction continues to lead my TBR list, this post shows that I continue to read plenty of inspirational fiction as well.

Caught by Surprise (July 31, 2018) by Jen Turano.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

In the few years that Temperance Flowerdew has resided in New York City (it’s now 1883), she’s established herself as a quiet, almost meek, member of the Wallflower set. But no more! Since being ousted from the home of her Flowerdew cousins, who despised taking her in in the first place after the untimely death of her parents, she’s been residing and teaching at Miss Snook’s School for the Education of the Feminine Mind. Unfortunately, she’s one day mistaken for her cousin, grabbed off the sidewalk, dumped unceremoniously into a carriage, knocked out with too much sleeping draught and stuffed into a coffin. Although not a damsel in distress, she’s rescued in Chicago by her childhood best friend Gilbert Cavendish. They return to NYC, but not before a member of society observes them talking together un-chaperoned, which prompts talk of engagement. Gilbert is for it; Temperance is adamantly not.

            The drama does not settle upon return to NYC. It’s been heard that someone has a price on Temperance’s head, but why? Pinkerton agents are on-hand to provide protection, and Gilbert and the other men carry at least one weapon on their persons. Amidst the scares, Gilbert accepts swiftly that he would engage himself to Temperance and finds that he cares about her quite a lot, even if he lacks romantic gestures. When Temperance realizes she’d very much miss Gilbert if something happened to him, she turns to denial. He’s always been a friend, even with their years apart, but for him to be something more catches her by surprise.

            As with the other inspirational fiction novels I’ve read by Turano, I found “Caught by Surprise” to be as delightful as a luscious puff pastry. Turano impresses me with the way she creates her lead female characters to be independent and assertive without being annoying. The story never slows down and her plot is multi-layered like a cake, but isn’t mind-numbingly sweet. I very much enjoyed this concluding novel in the Apart from the Crowd trilogy.

            Book One: Behind the Scenes

            Book Two: Out of the Ordinary

The Cost of Betrayal (Sept. 4, 2018) by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason.

*This is a novella collection featuring three authors.*

This novel is actually a trio of romantic suspense novellas from three bestselling authors of such fiction. Each novella contains characters who’ve experienced betrayal, but also realize the healing power of faith.

1. Betrayed by Dee Henderson.After almost seven years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, Janelle Roberts has been pardoned. This is thanks, in large part, to Ann Falcon, a retired homicide detective, and her husband, Paul, a current homicide detective. Ann happens upon the murder weapon in a hodgepodge box of items that she bought at an auction. “I found a murder,” she states, but who’s the murderer? With a keen eye, she makes her decision and Paul agrees. Janelle is taken to an island to remain out of the media spotlight, but also to process with the help of Gregory Tate, one of Ann’s contacts. Ann presents her case and how she came to her conclusion, but Janelle cannot accept it.

2. Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey.A storm is rolling in, effectively trapping residents on an already isolated island. Talbot (fictional) is a small island off the coast of Maryland. Crisfield is the closest town on the mainland, and it’s still an hour’s boat ride away. Tennyson “Teni” Marlena Kent is an officer with the National Resources Police with specialization in underwater investigations, and former flame Callen Frost works as an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigator. With their work, they have unilateral statewide jurisdiction, which allows them possession of a body until the ME can safely arrive from the mainland. Unfortunately, the body is Teni’s cousin and best friend, Julia, whose death is found to be a murder. But who is the murderer? Talbot is small, and there are only so many places someone can hide, especially during a storm surge. And now, the killer looks to have set murderous sights on Teni. Why?

3. Code of Ethics by Lynette Eason.When a GSW lands Detective Isaac Martinez in the ER, trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John is there to take it cleanly out. Isaac has been a whistleblower to alleged corruption against a coworker. Nobody likes a tattletale, but it’s seen as the worst betrayal to report a colleague. Isaac’s onto something, though, if someone trying to attack him while he’s recovering in the hospital isn’t telling enough. He plans to head off on his own, but Ruthie won’t allow it, for he is her patient, and she doesn’t want him ripping out stitches. At first, Isaac is dismayed to learn Ruthie belongs to those St. Johns. As in, Ruthie’s five other siblings all work in law enforcement, and their mother, Tabitha, is the Chief of Police. He thinks they won’t understand his side of the story, but it’s obvious that he’s greatly underestimated them. The St. John siblings are not all enlisted to help as they show up and help anyway, because that’s what they do as a family. Should Isaac and Ruthie fall in love while seeking evidence they need to end the danger and outrun and capture the killers, well, surely stranger things have happened.
   
   Overall: I am satisfied with my purchase of this novel featuring a trio of romantic suspense novellas. As expected, there is a continuous current of faith running through each story. It’s not usually obvious like if you had a constant surge of static electricity shocks, but more subtle, like the purring of a cat that’s been purring well before you realized it was purring. I couldn’t choose a favorite story between Pettrey’s and Eason’s; I was an equal fan of both. Regrettably, I didn’t care for Henderson’s. I appreciated Ann’s perspective based on years of investigative skills and an objective lens and found plausible Janelle’s perspective, highly subjective though it was. The island was too perfect a place, but what I missed was that there wasn’t a satisfying conclusion to who killed Andrew. Fortunately, I enjoyed the stories of the other two authors enough that I’d pre-order a novella collection from the three of them again without hesitation.

The Lieutenant’s Bargain (Dec. 4, 2018) by Regina Jennings.

*This is the second book in a series.*

When the stagecoach she’s on is attacked, Hattie Walker is left with no food, no money and none of her possessions, not even her oil paints. Hattie runs for her life, spending a cold night outside and praying that the gunman doesn’t find her. Knowing she can’t stay where she is in unfamiliar Indian Territory, she vacates her hiding spot only to encounter a group of Arapaho. Not knowing they’re friendly, she goes the route of difficult houseguest (they do not call her “One Who Spills Stew in Anger” for nothing). She’s rescued by John “Jack” Hennessey, someone she knew in her youth, but does not recognize right away, Jack having gone from nervous nerd to good-looking lieutenant. Jack recognizes Hattie right away, having been smitten with her since they were youngsters. Wanting to be the hero, Jack makes “saving” Hattie a big deal, complete with a ceremony. Unfortunately for him and despite the progress he’s made learning the language, Jack doesn’t realize the ceremony is a wedding ceremony and is binding in the eyes of the Arapaho.

            Once Hattie learns she’s now Mrs. Jack Hennessey, she is understandably dumbfounded and resistant. She and Jack come to a truce in which she’ll act the part of doting wife in public, but she needs put no fronts on when they’re homebound. Jack struggles not to show how much he truly cares for and loves her, because he knows he’ll let her go to Denver as she planned, and he’ll have to be re-assigned so as not to disgrace the Arapaho. Hattie remains resistant until she doesn’t. Until she really takes notice of the man he’s become. Jack is her safety net, especially since the stagecoach robber and murderer is still at large.

            Having read the first story in The Fort Reno Series, I was anticipating this one, as Jack was my favorite character thanks to his comic relief, but I was missing his wit in this story (guess he was too nervous in this installment). Still, I found Book Two in the series to be overall likable. I liked Hattie’s culture shock with being introduced to the Arapaho and then finding herself on a military base, far from her usual comforts. Those experiences encourage new growth in any of us who trek from our norms. Hattie’s character comes a long way in this story, which is her saving grace, as, for much of the story, I found her to be a shallow woman who thought of nothing and no one outside of herself. This story is one of growth, both personal and spiritual, in the context of historical fiction, but with an element of danger, and Jennings assembles it as deftly as Major Adams commands the fort.

            Book One: Holding the Fort

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 2

Welcome to my first middle-grade compilation of 2019! All three stories belong to ongoing series. I do my best to avoid spoilers, but I cannot guarantee that they are 100% spoiler-free. You have been forewarned!

The Golden Tower (Sept. 11, 2018) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

*This is the final book in a series.*

What is it like to be both a hero and an outcast, a mage for good and a vessel of evil? Callum Hunt will know. He is beginning his final year at the Magisterium, a magical school where mages are taught, but this year he is shunned by some who called him friend in the past, and one of his best friends is not present like he’d like to be. The villain, the real “Evil Overlord,” is not shy about making himself known and visible, yet there are many who still do not trust Call, even though the Evil Overlord is unlike anything the mage world has ever seen. And in a world in which Devoureds and elementals exist, that is saying something. The Evil Overlord, stuffed full of malevolence and power-hungry greed, has demands, one of which is Call and his friends. They all expect to be killed, but it is possible to defeat this villain, though it will involve some travel and an assist from Call’s dad, Alastair. Support from the Assembly wouldn’t hurt, either. Now, about that voice inside his head …

            Brilliant. Magical. This fifth and concluding novel in the Magisterium series has been brimful of action, adventure, magic, fantasy and humor. However, the authors do not shy away from the darker, tough stuff, making obstacles a different sort of difficult than ours would be since they involve magic. It stuns with a plot complex enough to keep the interest of advanced readers, but is still easygoing enough for fans to read for the pure enjoyment of reading. For me, this series ranks right up there with Harry Potter or any of the mythology-based books by Rick Riordan. And I do not give that praise lightly!

The Legend of Shadow High (Oct. 17, 2017) by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale.

*This is a book within a series, but I don’t know if more will follow.*

Ever After High and Wonderland aren’t the only fantastical places that exist in the World of Stories. Monster High exists, too, with founders Frankie Stein (daughter of Frankenstein, obviously) and Draculaura (clearly the daughter of Dracula) going on an adventure they never dreamed of. They have heard whispers of a place called Shadow High. Unfortunately, the Evil Queen gets wind of this as well. Frankie and Draculaura are accidentally transported to Ever After High around the same time that the Evil Queen is missing from her mirror prison and then Madeline Hatter winds up kidnapped. Overseeing the narration of the tale is a Narrator by the name of Brooke Page. She is young and very new in the role of Narrator. Frankie and Draculaura team up with Raven Queen and Apple White and once they get over the fact that the others actually exist – for real – they work to rescue Madeline and save the World of Stories. Because if they don’t, and those margins crash together, their world will be destroyed. Their stories will no longer be. They’ll be a jumble of words, an effect of the Unmaking.

            As one who has enjoyed the Ever After High series of books, those written by Shannon Hale and Suzanne Selfors, I was happy to come across this one last year while perusing books. Like the others, this story is light-hearted and cute. It’s a bit of mystery within a safety net. In other words, mystery is present, but what leads up to solving it or getting through it isn’t nightmare-inducing. With the addition of Brooke Page and Madeline Hatter’s ability to hear the Narrator, there’s an added element of communicative ability involved in the story process. Brooke isn’t immune to fangirl-ing, adding to her youthful vibe. Puns, figurative sayings and trademark exclamations (like “fangtastic” and “spelltacular”) are always near at hand. If you’re a fan of the Ever After High series, and you haven’t read this already, this volume should meet your approval. It’s also a bit more interactive for you, the Reader, which can be a help or a hindrance if you like that sort of interaction in reading. Or don’t. (I don’t prefer choosing paths and jumping pages.)

Rise of the Isle of the Lost (May 23, 2017) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is the third book in a series.*

Are they rotten to the core no more? That might be pushing it, but the quartet from the Isle of the Lost, consisting of Mal (daughter of Maleficent), Evie (daughter of Evil Queen), Jay (son of Jafar) and Carlos (son of Cruella de Vil), have certainly come a long way from where they started. They’re each both in their elements and still finding their ways. Mal works to balance Auradon’s agreement to not use magic (except under highly regulated, exceptional circumstances) while being the girlfriend of the young king. Evie loves being in Auradon and shines as a fashionista and unofficial seamstress at Auradon Prep. Jay continues to understand teamwork instead of looking out only for himself and is accepting help to prepare for R.O.A.R. (Royal Order of Auradon Regiment) tryouts. R.O.A.R. is a combination of parkour and fencing (“It’s not linear. … Think of it as 3-D fencing.” – Li’l Shang, son of Li Shang and Mulan). Carlos also enjoys life in Auradon, especially now that he likes dogs, and he is excelling in school with technology his specialty. King Ben gets called away to moderate a dispute between Northern Wei and Agrabah at the same time that the Isle group decides to help Evie’s friend Arabella, niece to Ariel and granddaughter of King Triton. They need to find something before someone notices it’s lost and before Uma (daughter of Ursula), Harry (son of Hook) and other hooligans find it first.

            This middle-grade novel packs a rollicking adventure on land and at sea into a relatively slim volume. “Rise of the Isle of the Lost” features a perilous race that remains G-rated. I enjoyed the storyline, which included Uma and getting a backstory of her character and also the story behind the tension between her and Mal. As those two have mothers who are epic villains, it doesn’t take much for an ocean-size wedge to come between these past friends. King Ben gets to travel to two different areas of the kingdom, and I enjoyed the glimpse into different places outside of Auradon Prep and the Isle of the Lost. Although not wrought with intense complexity, this story is fun-filled and humorous with cleverness and heart.