"A Distance Too Grand" by Regina Scott

A Distance Too Grand (Oct. 1, 2019) by Regina Scott.*

She didn’t know how sick her photographer father was until it was too late. Margaret (Meg) Pero has been working with photographic equipment since she was big enough to tote it around and intends to make photography her life’s career. Getting the shot is always her passion. She reports to Fort Wilverton, Arizona Territory, as the official photographer on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is 1871. Her dad, Matthew, had signed the contract M. Pero, making it legit for Meg as well, and, indeed, some of the photographs attributed to her father were taken by her. The contract was accepted and signed by Colonel Coleridge, but it’s Captain Ben Coleridge whom she finds at Fort Wilverton. They have a past; Meg’s the woman who broke Ben’s heart when he was still a West Point cadet.

            Ben knows Meg’s skills, but he isn’t thrilled to have her on the survey; he was expecting her father, but he doesn’t want to delay the survey for even one more day. They’re venturing out later than expected as it is. The small group expects they’re simply surveying the land in order to try to find a feasible wagon road across the canyon, but it’s far more personal for Ben. He wants to find his missing father, but the others cannot know about this part of the mission. As if that weren’t enough, a “midnight visitor” is lurking about. Nothing seems to be missing, but something precious to Meg is destroyed. Then there’s nature itself and the possibility of things such as cougars and flash floods. Ben has never given up on Meg, but Meg doesn’t believe Ben could love her for the smart, independent, camera-wielding woman that she is. Will their love rekindle in the great wide world? Or will any new attempts at courtship go up in flames like a wildfire?

            My first story from Regina Scott, I was pleasantly surprised by how well I liked it. It read like a smoothly-flowing stream until you’re approaching the rapids and drama and conflict descend like waterfalls. The story includes the beauty of nature as well as the harshness of it, glorious vistas unseen by many in 1871 and the brutal reality of foraging and making do with the clothes on one’s back. This inspirational fiction, historical romance novel encourages keeping the faith in the toughest of times and during dire situations. It’s a story of endurance and teamwork, bravery, grit and, yes, stubbornness.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Tyrant's Tomb" by Rick Riordan

The Tyrant’s Tomb (Sept. 24, 2019) by Rick Riordan.

It’s never easy being a mortal teenager with acne and love handles, especially when you’re normally the blindingly handsome, immortal god of the sun, archery, prophecy and healing to humbly call out some highlights. Apollo (a.k.a. Lester Papadopoulous) remains on his path to restore five ancient oracles, defeat a Triumvirate of evil Roman emperors and return to his throne on Mount Olympus as a [reformed] immortal god. Apollo and Meg McCaffrey journey to Camp Jupiter in the San Francisco Bay Area where the Roman demigods are preparing to die … er, make a frantic last stand against the Triumvirate and the “foul undead thing” they have aligned themselves with. Camp Jupiter is already in dire straits after the ambush that Leo Valdez barely made it in time to tell them about. Losses were heavy, and they are not over. They officially say goodbye to a familiar character. And Apollo is the worse for wear for much of this book, as he’s working hard so as to not turn into a zombie. One knows it’s bad when even the Arrow of Dodona is trying to give a pep talk.

            Fortunately, Apollo and Meg are not alone. At Camp Jupiter, they meet up with Tyson (Percy Jackson’s Cyclops half-brother) and Ella (the harpy with a photographic memory), both of whom are working to record the Sibylline Books. It’s in Ella’s memories, and Tyson “helps” her (“Oh boy! Tattoos tickle!”). Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang and Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano also make substantial character appearances in this book. It is like meeting up with old friends, but I’m hoping that the last installment includes our oldest favorites like Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood.

            Again, Riordan regales us with ceaseless action, cheeky banter, spot-on comedy and the right amount of drama in this fourth in The Trials of Apollo series. Also, don’t forget the haikus. As expected from the author, all action scenes are sequenced with all the detail of a cinematic film. His mythology-based, middle-grade novels are hard to put down; it takes great effort to spread the book out over a week when all I want to do is read without interruption like the happiest hermit in her own personal library. Fans will likely enjoy seeing familiar faces in Riordan’s ever-expanding, though well-developed, cast of characters. These are characters that we all root for and would gladly fight monsters with. Be sure to avoid those eurynomoi, though, as I’ll be conflicted about it if I have to dispatch an ally-turned-vrykolakai.

            Book One: The Hidden Oracle

            Book Two: The Dark Prophecy

            Book Three: The Burning Maze

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 15

Something YA this way comes (again)!

Children of Blood and Bone (Mar. 6, 2018) by Tomi Adeyemi.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

There is no magic left in the world, but there are still repercussions stemming from the Raid. Eleven years ago, King Saran, a merciless tyrant, destroyed magic and had all maji massacred, including Zélie Adebola’s mother, a great Reaper. Zélie is not off the hook, either. Although magic is gone, she remains visible with the white hair of divîners, those descendants of maji that could’ve one day become maji, wielders of their respective magics. Her brother, Tzain, is not a divîner, but a kosidán (someone without magic). Zélie’s life is further complicated when a young woman desperately reaches out to her to escape, as she is being pursued for an artifact (scroll) she has stolen. This young woman is Orïsha’s Princess Amari, daughter of Saran. What she has stolen could help restore magic back to the world. Amari, Zélie and Tzain, with the Adebola’s family lionaire, Nailah, set off to collect two other holy artifacts (a bone dagger and a sunstone) and reach “a sacred island off the northern coast of the Orinion Sea” and complete the ritual before the centennial solstice. Close on their trail is Amari’s older brother, Crown Prince Inan, who’s always looked for his father’s approval and has even gone so far as to physically maim his only sister. His hatred of magic runs deep, but fate is going to throw a wrench into his life in a very big way. Denial won’t help. The harder he fights it, the tougher it will be on him. Is Inan’s heart as hardened as Saran’s?

            Although the starter in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, it already feels epic. In this YA novel featuring a complex cast of West-African characters (who speak the Yoruba language), a captivating and variegated narrative, and an Atlas-like weight-of-the-world on Zélie’s shoulders, this debut is worthy of any and all accolades. The novel is presented in an expansive and immersive landscape with themes current to our world despite its fantasy setting. It evokes the conscience, but instead of brutality revolving around race or religion or sexual orientation, it stems from hatred of those who wield magic or potentially can wield it. Still, justice is needed as much here as in any non-magical society. This story is not always easy to read, but it’s a literary achievement of imagination, emotion, grit and more than one strong female. If you’re a YA reader, and this isn’t on your shelf, it should be!

Finale (May 7, 2019) by Stephanie Garber.

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

The Fates are free. Considering how long they’ve been trapped in a special Deck of Destiny, they are not running around wreaking havoc right away, as their powers are weak, but it’s obvious when it begins. A family enjoying an outside dinner is frozen; Scarlett can see their feelings vividly (The Poisoner). Paid servants are forced to dance endlessly along invisible strings; most are no longer conscious, as they were probably animated a full day previous when their employer was killed in a horrible manner (Jester Mad). But Scarlett and Donatella’s mother is also free, and that’s what matters to Tella. Unfortunately, the Fallen Star – the Fate at the top of the totem pole – seems to have come back strong. Certain Fates are less terrible than others, though one would never call them friends. Friendly acquaintance would also be a stretch. Scarlett, Julian, Tella and Legend must find a way to outwit the Fallen Star. Can they do so before utter chaos and irreversible damage descend upon Valenda? Because it isn’t just the four of them that will suffer, but Valenda’s residents, too. And when Scarlett learns a life-changing truth, will she harness it willingly or by force?

            I know I mentioned it for the previous book, “Legendary,” but I do not care for Tella. This remains true for this final installment in the Caraval trilogy. She grates on my nerves, and because I don’t care for her, I don’t see why one boy loves her, much less two. I think it’s her lack of maturity compared to her older sister, Scarlett, which annoys me.

            Negatives aside, I remain a spellbound fan of this trilogy. It ensnared me in its magical force much like Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” and may also appeal to anyone who enjoyed the lesser-known film “Stardust.” I like that this novel features the perspectives of both sisters. It is darkly lustrous and ominously enchanting. Imagine glitter and beauty and a façade of opulence where the likes of black diamonds and blood-red gems twinkle with millions of sparkles that could hurt you as they mesmerize you. It is a spectacle for the imagination, and I hope the author has a new series brewing.

The Red Scrolls of Magic (Apr. 9, 2019) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

The High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane – suave, stylish and hedonistic – wants nothing more than to enjoy a fabulous European vacation with his boyfriend, Alexander “Alec” Lightwood, a shy yet fierce Shadowhunter whose blood caries that of angels (Nephilim). Magnus’ plans are waylaid almost from the get-go when he is told by a trusted friend that a cult known as the Crimson Hand has been sacrificing faeries in order to raise Asmodeus, a Greater Demon/Prince of Hell. Asmodeus has significance in Magnus’ life, though none of it is positive. Unfortunately, all Magnus remembers of the Crimson Hand is that he founded it as a drunken joke; his other memories of the cult appear to be missing. The Spiral Labyrinth, the warlock’s mysterious underground headquarters, will not be forgiving to Magnus if the Crimson Hand, with Magnus as their rumored leader, continues as is. He teams up with Alec and a Korean warlock they encounter along the way named Shinyun Jung, who has a storied past with the cult. When Alec goes to the Rome Institute, he falls into step with Shadowhunters Aline Penhallow (lives in Alicante, the capital and only city of Idris, the Shadowhunters’ home country) and Helen Blackthorn (of the Los Angeles Institute). With destructive demons and questioning Shadowhunters, Magnus and Alec’s romance will be tested … through battle, pain and fire. Can such a new love overcome such obstacles?

            According to the acknowledgements, this story falls chronologically during “City of Fallen Angels” (2011), the fourth novel in The Mortal Instruments series. “The Red Scrolls of Magic” launches the first in The Eldest Curses trilogy, Clare’s collaboration with Chu. Magnus and Alec are far more star-crossed than Romeo and Juliet; there’s Downworlder and Shadowhunter, immortal and mortal in play here. Action and adventure is plentiful in this installment of secrets, magic, new love, combat, self-doubt and compassion. It is compelling and thrilling, and considering when the story takes place, it’s nice to encounter a certain familiar character in all his sarcastic, undead form (I’m talking about you, Raphael Santiago). I so appreciate the ethnic diversity of this series, especially in introducing a Korean character, but I didn’t choose it for the diversity or the LGBTQ+ representation. At its core, I’m a fan of Clare’s work, and Magnus is my favorite of her characters. He is “a blazing riot of life and color, a source of joy for everyone around him” (p. 204). This includes us as readers!