Rutabaga's Reads 2021: Part 1

Presenting the first adult fiction compilation of 2021! By “adult fiction,” I mean that they aren’t marketed for children or middle-schoolers or young-adult readers; I do not mean that these stories are categorized as erotic fiction or some such potentially eyebrow-raising thing. That said, I’m not saying a story doesn’t make reference to such subjects or include an occasional scene, but it’s not the focal point of the stories.

Dark Tribute (Mar. 26, 2019) by Iris Johansen.

*This is a standalone novel with recurring characters.*

From a tragic childhood to a young woman with stable people in her life, Cara Delaney is making her mark as a violin prodigy. As a professional musician, she is traveling and does not often get to Atlanta where her guardians, forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and ex-Navy SEAL Joe Quinn, reside with their 10-year-old son Michael. Life is going remarkably well for Cara lately, except lifelong friend Jock Gavin isn’t in her life like she’d like, and she also gets abducted by a man called John Svardak. The past haunts Svardak in the present and drives him into a madman bent on violence to avenge a dark past involving Cara’s biological grandfather Sergai Kaskov (who is himself a dangerous man). Eve, Joe and Jock rush to rescue Cara, but they’d better be prepared to have Kaskov’s involvement, too. And don’t rule out Cara herself, who does not plan on becoming Svardak’s next dark tribute.

            I’ve mentioned this of Johansen’s books previously, but it is real now. This was the last book of hers that I read. I have purchased zero books of hers since this one. Another Eve Duncan Novel, it does contain the elements that readers expect: thrills, danger, aspects of paranormal suspense, headstrong female characters, super bad guys and the occasional scene of intimacy. The occasional scene of intimacy isn’t going to upset me, but what I found aggravating is Cara’s obvious desire to lose her virginity to Jock, a man who’s gotta be, what, at least 15 years older than her? And there is a lengthy paragraph where she tells Jock that she doesn’t care if she gets pregnant after Jock freaks out that he didn’t use protection (and she willfully didn’t, either). That, to me, just screams immaturity. Characters readers once knew as youth are growing up, but her books have continued to feel the same to me (my opinion only, obviously) despite the different characters. For this reason, I finally stopped ordering her books. I did not make this decision lightly.

The Library of the Unwritten (Oct. 1, 2019) by A.J. Hackwith.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

There is a neutral place in Hell known as the Unwritten Wing. It’s the space where all stories that were unfinished by their authors (sometimes known as unauthors) reside. It is Claire Juniper Hadley’s job to watch over those unfinished manuscripts, her usual duties being to maintain order and repair the books as needed. But sometimes an unwritten book wakes up, manifesting itself as a character. If that character’s author is alive, there will be no fascination stronger than the character pining for its unauthor. So this is why Claire, her apprentice librarian and ex-muse Brevity and a nervous junior demon called Leto find themselves with a day pass to Earth (well, only Claire and Leto need day passes, both having mortal souls, but Brevity needs no such ghostlight). They encounter Hero, who, as expected by Claire, does more harm than good in reaching out to his author. She stamps him, marking him a part of Special Collections, which means the library can IWL it (Interworld Loan, meaning the book can be loaned out or called back from anywhere). Retrieving Hero should be relatively simple, except a fallen angel, a Watcher, known as Ramiel (or Rami) thinks the group from Hell is hiding pieces of the Devil’s Bible (Codex Gigas). Nothing can persuade him or his commander, Uriel, the avatar “Face of God,” otherwise. It does not help that Leto managed to grab the scrap of text from Rami. Rami, getting an unexpected leave from his mundane assignment (punishment?) at The Gates, tending Heaven’s inbound processing, tracks Hell’s residents from Earth to Hell and back again, with stops in Valhalla and even the afterlife of a local dead religion that dealt in “water worshipping and sacrifices.” It turns out that the text of the Devil’s Bible is powerful and would be a significant weapon to Heaven or Hell. And if those realms are affected, Earth will be, too.

            I took a chance on this fantasy novel, first because of the title and then because of the book jacket text, and I was not disappointed. I loved this book and am very pleased that it’s the start of the Hell’s Library trilogy. The entire story is brilliant in its approach, and the story moves swiftly thanks to it. The book is overall clever, the world-building is wonderfully intricate, and the characters are each their own, some of them coming together like the most eclectic family across any dimension. It is tiered like an impressive cake and reads like a robust wine. I could definitely do without the creepy demons, but this is a library I’d happily visit, even though the story does make me feel sorry for those unfinished stories. For anyone who’s ever tried writing their own stories, you might want to take the time to finish them, so they don’t wind up in the Unwritten Wing.

The Starless Sea (Nov. 5, 2019) by Erin Morgenstern.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Devotion is the way of acolytes. Worthiness is for the guardians. Keepers retain spirit and keep it aloft. What is Zachary Ezra Rawlins? Is he the heart or the feather? “We are the stars,” a character says. “We are all stardust and stories” (p. 373), which I like better than another quote taken from the Latin that anyone who’s familiar with the Shadowhunter universe will know: “We are but dust and shadows.” 11-year-old Zachary does not find his way to the Starless Sea. Graduate student Zachary does, but it’s not an easy adventure. It is wrought with questions and forged in mystery. A mysterious book contains a story from his childhood, yet the book is far older than he is. Encounters with strangers will change his life, but are these strangers the sort that he should entrust his life with? There’s Mirabel, the fierce, pink-haired painter, story sculptor and Something Else. And there’s Dorian (not his real name, but the name is his now), the handsome man with shifting alliances who doesn’t like to wear shoes. The fate of the current Harbor is drawing to a close. How far will Zachary venture? And at what cost?

            I was enthralled by Morgenstern’s novel “The Night Circus.” With the magic and inventive plot, it was a fantastical place that I wanted to live in. I was far less dazzled when I began this story. Perhaps my expectations were too lofty, but I felt like “The Starless Sea” tried too hard to be “The Night Circus.” It doesn’t have the seamless magic and gorgeous ease of Morgenstern’s previous novel. It lacked muchness, but then it began to return. Fully restored? No, but the dreamlike quality I’d been seeking flared within, emotion burbled and magic began to restore itself like puzzle pieces fitting themselves together. I became bewitched. Although it didn’t enthrall me from the get-go like I wanted it to, I can appreciate the rich narrative, gorgeous complexity and inventive, lush, magical storytelling. Like “The Night Circus,” it is a timeless tale. Are you ready to sail the Starless Sea (it’s not water, as one might expect)?

            P.S. Those cat-sized bees. I love them, too, and will they please send me cupcakes?

            Also from this author: The Night Circus

"Forged in Fire and Stars" by Andrea Robertson

Forged in Fire and Stars (May 5, 2020) by Andrea Robertson.

*This is the first novel in a series.*

What is “made of the heartbeat of the earth, the memory of a tree, and the laughter of a star?” Ara Silverthread is the daughter of the late Yos Steelring, and he was the last Loresmith. He was killed before Ara was born. A Loresmith is a blacksmith who forges weapons blessed by the gods, “the wellspring of Saetlund’s defense against all enemies.” The Loresmith forges weapons for others, but never for oneself, and the Loresmith’s stave (Ironbranch) may only defend. Ara has spent her 15 years hiding in the northern village of Rill’s Pass until she’s found … by Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon, royal 18-year-old twins of the late King Dentroth (who was murdered by Fauld the Ever-Living, Vokkan emperor). Ara embarks on a quest with the twins and Teth, a mysterious thief with ties to Lucket, Low King of Fjeri (Low Kings are very powerful and work the underground, hence the word “Low”), Lahvja, a Summoner (not a necromancer), and a wily fox. The quest is dangerous, and they will all be tested before a few of them are further tested through Ofrit’s trials. Ara needs to possess these aspects of the gods:

                        “The wisdom of the Twins.

                        The steadfastness of Wuldr.

                        The cleverness of Ofrit.

                        The generosity of Nava.

                        And Eni’s own curiosity and cunning.” (p. 31)

            Overall, this is a straightforward fantasy, the first in the Loresmith series. While the cast has two strong heroines in Ara and Nimhea, more character development surrounding the two of them, plus Eamon and Teth, would help the story. While I never felt weighted down while reading the story, it’s not as fast-paced as I would’ve expected it to be. The quest is dangerous, but the path still runs in a fairly straight line with a lack of plot twists and dire setbacks until near the very end that hopefully points toward an interesting next story.

            Fortunately, there are some takeaways and quotes that I found intriguing. To note, cute surprises are fine. Butcher crows are not fine (no, really, they aren’t). “Like power, knowledge itself is neither good nor evil, but can be used for either. As I said, a person’s choices chart the course of their fate.” (--Lahvja to Eamon, p. 245)

            These lines …: “The world is made to drown people. It’s the ocean. Don’t swim out there.”

            … lead to my favorite line: “Take your problems one puddle at a time.” (--Old Imgar to Ara, p. 40)

"The Moonlight School" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Moonlight School (Feb. 2, 2021) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

*This is a standalone novel.*

For a decade, Lucy Wilson has been haunted by personal tragedy. From the day that her two-and-a-half-year-old sister went missing when Lucy was only nine, the guilt has eaten at her so much that she might grow invisible. Now 19 years old in the spring of 1911, Lucy has arrived in Rowan County, Kentucky, to act as “stenographer” to her cousin, the indomitable Cora Wilson Stewart, first woman superintendent of schools for Rowan County. Lucy is wholly unprepared by her encounters at first, from riding a gentle pony named Jenny to the primitive lifestyle and intellectual poverty of the people in the hills. She is appalled and can’t wait to leave.

            But as the days whittle on, Lucy observes the fierce determination and dedication that Cora has to educating the county and bringing literacy to all, no matter the age. Lucy sees grace and compassion in Brother Wyatt, a singing school master, who grew up in those hills. And Lucy meets so many others, from Finley James to Angie Cooper to Miss Mollie. As time goes on and Lucy opens her eyes, she sees beyond the conditions on the outside and listens to the stories. Lucy’s lived a life in the shadows, and she’s on her way to hearing God’s call for her.

            As soon as I read the description, I knew I wanted to read this book, whether I received a copy or not. This story is powerful, especially because Cora Wilson Stewart once walked this planet, but not only because of that. Without the right author, a story that should be gripping can become muddled, but in the hands of Woods Fisher, Cora champions for education for all youth and literacy for all adults. More light shines upon this little-known literary crusade thanks to this story. Despite the title, “moonlight schools” are not in operation in the story; it’s a story of the work and gaining in faith on the way to the first moonlight class. The growth of Lucy from pampered outsider to fellow champion of faith and literacy is inspiring to read. This inspirational, historical fiction novel is remarkable in how it takes adult literacy seriously when “highborn” people think other folks “need to not get above their raising.” Who knew that my heart could be so deeply moved by history woven with wonderful storytelling?

* 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.”