Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 14

I’m back with more middle-grade novels in this third compilation of 2024. In here, you’ll find Wonderland, Korean mythology and mischievous magpies.

Beyond the Isle of the Lost (May 7, 2024) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the fifth novel in a series.>

You are unwelcome to Wonderland, where the Queen of Hearts hosts the un-parties of the year, and despite the scrumptious-looking sweets, no one can ever eat them. Treats are discouraged, especially cupcakes, and having fun is unacceptable. Birthdays remain illegal. There are so many ridiculous rules, and Red of Hearts, the Queen’s daughter, loathes the idea of following in her mom’s red-heeled footsteps. She’s heard that, in faraway Auradon, they get to do things like sing and laugh and run “around willy-nilly like little white rabbits.” Red is ready to perform the ultimate rebellion: throw an actual party! She’s gained two new friends in Chester and Ace, and they’re on-board with planning this rebellious party. What Red doesn’t know is that this party will set off a chain of un-events that will have unforeseen consequences.

            Falling down the rabbit hole to the land of Wonderland is madcap and enchanting in thrilling, equal measure. It has the fun, adventure, heart and humor that readers recognize throughout the entire Disney’s Descendants series with a new protagonist, new friendships and a familiar antagonist (“Off with their heads!”). It’s been five years since we’ve had a Descendants novel, and it’s an entertaining treat to read. It’s sweet fuel for my soul, as stylish as any dessert from Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs, with the tastefully dark vibes of Gideon’s Bakehouse.

            Book One: Isle of the Lost

            Book Two: Return to the Isle of the Lost

            Book Three: Rise of the Isle of the Lost

            Book Four: Escape from the Isle of the Lost

Fox Snare (Oct. 17, 2023) by Yoon Ha Lee.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

Being the bearer of the Dragon Pearl carries duty and weight, which is how Min the fox spirit finds herself involved in a mission to cement peace between the Thousand Worlds (of which she’s a part of, growing up on Jinju) and the Sun Clans with her ghost brother, Jun, Sebin the tiger spirit and Haneul the dragon spirit. Min is surprised to meet Yang Miho, the Thousand Worlds assistant minister, as she is a fox spirit with a high-ranking title in a realm that doesn’t think highly of fox spirits. Despite wanting to feel a natural camaraderie with another fox spirit (and a nine-tailed one, at that!), she withholds her own fox heritage. After an explosion finds Min, Jun, Sebin and Haneul in an escape pod, they crash-land on Jasujeong, a planet claimed by both the Thousand Worlds and the Sun Clans. It’s also said to be the resting place of the Sejong-Dehwang, a dreadnought with superweapon capabilities that doesn’t exist on any current or recent battle cruisers, guarded by its ghosts. The planet is home to plants and creatures unfamiliar to the group, and Min carries the power to terraform Jasujeong with the Pearl. But journeying across Jasujeong is tricky, especially when Haneul falls ill. Someone else has landed on the planet, too, but the character’s goals might not actually align with Min’s, and that could prove dangerous, not just for her and the others stranded with her, but for the two nations.

            It turns out that Korean mythology melded with space opera science fiction is a brew that I never knew I’d enjoy until I read it, and I’ve now read the full trilogy. Lee’s world-building contains rich detail, dynamic characters and high-octane adventure that leads to a satisfying conclusion. The story alternates between Min’s and Sebin’s perspectives. The centuries-long conflict between the Thousand Worlds and the Sun Clans references the historical struggle between Korea and Japan in a boldly subtle way. It’s in the smart way that Lee blends science fiction with Korean culture and folklore that gives this cohesive trilogy complexity and, I hope, wide appeal amongst teens and sci-fi-loving adults.

            Book One: Dragon Pearl

            Book Two: Tiger Honor

Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters (Feb. 6, 2024) by Stacey Lee.

<This is the second novel in a duology.>

Thanks to Winston Chu, his older sister Philippa and his friends (Mav, Cassa, Bijal and Monroe), San Francisco has been saved from magpie-turned-human Mr. Pang. They should brush off their hands and enjoy teenager-hood. Right? Wrong. Now they’ve got to face an even bigger problem and not only because he’s the front-runner to be San Francisco’s next mayor. He’s magpie-turned-human Mr. Gu, and he’s Mr. Pang’s brother. Behind Mr. Gu’s sunny laugh and loudly-colored tropical shirts, he’s hiding something in the eerily-timed fog around Treasure Island, an island long-abandoned ... or so everyone thinks. There’s a mysterious flocking of exotic birds to San Fran that has no obvious explanation. It might have something to do with the CHUs (Community Hi-tech Units), but could they really be taking humans and turning them into Birdbrains? There is definitely something fowl going on. The mischievous mustache is back (when it wants to be), Philippa convinces Sir Huxbury, the suit of armor, to talk, there are magical Kaleido Beans, a Destiny Racket, a Mirth Ball and a Banana Mike (yes, that’s correct), and it turns out that they’re going to need Mr. Pang’s help to best his own brother.

            Lee wraps up her debut middle-grade duology with an action-packed novel that is part bildungsroman, part chaos-adventure, part magic, and all entertaining, inspired by Chinese mythology and featuring a racially diverse cast. Winston’s got a lot of big feelings – pride, anger and jealousy – and he needs to determine what type of son/brother/friend he wants to be, as the group tries to save San Francisco again. Those sorcerous magpies sure are troublemakers! This duology-closer is fun and fantastical, but readers will want to be familiar with the events of the Whimsies before diving into the Wingmeisters.

            Book One: Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 13

Here comes the next compilation of picture books! I thought I’d have more than two picture book compilations this year, but alas, no.

The Bakery Dragon (Oct. 1, 2024) by Devin Elle Kurtz.

As a dragon, Ember wants to bring home spoils and hoard gold like the other dragons do, but he’s little and only produces a very small flame. Ember flies into a nearby town and gets caught in a fierce storm. A nice baker allows Ember to ride out the rainstorm in her bakery and teaches him to help her bake. “Ember watched, full of wonder, as the gooey blobs of dough transformed like magic into ... shining gold.” She gives him a tray of “baker’s gold.” It’s the most glorious thing he’s tasted, and when he returns home, its delectable aroma draws the other dragons. The baker isn’t thrilled when Ember returns with the other dragons, because they’ve done “an awful lot of stealing.” But, as they all learn, “...baking gold is better than taking it. And sharing it is best of all.”

            This story is *chef’s kiss* with its sweet storyline and warm illustrations that are so engaging that readers can smell the wafting deliciousness of fresh-baked bread and feel the decadent warmth of bread straight from the oven. The author-illustrator’s stunning pictures are as golden as the gold dragons want to hoard. This cheerful picture book is friendly and has a good message about sharing and generosity. I absolutely ate up this radiant picture book!

The Barnabus Project (Sept. 1, 2020) by Terry Fan, Eric Fan and Devin Fan (The Fan Brothers).

In a world created for Perfect Pets, half mouse, half elephant Barnabus is a Failed Project. His friend, Pip the cockroach, tells him stories about things like a sparkling silver lake and “mountains that reached all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars.” Barnabus believes that nothing is impossible, and on the day that the Failed Projects receive a “strange red stamp” (it says FAIL), Barnabus decides they all need to escape. Barnabus doesn’t want to be “recycled” and come out fluffier and cuter. He likes himself just the way he is. But how can Barnabus and his fellow Failed Project friends escape their confines in the hidden lab deep underground and avoid the Green Rubber Suits?

            The Fan brothers create an epic adventure of escape, rebellion and suspense that is moving and magical with detailed worldbuilding (the two-page illustration of the lab is fairly meticulous). It’s easy to root for Barnabus and his friends who want freedom and who accept each other just as they are. This picture book is stunning as it showcases bravery and diversity in a unique way. Fun and tender with beautiful imagination and glorious illustrations besides. The adventure is ambitious, it is perilous, and it has such heart.

Cozy in Love (Nov. 8, 2022) by Jan Brett.

In this second story featuring Cozy the musk ox, Cozy is downhearted after losing a test of strength with another in his herd. He wonders how he’ll gain the admiration of lovely Lofti, but he doesn’t wonder long, because one of his puffin friends alerts him to an emergency. Bella, their young beluga whale friend has played too long in Teardrop Inlet, and its entrance to the Bering Sea has frozen. If the entire inlet freezes over, she’ll lose access to air. Cozy devises a plan to use “simple science” and his own ox strength to help Bella over the ice wall. Little does Cozy know that someone is witnessing the entire scene and is admiring his strong, smart, bighearted self.

            With her signature storytelling, gorgeous illustrations and artwork vignettes, which also accompany the storytelling, Brett gives readers another quintessential Jan Brett picture book. The kindness and quick-thinking at the book’s heart reminds us that it’s always in-style to help friends in need. Brett’s rich artwork lends stunning beauty to a frigid Alaska backdrop and reminds us to care for all of the creatures of the world. This book is essential for any Brett fans and all libraries who carry her stories. It is a sweet, enchanting story.

The Goblin Twins (Sept. 5, 2023) by Frances Cha.

   Jaime Kim, illustrator.

Meet the goblin twins (Korean: dokkaebi). Doki likes conjuring gifts of gold or silver with his magic club (bangmangi) instead of scaring people. He also loves reading one of his three abandoned books. Kebi likes scaring people too much and gets in trouble for it with the elder dokkaebi. He loves exploring. The twins are young, only 601 years old! When they have to move out of their abandoned house, most move to a graveyard, but Doki and Kebi move from Seoul to a strange land called New York City. Trying to find the perfect place to live, they spot houses that are too cheerful or too new or already occupied by “New York monsters” (people) who aren’t very friendly. When they find the perfect house, what will they think of trick-or-treaters?

            As soon as I read the goblins’ names, my mind automatically thought of dokkaebi. This not-so-scary Halloween picture book is an entertaining treat. In other versions of Korean mythology, dokkaebi are to be avoided at all costs, for they cause dreamers to dream their worst fears, and then the dokkaebi feed on those fears. Yeah, not so nice. But even with Kebi being the mischievous of the two and the darkly bold, yet colorful, illustrations, this is overall a friendly tale. It’s not a fright, but a delight. It’s mythology, but cartoonish. It is adorable, and my nephew enjoyed it, too. I’d totally want to adopt book-loving Doki, but I’d watch out for Kebi’s shenanigans!

We Are Definitely Human (Aug. 6, 2024) by X. Fang.

It’s midnight when three strangers (aliens) crash-land outside Mr. and Mrs. Li’s house. The strangers’ “shape was very hard to describe,” and “their skin was very blue,” but they inform Mr. Li (Mrs. Li’s a very sound sleeper) that, “We are DEFINITELY human.” They are “…from…Europe.” Their “car” (UFO) has broken down and needs repair, but with the stores being closed for the night, Mr. Li, being a kind human, invites them into their home for the night and offers to help them repair their car. While Mrs. Li is surprised to see houseguests the following morning, she takes it all in stride, and asks what they do in Europe. They “make business,” “play sportsball” and “wear hat.” Fixing their car becomes a community event, and when they leave, Mr. Li declares, “Yep, they are DEFINITELY not from Europe.”

            While this story is fantastical with its not-remotely-human-looking aliens, their vehicle a.k.a. UFO and interplanetary interactions, it’s a story of kindness. Kindness radiates through the story, first with Mr. Li and then with the townsfolk, who, like Mr. and Mrs. Li “were all kind humans.” It’s a sweet, feel-good story with a message of kindness, yes, but of acceptance, too. The author/illustrator’s illustrations are fun but not over-the-top. It is pleasantly wise, pleasingly diverse (the Lis cue as Asian, the townsfolk vary in skin tone, and the visitors vary in size and height) and perfect for earthlings of any age.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 12

Because all of these books are short and follow the level and genre theme of the first Hodgepodge post of 2024, I decided to complete a second Hodgepodge compilation. I love that there are books for all reading levels. Don’t knock them because they’re geared for youth. All readers must start at the beginning. I had to. You had to. We all have to!

All the Books (Oct. 1, 2024) by Hayley Rocco.

   John Rocco, illustrator.

Children’s picture book.

Chipmunk Piper Waterstone loves books so much that she takes hers everywhere she goes. She never leaves home without them. She also never shares them, not even with her friend Gregory, a raccoon. He decides to visit the library instead, which Piper does not understand the value of, as she’s never stepped foot in a library. Until her worst day, when her personal collection gets soaked by the rain. The local librarian, a kindly mole, invites her in out of the rain, and Piper is in awe of all the books the library holds. He explains that the books are hers, but also everyone’s. Having a library card only works if everyone is willing to share the library’s books. Is Piper ready for a library card?

             “All the Books” is an adorable ode to reading, libraries, librarians and sharing. Reading as Piper’s worst day becomes her best day is a delight with Hayley’s writing and John’s rich, warm illustrations. The anthropomorphized animals look to exist in a charming town with a honeyed, old-fashioned air. There are no iPhones in this story. The problem-solving is the warm-fuzzy type, but since this story is geared for four-to-eight-year-olds, that is not a detriment to this sweet tale.

The Mystery of the Snow Puppy (Jan. 1, 2022) by Fran Manushkin.

   Tammie Lyon, illustrator.

Early-Reader fiction chapter book.

<This is part of an unnumbered series.>

Kids everywhere dream of having their own pet, and Katie Woo is no exception. Katie has a new puppy named Koko, but the little white puppy is lost. Along with Pedro, the two best friends investigate. Many times the pair think they’re hot on Koko’s trail, but the clues don’t lead to her. Like any seasoned detectives, they don’t give up. “Burgers for supper!” might be a clue to solving this mystery.

            This Early-Reader (E-R) mystery is the perfect length for emergent readers wanting to read on their own and for those readers who like to solve mysteries along with the book’s characters. The text is simple with complementing, unfussy illustrations. The endpages include a Glossary, tips regarding mysteries, story questions and a guide on how to survey animal tracks.

Pizza and Taco: Best Christmas Ever! (Oct. 1, 2024) by Stephen Shaskan.

Junior fiction graphic novel.

<This is the eighth graphic novel in a series.>

For best friends Pizza and Taco (and for us, too, not coincidentally), Christmastime is approaching, and their lists detail everything that they expect Santa Slaw to bring them. They will spend the next few months being good children. They’ll even be pleasant toward Cheeseburger! When Pizza is disappointed that he didn’t receive everything on his Christmas list, and Taco mentions that he didn’t, either, they manage to turn their disappointment into positivity and festivity.

            This is my first Pizza and Taco graphic novel, and it’s a simple delight. Shaskan’s dialogue is unfussy, the story’s structure is uncomplicated, and his digital collage Photoshop illustrations are unpretentious. Fans will be reading this, especially as Christmas soon approaches, and beginning readers will be able to do much of the reading on their own. For those who are looking for a religious story, this is not it. It has a secular focus on Christmas festivities and gifts with a smidge of showing goodwill toward others.

The Quest of Danger (Nov. 7, 2023) by Stuart Gibbs.

   Stacy Curtis, illustrator.

Middle-grade illustrated fantasy fiction.

<This is the fourth book in a series.>

<Alert: Spoilers for those who haven’t read the previous stories.>

The peasant-turned-knight, Tim, and his ragtag crew of friends, Belinda the peasant-also-turned-knight-by-pretending-to-be-a-boy, Ferkle the highly intelligent village idiot (it’s the family business), Princess Grace of Merryland and Rover the fr-dog, have been rescued from certain death by Princess Piscina, a Kingdom of Merland princess. In return for rescuing them, her father, King Neptuna, obligates them to retrieve his stolen trident. They will journey to the magnificent city of Atlantis, which is the safest city on Earth and should never do anything like sink. Along the way, there will be krakens, plus a Cyclops with “no depth perception” and who’s “probably myopic.” When they reach Atlantis, they’ll have to confront their nemesis, Prince Ruprecht, and his evil, so-called-wizard adviser, Nerlim. Prince Ruprecht is scheming, which everyone knows is always sure to end in disaster. How will the group retrieve the trident and all of the other stolen treasures, while also overcoming a scheming prince, his nefarious wizard, traitorous knights and a band of pirates?

            To read the fourth story in the Once Upon a Tim series is to set sail on a seafaring quest where are encountered monsters of lore (with horribly sharp teeth) and an ancient city famously known to be lost. IQ Boosters return in this story to improve young readers’ vocabulary and surely impress parents, teachers and random passersby alike. Like the others, this book cascades with hijinks and hilarity. Yes, Prince Ruprecht is mired in his own cesspool of underhandedness and greed, and he keeps trying to kill Tim and his friends, but the danger never truly feels treacherous. Laughs come easily throughout the story.

            Book 1: Once Upon a Tim

            Book 2: The Labyrinth of Doom

            Book 3: The Sea of Terror

Where Is Yellowstone? (Nov. 5, 2024) by Sarah Fabiny.

   Stephen Marchesi, illustrator.

Early-Reader nonfiction chapter book.

<This is an official Who HQ book.>

Most people know that Yellowstone National Park is home to Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the world, but did you also know that most of the world’s geysers reside in only five countries (the United States, Iceland, Russia, New Zealand and Chile) and that half of the world’s roughly 1,000 geysers are in Yellowstone alone? The Who HQ books, while slim, pack a lot of information into them. Readers discover how Yellowstone came to be, not only the United States’ first national park, but the world’s first national park. They’ll learn how many bison roam and even read a special segment on the Gray Wolf Project. Where is Yellowstone? It has land in three different states: Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.

            If you look back at my first “Hodgepodge” post of 2024, you’ll notice that I had read my first Who HQ book. I’d say my interest in the series is going strong, as I have now read over 80 of them and hope to read a couple more before this year ends. I have only visited Yellowstone once, when I was 12. Reading this E-R book has me wanting to plan a trip out west to visit it again through an adult lens. I love how detailed these books are, and they don’t gloss things over. For example, they are straightforward in saying the government originally told lies about the native tribes, so that visitors would think Native Americans had never lived there (they’d actually lived there a long time). This is a perfect book for explorers both young and young-at-heart. Please be respectful of the park, and all of its inhabitants. Remember, it may be fluffy and friend-shaped, but it can be very dangerous. Maintain a safe distance at all times. Happy exploring!

            P.S. Did you know that Yellowstone National Park is home to three plants unique to this area? They are: Ross’s bentgrass, Yellowstone sand verbena and Yellowstone sulfur wild buckwheat.

"Unforgotten" by Shelley Shepard Gray

Unforgotten (Nov. 5, 2024) by Shelley Shepard Gray.*

<This is the second book in a series.>

Seven years after an attempted assault and the accidental death of attacker Peter Miller, Bethanne Hostetler is taking steps forward. She’s no longer hiding in her room, and she’s leaving her parents’ home on her own. She watches as her Englischer cousin, Candace Evans, is crowned Miss Crittenden County and pops up unexpectedly at Jay Byler’s workplace. Jay was once Peter’s best friend, and Bethanne avoids him because of that connection, though it’s Jay who has always adored Bethanne and feels guilty that he didn’t know what Peter was capable of. Bethanne is slowly opening up her heart to his kindness and gentle caring, but when Candace reveals that she has a stalker, old fears come rushing in.

            Officer Ryan Mulaney is new to Marion and Crittenden County, Kentucky. A Northerner from Connecticut, his position on the police force isn’t permanent. While it seems like grunt work to be assigned to accompany Candace to her appearances around the county, Ryan finds that he would loathe any other officer accompanying her, though he tries to maintain professionalism. When Candace’s stalker endangers both Candace and Bethanne, Ryan, Jay, local law enforcement and both families race against time to save them.

            This Christian, contemporary, romantic suspense novel is also part Amish fiction. It’s a story of learning to trust and love after past trauma and holding onto faith when despair wants to set in. It’s a clean love story. It is easy to root for sweet Bethanne and considerate Jay, as Bethanne gets back on her feet, for they’ve known each other since they were kids. I did not connect with Candace’s and Ryan’s whirlwind spin to falling in love. I believe that kind of love can happen, but the way it’s written felt rushed and not genuine. The plot is fairly propulsive, and fans of the author’s work won’t want to miss this one. For me, though, it’s a 3.5/5.

            Book 1: Unforgiven

* 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.”

"Hunted" by Bella Higgin

Hunted (Apr. 16, 2024) by Bella Higgin.

<This is the third novel in a tetralogy.>

The battle for Belle Morte has been fought and won, but at a steep price. Deaths amongst vampires, staff and donors have occurred, and the fight isn’t over. Vampirekind is facing a tenuous future with enemy vampires on the run. Ludovic de Vauban volunteers to go beyond the mansion’s walls to track down the Five, but he can’t go it alone. Reclusive and without any idea of the modern world, he needs a street-savvy human. Enter donor Roux Hayes. With makeup, she’ll not only make him look human, she’ll help him navigate a world that’s long since left him stuck in the past. Together with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Ray Walsh, who loathes vampires, finding the Five becomes graver still when it turns out the missing children in the area are linked to a vampire using another name. Roux is determined to preserve the future for her vampire and human friends, and she’ll also admit (at least to herself) that she’d enjoy seeing Ludovic ... without clothes. Ludovic will find that Roux awakens a passion in him that he thought long diffused. If the renegades can’t be neutralized, not only will the vampires of Belle Morte be affected, but vampirekind worldwide, and their newfound love will be snuffed out.

These vampires don’t sparkle, but they are gorgeous, as are their human donors (most of whom have been sent home since what transpired in the second installment). I can see that Higgin added in the missing children plot to up the ante and make the search all the more urgent, but I also thought it added too much. With one rogue vampire abducting children, two more trying to leave, two clueless as to the vampire they’re really standing by, a human group who hates vampires, and then, of all things, four other vampires totally unaccounted for, the storylines are sometimes all over the place. I read this novel because I’ve read the first two, and I’m sure I’ll read the final one, but honestly, it’s a vampire story in a vampire series. Unless you’re a vampire super fan, I wouldn’t recommend it. Additionally, there are intimate scenes, so to the parents out there, no young/younger teenagers should be reading this, no matter how worldly they are (or think they are).

            Book 1: Belle Morte

            Book 2: Revelations

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 11

We’re getting close to 2024’s end, and it’s finally nonfiction’s turn in the spotlight. As you’ll see if you peruse this post, there’s a variety of nonfiction here. If you’re a nonfiction reader, please share what sorts of nonfiction books you gravitate toward.

Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat (June 13, 2023) by Lili Chin.

            Your cat is staring straight at you without blinking or moving. Is she staring deep into your soul? Possibly, but more likely she’s focused on some movement or noise that’s alerted her. If you’ve ever questioned what that tail swish meant, wondered over your cat’s ear flicks or slow-blinked back at your cat, this fun-size guide is here to be an educated visual reference. With language typically short and simple and illustrations informative and vivid, this book vetted by cat behavior consultants and scientists is delightful as well as reputable and factual.

            This practically-pocket-sized nonfiction book is plumb full of playful, animated and informative illustrations by author and illustrator Chin. It’s a fun guide and a quick read into the world of feline behaviors, postures and movements – look at the entire body! – with clear-cut writing and expressive illustrations featuring cats of varying species. The information isn’t groundbreaking, and anyone who’s a cat person – like me! – will already recognize the behaviors and body language from the cats in their own lives. This charming book is an excellent guide for families welcoming their first cat and is an overall good choice for cat lovers and the cat-curious, alike.

Outofshapeworthlessloser (Feb. 6, 2024) by Gracie Gold.

There are three selves to Olympic figure skater Gracie Gold: (1) There’s Grace Elizabeth, her private self, the daughter of an anesthesiologist dad and an ER nurse mom, who likes baggy sweatpants and oversized sweatshirts. (2) Then there’s Gracie Gold, her public persona, the blond, classically pretty, Olympic-level skater. (3) And there’s Outofshapeworthlessloser, her secret self, shaped over years of depression, family troubles, trauma and self-destructive tendencies. Outwardly, Gracie has it all with well-to-do parents who can afford skating lessons and ice time, sparkly costumes and skates. She was the face of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and baked cookies with Taylor Swift. Her public star was as golden as her name, but her private life was crumbling. Food became the one thing she felt she could control, and anorexia and bulimia entered the chat. She even became obsessively dependent on laxatives. Too many years spent with demanding coaches, parents who expected nothing less than gold, the trauma of sexual assault and her own debilitating perfectionism took its toll. She made the choice to enter treatment for an eating disorder and anxiety, certainly, but also for depression and suicidal ideation. All that glitters is not gold, and Gracie Gold holds nothing back.

            I have always loved figure skating. My all-time favorites are Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan. For anyone who idolizes figure skating, this isn’t the book for you. Or maybe it is exactly what you should read, especially if you, or someone close to you, is a competitive figure skater. Gold is boldly candid, unflinchingly personal and unreservedly defiant. Her memoir is stunning in its talk on the topic of mental health, which is, unfortunately, still too often seen as a taboo subject, and U.S. Figure Skating’s lack of care for its athletes. Gold’s memoir also tried my patience. While I can acknowledge that we only truly know our own experiences, Gold can come across as selfish. She is not the only person on this planet with big feelings and big emotions. She’s not the only person who’s experienced trauma, but sometimes her writing makes it seem like she is. Through thick and thin, though, she has picked herself up again and again and again, and hopefully she is always the coach that skaters need her to be!

Weird But True! Disney (Sept. 26, 2023) by National Geographic Kids.

In this edition of the bestselling Weird But True! series, the focus is Disney. Hardcore fans may know plenty of facts about the history of Disney, the theme parks, the cruise ships, etc., but for the casual fan, this book shares “300 wonderful facts to celebrate the magic of Disney.” There are fun facts and surprising secrets behind everything from Disney films, park attractions, Walt Disney and more. For example, did you know that the 82-foot-tall fireplace in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge mimics the layers of the Grand Canyon, which represent 1.6 billion years of geologic history? Or that the lighthouse built for Pete’s Dragon (1977) was so authentic that the film crew had to get permission from the United States Coast Guard to use it? Discover how many Swarovski diamonds were sewn into just one pair of costume pants for Broadway’s Aladdin. Or how many balloons it would actually take to lift Carl’s house in Up (2009) in real life!

            I’m one of those casual Disney fans. You know the ones. The ones who typically visit Walt Disney World (WDW) Resort every other year, when, in reality, they wish they could visit every other month! It’s thanks to a Mother-Daughter WDW trip two months ago that I realized this book existed. I saw it advertised in multiple Disney Transport buses that we rode on. All Disney fans of all ages should own this book. Even if hardcore fans happen to know all 300 facts before reading this, it contains accompanying pictures in full color. It’s on brand with Nat Geo Kids’ excellence in nonfiction aimed at younger readers. For Disney adults like me, it’s got whimsy, nostalgia and magic. And I’m wishing I was right back at WDW!

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 10

Here’s the only adult fiction compilation post that I have for this year. Maybe next year, I’ll read enough for two compilation posts!

The Book of Lost Names (July 21, 2020) by Kristin Harmel.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Under dire circumstances, Eva Traube discovers she is skilled at forgery in 1942. She lives with her parents in Paris. While she was born in France and grew up speaking the language, it’s no secret that she and her parents are Jewish; her parents are Polish Jews. Tatuś is taken by French police. Eva and Mamusia flee to Aurignon in southern France, it being part of the Free Zone until it isn’t. Eva and her mom let a room from Madame Barbier. She’s part of an underground network helping people, mainly children, flee to Switzerland. She gets Eva in contact with Père Clément at the Église Saint-Alban, where she meets a handsome forger named Rémy Duchamp. Giving new names to those fleeing may help them survive, but Eva despises the idea that she’s erasing people; hence, The Book of Lost Names. The book itself is lost to the Nazis, and it’s in 2005 when Eva, now Eva Traube Abrams, sees a photograph in a magazine at her local library, where she works as a semi-retired librarian, now well into her 80s. She’ll fly to Berlin to reunite with the book. One thing lost to her is about to be returned, though so much and so many were lost to her during WWII, including Rémy, when the resistance cell they worked for was compromised. Eva’s son knows nothing of this part of her life. Is she ready to share it?

            It’s the title that caught my eye, and the story captured my interest from the first chapter. At turns heartfelt and heart-shattering, tender and devastating, this historical fiction novel is poignant, powerful and purposeful. Despite inhabiting a dark, terrifying time, the characters show bravery, courage and the resilience of the human spirit while walking amongst evil, much like far too many had to do in real life then and, sadly, are doing now. My first story by Harmel, and I was swept up in its emotion and realism. This story is thoughtful and compelling.

Happiness Falls (Aug. 29, 2023) by Angie Kim.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Their father is missing. The father is Adam Parson, and the mom is Dr. Hannah Park. Their biracial children are a mash-up of their names: twins Mia and John Parkson and Eugene Parkson, their 14-year-old brother, who’s six years their junior. Mia is the only one at home when Eugene comes running full speed ahead. He’s alone, disheveled and bloody with blood under his nails. Adam isn’t with him, not that Mia notices straight away, with her eyes shut against the sun. By the time Hannah and John have returned home from their respective workplaces, hours have passed. Eugene cannot tell them what happened to their father, as he’s unable to communicate orally or through writing. Eugene has both autism and the rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. When Eugene gets in trouble for accidentally assaulting a police officer, it becomes even more imperative to learn what happened to Adam. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he’s fortunately able to be under house arrest at home instead of kept overnight in an unfamiliar environment (detention center) with complete strangers. As the rollercoaster search continues, it’s discovered that Adam had secrets of his own. Namely, the HQ (happiness quotient) and something major to do with Eugene. The clock is ticking in this investigation. What did Eugene witness?

            There is so much to this domestic drama that’s also a compassionate mystery containing themes of philosophical inquiry, the power of language and its role in perceived intelligence and human connection filled with emotionally rich storytelling. The story is told from Mia’s perspective. She’s hyper-analytical and very judgmental, and I struggled with her character. I can be as judgmental as the next person, but I was also raised to be compassionate. I can stand up for myself without coming across as disdainful. So, whereas John’s niceness as a narrator might’ve been easier to read, it’s Mia’s impertinent, over-thinking mind that moves the story along. I didn’t love this adult fiction novel, which I did read because of the hype – it’s a GMA Book Club Pick – but I can’t deny that it’s one of the smartest books I’ve read this year. It’s multi-layered and thought-provoking. This is a novel that shines with hope amidst heartache and wrests joy from tragedy.

The Sound of Sleighbells (June 27, 2023) by Janet Dailey.

*This is the sixth novel in a series.*

After divorcing her abusive husband, Ruth McCoy is looking to create happy memories and new holiday traditions for her kids: Skip (15), Janeen (6) and Tammy (4). Money may be tight, but she’s got a stable roof over her family’s heads and food on the table. Branding Iron, Texas, is Ruth’s hometown. It’s also Judd Rankin’s hometown, but she’s avoided him easily enough over the years. Her first love, she knows Judd’s history, of his time in jail, but Judd’s turned his life around. He owns a successful custom saddle-making business and Angus ranch. Skip’s friend, Trevor, convinces him to help him with a project out at Judd’s. Ruth is hesitant, worried that Judd and Skip will notice too much. When a blast from the past comes to Branding Iron, a man called Digger, Ruth fears it’s only a matter of time before her secret isn’t so secret anymore. Judd’s never truly gotten over Ruth, but will Ruth give him another chance?

            My first novel from the late author, I found this sixth in The Christmas Tree Ranch series to be sweet with tones of trepidation. While I read this one in the summertime, it’d be perfect for reading on a cold night, wrapped up in one’s favorite blanket with a generous mug of hot chocolate containing extra marshmallows. It is part romance and part intrigue. It’s a wholesome story for readers who love the magic of Christmastime any time of the year. I’m not big on romance novels, but this one with its multigenerational cast delivers good pacing and appeal for readers looking for chaste romance.

"A Healing Touch" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

A Healing Touch (Oct. 1, 2024) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

<This is a standalone novel with overlapping Stoney Ridge characters.>

The kind of doctor who still believes in house calls, Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is in tune with addressing her patients’ physical needs as well as their emotional ones. When newly widowed Bee Bennett, breeder of Dutch Warmbloods, is facing breast cancer, Dok connects her with Fern Lapp. Bee doesn’t think she needs to talk to anyone, especially an Amishwoman that she expects to have zero connection with. Annie Fisher is Dok’s painfully shy office assistant, but she’s got a great mind for medical information and a calm demeanor in intense situations. When Annie feels called to something else, Dok will move mountains to help her, and she’ll recruit her brother David, Stoney Ridge’s Amish bishop, to assist. Annie will also discover that there just might be a young man out there that she’d like to marry. He happens to be an Amish EMT in a nearby town. And when an abandoned newborn mysteriously appears on the front step of her clinic one cold morning, Dok’s world takes a very unexpected turn.

            Anytime I pick up a novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I trust that it will be an excellent read. Yet again, this trust remains firm. The characters are endearing, if sometimes loud (Hank Lapp) or nosy (Sarah Blank, Annie’s friend), the plot is well-defined, the writing is engaging, and the setting is as charming as your most perfect day. It’s a delight to delve into this tight-knit community, strong of faith, but with very human struggles, too (e.g. extreme shyness, even a lack of faith). The author mesmerizes us with this Christian, contemporary Amish romance that encourages the soul like good medicine.

* 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.”

"Fate Breaker" by Victoria Aveyard

Fate Breaker (Feb. 27, 2024) by Victoria Aveyard.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

All must rise to fight or be destroyed by Queen Erida and Taristan, Prince of Old Cor, and her consort. The Companions have been rent from one another and are scattered over parts of Allward. Corayne an-Amarat forges on alone until the Elders of Sirandel in The Castlewood find her. Her Spindleblade lies broken amongst the ruins of Gidastern, but she’s taken Taristan’s, now the only Spindleblade in existence. Without it, he can’t open any Spindles or end the world, but with the might of Erida’s Gallish legion, the areas they’ve conquered, the Ashlanders (now with the newly dead from Gidastern and the battle that raged there) and their demon god, What Waits, power still rages from them, and they don’t plan to burn. The Companions, unsure where the others are and assuming the worst, are, all the same, converging on one spot for the final battle: Iona, the seat of the largest of the Elder enclaves. Andry Trelland is with Valtik – she’s probably the only one everyone feels assured is alive – Sorasa Sarn, Domacridhan of Iona and Sigaalbeta “Sigil” Bhur Bhar end up captured, and Charlon Armont runs away from Gidastern in fear and cowardice, but he’s bolstered and finds new courage when he reunites with his love, Garion, an Amhara assassin (but unlike Sorasa, he’s not exiled). Who will answer the call to action? The famed and feared Countless of the Temurijon (“The iron bones of the Countless will never be broken.”)? Who will arrive in time? The realm is vast, and travel isn’t swift, especially with the monsters of other realms lurking in the seas (krakens) and in the air (dragons). The battle of a lifetime is coming, and it will wait for no one.

            Here, evil is dynamic, the villains are complex, the heroes are a diverse and unlikely group, and goodness seems more a concept than anything tangible. With the Companions scattered throughout much of the book, having multiple narrators is helpful instead of overwhelming. The ultimate novel in the Realm Breaker trilogy, despite its 625 pages, has a continual sense of urgency. The final battle is expectedly fierce, like something epic in a Lord of the Rings movie, but (POSSIBLE SPOILER) the redemption arc right near the end fills me with disappointment. My expectation that there’d be a satisfying comeuppance didn’t come to pass, hence, I suppose, the disappointment. All the same, this YA fantasy is epic, fierce and ruthless. There is nothing haphazard about Aveyard’s writing. She’s an author who knows what she’s doing.

            Book 1: Realm Breaker

            Book 2: Blade Breaker

"The Blooming of Delphinium" by Holly Varni

The Blooming of Delphinium (Sept. 24, 2024) by Holly Varni.*

<This is the second novel in a series.>

When it comes to hidden talents, Delphinium Hayes has a unique one. She’s a synesthete and knows someone’s best or worst characteristic with one whiff of a person. Only she will smell their unique floral (or herbal) scent. For example, honeysuckle means bonded with love, while petunia always indicates anger and resentment. Her parents have never understood her, and the one person who did, Annie (her grandmother), has passed away. Her nose always knows until two men flabbergast her scent-driven world. Mason McCormack, real estate lawyer, is a player who uses Delphinium’s bouquets to impress and break up with women, and she cannot smell him. That’s never happened before.

            Then there’s Elliot Sturgis, the clean-cut, uptight-looking director of The Gardens Assisted Living Facility who’s so put together that he looks like he should be her parents’ kid. He smells like violets, and those individuals exude a “high standard of loyalty and love.” His scent is so intoxicating that she too easily loses her train of thought. He likes rules and maintaining order. Some of his mature residents at The Gardens do not appreciate this. They want tater tots twice a week, and Bob would eat tapioca every day. The residents continue to hang out at Delphinium’s shop long after the A/C is fixed at The Gardens, and they no longer have to hang out in Delphinium’s floral refrigerator to keep cool. The residents claim that Elliot lets them keep coming to her shop, because he has a crush on her. Sparks are definitely flying, but Delphinium’s got more on her mind. Her shop is about to be foreclosed on. This shop is her dream, for she loves flowers, but it’s also her tie to her late grandmother. How can love bloom when she’s mired in failure?

            Moonberry Lake is a fictional small town in Minnesota, and this second in the Moonberry Lake series is overall charming. There’s one moment where Delphinium’s outburst strikes me as childish, and it read as contemporary fiction versus Christian contemporary fiction, so subtle seems the faith or even faith’s growth (it is there, though). Delphinium is spirited in her bright, floral prints, and I chuckled aloud multiple times, just as I teared up when an earthly goodbye sprouted up. It’s refreshing like a cool drink and sweet, but not toothache-inducing sweet. As a Minnesotan, I can’t help but adore a Minnesota setting, even fictional, and Moonberry Lake is exactly the idyllic town I’d love to visit. Four out of five floral bouquets!

            Book One: On Moonberry Lake

* 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.”

"Fireworks" by Alice Lin

Fireworks (June 7, 2022) by Alice Lin.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Newly minted high school graduate Lulu Li has her summer all planned out before she and her best friends, Stephanie Nguyen (Vietnamese) and Ester Tan (Filipino), head to college. A culinary adventure in New York City and a day at Hersheypark are part of this plan. Avoiding her estranged father is also part of her summer plan. Not part of this plan? Kai Xu a.k.a. Kite. Lulu hasn’t seen Kite since junior high, when he left the U.S. for South Korea, eventually debuting with K-pop boy group Karnival. They’re now a major K-pop group, though they’re not at the megastardom level of BTS. Kite is supposedly home for health reasons, but there’s definitely more to it than that. Lulu is trying to find the easy friendship they once shared to balance the Firework (Karnival’s fandom) that she is but doesn’t claim to be. Lulu vehemently denies her feelings for Kite, which, naturally, only makes her feelings for him stronger. But how could a K-pop idol fall for an ordinary, everyday person like her?

            This YA romcom gives K-drama vibes and K-pop excitement with main characters who are Taiwanese American (Lulu) (or, more specifically, she identifies as Chinese by way of Taiwan, pp. 173-174) and Chinese American (Kite). The lighthearted moments balance the weightier themes present throughout: social media toxicity (including the very toxic fan behavior of sasaengs), mental health, and anger towards the divorced parent who cheated. The lack of privacy for K-pop idols is a topic, as is Korea’s workaholic culture for idol groups. For those who like to know, Lulu is bisexual. This standalone is engaging and contemporary, fast-paced and short enough for those with busy schedules (only 298 pages). I’d easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys K-pop. This teen romp has ups and downs and showcases the importance of connection and moving forward, because life often takes the squiggly path, not the straightforward one.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 9

Welcome to my only Christian/inspirational fiction post of 2024. For those who do read Christian fiction, who are your favorite authors and why?

A Beautiful Disguise (Aug. 22, 2023) by Roseanna M. White.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

With a flair for the bold, Lady Marigold Fairfax’s wardrobe isn’t fashion-forward because she’s style-obsessed. Instead, her eye-catching choices as Lady Marigold disguise her alter ego as Lady M and also one of the founding members of The Imposters, Ltd., with her brother, Yates, and two friends, Gemma Parks (a.k.a. G.M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her high society stories) and Graham Wharton. Left with an estate (and an earldom for Yates) on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, the brother-sister duo opened a private investigation firm for the elite to spy on the elite. They have collected many secrets and are shocked when Lieutenant Colonel Sir Merritt Livingstone finds their card and hires the anonymous group to investigate Lord Thomas Hemming, their late father’s good friend. He might be a traitor, as someone is leaking information to Germany as tensions mount (it’s England in 1909). Sir Merritt has been a dedicated man of the Crown with exemplary service, having recently spent a decade serving the reigning monarch in the Coldstream Guards, but pneumonia lands him a desk job in the War Office Intelligence Division where Lord Hemming also works. The Imposters, Ltd.’s investigative services are beyond compare, but will they find innocence in their father’s friend? Or something nefarious?

            From bejeweled ballrooms to covert intelligence offices in London to an acrobatic Tower in Northumberland, the first in The Imposters series is engaging from the first page until the last. It’s a story showcasing hard work, up to and including manual labor, in an aristocratic society where money isn’t oft seen as an issue, but for the Fairfax siblings, the burden to keep afloat and maintain appearances is a weighted one. White crafts a series starter replete with great characters and a forward-moving plot set in Edwardian England that is interspersed with romance and investigation and fueled by faith. It’s a delightful, inspirational fiction, sleuthing adventure!

            Favorite line: “She simply preferred not to sit like a letter of the alphabet and pretend a ruler was jammed into her corset.” (p. 211)

The Heirloom (Sept. 12, 2023) by Beverly Lewis.

<This is a standalone novel that’s a prequel to The Shunning.>

With grief over her mother’s passing still feeling fresh with her father already remarried and reeling after a breakup with someone she thought was the one, 19-year-old Clara Bender doesn’t feel like she fits in in her more progressive Amish community in First Light, Indiana. With a new stepmom, Clara isn’t needed to manage her dad’s household, and there are few available young men in her small community. When she comes across letters from her mother’s dear aunt Ella Mae Zook, and reaches out to this great aunt whom she’s never met, she soon finds herself invited to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania’s, Hickory Hollow and the Old Order Amish community where Ella Mae, the Wise Woman, resides. Clara’s arrival for a week turns into a summer, and it’s an answer to prayer, because Ella Mae isn’t ready to move from the home she made with her late, beloved husband. The two women form a close bond quickly over their love of Clara’s mother and quilting. Together, the two of them set to restoring an heirloom wedding quilt from 1911 that once belonged to Ella Mae’s mother. Clara finally opens up about the relationship that fell apart, and Ella Mae shares the “unspeakable” tragedy from her courting years. Clara makes quick friends, including Katie Lapp (features in The Shunning), Lettie Zook (granddaughter to Ella Mae) and Rosanna Ebersol (a shy 16-year-old). She also meets some eligible young men from Hickory Hollow. Will she become flirtatious Tom Glick’s sweetheart girl? Or might thoughtful Aaron Ebersol catch her heart?

            Lewis’ prequel to The Shunning is an intergenerational novel of healing, love, new beginnings and moving forward. If Clara follows her heart, she’ll stay in Hickory Hollow amongst the strict Old Order Amish with their straitlaced bishop, but her father’s been adamant that she’ll return to First Light at summer’s end, where their Amish community focuses more on grace than excessive rules. Lewis graces readers with another tender, heartstrings-tugging, clean romance. Make a sweet, minty batch of meadow tea, find your favorite lap quilt and settle cozily in for this gladdening tale.

To Spark a Match (Nov. 14, 2023) by Jen Turano.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Even though she’s a member of the New York Four Hundred, with multiple unsuccessful Seasons and a penchant for catastrophe, Miss Adelaide Duveen has long since resigned herself to the wallflowers section at parties and accepts that she’s destined to remain a spinster forever at her overripe age of 23. She doesn’t view this dismally, for it allows her to concentrate on her favorites: cats and books. She delights in spy novels, and when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide is all but convinced that she must help Gideon solve the case. This is the last thing that former naval intelligence agent Gideon wants. A well-known gentleman amongst the Four Hundred membership, he doesn’t want others to know the “accounting firm” he works for is a front for an investigation service. He also doesn’t want to risk others getting hurt. Considering he’s prevented Adelaide from pitching over a steep edge and put her out when she caught on fire, there’s no way Adelaide can be involved. He asks Miss Camilla Pierpont, a good friend of his, to take Adelaide in hand. Camilla, another member of the New York Four Hundred and an Incomparable when she debuted, has her work cut out for her. Adelaide’s putting up with it, because her mother’s overjoyed at Camilla’s involvement. Gideon, meanwhile, wonders aloud how Adelaide’s still alive, doing things like taking the El alone and shopping at Bainswright Books, which is in a seedier area of the city, and wandering down shady alleys unaccompanied. When Adelaide’s books are stolen right out of her hands, the potential for danger becomes real, and reinforces Adelaide’s drive to be part of the investigation. There’s clearly a spark between Adelaide and Gideon, but is it a spark of love or disaster?

            As someone who also loves cats (though I only have two, not 20+) and books, I definitely felt a kinship with Adelaide’s character. Turano’s stories are always charming, suffused with engaging characters, including forward-thinking, independent women, humorous dialogue and a fast-paced, energetic plot. Turano’s fans will sail through this fun, lighthearted romp amidst another matchmaking season. There is elegance and refinement mixed with sleuthing and adventure -- oh, and plenty of misadventure, too.

            Book One: A Match in the Making

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 8

Here I finally am with my first YA compilation of 2024. I’ve published more solo YA posts, which is why I didn’t create a second compilation post this year, as I originally thought I would. 

The Headmaster’s List (Feb. 28, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Ethan Amoroso, is known as a reckless driver, so when 15-year-old Chris Moore is killed in a high-speed car crash with a tree, it’s easy for the public to skip over ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and proclaim him guilty, since he said he was at the wheel, but Spencer Sandoval, also 18, knows he wouldn’t be careless with the lives of others. His own? Sure, but not others’. Spencer dives into her own investigation into the crash, trying to find the memories of that night that she can’t recall. Was she drugged? Is it the trauma of the night? A brain injury? Why can’t she remember? And why is the picture of Ethan in her memory screaming her name “all wrong?” She has an ally in Jackson Chen, Ethan’s soccer teammate and best friend, and her new, loyal sidekick, Ripley, a service dog for her PTSD. She’s asking lots of questions, becoming obsessed (and dependent on her Vicodin Rx), and someone clearly feels threatened. Spencer receives a threatening note and someone tries to run her off the road one night as she’s biking home after work. Is it someone she knows? Or someone who’s heard her name through Peyton Salt’s popular, true crime podcast? What kind of truth is she getting close to that someone else doesn’t want to see the light?

            Like ripping off a bandage, I’ll state right off that I struggled with this book. I’ve enjoyed so many of de la Cruz’s stories, but this one drug on, and it began with guessing something [correctly] early on. It’s atypical of me to quit a story, so I read the novel in its entirety. Ripley is definitely a win for the story, her training a good balance to Spencer’s increasing obsession, likely related to her Vicodin dependence. Just because this story wasn’t a victory to me doesn’t mean it’s without merit. Indeed, it does have fascinating facets, venturing in a place ruled by pedigree and privilege. In an elite LA private school, race still stands out (Spencer occasionally refers to herself as the “brown kid”). This thriller has plenty of cute boys, a range of diversity and teen snark. Where it glitters, it’s also sinister, and the humanness can be razor-sharp. It’s a likeable YA thriller, just not one that resonated with me.

Revelations (May 9, 2023) by Bella Higgin.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

<Casual spoiler if you haven’t read the first story.>

When Renie Mayfield first entered Belle Morte, one of the vampire houses in the U.K., where vampires are A-list celebrities, living a life of luxury in their top-brand attire, she was a human selected as a donor to try to find her Vladdict (obsessed with vampires) sister, June. Now Renie is a new vampire, and the vampire responsible, the love of her life, Edmond Dantès, is confined to the secret cells of Belle Morte in cuffs of painful silver. June appears to have escaped and her whereabouts are unknown. June is beyond any help, but Renie continues to love the sister she once was. Renie’s desperate to free Edmond, locate June and punish the one who killed her sister. That someone isn’t working alone, and the betrayal runs deeper than the secret passageways of Belle Morte. The other U.K. houses are likely also compromised, as becomes apparent after they flee. It isn’t only the smell of blood that lingers within Belle Morte’s walls, but corruption, too.

            I’ll be frank. This is a vampire novel, so it’s not a story that I read expecting to be deeply complex. Indeed, the plot never wades into the deep end, but it depicts a lush setting, the allure of a glitzy lifestyle, the glamour associated with vampire novels and a fresh take on the genre. The world-building is detailed, especially if you like fashion. Renie is 18, making this a YA novel, but the intimacy in the story and the many adult supporting characters in the book make this a better choice for older readers. I don’t have children, but if I did, I wouldn’t want my 14- or 15-year-old reading it. There’s a centuries-wide age gap between Renie and Edmond, so maybe there’s a book club discussion in there about power dynamics if one wants to make this story into something deeper. If you like brooding vampires who are tall, dark-haired and handsome, this has got that. I’d recommend this for vampire aficionados and those who haven’t read any vampire novels since Twilight.

These Deadly Prophecies (Jan. 30, 2024) by Andrea Tang.

<This is a standalone novel, as far as I can tell.>

“I will die at the hands of my best beloved. So shall it be.” Chinese American teen Tabatha Zeng is the daughter of a lawyer mom and an engineer dad, and she’s chosen to pursue sorcery, much to the disappointment of her parents. At least she’s an apprentice to one of the world’s most famous sorcerers. It’s too bad that he predicts his own brutal death, and it comes true. Detective Elena Chang is the one-woman show of the occult crimes unit with the local police department. She’s very anti-magic. Callum is Sorcerer Julian Aurelius Solomon’s youngest son, and the only one of his children who’s a fortune teller (prophecy sorcery) like Tabatha is and his dad was. The twins and Callum’s half-siblings are Felix (the eldest, who excels at kinetic sorcery) and Circe (who casts illusions, which are often seen as fluff sorcery). Felix is believed to be the favorite child, but it’s Callum who has the gift of prophecy, the most coveted of the magics. Who is Sorcerer Solomon’s best beloved, and who will be bequeathed the Solomon Family legacy? There’s a murder to investigate, and with Tabatha and Callum being the last two to see him alive, they’re the prime suspects.

My first story from Tang is a YA murder mystery thriller with paranormal elements. While I didn’t love it, it’s sharp and clever with witty banter to boot, and it reads quickly. It’s a magical madcap mystery with the narrator (Tabatha) sometimes in reflection mode. For those who are drawn to YA novels with dark and light elements, this is an intriguing choice if they only decide to pick it up. Callum might’ve dubbed her the “squishy wizard,” but Tabatha is serious about her prophecies. She might be reciting one out to the world right now. Please handle with care. So shall it be.

Helpful note: “Not all spell casting is the same, but the three classes of sorcery – illusion, kinetic, and prophecy – can be broken down in broad strokes like so: wishing, willing, and wondering. Illusionists create their mirages by wishing them real, the same way you might wish to be married to your middle school crush by writing their name over and over again in your notebooks. Kinetics, meanwhile, take it a step further. Instead of simply wishing, they will their desires into true existence: the crack in the ground that starts an earthquake, the whirlpool curving the center of a calm sea, or, well, a fireball flung at a spoiled teenager’s Lexus.” (p. 83)