Books and Bag: Green

Books and Bag
doing some dreaming
a designer bag and books to fill it
~*~

~*~

Legends & Lattes
by Travis Baldree
Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ | Published: 2022 | Goodreads

The much-beloved BookTok sensation, Travis Baldree's novel of high fantasy and low stakes.

Come take a load off at Viv's cafe, the first & only coffee shop in Thune. Grand opening!

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy, slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

~*~

* image source: bag -Kate Spade, Manhattan Lady Leopard Large Tote

Rabbit rabbit: Beware the Little White Rabbit

Beware the Little White Rabbit
edited by Shannon Delany and Judith Graves
Short stories, Fantasy, Retelling, YA, Alice in Wonderland | Published: 2015 | Goodreads
stories by Charlotte Bennardo
C. Lee McKenzie
David Turnbull
Christine Norris
Jacqueline Horsfall
Medeia Sharif
Laura Lascarso
Tom Luke
Jessica Bayliss
Crystal Schubert
Holly Odell
Jennifer Moore
Liam Hogan

Curiosity often leads to trouble...

Thirteen powerful voices in young adult fiction invite you to journey into startling new Wonderlands in this nod to the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s timeless character, ALICE.

Mystery. Madness. Mayhem. Each story in this collection will intrigue, bewitch, and enchant. Through rich historicals, castles and keeps, wild wormholes, secret workshops, deadly plagues, and gritty urban explorations, we present new tales of Alice and her white rabbit.

Whether an intrepid reporter, a would-be car thief, or the last human in a world ruled by machines, at the heart of each story Alice is a girl discovering who she really is in worlds that never fail to surprise.

What wonders await, oh curious reader? Leap down the rabbit hole and discover the truth...

~*~
* stay tuned for Alice in Wonderland event later this month ;-)

Happy release: Out of the Blue by Jason June

Out of the Blue
by Jason June
Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ | Published: May 2022 | Goodreads
Crest is not excited to be on their Journey: the monthlong sojourn on land all teen merfolk must undergo. The rules are simple: Help a human within one moon cycle and return to Pacifica to become an Elder--or fail and remain stuck on land forever. Crest is eager to get their Journey over and done with: after all, humans are disgusting. They've pollluted the planet so much that there's a floating island of trash that's literally the size of a country.

In Los Angeles with a human body and a new name, Crest meets Sean, a human lifeguard whose boyfriend has recently dumped him. Crest agrees to help Sean make his ex jealous and win him back. But as the two spend more time together and Crest's pespective on humans begins to change, they'll soon be torn between two worlds. And fake dating just might lead to real feelings...

First sentence(s):
There are a surprising number of similarities between being a lifeguard and being a movie director. Both sit in a labeled chair to watch everything in their surroundings, their eyes squint just as hard thanks to glaring sun or glaring studio lights, and yelling “CUT THAT OUT!” to kids splashing day-drinking moms isn’t all that different from yelling “CUT!” to actors.

Books and Bag: Medusa, Teeth and Marrow

Books and Bag
doing some dreaming
a designer bag and books to fill it
~*~

~*~

River of Teeth
by Sarah Gailey
Fantasy, Historical | Published: 2017 | Goodreads
In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

Taste of Marrow
by Sarah Gailey
Fantasy, Historical | Published: 2017 | Goodreads

A few months ago, Winslow Houndstooth put together the damnedest crew of outlaws, assassins, cons, and saboteurs on either side of the Harriet for a history-changing caper. Together they conspired to blow the damn that choked the Mississippi and funnel the hordes of feral hippos contained within downriver, to finally give America back its greatest waterway.

Songs are sung of their exploits, many with a haunting refrain: "And not a soul escaped alive."

In the aftermath of the Harriet catastrophe, that crew has scattered to the winds. Some hunt the missing lovers they refuse to believe have died. Others band together to protect a precious infant and a peaceful future. All of them struggle with who they've become after a long life of theft, murder, deception, and general disinterest in the strictures of the law.
~*~

* image source: bag -Versace Le Medusa Bucket Bag

Happy release: Threads of Magic by Monica Fairview

Threads of Magic:
A Pride and Prejudice variation
by Monica Fairview
Fantasy, Regency, Romance, Jane Austen theme | Expected publication: January 25, 2022 | Goodreads
In a magical Regency England, two powerful magicians strive to find a balance between love and duty as they confront enemies who might well be their closest friends.

Elizabeth Bennet may be a heroine, but by defying some of the most powerful mages in England, she has made enemies who will stop at nothing to embroil her in scandal.

So when she is accused of endangering the Royal Mages through her reckless actions, she no longer knows who to trust. Even the gentleman she loves is taking their side. It seems the only person who believes her is the captive French mage who is imprisoned in the cellar at Netherfield.

Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam Darcy is willing to fight to the death to defend Elizabeth, if only she would stop getting herself into trouble. Why does she always have to break the rules? And why does even her sister Jane cause him so many problems?

Join us in this magical Jane Austen Regency variation. Set mostly in Meryton, with familiar beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice, you will once again be captivated by Elizabeth and Darcy as they struggle to find true love against the backdrop of England’s war with Napoleon.

Threads of Magic is Book 2 of Mr. Darcy’s Magic. It is a standalone novel without cliff-hangers, but it is best read as part of a series.

More Summer Islands

~*~

Popisho
by Leone Ross
Fantasy | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
island: Popisho
Somewhere far away-- or maybe right nearby-- lies an archipelago called Popisho. A place of stunning beauty and incorrigible mischief, destiny and mystery, it is also a place in need of change.

Xavier Redchoose is the macaenus of his generation, anointed by the gods to make each resident one perfect meal when the time is right. Anise, his long lost love, is on a march toward reckoning with her healing powers. The governor’s daughter, Sonteine, is getting married, her father demanding a feast out of turn. And graffiti messages from an unknown source are asking hard questions. A storm is brewing. Before it comes, before the end of the day, this wildly imaginative narrative will take us across the islands, their history, and into the lives of unforgettable characters.

Celestia
by Manuele Fior
translated by Jamie Richards
Fantasy, Graphic Novel | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
island: Celestia
The “Great Invasion” originated from the sea. It moved north across the mainland. Many fled, while some took refuge on a small concrete island called Celestia, built over a thousand years ago. Now cut off from the mainland, Celestia has become an outpost for criminals and other misfits, as well as a refuge for a group of young telepaths. Events push two of them, Dora and Pierrot, to flee the island and set sail to the mainland. There, they discover a world on the precipice of a metamorphosis, though also a world where adults are literally prisoners of their own fortresses, unintentionally preserving the “old world” at a time when a new generation could guide society towards a better humanity. Celestia is the most ambitious and successful graphic novel to date by one of the world’s most exciting storytellers.

Emperor of the Eight Islands
by Lian Hearn
Fantasy, Japan | Published: 2016 | Goodreads
island: mythical medieval Japan
An ambitious warlord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands.

A stubborn father forces his younger son to surrender his wife to his older brother.

A mysterious woman seeks five fathers for her children.

A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne.

These are the threads of an intricate tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield. Set in a mythical medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits, Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn is a brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue - and it is just the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: The Tale of Shikanoko.

~*~
* image source: A Dream of Trees by Ozer Toraman

* part of Summertime time (schedule)

Dangerous Magic by Monica Fairview

Dangerous Magic
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
by Monica Fairview

Fantasy, Regency, Romance, Jane Austen theme
Published: March 2021
Goodreads | Website | Excerpt
my rating: 4

A sparkling tale of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two magicians who must work together to save the Kingdom.

Elizabeth Bennet is stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She has always dreamed of marrying for love, and an arranged marriage with an arrogant stranger was never part of her plans.

But Darcy and Elizabeth have no choice in the matter. Uniting their two forms of magic is essential if the Kingdom is to defeat Napoleon’s mages. They may dislike each other on sight, but Darcy and Elizabeth have to overcome their differences and find common ground before it is too late. Fortunately, it is not long before the sparks begin to fly between them.

Join the author of ‘Fortune and Felicity’ in this Jane Austen Fantasy Variation, an enchanting story of determination, love, and hope against all odds.

my two-bits:

With a touch of magical elements, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth go through a push-pull romance while preparing for a battle to save country and home. The story has a primary focus on the couple and their efforts to unite. No dancing. No pesky Mr. Collins.

I liked the friendship developed between Elizabeth and Caroline Bingley.

Happy release: Dangerous Magic by Monica Fairview

Dangerous Magic
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
by Monica Fairview
Fantasy, Regency, Jane Austen theme | Published: March 2021 | Goodreads | Website
A sparkling tale of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two magicians who must work together to save the Kingdom.

Elizabeth Bennet is stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She has always dreamed of marrying for love, and an arranged marriage with an arrogant stranger was never part of her plans.

But Darcy and Elizabeth have no choice in the matter. Uniting their two forms of magic is essential if the Kingdom is to defeat Napoleon’s mages. They may dislike each other on sight, but Darcy and Elizabeth have to overcome their differences and find common ground before it is too late. Fortunately, it is not long before the sparks begin to fly between them.

Join the author of ‘Fortune and Felicity’ in this Jane Austen Fantasy Variation, an enchanting story of determination, love, and hope against all odds.

About the author:
Monica Fairview writes Jane Austen sequels and variations as well as Regencies. Her latest novel is a Pride and Prejudice fantasy variation, Dangerous Magic. Her biggest claim to fame is living in Elizabeth Gaskell’s house in Manchester, long before the house was restored. After studying in the USA, she taught literature, then became an acupuncturist. She now lives near London.

Monica loves anything to do with the nineteenth century, and obsessively follows every period drama she can find. Some of her favorites are ‘North and South’, ‘Bright Star’ and ‘War and Peace’, and a dozen others that she couldn’t possibly list here. Of course, she has watched Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) more times than she could count on her hands and toes.

Monica enjoys reading fantasy and post-apocalyptic novels but avoids zombies like the plague. She loves to laugh, drink tea, and visit National Trust historic properties [those were the days!], and she is convinced that her two cats can understand everything she says.

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Excerpt:

Elizabeth disliked the idea of having to share a room. Not in principle, of course. She had always shared with her sister Jane, but this was different. When Lady Alice first took her to the Maidens’ Hall, she had implied that all single ladies shared rooms, to ensure that they stuck to the rules.

“We cannot have you sneaking off to see Mr. Darcy before you are married,” she had added, turning her stern look on Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had laughed. The very idea that she could possibly be tempted to meet clandestinely with the austere Mr. Darcy was ridiculous. If anything, after their last encounter, she would have preferred never to meet him again.

Elizabeth had quickly discovered that sharing rooms was only true in the case of young apprentices at the Academy, not adult Royal mages. However, when she heard she was to board with Miss Caroline Bingley, Elizabeth did not mind. She had liked Mr. Bingley on sight, and she was certain she would get on with his sister. The tall, fashionably dressed young lady was surprised at discovering that an extra bed was being put in her bedchamber for Elizabeth, but she was polite and willing to be helpful. Miss Bingley showed her around the Maidens’ Hall, introduced her to some of the other mages, and explained what to expect and where to find things.

Sitting on her bed that first afternoon, Elizabeth leaned her back on the wall and confided her unhappiness to Miss Bingley, much as she would have done with her sister Jane. She shared the story of how the mages had appeared out of the blue and practically dragged her to the Hall to marry Mr. Darcy.

Miss Bingley listened without interruption, but then as Elizabeth came to the end of her tale, she gave a little contemptuous laugh.

“You do know that Mr. Darcy owns one of the largest estates in Derbyshire,” said Miss Bingley. “And that he possesses a large fortune.”

“I know it now. I did not know it at the time.”

“Surely now, armed with that knowledge, you must be thrilled at such an opportunity.”

“Not at all,” replied Elizabeth, “Now that I have met Mr. Darcy, I am even less inclined to marry him.”

Miss Bingley stared but said nothing. Elizabeth sighed. If they had given her the time to pack her things, she might have brought a book, but she had nothing to do now. She wanted to write a letter to her family, but she needed to find out where to obtain paper and ink.

Before she could ask, however, Miss Bingley spoke again.

“What academy did you study at before you came here?”

“I didn’t study at one. There wasn’t an academy anywhere near where we lived, and my father didn’t want to part with me.” “You never studied magic formally?”

Elizabeth shook her head with a smile. “No.”

Again, Miss Bingley gawked. Elizabeth began to wonder if Miss Bingley was as friendly as she appeared.

There was a long silence. “You know,” said Miss Bingley, suddenly, “most young ladies would give an arm and a leg to be able to marry Mr. Darcy.”

“I would imagine that would rather defeat the purpose.”

Miss Bingley wrinkled her forehead, perplexed.

“If they did give away an arm and a leg, it would be more difficult for them to assist Mr. Darcy, would it not?”

Miss Bingley snickered. “I suppose so. It was not meant to be literal, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth’s smile grew wider. “I have always thought the English language fascinating. One never knows quite how to understand things.”

Miss Bingley gave her a superior look and turned to pick up a book from the table near her bed.

“Is your book entertaining?” asked Elizabeth, feeling more cheerful now that she had flustered Miss Bingley.

“Hardly,” said Miss Bingley. “It is The Common Compendium of Spells.”

“You are studying spells, then? What do you read for pleasure, Miss Bingley?”

“We have no time to read for pleasure at the Hall, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth gave Miss Bingley a bemused look. “Then it is even worse than I imagined. There is nothing like the pleasure of a good novel.”

“We are not here for pleasure, Miss Bennet. We are here to save the Kingdom from Napoleon.”

“I suppose, then, that we must remain eternally grim.”

~*~
* excerpt courtesy of author

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Year of the Witching
by Alexis Henderson
narrated by Brianna Colette

Published: 2020
Publisher: Ace
Hardback: 368
Rating: 4
Fantasy, Horror, YA, Witches | Goodreads | Website

First sentence(s):
She was born breech, in the deep of night.

A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet's word is law, Immanuelle Moore's very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

My two-bits:

The past, the present, relgion and women as an instrument of change drives this story.

Oh my, the witchery moment!

~*~
* Happy Halloween
* Listened to audiobook version.
* part of Fraterfest (here)

Kojiki by Keith Yatsuhashi

Kojiki
by Keith Yatsuhashi

Find out more about this book and author:
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Blog
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Published: 2016
Publisher: Angry Robot
Genre: Fantasy, SciFi, Japan
Paperback pages: 448
Rating: 3

Kojiki series:
Kojiki
Kokoro

First sentence(s):
Tokyo, Japan
Keiko Yamada lifted her battered thirty-five millimeter camera and held her breath.

Every civilization has its myths. Only one is true.

When eighteen year old Keiko Yamada’s father dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind a one way ticket to Japan, an unintelligible death poem about powerful Japanese spirits and their gigantic, beast-like Guardians, and the cryptic words: “Go to Japan in my place. Find the Gate. My camera will show you the way.”

Alone and afraid, Keiko travels to Tokyo, determined to fulfil her father’s dying wish. There, beneath glittering neon signs, her father’s death poem comes to life. Ancient spirits spring from the shadows. Chaos envelops the city, and as Keiko flees its burning streets, her guide, the beautiful Yui Akiko, makes a stunning confession – that she, Yui, is one of a handful of spirits left behind to defend the world against the most powerful among them: a once noble spirit now insane. Keiko must decide if she will honour her father’s heritage and take her rightful place among the gods.

My two-bits:
Female heroines, love triangle, progeny.
And, there be dragons.

~*~
* monthly theme: SciFi, Supper, Love, Sex and Marriage

Fox 8 by George Saunders

Fox 8
by George Saunders

Published: 2013
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Short Story, Fantasy
Hardback: 48
Rating: 5
Goodreads
Website

First sentence(s):
Deer Reeder: First may I say, sorry for any werds I spel rong.

A darkly comic short story, a fable about the all too real impact that we humans have on the environment

Fox 8 has always been known as the daydreamer in his pack, the one his fellow foxes regarded with a knowing snort and a roll of the eyes. That is, until Fox 8 develops a unique skill: He teaches himself to speak “Yuman” by hiding in the bushes outside a house and listening to children’s bedtime stories. The power of language fuels his abundant curiosity about people—even after “danjer” arrives in the form of a new shopping mall that cuts off his food supply, sending Fox 8 on a harrowing quest to help save his pack.

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:
Although this short tale has a whimsical vibe with fox-speak that causes chuckles, it relays serious warnings.

The illustrations are spot on.

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn

The Jane Austen Project
by Kathleen A. Flynn

Find out more about this book and author:
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BookExcerpt
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Blog
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Published: 2017
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Genre: Fantasy, Time Travel, Jane Austen theme
Paperback: 384
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
What kind of maniac travels in time?

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, this engrossing debut novel offers an unusual twist on the legacy of one of the world's most celebrated and beloved authors: two researchers from the future are sent back in time to meet Jane and recover a suspected unpublished novel.

London, 1815: Two travelers—Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane—arrive in a field in rural England, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. Turned away at a nearby inn, they are forced to travel by coach all night to London. They are not what they seem, but rather colleagues who have come back in time from a technologically advanced future, posing as wealthy West Indies planters—a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren’t the first team from the future to “go back,” their mission is by far the most audacious: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen herself.

Carefully selected and rigorously trained by The Royal Institute for Special Topics in Physics, disaster-relief doctor Rachel and actor-turned-scholar Liam have little in common besides the extraordinary circumstances they find themselves in. Circumstances that call for Rachel to stifle her independent nature and let Liam take the lead as they infiltrate Austen’s circle via her favorite brother, Henry.

But diagnosing Jane’s fatal illness and obtaining an unpublished novel hinted at in her letters pose enough of a challenge without the continuous convolutions of living a lie. While her friendship with Jane deepens and her relationship with Liam grows complicated, Rachel fights to reconcile the woman she is with the proper lady nineteenth-century society expects her to be. As their portal to the future prepares to close, Rachel and Liam struggle with their directive to leave history intact and exactly as they found it…however heartbreaking that may prove.

My two-bits:

I found this to be a fun ride into the past with Jane Austen.

Different Jane Austen novel themes and interactions come into play as well as romance.

However, time travel has its consequences (which may not be so fun).

~*~
* part of Romanceopoly (here)

* part of Backlist Reader Challenge (here)

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton

My Lady Jane
by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton
narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Find out more about this book and author:
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Goodreads
Website

Published: 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance, YA
Hardback: 512
Rating: 5

Jane series:
My Lady Jane
My Plain Jane
book 3 - tba

First sentence(s):
You may think you know the story.

In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind YA fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

A riot! of the hilarious sort ;-)

Loved the humorous telling of this fantastical story of arranged marriage, royalty, love and horses.

The three authors voices blend well.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Bout of Books 23 (here)

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe
by Madeline Miller

Find out more about this book and author:
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BookExcerpt
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Just released: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Retelling
Hardback: 400
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

Loved the storytelling style of this lesser known goddess/witch. I liked how Circe and her perspective were presented in a colorful and engaging way - not your usual historical mythological tale that can be a bit unfeeling.

Loved seeing Circe in a different light to the point of feeling empathetic.

~*~
* part of Rooster Summer Reading Challenge 2018 (here)

The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger

The Night Bookmobile
narrated by Audrey Niffenegger

Find out more about this book and author:
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Published: 2010
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Hardback: 39
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
The first time I saw the Night Bookmobile, I was walking down Ravenswood Avenue at four o'clock in the morning.

'The Night Bookmobile' tells the story of a young woman who one night encounters a mysterious disappearing mobile library that happens to stock every book she has ever read. Seeing her history and her most intimate self in this library, she embarks on a search for the bookmobile. Over time her search turns into an obsession.

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:

Found this to be an eerie yet bright story. Loved the colorful book filled illustrations.

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Pashmina
by Nidhi Chanani

Find out more about this book and author:
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Published: 2017
Publisher: First Second
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Paperback: 176
Rating: 5


First sentence(s):
Priyanka! Watch out for that tree!

Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri’s mom avoids these questions―the topic of India is permanently closed.

For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she’s ever dared and find the family she never knew.

In this heartwarming graphic novel debut, Nidhi Chanani weaves a tale about the hardship and self-discovery that is born from juggling two cultures and two worlds.

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:

Loved this adventure that is told in mostly black/grey tinge and vibrant color panels when "traveling" via pashmina.

Themes covered include family history and relationships as well as and travel to India.

~*~
A Junior Library Guild Selection 2017
Amazon Top Twenty Children’s Book of the Year 2017
Amazon Best Book of the month December 2017
Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017
Texas Maverick Graphic Novel 2017
Northern California Indie Bookseller Association Long-List Title

Darcy in Wonderland by Alexa Adams

Darcy in Wonderland
by Alexa Adams

Find out more about this book and author:
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BookExcerpt
Blog Tour Guest Post
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Just released: July 15, 2017
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Mashup, Jane Austen theme, Alice in Wonderland theme, Fantasy, Retelling
Paperback: 254
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
"Papa! Papa! The most wondrous thing has happened!"

Fitzwilliam Darcy stifled the indulgent smile threatening his lips. "Alice, please recall our many conversations on manners."

Twinkle, twinkle, amber cross!
For a chain, it’s at a loss.
Heavy links or simple loop,
Do not dunk it in your soup.

The worlds of beloved authors collide as Fitzwilliam Darcy, Jane Austen’s immortal hero, finds himself thrust into the topsy-turvy world of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.

Many years have passed since Elizabeth Bennet became mistress of Pemberley, and the Darcys’ six children stand testament to their enduring love. As the eldest prepare to enter the world, Alice, the youngest and most intrepid of the brood, ensures that life at Pemberley never grows dull. Her curious mind and penchant for mischief often prove trying, but never more so than when her father follows her down a mysterious rabbit hole, disrupting his orderly world in ways never before imagined. A treat for the young and the old, Darcy in Wonderland is both an adventure and homage to two of literature’s greatest minds.

My two-bits:

Whimsical mashup of Alice in Wonderland and Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy. Imagine Alice's adventure down the rabbit hole with a companion - her dad, Mr. Darcy (of Pride and Prejudice). Quite a romp!

Mostly an Alice story that is bookended with scenes of life with the Darcy's (post P&P).

~*~
* review copy courtesy of author

The Tercentennial Baron by Will Damron

The Tercentennial Baron
by Will Damron
narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

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Just released: October 27, 2017
Publisher: Odyssean Studios
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Scotland
audio version
Rating: 5

Bellirolt Chronicles series:
The Tercentennial Baron
book 2 - tba

First sentence(s):
Scotland - the present
The boy scrambled up the rim of the shadowy hill.

A vengeful, wild-eyed warrior, he’s the most sinister figure in Scottish legend. For three centuries, the Tercentennial Baron has fought his way through famous battles—then vanished without a trace. Now he’s reappeared in the quiet town of Bonnybield, where he’s about to be discovered by thirteen-year-old Percival Dunbar…

Armed with a secret stash of books on the supernatural, Percival is the only one to recognize the ghostly signs emerging around his town. When he tries to decipher them, he’s terrified to suddenly find himself face to face with the murderous Tercentennial Baron. However, the Baron reveals he’s come not to attack Bonnybield, but to save it from an ancient, demonic evil.

Through an epic journey from the battlefields of 17th-century Scotland to the underworld of Victorian London and beyond, Percival races to uncover the truth of the Baron’s past—and what it means for his own destiny.

My two-bits:

Got pulled in with the telling of this tale. But confess that the scottish accent was a major draw.

The story is a good start of a series that includes the backstory and beginning of mentor and friendship relations in a paranormal setting.

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* Listened to audiobook version.

* review copy courtesy of publisher

Happy Release: The Tercentennial Baron by Will Damron (with giveaway)

The Tercentennial Baron
by Will Damron
narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
-Fantasy, YA, Scotland
Release date: October 27, 2017
Amazon | Goodreads | Smashwords | Audible
A vengeful, wild-eyed warrior, he’s the most sinister figure in Scottish legend. For three centuries, the Tercentennial Baron has fought his way through famous battles—then vanished without a trace. Now he’s reappeared in the quiet town of Bonnybield, where he’s about to be discovered by thirteen-year-old Percival Dunbar…

Armed with a secret stash of books on the supernatural, Percival is the only one to recognize the ghostly signs emerging around his town. When he tries to decipher them, he’s terrified to suddenly find himself face to face with the murderous Tercentennial Baron. However, the Baron reveals he’s come not to attack Bonnybield, but to save it from an ancient, demonic evil.

Through an epic journey from the battlefields of 17th-century Scotland to the underworld of Victorian London and beyond, Percival races to uncover the truth of the Baron’s past—and what it means for his own destiny.

About the author:
Will Damron is an award-winning audiobook narrator who has recorded books in virtually every genre, from fantasy to sci-fi, YA, romance, thriller, nonfiction, and literary fiction. He was raised on a 350-year-old farm in southern Virginia, where reading was just about the only reliable pastime. His narration work has earned him multiple AudioFile Magazine Earphones Awards, two Voice Arts Awards, and an Audie Award.

About the narrator:
Tim Gerard Reynolds has received multiple AudioFile Magazine Earphones Awards, and has been named as one of best narrators of the year in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2016, three books he narrated were among the highest grossing audiobooks in the country. Tim has been nominated for both Audie and Voice Arts Awards. A native of Ireland, he has performed onstage Off-Broadway and throughout the US and Europe.

Excerpt:

Chapter 2 Sample

At that moment, something in the earth around them shifted. The trees ceased their rustling, the clouds encircling the moon grew still… and Percival realized the breeze had stopped. Not died down, just stopped. Everything felt too calm, too hidden, as though the night were holding its breath.

Percival rose to his feet. Abi shifted, as if from a prickle on her skin.

“I don’t know, Perce,” she said, closing the book and hugging her warm thermos. “Let’s call it a night, yeah? Maybe tomorrow we can—”

“Abi.” Percival was staring past her, his body as rigid as the standing stone.

“What?”

“Somethin’ just moved behind you.”

“… What? Perce, if you’re kiddin’ me on ’cause of this Baron thing—” And then she turned and saw it, too.
A tall, lanky man was standing out on the slope by a patch of heather. He hadn’t approached from nearby, but had just materialized, like an image on the TV. He was motionless, outlined against the purple horizon, gazing down toward Bonnybield.

“Oh my God…” Abi’s words barely passed her throat. “Who is—”

“Shh.” Percival pulled her to her feet. No sooner had he done so than the man turned his head, and disappeared. It took less than a second: his entire body simply blinked away. He might as well have been a mirage.

“Perce…” Abi began haltingly.

Suddenly, the man appeared again—this time less than twenty feet away.

Abi jumped, and Percival’s heart lurched in his chest. Neither of them could make a sound. The man, however, couldn’t be less concerned with them. He continued staring down into Bonnybield, as if waiting for something to happen. Even his attire was strange: he wore a dark greatcoat and tall hat like somebody from a Dickens novel, and his face was unnaturally smooth and delicate, like porcelain. He looked as if he’d stepped out of a nineteenth-century photograph.

Yet his eyes were not green, Percival noticed. Nor was there a scar—not even a mark—upon his skin. This was not the Tercentennial Baron. But it was, finally, the first supernatural being Percival had seen. His mouth quivered in a thrilled smile, and his limbs thrummed with adrenaline.

Abi’s hand inched toward her coat pocket.

“A… photo,” she breathed. “Otherwise nobody will believe—”

“No. No, we must leave him be.” Percival didn’t know why, but he felt that the hillside, for that moment, was not quite part of his and Abi’s world. He became drawn to how focused the ghostly man’s stare was on the town. Somehow, Percival was sure this was no spirit come to revisit a scene from life, as Grimm said many ghosts did. This man was searching Bonnybield for something very particular.

“I want to see what he’s lookin’ at,” Percival whispered. He set the book in Abi’s trembling hands and crept down the slope, trying to place himself near the man’s sightline.

“Perce!” Abi hissed as she clutched the book.

Percival raised his hand to quiet her. He reached a point directly beneath the man and was scouring his eyes for some sign of intent when, without warning, the man’s head flicked down—fast as a raven’s—and fixed his gaze on Percival.

Percival jumped so violently he fell back on the grass. Everything inside him turned to ice: he saw now that the man’s eyes burned bright yellow, like a panther about to pounce. Those eyes pinned him to the hillside, and the man’s face took on a look of wonder as he stared at Percival. Almost imperceptibly, his lips parted, and two whispered syllables escaped:
“Dun… bar…”

The air exploded. A brutal wind burst from atop the hill and swept down the slope, knocking Abi to her knees. Percival clung to the grass and felt his gut tighten when he heard, even louder than before, a tormented moan pierce the wind. The man’s yellow eyes went out like a pair of lights, and he turned and vanished, not even leaving a footprint in his wake.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

The Crowns of Croswald
by D.E. Night

Find out more about this book and author:
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Just released: July 21, 2017
Publisher: Stories Untold Press
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Paperback: 314
Rating: 3

First sentence(s):
The village, well, it had a lot of secrets. And its secrets need to be kept safe. So, the town's name was like a key—those who knew the name could find the village. Let's call it The Town.

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret...

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald's mysterious gems. When Ivy's magic and her life is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.

My two-bits:

This first book in a series is an introduction into a magical world by way of a girl who finds out that she has a bit of magic in her - possibly more than expected (ahem). She learns about the possibilities of her abilities after being enrolled in a magic school.

Came across one fun creature called a "notical" which is a little itty-bitty that like to read.

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* review copy courtesy of publisher