Bookshops & Bonedust

Title: Bookshops & Bonedust
Author: Travis Baldree
Published: November 7, 2023 by Tor Trade
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Legends & Lattes #0

First Sentence: Prologue. “Eighteen!” bellowed Viv, bringing her saber around in a flat curve that battered the wight’s skull off its spine.

Blurb: Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it.

What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

My Opinion: Having come late to this book party, I decided to jump into this series with the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, instead of starting with the first book, Legends & Lattes. This prequel begins ten years before the main series, and it's packed with a touching mix of characters who bring their backstories to the table.

A blend of power and loss, budding romances, and heartbreak. It's filled with the kindness of strangers, the warmth of found family, and the joy of discovering a new passion and purpose. All wrapped up in humor that keeps the book flowing.

I'm still getting my feet wet in the fantasy genre. Yet, I believe this book leans towards epic fantasy since the reader is introduced to an orc mercenary, a rattkin book merchant, a dwarf baker, a gnome, a necromancer, and even a satchel of enslaved bones that, with the right dust, spring to life. And let's not forget Pot Roast, the adorable dog who seems to be part pug, part owl, and 100% charming. The genre might be confusing, but the fun and enjoyment are undeniable.

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

Title: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
Author: Kirsten Miller
Published: June 18, 2024 by William Morrow
Format: Hardcover, 298 Pages
Genre: Women's Fiction

First Sentence: Ronnie Childers was tripping his balls off in Jackson Square when an angel of the Lord appeared before him.

Blurb: Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever. (Amazon)

My Opinion: The brilliance at the beginning of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books lies in Kirsten Miller's ability to make her readers laugh and shake their heads at far-reaching social issues. Initially focusing on banning books at the local library, the story quickly evolves into a broader narrative. Battle lines are drawn, hearts are broken, and families are torn apart. Throughout the turmoil, I found myself navigating a range of emotions—jolts, head shakes, inhaled breaths, and laughter—all while hoping for a happily ever after.

The author peppers the narrative with cultural references, including book titles as chapter headings, that help readers engage on multiple levels and enrich the experience. The book reaches a peak in its first half, maintaining a lighthearted feel despite its debated subjects. However, it takes a sudden downward plunge into darker territory with notorious characters and a despicable subject matter, which felt unnecessary. This shift turned me off, leaving me questioning whether finishing the book was worth my time.

Despite the attempt to turn things around in the final chapters, including a "years later" recap, it felt too late to change my opinion on how the book wasted its initial promise.

An Instruction in Shadow

Title: An Instruction in Shadow
Author: Benedict Jacka
Published: October 15, 2024 by Ace
Format: Kindle, Paperback 336 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Inheritance of Magic #2

First Sentence: It was wet, it was cold, and I was worried.

Blurb: The ultra-rich control magic—the same way they control everything else—but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.Stephen Oakwood has emerged victorious against the schemes of his aristocratic family. Now he finally has the opportunity to do what he’s been wanting to do for a long track down his father. But doing so won’t be easy. Stephen’s not so isolated any more, but the contacts he’s making in the magical world—everyone from the corporation he works for to the mother he’s just beginning to reconnect with—all have agendas of their own. And now a new group is emerging from the shadows, calling themselves the Winged. Their leader, the mysterious Byron, promises that he can show Stephen how to find his father...but he wants something in return.Following that trail will throw Stephen into greater danger than he’s ever faced before. To survive, he’ll need to use all of his tricks and sigls, and pick up some new ones. Only then will he be able to prevail against his enemies...and find out who’s really pulling the strings.

My Opinion: What began well fizzled in the middle, started to regain momentum, and ended in a way that no book should.

This book picks up about a week after the previous one ended. If, like me, you've read many books in between, you might need to revisit the last few chapters of An Inheritance of Magic to reacquaint yourself with wells, essentia, drucraft, and the House of Ashford.

Stephen Oakwood's job as a locator takes a downturn, forcing him to focus on essentials like rent and food rather than the intricacies of House Ashford. He confronts his mother and continues to seek the whereabouts of his father. His half-siblings are still a mess, but Bridget/Isadora, seems to be on his side, while his Tobias remains as diabolical and untrustworthy as ever, yet Stephen finds something likable about him.

From the previous book, we know that Charles Ashford, the head of House Ashford, is Stephen’s grandfather and will decide who will be the next Head of House. Cousin Calhoun is considered the heir apparent, but the repeated claims that "Stephen isn’t qualified" and "Stephen will never be appointed," along with relentless testing, makes the reader wonder if this is the obvious direction the series will take.

It seems the whole point of this book was to introduce the reader to The Winged, a cult led by the nefarious Byron, who has information about Stephen's father. In his desperation, Stephen follows Byron, wherever that may lead him.

Overall, this book feels like filler. Not much happens, and few inroads are made. It feels more like the author was sprinkling ideas to see what sticks. This book lacks the spark that the first in the series had. Will I read the next one? I think I have to, in hopes that Benedict Jacka gets this series back on track and cuts out the unnecessary filler.

Killing Time

Title: Killing Time
Author: R.W. Green writing for M.C. Beaton
Published: October 8, 2024 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, 256 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Agatha Raisin #35

First Sentence: “So this is where the murder was committed…” Agatha Raisin leaned against a wooden gate, craning her neck to peer into the meadow beyond.

Blurb: Life is never, ever dull in Agatha Raisin's sleepy Cotswolds village! Agatha Raisin's private detective agency is working flat out on a series of burglaries which take a violent turn when a friend of Agatha's is murdered during a raid on his antiques shop. Although determined to nail the villains, Agatha still makes time to help Sir Charles Fraith prepare to stage a massive, hugely glamorous event in the grounds of his ancestral home, Barfield House. When Agatha begins to receive death threats and narrowly avoids being abducted by kidnappers, she takes advantage of a previously arranged trip to Majorca to lie low for a while. There she meets her partner, former police officer John Glass, who is now working as a dance instructor on a cruise liner. Their relationship founders over John's apparent closeness to his stage dance partner, Louise. Putting her love life on hold, Agatha heads home, having worked out who has been threatening her life. Can Agatha track down the would-be killer, nail her friend's murderers and rescue her romance with John? Everything comes to a climax at the Barfield Extravaganza when on top of everything else, Agatha also manages to solve a 400-year-old Cotswold murder mystery!

My Opinion: This is one of those series that is an automatic read, regardless of the level of writing. Killing Time opens with a reference to a crime from the 1660s, leaving a shadowy tone that left me curious about where this book was going. The story then changes and quickly escalates with a series of current-day events: burglaries, riddles as death threats, a murder, an attempted kidnapping, vandalism, a clock, and relationship drama—all against the backdrop of planning a grand event for Charles’s Barfield wine business.

The usual characters are here, and I particularly enjoyed Bill Wong's and Gustav’s characters—Bill’s ability to handle Agatha, mingling with Gustav’s patient endurance of her antics, always makes me laugh.

Killing Time, while short, presents an engaging start with numerous plot points and dramatic turns. It features long chapters heavily packed with activity at the start, but the pace meanders as it progresses through the extensive plot points and then focuses on tying up loose ends. Despite this, the characters and the series' charm continue to draw me back.

A Merry Little Murder Plot

Title: A Merry Little Murder Plot
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Published: October 8, 2024 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, 317 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Library Lover's Mystery #15

First Sentence: "Let it snow, let it snow, Let it snow..." a voice sang softly.

Blurb: During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.

My Opinion: The book starts strong, engaging readers with characters that quickly elicit solid reactions—a mix of irritating and suspicious roles, along with a third character caught in their scheming. It’s a promising beginning for an amateur sleuth mystery. However, the introduction of two additional characters, who seem to serve only to stir up trouble, left me unsure of their importance to the overall plot.

The premise of two women plotting to ban an author’s books and cancel a writer-in-residence program at a small town library felt somewhat far-fetched and weakly plotted. It’s hard to imagine this being a major issue in the grand scheme of things.

Around 100 pages in, the victim finally appears—though not the person I had anticipated. Do writers still print out manuscripts? The relationships in the book become twisty, adding confusion to the mix. One of the many subplots left me wondering whether this was an amateur sleuth mystery or a commentary on book banning.

The middle of the book turns out to be rather superficial and follows typical genre tropes. Lindsay, of course, must throw herself into the investigation, even though the Chief of Police, Emma, is more than capable of handling it. The usual twists are present, but none are particularly shocking or groundbreaking.

While the beginning held promise, A Merry Little Murder Plot ultimately became a “why bother” read. It’s books like this that make me question why I continue with the amateur sleuth genre. Despite the initial intrigue, the weak plotting and predictable twists left me disappointed.

The Games Gods Play

Title: The Games Gods Play
Author: Abigail Owen
Published: September 3, 2024 by Entangled: Red Tower Books
Format: Kindle, 645 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Crucible #1

First Sentence: Preface. “F” the gods. I got so close. So damned close to finally reaching my goal, finally seeing my curse broken, and maybe, just maybe, finally feeling the love of the one man I long for.

Blurb: Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals. And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.

Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life… for the god of Death.

My Opinion: The Game of Gods is reminiscent of The Hunger Games, with mortals as pawns in the Greek gods’ ultimate power play. Perhaps those with a deeper knowledge of Greek mythology might navigate the book’s many deities more easily. Still, I often found myself diving into rabbit holes to look up each one mentioned.

The protagonist, Lyra Keres, is a 23-year-old mortal cursed from birth to never be loved. Bartered by her parents at three years old to pay off a debt, she grows up to become a skilled thief. Lyra's life takes a dramatic turn when Hades selects her as his champion for the Crucible—a twelve-trial game to decide the next ruler among the gods. A game where survival is not guaranteed. It's worth noting that snark seems to be the only way to catch Hades' attention—a humorous twist that adds flavor to the story.

The book’s humor and intensity keep the pages turning. Owen excels in world-building and creating vivid characters. The twelve challenges of the Crucible are progressively complex, maintaining the book’s thrilling pace. As Lyra navigates these trials, readers stay engaged, trying to anticipate which abilities will lead her to victory, who will fall, and who will reach the finish line.

This book offers a bit of everything. It's not a typical enemies-to-lovers story, but rather a business arrangement that gets spicy. The side characters are integral to the plot, making you both love and mourn them. The promise of a sequel is exciting, as there’s clearly much more story to be told.

Despite not being a typical rereader, I found myself contemplating a reread to catch nuances I might have missed the first time. The Game of Gods is an intense, brutal, and unforgettable read.

The Game of Gods is a gripping tale that intertwines the intensity of mortal challenges with the whimsical nature of Greek mythology. Its humor, depth, and complex characters make it a standout novel, leaving readers eager for more. If you're a fan of high-stakes games and intricate world-building, this book is a must-read.

In the Company of Witches

Title: In the Company of Witches
Author: Auralee Wallace
Published: October 19, 2021 by Berkley
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Evenfall Witches B&B #1

First Sentence: "I'm going to kill her."

Blurb: For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There's never been a problem they couldn't handle. But then Constance Graves--a local known for being argumentative and demanding--dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident...but it soon becomes clear that there's something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.

There's nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora's innocence, and it hurts her to know that even two years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead--a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn't used her powers since her husband died, and isn't even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts' magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers--and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.

My Opinion: The reader is introduced to a complex web of characters, relationships, and locations that can be difficult to untangle. The Warren sisters, Nora and Izzy, along with their niece Brynn, run a bed and breakfast in the quaint New England town of Evenfall and use their magic to subtly aid the townsfolk.

The story centers around Brynn, who has lost her ability to communicate with the dead following the sudden death of her husband and her determination to never use magic again; Aunt Izzy, a kitchen witch who equates spells with recipes; Nora, a garden witch; along with Uncle Gideon, who lives in the attic and can see the past and future, add to the eclectic mix of personalities and magical talents.

The plot kicks into gear when Constance, a guest at the B&B, is murdered. Brynn's internal battle to suppress her magic adds depth to her character since it tries to break through her walls. Without the use of her powers, her inability to connect with the dead complicates the investigation. The appearance of toads, a harbinger of trouble, hints at deep-seated family discord possibly linked to the murder. Izzy's denial of her magical abilities forces her to rely on traditional investigation methods to clear her aunt's name. This effort is short-lived, however, as she eventually embraces her magic to heal herself and others.

What began with promise—a mix of mystery and magic—soon devolves into a sluggish midsection with an ending that felt rushed and unsatisfying. The multitudes of characters and complex relationships initially engage but ultimately contribute to the sense of a story that loses steam and direction. Despite these shortcomings, the book's exploration of healing and personal growth offers some redeeming qualities, but not enough to fully deliver its initial promise.