The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking: Nourishing Recipes and Heartfelt Moments

 

The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking is an instagram-worthy collection of photos and recipes curated by  Chloé Crane Leroux & Trudy Crane. Released 24th Sept. 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Simon Element imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The entire book is beautifully photographed and styled, with a breezy affluent Mediterranean cottage vibe which is professionally and aesthetically pleasing (if worlds away from where most readers -actually- live their lives). Dreams are important, and having Instagram-worthy inspiration for food and table settings are happy-making, if impractical on a large scale. 

The recipes are well written and arranged thematically: aperó (appetizers), date night, friends for dinner, weekday favorites, solo suppers, and slow mornings/brunch ideas. Recipes are written with ingredients in a bullet list, yields, prep/cooking time estimates, and step by step directions. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Ingredients will mostly be available from any well-stocked grocery store in North America; some few may require specialist vendors outside of large metropolitan areas. Nutritional information is not included.

As stated in the title, the recipes and ingredients are vegetarian friendly.The authors/publisher have also included useful general resources such as pantry staples lists, and cross-referenced index. 

Four stars. The photography is gorgeous (if envy-inducing) and the recipes are written clearly and accessibly. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Knitting Witch

 

The Knitting Witch is a slightly darker fable for all-ages by Norma Kassirer. Originally written in the 1960s (and recently rediscovered and brought to publication by the author's daughter), this illustrated release from indie press Collective Book Studio is 88 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Mostly aimed at primary grade readers (Lexile 860L grades 2-5), this is an enthusiastic and action filled fairy tale with a -very- bratty little girl who has notoriously epic tantrums (she threatens to turn herself *inside out*! *shudder*), and her poor long-suffering parents trying to cope with her outbursts. 

It's fully illustrated throughout, and the art by Mark Richardson is full of small wryly humorous details which reward observant readers and invite them to take a closer look. 

It's age appropriate, but high-stakes and moderately thrilling for a children's book. Stylistically, it is in the same general camp as Roald Dahl and E. Nesbit, and will appeal to lovers of classic children's fiction. 

Four stars. It would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Pirate's Life for Tea - Tomes & Tea #2

 

 

A Pirate's Life for Tea is the second book in a cozy fantasy series by Rebecca Thorne. Originally released in 2023, this reformat and re-release from Macmillan on their Tor/Bramble imprint is 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a lovely, immersive, well written cozy fantasy with F/F romance. A former royal mercenary and a high ranking magic user diplomat just want to be together, to have a cozy bookstore with a big fireplace, tea and baked goods and nothing is going to stand in their way if they have anything to say about it. They got that in book one and now they're on a mission to save their hard-won independence and their town, and that means more diplomatic missions.

It's full of magic and world building and if the characters are maybe a tiny bit tropey, well, that's why readers *love* cozy fantasy. Inevitable comparisons will be drawn between this series and Travis Baldree's wonderful Legends & Lattes, and while it's true they share a niche genre, this series is not at all derivative and readers who enjoyed L&L will likely enjoy this one as well. 

It's full of warmth and humor and the author is unapologetically LGBTQIA+ friendly, here's a quote: 

"To the people who gave me one-star reviews because the first book "had lesbians." I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you."

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 13 hours 5 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Jessica Threet. She has a well modulated voice and does a surprisingly good job of the disparate fantasy acents. Her voice is a tiny bit sharp to actually fade into neutrality during the read, but it's not at all intrusive and there aren't any accents that come across as patently fake or forced. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read. 

Four and a half stars for both the book and audiobook. Highly recommended for fans of cozy fantasy. There -are- violent scenes with battle descriptions. There is some light sexual content/PDAs, but nothing NSFW. With two books out and a third due out in late first quarter 2025, it would be an excellent choice for a series binge or buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

The Witchstone

The Witchstone is a standalone humorous fantasy novel with light horror by Henry H. Neff. Released 18th June 2024 by Blackstone Publishing, it's 474 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in May 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is an absurdist romp featuring a demonic presence (Lazlo, a curse keeper) who, under threat of annihilation, has to team up with Maggie (his curse bearer) to break her generational family curse. It's wide ranging, often genuinely funny, and surprisingly well constructed. There's light body horror involved, but not egregious or extremely graphic. 

Four stars. It's not at all derivative stylistically or plotwise, but fans of Good Omens and American Gods will likely enjoy this one as well. It would make a good choice for a buddy read or for library acquisition. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Sing, I

Sing, I is an often melancholy well rendered character driven story by Ethel Rohan. Released 15th April 2024 by the Northwestern University Press, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Readable and engaging, it's too well written to be strictly be classified as Chick-Lit, but it will appeal to readers who enjoy character arcs with female protagonists finding themselves and changing their own lives, as well as the way they interact with the people in their orbit. The prose is very good and the author excels at characterization. There are a fair number of unbelievable situations which pop up throughout the story, and Esther's husband is a saint, but overall it's an interesting story, well told. 

Four stars. It would make a good choice for public library acquisition, home use, or a reading club/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Noodle & Bao

Noodle & Bao is a well written and beautifully illustrated all-ages book about community and standing up for what we believe in written by Shaina Lu. Due out 15th Oct 2024 from HarperCollins on their Quill Tree imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. 

Momo, Bao, and their families live in Town 99, a tightly knit community of folks with restaurants, bookstores, and everything else they need. Their entire community is threatened when Ms. Jujube starts buying up and "improving" their town, raising rents so much that many of the residents can't afford to live there anymore.

This thought provoking accessible novel has a lot of good takeaways for everyone: gentrification, strength in diversity, the power in collective grassroots action, and depending on our friends (instead of trying to do everything alone). 

The art is full of small details which invite readers to take a closer look. Much of the dialogue is bilingual in several Asian language as well as English (the author explains her reasoning in an afterword). There are also a number of pages with suggested discussion topics for classroom or book club discussion. There's also a reassuring diversity of characters, one of whom is nonbinary.

Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home or classroom use. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Molten Death - An Orchid Isle Mystery #1

 

Molten Death is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in Hawaii by Leslie Karst. Released 2nd April 2024 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback due out late 4th quarter 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a very well written and engagingly constructed murder mystery with an appealingly intelligent 60 year old female amateur sleuth on holiday in Hawaii after a personal family tragedy. Another bizarre tragedy (seeing a booted foot disappearing under lava) fires her up to find out whose booted leg it was disappearing into the lava, and moreover how and why in a weirdly understandable therapeutic way. 

The characters are quite well rendered, believable, and the book is peppered with neat trivia about the islands, their history, and unique geophysical characteristics. The MC is in a F/F stable marriage, and though there's some discussion in the book about their relationship (especially in the aftermath of a personal tragedy), it's not a central feature. 

The book is marketed as the first book in a series, but upcoming volume(s) are not on the publisher's schedule yet (presumably second quarter 2025 at the soonest). The mystery here is self contained and it works very well as a standalone. 

Four stars. Satisfying, complete, and well written. It would make a good buddy read, or a public or home library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Death by Misadventure - Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #18

 

Death by Misadventure is the 18th Lady Emily cozy mystery by Tasha Alexander. Released 24th Sept 2024 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

The author is prolific and adept. She does a more than capable job setting the scene and time period with both the dialogue and by wrapping the fiction skillfully around a framework of actual historical occurrences. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed and full of fair play clues which invite readers to figure out "whodunnit" alongside the story, with a closed pool of suspects, a remote chalet in the Alps, and lots of interesting historical trivia about Ludwig II of Bavaria who is a major element of the story told in dual timelines.

The plot is driven on parallel storytelling, with one main subplot set in Ludwig's Bavaria and the other in the "current" timeline (Late Victorian period).

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours, 31 minutes and is capably narrated by series narrator Bianca Amato.  She has a distinct South African accent, but it's not obtrusive or indeed obvious at all after the first few minutes of narration. She has a pleasantly modulated voice and she's adept at giving all the characters distinct and distinguishable voices. Most of the characters have distinct and varied accents, and she navigates them well.

It's partly an homage to Christie, but Ms. Alexander's writing stands perfectly well on its own merits. Heartily recommended to fans of the series; potentially also recommended for fans of the canonical works. Although the setup, mystery, denouement, and resolution are self-contained, there's a significant amount of development in earlier books which will partially spoil the characters and their relationships if read out of order. With 18 books extant in the series, it would make a great choice for a binge read, especially for fans of golden age and historical mysteries. 

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Dungeon Crawler Carl - Dungeon Crawler Carl #1

Dungeon Crawler Carl is the first book in a comedy fantasy series by Matt Dinniman. Originally published in 2020, this reformat and re-release from Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint is 464 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a fun and well written take on dungeoncrawler fantasy. MC Carl is unwillingly thrust into a starring role in a survivor reality TV contest when an alien invasion puts a major crimp in *everyone's* day.  Princess Donut (his ex-GF's pampered show cat) is along for the ride, and the book is positively bursting with sarcastic humor and improbable situations, with viewers from across the universe tuned in to see what happens next, and which contestants get eliminated, permanently.

It's not at all derivative, but the bonzo, zany humor will likely appeal to fans of Charles Stross and Tom Holt. 

Four stars. There are currently 6 books in the series with a 7th due out in 4th quarter 2024. It would make a great choice for a genre buddy/binge read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Terminal Surf - Lewis Cole #12

 

Terminal Surf is the 12th mystery thriller featuring PI/fixer Lewis Cole written by Brendan DuBois. This reformat and re-release from Severn House is not currently available for retail sale, but might be available through library collections/Hoopla digital. It's worth noting that the ebook format provided for review has a  has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

This is a very well written, tensely atmospheric and very much action driven mystery thriller in a continuing series. So much of it is sad and traumatic (human trafficking and migrant death) and ripped directly out of the current day's headlines (as is the entire series).

The plotting is tight and the mystery works well. There is a fair bit of continuity in the history from the earlier books as well as returning characters, so readers who are unfamiliar with the interrelationships and haven't read the earlier volumes might struggle a bit to keep them straight, otherwise it's self contained and works fine as a standalone.

Four and a half stars, a strong series and a good read. It would make a good choice for a long binge/buddy read. This entry is a definite high point for the continuing series thus far.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

That Night in the Library

That Night in the Library is a dark academia/mystery thriller by Eva Jurczyk. Released 11th June 2024 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

It's a neat premise: a locked room mystery in a creepy closed library with a group of graduating students who are doing stuff they really shouldn't do (recreating an ancient Greek ritual to free themselves from the fear of Death). Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

The characters are mostly archetypes, flat, and feel sketched in. Additionally, they're just about universally unpleasant (drug addicted, whiny, arrogant, and/or desperate). Most of the action happens when they're under the influence and much of it is hazy and unclear. The ending is a bit of a mish-mash and very little is conclusively resolved by the last page.

Three stars. Difficult, disjointed, and would have benefited from another round of editing/polishing.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Middletide

Middletide is a well constructed mystery thriller by debut author Sarah Crouch. Released 11th June 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out late 2nd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author has an impressive facility with setting and the tension and politics between the local (non-native) and folks living on the reservation were deep and well rendered. The characters are three dimensional with believable motivations and drives and the mystery itself is well constructed. 

It's not a cozy mystery and there are edges to the descriptions and themes, but it is well written, with a clear and direct voice. The story is told in scattershot flashbacks, but all the chapters are labeled with dates, so it's not too confusing. There are also some slightly overblown plot elements including an 11th hour courtroom denouement that was over-the-top, but again, generally well written and engaging.

Three and a half stars. Well done and, especially for a debut novel, worth a look. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Chocolate Lover: A Baking Book―Decadent Treats

 

Chocolate Lover delivers exactly what it says: a collection of 60 decadent treats curated by Michele Song. Released 17th Sept 2024 by Chronicle Books, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This book really is an encyclopedic collection of all-things-chocolate. There are fancy chocolate-y things as well as accessible basic anyone-can-make-it things. There are classics both easy and challenging for all occasions.

The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: sweet treats, cookies, brownies & bars, snacking cakes, celebration cakes, pies & tarts, morning treats, fried/chilled, and bakery favorites. Each recipe includes an introduction, yields, description, equipment, ingredients listed bullet-style in a sidebar, and step by step specific directions which are clear and easy to follow. Unit measures are in imperial (American) measurements with metric in parentheses (yay!). Alternatives and special info is included in highlighted in text bars in each recipe.

Most of the ingredients will be available at any well stocked grocery store; there may be some items which will require a specialty supplier or online source (vanilla paste and a few other items, but not many).

Five stars.The photography is superb. This is a classic and comprehensive collection and will be a perennial go-to. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a foodie enthusiast friend.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Margo's Got Money Troubles

 

Margo's Got Money Troubles is a surprisingly insightful and compassionate story about learning to navigate adulthood and the occasional curveball by Rufi Thorpe. Released 11th June 2024 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

The blurb and marketing do this book a disservice. Readers who are expecting a riotously funny comedy will not get what they're expecting at all. It is full of sarcastic wit and it's very well written, but MC Margo is in a desperate (familiar) situation and although she's quite sarcastic and self deprecating (and realistic) about it, she's got an infant, her life's in disarray, and she's about to be evicted. There aren't a lot of up-sides.

The author does a wonderful job of being compassionate; there's a lot of warmth and understanding, and the whole is *very* well written, but it's emphatically not a comedy. 

Four stars. Beautifully written, with fully realized three dimensional characters. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or a buddy read/book club selection. There are a number of suggested study questions and resources to be found online for this excellent (but not light) book 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Oops! I Broke the Wizard's Android!

 

Oops! I Broke the Wizard's Android! is a humorous coming of age middle grade/YA speculative fantasy with SF space opera overtones by Royce Roeswood. Released 23rd Sept 2024, it's 305 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

The character driven plotline is quite meandering and disjointed in places, but comes together fairly well by the denouement. Sent to an entirely inappropriate (borderline dangerous) apprenticeship in an isolated backwater with a senile/vaguely menacing wizard, Ninenne just wanted to be a magical veterinary scientist, and has wound up working with a cross between a theoretical physicist and disturbingly potential murderer. 

The writing is competent, breezily whimsical, and meant to be warmly funny, but often winds up straddling an uncomfortably vague no-man's-land between actively threatening (jump scare murder mystery) and passively weird. There are cute elements which lift the whole, such as Ninienne's familiar, a dog/frog hybrid. 

It's an indie-pub, so the book could have benefited from a more thorough editing process. There are a number of word substitutions (horde/hoard, it's/its, an/and, defuse/diffuse, etc), but readers who can ignore them probably won't be yanked out of the story too much. The ARC provided for pre-release review is possibly not the final release version, so some corrections might have been made prior to release.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours and 12 minutes and is capably read by the author. He has a young light tenor voice and does a good job with the occasionally woe-is-me-stuck-on-a-crap-planet-with-an-impossible-teacher whiny attitude of the main character. He enunciates clearly and does a decent job with the often rapid change dialogue. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Three and a half stars. Definitely in need of a reading group/professional editing round, but overall a good bet for YA. For that reason, the audiobook version is recommended.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals

 

 

Souk to Table is a well written, appealing, and traditional general Middle Eastern cookbook with recipes collected and developed by Amina Al-Saigh. Due out 8th Oct 2024 from Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.  

Besides the generosity of spirit and hospitality deeply tied to food traditions in the Middle Eastern countries, the food is beautiful to look at, exotic for many folks who live in North America, and importantly, deliciously healthy. 

The author has collected recipes from the whole Middle East, adjusted them slightly in some areas to make the ingredients more easily sourced for western readers, and written them down in an accessible way.

The recipes are arranged thematically: condiments & dips, salads & sides, 30 minute dishes, 1 hour, "worth the effort" (more complex/time), soups & stews, and drinks & desserts. Each recipe is written with an introduction and area from which it comes, yields, estimated prep time, bullet list of ingredients, and step by step prep and cooking directions. Ingredient measures are given in imperial (American) measurements with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). 

Most of the ingredients will be readily available at well stocked international type grocery stores, or larger urban grocers in most of North America/Europe. 

A high point of the book is the excellent photography throughout. The food is attractively and professionally styled and photographed in color. The author has also used a fair amount of effort to provide a comprehensive pantry list and spice/seasoning primer for general audiences.

The cross referenced index includes ingredients by single entry, for easy lookup of particular recipes. (Don't know why this isn't -standard- in all cookbooks!). 

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Saint-Seducing Gold - Forge & Fracture Saga #2

Saint-Seducing Gold is the second book in the YA Forge & Fracture fantasy trilogy by Brittany N. Williams. Released 23rd April 2024 by Abrams on their Abrams Kids imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

Featuring a strong young female protagonist named Joan, it's set in a fictitious Shakespearean London and includes a mash-up of A Midsummer Night's Dream (with real faeries) and swashbuckling political drama and skullduggery. 

The author has an impressive facility with characterization, and even the secondary characters are well fleshed out and three dimensional (for good or ill). Joan is an appealing MC, and it's genuinely nice to see some representation for non-traditional stereotype leads. The use of alternating chapters from different characters' points of view isn't always entirely successful, but it works well enough. 

Four stars. Generally quite well written and with a number of bonus positive points (swashbuckling fantasy with a female PoC lead and bi-positive representation). It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, or a binge/buddy read or book club selection. The third/concluding book in the trilogy is due out in early second quarter 2025.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Forgetting to Remember

 

Forgetting to Remember is a compelling and well written historical time travel romance by M. J. Rose. Released 26th March 2024, it's 269 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author is gifted at juxtaposing characters who are out of their own timelines against a backdrop of wider tragedy. It's quite melancholy in places. The characters are well rendered and sympathetic. Their voices are distinct enough that it's never confusing to keep them straight. With the added elements of magical realism, time slip, and romance, it's an enjoyable read.

There are similar world building and paranormal elements to the author's other books, but this is a standalone and won't suffer in any way by being read by itself without previous familiarity to her oeuvre. 

Four stars. This is a well written and immersive story with an appealing protagonist and fascinating framework taken from history. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Corpse In the Closet - Riley Thorn #2

The Corpse In the Closet is the second Riley Thorn paranormal mystery by Lucy Score. Released 16th April 2024 by Sourcebooks on their Bloom Books imprint, it's 284 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is exactly as stated in the blurb: a sarcastic, funny murder mystery with paranormal elements, an ensemble cast, a large romance subplot (less than book 1, but still definitely heating up), and a satisfying denouement and resolution. The author has a fairly deft touch with comedic timing, and readers who enjoy rom-com mysteries with goofy eccentric secondary characters will probably be in raptures over this series.

There's continuity with the earlier book, but readers who read the books out of order won't be lost (but will encounter minor spoilers, fair warning). With 4 books currently extant in the series, it would be a great choice for a binge/buddy read. 

Four stars, funny and engaging. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Keepers of Time - The Keepers of Time Trilogy #1

 

Keepers of Time is the first book in a dark YA romantasy trilogy by M.N. Kinch. Released 7th May 2024, it's 346 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a well written and engaging fantasy told in alternating PoV chapters. It's a bit of a "worlds collide" type plot, with a brainy and driven female grad student becoming involved with a trio of peculiar siblings who run a local coffee shop. There are mysterious, slightly spooky, intertwined fates and the future of time hangs in the balance. 

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of romance fantasy, or possibly a buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.