Meet Me in the Future: Stories

Meet Me in the Future is a collection of 16 works of short fiction by Kameron Hurley. Released 20th Aug 2019 by Tachyon, it's 288 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. All of the stories are previously published between 2006 and 2018, but collected here for the first time. The author has also written an erudite and thought provoking introduction (not previously published elsewhere) in which she discusses the writing process, some history, what things really mean (hint: don't be lazy, we should figure it out ourselves), and shares other thoughts about creativity, the writer's life, and the world in a really personal conversational style. I felt as though we were talking about deep stuff over the last half bottle of wine at 3 in the morning.

These stories are top shelf fiction. Every story I read was the best one yet. I had planned to read them slowly and savor them. That certainly didn't happen. I wound up reading late into the night and almost missed my work bus stop the next morning. It's difficult to pick out a standout story from the collection, but if forced, When We Fall was amazing and made me sniffle (in a good way).

It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.

Five stars. Beautifully curated collection of extremely well written stories.


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

Mythos (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology #1)

 Mythos is a retelling with etymological asides and historical nuggets told by the inimitable Stephen Fry. Originally published in 2017, this reformatting and re-release for American readers, out 27th Aug from Chronicle Books, is 352 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

Stephen Fry is simply a treasure. He's erudite and genuinely funny, urbane but not stuffy. He's self deprecating and frighteningly intelligent but not above being naughtily delighted over a raunchy pun. No surprise, then, that he turned his prodigious writing talent to Greek mythology. Most readers will be familiar with the basic stories; what's new are the asides and footnotes. There are comments on etymology and how the genesis of these stories disappears into our human prehistory. There are also plenty of linguistic asides, showing the threads between the origins of words which are used down through history to today.

There is plenty of truly bloody horrifically violent material in the Greek mythos, but Mr. Fry finds the absurd, the comedic and gives it his own twist, and in a few cases left me gasping with laughter. There was a lot of obscure information with which I was unfamiliar, despite my unhealthy obsession with Bullfinch and Graves. Case in point, the not-terribly-well-known sea goddess Doris (seriously. Doris).  Even better, this volume is the first in a series.

Loved this. Laughed so much. This would make a superlative classroom support book or recommended text for history, classics, group read, home library, etc.

Five stars. I'll be revisiting this one again and again.

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

Papercutting: Geometric Designs Inspired by Nature

Papercutting is a tutorial and theory guide to paper sculpture by Patricia Moffett. Due out 28th Sept 2019 from Schiffer publishing, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback (and possibly hardcover, it's not clear from the publishing info).

The inspirations for the pieces which are included in this volume come from nature. There are birds, insects, trees, and natural landscape features among the projects. The forms are fluid and dynamic. The detail on some of them is stunning. All are gorgeous. Even the most intricate pieces are built up of simple units into a deceptively complex whole.

The introductory chapters (~13% of the page content) cover tools, materials, Fibonacci sequences, cuts, folds, transferring patterns, scoring, using templates and more.
The following chapters contain the tutorials and are generally progressively more complex. There are really good general discussions of axes of symmetry and the subchapter on tesselations was concise and easy to understand.

I was so impressed with the inclusion of a really good discussion of the mathematics and symmetry of nature in the form of whorls on flowers, insects, fruits, shells, the growth pattern of trees and more. This is a layman accessible book, but it really adds to the depth and detail of the sculptures to know some theory behind the forms.

This would make a very good book for crafters as well as a wonderful resource book in a classroom art setting for middle-grades+ to tie-in with coordinating math lessons. It would be a good addition to the homeschooling library as well.

Five stars. Really lovely book.

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

Wonton Terror (A Noodle Shop Mystery #4)

Wonton Terror is the fourth book in the Noodle Shop mystery series by Vivien Chien. Due out 27th Aug 2019 from St. Martin's Press, it's 320 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

This series was pretty strong from the start. Protagonist Lana Lee is a 20something trying to find her way independently and working in her very close knit family's noodle shop. Over the series, she's become (somewhat) unwillingly entangled in several mysteries. This entry in the series has much the same form as the others, a tragic accident (or was it murder?), lots of back history in her extended family and their families, interactions with her family and best friend Megan, and handsome cop boyfriend Adam.

Despite (or maybe because of) all the cozy mystery tropes, the book was such a fun read. From the punny title, to the oddball secondary characters, to the completely off the wall murder, to the denouement, it's a fun and comfortable read. The author is technically sound enough to make it read well, with a plot driven narrative that doesn't rush or lag; the pacing and tension are precise and controlled. I really care about Lana and her family. They're close (sometimes too close) but they have a good and functional and loving relationship with one another.

I sometimes get a fleeting thought about the setup and whether I should be so comfortable about the setting being written in an Asian shopping center with lots of tourist trade almost like an Asian theme park.  I wonder if I should be bothered that it doesn't bother me. My take on this is: the characters are varied, they aren't depicted weirdly or in an especially racist/stereotypical manner. They aren't all good guys or bad guys or anything like that. They have close, healthy family relationships and in fact, one of the themes of earlier books in the series is that main character Lana is the target of harassment for not being 'really' Asian since her dad is Caucasian. Anyhow, I don't think it's weird, and the series is delightful.

The language is clean (P.G., an occasional damn, nothing worse), there's a little romance, but nothing to scandalize, and the denouement is satisfying. I worry for poor Lana, being mixed up in all these murders. It reminds me of poor Jessica Fletcher; "It's ok, aunt Jess, don't come to the wedding, we don't want anyone dropping dead in the punch bowl"!

Five stars. Entertaining, escapist, fun reading.

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

The Autoimmune Protocol Comfort Food Cookbook: 100+ Allergen-Free Recipes for the Delicious Foods You Crave

The Autoimmune Protocol Comfort Food Cookbook is an action plan and recipe collection for allergen free comfort foods by Michelle Hoover. Due out 10th Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's  192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

Most of us have comfort foods; foods which make us happy or are associated with special memories or family recipes which are tied up emotionally with our life experience. Getting a diagnosis which includes an auto-immune component can literally turn our lives upside down. This cookbook tries to replicate some of the comfort foods which are also autoimmune diet protocol compliant.

The book follows a logical progression. The introductory chapters explain what the AIP diet is, some history, a very basic explanation of the mechanics behind auto-immune responses, along with a list of non-inflammatory foods and foods to avoid. The intro includes an explanation of the four phases of the diet. The author (and many dieticians) recommends keeping a food journal to gauge the body's reactions to reintroduced foods.

The next chapters contain recipes arranged by meal category: breakfast, appetizers, soups & salads, mains & proteins, holiday dishes, and desserts & drinks. There are over 100 recipes included as well as a massive amount of supporting information. Many (many!) of the ingredients will probably be unfamiliar to readers who haven't followed an anti-inflammatory diet before. Some ingredients will probably be difficult to source outside of special order or a specialist grocery.

Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes (cocnut-free, one pan, simple to prepare, and made in under 45 minutes), along with estimated prep/cook times. Recipe ingredients are listed bullet point style along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard and metric measures. The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. Special notes about the recipe are given in sidebar boxes.

Roughly half of the recipes are accompanied by serving photographs. The photography is lush, appetizing, clear, and appealing.  The typesetting and layout are clear and easy to read.  It's a well written, content dense book.

Four stars.

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

50 Essential Etiquette Lessons

50 Essential Etiquette Lessons is an accessible, easily read guide to some basic rules for polite interaction today. Due out 10th Sep 2019 from Callisto on their Althea Press imprint, it's 195 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

I grew up in the dark ages before the internet (yes, really). Mail was generally hand written and posted and delivered by hand. Thank you notes were de rigueur and dress codes were a lot more rigid than they are now. In many ways, the social barriers being removed and the heightened casual freedom is a good thing, but we've become remiss in etiquette and it shows. If society is to function, we must maintain standards of behavior which allow people to interact without being abrasive/annoying/abusive to one another. I feel like our standards have not just slipped, but descended catastrophically in the last few years. That's a lot to expect from a book, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

This is a handy, layman accessible book of essential etiquette and behavior lessons for modern people. It purports to help readers navigate social occasions without embarrassment or mishaps.  The book follows a logical format which moves from general explanations of manners and politeness to specific interactions and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The introduction, about 10% of the page content, with a short explanation of etiquette and some general vocabulary (and why manners are important), also has handy recommendations for using the book and incorporating the lessons into daily life.

The following chapters contain important lessons for day to day life, grouped by category. There are subchapters on interacting with people for the first time (making a good impression), why gossip is bad, building mutual respect, general politeness, appropriate greetings, not wasting people's time, and others. There are chapters on office etiquette (so incredibly important, vital even!),  texts chats and email etiquette, eating out and social occasions, dating and social life, and special occasions (including extending condolences, funeral etiquette, and how to navigate breakups and divorces). The end of the book includes an FAQ on faux pas and how to deal with unplanned unpleasantness. The author doesn't shy away from the gritty realities of non-functioning toilets, dealing with coworkers with bad breath, and when it's ok to eat stinky foods for lunch in the break room (hint: it's not ok).

It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.

The author has a breezy and appealing writing style with a lot of good, logical, no-nonsense advice. The book is slanted toward the younger adult reader (the author uses 'Millenials'), but there are nuggets of usable info in there, compassionately rendered for everyone, irregardless of age. I really liked the example letter of condolence and thought it was perfectly and compassionately written.

Timely appropriate advice, especially for young people, and younger professionals. Five stars.

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

The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Simple 5-Ingredient Recipes for Your Plant-Based Lifestyle

The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook is a new cookbook with recipes for 5 ingredient plant based cooking by Heather Nicholds. Due out 10th Sept 2019 from Rockridge, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

Electric pressure cookers have changed the face of home cooking, and they're more popular than ever, with more programmable options and different volume capacities and cooking programs. I admit that I love the convenience factor for myself and that you can add ingredients and come back to well cooked, tasty food that isn't overcooked or mushy. Especially with vegetables, overcooking destroys a lot of the nutritive value, so cooking more quickly is a definite benefit. This cookbook has one huge benefit for me, it's convenient. None of the recipes require more than 5 ingredients. At the end of a busy day of work, it's so great to be able to (mostly) pop ingredients into the cooker, program it, and come back to dinner.

The book's logical and appealing layout mean that recipes are easy to find by category. The introductory chapter ~17% of the content) covers some background, how to cook with an electric pressure cooker (it's much MUCH easier and safer than people think), an FAQ on pressure cooking, a little bit about protein and plant based diets, and other general info.

The main recipes are grouped by category: grains, legumes, soups/stews, pasta, veggies, holidays, and desserts. Additional resources and references, along with cooking measures and time charts are included at the back of the book. Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes (dairy-free, gluten-free, budget friendly, etc), and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed bullet point style along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures only (there is a measurement conversion table included at the back of the book, but it's a hassle not to have them included). The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. The nutritional information is given in a footer under the recipes and includes calories, fat, protein, sodium, and fiber.

The recipes' ingredients are easily sourced and the resultant dishes are family friendly and appealing to kids and adults. My one small quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are some photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they represent about 5% of the recipes. Everything else is well done and I heartily recommend the book overall. There are a number of these recipes which have made it into my personal potluck recipe book of dishes to take to group dinners and family gatherings. The Pistachio-Apricot Quinoa is just a lovely dish full of bright flavors and textures and even picky eaters like it. It makes a really appealing side dish for non-vegetarian meals as well.

It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.


Good recipes, full of hearty and satisfying food. The current pre-order price for the ebook is super reasonably priced. (Enough so that I ordered my own retail copy).


Five stars. I would recommend it for veg*n curious cooks and non-veg*ns for the side dishes and salads.

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

Nature Tonic: A Year in My Mindful Life

Nature Tonic: A Year in My Mindful Life is a year long journaling guide with 365 mindfulness prompts which actively encourage the reader to slow down and find balance and relax in nature. Due out 10th Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare Press imprint, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a beautifully calming and charmingly presented guide to re-learning awareness of our natural rhythms and re-learning to live more in sync with our natural environment. There are multiple activities to prompt examination and reflection. The days whose exercises I followed diligently and wrote down my reactions and feelings were really good days. The self reflection exercises the author has included gently allow the reader to slow down and experience their existence instead of just rushing exhaustedly from one activity to the next at maximum speed every waking moment.  The illustrations, by Clare Owen, are restful and lovely and really enhance the whole message of the book.

Though the book is dealt into 12 chapters with different themes which encompass 365 guided prompts, it's not specifically written serially with seasonal activities. The individual activities could be experienced in any order. Whether the reader follows the prompts in order or not, there are real, proven benefits to slowing down and spending more time interacting with nature. I have no doubt that following the prompts regularly over the course of a year would give measurable positive results.

Beautifully illustrated and calmly and appealingly written, it would make a superlative gift for a journaling (or would be journaling) friend or family member, or oneself. Many meditation guides in my experience are quite full of metaphysical 'woo'. This one is refreshingly practical and 'woo-woo' free.

Five stars.

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

Macrame for Home Decor: 40 Stunning Projects for Stylish Decorating

Macrame for Home Decor is a tutorial crafting guide for home dec macramé by Samantha Grenier. Released 11th June 2019 by Pepperell Braiding Co. and Fox Chapel, it's 144 pages and available in paperback format.

This is an appealing and well written tutorial for learning the skills necessary to complete any of the 40 included projects. The introduction and basic tools and materials guides (~18% of the page content) cover sourcing supplies and learning the basics of macramé. The following chapters are split into project categories and include: home decor, mats and rugs, plant hangers, and decorative wall hangings.

For anyone who lived through the 70's and for whom the word macramé summons to mind 'rustic' jute plant hangers in lime green, orange, and russet brown, this book is full of completely updated and modern/neutral color schemes and projects which will look good in modern homes.  It includes large projects such as chair backs and room dividers, along with smaller projects such as placemats and coasters.

The layout and typesetting are appealing and accessible. The instructions are very clearly written and easy to follow and, more importantly for visual learners, very well photographed. The weaving and knotting diagrams are well drawn and simple to follow. Of the 40 projects, probably half of them really appealed to me and that's unusually high. These are nice projects and can be adapted to suit any decor. Each of the projects includes a difficulty level, a project time estimate, a bullet list of supplies, and step by step directions.
The end of the book includes a very short supplies resource list, and readers will also have no trouble sourcing necessary tools and gear via internet e-tailers or local crafts/hobby suppliers.

It amused me to see that although the book is well updated for modern readers, it does include an homage to 70s culture, the perennially undying macrame owl.

Four stars. There's a lot to like here.

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

Birds & Butterflies Drawing & Activity Book: Learn to draw 17 different bird and butterfly species

Birds & Butterflies Drawing & Activity book is a new tutorial guide with additional activities aimed at younger artists, but fun and usable by everyone. Originally released in 2016, this reformat and re-release from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr. imprint is 64 pages and available in spiral bound format.

There are 17 tutorials included which utilize basic techniques such as grid drawing, geometric base shape sketching, and tracing, along with word hunts, geometric grid coloring, map range matching puzzles and more. The drawing tutorials are species specific and include a lot of support information about the different species of birds and insects (specifically Lepidoptera).

This would make a great travel activity book for a trip. I always packed sketch pads, drawing materials and quiz/puzzle books for my kids when traveling. This book packs a lot of possibilities into a little space. It would also make a super gift for a young nature drawing enthusiast. Although the text and word puzzles are aimed at younger artists, it would make a fine drawing guide for beginning artists of any age. I managed a creditable adonis blue butterfly drawing by using only the tutorial steps in the book.

Five stars. Well made and engaging.

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

Grease Bats

Grease Bats is a collection of comics from Archie Bongiovanni. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Boom! studios, it's 304 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook (comiXology) formats.

Grease Bats is a slice of life comic in multi-page panel story format. The drawing style is simple and appealing, with clearly well developed characters who go about their daily lives and interact with the sometimes inexplicable world in which we all live.

I liked so many things about these stories. Little things like the character's t-shirt changes and the angst when a favorite hang-out closes or turns into something you don't recognize (or becomes a freakin' FERN BAR - Lookin' at you Lof's). There were a lot of big things I liked too, like characters who are PoC, that the characters felt genuine to me and not like they had to be paragons of virtue because they weren't straight,. The author/artist manages to impart some grammatical and etiquette advice without resorting to being strident or preachy - preferred personal pronoun use for one thing, acceptable mobile phone use in company for another (huge pet peeve of mine). There were also recurring themes of consent, interpersonal interaction, flirting, dating, real friendship, fighting the establishment, etc. The stereotypical characterizations of the straight characters was a bit over the top, but didn't degenerate into cruelty, so that's cool. I understand that the majority of the target readership doesn't identify as straight, but there are a lot of good points here which could make for valuable reading for CISgender people. There were also a number of typos in the early eARC I received for review purposes. I imagine they'll be edited out before release (they usually are).

There are over 50 self contained short stories in this collection. Like all collections, some of the stories resonated more than others, but they were all readable and some were quite thought provoking. This would make a really good afternoon binge read, or a sampling of a story at a time over a longer period of time. It might also make a good gift for a friend or family member who's coming out or potentially for straight family members who just don't understand the whole 'they/them' pronoun 'thing'. It's not a handbook, it's a collection of light humor whose primary characters are not straight and CIS.

Four stars.

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

Soldier of Fortune: A Gideon Quinn Adventure (The Fortune Chronicles #1)

Soldier of Fortune is the 1st book in the Fortune Chronicles by Kathleen McClure. Originally released in 2015, this reformat and re-release in 2018 is 318 pages and available in ebook, audio, and paperback formats.

I was captivated by this book. This is runaway fun on a -huge- space western scale. Gideon Quinn is a paladin... a soldier with a conscience who was unfairly imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit. When he gets the chance to investigate what -really- happened, he manages to get involved in saving street urchins and damsels in distress along with routing the rotten and corrupt government officials who allowed him to be railroaded. He also has a travel-sized dragon. A -dragon- named Elvis. Honestly, the author had me at mini-dragon.  This is also, however, a really well written book. The characterizations are solid. The worldbuilding is impressive, including a self contained, contextually accessible slang and dialogue. It's nonstop action, of course, with lots of explosions, and bar fights, and plasma guns, and shoot outs, and evil powerful antagonists whom I was really really looking forward to watching get smacked down spectacularly.

For Kindle Unlimited subscribers; this title, as well as the much of the author's oeuvre is available in the KU subscription to borrow and download.I binge read the series during a long weekend.

These characters would be wonderfully appropriate for film media as well. It's been a while since I've been totally captivated by an SF/fantasy series. The author writes so visually, it's easy to see the action whilst reading. Please cast this series soon, Netflix or Amazon!

I heartily recommend this book to lovers of space westerns, good-guy action series, and such.  It's very fun escapist reading.  There's a fair bit of light banter (even the bad guys - maybe especially the bad guys). There were only a few places in the story which felt to me to be a little over the top (almost always scenes with the Ohmdahl triplets...their dialogue made me wince), but they were fleeting.

Well written, humorous, action packed, rollicking, lots of explosions, Elvis (!) the draco. Bliss.

Five stars. I enjoyed this one immensely.

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

Silent Night (Detective Iris Locke #1)

Silent Night is the first book in a new series by Geraldine Hogan. Released 23rd Aug 2019 by Bookouture, it's 301 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a modern Irish police procedural set in the mid-west region of Ireland, in Limerick. DS Iris Locke is perpetually trying to avoid comparisons with her legendary father, a former police inspector in the same district. I enjoyed that the author managed to make Iris believable and avoided making her completely perfect. She's keen to prove herself and that makes her impatient and sometimes abrasive. She's got a chip on her shoulder from trying to compete with the shadow of her father (who's retired). She's sensitive to criticism and especially so from her male colleagues. On the other hand, she's also intelligent and meticulous. 

The plot of the novel turns on the fact that the first murders in the book are linked to a kidnapping disappearance almost 30 years ago.  Locke is convinced the disappearance (unsolved) of the current murder victim's infant sister 29 years ago is tied to her murder now. The writing and plotting are very solid and the characterizations are strong and believable.  The police colleagues are well fleshed out and their motivations are written clearly and adroitly. There is a fair bit of foreshadowing and the big denouement for me was more of an aHA!  It was cleverly done, and fans of modern procedural thrillers will find a lot to enjoy here. The Irish setting was lovely and very much an atmospheric part of the story. Interestingly, I usually find dialect dialogue tiresome, and I didn't find myself yanked out of the story once by the very strong Irish accent in the dialogue. I could definitely 'hear' it in my head though. The writing and slang are Irish, so readers from elsewhere will need to keep that in mind (fag, lift, torch, flat, petrol, biscuit, etc). It didn't seem to be any problem at all in context.

The writing is exceptionally good. The editing is seamless and invisible (as it should be). I didn't find any continuity breaks or spelling or formatting problems in the electronic ARC I received.

I would recommend this one to fans of procedurals who don't mind some violence and rough language. This would make a good buddy read or group read.

Four stars. Very strong start to the series. I'll be looking out for the next ones.

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

Silo: The Zero Waste Blueprint

Silo: The Zero Waste Blueprint is ostensibly a part philosophy and part DIY book by Douglas McMaster. Due out 27th Aug 2019 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in ebook and hardcover formats. The ebook version is available now.

This is a difficult book to review. On the one hand, the idea of zero waste and putting a stop to our out of control consumerism is admirable, necessary, and absolutely vital. On the other hand, there's something weirdly dichotomous about a professional restaurateur (however well meaning) whose products the public pays for, using the platform to condemn consumerism.

The subtitle is 'A Food System for the Future' which led me to expect some sort of blueprint for making steps toward implementing measures for reducing or eliminating waste in our daily lives. The book seems to mostly be a memoir of the difficulties of opening Silo, the restaurant, and adhering to his original vision of a zero waste establishment. There's a fair bit of reminiscing about his educational and training path as a chef, his encounters with other chefs and the cooking competitions in which he took part (and won or lost spectacularly). The first part of the book is fairly self indulgent, rambling, egotistical, and full of sentence fragments. It's quite literally difficult to read. In addition, each of the first sections are accompanied by high contrast sidebars with koans such as LIMITATION BREEDS CREATIVITY, FOOD IS PRECIOUS, and PROGRESS IS MESSY.

The second part of the book (roughly 19% of the content) contains a rambling discussion of distribution webs and gigantic waste in the forms of fossil fuel use, energy, packaging, time, etc. There are numerous diagrams showing different methods of transport and delivery.

The third part includes  recipes for buying in bulk and cleaning supplies minimizing packaging and using reusable compostable sponges, cloths, etc. This section also contains a year's worth of recipes in menu form which utilize local seasonal ingredients. Some of the recipes are really odd (potato skin ice cream), most all of them are 'way out there'. Quite probably adventuresome foodies will find something to titillate (Hokkaido pumpkin, forced rhubarb & British sumac?). 

The fourth part of the book draws together many of the ideas in the earlier sections. There are no definite hard and fast conclusions, however there is a lot of food for thought. There are no quick fixes for healing the planet, or sustainability, or any overarching plans to get started on. This section of the book also includes intriguing, slightly surreal, visual art.

It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.

I did not winnow out a lot of useful information from this book. There is a huge amount of enthusiasm and burning fervor here and especially foodies who would know where to source sea beets and  pineapple weed locally and in season will doubtless find usable recipes and philosophy. This would make a good read for people who really enjoy restaurateur and food culture biographies.

Two stars for me, three+ for serious foodies.

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

Keto Sweet Tooth Cookbook: 80 Low-Carb Ketogenic Dessert Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Fat Bombs, Shakes, Ice Cream, and More

Keto Sweet Tooth Cookbook is a new low-carb dessert cookbook by Aaron Day. Released 9th July 2019 by Penguin on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.

I have heard so many people comment that they could never follow a low-carb diet because they would have to give up desserts 'forever'. This interesting collection of recipes provides 80 tasty counter-arguments.

The author has done a good job of writing an accessible and logically formatted cookbook. The introductory sections (~14% of the total content) define the terms and give a very basic layman accessible overview of the metabolic processes behind ketogenic diets and how to make sweet foods sweet without adding sugar to them. This chapter also includes an overview of nut flours, binding agents and other specialized ingredients used in the recipes. The next chapters contain the recipes arranged by type: cakes, puddings, cookies, tarts, fat bombs, and frozen treats. The book does include an index.

The book is very well photographed and the composition is pleasant and easy to read. The recipes themselves are clear and easy to follow. Each recipe has a header with special symbols such as nut-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, with a short description of the recipe and approximate prep-times. The ingredients (given in American and metric measures) are listed in a sidebar, along with yields and serving sizes. Step by step directions are followed by nutrient information.  Many (but not all) of the recipes are pictured.

We tried the peanut butter cups (p. 120) and have made them twice since the original experiment. They're a huge hit. We also tried the chocolate covered cheesecake fat bombs (p. 126) and they were also delicious. 

It might be worth noting that some of the ingredients (nut flours, binding agents, confectioners erythritol) could possibly be difficult to source outside of mail-order or unless the reader lives near a very well stocked specialist grocery store.

Four stars. Highly recommended for people who enjoy dessert treats who are following a keto diet and also nice to have some keto-friendly recipes for work functions or keto-friendly dinner guests.

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

The Art of Dying

The Art of Dying is the third DI Westphall procedural by Douglas Lindsay. Due out 22nd Aug 2019 from Hachette on their Mulholland imprint, it's 416 pages and will be available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

This is an incredibly well written, very dark and atmospheric Scottish procedural (tartan noir, indeed). The protagonist is haunted by the ghosts of people from his past as a spy and as a policeman. It's not entirely clear from the sort of unreliable 1st person narrator if he's disturbed or dreaming these interactions or synchronizing the facts subconsciously.  Whatever the reason, the writing is razor sharp and the way the author has written in these interludes adds a lot of tension and atmosphere to the whole.

DI Ben Westphall has to solve the case whilst dealing with Russian money laundering and spy involvement, multiple murders in a posh retirement home, sexual minefields with a female vicar friend and confidant, as well as office politics with his superiors.  

There is a lot of graphic violence. There are several murders and they run the gamut from a sudden beating death after a football (soccer) match, to evisceration, beheading, intentional stifling (smothering), etc.  There is also a fair amount of  sexual tension and longing. The main protagonist is psychologically quite damaged and lonely, but also very intelligent and aware of his unhealthy mental state and unwilling to try to form a lasting relationship.

The language is rough, strongly R rated. It is used in context and not egregiously. I would say it's about average for a gritty police procedural. Despite being the third in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. 

This book will definitely appeal to fans of modern police procedurals who don't need to have every single plot thread tied up in a neat bow by the end. One of the most fascinating things about this book for me was watching Westphall sort through and disentangle the relative truth from all the lies all of the witnesses he interview were telling him.

Five stars for fans of gritty procedurals. I can definitely see this one being made for TV (with David Tennant, please, thank you)!

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

Embroidered Kitchen Garden

Embroidered Kitchen Garden is a new tutorial guide for surface embroidery by Kazuko Aoki. Originally published in Japanese in 2017, this English translation is due out 1st Sept. 2019 from Zakka Workshop. It's 104 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The author/artist's work is delicate and realistic. This is the third book from Zakka Workshop featuring her botanical surface embroidery designs. This one (see cover) features colorful vegetables and herbs, along with some insects and other garden creatures.These would be wonderful on table linens, decorative thread paintings, clothing, soft furnishings, and many other uses.

Roughly the first half of the book is a photo gallery of the included designs.  Some are pictured as they are in the templates at the back of the book, and some are positioned in garden-scapes together. There is an herb garden composition with a beehive, herbs, and even a tree with a bird and birdhouse that is lovely and colorful.

The gallery of designs is followed by a how-to materials and stitching tutorial with stitch diagrams and tips for using the included pattern templates.  These are clear enough to be accessible to beginning embroiderers. The designs themselves aren't overly simple, but they're well diagrammed in the templates with recommended stitches and colors.  The thread recommendations are for DMC mouline (6 strand floss), but conversions for silks or specialty fibres are available online for more advanced or adventurous stitchers.

There's a short list of included plants at the back of the book with common, botanical (Latin) names, and indigenous locations included for further inspiration. The artist's afterword was interesting also (she's a gardener and takes inspiration from nature and her own garden).

Really pretty designs, well drawn and appealing.

Five stars.

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

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! is a humorous children's book based on the idea of a magical bestiary which comes to life, releasing the fantastic beasts described within as young Godfrey goes about his daily chores in the castle.

Due out 10th Sept 2019 from Getty publications, it's 40 pages and will be available in hardcover format. This is a beautifully illustrated children's book with a simple story full of imagination by Julie Berry and wonderful illustrations by April Lee.

There's a certain amount of magical realism in the book, with an artist/scribe who is more of a wizard and a magical bestiary which leads "Sir Godfrey the Glorious" to his imaginary adventures.

The end of the book has a nice discussion of illuminated medieval bestiaries and some of the realities of daily life for people living in the middle ages.This would be a superlative reading circle read or library selection. There are questions at the back of the book which will stimulate further conversation and (hopefully) research on the part of the young readers. This would also make a great bedtime or 'read-to-me' read; with a fantastic scope for potential silly voices for the person reading.

Four stars. Gorgeous art and a worthwhile subject.

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

Learn to Draw Disney Winnie the Pooh: How to draw Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and more!

Learn to Draw Disney Winnie the Pooh is a new booklet in the Learn To Draw series. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 64 pages and will be available in spiral-bound format.

Although ostensibly aimed at young artists (6+ years), there is a lot of really fun and accessible information here for artists of all ages and levels of experience. The simple and appealing step-by-step line drawn tutorials will help with confidence building and technical expertise.

The introductory content covers tools and supplies (an admirably short list), tracing and outlining, using the grid method, and basic shape drawings. The background drawings on all the pages are adorable and full color (see cover).

The tutorials (11 different, with 8 characters in various combinations) are 2-10 pages each of clear step by step drawings to achieve a recognizable Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Christopher Robin, and the rest. This would make a really lovely rainy day activity or library group activity for young kids. This would also make a really great parent/caregiver/babysitter activity for anyone with a youngster in their lives. Drawing together with your kids makes a lot of great memories. 

Very cute book. Good practice for all beginning artists, no matter what age.

Five stars.

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

Toward a Global Middle Ages: Encountering the World through Illuminated Manuscripts

Toward a Global Middle Ages is a scholarly collection of essays and expostulatory writing around the premise that there is academic benefit in viewing and researching contemporaneous manuscripts from all over the world, not just "Eurocentric" or "Asiatic" studies as they have been grouped in the past.

Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Getty publications, it's a lushly illustrated 296 pages and will be available in softbound format.

The sheer magnitude of the scope of this volume intrigued me when I read the description. The history of textual objects is so inextricably intertwined in my mind with the social and cultural landscapes which created them as to make them indelibly linked to those cultures. To study them as a whole based on a time period (the middle ages) instead of viewing them from an individual cultural standpoint was new to me.  I was excited to delve into this volume and learn what common threads the contributors could weave together from the disparate historical timelines.

First, the illustrations are absolutely breathtaking and the reproduction quality is high, even in the eARC I was given for review. I have no doubt that the quality of the print book will be much higher. The final physical size of the book is 8x10 inches (20x25cm) and it's paperbound, so it's not a 'coffee table' book, but it is full size and the illustrations are spread evenly throughout all the essays.

There are 27 individual contributor essays as well as introductory foreword from the Director of the Getty Museum, Timothy Potts, and a comprehensive prologue and introduction by the editor, Bryan C. Keene. The last chapter of the introductory section contains an explanatory timeline which is well referenced and gives good source material for further reading.

The next four sections (the bulk of the book) contain an interesting grouping of essays on cartography, the various book forms (bound, rolled, and folded), cultural and socio-ethnic identity in the medieval world, and travel and exchange of ideas in the medieval world.  These essays are broadly different from one another, and are written by a range of academics with different areas of expertise. I found them interesting (and well written and researched), with a great deal of resources and references for further reading. 

Obviously this is an academic treatise written by academics mostly for other academics or especially interested laymen. As such, it isn't an easy read. The language is rigorous and formal. I definitely don't think it's inaccessible for the average reader, but it will take some effort (and I think that's a good thing).

Some small details about the manuscript. Each of the pages for each contributor essay is labeled in the left footer margin with the author's name to more easily locate specific passages. The book pages are also numbered clearly in the footers.  Footnotes and references are clearly delineated in the individual essays.

The book closes with an epilogue by James Cuno, a comprehensive bibliography, and a cross referenced index.

Difficult but enlightening reading. This would make a good support text for classroom or library use, for manuscript history, history of the middle ages, and similar subjects, as well as a superlative read for the particularly book-history-interested.

Five stars. Some of the essays are more accessible than others.

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

The Art of Drawing People: Simple techniques for drawing figures, portraits and poses

The Art of Drawing People is a new tutorial guide for portraiture in the form of mini classes for various parts of drawing a human subject. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The first ~20% of the page content is an introductory chapter introducing the tools, materials, and concepts for human portraiture. The authors cover the choice of materials and how to use them, learning to translate what you actually see to the page, a little bit of composition theory, some perspective studies, and troubleshooting potential problems using the example of characteristic ratios in a child's face.

At each lesson, important points and potential problems are highlighted in sidebars along with clear illustrations of the points being discussed. The book is lavishly illustrated.  The chapters following the introduction cover heads and faces from different viewpoints, general portraiture including drawing from a reference photo and highlights and realistic hair, lighting, and more. There are also lessons on full body portraiture and a special treatment of children.

Nearly all of the tutorials have multiple illustrations which contrast the steps from outline sketch through contour and shading. I do not personally feel that this is a beginner guide though there are certainly lessons which can be used by artists of all levels of expertise. This would be more suitable to the mid-level to advanced artist looking for more specific study in portraiture.  I liked that the art styles shown in the book come from several different artists, showing a range of styles. I also appreciate that there are numerous different treatments of light and shading at different positions from full face forward to three quarter profile to full profile.

This would make a great support and resource text for classroom or library settings, and also for the artist's (or would be artist's) home library.

Four stars.

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

First Time Embroidery and Cross Stitch: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide - Learn By Doing * Step-by-Step Basics + Projects

First Time Embroidery and Cross Stitch is one of the First Time Guides. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

It's nice to see embroidery and other fibrecrafts enjoying a renaissance of sorts. In times (long) past, people would learn these skills as a matter of necessity, handed down from generation to generation in the family. That's no longer true, so crafters must turn to other sources of instruction. The internet (youtube, ravelry, et.al.) and social media are a good sources of instruction, but for not-strictly-visual learners like me, books are still vital. I learn better if I have a book sitting in front of me and if I don't feel like I constantly have to pause the video to figure out what I'm doing.

These first time learner guides are formatted attractively and logically. The photography is stellar across the series and this one is no exception. The concepts, tools and terminology are shown simply and understandably.

About 30% of the page content is used in the introductory and starting chapters. The author covers tools, supplies including fabric, scissors, needles, fibres and more, charts diagrams and patterns, transferring patterns, stabilizers, and a basic introduction to fabric preparation and surface embroidery.

The next three chapters cover surface embroidery, crewel, and cross stitch. All of the stitching chapters have project tutorials. The stitch diagrams are clear and well photographed. It would definitely be possible to learn to do the stitches with the instructions in the book. It's helpful to have a stitchy friend to consult, of course, but it's not absolutely necessary, and a total beginner could do the projects in these chapters without any other resources. The projects themselves are attractive. They include embroidery embellishments on clothing, soft furnishings (pillows), a cross stitched candle band and an embellished journal cover.

This is a basic beginning-level book. Advanced stitchers won't find a lot which is challenging. I was very happy to see surface embroidery getting some love; it seems like cross stitch dominates the embroidery crafts these days. The step by step stitch diagram tutorials are worth the price of the book for reference.

Five stars.

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

The Ghost of Artemus Strange

The Ghost of Artemus Strange is the 5th Batch Magna book by Peter Maughan. Due out 22nd Aug 2019 from Prelude on their Farrago imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

This is a humorous nostalgic ensemble novel written around the inhabitants of a fictitious village on the border between England and Wales. There are several returning characters, Sir Humph, who's a distant American cousin of a scion branch of the manor family who inherits the baronetcy unexpectedly, his wife Clem, Bill Sikes (a canine), and others.

Despite being the 5th book in the series, it works quite well as a standalone. I had no trouble following the gently meandering plot. There's not a lot of dramatic tension although there's a strange interlude involving the London criminal underclasses in the middle of the book.  Mostly it's a wryly written bucolic village pastiche with (very) eccentric players.

The book is written with British slang and idiom, so readers from elsewhere should be prepared for that. I didn't find it onerous at all; everything is clear from context.  Readers who have enjoyed other nostalgic village pastiches (Miss Read's Fairacre and Thrush Green spring to mind) will most likely enjoy this one as well. It is less openly sarcastic than Watson's Flaxborough chronicles, but still in roughly the same vein.

Four stars. Enjoyable read for fans of British village slice-of-life novels.

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

ABC for Me: ABC What Can He Be?: Boys can be anything they want to be, from A to Z

Boys can be anything they want to be, from A to Z is a fun and colorful ABC book with a variety of future occupations for boys. This is a companion book to ABC What Can She Be which I reviewed a while ago. Due out 03 Sept 2019 by Quarto publishing on their Walter Foster Jr. imprint, it's 36 pages and will be available in ebook and board book formats.  It's appealingly llustrated by Jessie Ford of Sugar Snap Studio.

I liked that the book included careers with long and demanding educational paths (xenobiologist and quantum physicist) side by side with vocational careers (carpenter and horse trainer). The boys pictured are ethnically diverse and differently-abled. There is some overlap in both books (quantum physicist, astronaut, engineer, teacher, and yoga instructor, which is neat).

I am an optimist and believe that someday (soon) we won't need books telling our children that they can choose whatever career paths they wish to pursue, but we're not there yet. This is a sweet and non-judgemental book.

The text is written in non-rhyming free verse with a one sentence explanation of what each job entails.

Thoroughly charming.  I really liked it and think it would make a nice reading group selection in a classroom setting for younger kids.

Five stars

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

Little Concepts: A is for Apricat: Learn Your ABCs with These Deliciously Adorable Food & Critter Mash-Ups!

A is for Apricat is a whimsically funny animal/plant mash-up ABC book by Mauro Gatti. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr. imprint, it's 28 pages and will be available in ebook and boardbook formats.

Each of the 26 illustrations is accompanied by a one sentence funny description. They are varied and cute and in fact some of the plants will probably be unfamiliar to many (adult) readers. I had never heard of ximenia, for example. I'll be keeping my eye out for it to try at some point.

This would make a lovely read-along book or bedtime read for babies to the youngest readers. It would also make a nice library or classroom read along for the appropriate age groups. All 26 of the foods in the ABCs are also included in a fact sheet at the end of the book.

Altogether a delightful and fun ABC book. I really loved it. It probably should be noted that there are 2 subtle mentions of the gassy properties of some foods (broccoli and beans). I found it amusing, some readers may be less amused. But really, have you ever met a 5 year old who didn't think that was the absolute pinnacle of humor?

5 stars

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

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh is a new biography of the artist aimed at young readers (6-10 years). Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

It's always challenging to write a biography of a subject whose life was fraught with difficulties and illness and ended so tragically. The author manages to tell the story with truth and grace, noting of his death, that "later on that year, Vincent decided that he had had enough of being unwell". This is an appealing full color part of the Portrait of an Artist series including children's biographies for luminaries such as Kahlo, Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

The factual events of Van Gogh's life are shown along with facsimile reproductions of his work. The end of the book also includes 10 of his best known works with a short interpretive paragraph about the symbolism and composition of the paintings.

This is a good support text for a classroom or library unit on artists, art appreciation, composition, and similar. This would make a good selection for art interested youngsters and their families.

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

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo is an illustrated biography of Frida Kahlo aimed at young readers (6-10 years). Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is an appealing full color illustrated short biography and it's part of the Portrait of an Artist series including children's biographies for luminaries such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe. I think the author does an admirable job of honestly presenting Kahlo's life in an age-appropriate manner. The typesetting and coloring are well done and it's especially impressive that the contrast is consistent and the text shows well and readably on all the different background colors.  The art by Sandra Dieckmann is energetic and colorfully appealing.

There is a short interpretational resource list at the back of the book showing some of Frida's major works with an explanatory paragraph about the symbolism. This would make a good group read or resource book for a classroom unit on different artists as well as a nice read for an art interested youngster.

Well done and enjoyable. Five stars.

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