The Crochet Crowd: Inspire, Created, Celebrate

The Crochet Crowd: Inspire, Created, Celebrate is such an exuberant, inclusive, and just plain fun crochet guide with tutorials and patterns collected and written by Michael Sellick and Daniel Zondervan. Released 26th July 2021 by MacIntyre Purcell Publishing, it's 243 pages and is available in ebook format. Print format is in pre-release now. 

The first part of the book contains some background for the authors and their journey within the fibrecrafts world as designers. I enjoyed reading about their lives (before and after they met one another) and building their online community and the story until now. There's a warmth and kindness to their writing "voice" and although it's certainly quirky and fun, it's also honest, and not all yarn and sunshine. 

The second part of the book contains the patterns and tutorials. Patterns include accessories, baby things, blankets, wraps, cowls, and several other items. The patterns are written by several different designers and they're all attractive and well written. Most include both written directions and design charts, so readers have a choice. Patterns include yardages and specific yarns, so readers can potentially substitute followed by step-by-step directions.

Every page includes clear, full colour photography. Tutorials and patterns include process shots (without fingers or tools in the way of the camera).  The authors have also included some useful appendices: a primer on making a success of selling at craft shows, abbreviations and short directions for different stitches used in the book, and a useful resource and links list. 

This is a quirky, inclusive, and very fun book with some beautiful patterns and a strong sense of community. I hadn't heard of them before (I'm much more of a knitter than crochet-er), but I'm definitely a follower now. 

Highly recommended for library acquisition, fibrearts and guild studios, and home use.

Five stars. 

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

Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou

Rise! is a beautifully expressive and age appropriate short biography of Poet Laureate Maya Angelou by author/educator Bethany Hegedus. Released 20th Aug 2021 by Live Oak Media, it's currently available in audiobook format and is in pre-release for print format.

Aimed at elementary school readers (~7-10 years), the author does a really good job of presenting the often tragic realities of young Maya's life. Dr. Angelou certainly rose above the problems and constraints of her early life, but her upbringing left indelible marks and shaped the person she became. Ms. Hegedus doesn't shy away from the truth, but does so in an age appropriate and sensitive way. 

The audiobook has a run time of 30 minutes, 59 seconds and includes an enhanced soundtrack with sound effects like chickens, cable-car bells in San Francisco, and background speech and voices. It's beautifully and capably narrated by Cherise Boothe. Her voice is rich and warm. She manages to imbue the different characters' voices with individuality, and I had no at all trouble following along.

This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, classroom use, or home library. Although it's clearly aimed at younger readers, it would be a good choice for listeners of all ages who wish to learn about Dr. Angelou's life.

Five stars for the book, five for the voicework. Stellar.

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

Crafty Family Ideas: Projects to Make, Things to Bake, and Lots of Homemade(ish) Fun

Crafty Family Ideas is a collection of crafting ideas and tutorials for lots of different all-ages projects written and presented by Kristin Gambaccini. Released 25th May 2021 by Fox Chapel Publishing, it's 160 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

I really liked the exuberance and fun energy of this book. The author is enthusiastic and upbeat and the project tutorials are colorful and engaging. The layout is easy to follow.

The crafting prompts and tutorials are grouped thematically by season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The tutorials include nature crafts, found objects, cooking, art, papercrafts, and recycled project materials. The bulk of the content is given over to the projects. Each one includes an intro/description, tools and materials, and step by step photo tutorials. The photography is clear and abundant. There are color photos on every page. Alternate steps and enhancements are included for many of the activities. The recipes have ingredients in a bullet list in a sidebar. Measurements are given in American standard units, and nutritional information is not included. Those tutorials which are made to specific patterns have templates included in the back of the book.

This would make a superlative choice for staying home activities, as well as great ideas for a library or classroom activities (when we can gather together again). This would also be a good book for folks who spend time with kids (grandparents, teachers, scout leaders, activity groups, etc).

Five stars. There are a ton of good ideas here.

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

Still Life and Death (Shepherd Sisters Mysteries #3)

Still Life and Death is the third Shepherd Sisters cozy mystery/romance by Tracy Gardner. Released 10th Aug 2021 by Hallmark, it's 280 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is a very light cozy mystery with very strong romance elements written around a trio of sisters and a small town murder mystery. There are several disparate threads: who killed the florist who was growing out an extinct violet, what skullduggery is going on with the dance school next door, and will Sydney figure out her relationship with Finn the medical life-flight crew member or is their unstable relationship doomed?

There are a fair number of really over-the-top plot elements which found my cynical self rolling my eyes. There are also some developments which are more or less left hanging at the denouement (like the violet - unlikely scenario to say the absolute very least). Savanna (she's the one dating the world renowned cardiac surgeon) does some amateur sleuthing and could easily have gotten herself killed since she's constantly going off on her own steam and not cooperating very well with local law enforcement. The denouement and resolution were a little matchy-matchy tied up with a bow for me personally, but readers who really love HEA and HFN endings will find a lot to like here. 

The unabridged audiobook version is narrated by Karissa Vacker and has a run time of 8 hours, 25 minutes. She has a very clear and well modulated voice - but - (and it's a big but), she has one voice for all the female characters and one for all the male. It's (as far as I can tell) her own (nasal Texas twang and all), with a deeper gravelly tone. I wasn't sure I could listen to the audiobook, but I did get used to it after a half an hour or so. The sound / production quality is very high.

This would be a good choice for readers who really love HEA/HFN family style romance novels heavy on the romance. The language is squeaky clean and there's only implied (off page) consensual sexual content between adults in a stable relationship. No on-page smut at all; there are a few fairly chaste kisses. Very little blood and no gore with the murder mystery plot elements. It would make a good very light beach or coffee shop read. 

Three stars for the audiobook version, three and a half for the print version. 

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

Under the Sun, Moon, and Stars

Under the Sun, Moon, and Stars is an ethereal and whimsical tale for youngsters by Laura and Danielle Kosann. Due out 15th Sept 2021 from Greenleaf Book Group, it's 24 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is a sweetly imagined story about the power of believing in ourselves. A little girl was told she would never be able to do big things. Through encouragement and some good advice from the animals she meets along the way, and some sage advice from the moon, she learns to believe in the power of her own dreams. My only (very) minor quibble along the way was that the Queen Bumblebee was from a hive hanging in a tree (nearly all species, even the social ones live in underground nests or colonies). On the other hand, I was prepared to accept that the little girl was chatting with the moon, a fairy, an owl, a snake, and others; so it's not a big gripe.

The art is simple and modern (see the cover), and full of small details which will add a dimension of hunt & find during story time. There are a number of characters which will also give scope for some silly voices during reading. This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition, circle-reading in a classroom setting, or reading at home. 

Four stars. 

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

Autopsy: Life In The Trenches With A Forensic Pathologist In Africa

Autopsy: Life In The Trenches With A Forensic Pathologist In Africa is a fascinating layman accessible memoir by Dr. Ryan Blumenthal relating some of his experiences as a forensic pathologist. Released 13th April 2021 by Jonathan Ball Publishers, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a well written and absorbing glimpse inside the working life of a forensic pathologist. Dr. Blumenthal has a conversational style of writing which is humorously entertaining and yet respectful and serious. He writes at length about different causes of death, the process of autopsy, deducing whether a death is suicide or homicide, and much more. 

I'm a bioengineer working in a histopathology lab, so much of what he writes about is my regular "day job". I was quite impressed at his facility whilst explaining complex concepts in simple, scientifically correct ways, which allow readers without any medical background to easily process what he's talking about.

He's a renowned specialist in lightning strikes and deaths due to electrocution and he goes into detail in the book about the fascinating elements common to death-by-lightning, including veterinary autopsies on a rare antelope species on which he consulted. 

Four stars. There are some photos and illustrations in the book, but happily nothing shocking or horrifying at all. I found the entire book upbeat and positive and very very interesting. This would make a good selection for library acquisition and for readers of science and nonfiction. 

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

Second Revolution: Another Year of Flash Fiction

Second Revolution is another collection of crowdfunded flash fiction by Jamie Lackey. Released 14th Dec 2020, it's 128 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is the second collection of ultra short fiction (1000 words or fewer) written inspired by prompts sent in by readers/backers. The prompts are an impressively varied lot and the author's produced vignettes and very short stories also run the gamut from light horror to fairy tales, and many points between. 

One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away.

There are 28 stories here by my count and they're all well written and entertaining. Some of them are sublime. I intend to acquire some of the author's longer fiction to compare. 

Four stars. It's a solid collection. 

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

Oddball (Sarah's Scribbles #4)

Oddball is the fourth collection of Sarah's Scribbles cartoons by Sarah Andersen. Due out 12th Oct 2021 from Andrews McMeel, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is one of a number of wildly popular internet based media juggernaut comics with which everyone is familiar even if they don't know they're familiar. I can't recall the last time I went 24 hours without seeing a custom made meme of one or another of Sarah's panels popping up on my social media feeds. This is the unadulterated pure stuff though; funny, quirky, insightful, weird, and with a lot of heart. 

This collection is for us, the misfits, the introverts, the cat loving weirdos; Ms. Andersen gets it and puts it out there for all of us.The art is instantly identifiable and despite the simplicity and awkwardness and nearly non-existent perspective, she manages to cram in an ocean of expression and emotion. I love the style and even the vulnerability. I'm sure I *will* be that old lady calling kitties and puppers chonks and units and (I hope) frens. Sarah's Scribbles has become part of our everyday vernacular; quite an achievement.

Five stars. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever made social plans and then dreaded it like crazy and wished to come down with the bubonic plague to get out of going. This is for those of us who think binge watching true crime dramas alone with a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia sounds like a pretty fun evening. 

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

The Utimate Air Fryer Oven Cookbook: Easy Recipes That Satisfy

The Utimate Air Fryer Oven Cookbook is a machine tutorial guide with recipes developed and written by Coco Morante. Due out 12th Oct 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Mariner imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

I'm a real fan of new kitchen gadgets and machines, but many of them get bought and never used, at least in my family. Of the "new" kitchen machines in the last decade, the two that get used almost daily in my kitchen are my Instant Pot pressure cooker followed closely by my air fryer oven. I had some trouble in the beginning finding appropriate tested recipes which suited my air fryer oven. This compendium not only collects together a plethora of tasty and family-friendly home cooked recipes, but it also contains a primer for utilizing the Instant Pot air fryer oven that is better and much more comprehensive than the scanty instructions in the manual which came with my machine. 

As stated, the intro/primer on use is comprehensive and very well written. The recipes themselves are grouped into chapters thematically: breakfast & brunch, snacks & appetizers, vegetarian, beef & pork, chicken & turkey, fish & seafood, vegetable sides, desserts, and pantry staples/partial ingredients. Recipes contain a title, yields, and description, ingredients in a bullet list sidebar, followed by step-by-step directions. Ingredients are given with American standard measures only. Tips and alternative presentations are given in a text box in the recipe. Special labels such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian are highlighted in a header in the recipe. Nutritional information is given and includes calories, fat, carbs, fiber, and protein. Ingredients will be easy to find at any moderately well stocked grocery store. 

Roughly 1/4 of the recipes include a color photograph. I am a very visual cook and would have benefited from more comprehensive photos, but I know that photos and layout increase the cost of book projects very quickly. The photos which were included were attractively and professionally styled and serving suggestions were appealing. 

The author has included a general chart with cooking times and temps (including temps in Celsius and Fahrenheit) for a number of different items, from asparagus to whitefish as well as an index. 

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

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

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna: A Novel (Tante Poldi #4)

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is the fourth silly, slightly inebriated romp featuring Auntie Poldi and her hapless Watson, by Mario Giordano. Originally published in 2019 in German, this English language translation from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was released 18th May 2021. It's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

These are silly books. This one in particular is exceedingly silly and slapstick and full of completely inappropriate juvenile sexual innuendo. Auntie Poldi is very much like an incorrigible 14 year old boy trapped in an (almost) 61 year old's body. She is insatiable, drinks (way) too much, and does things like breaking into the Vatican and literally tripping over the Pope (knocking him flat on his behind in the process). That being said, this is a sweetly affirming cozy mystery with its heart in the right place. The plotting is over the top, the characters are beyond quirky, the prose is somewhere firmly past purple, but the overall effect is hilarious and touching in some ways. It's about life and love and The Universe And Our Place In It. 

Although the plot contains a number of seemingly supernatural agents and plot elements, there's (almost) always a rational explanation and Auntie Poldi's dogged determination eventually brings the truth to light. The mystery itself wasn't the main attraction for me. It's clever enough and ridiculous, but isn't the main event. Seeing Poldi careening around Rome and the awe (and cringe) inspiring hilarious devastation in her wake are worth the price of admission.

I found that I enjoyed the read much more if I were already in a good mood or full of the necessary suspension of disbelief to be carried along. Even those days when I wasn't already in good humor, my mood was much improved by the time I was done reading for the day. 

Four stars. This is a well written and irreverently funny tale, well told. 

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

The Coldest Case (Bruno, Chief of Police #14)

The Coldest Case is the 14th Chief Bruno novel by Martin Walker. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Knopf, it's 336 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

These books are such enjoyable reading breaks. They're like inviting and civilized visits with an old and dear friend. They're full of quirky characters who are intelligent and cultured (and the occasional villain). I always learn lots about food and French cuisine and countryside. But, at the end of the day, they're murder mysteries and the untangling of the mysteries are well written and engaging.

The motives for murder and conspiracy are complex and somewhat rarefied and academic, tied to a 30 year old cold case murder which has plagued Bruno's colleague throughout his career. Due to advances in forensic techniques, for the first time in 3 decades, Bruno and colleagues have a real chance to put the case to rest. Soon though, there are uncomfortable rumblings from the highest echelons of power and real life fallout from cold-war power struggles that are way over Bruno's pay grade. The book does include a brief and unsettling sexual assault, carried out on-scene which wasn't pleasant to read (but resolves well), as well as scary descriptions of wildfires, but no other trigger warnings.

This author is on my auto-read list and this particular book was lovely. I love that the book is redolent with Gallic sensibilities regarding work, food, culture, life, and love. There's a lot of content devoted to Bruno's basset hound's "love life", and some to his own love life, and his horse Hector, and while it might've been a little over the top, a fair bit of why I choose to spend time on this series is the culinary and cultural asides. I loved it. This is a book for slowing down and savoring. Plus, medieval siege weaponry. You had me at trebuchet.

The denouement and resolution are satisfying and Bruno once again ties up the loose threads (except possibly of his love life), and he and Balzac and Hector can once again concentrate on the important non-violent aspects of life, love, and wine. 

This was such a fun read and I loved it to bits. Long live Bruno!

Five stars.

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

The Fundamentals of Drawing Nudes: A Practical Guide to Portraying the Human Figure

The Fundamentals of Drawing Nudes is a tutorial guide for life drawing by Barrington Barber. Due out in late 2021 from Arcturus Publishing, it's 96 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is a very well written and information dense manual aimed at advanced beginners to intermediate drawing students as well as a refresher course for more advanced students. The first section of the book briefly covers recommended drawing tools and supplies. The author doesn't give specific brand recommendations (and I respect that he says experimentation is key, find what works and when inspiration strikes, branch out and try other tools). 

The next chapters are arranged in multiple lessons thematically: proportion and anatomy, drawing the whole figure, developing form and movement, and technique and composition. Each lesson contains background theory and practice, alternatives to main points, and salient techniques as well as illustrative sketches. The author ties the theory to studies and sketches by famous artists showing how they approached similar poses and solved problems of ratio and perspective in their own work. 

This book is a little above my current level of expertise, but there were a lot of valuable takeaways for me and I can see how consistent application of the exercises here will produce results (even for me, a beginner). 

This would be a good choice for library acquisition and for artists, students, and hobbyists. 

Four stars. 

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

Gelli Arts(r) Printing Guide: Printing Without a Press on Paper and Fabric Using the Gelli Arts(r) Plate

Gelli Arts Printing Guide is a workshop in the form of a tutorials for printing with Gelli Arts products written by Suzanne McNeill. Originally released in 2014, this reformat and re-release from Fox Chapel on their Design Originals imprint is 88 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. This edition includes new content including a new project gallery.

This is such an exuberantly colorful and high energy book. Every page includes full color photographs and inspiration and just leafing through had my fingers itching to pick up supplies and start. The book is arranged well and logically, with introduction, tools & supplies, and general techniques at the front, followed by lots of tutorials and projects (more than 30 by my rough count). The supplies are easy to obtain and inexpensive. The process is versatile and the projects and tutorials included in the book are drawn from mixed media, cloth and paper printing and more.

Tutorials include a title and description, tools and supplies shown in bullet list format, followed by step-by-step instructions. Each tutorial includes multiple process photos which are clear and understandable as well as a finish photo. Many of them also include samples, alternative pages, colors, and themes for inspiration. 

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, art studio, makers groups, scouting or library activity groups, quilters, paper artists, and similar readers. 

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

The Secret Life of an Arable Field: Plants, Animals and the Ecosystem

The Secret Life of an Arable Field is an interesting nonfiction look at the hidden inter-dependencies of a cultivated field written by Sophie McCallum. Due out 30th Nov 2021 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Presented as a primer with bestiary and herbal entries arranged alphabetically by common name, they include animals, plants, fungi, insects, molluscs and other invertebrates. Each entry includes the common name, taxonomic nomenclature, physical and behavioural descriptions and interesting facts. The entries range from adder to yellowhammer. 

The photography is amazing - detailed and in full colour. Not all the included entries contain photos, but most of them do. The book details a hypothetical field in the UK, so the species are indigenous to that area (some species have more widespread ranges and those are specified in the text). 

This would be a good choice for public or school library or home use. Although it will certainly be interesting for younger readers, the text is not simplified, and will provide an engaging read for adults as well as middle grade and older. 

Four stars.

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

Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's 'grand Simulacro'

Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's 'grand Simulacro' is a reprint and translation of the original work from 1610 by Ridolfo Capo Ferro. This English translation edited by Jared Kirby was originally released in 2004. This reformat and re-release due out 30th Nov 2021 from Pen & Sword books on their Greenhill imprint is 148 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written more than 400 years ago, this is still a famous and classic work dedicated to the Italian rapier. The language has been updated to more modern vernacular and includes an updated glossary. The book includes a table of contents, but no index. The first part of the work covers general concepts, glossary, positions, and theory. The second part, containing the plates (see cover), show two dueling gentlemen in various stages of nudity, presumably to better show anatomy. Many of the plates are quite gruesome with rapiers & daggers sticking out of various body parts. 

I feel quite certain that the book's value lies more in the historical importance, and unlike many modern treatises, will have limited practical use for actually *learning* rapier fencing to any meaningful degree. I was most fascinated by the facsimile plates showing the illustrations and bookplates from the original 1610 edition. 

This would be a good selection for library acquisition, historical re-enactors (SCA and similar), and readers interested in historical armed combat. Many such extant Renaissance manuscripts have value also for costumers and historians, but the illustrations in this volume show nude or semi-nude combatants, so that isn't really applicable here. It might be of some interest for calligraphers and artists, but I would recommend looking at the content first, since the text makes up the largest portion.

Five stars for the historical value. Quite gruesome content, so sensitive readers should be aware of that and proceed accordingly. 

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

 

Preserving with Pomona's Pectin, Updated Edition: Even More Revolutionary Low-Sugar, High-Flavor Method for Crafting and Canning Jams, Jellies, Conserves, and More

Preserving with Pomona's Pectin is a tutorial guide with recipes developed and curated by Allison Carroll Duffy. The first edition was published in 2013. This reformatted second edition (with additional content) is due out 14th Sept 2021 from Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint. It's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is an exuberantly colorful guide to canning and preserving with a fresh, slightly retro vibe and lots of updated and tasty flavor combo preserves, jams, conserves, and jellies. These recipes are brand specific for Pomona's Pectin because it uses a different mechanism to gel/firm which doesn't rely on sugar so quite a number of the included recipes are lower sugar and use different sweeteners (honey, maple syrup, etc). 

The introduction covers some of the Jam making 101 theory: the differences between jam, jelly, conserve, marmalade and other preserves, what pectin is, how it works, and why Pomona's brand doesn't require extra sugar (low-methoxyl citrus pectin). There's a short bit on safety and a handy checklist of tools and supplies. The primer on general preserve crafting is comprehensive and explains the steps well. The primer contains numerous color illustrations showing each step with the explanations. The recipes are grouped in chapters thematically: jams, jellies, preserves, conserves, marmalades, alternative sweeteners, and pie fillings.

Recipes contain a title, description, yields, ingredients listed in a sidebar bullet list, and step by step directions. Recipe ingredients are given with both American standard and metric measurements (yay!). Special tips and alternatives are listed in highlighted text boxes with each recipe. Ingredients will mostly be easy to find at farmers markets and larger well stocked fruit and vegetable departments in grocery stores. All of these recipes rely on Pomona's Universal Pectin, which is almost exclusively marketed in North America. For readers outside those areas, the pectin can be bought online. Roughly 2/3rds of the recipes include a color photo showing the finished product. The serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for library acquisition, cooks looking for low sugar and alternative sweetener preserves, garden groups, smallholders, gardeners, and foodies.

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

Rebugging the Planet: The Remarkable Things that Insects (and Other Invertebrates) Do – And Why We Need to Love Them More

Rebugging the Planet is a nonfiction call-to-action plan showing some of the effects of climate change on invertebrates, some of the functions they fulfill in the biosphere, why they're important, and how to make a difference. Due out 16th Sept 2021 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is a hands-on practical book, logically arranged, full of tips for supporting and protecting habitat and populations of invertebrates by Vicki Hird. She methodically explores our attitudes, definitions (we can hardly appreciate "bugs" and inverts if we don't know what they are), and practical methods to pitch in and "do our bit" wherever we find ourselves, urban or rural. 

Graphically, the book is mostly text, broken up by frequent highlighted text boxes with important points. The small pointillist drawings are well rendered and intricate. Although it's information rich and full of good and practical advice for rebugging habitat, it might be a bit dry for young readers. The book includes a good resource and links list for further reading and support. The lists are mostly slanted toward readers in the UK, but simple web searches will yield appropriate local groups and info.

The statistics are sobering. Climate change and habitat loss have already led to widespread changes; the loss of invertebrates directly correlates with crop failure and species decline. When the bugs disappear, the plants aren't pollinated, the species which depend on the inverts for food struggle, and the decline accelerates. 

I grew up in an era of petrol-guzzling American supremacy monster cars. John Muir, Rachel Carson, and Margaret Murie (and others) dedicated their lives to making the public aware that we were on a path of destruction. The call to action they put out unfortunately went unheeded by most. Today we're literally teetering on the brink of a widespread extinction catastrophe and nobody can ignore it.The author does a good job of providing some creative solutions and tips for helping inverts to help us all.

This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, gardening groups, smallholders and hobbyists, community garden libraries and gardening groups, and anyone who wants to lend a hand to save us all from disaster. Teachers/facilitators will find many good activities here for helping younger children learn and appreciate native species.

Four and a half stars.

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

Ancient Egypt: The Cradle of Civilization

Ancient Egypt: The Cradle of Civilization is an interactive and well illustrated guide to Egypt during the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700-2100 BCE) through the Greco-Roman period (332BCE-395CE). Due out 14th Sept 2021 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

I found the photographs fascinating and well curated. Many of them are of "lesser known" antiquities and historical persons from a wide historical period. I have long been interested in Egyptology but there were quite a number with which I was previously unfamiliar.

The commentary text by author Peter Mavrikis is engaging and accessible and provides a loose timeline history to tie the beautiful photographs together into a cohesive whole. This would make a good choice for library, classroom library, homeschool, and similar uses. It's also a lovely book of photography in its own right and would be a nice gift for a student of ancient history.

Four stars.

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

Make Your Own Silver Jewellery

Make Your Own Silver Jewellery is a tutorial guide and primer to de-mystifying silverwork using precious metal clay (artclay, PMC) presented by Monica Weber-Butler. Due out 30th Nov 2021 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

I was trained as a gold-/silversmith (mostly traditional goldsmith) before PMC was really widely available. I can remember being excited by the amazing possibilities as a (relatively) young jeweler, but the constraints of family and production work meant that I didn't ever find the time to take a workshop. My second career as a medical bionerd meant that my jeweller days were relegated to hobby status and so this workshop-in-a-book was perfect for my needs. 

The author proceeds logically and accessibly: a good safety and materials introduction leads into technique and design chapters with good overviews of theory of design, balance, and originality. In the tutorial chapters, the author emphasizes design and inspiration throughout instead of slavishly following instructions for cookie-cutter identical results. The designs presented here utilise premade findings and/or simple cold-forged connectors, jump rings, beads and other components for finished jewellery. The technique tutorial for using ferrules to make shaped clay cutters is really useful and probably worth the price of the book on its own. 

There are techniques and finishings, projects, and design info shown in this book which are applicable to other crafts such as polymer clay, pottery, papercrafts, mixed-media, sculpture, and more. For making the projects as shown in this book with fine silver clay, readers should expect to expend some effort to first acquire the basic tools and materials. After acquiring (or borrowing) the minimum toolkit, the projects will be very cost effective.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, and home studios. 

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

An Introduction to Rag Rugs - Creative Recycling

An Introduction to Rag Rugs - Creative Recycling is a useful guide with tutorials for upcycling/recycling fabrics into rugs written and presented by Jenni Stuart-Anderson. Due out 7th Dec 2021 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

For many of us, being able to buy and consume more or less at will has led to a society which consumes and disposes to an unsustainable degree. Crafting, making, recycling, and reusing materials are more important than ever and especially given the stresses of a consumer driven society, important to mental health and well-being as well. 

This book is a nice primer with lots of different techniques and includes an intriguingly in-depth capsule history of fibrecrafts through the ages (starting with prehistory and down to the 20th century). The following technique chapters include general instructions for projects, but not specific step-by-step tutorials. The techniques and illustrated projects are arranged thematically in chapters: prodding & progging, hooking & punching, knitting & knotting, coiling binding plaiting & braiding, finishing & cleaning, and a stunning gallery of works for inspiration. The author has included appendices which contain useful resource lists & suppliers (mostly in the UK but also useful for readers in other locations), a bibliography, and a cross-referenced index. 

This would be a superlative choice for library or maker's groups, crafters and fibre artists, or for the home studio. Although there are no specific step-by-step tutorials, there's ample info here for readers to understand and complete projects utilising many different techniques. 

Five stars. Well written, accessible, beautifully illustrated, and comprehensive.

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

Ten-Step Drawing: Manga: Learn to draw 30 manga characters animals in ten easy steps!

Ten-Step Drawing: Manga is a tutorial and style guide for manga by Chie Kutsuwada. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

The book includes 30 tutorials for animals and characters arranged thematically by style and features: facial features, manga faces, chibi style, manga bodies, whole body poses, characters, and animals. As shown on the cover, each tutorial includes 10 steps with each refinement numbered sequentially and shown from start to finish. I liked that this guide shows several different styles and includes both "straight" manga style and ultra cute chibi style drawings. This is mostly aimed at beginning to early-intermediate artists and will provide a lot of good practice sessions.

This would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving (perhaps bundled with some basic drawing supplies). I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game.

Four stars.

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

The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilisation

The Art of More is a layman accessible examination of how mathematics has shaped civilisation well explained by Dr. Michael Brooks. Due out 9th Sept 2021 from Scribe, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a fascinating look at mathematical concepts and how they have fostered exploration and discovery and why mathematics is fundamental to, well, everything. The author is wonderfully adept at explaining complex ideas and auxiliary concepts in simple and understandable ways and even for maths-shy readers, there are fascinating and valuable takeaways to be found here.

The chapters are arranged in essay style units written around a field of mathematics: arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus, logarithms, imaginary numbers, statistics, information theory, and a summary at the end giving a good broad overview tying everything together, and poking a bit of a pin into Le Corbusier's pomposity and the ascription of mystical significance to mathematical concepts like pi, e, and Planck's constant (and jolly well deserved, says this bionerd). If we can de-mystify, we can maybe make them more accessible, more useful, and more fun to everyone.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, and for readers of popular science. For readers who still have a dog-eared copy of Gödel Escher Bach on their bookshelves, there's a lot to love in The Art of More, and I found Dr. Brooks' style much more accessible and less impenetrable than Dr. Hofstadter's.

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

Campaigns & Companions: The Complete Role-Playing Guide for Pets

Campaigns & Companions is a wry and funny illustrated look at "what if" pets played D&D? Due out 14th Sept 2021 from Rebellion, it's 96 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a series of full colour illustrations combined with dialogue from tabletop gaming vignettes. The shtick is that the adventurers are pets, cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, budgies, and so forth. They're adventuring for fame and glory (and treasure), but they're true to their natures at the same time. I got a giggle out of the kitty adventurer who dumps the treasure out of the chest to sit in it. The writing by Andi Ewington & Rhianna Pratchett is pithy and amusing, and the illustrations by Calum Alexander Watt are surprisingly expressive, full of wit, and expertly rendered. Editor Alex de Campi does a good job of tying it all together. It's short and funny. 

Four stars. This would make a nice gift or stocking stuffer for your favourite geek gamer. 

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

The Heron's Cry (Two Rivers #2)

The Heron's Cry is the second Matthew Venn procedural murder mystery by Ann Cleeves. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is another beautifully written mystery set in North Devon and featuring Detective Matthew Venn, a cerebral and solemnly intelligent investigator tasked with unraveling a bizarre and showy murder; a doctor administrator who turns up dead in his daughter's glassblowing studio stabbed with a piece of glass. The pacing of the investigation is unhurried and the characters built up so well and in such detail that they live and breathe. Even the secondary characters, Ross, the Mackenzie family, Lauren Miller and the others are carefully and completely delineated and distinct. I loved that one of my favourite characters from book 1 (Lucy Braddick) is included in this book as well. It really was a delight to read. 

Although it's the second book in the series, it works very well as a standalone. This book is also quite intricately plotted, but there aren't any major spoilers if they're read out of order. The denouement and resolution were exciting and (for me at least) mostly unexpected. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out "whodunnit" and this time I missed almost completely. Well played, Ms. Cleeves.

The author does a good job of showing the frustrations and difficulties of dealing with acute mental illness and some of the constraints, both internal and external, of the NHS. Potentially triggering content includes suicide, suicide ideation, and failure of care.  The language is rough in places (R-rated), and there are some blood/gore descriptions on page. 

The audiobook is unabridged, has a run time of slightly over 10 hours, and is most expertly narrated by Jack Holden. He has a pleasantly nuanced voice and manages numerous characters with widely divergent accents (and ages, and both sexes) impressively well. One of the main characters is from Liverpool, the secondary characters are varied and have accents from Scotland to the Southwest and points in between, and he manages all of them with expertise and precision. Sound quality and production values are high.

Five stars for the book itself, five for the audiobook. Looking forward to what comes next.

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

Black Nerd Problems

Black Nerd Problems is an insightful and intelligent collection of essays on fandom as it intersects black culture and the experiences of people of color written and presented by William Evans & Omar Holmon. Due out 14th Sept 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint, it's 304 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I grew up in a family of comics, gaming, and SF/fantasy nerds (third generation, my grandfather emigrated to the USA and taught himself English by reading comic books). I've experienced gatekeeping and dismissive/rude attitude from fanboys because I'm female, older (or younger), or just other. I'm certainly not saying "I get where the authors of this book are coming from" but I can sing along with the chorus at least. They make so many salient points and they do so with humor and clear vision. They're honest (sometimes brutally so). I found most of the read very funny (Omar's take on why and how he'd survive every horror movie trope had me giggling out loud), some of the essays were uncomfortable (as a white female nerd), and some were valuable for giving me new authors to check out, learn from, and watch.

The essay subjects are varied and wide ranging: comics, fandom, film & TV, books and other print media, art, Art, and, well, being black, and being nerdy, and being black and nerdy. The language is very casual, sometimes rough, linguistically honest, and easy to hear in your head. In fact, I really want to get my ears on the audiobook, narrated by the authors (Audible version). 

Five stars. I've not seen a layman accessible non-academic commentary like this anywhere else. This would be a good choice for lovers of ephemera, popular media, social commentary, and, of course, nerds. 

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

Garden Allies: The Insects, Birds, and Other Animals That Keep Your Garden Beautiful and Thriving

Garden Allies is a beautifully written and illustrated holistic guide to the things which help maintain garden health and build soil, capably written and curated by Frédérique Lavoipierre. Due out 28th Sept 2021 from Workman on their Timber Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is such a peaceful and interesting book and quite inspiring. It's clearly and simply written by someone who knows what she's talking about and as a keen (and experienced) gardener, I learned more than I expected. The essays are grouped thematically into chapters: life beneath our feet (microbes, earthworms, micro-/macro-arthropods) fungi, winged insects, predators & parasites, beetles, common garden insects, ground insects & pathogens/galls, and birds & other vertebrates. The essays are full of interesting details of the appearance and characteristics of the subjects as well as how they interact with other species. The descriptions include appearance, common and scientific names, and garden roles they perform for us.

Although there's no photography in the volume, the illustrations by Craig Latker are beautifully wrought and enhance the text perfectly. Different organisms are easy to identify and the pointillist (dot sketched) drawings are really quite detailed.

Five stars. This would make a super choice for public library acquisition, gardening groups, home gardeners, and winter nonfiction reading. 

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

Travel Hacks: Any Procedures or Actions That Solve a Problem, Simplify a Task, Reduce Frustration, and Make Your Next Trip As Awesome As Possible

Travel Hacks is a handy collection of tips for making travel as convenient and stress-free as possible. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 240 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book has an easy to read simple graphic layout and is arranged logically. Each tip is numbered sequentially (and there are 651 of them).  They are arranged thematically in chapters: planning & booking, packing, before you leave, air travel, road tripping, traveling with kids & pets, food & lodging, maximizing your vacations, staying safe & healthy, communication & technology, and heading home. The author has done a good job of writing tips and advice in pithy short paragraphs which are easy to understand and access. Much of the info is common sense, but there are quite a number which are creative, perfectly within the rules, and can save travelers time and money. The websites included in the book are mostly aimed at travelers in North America, but the rest of the information and tips are great for readers whatever their location and destination.

There's an index included so finding particular tips again will be easy. There's no photography in the book, but many of the tips are illustrated with simple line drawn graphics in a monochrome blue retro style drawing which adds a whimsical vibe.

Well done. Four stars.

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

The New Pallet Book: Ingenious DIY Projects for the Home, Garden, and Homestead

The New Pallet Book is a style and tutorial guide for building projects from reclaimed pallet wood written by Chris Peterson. First published in 2017, this reformat and re-release is due out 7th Sept 2021 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint. It's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is a very useful book and there's something truly fundamentally appealing about making attractive home and garden projects out of reclaimed/found materials. It feels both frugal and satisfying. The author gives a good overview on sourcing, evaluating (some pallets are treated with toxic chemicals and Peterson shows how they're labeled), sorting, and using reclaimed wood. The book includes multiple methods of deconstructing pallets and smoothing out the resultant wood in order to reclaim as much material as possible.  There are also good tips for arranging the reclaimed wood into similar widths and qualities to make selecting project materials easy and painless.  I really liked the safety minded tutorials on reclamation and deconstruction.  There were a lot of good tips on sourcing pallets also, along with good and sensible advice on being responsible (don't steal, ask permission, etc).

The book is arranged in thematic chapters, starting with an introduction on sourcing and deconstruction, availability and safety. The following chapters have projects grouped roughly thematically: outdoor/garden, storage, and home projects. The projects each contain a description, tools and materials in a bullet style list sidebar (measurements in American standard units only), followed by step-by-step instructions. All of the tutorials contain multiple color photos, both process photos and finish photos. 

The projects are very professional looking, attractive, and useful. Some of them are rugged and rustic looking, but in general, they definitely don't look like reclaimed pallet wood. There are some quick projects which would make wonderful gifts.

This would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, activity groups, scouting, 4-H, community gardens, smallholders, DIY/woodworkers, and similar.   

Five stars. 

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

 

The Album of Dr. Moreau

The Album of Dr. Moreau is a twisty novella from the gifted mind of Daryl Gregory. Released 18th May 2021 by Macmillan on their Tor Forge imprint, it's 176 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I actually put off reading this one for a while (sorry about that) because of Mr. Gregory's history of straight-outta-nowhere psychological horror. I even avoided reading this one at bedtime despite the relatively short length because I didn't want his creepies living rent free in my subconscious. I needn't have worried. The powerhouse writing is here; it's a very very well written story, but without the gut-punch horror and creeping dread. The emotions hit me hard with this read. The H.G. Wells pastiche brings the pathos, there's sharp and wry humor (reminiscent of Hunter S. Thompson and William Burroughs throwing fists in Billy Wilder's hotel suite), and grafted seamlessly into the mix is a credible locked room murder mystery featuring a wildly popular human/animal hybrid boy band whose skeezy manager/exploiter has turned up dead after a wild concert afterparty. 

I really enjoyed it. It's very very weird and very very well written. The denouement is satisfying. The characters are sweetly bizarre (pangolins are, incidentally, my absolute favorite animals bar none), and well written and mostly believable. The science-fiction aspects were a bit over the top, but once readers get past the spliced sentient human animal hybrids, it's mostly smooth sailing. 

Four and a half stars. Content warnings for drugs, sex, some gore, and rough language. 

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

The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book: From LeFou's Brew to the Jedi Mind Trick, 100+ Magical Disney-Inspired Drinks

The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book is a Disney inspired drinks book with recipes developed by Ashley Craft. Due out 5th Oct 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

What an exuberant and fun book full of creatively concocted drinks. The layout is easy to understand and the drinks themselves are colorful and inventive. The introduction includes a lot of background info (including some neat trivia about themes and concession placements at Disney parks, origins and inspirations for drinks and other facilities, and a little history. The author has included a good beginner primer on bar tools and supplies. The drinks recipes (and there are a plethora) are arranged thematically: lemonades & fruity drinks, slushes, coffee tea hot chocolate & ciders, mocktails, cocktails, and dessert drinks. 

Recipes have an introduction and explanation including some history, ingredients in a bullet point list, followed by step by step mixing directions. Ingredients are given with American standard measurements only (no metric). The ingredients will mostly be accessible at any well stocked grocery store ( -or liquor store for the boozy ingredients), although there are some ingredients which are more exotic and will require more diligence to acquire (such as dry ice). The drinks as pictured in the book are photographed in Disney proprietary glassware, though the author lists alternative presentations and serving suggestions. Roughly 25-30% of the drinks are accompanied by color photos. 

There are a lot of very attractive recipes included here and the author has even included extensive colorful maps in an appendix, showing the locations of vendors in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and others. It would take a concerted effort to visit all of the theme parks and try all the drinks, but now it's easy to make them at home. 

Five stars. Definitely one for the foodies.

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

The 400-Calorie Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 100 Recipes under 400 Calories—for Easy and Healthy Weight Loss!

The 400-Calorie Mediterranean Diet Cookbook is a guide to weight-loss with included recipes written and presented by Peter Minaki. Due out 29th Sept 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The Mediterranean diet has gotten a lot of attention because of its association with a wide variety of health benefits including a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and early death. This book provides a good introduction to the diet and lifestyle for readers wanting to make changes to their eating habits for health benefits and a healthier lifestyle. 

The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introduction covers the basics of the Mediterranean Diet, tools, supplies, and the how-to and why of choosing ingredients and how to use them to fuel weight loss, suggestions for lifestyle changes and activities, as well as maintenance tips and keeping the weight off. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, soups & salads, appetizers & snacks, side dishes, chicken & poultry, beef & lamb, pork, seafood & fish, vegetarian, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are listed bullet style in a header followed by step by step directions. Ingredient measures are supplied in American standard measurements only. (There's a metric conversion table in an appendix in the back of the book).  The nutritional information:  calories, fat, sodium, carbs, fibre, sugar, and protein content are listed for the recipes as well as serving sizes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex.

The photography is not abundant; roughly 25-30% of the recipes are illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done. I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly.

This is a nice collection of recipes and will keep cooks going for ages. Many of these can also easily be adapted to other styles of cooking and meal planning. 

Four stars.

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

Rosalind Franklin (Little People, Big Dreams)

Rosalind Franklin is a short illustrated biography of the famed scientist for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and icons of innovation while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 24th Aug 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  There is so much information included in this little book. The art by Naomi Wilkinson is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are active and kinetic and suit the subjects. I especially liked the artist's illustrations of the x-ray diffraction images and the famous "photo 51" which first showed the X-formation of the DNA macromolecule. 

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Rosalind Franklin died tragically young and I'm impressed by the way this series manages to provide age appropriate biography without emphasizing or detracting from the racism, professional sexism, and troubles she lived through. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers who are interested in STEM subjects, life science, and Franklin's life and legacy.

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